Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 maintains c-Myc stability to support pancreatic cancer glycolysis and tumor growth.

Background: The typical pathological feature of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a significant increase in stromal reaction, leading to a hypoxic and poorly vascularized tumor microenvironment. Tumor cells undergo metabolic reprogramming, such as the Warburg effect, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.

Methods: Interference and overexpression experiments were conducted to analyze the in vivo and in vitro effects of USP7 on the growth and glycolysis of tumor cells.

Bidirectional high-speed optical wireless communication with tunable large field of view assisted by liquid crystal metadevice.

Beam-steered infrared (IR) light communication has gained tremendous attention as one of the solutions of congested wireless communication traffic. High performance active beam-steering devices play a crucial role in data allocation and exchange. Conventional beam-steering devices such as spatial light modulator (SLM) and micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) mirror and the current emerging nonmechanical beam-steering metasurface-based devices are challenging to realize a large tunable steering angle beyond several degrees, which significantly hinders the spatial application of optical wireless communications (OWC).

Non-destructive prediction of anthocyanin concentration in whole eggplant peel using hyperspectral imaging.

Accurately detecting the anthocyanin content in eggplant peel is essential for effective eggplant breeding. The present study aims to present a method that combines hyperspectral imaging with advanced computational analysis to rapidly, non-destructively, and precisely measure anthocyanin content in eggplant fruit. For this purpose, hyperspectral images of the fruits of 20 varieties with diverse colors were collected, and the content of the anthocyanin were detected using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods.

Four-channel graphene optical receiver.

Silicon photonics with the advantages of low power consumption and low fabrication cost is a crucial technology for facilitating high-capacity optical communications and interconnects. The graphene photodetectors (GPDs) featuring broadband operation, high speed, and low integration cost can be good additions to the SiGe photodetectors, supporting high-speed photodetection in wavelength bands beyond 1.6 μm on silicon.

Net 30-Tb/s bidirectional IM/DD optical interconnect over 19-core fiber enabled by WDM uplink/downlink twin-SSB PAM-4 transmission.

High-capacity optical interconnects with short reach are hugely demanded driven by the exponential growth of data traffic. In this work, four-channel wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) uplink/downlink twin single-sideband (twin-SSB) signals are implemented by a wavelength selective switch (WSS) at once, which simplifies the structure of multi-channel SSB transmitters and reduces the cost of high-capacity optical interconnect. Compared to a double sideband scheme, it has been experimentally proven that the performance of SSB transmission over standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) at C-band with an ultra-high baud rate has been greatly improved, which has the ability to effectively overcome the power fading induced by chromatic dispersion in an intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) system.

Silicon-based quantum random number generator with untrusted sources and uncharacterized measurements.

Random numbers are essential resources in science and engineering, with indispensable applications in simulation, cybersecurity, and finance. Quantum random number generators (QRNGs), based on the principles of quantum mechanics, ensure genuine randomness and unpredictability. Silicon photonics enables the large-scale deployment of integrated QRNGs due to its low cost, miniaturization, and compatibility with CMOS technology.

Relationship Between the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and Deep Venous Thrombosis After Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: To explore the relationship between the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included data from 382 participants with SCI. The SII was calculated for all participants.

Microneedles based on hyaluronic acid-polyvinyl alcohol with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects promote diabetic wound healing.

Diabetic wound healing has become one of the major clinical burdens due to uncontrolled bacterial growth and an increase in the risk of various microbial infections. Despite excellent antioxidant properties, the poor aqueous solubility of resveratrol (RES) hampers its applicability. In this study, we proposed a novel multifunctional microneedle patch loaded with RES-encapsulated polymeric micelles.

Expression and diagnostic value of serum free light chain in lung cancer.

Objectives: The expression of serum free light chain (FLC) is abnormal in various diseases, but its role in lung cancer remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the expression and diagnostic value of serum FLC in lung cancer.

Methods: A total of 80 lung cancer patients treated at Xiangdong Hospital, Hunan Normal University from January to December 2021 were selected as the lung cancer group.

Identification and validation of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in prostate cancer based on WGCNA.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) represents a significant health challenge for men, and the advancement of the disease often results in a grave prognosis for patients. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of PCa holds paramount importance in patient health management.

Methods: The datasets pertaining to PCa were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.

Efficacy and safety of antidepressants for pain in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: In many countries, pain is the most common indication for use of antidepressants in older adults. We reviewed the evidence from randomized controlled trials on the efficacy and safety of antidepressants, compared to all alternatives for pain in older adults (aged ≥65 years).

Methods: Trials published from inception to 1 February 2024, were retrieved from 13 databases.

Photothermal and Antibacterial PDA@Ag/SerMA Microneedles for Promoting Diabetic Wound Repair.

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a common and severe complication of diabetes characterized by wound neuropathy, ischemia, and susceptibility to infection, making its treatment difficult. Dressings are commonly used in treating diabetic wounds; however, they have disadvantages, including lack of flexibility and mechanical strength, lack of coagulation activity, resistance to biodegradation, and low drug delivery efficiency. Developing more effective strategies for diabetic wound treatment has become a new focus.

Quercetin inhibited LPS-induced cytokine storm by interacting with the AKT1-FoxO1 and Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway in macrophages.

Cytokine storm (CS) emerges as an exacerbated inflammatory response triggered by various factors such as pathogens and excessive immunotherapy, posing a significant threat to life if left unchecked. Quercetin, a monomer found in traditional Chinese medicine, exhibits notable anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. This study endeavors to explore whether quercetin intervention could mitigate CS through a combination of network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation.

Abundant small microplastics hidden in water columns of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea: Distribution, transportation and potential risk.

Microplastics (MPs) pose significant concerns for marine ecological security due to their minuteness and ubiquity. However, comprehensive knowledge on their distribution and fate in seawater columns remains limited. This study investigated the abundances and characteristics of MPs across 3-6 water layers in the South Yellow Sea and East China Sea.

Exploring the clinical and biological significance of the cell cycle-related gene CHMP4C in prostate cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) stands as the second most prevalent malignancy impacting male health, and the disease's evolutionary course presents formidable challenges in the context of patient treatment and prognostic management. Charged multivesicular body protein 4 C (CHMP4C) participates in the development of several cancers by regulating cell cycle functions. However, the role of CHMP4C in prostate cancer remains unclear.

PFC/M1 activation and excitability: a longitudinal cohort study on fatigue symptoms in healthcare workers post-COVID-19.

Background: Fatigue is one of the most common neurological symptoms reported post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. In order to establish effective early intervention strategies, more emphasis should be placed on the correlation between fatigue and cortical neurophysiological changes, especially in healthcare workers, who are at a heightened risk of COVID-19 infection.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 29 COVID-19 medical workers and 24 healthy controls.

Correlation of bilateral M1 hand area excitability and overall functional recovery after spinal cord injury: protocol for a prospective cohort study.

Background: After spinal cord injury (SCI), a large number of survivors suffer from severe motor dysfunction (MD). Although the injury site is in the spinal cord, excitability significantly decreases in the primary motor cortex (M1), especially in the lower extremity (LE) area. Unfortunately, M1 LE area-targeted repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has not achieved significant motor improvement in individuals with SCI.

Robust k -Means-Type Clustering for Noisy Data.

Data clustering is a fundamental machine learning task that seeks to categorize a dataset into homogeneous groups. However, real data usually contain noise, which poses significant challenges to clustering algorithms. In this article, motivated by how the k -means algorithm is derived from a Gaussian mixture model (GMM), we propose a robust k -means-type algorithm, named k -means-type clustering based on t -distribution (KMTD), by assuming that the data points are drawn from a special multivariate t -mixture model (TMM).

Network pharmacological analysis and experimental study of melatonin in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

This study is aimed at exploring the potential mechanisms of melatonin (MT) in treating chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) using network pharmacology and experimental study. The target genes of MT were acquired from the Swiss Target Prediction, SuperPred, SEA, and PharmMapper databases, and the CP/CPPS targets were collected based on OMIM, DisGeNET, and GeneCards databases. The intersection of MT and CP/CPPS target genes was analyzed.

Synergistic effects of Ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation and programmed cell death protein 1 blockade on tumor growth and immune modulation in a xenograft model of esophageal cancer.

Background: Esophageal cancer, especially esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), remains a significant global health challenge with limited survival rates. This study aimed to elucidate the combined effects of immune-modulating nutrition (IMN) with Ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation and anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) treatment on tumor growth and immune responses in a xenograft model of ESCC.

Methods: A total of 36 C57BL/6 mice were used to construct a xenograft model using the mouse esophageal cancer cell line AKR.

Antitumor activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 inhibitor BVD-523 (ulixertinib) on thyroid cancer cells.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate BVD-523 (ulixertinib), an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 inhibitor, for its antitumor potential in thyroid cancer.

Materials And Methods: Ten thyroid cancer cell lines known to carry mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated mutations, including v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) and rat sarcoma virus (RAS) mutations, were examined. Cells were exposed to a 10-fold concentration gradient ranging from 0 to 3000 nM for 5 days.

Analysis of risk factors and development of predictive model for malnutrition in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Malnutrition is a highly prevalent complication in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and it is closely related to the prognosis of patients. Accurate identification of patients at high risk of malnutrition is essential. Therefore, we analyzed the risk factors of malnutrition in patients with TBI and developed a model to predict the risk of malnutrition.