Effects of Polysaccharide on Gut Microbiota, the Intestinal Mucosal Barrier, and Inflammation in Diabetic Mice.

Polysaccharides produced by the edible fungus can regulate blood sugar levels and may represent a suitable candidate for the treatment of diabetes and its complications. However, there is limited information available about the mechanism of how polysaccharide (CCP) might improve diabetic conditions. This study investigated its effects on the intestinal microbiota, intestinal mucosal barrier, and inflammation in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induced by streptozotocin, and its potential mechanisms.

HMOX1-LDHB interaction promotes ferroptosis by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction in foamy macrophages during advanced atherosclerosis.

Advanced atherosclerosis is the pathological basis for acute cardiovascular events, with significant residual risk of recurrent clinical events despite contemporary treatment. The death of foamy macrophages is a main contributor to plaque progression, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing demonstrated that massive iron accumulation in advanced atherosclerosis promoted foamy macrophage ferroptosis, particularly in low expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) foamy macrophages.

Traditional Chinese medicine-based drug delivery systems for anti-tumor therapies.

The treatment of tumors continues to be significantly challenging. The presence of multiple modalities, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, the therapeutic outcomes remain limited and are often associated with adverse effects and inconsistent efficacy across cancer types. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of active components from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for their anti-cancer properties, which are attributable to multi-targeted mechanisms and broad pharmacological actions.

Programmable Circular Multispecific Aptamer-Drug Engager to Broadly Boost Antitumor Immunity.

Safely and effectively harnessing innate immunity to boost cancer immunotherapy is promising yet challenging. Hence, we have developed a series of programmable aptamer-based multispecific engagers by encoding various artificial aptamer-drug codons with DNA-templated polymerization, aiming to broadly boost innate and adaptive immunity for antitumor therapy. All circular single-stranded multivalent aptamer-drug conjugates (os-mvApDCs) had a dendritic structure, precise size, and excellent stability, enabling prolonged blood circulation, targeted tumor accumulation, and rapid multireceptor-mediated endocytosis.

The adaptive immune system in the retina of diabetics.

As the prevalence of diabetes mellitus increases each year, its most common microvascular complication, diabetic retinopathy (DR), is also on the rise. DR is now regarded as an inflammatory disease in which innate immunity plays a crucial role, and a large number of innate immune cells with associated cytokines are involved in the pathologic process of DR. The role of adaptive immunity in DR is seldom mentioned, probably due to the general perception of the immune privileged environment of the retina; however, in recent years there has been a gradual increase in research on the role of adaptive immunity in DR, and with the discovery of the retinal lymphatic system, it seems that the role of adaptive immunity can no longer be ignored.

Aberrant Lipid Metabolism and Complement Activation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) stands as a leading cause of severe visual impairment and blindness among the elderly globally. As a multifactorial disease, AMD's pathogenesis is influenced by genetic, environmental, and age-related factors, with lipid metabolism abnormalities and complement system dysregulation playing critical roles. This review delves into recent advancements in understanding the intricate interaction between these two crucial pathways, highlighting their contribution to the disease's progression through chronic inflammation, drusen formation, and retinal pigment epithelium dysfunction.

Programmable Circular Multivalent Nanobody-Targeting Chimeras (mNbTACs) for Multireceptor-Mediated Protein Degradation and Targeted Drug Delivery.

Multispecific therapeutics hold significant promise in drug delivery, protein degradation, and cell recruitment to address clinical issues of tumor heterogeneity, resistance, and immune evasion. However, their modular engineering remains challenging. We developed a targeted degradation platform, termed multivalent nanobody-targeting chimeras (mNbTACs), by encoding diverse nanobody codons on a circular template using DNA printing technology.

Nasopharyngeal carriage of among children aged 30 days to <60 months in Beijing and Shenzhen, China (2018-2021) during pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Objectives: To describe the carriage rate, serotype distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of () nasopharyngeal (NP) isolates among healthy children aged 30 days to <60 months in the cities of Beijing and Shenzhen during 2018-2021.

Methods: A NP swab sample was collected among four annual cohorts of healthy children at routine well-child visits. was identified by culture, optochin sensitivity and bile solubility, serotypes determined by latex agglutination and Quellung, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed using E-test strips.

The systemic inflammatory response index is associated with chronic kidney disease in patients with hypertension: data from the national health and nutrition examination study 1999-2018.

Background: Studies have shown that in hypertensive patients, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a poor prognosis. Inflammation is a highly important factor in the progression of CKD. Detecting systemic inflammation and intervening promptly in patients with hypertension may help reduce the risk of CKD.

Virucidal effects of eucalyptus essential oil on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

Currently, the efficacy of vaccination for preventing and controlling PRRSV is insufficient. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel effective preventive strategies. This study aimed to investigate the antiviral effect of Eucalyptus essential oil (EEO) against PRRSV .

Directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into conjunctival epithelial cells.

Severe conjunctival damage can lead to extensive ocular cicatrisation, fornix shortening, and even ocular surface failure, resulting in significant vision impairment. Conjunctival reconstruction is the primary therapeutic strategy for these clinical conjunctival diseases. However, there have been limited studies on induced differentiation of conjunctival epithelial cells derived from stem cells.

Optimizing stormwater runoff treatment: The role of two-stage tandem rain gardens.

Regarded as a superior urban stormwater management solution, rain gardens can effectively store rainfall runoff and purify water quality. However, the efficiency of traditional rain gardens (TRG) in regulating runoff and removing nitrogen and phosphorus varies under different hydrological conditions. In this study, the TRG was retrofitted to construct a two-stage tandem rain garden (TTRG).

How to Stimulate Continuous Innovative Knowledge Contribution? Mediation by Self-Efficacy and Moderation by Knowledge Level.

Taking the perspective of innovative knowledge management, this study aimed to investigate the stimulation mechanism of continuous innovative knowledge contribution (CIKC). Through a quantitative study conducted in an open innovation community, we modeled a stimulus-organism-response framework to conduct a path analysis from the external environment to internal cognition, and then to knowledge contribution, and filled in the gaps in the mediating and moderating mechanisms. We focused on the stimuli of knowledge contribution, in view of both quantity and quality.

Ultraflat single-crystal hexagonal boron nitride for wafer-scale integration of a 2D-compatible high-κ metal gate.

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has emerged as a promising protection layer for dielectric integration in the next-generation large-scale integrated electronics. Although numerous efforts have been devoted to growing single-crystal hBN film, wafer-scale ultraflat hBN has still not been achieved. Here, we report the epitaxial growth of 4 in.

Shared decision-making, treatment decision regret, and vision-related quality of life among parents of children with myopia: An online survey in Taiwan.

Objectives: To investigate the relationships among myopia treatment, decision regret, shared decision-making, and vision-related quality of life among parents of 6-12-year-old children with myopia.

Methods: An online Google Forms questionnaire was developed using a cross-sectional design and distributed between January 16 and August 22, 2023. Parents of 6-12-year-old children with myopia were recruited through school nurses working in Taiwan.

Efficacy comparison of immune combination therapies in subgroups for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients: Systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: There is a lack of precision in the immunotherapy strategy tailored for patients exhibiting diverse clinical characteristics. This study aims to employ a rigorous network meta-analysis (NMA) approach to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of immune-combination therapies among patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, taking into account their varying clinico-characteristics.

Methods: Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases.

Acoustic vibration promotes in vitro expansion of human embryonic stem cells.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of acoustic vibration on the pluripotency of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and evaluate cell proliferation and self-renewal ability post-treatment.

Methods: The human ES cell line H1 was used for the experiments. hESCs were treated with an acoustic vibration device.

Attitude and utilization of ChatGPT among registered nurses: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: This study explores the influencing factors of attitudes and behaviors toward use of ChatGPT based on the Technology Acceptance Model among registered nurses in Taiwan.

Background: The complexity of medical services and nursing shortages increases workloads. ChatGPT swiftly answers medical questions, provides clinical guidelines, and assists with patient information management, thereby improving nursing efficiency.

Associations between oral health and depression and anxiety: A cross-sectional and prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank.

Aim: To investigate the associations between oral health and depression, anxiety and their comorbidity in the UK Biobank cohort.

Materials And Methods: Oral health problems were self-reported at baseline. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed using the Mental Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) in a cross-sectional study.

Multiplexed bacterial pathogen detection and clinical characteristics of orthopedic infection in hospitalized patients.

Introduction: Accurate identification of the etiology of orthopedic infection is very important for correct and timely clinical management, but it has been poorly studied. In the current study we explored the association of multiple bacterial pathogens with orthopedic infection.

Methods: Hospitalized orthopedic patients were enrolled in a rural hospital in Qingdao, China.

Association of coagulase-negative staphylococci with orthopedic infections detected by in-house multiplex real-time PCR.

Introduction: Clinical significance of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) has been gradually acknowledged in both healthcare and clinical research, but approaches for their precise discrimination at the species level remain scarce. The current study aimed to evaluate the association of CoNS with orthopedic infections, where accurate and prompt identification of etiology is crucial for appropriate diagnosis and treatment decision-making.

Methods: A 16S rRNA-based quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was developed for the detection of genus and two panels of 3-plex qPCR assays for further differentiation of six CoNS species with remarkable clinical significance, including , , , , , and .