Lactoferrin-alginate-pectin composite hydrogel: Enhancing Lactobacillus plantarum B072 survival, density and biofilm formation.

This research established a novel ternary composite hydrogel matrix composed of lactoferrin (Lf), sodium alginate (SA), and high ester pectin (HEP) for encapsulation Lactobacillus plantarum B072. The synergy of these components creates a robust, stable, and protective environment for the encapsulation of L. plantarum B072.

Association of abdominal aortic calcification with cognitive impairment in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) frequently have cognitive impairment, which is linked to a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) may have an impact on PD patients' cognitive function.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 110 PD patients, cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and AAC severity was quantified via lateral lumbar radiography (Kauppila method).

ChREBP Mediates Metabolic Remodeling in FBP1-deficient Liver.

The deficiency of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1), a key enzyme of gluconeogenesis, causes fatty liver. However, its underlying mechanism and physiological significance are not fully understood. Here we demonstrate that carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) mediates lipid metabolic remodeling and promotes progressive triglycerides accumulation against metabolic injury in adult FBP1-deficient liver.

Assessing Gut Microbiome Alterations in Children With Allergic Rhinitis: Associations With Allergen-Specific IgE Levels and Sensitization Patterns.

Background: The relationship between gut microbiota composition and allergen exposure in children with allergic rhinitis (AR) remains insufficiently explored, particularly concerning variations in gut microbiota at different allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) levels and the distinction between monosensitization and polysensitization to allergens.

Methods: We employed metagenomic shotgun sequencing to compare the fecal microbiota of 50 healthy controls (HC) to 88 children with AR induced by house dust mites (HDM-AR). We further examined differences in gut microbiota among HDM-AR subgroups with extremely high house dust mite-sIgE (EH-HDM), high HDM-sIgE (H-HDM), as well as between monosensitized (mono-HDM) and polysensitized (poly-HDM) individuals.

Cetuximab-Immunoliposomes Loaded with TGF-β1 siRNA for the Targeting Therapy of NSCLC: Design, and In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) promotes the growth and metastasis of lung cancer cells. Therefore, TGF-β siRNA (siTGF-β) gene therapy was introduced to inhibit the expression of TGF-β at the nucleic acid level to avert tumor growth and metastasis. However, the delivery of naked siRNA is typically restricted by a short half-life in vivo, difficulties in delivery in vivo, and safety issues.

Massively parallel variant-to-function mapping determines functional regulatory variants of non-small cell lung cancer.

Genome-wide association studies have identified thousands of genetic variants associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however, it is still challenging to determine the causal variants and to improve disease risk prediction. Here, we applied massively parallel reporter assays to perform NSCLC variant-to-function mapping at scale. A total of 1249 candidate variants were evaluated, and 30 potential causal variants within 12 loci were identified.

Milk-derived antimicrobial peptide GMp7: Disrupting protein networks for multi-target antibacterial inhibition and enhanced dairy preservation.

Identification and characterization of a novel milk-derived antimicrobial peptide, GMp7 (KVLPVPQ), with potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and a demonstrated safety profile. Therefore, this study revealed the multi-target antibacterial mechanism of GMp7 on S. aureus DC.

Metabolics-Based Study on the Therapeutic Mechanism Behind the Effect of Shenhuang Plaster Applied to the Shenque Acupoint on Gastrointestinal Motility in POI Mice.

Background: Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common postoperative clinical complication that significantly affects postoperative rehabilitation and quality of life in patients and can even produce secondary complications, leading to serious consequences. External treatment using Shenhuang Plaster (SHP) (Shenque acupoint administration) has definite effects and unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of POI, but its mechanism is not completely clear. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic mechanism behind the effect of Shenhuang Plaster applied to the Shenque acupoint on gastrointestinal motility in POI mice based on metabolomics.

Sacubitril/valsartan on right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling and albumin-bilirubin score in heart failure in Chinese patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Objective: Impaired right ventricular (RV)-pulmonary arterial (PA) coupling, calculated by measuring the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), can be used as an early indicator of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Patients suffering from HFrEF experience improvements in left ventricular (LV) function through the administration of sacubitril/valsartan therapy. In addition, the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score was associated with the fluid overload status and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure.

Ultrasonic Microfluidic Method Used for siHSP47 Loaded in Human Embryonic Kidney Cell-Derived Exosomes for Inhibiting TGF-β1 Induced Fibroblast Differentiation and Migration.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and devastating lung disorder. In response to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), normal lung cells proliferate and differentiate into myofibroblasts, which are instrumental in promoting disease progression. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) has been demonstrated to alleviate IPF by blocking collagen synthesis and secretion.

Peptide Profile Changes in Buffalo Milk Cheese during Different Storage Periods and Characterization of Novel Bioactive Peptides through Peptidomics.

This study aimed to investigate the changes in the bioactive peptides (BPs) of buffalo milk cheese (BMC) within 15 days of storage. A total of 3605 peptides were identified in the BMC, with 260 peptides remaining stable for 15 days. Among these, the peak intensities of all reported BPs (9 peptides) increased on the 15th day.

Chlorogenic Acid: A Promising Strategy for Milk Preservation by Inhibiting Growth and Biofilm Formation.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyhydroxy phenolic acid, has been extensively studied for its antimicrobial properties. () threatens food safety by forming biofilms. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of CGA against and its biofilm.

Ice-pop making inspired photothermal ultra-swelling microneedles to facilitate loading and intradermal vaccination of tumor antigen.

Cancer vaccines hold great promise in the fight against cancer. Here, we report an ice-pop making inspired photothermal ultra-swelling microneedle (PUSMN) patch for facilitating and enhancing cancer vaccination. The PUSMN patch consist of an array of microneedles made from photo-crosslinked methacrylated hyaluronic acid and polydopamine, a near-infrared photothermal conversion material, connected to a customized resin handle like an ice-pop stick.

Genetic and audiological determinants of hearing loss in high-risk neonates.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the correlation between prevalent risk factors for high-risk neonates in neonatal intensive care unit and their hearing loss, and to examine the audiological features and genetic profiles associated with different deafness mutations in our tertiary referral center. This research seeks to deepen our understanding of the etiology behind congenital hearing loss.

Methods: We conducted initial hearing screenings, including automated auditory brainstem response, distortion product otoacoustic emission, and acoustic immittance on 443 high-risk neonates within 7 days after birth and 42 days (if necessary) after birth.

Intradermal implantation of methotrexate-loaded puerarin-gelatin hydrogel via bubble-generating microneedles for psoriasis treatment.

Methotrexate (MTX) is a primary treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis, but conventional oral or subcutaneous delivery has limitations, including poor drug targeting, side effects, and low patient compliance. This study introduces implantable hydrogel microneedles (HMNs) made from photo-cross-linked gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and puerarin (Pue), a traditional Chinese medicine, for intradermal and sustained MTX delivery. The ratio of Pue to GelMA significantly influenced the morphology, mechanical strength, MTX release profiles, and degradation behavior of the HMNs.

Association of serum HIF-1α levels with coronary artery calcification in patients of non-dialysis chronic kidney disease.

Vascular calcification is the main cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study aims to investigate the risk factor affecting coronary artery calcification (CAC), and the relationship between serum hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) levels and CAC in non-dialysis CKD patients. One hundred and twenty-three patients were selected in the final analysis.

Glycomic profiling of parathyroid neoplasms via lectin microarray analysis.

Purpose: Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. Diagnosis of PC is often difficult in clinical practice and efficient diagnostic markers are still needed for differential diagnosis. Aberrant glycosylations of glycoproteins were identified with lectin microarray in various cancers, while relevant information is lacking in PC.

Pharmacokinetics and Safety of a Novel Extended-Release Microsphere Formulation of Risperidone in Patients with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder.

Risperidone extended-release injectable suspension (R-ERIS; marketed as RYKINDO) is a novel immediate-release version of risperidone formulated as extended-release microspheres for biweekly intramuscular injection to treat schizophrenia in adults. The pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of R-ERIS were evaluated in a multicenter, randomized, open-label, multiple-dose study in patients with stable schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Eligible patients (N = 108) 18 to 65 years old were randomized (1:1) to receive IM injections of R-ERIS 25 mg or the comparator, a biweekly risperidone long-acting injectable (BW-RLAI; marketed as RISPERDAL CONSTA) 25 mg for a total of 5 injections.

Design of Auto-Adaptive Drug Delivery System for Effective Delivery of Peptide Drugs to Overcoming Mucus and Epithelial Barriers.

Oral administration of peptide represents a promising delivery route, however, it is hindered by the harsh gastrointestinal environment, leading to low in vivo absorption. In this study, auto-adaptive protein corona-AT 1002-cationic liposomes (Pc-AT-CLs) are constructed with the characteristic of hydrophilic and electrically neutral surface properties for the encapsulation of liraglutide. BSA protein corona is used to coat AT-CLs reducing the adherence of mucus, and may fall off after penetrating the mucus layer.

Analysis of risk factors for refractory peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Objective: To explore the risk factors for refractory peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 130 patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis (PD) and received peritonitis treatment at the Renal Disease Center of Beijing Luhe Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University from January 1, 2016 to January 30, 2023. According to clinical treatment results, patients with refractory peritonitis were classified as the refractory group (n=52 cases), and those with non-refractory peritonitis were classified as the non-refractory group (n=78 cases).

Multi-arm quinoxaline-based acceptors formed by π-conjugation extension for efficient organic solar cells.

Manipulating the conjugated backbone of small molecule acceptors (SMAs) is of particular importance in developing efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). Recently, trimers and other multi-arm SMAs have been found to be able to provide more intermolecular interaction, demonstrating excellent molecular stacking and device performance. However, the synthesis of this type of SMA usually relies on tristin or polystin compounds.

Dynamically Precise Constructing Dual-Atom Pd Catalyst:A Monodisperse Catalyst With High Stability for Semi-Hydrogenation of Alkyne.

Dual-atom catalysts (DACs) originate unprecedented reactivity and maximize resource efficiency. The fundamental difficulty lies in the high complexity and instability of DACs, making the rational design and targeted performance optimization a grand challenge. Here, an atomically dispersed Pd DAC with an in situ generated Pd─Pd bond is constructed by a dynamic strategy, which achieves high activity and selectivity for semi-hydrogenation of alkynes and functional internal acetylene, twice higher than commercial Lindlar catalyst.

[Clinical anatomy of the free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and its application in the restoration of giant defects of the head and neck].

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility and effect of free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap in the reconstruction of giant head and neck defects.

Methods: Free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap on the cadaver was simulated dissected, and measured by Image-Pro Plus 6.0 to assess the feasibility of repairing giant head and neck defects.