Berberine promotes primordial follicle activation and increases ovulated oocyte quantity in aged mice.

Background: Primordial follicle activation is vital for the reproduction of women with advanced age and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). But there is a lack of effective and safe therapeutic options to activate their primordial follicles in vivo. Berberine (BBR) possesses multiple pharmacological properties, but its impact on primordial follicle activation remains unclear.

Engineering of lattice defects in supported Cu-Mn-Ce composite oxide catalysts through ultra-low Pd doping and plasma treatment for catalytic oxidation of hexane.

Despite the low cost of supported non-precious metal catalysts, their catalytic activity is significantly lower than that of precious metal catalysts in the catalytic oxidation reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In order to enhance the catalytic activity of supported non-precious metal catalysts, we introduced an ultra-low loading of palladium into the existing catalytic system and employed a plasma preparation process instead of the conventional impregnation method. The approach significantly improves the catalytic activity of the active sites on the catalyst.

Pemigatinib combined with immunotherapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy for FGFR2 fusion-positive advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with brain metastasis: a Case Report.

Background: FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements occur in 13%-20% of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). Pemigatinib, a representative FGFR inhibitor, is commonly used for targeted therapy in such patients. Additionally, brain metastasis (BM) is extremely rare in advanced iCCA, and there is currently no standard treatment strategy for advanced iCCA patients with BM.

Effect of Rice Protein on the Gelatinization and Retrogradation of Rice Starch with Different Moisture Content.

Rice protein and moisture content are pivotal in the gelatinization and retrogradation processes of rice starch. This study aimed to explore the influence of rice protein on these processes by preparing rice starch gels with varying moisture levels and incorporating rice protein. At a high moisture content of 1:6, rice protein exhibited a minimal effect on the gelatinization properties of rice starch but significantly retarded the retrogradation of the starch gel.

Sensors for surveillance of RNA viruses: a One Health perspective.

RNA viruses, especially those capable of cross-species transmission, pose a serious threat to human, animal, and environmental health, as exemplified by the 2024 outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus in cattle, unpasteurised milk, and workers on dairy farms in the USA. This escalating risk of a new RNA virus pandemic highlights the urgent need to implement One Health strategies. However, the centralised virus detection systems currently in use fall short of meeting the required level of virus surveillance and infection diagnosis, particularly in resource-limited regions.

A Multifunctional miRNA Delivery System Based on Tetrahedral Framework Nucleic Acids for Regulating Inflammatory Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells and Attenuating Periodontitis Bone Loss.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to periodontal tissue damage and tooth loss. Therefore, controlling inflammatory bone loss and promoting osteogenesis is a crucial challenge clinically. MicroRNA (miRNA) based gene therapy has shown substantial prospects in recent years, but its application has been limited due to structural instability and easy degradation by enzymes.

PPIH Expression Correlates with Tumor Aggressiveness and Immune Dysregulation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) features a complex pathophysiology and unpredictable immunosuppressive microenvironment, which limit the effectiveness of traditional therapies and lead to poor patient outcomes. Understanding the immune characteristics of HCC is essential for elucidating the immune microenvironment and developing more effective treatments. This study investigates the role of Peptidyl-prolyl isomerase H (PPIH) in HCC by analyzing its expression, prognosis, methylation levels, and relationship with immune cell infiltration.

Accuracy verification of protoacoustic measurements in a heterogeneous phantom by an optical hydrophone.

Background: Protoacoustics has emerged as a promising real-time range measurement method for proton therapy. Optical hydrophones (OHs) are considered suitable to detect protoacoustic waves owing to their ultracompact size and high sensitivity. In our previous research, we demonstrated that the time-of-arrival (TOA) measured by an OH showed good agreement with the simulated ground truth in a homogeneous medium.

Geochemical and microbial controls on methane distribution in coastal sediments: A case study from the Bohai and South Yellow Seas, China.

CH is among the most potent greenhouse gases. In this study, we investigated one of the important CH production hotspots, the continental margins. We examined the spatiotemporal distributions of CH in sediment cores from the Bohai and South Yellow Seas, China.

Confined Synthesis of 2D Molybdenum Diphosphide Nanosheets via Gas-Solid Transformation.

Molybdenum diphosphide (MoP), a topological semimetal, possesses distinctive properties and applications in catalysis, energy storage, and condensed matter physics. However, synthesizing high-purity MoP is complex and often results in undesired stoichiometric by-products. Additionally, the intrinsic orthorhombic crystal structure makes it difficult to synthesize MoP in a 2D morphology, which is desirable for device and energy applications.

Discovery and engineering of the antibody response to a prominent skin commensal.

The ubiquitous skin colonist Staphylococcus epidermidis elicits a CD8 T cell response pre-emptively, in the absence of an infection. However, the scope and purpose of this anti-commensal immune program are not well defined, limiting our ability to harness it therapeutically. Here, we show that this colonist also induces a potent, durable, and specific antibody response that is conserved in humans and non-human primates.

A Model of Death Preparedness in Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Grounded Theory Study.

Background: Death preparedness in patients with advanced cancer is an important prerequisite for improving the quality of death. However, there are insufficient studies on death preparedness in patients with advanced cancer, and the level of death preparedness needs to be further improved.

Aim: To develop a model of death preparedness in patients with advanced cancer.

Vascular smooth muscle cell PRDM16 regulates circadian variation in blood pressure.

Disruptions of blood pressure (BP) circadian variation are closely associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Thus, gaining insights into the molecular mechanisms of BP circadian variation is essential for comprehending BP regulation. Human genetic analyses suggest that PR domain-containing protein 16 (PRDM16), a transcription factor highly expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), is significantly associated with BP-related traits.

Soil nitrogen biogeochemistry and hydrological characteristics shape the nitrate levels in a river.

The high levels of nitrate (NO) in the surface water have contributed to eutrophication and other eco-environmental damages worldwide. Although the excessive NO concentrations in rivers were often attributed to anthropogenic activities, some undisturbed or slightly disturbed rivers also had high NO levels. This study utilized multi-pronged approaches (i.

Endocrine pathology in young rabbits with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the transmembrane conductance regulator gene. CF-related pancreatic lesions are known to cause exocrine dysfunctions such as pancreatic insufficiency, and endocrine dysfunctions, including CF related diabetes. In a previous study, we generated CF rabbits using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing.

Non-Contact Cross-Person Activity Recognition by Deep Metric Ensemble Learning.

In elderly monitoring or indoor intrusion detection, the recognition of human activity is a key task. Owing to several strengths of Wi-Fi-based devices, including their non-contact and privacy protection, these devices have been widely applied in the area of smart homes. By the deep learning technique, numerous Wi-Fi-based activity recognition methods can realize satisfied recognitions, however, these methods may fail to recognize the activities of an unknown person without the learning process.

Protective factors associated with reduced substance use and depression among gender minority teens.

Gender minority (GM) students are at high risk for substance use and depression. This study explores the role of protective factors in reducing rates of substance use and depression based on high school surveys. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between exposures and outcomes.

Complicated grief following the perinatal loss: a systematic review.

Background: Perinatal loss is a severe stressor that usually triggers distressing symptoms of acute grief. Moreover, acute grief can worsen with time and become a chronic debilitating state known as complicated grief. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on this topic.