Ultrasound localization microscopy in the diagnosis of breast tumors and prediction of relevant histologic biomarkers associated with prognosis in humans: the protocol for a prospective, multicenter study.

Background: Benign and malignant breast tumors differ in their microvasculature morphology and distribution. Histologic biomarkers of malignant breast tumors are also correlated with the microvasculature. There is a lack of imaging technology for evaluating the microvasculature.

Enhancing vaccine half-life as a novel strategy for improving immune response durability of subunit vaccines.

Vaccines are widely regarded as one of the most effective strategies for combating infectious diseases. However, significant challenges remain, such as insufficient antibody levels, limited protection against rapidly evolving variants, and poor immune durability, particularly in subunit vaccines, likely due to their short in vivo exposure. Recent advances in extending the half-life of protein therapeutics have shown promise in improving drug efficacy, yet whether increasing in vivo persistence can enhance the efficacy of subunit vaccines remains underexplored.

A surrogate ELISA to select high titer human convalescent plasma for treating immunocompromised patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Background: The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants poses a new challenge for the treatment of immunocompromised patients against COVID-19. In this context, high titer COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) is one of the few available therapeutics for these patients. We have revisited the selection of CCP samples and its efficacy against Omicron XBB.

Cilia-Mimic Locomotion of Magnetic Colloidal Collectives Enhanced by Low-Intensity Ultrasound for Thrombolytic Drug Penetration.

Rapid thrombolysis is very important to reduce complications caused by vascular blockage. A promising approach for improving thrombolysis efficiency is utilizing the permanent magnetically actuated locomotion of nanorobots. However, the thrombolytic drug transportation efficiency is challenged by in-plane rotating locomotion and the insufficient drug penetration limits further improvement of thrombolysis.

Application of neurophysiological monitoring in differentiation of hemifacial spasm and post-facial paralysis synkinesis.

Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the electrophysiological features of hemifacial spasm (HFS) and post-facial paralysis synkinesis (PFPS) that contribute to differential diagnosis.

Methods: This study was designed as a retrospective analysis, focusing on 132 patients diagnosed with HFS and 78 patients with PFPS between May and October 2023. Patient data were collected from existing medical records.

Metallic 1T Phase MoS Nanosheets Covalently Functionalized with BBD Molecules for Enhanced Supercapacitor Performances.

Metallic 1T phase molybdenum disulfide (MoS) is among the most promising electrode materials for supercapacitors, but its capacitance and cyclability remain to be improved to meet the constantly increasing energy storage needs in portable electronics. In this study, we present a strategy, covalent functionalization, which achieves the improvement of capacitance of metallic 1T phase MoS. Covalently functionalized by the modifier 4-bromobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate, the metallic MoS membrane exhibits increased interlayer spacing, slightly curled layered architecture, enhanced charge transfer, and improved adsorption capabilities toward electrolyte molecules and ions.

Breviane Spiroditerpenoids with Anti-inflammatory and Antiviral Activities from Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus sp. F59.

Twelve new breviane spiroditerpenoids, namely, chrysobreviones A-L (-), together with seven structurally related analogues (-) were isolated from the EtOAc extract of the fermented cultures of deep-sea-derived fungus sp. F59. These structures including absolute configurations were resolved on the basis of extensive analysis of NMR spectroscopic data and HRESIMS, in association with experimental and calculated ECD data as well as the modified Mosher's method.

High-Affinity Fully Human Anti-EpCAM Antibody with Biased IL-2 Exhibits Potent Antitumor Activity.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are widely used in cancer therapy but often show limited efficacy for solid tumors. Enhancing anti-tumor activity by fusing cytokines to tumor-targeting mAbs, which specifically activate immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, represents a promising strategy. However, the optimal design and therapeutic efficacy of antibody-cytokine fusion formats remain unclear.

A New Management Strategy for Hemimasticatory Spasm.

Background:  Hemimasticatory spasm (HMS) is an uncommon movement disorder of the trigeminal motor rootlet characterized by unilateral, involuntary, and paroxysmal contractions of the muscles of mastication. The mechanisms for HMS are still unclear, and an efficient treatment strategy still needs to be developed. This study aims to investigate the clinical features and surgical treatment of HMS.

Drug modifications: graphene oxide-chitosan loading enhanced anti-amoebic effects of pentamidine and doxycycline.

Acanthamoeba castellanii is the causative pathogen of a severe eye infection, known as Acanthamoeba keratitis and a life-threatening brain infection, named granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Current treatments are problematic and costly and exhibit limited efficacy against Acanthamoeba parasite, especially the cyst stage. In parallel to drug discovery and drug repurposing efforts, drug modification is also an important approach to tackle infections, especially against neglected parasites such as free-living amoebae: Acanthamoeba.

North Atlantic and the Barents Sea variability contribute to the 2023 extreme fire season in Canada.

In the late spring to summer season of 2023, Canada witnessed unprecedented wildfires, with an extensive burning area and smoke spreading as far as the East Coast of the United States and Europe. Here, using multisource data analysis and climate model simulations, we show that an abnormally warm North Atlantic, as well as an abnormally low Barents Sea ice concentration (SIC), are likely key climate drivers of this Canadian fire season, contributing to ~80% of the fire weather anomaly over Canada from June to August 2023. Specifically, the warm North Atlantic forms an anomalous regional zonal cell with ascending air over the Atlantic and descending air encircling Canada, creating hot and dry local conditions.

Fractional change of scattering and absorbing aerosols contributes to Northern Hemisphere Hadley circulation expansion.

The relative amount of scattering and absorbing aerosols is essential in determining the aerosol radiative and climate effects. Using reanalysis datasets and climate simulations, here, we show that changes in the relative amount of scattering and absorbing aerosols in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) high latitudes, manifested as long-term decreasing trends in aerosol single-scattering albedo (SSA), have played an important role in driving the widening and weakening trends of the NH Hadley circulation (HC) since the early 1980s. Decreasing SSA in the NH middle and high latitudes can notably warm the troposphere there, thus reducing the equator-to-pole temperature gradient, increasing static stability in mid-latitude regions, and leading to the widening and weakening trends of NH HC.

Unveiling nodeless unconventional superconductivity proximate to honeycomb-vacancy ordering in the Ir-Sb binary system.

Vacancies in solid-state physics are underexplored in materials with strong electron-electron correlations. Recent research on the Ir-Sb binary system revealed an extended buckled-honeycomb vacancy (BHV) order. Superconductivity arises by suppressing BHV ordering through high-pressure growth with excess Ir atoms or Rh substitution, yet the superconducting pairing nature remains unknown.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of trifluridine/tipiracil in the treatment of heavily pretreated metastatic gastric cancer from the perspective of Chinese healthcare system.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) for heavily pretreated metastatic gastric cancer from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system.

Designs: Based on the overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) data from the Trifluridine/tipiracil versus placebo in patients with heavily pretreated metastatic gastric cancer (TAGS) trial (NCT02500043), a three-state Markov model (PFS, progressed disease and death) was constructed to analyse the cost-effectiveness of FTD/TPI compared with the placebo in heavily pretreated metastatic gastric cancer. Cost and utility were from pricing records and the literature.

Preclinical evaluation and pilot clinical study of [Ga]Ga-NOTA-H006 for non-invasive PET imaging of 5T4 oncofetal antigen.

Purpose: Trophoblast glycoprotein, the so-called 5T4, is an oncofetal antigen expressed in many different cancers. However, no 5T4-specific radioligand is employed in the clinic for non-invasive diagnosis. Thus, the aim of the current study was to develop a PET radiotracer for imaging 5T4 expression in preclinical and clinical stages.

Multiple applications of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in the treatment of orthopedic diseases.

Pharmacologic treatment of orthopedic diseases is a common challenge for clinical orthopedic surgeons, and as an important step in the stepwise treatment of orthopedic diseases, it is often difficult to achieve satisfactory results with existing pharmacologic treatments. Therefore, it is increasingly important to find new ways to effectively improve the treatment pattern of orthopedic diseases as well as to enhance the therapeutic efficacy. It has been found that metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) possess the advantages of high specific surface area, high porosity, chemical stability, tunability of structure and biocompatibility.

Epineurectomy of extracranial facial nerve trunk for non-flaccid sequelae following Bell's palsy: A single-arm trial.

Background: Non-flaccid facial palsy sequelae manifest as sequelae following Bell's palsy. Currently, there are no effective remedies for addressing this issue. In this study, we proposed a new surgical solution, epineurectomy of the extracranial facial nerve trunk, and assessed its safety and efficacy as a potential remedy.

Energy Performance of Zeolite-Based Drying Bead Desiccants Used to Dry Paddy Rice.

This study utilizes differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis to assess the total energy required to regenerate saturated zeolite-based drying beads (DBs) used to dry paddy rice. We quantify the required heat energy for DB regeneration by calculating the area under the curve in a heat flow rate versus time graph, with the end of the regeneration process indicated by stabilization of the DB weight. Our findings suggest that at DB regeneration temperatures ranging from 120 to 350 °C, the process varied from 813 to 22 min, demonstrating that higher temperatures lead to faster regeneration speeds.

Nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 promotes myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through inducing mitochondrial fission factor-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation and inhibiting FUN14 domain containing 1-depedent mitophagy.

This study investigated the mechanism by which NR4A1 regulates mitochondrial fission factor (Mff)-related mitochondrial fission and FUN14 domain 1 (FUNDC1)-mediated mitophagy following cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury(I/R). Our findings showed that the damage regulation was positively correlated with the pathological fission and pan-apoptosis of myocardial cell mitochondria. Compared with wild-type mice (WT), NR4A1-knockout mice exhibited resistance to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and mitochondrial pathological fission, characterized by mitophagy activation.