Modulation of the Nernst Thermoelectrics by Regulating the Anomalous Hall and Nernst Angles.

The large anomalous Nernst effect in magnetic Weyl semimetals is one of the most intriguing transport phenomena, which draws significant attention for its potential applications in topological thermoelectrics. Despite frequent reports of substantial anomalous Nernst conductivity (ANC), methods to optimize Nernst thermoelectrics remain limited. The research reveals that the magnitude of the ANC is directly related to the sum of the anomalous Nernst and Hall angles.

Research progress of acupuncture and moxibustion for the enhanced synergism of chemotherapy.

The application of acupuncture and moxibustion in alleviating the adverse effects of chemotherapy drugs has been widely recognized at home and abroad, but the studies have been rarely summarized for the enhanced anti-tumor effect and its mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion to synergize the chemotherapy drugs. This paper reviewed the clinical and basic studies on the synergism of chemotherapy with acupuncture and moxibustion in recent years. It was found that chemotherapy synergized with acupuncture and moxibustion can suppress cancer to a certain extent and improve the quality of life in patients.

Water Transport-Induced Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation Facilitates Gelation for Controllable and Facile Fabrication of Physically Crosslinked Microgels.

Physically crosslinked microgels (PCMs) offer a biocompatible platform for various biomedical applications. However, current PCM fabrication methods suffer from their complexity and poor controllability, due to their reliance on altering physical conditions to initiate gelation and their dependence on specific materials. To address this issue, a novel PCM fabrication method is devised, which employs water transport-induced liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to trigger the intermolecular interaction-supported sol-gel transition within aqueous emulsion droplets.

Optimized New Shengmai Powder modulation of cAMP/Rap1A signaling pathway attenuates myocardial fibrosis in heart failure.

Background: Optimized New Shengmai Powder (ONSMP) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula with significant anti-heart failure and myocardial fibrosis effects, but the specific molecular biological mechanisms are not fully understood.

Methods: In this study, we first used network pharmacology to analyze the ONSMP's active ingredients, core signaling pathways, and core targets. Second, calculate the affinity and binding modes of the ONSMP components to the core targets using molecular docking.

Moxibustion for the Treatment of Cancer and its Complications: Efficacies and Mechanisms.

Cancer treatment remains a significant challenge for the medical community, and improved therapies are necessary to treat cancer and its associated complications. Current anticancer therapies often have significant side effects, underscoring the need for new treatment options. Moxibustion is a representative external therapy used in traditional Chinese medicine.

The nucleotide receptor STING translocates to the phagosomes to negatively regulate anti-fungal immunity.

STING (stimulator of interferon genes) exerts protective cellular responses to viral infection via induction of interferon production and autophagy. Here, we report the role of STING in modulating the immune responses toward fungal infection. Upon Candida albicans stimulation, STING transited alongside the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the phagosomes.

Obesity contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma development via immunosuppressive microenvironment remodeling.

It is generally recognized that the initiation of obesity-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is closely associated with hepatic inflammation. However, the paradoxical role of inflammation in the initiation and progression of HCC is highlighted by the fact that the inflammatory HCC is accompanied by significant immune effector cells infiltration compared to non-inflammatory HCC and HCC with enhanced immune response exhibits better survival. Importantly, the cancer progression has been primarily attributed to the immunosuppression, which can also be induced by obesity.

Targeting macrophagic 17-HSD7 by fenretinide for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and macrophage polarization plays an important role in its pathogenesis. However, which molecule regulates macrophage polarization in NAFLD remains unclear. Herein, we showed NAFLD mice exhibited increased 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7 (17-HSD7) expression in hepatic macrophages concomitantly with elevated M1 polarization.

The effect and safety of low-dose Tripterygium wilfordii in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy: A meta-analysis.

Background: This review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF) in treating type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN) and provide high-level evidence supporting its normalized application.

Methods: Seven electronic databases were queried to locate trials that qualify. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about low-dose TWHF long-term treatment of type 2 DN are included.

Pentoxifylline attenuates nonalcoholic fatty liver by inhibiting hepatic macrophage polarization to the M1 phenotype.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), recognized as one of the most common causes of chronic liver diseases, is increasingly prevalent worldwide. Pentoxifylline, a derivative of theobromine extracted from Theobroma cacao and tea, has been studied for effects on blood viscosity, tissue oxygenation and inflammation. However, its effects on hepatic lipid accumulation and the potential mechanisms remain unclear.

Sensitive and handy detection of pesticide residue on fruit surface based on single microsphere surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy technique.

Hypothesis: Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has become an emerging and reliable tool for detecting pesticide residues due to its high sensitivity, fast testing speed and easy sample handling. SERS active substrates are the key to achieve efficient and sensitive detection. However, for the most widely used noble metal nanoparticles, there are problems of high noble metal nanoparticle usage and random aggregation.

Asthma susceptibility in prenatal nicotine-exposed mice attributed to β-catenin increase during CD4 T cell development.

Cigarette smoke is a common global environmental pollutant. Asthma, the most frequent allergic airway disease, is related to maternal exposure to cigarette smoke. Our previous studies demonstrated that prenatal exposure to nicotine (PNE), the major active product of smoking, impairs fetal thymopoiesis and CD4 T cell development after birth.

Preparation of corn ACE inhibitory peptide-ferrous chelate by dual-frequency ultrasound and its structure and stability analyses.

In order to improve iron chelating ability and retain the activity of functional peptide, corn peptide was chelated with iron to form corn ACE inhibitory peptide-ferrous chelate (CP-Fe) treated by dual-frequency ultrasound. Furthermore, the chelating mechanism was revealed by analyzing various structural changes, and the stability was further evaluated. Under this study condition, the iron-binding capacity of corn ACE inhibitory peptide (CP) and chelate yield reached 66.

RhBMP-2-Loaded PLGA/Titanium Nanotube Delivery System Synergistically Enhances Osseointegration.

Although Ti-based implants have been widely used, osseointegration failure can also be found between implants and the surrounding bone tissue, especially in aged patients or in patients with certain systemic diseases. Therefore, in this research, we establish a sustained rhBMP-2 delivery system on a titanium implant surface, an anodic oxidation TiO nanotube layer combined with the PLGA film, to enhance osseointegration. This designed system was characterized as follows: surface topography characterization by SEM and AFM; rhBMP-2 release; and the ability to influence MC3T3 cell adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation .

Augmented autophagy suppresses thymocytes development via Bcl10/p-p65 pathway in prenatal nicotine exposed fetal mice.

Tobacco smoke is a common global environmental pollutant. Maternal tobacco smoke/nicotine exposure has long-term toxic effects on immune organs. We previously found that prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE)-induced programmed immune diseases caused by fetal thymic hypoplasia, but the mechanism still unknown.

Tumor-Associated Macrophages: Recent Insights and Therapies.

Macrophages, which have functions of engulfing and digesting foreign substances, can clear away harmful matter, including cellular debris and tumor cells. Based on the condition of the internal environment, circulating monocytes give rise to mature macrophages, and when they are recruited into the tumor microenvironment and in suitable conditions, they are converted into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Generally, macrophages grow into two main groups called classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternatively activated macrophages (M2).

Biocompatible graphene-based nanoagent with NIR and magnetism dual-responses for effective bacterial killing and removal.

Antibiotics have been widely used in clinical applications to treat pathogenic infections at present, but the problem of drug-resistance associated with the abuse of antibiotics has become a large threat to human beings. Herein, we developed an antibacterial nanoagent by coating quaternized chitosan (QCS) on the surface of FeO nanoparticles-anchored graphene oxide (GO), which enabled QCS and GO to achieve synergistic effects on killing the drug-resistant bacteria. Systematical antibacterial experiments showed that the prepared nanoagent had antibacterial ability, which was significantly enhanced after the introduction of near-infrared (NIR).

Effect of Radix isatidis polysaccharide on alleviating insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus cells and rats.

Objectives: The objective of this paper was to explore the effects of Radix isatidis polysaccharide (RIP) extracted from Radix isatis on alleviating insulin resistance.

Methods: The insulin resistance models of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and type 2 diabetic rats were established to evaluate the insulin resistance activity of RIP.

Key Findings: Radix isatidis polysaccharide within the concentration range of 25-100 μg/ml could reduce cell supernatant glucose and TNF-α levels (P < 0.