CT-based vertebral three-dimensional Hounsfield unit can predict the new vertebral fracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in postmenopausal women: a retrospective study.

Background: Vertebral Hounsfield unit (HU) were regarded as a new way to predict fragility fracture. However, HU values were measured in a single plane, which is not accurate for the entire vertebral body. This study aimed to create a new CT-based metric for assessing bone mineral density, three-dimensional Hounsfield unit value (3D-HU), and to evaluate its effect in independently predicting new vertebral fracture (NVF) after percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) in postmenopausal women.

Polystyrene microplastics impaired the function of leydig cells via GRP78/PERK/CHOP mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress in vivo and in vitro.

The toxic effect of Polystyrene Microplastics (PS-MPs) on leydig cells were found in male mice, but the toxic mechanism was not clear. The PS-MPs exposure mice model and cell model were established in this study to explore the leydig cells toxic mechanism. In vivo study, the leydig cells toxicity in male mice was evaluated exposed to PS-MPs for 28 days.

A Serial Perspective on Photometric Stereo of Filtering and Serializing Spatial Information.

In this paper, we introduce a novel method of Filtering and Serializing Spatial Information to tackle uncalibrated photometric stereo tasks, termed FSSI-PS. Photometric stereo aims to recover surface normals from images with varying lighting and is crucial for tasks like 3D reconstruction and defect detection. Current methods in complex surface reconstruction are costly and inaccurate due to redundant feature representations from GCN or Transformer modules, caused by the weak global information extraction capability of GCNs or the large computational cost of Transformers.

Efficient silver nanowires/cellulose electrothermal material with enhanced stability for printable chameleon-inspired camouflage device.

Stimuli-responsive camouflage systems with printable architectures and long-term stability are of paramount importance in advanced military applications. In such adaptive camouflage devices, the stimulus-responsive layer that modulates chromatic properties plays a pivotal role. A critical challenge in electrothermal-actuated camouflage systems lies in mitigating the aggregation and enhancing the temporal stability of solution-processed silver nanowires (AgNWs) employed as the active stimulus layer.

Bone marrow immune cells and drug resistance in acute myeloid leukemia.

In recent years, the relationship between the immunosuppressive niche of the bone marrow and therapy resistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has become a research focus. The abnormal number and function of immunosuppressive cells, including regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), along with the dysfunction and exhaustion of immunological effector cells, including cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), dendritic cells (DCs) and natural killer cells (NKs), can induce immune escape of leukemia cells and are closely linked to therapy resistance in leukemia. This article reviews the research progress on the relationship between immune cells in the marrow microenvironment and chemoresistance in AML, aiming to provide new ideas for the immunotherapy of AML.

The calculated and the rapid equilibrium dialyzed human serum free testosterone by LC-MS/MS and their performances in PCOS diagnosis.

Objective: To compare the calculated and the rapid equilibrium dialyzed (ED) human serum free testosterone (FT) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and to explore their performances in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis.

Methods: A rapid ED LC-MS/MS method for serum FT was established and validated for linearity, lower limit of the measuring interval (LLMI), imprecision, trueness, stability, dilution, matrix specificity and carryover. The validated ED LC-MS/MS (ED-FT) was compared with calculated LC-MS/MS method from Vermeulen's formula (cFT) for FT measurement in 139 PCOS patients and 100 healthy controls.

A glucose-enriched lung pre-metastatic niche triggered by matrix stiffness-tuned exosomal miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Apart from the classic features, it is almost unknown whether there exist other new pathological features during pre-metastatic niche formation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our previous works have highlighted the contribution of increased matrix stiffness to lung pre-metastatic niche formation and metastasis in HCC. However, whether increased matrix stiffness influences glucose metabolism and supply of lung pre-metastatic niche remains largely unclear.

Screening potential antileukemia ingredients from sweet potato: integration of metabolomics analysis, network pharmacology, and experimental validation.

Background: Active dietary flavonoids are a promising resource for novel drug discovery. Sweet potato, a widely cultivated functional crop, is abundant in flavonoids. However, the active ingredients associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment and their underlying mechanisms have not been reported to date.

Who Are Midlife Women Family Caregivers With Negative Attitudes Toward Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care?

Background: Midlife women play a major role as the family caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer's disease (PLAD). Cultural differences are frequently the major reason for the high risk faced by racial and ethnic minority family caregivers. However, little is known about the characteristics of midlife women family caregivers that are linked to their negative attitudes toward Alzheimer's disease and dementia care.

Construction of organic heterojunctions as metal-free photocatalysts for enhancing water splitting and phenol degradation by regulating charge flow.

Metal-free photocatalysts derived from earth-abundant elements have drawn significant attention owing to their ample supply for potential large-scale applications. However, it is still challenging to achieve highly efficient photocatalytic performance owing to their sluggish charge separation and lack of active catalytic sites. Herein, we designed and constructed a series of covalently bonded organic semiconductors to enhance water splitting and phenol degradation.

Development and characterization of in vitro inducible immortalization of a murine microglia cell line for high throughput studies.

There are few in vitro models available to study microglial physiology in a homeostatic context. Recent approaches include the human induced pluripotent stem cell model, but these can be challenging for large-scale assays and may lead to batch variability. To advance our understanding of microglial biology while enabling scalability for high-throughput assays, we developed an inducible immortalized murine microglial cell line using a tetracycline expression system.

Templating effect of monoglycerides in controlling the spatial distribution of solid fat crystals within double emulsions.

The spatial distribution of fat crystals significantly impacts the stability and digestion properties of emulsions. This study investigated the templating effect of monoglycerides in controlling the spatial distribution of solid fat crystallization within double emulsions. Double emulsions were formulated with glyceryl monostearate (GMS), glyceryl monolaurate (GML), glyceryl monooleate (GMO), beeswax (BW), glyceryl distearate (GDS), and glyceryl tristearate (GTS) in the oil phase.

Telomere-to-telomere genome and resequencing of 254 individuals reveal evolution, genomic footprints in Asian icefish, Protosalanx chinensis.

The Asian icefish, Protosalanx chinensis, has undergone extensive colonization in various waters across China for decades due to its ecological and physiological significance as well as its economic importance in the fishery resource. Here, we decoded a telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome for P. chinensis combining PacBio HiFi long reads and ultra-long ONT (nanopore) reads and Hi-C data.

Bioinspired Carbon-Silver Sulfide Scaffold with Synergistic Enhanced Light Capture and Anti-Biofouling Property for Stable Solar Steam Generation.

Carbon material is a hot topic in solar evaporation. Due to the widely distributed microorganisms in natural water, biofouling has limited the actual application of solar evaporation material. Although carbon material lacks of nutrition for microbe, it is still vulnerable to biofouling because of the efficient pollutant adsorption property.

Metabolic Reprogramming of Macrophages by Biomimetic Melatonin-Loaded Liposomes Effectively Attenuates Acute Gouty Arthritis in a Mouse Model.

Gouty arthritis is characterized by an acute inflammatory response triggered by monosodium urate (MSU) crystals deposited in the joints and periarticular tissues. Current treatments bring little effects owing to serious side effects, necessitating the exploration of new and safer therapeutic options. Macrophages play a critical role in the initiation, progression, and resolution of acute gout, with the cellular profiles closely linked to their activation and polarization.

A Novel Nanoscale Phase-Change Contrast Agent Evaluates the Hepatic Fibrosis Through Targeting Hepatic Stellate Cell Platelet-Derived Factor Beta Receptor by Ultrasound in Vitro.

Objective: As a reversible condition at its early stages, liver fibrosis can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, underscoring the importance of early detection for preventing severe outcomes and improving prognosis. To address this issue, we developed a platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ)-targeted nanoscale phase-change contrast agent to target activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSC) and enable ultrasound imaging as a foundation for the early evaluation of liver fibrosis.

Methods: PDGFR-β antibody-modified phase-change contrast agents (PPCAs) were synthesized utilizing film hydration and ultrasonic emulsification with perfluoropentane (PFP) encapsulated.

Heterogeneity in Diameters of Protein Fibrils and Chitosan for a High CO/O Selectivity and Desired Mechanical Properties of Edible Bioplastic Films.

Edible bioplastics offer a possible approach with great potential to address the challenges of plastic and microplastic crisis and the issue of food waste. In the present study, in situ, induction of fibrillation of legume proteins within chitosan matrix is found to form edible bioplastic films with a high CO/O selectivity coefficient of ≈130. Desirable mechanical properties, including a high elongation at break of ≈230%, are realized to fabricate shopping bags, which can be filled with 5 kg of fruits.

PhPO-Modulated Kdo Glycosidation for Stereoselective Synthesis of β-Kdo-Containing Disaccharides.

A PhPO-modulated β-selective Kdo glycosidation approach is developed for the stereoselective synthesis of β-Kdo glycosides. With the readily available per--acetylated Kdo ynenoate as the donor, the glycosylation with a series of alcohols in the presence of PhPAuOTf and PhPO in toluene at low temperatures afforded the desired Kdo glycosides with good to excellent β-selectivities. Furthermore, the PhPO-modulated approach was effectively applied to the synthesis of β-(2→4)- and β-(2→8)-linked Kdo-Kdo disaccharides for further biological studies.

TRPV4 drives the progression of leiomyosarcoma by promoting ECM1 generation and co-activating the FAK/PI3K/AKT/GSK3β pathway.

Purpose: Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is an aggressive mesenchymal malignant tumor with poor therapeutic options, but the molecular mechanisms underlying LMS remain largely unknown. Increasing evidence indicates that transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) levels are closely related to the advancement of various malignant tumors through diverse molecular mechanisms. However, the roles and regulatory mechanisms of TRPV4 in LMS progression remain unclear.

Cytokine release syndrome caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors: a case report and literature review.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have gained widespread application in the treatment of malignant tumors. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a systemic inflammatory response triggered by various factors, including infections and immunotherapy. We present a case of CRS occurring in a gastric cancer patient after receiving combination therapy of tislelizumab, anlotinib and combination of capecitabine and oxaliplatin.

Enhancing supersaturation maintenance of hydrophobic ingredients using nanostructured lipid carriers: The role of solid lipid type and level.

This research investigates the potential of nanostructure lipid carriers (NLCs) to enhance the supersaturation maintenance capacity (SMC) of emodin, focusing on the impacts of different solid lipids, specifically glycerol di-stearate (GDS), and beeswax (BW), and varying solid-liquid lipid ratios. The results demonstrated that GDS-based emulsions (GEs) had lower supersaturation (4.68-11.

Macrophages after myocardial infarction: Mechanisms for repairing and potential as therapeutic approaches.

Macrophages - one of the crucial immune cells, are recruited to the cardiac tissue by chemokines, cytokines and upregulated endothelial adhesion molecules after myocardial infarction (MI). During the course of inflammation in the cardiac tissue, necrotic cells and matrix debris is phagocytosed by M1 macrophages. During the resolution phase of cardiac inflammation, M2 macrophages promote cardiac recovery.

Synergizing traditional CT imaging with radiomics: a novel model for preoperative diagnosis of gastric neuroendocrine and mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma.

Objective: To develop diagnostic models for differentiating gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma (g-NEC) and gastric mixed adeno-neuroendocrine carcinoma (g-MANEC) from gastric adenocarcinoma (g-ADC) based on traditional contrast enhanced CT imaging features and radiomics features.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 90 g-(MA)NEC (g-MANEC and g-NEC) patients matched 1:1 by T-stage with 90 g-ADC patients. Traditional CT features were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression.

Establishment and characterization of a patient-derived metastatic extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma cell line ES-ZSS-1.

The methods available for treating metastatic Ewing sarcoma (ES) are inadequate; thus, innovative therapeutic approaches need to be developed. However, the lack of clinically relevant ES models has hindered the discovery of drugs for this disease. In this study, we established and characterized a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cell line model, which was constructed using tumor tissue from a patient with metastatic extraskeletal ES.