Recent Advances on the Prevention and Management of Rheumatic Heart Disease.

The global burden of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains substantial, particularly in low-income countries, despite advancements in prevention and management strategies. This article emphasizes the strategies related to primordial prevention, primary prevention, and secondary prevention, including recent advancements in vaccine development, and discusses current challenges in management and future research directions. For treatment, it evaluates percutaneous mitral commissurotomy, mitral valve repair, and replacement, noting the advantages of individualized approaches based on patient conditions.

A Green-Modification Strategy for High-Performance Bamboo-Based Composites via Persimmon Lacquer and Iron Ion Complexation.

Natural bamboo-based fiber composites offer unique advantages in terms of renewability and eco-friendliness. However, challenges such as dimensional stability in outdoor applications must be addressed. This study reports a straightforward method to impregnate oriented bamboo fiber mats with natural persimmon lacquer and ferrous sulfate to fabricate bamboo scrimber composite.

Enhancing the Kinetics of Glucose Electro-Oxidation by Modulating the Binding Energy of Hydroxyl on Cobalt-Based Catalysts.

Replacing the sluggish anodic water oxidation reaction with the glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) offers an energy-saving strategy to obtain value-added products during the hydrogen production process. However, rational design of the GOR electrocatalyst with an explicit structure-property relationship remains a challenge. In this study, by using cobalt chalcogenides as model catalysts, we performed an in-depth study of the GOR catalytic mechanism of CoS and CoSe nanosheets.

Enhancing newborn screening sensitivity and specificity for missed NICCD using selected amino acids and acylcarnitines.

Purpose: To enhance the detection rate of Neonatal Intrahepatic Cholestasis caused by Citrin Deficiency (NICCD) through newborn screening (NBS), we analyzed the metabolic profiles of missed patients and proposed a more reliable method for early diagnosis.

Methods: In this retrospective study, NICCD patients were classified into "Newborn Screening" (64 individuals) and "Missed Screening" (52 individuals) groups. Metabolic profiles were analyzed using the non-derivatized MS/MS Kit, and genetic mutations were identified via next-generation sequencing and confirmed by Sanger sequencing.

MAIT cells modulating the oral lichen planus immune microenvironment: a cellular crosstalk perspective.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, a type of T lymphocytes with innate-like characteristics, are crucial in bridging innate and adaptive immunity. When activated, MAIT cells release various inflammatory molecules and swiftly respond to antigens. Notably, numerous studies highlight the significant impact of MAIT cells on tumors and various immune disorders by influencing the immune microenvironment.

Treatment effects of platelet-rich plasma combined with arthroscopic microfracture for knee cartilage injury.

Objective: To analyze the clinical effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with arthroscopic microfracture (MF) in patients with knee cartilage injury.

Methods: Eighty cases of knee cartilage injury treated in Lu'an Hospital of PKU HealthCare during July 2019 and July 2021 were selected for this study. Patients were divided into a control group (CG, treated with MF alone, n=36) and an observation group (OG, treated with MG+PRP, n=44) based on their intervention regimen.

Dual Polarization of Ni Sites at VO-NiN Interface Boosts Ethanol Oxidation Reaction.

Substituting thermodynamically favorable ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) engenders high-efficiency hydrogen production and generates high value-added products as well. However, the main obstacles have been the low activity and the absence of an explicit catalytic mechanism. Herein, a heterostructure composed of amorphous vanadium oxide and crystalline nickel nitride (VO-NiN) is developed.

MpoxNet: dual-branch deep residual squeeze and excitation monkeypox classification network with attention mechanism.

While the world struggles to recover from the devastation wrought by the widespread spread of COVID-19, monkeypox virus has emerged as a new global pandemic threat. In this paper, a high precision and lightweight classification network MpoxNet based on ConvNext is proposed to meet the need of fast and safe detection of monkeypox classification. In this method, a two-branch depth-separable convolution residual Squeeze and Excitation module is designed.

Nanosecond-pulsed plasma protects against bacterial fruit blotch and promotes melon seedling growth.

Background: Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), known as the 'cancer' of cucurbits, is a seed-borne disease of melons caused by Acidovorax citrulli. Traditional chemical treatments for BFB are ineffective and adversely affect the environment. Using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) nanosecond-pulsed plasma technology, melon seeds were treated to promote germination and growth and to control BFB.

Stimuli-Responsive Protein Hydrogels: Their Design, Properties, and Biomedical Applications.

Protein-based hydrogels are considered ideal biomaterials due to their high biocompatibility, diverse structure, and their improved bioactivity and biodegradability. However, it remains challenging to mimic the native extracellular matrices that can dynamically respond to environmental stimuli. The combination of stimuli-responsive functionalities with engineered protein hydrogels has facilitated the development of new smart hydrogels with tunable biomechanics and biological properties that are triggered by cyto-compatible stimuli.

Replacing Plastic with Bamboo: A Review of the Properties and Green Applications of Bamboo-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites.

Natural fiber composites are receiving more and more attention because of their greenness and low cost. Among natural fibers, bamboo is characterized by fast growth, a short cultivation period, high strength and good toughness, and is one of the strongest natural fibers in the world. A bamboo-fiber-reinforced polymer composite (BFRPC) has the characteristics of high mechanical strength, low density, degradability, etc.

Screening Children's Intellectual Disabilities with Phonetic Features, Facial Phenotype and Craniofacial Variability Index.

Background: Intellectual Disability (ID) is a kind of developmental deficiency syndrome caused by congenital diseases or postnatal events. This syndrome could be intervened as soon as possible if its early screening was efficient, which may improve the condition of patients and enhance their self-care ability. The early screening of ID is always achieved by clinical interview, which needs in-depth participation of medical professionals and related medical resources.

Optically Transparent Bamboo: Preparation, Properties, and Applications.

The enormous pressures of energy consumption and the severe pollution produced by non-renewable resources have prompted researchers to develop various environmentally friendly energy-saving materials. Transparent bamboo represents an emerging result of biomass material research that has been identified and studied for its many advantages, including light weight, excellent light transmittance, environmental sustainability, superior mechanical properties, and low thermal conductivity. The present review summarizes methods for preparing transparent bamboo, including delignification and resin impregnation.

The application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for detection of pathogens from dialysis effluent in peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis .

Background: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) can improve pathogen identification in infectious diseases.

Methods: A prospective parallel control study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical significance of mNGS in identifying pathogens in dialysis effluent of patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (peritonitis). Dialysis effluent specimens were detected both by peritoneal dialysis effluent culture and mNGS.

Photodegradation and Photostability of Bamboo: Recent Advances.

Bamboo and its products are widely used in indoor and outdoor fields. Photodegradation occurs easily on the surface when bamboo is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light from solar radiation. This induces surface discoloration and degrades the physical properties of bamboo, which not only negatively affects its utility and aesthetic characteristics but also restricts its application in outdoor environments.

Two-photon fluorogenic probe for visualizing PGP-1 activity in inflammatory tissues and serum from patients.

A PGP-1-specific one/two-photon fluorogenic probe (BH1), capable of high sensitivity, super selectivity, and visual imaging of endogenous PGP-1 activity from live mammalian cells and serum/skin tissues from patients by using one/two-photon fluorescence microscopy (O/TPFM).

Outdoor Wood Mats-Based Engineering Composite: Influence of Process Parameters on Decay Resistance against Wood-Degrading Fungi and .

The process parameters significantly influence the preparation and final properties of outdoor wood mats-based engineering composite (OWMEC). During outdoor use, wood composites are susceptible to destruction by rot fungi. Herein, the role of process parameters such as density and resin content on OWMEC resistance to fungal decay was investigated.

Visible-Light-Driven Ag-Modified TiO Thin Films Anchored on Bamboo Material with Antifungal Memory Activity against .

A round-the-clock photocatalyst with energy-storage ability has piqued the interest of researchers for removing microbial contaminants from indoor environments. This work presents a moderate round-the-clock method for inhibiting the growth of fungus spores on bamboo materials using Ag-modified TiO thin films. Photoactivated antifungal coating with catalytic memory activity was assembled on a hydrophilic bamboo by first anchoring anatase TiO thin films (TB) via hydrogen bonding and then decorating them with Ag nanoparticles (ATB) via electrostatic interactions.

Chemopreventive Role of Apigenin against the Synergistic Carcinogenesis of Human Papillomavirus and 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone.

Tobacco smoke and human papillomavirus (HPV) are both crucial causes of cancer, and their cooperative carcinogenesis has drawn more attention in recent years. Apigenin (AP), a typical flavonoid abundantly found in flowers of plants, vegetables, and fruits, has been demonstrated to exert an anti-carcinogenic effect on various types of cancer. In this study, we investigated the capability of AP against malignant transformation and DNA damage of immortalized human esophageal epithelial (SHEE) cells induced by the synergism of HPV18 and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK).

Mesenchymal stem cell-secreted extracellular vesicles carrying TGF-β1 up-regulate miR-132 and promote mouse M2 macrophage polarization.

The effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on different types of diseases are controversial, and the inner mechanisms remain unknown, which retards the utilization of MSCs in disease therapy. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of MSCs-extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) in M2 polarization in mouse macrophages via the microRNA-132 (miR-132)/E3 ubiquitin ligase myc binding protein 2 (Mycbp2)/tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) axis. Mouse MSCs were isolated for adipogenic and osteogenic induction, followed by co-culture with mouse macrophages RAW264.

[Study on expression of LIM domain only protein 1 in SD rat oral buccal mucosa carcinogenesis induced by 4-nitro-quinoline N-oxide].

Objective: This work aimed to determine the expression changes in LIM domain only protein 1 (LMO1) in gene transcription and protein levels during oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) development.

Methods: The tissues in this study were taken from our team's previous animal model building, and we performed hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining on 49 cases. The pathological classification of the experiment group was determined on the basis of the abnormal epithelial hyperplasia degree.

In Situ Formation of Ag Nanoparticles in Mesoporous TiO Films Decorated on Bamboo via Self-Sacrificing Reduction to Synthesize Nanocomposites with Efficient Antifungal Activity.

We developed a novel green approach for the in situ fabrication of Ag NPs in mesoporous TiO films via the bamboo self-sacrificing reduction of Ag(NH) ions, which can inhibit fungal growth on the bamboo surface. Mesoporous anatase TiO (MT) films were first synthesized on bamboo via a hydrothermal method. Then, Ag NPs with a 5.

Modulation of proliferation and differentiation of gingiva‑derived mesenchymal stem cells by concentrated growth factors: Potential implications in tissue engineering for dental regeneration and repair.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation ability of gingiva‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) cultured with different concentrations of concentrated growth factors (CGF). GMSCs were isolated from gingival connective tissues and characterized by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemical staining. Cell proliferation activity was determined by the MTT assay, and the effect of CGF on MCSCs was detected with the Cell Counting Kit (CCK)‑8 assay.

Identification of key genes, pathways and potential therapeutic agents for liver fibrosis using an integrated bioinformatics analysis.

Background: Liver fibrosis is often a consequence of chronic liver injury, and has the potential to progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Despite being an important human disease, there are currently no approved anti-fibrotic drugs. In this study, we aim to identify the key genes and pathways governing the pathophysiological processes of liver fibrosis, and to screen therapeutic anti-fibrotic agents.