Detection of glucose in diabetic tears by using gold nanoparticles and MXene composite surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates.

Diabetes has become one of the three chronic non-communicable diseases threatening human health in the world, and the detection of glucose concentration is of great importance for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. The noninvasive detection of glucose in tears has attracted interest over the past several decades, however, time-consuming, expensive equipment, and specialist technicians make tear analysis still challenging. Here, flexible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and two-dimensional MXene TiCT nanosheets have been designed.

Gadd45g initiates embryonic stem cell differentiation and inhibits breast cell carcinogenesis.

Many self-renewal-promoting factors of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have been implicated in carcinogenesis, while little known about the genes that direct ESCs exit from pluripotency and regulate tumor development. Here, we show that the transcripts of Gadd45 family genes, including Gadd45a, Gadd45b, and Gadd45g, are gradually increased upon mouse ESC differentiation. Upregulation of Gadd45 members decreases cell proliferation and induces endodermal and trophectodermal lineages.

Single-Atom High-Temperature Catalysis on a RhO Cluster for Production of Syngas from Methane.

Single-atom catalysts are a relatively new type of catalyst active for numerous reactions but mainly for chemical transformations performed at low or intermediate temperatures. Here we report that singly dispersed RhO clusters on TiO can catalyze the partial oxidation of methane (POM) at high temperatures with a selectivity of 97% for producing syngas (CO + H) and high activity with a long catalytic durability at 650 °C. The long durability results from the substitution of a Ti atom of the TiO surface lattice by Rh, which forms a singly dispersed Rh atom coordinating with five oxygen atoms (RhO) and an undercoordinated environment but with nearly saturated bonding with oxygen atoms.

Healthcare needs, experiences and treatment burden in primary care patients with multimorbidity: An evaluation of process of care from patients' perspectives.

Background: Patients with multimorbidity often experience treatment burden as a result of fragmented, specialist-driven healthcare. The 'family doctor team' is an emerging service model in China to address the increasing need for high-quality routine primary care.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the extent to which treatment burden was associated with healthcare needs and patients' experiences.

Hierarchical microphase separation in non-conserved active mixtures.

Non-equilibrium phase separating systems with reactions, such as biomolecular condensates and bacteria colonies, can break time-reversal symmetry (TRS) in two distinct ways. Firstly, the conservative and non-conservative sectors of the dynamics can be governed by incompatible free energies; when both sectors are present, this is the leading-order TRS violation, captured in its simplest form by 'Model AB'. Second, the diffusive dynamics can break TRS in its own right.

Dilated Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Predicts Poor Outcome in Acute Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background And Purpose: Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) enlargement occurs in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the relationship between ONSD and prognosis of ICH is uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of ONSD on poor outcome of patients with acute spontaneous ICH.

A Longitudinal Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol to Evaluate the Effects of Wuqinxi on Dynamic Functional Connectivity in Parkinson's Disease Patients.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative movement disease that includes non-motor symptoms such as cognitive impairment. Long-term mind-body exercise has been shown to improve cognitive ability in PD patients, but the methods of assessment and intervention were inconsistent across studies. Wuqinxi is a mind-body exercise that is easy to learn, has few physical and cognitive demands, and is recommended for PD patients.

Zwitterionic Nanocapsules with Salt- and Thermo-Responsiveness for Controlled Encapsulation and Release.

Intelligent polymer nanocapsules that can not only encapsulate substances efficiently but also release them in a controllable manner hold great potential in many applications. To date, although intensive efforts have been made to develop intelligent polymer nanocapsules, how to construct the well-defined core/shell structure with high stability via a straightforward method remains a considerable challenge. In this work, the target novel zwitterionic nanocapsules (ZNs) with a stable hollow structure were synthesized by inverse reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) miniemulsion interfacial polymerization.

The transcription factor Tfcp2l1 promotes primordial germ cell-like cell specification of pluripotent stem cells.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are common ancestors of all germline cells. However, mechanistic understanding of how PGC specification occurs is limited. Here, we identified transcription factor CP2-like 1 (Tfcp2l1), an important pluripotency factor, as a pivotal factor for PGC-like cell (PGCLC) specification.

Diagnostic approach to thyroid cancer based on amino acid metabolomics in saliva by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with high resolution mass spectrometry.

Thyroid cancer is a malignant disease with dramatically low advanced-stage 10-year survival. Meanwhile, the metabolites in saliva are becoming a wealthy source of disease biomarkers. However, there is a lack of non-invasive analytical methods for the identification of biomarkers in saliva for the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

Efficient Bayesian inference of fully stochastic epidemiological models with applications to COVID-19.

Epidemiological forecasts are beset by uncertainties about the underlying epidemiological processes, and the surveillance process through which data are acquired. We present a Bayesian inference methodology that quantifies these uncertainties, for epidemics that are modelled by (possibly) non-stationary, continuous-time, Markov population processes. The efficiency of the method derives from a functional central limit theorem approximation of the likelihood, valid for large populations.

Protein kinase C theta (Prkcq) affects nerve degeneration and regeneration through the c-fos and c-jun pathways in injured rat sciatic nerves.

Background: Previous finding using DNA microarray and bioinformatics analysis, we have reported some key factors which regulated gene expression and signaling pathways in injured sciatic nerve during Wallerian Degeneration (WD). This research is focused on protein kinase C theta (Prkcq) participates in the regulation of the WD process.

Methods: In this study, we explored the molecular mechanism by which Prkcq in Schwann cells (SCs) affects nerve degeneration and regeneration in vivo and in vitro after rat sciatic nerve injury.

MAPK10 Expression as a Prognostic Marker of the Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a devastating malignancy worldwide due to lack of effective therapy. The immune-rich contexture of HCC tumor microenvironment (TME) makes this tumor an appealing target for immune-based therapies; however, the immunosuppressive TME is still a major challenge for more efficient immunotherapy in HCC. Using bioinformatics analysis based on the TCGA database, here we found that MAPK10 is frequently down-regulated in HCC tumors and significantly correlates with poor survival of HCC patients.

Cardioprotective 22-hydroxylanostane triterpenoids from the fruiting bodies of Phellinus igniarius.

Seven undescribed 22-hydroxylanostane triterpenoids were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Phellinus igniarius, together with three known sterols. Their structures were assigned by extensive spectroscopic and HRESIMS data analyses. The absolute configurations of C-22 were determined by X-ray crystallography, chemical methods, and spectroscopic data comparison.

An entropy driven catalytic reaction powered DNA motor for simultaneous detection of ochratoxin A and chloramphenicol in food.

An entropy driven catalytic reaction powered DNA motor was proposed for simultaneous detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) and chloramphenicol (CAP) in food. The dumbbell hairpin structure was formed by the two aptamers of OTA and CAP. The dumbbell hairpin can be opened by the interaction of OTA and CAP with their aptamers.

Does a Large Ear Type Wheat Variety Benefit More From Elevated CO Than That From Small Multiple Ear-Type in the Quantum Efficiency of PSII Photochemistry?

Recently, several reports have suggested that the growth and grain yield of wheat are significantly influenced by high atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (CO) because of it photosynthesis enhancing effects. Moreover, it has been proposed that plants with large carbon sink size will benefit more from CO enrichment than those with small carbon sink size. However, this hypothesis is yet to be test in winter wheat plant.

Preparation of low molecular chitosan by microwave-induced plasma desorption/ionization technology.

Compared with high molecular weight chitosan (HMWC), low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) has better solubility and biological activity. However, there is no quick and environmentally friendly to prepare low molecular chitosan. In this study, microwave induced plasma desorption/ionization (MIPDI) was used for the first time to prepare LMWC through the degradation processes of HMWC.

Tumor-derived exosomal BCYRN1 activates WNT5A/VEGF-C/VEGFR3 feedforward loop to drive lymphatic metastasis of bladder cancer.

Background: Patients with lymph node (LN) metastatic bladder cancer (BCa) present with extremely poor prognosis. BCa-derived exosomes function as crucial bioactive cargo carriers to mediate the signal transduction in tumor microenvironment triggering tumor metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying exosome-mediated LN metastasis in BCa are unclear.

Manganese dioxide nanozyme for reactive oxygen therapy of bacterial infection and wound healing.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the weapons of neutrophiles against bacterial pathogens, and also the central effectors in reactive oxygen therapy for skin and soft tissue infection. Nanozymes that spontaneously generate ROS under physiological conditions are new antibacterials that hold promise towards multidrug resistant pathogens. The clinical use of the nanozymes is however limited by their low biocompatibility and toxicity in vivo.

Performance Enhancement of Organic Solar Cells by Adding a Liquid Crystalline Molecule in Cathode and Anode Interlayers.

In this study, an effective and simple approach for optimizing the performance of both cathode and anode interlayers in OSCs is demonstrated using 4-heptyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (7CB) to dope a classic cathode (ZnO and SnO) or an anode interlayer [poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)]. Because of the enhanced light absorption, improved physical contact between a photoactive layer and an interlayer, and increased carrier recombination, all of the devices based on a 7CB-doped interlayer show increased short-circuit current density (), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to the corresponding undoped interlayer, regardless it is the anode interlayer or the cathode interlayer, which is a rare phenomenon in the interlayer modification field.

Expression and correlation analysis of Skp2 and CBX7 in cervical cancer.

Aims: S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) oncoprotein is overexpressed in a variety of cancer tissues and promotes the malignant development of cancer. The expression levels of chromobox homolog 7 (CBX7) protein are varied among different types of cancer tissues, but its role in cervical cancer is not clear. We aimed to examine the expression and clinical significance of Skp2 and CBX7 proteins as well as their correlations in cervical cancer.

Hippocampal neurogenesis interferes with extinction and reinstatement of methamphetamine-associated reward memory in mice.

Drugs of abuse, including morphine and cocaine, can reduce hippocampal neurogenesis (HN). Whereas promotion of HN is being increasingly recognized as a promising strategy for treating morphine and cocaine addiction. The present study is focused on exploring the changes of HN during methamphetamine (METH) administration and further clarify if HN is involved in METH-associated reward memory.

Ethanol extract of inhibits hepatoma carcinoma cell proliferation through regulating lipid metabolism.

Objective: The aim of this study is to discover the possible working mechanisms of (AJH) on hepatoma carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: In this study, ethanol extract of AJH was prepared and used to treat HCC cell . Furthermore, a genomic wide RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to screen deregulated genes in HCC cells after the treatment of AJH extract.

Regulatory mechanism of GA on tuber growth by DELLA-dependent pathway in yam (Dioscorea opposita).

Endogenous and exogenous GA responses to DoEXP and DoXTH depend on the DoGA20ox1, DoGA3ox1, DoGA2ox3, DoGA2ox4, DoGID1a, and DoDELLA1 to regulate yam tuber growth. Yam tuber undergoes significant alteration in morphogenesis and functions during growth, and gibberellins (GA) are considered potentially important regulators of tuber growth. However, it is little known about the regulation of GA metabolism and GA signaling components genes in tuber growth of yam.

Macrophage recruitment in immune-privileged lens during capsule repair, necrotic fiber removal, and fibrosis.

Emerging evidence challenges the lens as an immune-privileged organ. Here, we provide a direct mechanism supporting a role of macrophages in lens capsule rupture repair. Posterior lens capsule rupture in a connexin 50 and aquaporin 0 double-knockout mouse model resulted in lens tissue extrusion into the vitreous cavity with formation of a "tail-like" tissue containing delayed regressed hyaloid vessels, fibrotic tissue and macrophages at postnatal (P) 15 days.