Photopyroelectric tweezers for versatile manipulation.

Optical tweezers and related techniques offer extraordinary opportunities for research and applications in physical, biological, and medical fields. However, certain critical requirements, such as high-intensity laser beams, sophisticated electrode designs, additional electric sources, or low-conductive media, significantly impede their flexibility and adaptability, thus hindering their practical applications. Here, we report innovative photopyroelectric tweezers (PPT) that combine the advantages of light and electric field by utilizing a rationally designed photopyroelectric substrate with efficient and durable photo-induced surface charge-generation capability, enabling diverse manipulation in various working scenarios.

β-ecdysone/PLGA composite scaffolds promote skull defect healing in diabetic rat.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus often leads to bone metabolism disorders, hindering bone regeneration and delaying the healing of bone defects. β-Ecdysone, a plant-derived hormone known for its wide range of physiological activities, possesses hypoglycemic effects and promotes osteogenic differentiation. This study developed a composite PLGA slow-release scaffold loaded with β-ecdysone to enhance its bioavailability through topical administration and to investigate its potential to heal diabetic bone defects.

Integrated transcriptomic analysis reveals dysregulated immune infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the secretory endometrium of recurrent implantation failure patients.

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is a leading impediment to assisted reproductive technology, yet the underlying pathogenesis of RIF remains elusive. Recent studies have sought to uncover novel biomarkers and etiological factors of RIF by profiling transcriptomes of endometrial samples. Nonetheless, the inherent heterogeneity among published studies and a scarcity of experimental validations hinder the identification of robust markers of RIF.

Comprehensive surgery of complex scalp arteriovenous fistula: a successful trial.

Background: Traumatic scalp arteriovenous fistula is a rare vascular abnormality. Open surgical removal and embolization have been employed to address this condition.

Methods: In this report, we present a case involving a 41-year-old man who exhibited a progressively enlarging pulsatile mass in his right occipital scalp.

β-Caryophyllene and Statins in Bone Fracture Healing - A Narrative Review.

Bone fractures are a leading cause of morbidity and healthcare expenditure globally. The complex healing process involves inflammation, cartilage formation, mineralization, and bone remodeling. Current treatments like immobilization, surgery, and bone grafting, though effective, pose significant challenges, such as prolonged recovery and high costs.

Effect of Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination on immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 vaccination.

Objectives: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination has off-target effects on disease risk for unrelated infections and immune responses to vaccines. This study aimed to determine the immunomodulatory effects of BCG vaccination on immune responses to vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: Blood samples, from a subset of 275 SARS-CoV-2-naïve healthcare workers randomised to BCG vaccination (BCG group) or no BCG vaccination (Control group) in the BRACE trial, were collected before and 28 days after the primary course (two doses) of ChAdOx1-S (Oxford-AstraZeneca) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccination.

IGF-1 Assessment During Weekly Somatrogon Treatment in Pediatric Patients With GH Deficiency.

Context: In patients with GH deficiency (GHD) receiving GH treatment, IGF-1 concentrations are used by physicians to monitor treatment safety and efficacy and guide dosing decisions. Somatrogon is a long-acting GH approved as a once-weekly treatment for pediatric GHD. Somatrogon administration results in characteristic changes in the IGF-1 profile, with values measured at 96 hours postdose representing mean IGF-1 concentrations that best reflect overall somatrogon exposure.

When synthetic biology meets medicine.

In recent years, the world has faced significant challenges with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as other infectious diseases such as Zika and Ebola. Furthermore, the rapid rise of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer has placed tremendous strain on healthcare resources and systems. Unfortunately, advancements in drug development, diagnostics, and therapeutics have struggled to keep pace with the emergence and progression of diseases, necessitating the exploration of new technologies for the discovery and development of biomedicines and biotherapies.

Comparative transcriptome profiling reveals the mechanism of increasing lysine and tryptophan content through pyramiding , and genes in maize.

To explore the molecular mechanism behind maize grain quality and use of different gene stacking to improve the nutritional quality of grain, marker-assisted selection (MAS) was used to select three recessive mutant lines containing , along with the double-recessive mutant lines containing , , and . The resulting seeds were taken for transcriptome sequencing analysis 18 days after pollination (DAP). Results: Compared with the recurrent parent genes, in the lysine synthesis pathway, the gene pyramiding lines (, , and ) revealed that the gene encoding aspartate kinase (AK) was up-regulated and promoted lysine synthesis.

lncRNA PART1 improves sevoflurane-induced impairments in learning and cognitive function by regulating miR-16-5p expression and reducing neuroinflammation.

Sevoflurane is a commonly utilized inhalational anesthetic in surgical settings. Nevertheless, sevoflurane has been demonstrated to possess neurotoxic properties. The objective was to examine the neuroprotective function of long non-coding RNA prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1 (PART1) in sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity and to elucidate its potential mechanism.

The Role of Immunohistochemistry for AMACR/p504s and p63 in Distinguishing Prostate Cancer from Benign Prostate Tissue Samples in Botswana.

Introduction: Prostate cancer (CaP) is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in Botswana. Currently, diagnosing CaP relies on examining prostate biopsy samples, which can be challenging due to benign mimics. This study aims to evaluate the potential of Alpha-methyl acyl-CoA racemase (AMACR/p504s) and p63, as diagnostic markers for CaP.

Recent Updates in the Diagnosis and Management of Kidney Diseases in Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) represents a difficult-to-treat plasma cell malignancy and the second most common hematologic malignancy in adults, significantly impacting kidney function. The spectrum of kidney involvement in MM is broad, encompassing electrolyte imbalances, tubular injury, and even rare glomerular diseases. The evolution of MM treatment modalities has led to notable improvements in the long-term survival of patients experiencing kidney-related complications.

The Evolution of Immunosuppressive Therapy in Pig-to-Nonhuman Primate Organ Transplantation.

An overview is provided of the evolution of strategies towards xenotransplantation during the past almost 40 years, focusing on advances in gene-editing of the organ-source pigs, pre-transplant treatment of the recipient, immunosuppressive protocols, and adjunctive therapy. Despite initial challenges, including hyperacute rejection resulting from natural (preformed) antibody binding and complement activation, significant progress has been made through gene editing of the organ-source pigs and refinement of immunosuppressive regimens. Major steps were the identification and deletion of expression of the three known glycan xenoantigens on pig vascular endothelial cells, the transgenic expression of human "protective" proteins, e.

Myoepithelioma-Like Tumor of the Vulva.

Myoepithelioma-like tumor of the vulvar region (MELTVR) is a rare mesenchymal tumor that typically arises in the female vulva. Here, we report a case of a 48-year-old woman who presented with a 2-year history of subcutaneous mass in the vulvar region. As the mass rapidly increased in the last 2 months, personal slight swelling pain appeared.

Multi-source data recognition and fusion algorithm based on a two-layer genetic algorithm-back propagation model.

Traditional rainfall data collection mainly relies on rain buckets and meteorological data. It rarely considers the impact of sensor faults on measurement accuracy. To solve this problem, a two-layer genetic algorithm-backpropagation (GA-BP) model is proposed.

Rice glycosyltransferase OsDUGT1 is involved in heat stress tolerance by glycosylating flavonoids and regulating flavonoid metabolism.

One significant environmental element influencing the growth and yield of rice ( L.) is high temperature. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which rice responds to high temperature is not fully understood.

Environment scan of generative AI infrastructure for clinical and translational science.

This study reports a comprehensive environmental scan of the generative AI (GenAI) infrastructure in the national network for clinical and translational science across 36 institutions supported by the CTSA Program led by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at the United States. Key findings indicate a diverse range of institutional strategies, with most organizations in the experimental phase of GenAI deployment. The results underscore the need for a more coordinated approach to GenAI governance, emphasizing collaboration among senior leaders, clinicians, information technology staff, and researchers.

Association between Healthy Eating Index-2015 total and metabolic associated fatty liver disease in Americans: a cross-sectional study with U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Utilizing the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset to investigate the relationship between dietary quality, as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), and the prevalence of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) among adults in the United States, our analysis revealed that an increased dietary quality was significantly correlated with a reduced risk of MAFLD in the American population.

Method: The NHANES dataset, encompassing the years 2017-2018 and comprising 3,557 participants, was incorporated into our analytical framework. Weighted multivariate linear regression model was performed to assess the linear relationship between the HEI-2015 and MAFLD.

A multi-country cohort database study to assess pregnancy and infant outcomes after potential maternal or paternal exposure to cladribine tablets in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: the CLEAR study methods and status update.

Background: Cladribine tablets are contraindicated during pregnancy; therefore, safety data on pregnancies exposed to this treatment are limited. CLEAR collects and describes pregnancy outcomes in this understudied population.

Objectives: To describe the main features of the CLEAR study design, including the data sources and the methodological approach, and provide a status update.

Understanding the Impacts of Surgical Drains on Postoperative Pain and Quality of Life.

Background: Surgical drains are commonly used in breast surgery and breast reconstruction for seroma prevention. Although many surgeons are aware that surgical drains can cause considerable discomfort to patients, less is understood about the specific impacts of drains on postoperative pain and quality of life (QOL).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients at our institution who had previously undergone mastectomy or breast reconstruction procedures to better understand patients' experiences with surgical drains.

Pharmacological action of polysaccharides: a review.

, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and food, which has a long history of clinical application, is used to improve health conditions and treat various diseases. polysaccharides (ASP), the main active component of this traditional Chinese medicine, have multicomponent, multitarget characteristics and very broad pharmacological activities. They play important roles in the treatment of several diseases.

Polarization optical coherence tomography optoretinography: verifying light-induced photoreceptor outer segment shrinkage and subretinal space expansion.

Significance: Stimulus-evoked intrinsic optical signal (IOS) changes in retinal photoreceptors are critical for functional optoretinography (ORG). Optical coherence tomography (OCT), with its depth-resolved imaging capability, has been actively explored for IOS imaging of retinal photoreceptors. However, recent OCT studies have reported conflicting results regarding light-induced changes in the photoreceptor outer segments (OSs), with both elongation and shrinkage being observed.

Uncovering somatic mosaic variants of -related overgrowth disorders - three cases with different clinical presentations.

Introduction: related disorders (PRD, OMIM: *171834) are genetic disorders resulting from pathogenic somatic mosaic variants in the gene, which encodes a protein crucial for regulating cell growth and division. PRD typically manifest during the post-zygotic phase, leading to a broad spectrum of overgrowth and vascular malformations affecting various body regions.

Methods: Conventional diagnostic methods struggle to detect and confirm pathogenic PIK3CA gene variants due to the mosaic nature of these disorders and the limited accessibility of affected tissues.