Preparation and Evaluation of Tetrandrine Nanocrystals to Improve Bioavailability.

Background: Tetrandrine (TET) has multiple pharmacological activities, but its water solubility is poor, which is the main reason for its low bioavailability.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to prepare TET nanocrystals (TET-NCs) using a grinding method to enhance the dissolution rate and ultimately improve the bioavailability of TET.

Methods: TET-NCs were synthesized via media milling, employing Poloxam 407 (P407) as surface stabilizer and mannitol as a cryoprotectant during freeze-drying.

Mechanism and biodegradability of melanoidins formed in hydrothermal process: From model compounds to food waste.

Hydrothermal pretreatment (HTP) is used to increase the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of food waste (FW). The formation of melanoidins will seriously affect the microbial activity and methane production during anaerobic digestion (AD). Based on spectroscopic methods, similarities and heterogeneity of melanoidins from different sources were investigated, and the wide peak band (260-350 nm) in the ultraviolet region and the differences of amide groups of fructose-amino acid system, fructose-casein system and FW system were revealed.

Unc5b prevents macrophage-derived foam cell migration and promotes atherosclerotic development via the P53-cuproptosis signaling pathway.

Background: Atherosclerosis involves the buildup of macrophage-derived foam cells in the arterial intima. Facilitating the egress of these cells from plaques can significantly slow disease progression. The transmembrane receptor Unc5b, a vascular-specific axon guidance receptor, is upregulated in foam cells, and inhibits their migration from the plaques.

A review of emission characteristics and risk assessments of volatile organic compounds in petrochemical industry areas.

As the petrochemical industry grows, environmental and human health issues associated with petroleum refining and chemical processes also increase. Consequently, several studies have been conducted on this topic. However, the results of the current research vary, and a comprehensive review is lacking.

Disturbed spatial WNT activation - a potential driver of the reticularized skin phenotype in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).

Objectives: Little is known on the mechanisms necessary to maintain the physiological adult human skin integrity. This study aims to quantitatively describe anatomical changes in systemic sclerosis (SSc)-skin compared to controls and investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Skin morphology was histologically assessed in twenty-three SSc-patients, eighteen controls and fifteen patients with hypertrophic scars.

Comparative analysis of cold-stored apheresis platelet units in additive solution with or without pathogen reduction: Implications of cytochrome c supplementation.

Background: Platelets are limited in supply, and the preservation of platelet function during storage remains challenging. Novel storage approaches are being explored to improve platelet quality, extend shelf life, and reduce risk of infection. This study sought to elucidate platelet function in cold-stored apheresis units in additive solution (platelet additive solution [PAS]) and subjected to pathogen reduction (PR) as well as the impact of cytochrome c (cyt c) supplementation.

Orchestrated desaturation reprogramming from stearoyl-CoA desaturase to fatty acid desaturase 2 in cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis.

Background: Adaptative desaturation in fatty acid (FA) is an emerging hallmark of cancer metabolic plasticity. Desaturases such as stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) and fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2) have been implicated in multiple cancers, and their dominant and compensatory effects have recently been highlighted. However, how tumors initiate and sustain their self-sufficient FA desaturation to maintain phenotypic transition remains elusive.

Agreement between self-reported and objectively measured hypertension diagnosis and control: evidence from a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in China.

Background: As the population ages, hypertension has become the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and premature deaths worldwide. Accurate monitoring of CVD risks and planning community-based public health interventions require reliable estimates of hypertension prevalence and management. While the validity of self-reporting in assessing hypertension prevalence has been debated, the concordance between self-reports and clinical measurements of hypertension control remains underexplored, particularly in large, community-based older populations.

A Phase I Study of the Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Ipatasertib, an Akt Inhibitor in Chinese Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors.

Purpose: Ipatasertib is a selective inhibitor of Akt, a frequently activated protein kinase that plays a critical role in human cancers. The current clinical trial aimed to assess the pharmacokinetic properties, safety, and tolerability of ipatasertib administered to Chinese patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

Methods: A Phase I, single-arm, open-label study was performed in Chinese patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors for whom standard therapy either does not exist or has proven ineffective.

A dual-functional specific fluorescent bio-sensor based on triphenylamine for "turn-off" recognition of copper and mercury: Application in real samples and living system.

Accurately monitoring the content of Cu and Hg in real samples and biological systems is of great significance in ensuring food safety and human health. Therefore, developing efficient methods for simultaneously detecting Cu and Hg is of great significance in living organisms and real samples. In this work, a bifunctional ratiometric and colorimetric fluorescent bio-sensor DPT-1, was designed and synthesized using triphenylamine to specifically and concurrently detect Cu and Hg exhibited varying degrees of fluorescence quenching through "turn-off" fluorescence.

Identification of natural and anthropogenic factors in the spatial pattern of Pb in the surface soil of the Nanliu River Basin.

The identification of source in potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in watershed soils is crucial for environmental management. This study addresses the knowledge gap in understanding the combined influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on the spatial pattern of lead (Pb) in the surface soil of the Nanliu River Basin. The main objective was to identify and quantify these influences using an integrated approach of ANOVA, correlation analysis, IDW interpolation, and Local Moran's I.

The impact of virtual reality applied in nurse education on students' clinical thinking: A systematic review.

Objective: To summarise and compare the applications and effectiveness of virtual reality in cultivating clinical thinking among nursing students and to further analyse the active ingredients of virtual reality applications.

Design: Systematic review.

Review Methods: A systematic and comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL was conducted from the inception until 5th of February 2024.

Heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblast subpopulations in prostate cancer: Implications for prognosis and immunotherapy.

Background: Prostate cancer stands as the second most common malignancy among men, notorious for its intricate heterogeneity, especially evident in metastatic disease. This complexity presents substantial challenges in treatment efficacy and patient prognosis.

Objective: This study endeavors to elucidate the multifaceted roles of cancer-associated fibroblasts within the tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer, with a focus on their implications for disease prognosis and the potential for novel immunotherapeutic strategies.

The mediating role of resilience and sleep quality between self-efficacy and prenatal anxiety: A mediational analysis.

Background And Objective: During pregnancy, prenatal anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders that women experience. This study aims to assess the prevalence of prenatal anxiety among Chinese pregnant women and explore the parallel mediating role of resilience and sleep quality in the relationship between self-efficacy and prenatal anxiety.

Methods: Between February and June 2023, a total of 1071 pregnant women were recruited from three hospitals in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, using a convenience sampling method.

Plasma transfusion and hospital mortality in moderate-severe traumatic brain injury.

Background: Prior research suggests that plasma may improve outcomes in traumatic brain injury (TBI). We examined the association between plasma administration and mortality in moderate-severe TBI in a large retrospective cohort, hypothesizing plasma is associated with decreased mortality after accounting for confounding covariates.

Materials And Methods: Patients from the 2017-2020 Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) dataset ≥18 years with moderate-severe TBI were included.

Are mesenchymal stem cells still effective in acute GvHD management?

Objective: Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a common and serious complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), significantly impacting transplant efficacy. In the treatment of GvHD, numerous therapeutic approaches have been explored, with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) emerging as a prominent immunomodulatory option. We aimed to evaluate efficacy and outcomes of using MSCs for steroid refractory acute GVHD (SR-aGvHD) management.

Development of a novel digestion method utilizing a new PTFE digestor for the rapid and reliable determination of technology-critical elements (TCEs) in granite samples by ICP-OES: A simple approach for the analysis of complex geological matrices.

A new and high performance polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) digestor was designed and fabricated in-house for the total dissolution of granite samples for the determination of technology-critical elements (TCEs) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Initially, the granite sample (∼0.25 g) was placed in the PTFE digestor and added 8 mL(v/v) of 20%HF+40%HCl+10%HNO acid mixture.

Circulating plasma protein identified as a therapeutic target for intracranial aneurysm through Mendelian Randomization analysis.

Background: Intracranial aneurysms are the main cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a severe stroke with devastating effects. However, there are no existing medications for intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and novel therapeutic targets are required.

Methods: We performed a summary data-based Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to explore the causal association between circulating plasma proteins and the risk of IAs and SAH.

Time-dependent interpretable survival prediction model for second primary NSCLC patients.

Objective: Accurate predictive models for second primary non-small cell lung cancer (SP-NSCLC) are limited. This study aimed to develop and validate overall survival (OS) prediction models for SP-NSCLC patients using time-dependent interpretable survival machine learning algorithms.

Methods: This study utilized data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, encompassing 8 and 12 registries, to extract data on patients aged 20-89 diagnosed with SP-NSCLC between 1988 and 2020.

Fusion of brain imaging genetic data for alzheimer's disease diagnosis and causal factors identification using multi-stream attention mechanisms and graph convolutional networks.

Correctly diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and identifying pathogenic brain regions and genes play a vital role in understanding the AD and developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Recent works combine imaging and genetic data, and leverage the strengths of both modalities to achieve better classification results. In this work, we propose MCA-GCN, a Multi-stream Cross-Attention and Graph Convolutional Network-based classification method for AD patients.

3D Printing of Porous Ceramics for Enhanced Thermal Insulation Properties.

Porous thermal insulating ceramics play a pivotal role in both industrial processes and daily life by offering effective insulation solutions that reduce energy consumption, enhance building comfort, and contribute to the sustainability of industrial production. This review offers a comprehensive examination of porous thermal insulating ceramics produced by 3D printing, providing an in-depth analysis of various 3D printing techniques and materials used to produce porous ceramics, detailing the fabrication processes, advantages, and limitations of these methods. Recent advances in 3D printed porous thermal insulating ceramics are thoroughly examined, with a particular focus on pore structure design and optimization strategies for high-performance thermal insulation.

Boron Clusters Escort Doxorubicin Squashing Into Exosomes and Overcome Drug Resistance.

Exosome-based drug delivery holds significant promise for cancer chemotherapy. However, current methods for loading drugs into exosomes are inefficient and cost-prohibitive for practical application. In this study, boron clusters are mixed with doxorubicin (DOX) and exosomes, enabling the efficient encapsulation of DOX into exosomes through a superchaotropic effect.

Neurotransmitter-Mimicking Nanovesicles Facilitate Postoperative Glioblastoma Stem Cell-Specific Treatment for Preventing Tumor Recurrence.

Survival quality of glioblastoma (GBM) patients remains undesirable despite the aggressive multimodal treatment methods implemented, which are strongly associated with tumor recurrence after surgical resection. Self-renewal and strong tumourigenic capacity of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) at the narrow margin of the incision are essential factors driving tumor secondary strikes. Currently, the challenges in treating postoperative residual GSCs are mainly due to the lack of materials for incision and GSCs targeting.

Blood Cytokine Profile in Breast Cancer: Focusing on Differences among Molecular Subtypes.

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Cytokines have been linked to various cancers, and both benign and malignant breast diseases are associated with inflammation. However, there is limited understanding of how the immune system's cytokine response varies among different subtypes of breast cancer.