In vitro stretch modulates mitochondrial dynamics and energy metabolism to induce smooth muscle differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells.

The smooth muscle cells (SMCs) located in the vascular media layer are continuously subjected to cyclic stretching perpendicular to the vessel wall and play a crucial role in vascular wall remodeling and blood pressure regulation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising tools to differentiate into SMCs. Mechanical stretch loading offers an opportunity to guide the MSC-SMC differentiation and mechanical adaption for function regeneration of blood vessels.

Defect-Engineered Luminescent Nanozyme with Enhanced Phosphohydrolase Activity for Degradation and Dual-Mode Detection of Paraoxon.

The excessive use of organophosphorus pesticides poses a substantial threat to both human health and the environment. Consequently, there is an urgent need for new methods that can quickly degrade and sensitively detect these compounds. A versatile nanozyme based on the biomimetic principle is an effective strategy to solve this problem.

Comparative evaluation of various DNA extraction methods and analysis of DNA degradation levels in commercially marketed Chestnut rose juices and beverages.

Background: Food safety is a significant global study subject that is strongly intertwined with human life and well-being. The utilization of DNA-based methods for species identification is a valuable instrument in the field of food inspection and regulation. It is particularly significant for traceability purposes, as it enables the monitoring of a specific item at every level of the food chain regulation.

Benefit from public unlabeled data: A Frangi filter-based pretraining network for 3D cerebrovascular segmentation.

Precise cerebrovascular segmentation in Time-of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography (TOF-MRA) data is crucial for computer-aided clinical diagnosis. The sparse distribution of cerebrovascular structures within TOF-MRA images often results in high costs for manual data labeling. Leveraging unlabeled TOF-MRA data can significantly enhance model performance.

A Schiff-base-modified Cu nanocluster with redox dual-catalytic sites and fluorescence sensing for the degradation and detection of atrazine.

Atrazine is a widely used and heavily contaminating pesticide. In this work, we designed and synthesized a versatile catalyst for the degradation and fluorescent detection of atrazine. This catalyst consists of Cu clusters modified by a Schiff base.

From Antibacterial Activity to Molecular Mechanism: Case Study of Hexapeptide RWWRWW and Its Analogues.

In recent years, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a potent weapon against the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Among AMPs, the ones containing tryptophan (W) and arginine (R) exhibit enhanced antimicrobial properties, benefiting from the unique physicochemical features of the two amino acids. Herein, we designed three hexapeptides, including WR, DWR (-isomer), and RF, derived from the original sequence, RWWRWW-NH (RW).

Corrigendum: Modulation of local immunity by the vaginal microbiome is associated with triggering spontaneous preterm birth.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.

Extracellular Matrix-Inspired Dendrimer Nanogels Encapsulating Cyclophosphamide for Systemic Sclerosis Treatment.

Cyclophosphamide has a certain therapeutic effect on treating systemic sclerosis (SSc), while difficulties exist in controlling severe systematic side effects and enhancing targeting capacity. Here, inspired from the natural extracellular matrix composition, we propose a cyclophosphamide-encapsulated nanogel based on dendritic polymers polyamidoamine (PAMAM) for SSc treatment. We combine bovine serum albumin and generation 5 (G5) PAMAM dendrimers with polyphenol modification to obtain nanogels featured with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

L-histidine makes Ni 'visible' for plant signalling systems: Shading the light on Ni-induced Ca and redox signalling in plants.

Nickel is both an important nutrient and an ecotoxicant for plants. Organic ligands, such as L-histidine (His), play a key role in Ni detoxification. Here, we show that His (added together with 0.

Biology-inspired dynamic microphysiological system approaches to revolutionize basic research, healthcare and animal welfare.

The regular workshops held by the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) on biology-inspired microphysiological systems (MPS) taking place every four years, have become a reliable measure to assess fundamental scientific, industrial and regulatory trends for translational science in the MPS-field from a bird's eye view. The 2023 workshop participants at that time concluded that the technology as used within academia has matured significantly, underlined by the broad use of MPS and the steadily increasing number of high quality research publications - yet, broad industry adoption of MPS has been slow, despite strong interest. Academic research using MPS primarily aims to accurately recapitulate human biology in MPS-based organ models in areas where traditional models have been lacking key elements of human physiology, thereby enabling breakthrough discoveries for life sciences.

Dynamic non-coding RNA biomarker reveals lung injury and repair induced by polystyrene nanoplastics.

Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) are omnipresent in the air and can be inhaled by humans. However, their long-term adverse implications and toxicological mechanisms for human respiratory health are unclear. Therefore, this study aims to provide new insights into the pulmonary toxicity of PS-NPs using mice and organoid models.

Polydopamine Nanohydrogel Decorated Adhesive and Responsive Hierarchical Microcarriers for Deafness Protection.

Cisplatin-induced ototoxicity is attributed to the aberrant accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the inner ear. Antioxidants represented by α-lipoic acid (ALA) have been demonstrated to scavenge ROS in the cochlea, while effective delivery of these agents in vivo remains a major challenge. Here, a novel polydopamine (PDA) nanogel decorated adhesive and responsive hierarchical microcarriers for controllable is presented ALA delivery and deafness prevention.

Maternal ELL3 loss-of-function leads to oocyte aneuploidy and early miscarriage.

Up to an estimated 10% of women experience miscarriage in their lifetimes. Embryonic aneuploidy is a leading cause for miscarriage, infertility and congenital defects. Here we identify variants of ELL3, a gene encoding a transcription elongation factor, in couples who experienced consecutive early miscarriages due to embryonic aneuploidy.

The microbial mechanism of maize residue decomposition under different temperature and moisture regimes in a Solonchak.

Soil salinization becomes serious under climate change and human activities. Although the residue decomposition contributes lots to soil carbon storage and fertility, the decomposition process and microbial mechanisms on saline-alkali soils are still vague facing climate change. We measured the mass loss of residue (0, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days), CO emission (every two days), and the microbial community structure (0, 4, 15 and 90 days) by using the litter bag method, gas chromatography and high-throughput sequencing technology during the residue decomposition (90 days) in a saline-alkali soil from the Tarim River Basin, China under various temperatures (15 °C, 25 °C, 35 °C) and soil moisture levels (20%, 40%, 60% water holding capacity).

Regulatory T cell-associated gene signature correlates with prognostic risk and immune infiltration in patients with breast cancer.

Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a pivotal role in the development, prognosis, and treatment of breast cancer. This study aimed to develop a Treg-associated gene signature that contributes to predict prognosis and therapy benefits in breast cancer.

Methods: Treg-associated genes were screened based on single-cell RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) in TISCH2 database and the bulk RNA-seq in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

Layer-specific biomechanical and histological properties of normal and dissected human ascending aortas.

Recent studies have attempted to characterize the layer-specific mechanical and microstructural properties of the aortic tissues in either normal or pathological state to understand its structural-mechanical property relationships. However, layer-specific tissue mechanics and compositions of normal and dissected ascending aortas have not been thoroughly compared with a statistical conclusion obtained. Eighteen ascending aortic specimens were harvested from 13 patients with type A aortic dissection and 5 donors without aortic diseases, with each specimen further excised to obtain three tissue samples including an intact wall, an intima-media layer and an adventitia layer.

Effect of Laminectomy Methods on the Surgical Safety of Automatic Laminectomy Robot.

Background: The efficacy of laminectomy procedures is contingent on the method of resection. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of different methods of resection on the surgical safety of automated laminectomy robots, an area that remains uncharted.

Methods: Lamina resection surgeries using both drilling and layer-by-layer methods, are performed on ovine spinal samples.

Comparative organelle genomics in Daphniphyllaceae reveal phylogenetic position and organelle structure evolution.

The family Daphniphyllaceae has a single genus, and no relevant comparative phylogenetic study has been reported on it. To explore the phylogenetic relationships and organelle evolution mechanisms of Daphniphyllaceae species, we sequenced and assembled the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of Daphniphyllum macropodum. We also conducted comparative analyses of organelles in Daphniphyllaceae species in terms of genome structure, phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, RNA editing events, and evolutionary rates, etc.

Can large language models fully automate or partially assist paper selection in systematic reviews?

Background/aims: Large language models (LLMs) have substantial potential to enhance the efficiency of academic research. The accuracy and performance of LLMs in a systematic review, a core part of evidence building, has yet to be studied in detail.

Methods: We introduced two LLM-based approaches of systematic review: an LLM-enabled fully automated approach (LLM-FA) utilising three different GPT-4 plugins (Consensus GPT, Scholar GPT and GPT web browsing modes) and an LLM-facilitated semi-automated approach (LLM-SA) using GPT4's Application Programming Interface (API).

Formulation and evaluation of PVA-based composite hydrogels: physicochemical, leachables, and immunogenicity studies.

This study explores the formulation and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based composite hydrogels synthesized through solid-state crosslinking. Comprehensive assessments were conducted on their physicochemical properties, leachables, and immunogenicity. Swelling experiments demonstrated that the incorporation of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) enhanced water retention, while chitosan had a minimal effect on swelling behavior.

Reconstructive Phase Transition Enables Abnormal Negative Thermal Quenching of Photoluminescence in a 1D Hybrid Perovskite.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites (OIHPs) have attracted enormous attention owing to their intriguing structural tunability and diverse functional properties. Reconstructive phase transitions, involving the breaking and reconstruction of chemical bonds, have rarely been found in such materials; however, these features may induce many intriguing physical properties in optics, ferroelectrics, ferromagnetics, and so forth. Here, we utilized the weak and switchable coordination bonds of HETMA-MnCl (HETMA = (2-hydroxyethyl) trimethylammonium) to construct a 1D hybrid perovskite employing a neutral framework.

A Novel Dynamic Growth Rod Inducing Spinal Growth Modulation for the Correction of Spinal Deformities.

Background: Growth rods are the gold standard for treating early-onset scoliosis (EOS). However, current treatments with growth rods do not optimize spinal growth in EOS patients, and frequent distraction surgeries significantly increase complications, imposing considerable economic and psychological burdens on patients. An improved growth rod is urgently required to address the need for dynamic growth and external regulation.

Deep learning in integrating spatial transcriptomics with other modalities.

Spatial transcriptomics technologies have been extensively applied in biological research, enabling the study of transcriptome while preserving the spatial context of tissues. Paired with spatial transcriptomics data, platforms often provide histology and (or) chromatin images, which capture cellular morphology and chromatin organization. Additionally, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from matching tissues often accompany spatial data, offering a transcriptome-wide gene expression profile of individual cells.

Further insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying tobacco straw cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus by comparative transcriptome analyses.

Cultivation of edible mushrooms on straw can significantly reduce production costs, provide notable environmental and ecological benefits. However, the molecular mechanisms via which mushrooms utilize straw are not well understood. We conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis of oyster mushrooms cultivated on two different biomass substrates, namely, corncob and tobacco straw at various developmental stages.