Influence of Electrostatic Interactions on the Self-Assembly of Charged Peptides.

Peptides can be designed to self-assemble into predefined supramolecular nanostructures, which are then employed as biomaterials in a range of applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and vaccination. However, current self-assembling peptide (SAP) hydrogels exhibit inadequate self-healing capacities and necessitate the use of sophisticated printing apparatus, rendering them unsuitable for 3D printing under physiological conditions. Here, we report a precisely designed charged peptide, Z5, with the object of investigating the impact of electrostatic interactions on the self-assembly and the rheological properties of the resulting hydrogels.

The Neural Development of Chinese Lexical Tone Perception: A Mismatch Negativity Study Across Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood.

Background/objectives: In a tonal language like Chinese, phonologically contrasting tones signify word meanings at the syllable level. Although the development of lexical tone perception ability has been examined in many behavioral studies, its developmental trajectory from childhood to adulthood at the neural level remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the issue by measuring the mismatch negativity (MMN) response to a Chinese lexical tonal contrast in three groups.

Short-Term Restriction of Physical and Social Activities Effects on Brain Structure and Connectivity.

Background: Prolonged confinement in enclosed environments has raised concerns about its effects on both physical and mental health. Although increased rates of depression or anxiety during COVID-19 lockdowns have been reported, the effects of short-term restrictions on social activities and physical on brain function and structure remain poorly known.

Methods: This study explored longitudinal changes in brain gray matter volume (GMV) and functional connectivity (FC) immediately after and four months following a short-term lockdown in comparison to pre-lockdown conditions.

Experimental Biomechanics of Neonatal Brachial Plexus Avulsion Injuries Using a Piglet Model.

Background: A brachial plexus avulsion occurs when the nerve root separates from the spinal cord during birthing trauma, such as shoulder dystocia or a difficult vaginal delivery. A complete paralysis of the affected levels occurs post-brachial plexus avulsion. Despite being reported in 10-20% of brachial plexus birthing injuries, it remains poorly diagnosed during the acute stages of injury, leading to poor intervention approaches.

Image-Based Monitoring of Thermal Ablation.

Thermal therapy is a commonly used local treatment technique in clinical practice. Monitoring the treatment process is essential for ensuring its success. In this review, we analyze recent image-based methods for thermal therapy monitoring, focusing particularly on their feasibility for synchronous or immediate postoperative monitoring.

Atrial Fibrillation Related Titin Truncation Is Associated With Atrial Myopathy in Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Disease Models.

Background: Protein-truncating mutations in the titin gene are associated with increased risk of atrial fibrillation. However, little is known about the underlying pathophysiology.

Methods: We identified a heterozygous titin truncating variant (TTNtv) in a patient with unexplained early onset atrial fibrillation and normal ventricular function.

Association Between Glycemic Control and Complications With Concentration of Urinary Exfoliated Proximal Tubule Kidney Cells in People With Diabetes Mellitus.

Emerging evidence suggests cell exfoliation could be operating under the control of cell metabolism. It is unclear if there are associations between the concentration of exfoliated kidney proximal tubule cells (PTCs) in urine with glycemic control and complications. Our study is aimed at exploring this.

MnGA with multiple enzyme-like properties for acute wound healing by reducing oxidative stress and modulating signaling pathways.

Nanozymes with specific catalytic activity inhibit inflammation and promote wound healing efficiently and safely. In this work, multifunctional manganese-based nanozymes (MnGA) with antioxidant properties were successfully constructed via a simple coordination reaction in which manganese chloride was used as the manganese source and gallic acid (GA) was used as the ligand solution. MnGA possesses both catalase-like (CAT-like) and superoxide dismutase-like (SOD-like) activities and a reactive nitrogen species (RNS) scavenging capacity, which enables it to efficiently inhibit the inflammatory response.

Inactivation of antibiotic resistant bacteria by nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots through spontaneous generation of intracellular and extracellular reactive oxygen species.

The widespread antibiotic resistance has called for alternative antimicrobial agents. Carbon nanomaterials, especially carbon quantum dots (CQDs), may be promising alternatives due to their desirable physicochemical properties and potential antimicrobial activity, but their antimicrobial mechanism remains to be investigated. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were synthesized to inactivate antibiotic-resistant bacteria and treat bacterial keratitis.

Cross-sectional imaging of speed-of-sound distribution using photoacoustic reversal beacons.

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) enables non-invasive cross-sectional imaging of biological tissues, but it fails to map the spatial variation of speed-of-sound (SOS) within tissues. While SOS is intimately linked to density and elastic modulus of tissues, the imaging of SOS distribution serves as a complementary imaging modality to PAT. Moreover, an accurate SOS map can be leveraged to correct for PAT image degradation arising from acoustic heterogeneities.

Bridging animal models and humans: neuroimaging as intermediate phenotypes linking genetic or stress factors to anhedonia.

Background: Intermediate phenotypes, such as characteristic neuroimaging patterns, offer unique insights into the genetic and stress-related underpinnings of neuropsychiatric disorders like depression. This study aimed to identify neuroimaging intermediate phenotypes associated with depression, bridging etiological factors to behavioral manifestations and connecting insights from animal models to diverse clinical populations.

Methods: We analyzed datasets from both rodents and humans.

Translation of PET radiotracers for cancer imaging: recommendations from the National Cancer Imaging Translational Accelerator (NCITA) consensus meeting.

Background: The clinical translation of positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers for cancer management presents complex challenges. We have developed consensus-based recommendations for preclinical and clinical assessment of novel and established radiotracers, applied to image different cancer types, to improve the standardisation of translational methodologies and accelerate clinical implementation.

Methods: A consensus process was developed using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM) to gather insights from a multidisciplinary panel of 38 key stakeholders on the appropriateness of preclinical and clinical methodologies and stakeholder engagement for PET radiotracer translation.

Visualization of Apical-Basal Stress Polarity Regulating Directed Cell Migration with a FRET-Based Biosensor.

Intracellular morphological apical-basal polarity, regulated by conserved polarity proteins, plays a crucial role in cell migration and metastasis. In this study, using a genetically encoded Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensor to visually present the spatiotemporal stress state between the lipid rafts on the membrane and the linked actin, we first provide the evidence for the existence of intrinsic apical-basal stress polarity in tumor cells and demonstrate that this polarity is a prerequisite for the formation of flow-induced front-back stress polarity. Interestingly, our study revealed that the front-back stress polarity disappeared upon the disruption of intrinsic apical-basal stress discrepancy, resulting in a large attenuated cell migration activity reduced from 76.

Complement C3 of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles promotes metastasis of RCC via recruitment of immunosuppressive myeloid cells.

Heterogeneous roles of complement C3 have been implicated in tumor metastasis and are highly context dependent. However, the underlying mechanisms linking C3 to tumor metastasis remain elusive in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Here, we demonstrate that C3 of RCC cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) contributes to metastasis via polarizing tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) into the immunosuppressive phenotype and recruiting polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs).

Association of Circulating Phenylacetylglutamine With Multi-Vessel Coronary Disease Severity and Outcomes in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: There is a lack of evidence regarding the association between plasma phenylacetylglutamine levels and lesion severity and clinical prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with multivessel coronary disease (MVCD). This study aims to investigate the potential of phenylacetylglutamine as a biomarker for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) of patients with STEMI and MVCD.

Methods And Results: Clinical data and blood samples were collected from 631 patients with STEMI and MVCD, who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Wearable optical coherence tomography angiography probe with extended depth of field.

Significance: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is widely utilized to investigate brain activities and disorders in anesthetized or restrained rodents. However, anesthesia can alter several physiological parameters, leading to findings that might not fully represent the true physiological state. To advance the understanding of brain function in awake and freely moving animals, the development of wearable OCT probes is crucial.

The optimization and application of photodynamic diagnosis and autofluorescence imaging in tumor diagnosis and guided surgery: current status and future prospects.

Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and autofluorescence imaging (AFI) are emerging cancer diagnostic technologies that offer significant advantages over traditional white-light endoscopy in detecting precancerous lesions and early-stage cancers; moreover, they hold promising potential in fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) for tumors. However, their shortcomings have somewhat hindered the clinical application of PDD and AFI. Therefore, it is imperative to enhance the efficacy of PDD and AFI, thereby maximizing their potential for practical clinical use.

(Omphalotaceae, Agaricales), A New Species from Danang, Vietnam.

During the collection of macrofungi resources in Son Tra Nature Reserve, Danang, Vietnam, two fungal specimens of the genus , designated as M34295 and M3457, living on dead still-attached branches of L. at an elevation around 360 m above the sea level were recorded. The morphological characteristics of the specimens shared some common characteristics with spp.

Evolving perspectives on aortic stenosis: the increasing importance of evaluating the right ventricle before aortic valve intervention.

Aortic stenosis (AS) was historically considered a disease of the left side of the heart, with the main pathophysiological impact being predominantly on the left ventricle (LV). However, progressive pressure overload in AS can initiate a cascade of extra-valvular myocardial remodeling that could also precipitate maladaptive alterations in the structure and function of the right ventricle (RV). The haemodynamic and clinical importance of these changes in patients with AS have been largely underappreciated in the past.

Three-dimensional complementary breast ultrasound (3D CBUS): Improving 3D spatial resolution uniformity with orthogonal images.

Background: With increasing evidence supporting three-dimensional (3D) automated breast (AB) ultrasound (US) for supplemental screening of breast cancer in increased-risk populations, including those with dense breasts and in limited-resource settings, there is an interest in developing more robust, cost-effective, and high-resolution 3DUS imaging techniques. Compared with specialized ABUS systems, our previously developed point-of-care 3D ABUS system addresses these needs and is compatible with any conventional US transducer, which offers a cost-effective solution and improved availability in clinical practice. While conventional US transducers have high in-plane resolution (axial and lateral), their out-of-plane resolution is constrained by the poor intrinsic elevational US resolution.

Preventive and Therapeutic effects of Metformin in Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of RCT and Cohort Studies.

Background: There is discrepancy of results among various individual and me-ta-analytical studies about the effect of metformin on cancer risk and patients' survival. Therefore, we have conducted a comprehensive, updated meta-analysis to evaluate the preventive and therapeutic effects of metformin for cancer patients, as well as the inci-dence of adverse reactions, among metformin users.

Methods: A total of 18 studies (10 cohort studies and 8 randomized controlled trials) in-volving 1,300,820 participants from Europe, North America, and Asia were included in this meta-analysis.

Protocol for prognosticating PPD using EEG changes during labor pain by uterine contractions: a prospective cohort study in the first stage of labor.

Background: Lack of motivation and behavioral abnormalities are the hallmarks of postpartum depression (PPD). Severe uterine contractions during labor are pain triggers for psychiatric disorders, including PPD in women during the puerperium. Creating biomarkers to monitor PPD may help in its early detection and treatment.

Assessment of glymphatic function and white matter integrity in children with autism using multi-parametric MRI and machine learning.

Objectives: To assess glymphatic function and white matter integrity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using multi-parametric MRI, combined with machine learning to evaluate ASD detection performance.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study collected data from 110 children with ASD (80 exploratory, 43 validation) and 68 typically developing children (50 exploratory, 18 validation) from two centers. The automated diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (aDTI-ALPS), fractional anisotropy (FA), cerebrospinal fluid volume, and perivascular space (PVS) volume indices were extracted from DTI, three-dimensional T1-weighted, and T2-weighted images.

PDGFR-α shRNA encoded nanoparticle with epithelial mesenchymal transformation interfering for corneal scarring treatment.

Maintaining the clarity of the cornea is crucial for optimal vision. Corneal scarring (CS), resulting from corneal inflammation, trauma, or surgery, can lead to a reduction in corneal transparency and visual impairment. While corneal transplantation is the primary method for restoring vision, the limited availability of corneal donor presents a significant challenge on a global scale.

Combined Anteversion in Healthy Hips: Should there be a single implant alignment target in total hip arthroplasty?

Background: The ideal anteversion at which the acetabular and femoral components for a total hip arthroplasty (THA) should be implanted is still a subject of debate. One alignment philosophy being explored is restoration of individual constitutional femoral and acetabular anteversion. This study aimed to measure combined anteversion in a healthy hip population and understand the expected phenotypes and ranges for constitutional hip alignment.