Cysteine Alleviates the Toxicity of Cadmium Telluride Quantum Dots (CdTe QDs) by Modulating the Antioxidant System and Root Metabolic Pathways in Rice.

Cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs) have been increasing in the environment because of their large application in solar panels and biological industries. However, the potential role and bioaccumulation behavior of CdTe QDs in plants are unknown. Herein, the toxicity of CdTe QDs on the growth and the underlying mechanisms were explored in rice.

Diamine oxidase as a biomarker for depression and disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease: A cross-sectional observational study.

Background: Diamine oxidase (DAO) is secreted by epithelial cells in the intestinal villi, and its serum levels are elevated after intestinal mucosal damage. d-lactate (D-LA) is a gut microbial metabolite that can enter the systemic circulation if intestinal barrier function is impaired. Both DAO and D-LA are serum markers of small bowel mucosal integrity, and can be valuable biomarkers of intestinal barrier damage in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Scanned particle-beam tracking with beam correction based on predictive volumetric imaging: A simulation study.

Background: Tracking irradiation to moving targets in spot-scanning particle therapy, which corrects the spot position and energy in real-time, may decrease treatment time and increase accuracy. However, because of the temporal performance of the system, clinical translation remains challenging. Processing time, including image acquisition, volumetric image synthesis, correction assessment, and system response, is required to control the actual treatment system.

Exploiting targeted degradation of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases for cancer therapeutics: a review.

Cancer is characterized by abnormal cell proliferation. Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) have been recognized as essential regulators of the intricate cell cycle, orchestrating DNA replication and transcription, RNA splicing, and protein synthesis. Dysregulation of the CDK pathway is prevalent in the development and progression of human cancers, rendering cyclins and CDKs attractive therapeutic targets.

Longitudinal retinal functional evaluation using full-field electroretinography in New Zealand white and Dutch Belted rabbits with aging.

Electroretinography (ERG) is pivotal in elucidating retinal function, yet investigations into the temporal dynamics of ERG signals in New Zealand White (NZW) and Dutch-belted (DB) rabbits remain scarce. This study presents a longitudinal assessment of retinal function in both NZW and DB strains. ERG recordings were conducted on four NZW and four DB rabbits at 2, 7, 15, and 24 months of age, encompassing both dark-adapted and light-adapted protocols at each time point.

Hydrogen Bridge-Mediated Efficient Electrooxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural on Ni(OH)─PO /Ni(PO) Heterojunctions.

Accelerating proton deintercalation and transfer on the catalyst surface is crucial for the electrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into the high-value 2,5-furanodicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Herein, we have constructed a Ni(OH)─PO /Ni(PO) heterojunction catalyst that demonstrates exceptional selectivity (97.16%), yield (94.

Endogenous Retroviruses in Host-Virus Coevolution: From Genomic Domestication to Functional Innovation.

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are remnants of retroviral infections that have become stably integrated into host germline genomes. Far beyond passive genomic elements, ERVs actively shape host evolution through complex mechanisms involving genetic innovation, immune modulation, and species adaptation. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of ERV biology, highlighting recent advances in their classification, amplification mechanisms, and epigenetic silencing.

Orchestrating cellular fate: Post-Translational modifications as master regulators and therapeutic targets in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IIRI) represents a severe acute abdominal condition characterized by high mortality and multifaceted pathophysiological mechanisms. The principal features include tissue oxygen deficiency during ischemic phases followed by intensified oxidative stress during reperfusion, resulting in intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction, inflammatory mediator release, and cellular death pathways activation. Recent advances have highlighted the significance of post-translational modifications (PTMs) in regulating protein functionality.

Protoacoustic range verification by direct comparison with beam range measurements using a tissue-equivalent polymer gel.

Background And Purpose: Protoacoustics offers a promising method for in vivo range verification in proton therapy. To experimentally assess the protoacoustic range accuracy, conventional tissue-mimicking phantoms (TMPs) often require Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to estimate the ground truth. However, limited knowledge of material properties and/or insufficient fine-tuning of dose models can introduce range errors in MC simulations.

Fecal microbiota transplantation for refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: a pilot open-label, non-placebo-controlled study.

Background: Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in the initiation and development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been reported to be effective for refractory acute GVHD; however, whether FMT is effective for refractory chronic GVHD (cGVHD) remains unknown.

Methods: To investigate the efficacy and safety of FMT for refractory cGVHD and the underlying mechanism, 12 patients with refractory cGVHD received FMT via colonoscopy, and the response was evaluated at 12 weeks after FMT.

Chlorophyll b is essential for the growth, photoprotection, and photosystem I assembly in wheat.

Chlorophyll (Chl) b deficiency leads to vulnerability to high light and oxidative stress in wheat plants, while the detailed mechanism by which Chl b is involved in photoprotection remains unclear in plants. In this study, the roles of thylakoid protein composition and complexes in photosynthetic electron transport, photoprotective responses, and energy dissipation were investigated in Chl b-deficient mutant lines (ANK-32A) and the wild type (WT) of wheat. Compared to the WT, ANK-32A showed higher non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), slower state transitions, and a significant decline in the amount of Lhca1-4, Lhcb1-3, and PSII-LHCII supercomplexes at the early growth stage.

Single-cell spatial transcriptomics unravels the cellular landscape of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular disease with no effective pharmacological interventions. While single-cell transcriptomics has advanced our understanding of AAA, it lacks spatial context. Here, we employed Seq-Scope, an ultra-high-resolution spatial transcriptomic technology, to decipher the spatial landscape of angiotensin II-induced AAA in Apoe-/- mice.

Tegoprazan-based versus esomeprazole-based triple therapy plus bismuth for first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication: A nationwide, multicenter, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although triple therapy plus bismuth (TTPB), comprising a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), two antibiotics, and bismuth, is widely used to eradicate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), eradication rates have been suboptimal. Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) offer stronger and more stable gastric acid inhibition compared to PPIs.

Discovery of a widespread chemical signalling pathway in the Bacteroidota.

Considerable advances have been made in characterizing bioactive molecules secreted by bacteria, yet the regulatory elements controlling their production remain largely understudied. Here we identify and characterize the N-acyl-cyclolysine (ACL) system-a cell-density-dependent chemical signalling system specific to and widespread in the phylum Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes)-and show that it regulates the expression of co-localized operons encoding diverse secreted molecules. Using genetic and biochemical analyses, combined with structural studies of a key biosynthetic enzyme, AclA, we elucidate the molecular structure of various ACLs and their complete biosynthetic pathway involving L-lysine acylation and ATP-dependent cyclization.

Multi-omics derivation of a core gene signature for predicting therapeutic response and characterizing immune dysregulation in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) presents unpredictable therapeutic responses and complex immune dysregulation. Current precision medicine approaches lack robust molecular tools integrating transcriptomic signatures with immune dynamics for personalized treatment guidance.

Methods: We performed multi-omics analyses of GEO datasets using machine learning algorithms (LASSO/Random Forest) to derive a four-gene signature.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Kinase Domain Duplication in Lung Adenocarcinoma with Sensitive Response to Afatinib: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Epidermal growth factor receptor kinase domain duplication (EGFR-KDD) is a rare form of EGFR mutation. Unlike the classical mutations such as exon 19 deletion and exon 21 p.L858R point mutation, EGFR-KDD is a special type of large genomic rearrangement (LGR) that results in the duplication of the tyrosine kinase domain at the protein level, leading to the formation of an intramolecular dimer and activation of the EGFR signaling pathway.

Machine learning-based prediction of gastroesophageal junction cancer using electronic medical records.

Discriminating whether esophageal-related symptoms result from gastroesophageal junction cancer (GEJC) is challenging in clinical practice. This study aimed to develop and validate a tool to predict the likelihood of GEJC in patients with esophageal-related symptoms. The electronic medical record system was accessed to identify patients diagnosed with GEJC or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at our hospital between 2009 and 2023.

Diamond-Inspired DNA Hydrogel Based on Tetrahedral Framework Nucleic Acids for Burn Wound Healing.

Burn wounds frequently pose high risks of a prolonged healing process and even death due to the persistent reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated inflammatory cascade. There is an urgent requirement for advanced dressings modulating the immune microenvironment surrounding the wound. DNA hydrogels have been preliminarily investigated in tissue regeneration due to their excellent permeability, editability, and biocompatibility.

Microbiome-metabolome generated bile acids gatekeep infliximab efficacy in Crohn's disease by licensing M1 suppression and Treg dominance.

Introduction: Despite the effectiveness of infliximab in treating Crohn's disease (CD), up to 40 % of patients fail to respond adequately.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify predictive biomarkers of primary non-response to infliximab in treatment-naïve CD patients by characterizing baseline gut microbiome-metabolome interactions and to validate their mechanistic role in driving therapeutic resistance.

Methods: In a prospective cohort of 100 CD patients initiating infliximab therapy and 49 healthy controls, we performed longitudinal 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics on pre-/post-treatment fecal samples.

Uncovering fungal pathogens and skin microbiota in rural Malaysia.

The rise of emerging fungal pathogens suggests a need for global surveillance and a deeper understanding of drug resistance and modes of transmission. In a recent Cell article, Er et al. investigated an understudied fungal pathogen, Trichophyton concentricum, by analyzing the skin microbiota of Indigenous peninsular Malaysians with tinea imbricata.

Spatial-Temporal Hotspot Management of Photovoltaic Modules Based on Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Arrays.

Against the backdrop of an urgent energy crisis, solar energy has attracted sufficient attention as one of the most inexhaustible and friendly types of environmental energy. Faced with long service and harsh environment, the poor performance ratios of photovoltaic arrays and safety hazards are frequently boosted worldwide. In particular, the hot spot effect plays a vital role in weakening the power generation performance and reduces the lifetime of photovoltaic (PV) modules.

Optimization Scheme for Modulation of Data Transmission Module in Endoscopic Capsule.

The endoscopic capsule is a miniaturized device used for medical diagnosis, which is less invasive compared to traditional gastrointestinal endoscopy and can reduce patient discomfort. However, it faces challenges in communication transmission, such as high power consumption, serious signal interference, and low data transmission rate. To address these issues, this paper proposes an optimized modulation scheme that is low-cost, low-power, and robust in harsh environments, aiming to improve its transmission rate.

Hybrid integrated Gbps quantum random number generator based on laser phase fluctuation.

The quantum random number generator (QRNG) operates based on fundamental quantum mechanical principles to produce high-quality random numbers. Recently, chip-based QRNGs have garnered significant attention due to their compact size, low cost, and reduced power consumption. In this work, we demonstrate a hybrid integrated QRNG leveraging continuous-wave (CW) laser phase fluctuations.

High- miniaturized bound state in the continuum microcavities on thin-film lithium niobate towards efficient spatial light modulation.

We report the design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of high-quality factor () photonic crystal microcavities on a thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) that could potentially be utilized for spatial light modulation applications. Specifically, our design features inverted trapezoidal structures to address the realistic shapes in the fabrication and employs the transverse magnetic mode to incorporate the electro-optic effect of lithium niobate via its large coefficient. By leveraging the high-order topological charge of  = -2 carried by bound states in the continuum (BICs), the proposed microcavity reaches an ultra-high up to 1.

Population Pharmacokinetics of Busulfan in Pediatric Patients: Optimization of a Four-Times-Daily Dosing Regimen Based on EBMT Recommendations.

Background: The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) recommends a busulfan target cumulative area under the curve (cAUC) of 78-101 mg·h/L for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Currently, no population pharmacokinetic (PopPK)-optimized four-times-daily (Q6H) regimen reliably achieves this range. We developed a PopPK-guided dosing protocol to address this gap.