Using a Functional Wool Keratin Photoresist to Build Iridescent and Fluorescent 3D Micro-Pattern for Dual-Mode Optical Anti-Counterfeiting.

The construction of bio-nanostructures plays a critical role in the advancement of applications across bioelectronics, bio-optical devices, and biomedicine. Among various fabrication techniques, soft lithography emerges as an efficient and scalable method for producing high-quality intricate surface micropatterns. Herein, a mild and aqueous approach is developed to endow biocompatible wool keratin (WK) with photoresponsiveness; and utilize the gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) incorporated functional bio-photoresist to build iridescent and fluorescent micrometer-scale patterns for dual-mode optical anti-counterfeiting.

Association Between Educational Attainment and Chronic Pain: A Mediation Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: The underlying association between educational attainment (EA) and chronic pain (CP) risk is not clear. This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship of EA with CP using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for EA were selected from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium (SSGAC).

Synthesis and biological evaluation of the Fluoro analog of Romidepsin with improved selectivity for class I histone deacetylases (HDACs).

Selective inhibition of Class I HDACs has emerged as a promising approach for cancer therapy. Building on our previous work with Largazole (a member of the natural depsipeptide family), we have applied a similar fluorination modification to Romidepsin and synthesized its fluoro analog (12) in 12 steps. This analog exhibits potent inhibitory activity against Class I HDACs but shows no inhibitory effect on HDAC6, confirming its selectivity as a Class I HDAC inhibitor (IC50 HDAC1 0.

Role of FPR2 antagonism in alleviating social isolation-induced depression and protecting blood-brain barrier integrity.

Social isolation (SI) is a prevalent issue in modern society, particularly exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is a significant contributor to depressive disorders. Inflammation-related markers are upregulated in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) unresponsive to first-line selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. This study investigates the role of formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2), a G-protein coupled receptor expressed in central and peripheral immune cells, in SI-induced depression.

Rubicon siRNA-encapsulated liver-targeting nanoliposome is a promising therapeutic for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent metabolic liver disorder worldwide, and effective therapeutic strategies for its treatment remains limited. In this article, we introduced Glipo-siRubi, a hepatocytes-targeting RNA interference (RNAi) nanoliposome for suppression of Rubicon expression, aiming to achieve precise regulation of autophagy in NAFLD. Autophagy activation induced by Rubicon suppression resulted in reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress and intracellular lipid accumulation in vitro.

Probing into the plasma stability and microsomal stability of thiol-based prodrug derivatives: Using IYS-15, an HDAC inhibitor as the model thiol.

Thiols have interesting bio-chemical properties and can be found in a number of approved drugs. However, some thiols exhibited poor plasma stability and microsomal stability, leading to poor in vivo activity and poor oral bio-availability, in spite of their potent activity in vitro. Prodrug is a classic strategy to improve drug pharmacokinetics.

Simultaneously blocking ANGPTL3 and CD47 prevents the progression of atherosclerosis through regulating lipid metabolism, macrophagic efferocytosis and lipid peroxidation.

Atherosclerosis (AS) ultimately cause major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). While traditional strategies by lipid-reducing have reduced MACEs, many patients continue to face significant risks. It might attribute to the upregulation of CD47 expression in AS lesions, that mediated anti-efferocytosis of macrophages.

Simultaneously blocking ANGPTL3 and IL-1β for the treatment of atherosclerosis through lipid-lowering and anti-inflammation.

Objective: Blood lipid levels play a critical role in the progression of atherosclerosis. However, even with adequate lipid reduction, significant residual cardiovascular risk remains. Therefore, it is necessary to seek novel therapeutic strategies for atherosclerosis that can not only lower lipid levels but also inhibit inflammation simultaneously.

Dual-Sensitive Carbohydrate-Based Nanosystem for Targeted Drug Delivery to Potentiate the Therapeutic Efficacy of Ulcerative Colitis.

Purpose: Conventional oral formulations for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment are less than satisfactory, due to the poor controllability of drug release and lack of specificity to the inflammation sites in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. To overcome these limitations, we developed a multiple carbohydrate-based nanosystem with pH/ROS dual responsibility and charge-mediated targeting ability for IBD-specific drug delivery.

Methods: In view of the overproduction of ROS and overexpression of cationic proteins in the inflammatory colon, the designed nanosystem was composed of oxidation-sensitive cyclodextrin (OX-CD), chitosan (CS) and pectin (AHP).

The role of SEMG1 overexpression in OSCC tumorigenesis and its relation with metabolic molecules.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the expression and biological significance of Semenogelin 1 (SEMG1), a member of the cancer-testis antigen family, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Further, we explored its potential association with metabolism-related molecules.

Methods: SEMG1 expression levels in OSCC were determined through immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and Western blot analyses.

Rectal adenocarcinoma: Ex vivo 9.4T MRI-correlation with histopathologic treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Objectives: To determine the imaging details and diagnostic information of the treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) of rectal adenocarcinoma at 9.4T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by ex vivo.

Methods: Fifteen cases with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) followed by radical surgery after nCRT between September 2022 and February 2023 were recruited.

A thiolated oxidized guar gum and sodium alginate dual-network microspheres with enhanced gastric acid resistance and mucoadhesion for delivery of probiotics.

Probiotics offer numerous beneficial functions for human bodies, while the low survival rate under gastric acid and short retention time in the intestine are the major obstacles to their utilization. To address these issues, we designed a novel dual-network hydrogel microsphere that combines gastric acid resistance with enhanced mucoadhesion, aiming for the targeted delivery of probiotics. Thiolated oxidized guar gum (SOGG) was disulfide-linked to form the first network, and sodium alginate (SA) was cross-linked with Ca to form the second network.

Dynamic monitoring soft tissue healing via visualized Gd-crosslinked double network MRI microspheres.

By integrating magnetic resonance-visible components with scaffold materials, hydrogel microspheres (HMs) become visible under magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), allowing for non-invasive, continuous, and dynamic monitoring of the distribution, degradation, and relationship of the HMs with local tissues. However, when these visualization components are physically blended into the HMs, it reduces their relaxation rate and specificity under MRI, weakening the efficacy of real-time dynamic monitoring. To achieve MRI-guided in vivo monitoring of HMs with tissue repair functionality, we utilized airflow control and photo-crosslinking methods to prepare alginate-gelatin-based dual-network hydrogel microspheres (G-AlgMA HMs) using gadolinium ions (Gd (III)), a paramagnetic MRI contrast agent, as the crosslinker.

Effect of Regulation of Chemerin/Chemokine-like Receptor 1/Stimulator of Interferon Genes Pathway on Astrocyte Recruitment to Aβ Plaques.

Recruitment and accumulation of reactive astrocytes around senile plaques are common pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with unclear mechanisms. Chemerin, an adipokine implicated in neuroinflammation, acts through its receptor, chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), which also functions as a receptor for amyloid β (Aβ). The impact of the chemerin/CMKLR1 axis on astrocyte migration towards Aβ plaques is unknown.

Inhibition of Hedgehog signaling ameliorates foam cell formation by promoting autophagy in early atherosclerosis.

Macrophages are the origin of most foam cells in the early stage of atherosclerotic plaques. However, the mechanism involved in the formation of macrophage-derived foam cell formation remains unclear. Here, we revealed that the hedgehog (Hh) signaling is critical in autophagy-lysosome pathway regulation and macrophage-derived foam cell formation.

Rheological engineering of perovskite suspension toward high-resolution X-ray flat-panel detector.

Solution-processed polycrystalline perovskite film is promising for the next generation X-ray imaging. However, the spatial resolution of current perovskite X-ray panel detectors is far lower than the theoretical limit. Herein we find that the pixel level non-uniformity, also known as fixed pattern noise, is the chief culprit affecting the signal-to-noise ratio and reducing the resolution of perovskite detectors.

Effects of different light conditions on transient expression and biomass in leaves.

In the process of the production of recombinant proteins by using an -mediated transient gene expression system, the effectiveness of the control of light conditions pre- and post-agroinfiltration on efficiency of transient expression is worth being evaluated. In this study, plants were used as a bioreactor to investigate the effects of different light conditions pre- and post-agroinfiltration on the transient expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP). The results showed that the plants grown under light condition for 5 weeks had the highest level of transient expression among those grown for 4-8 weeks.

Comparing the Effect of Mechanical Loading on Deep and Superficial Cartilage Using Quantitative UTE MRI.

Background: The biomechanical properties of deep and superficial cartilage may be different, yet in vivo MRI validation is required.

Purpose: To compare the effect of mechanical loading on deep and superficial cartilage in young healthy adults using ultrashort echo time (UTE)-T2* mapping.

Study Type: Prospective, intervention.

Study on Design and Preparation of Conductive Polyvinylidene Fluoride Fibrous Membrane with High Conductivity via Electrostatic Spinning.

The novel conductive polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibrous membrane with high conductivity and sensitivity was successfully prepared via electrostatic spinning and efficient silver reduction technology. Based on the selective dissolution of porogen of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), the porous PVDF fibrous membrane with excellent adsorbability and mechanical strength was obtained, providing a structure base for the preparation of conductive PVDF fibrous membrane with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-PVDF). The Ag in the AgNO mixed solution with PVP was absorbed and maintained in the inner parts and surface of the porous structure.

Enhancing head and neck tumor management with artificial intelligence: Integration and perspectives.

Head and neck tumors (HNTs) constitute a multifaceted ensemble of pathologies that primarily involve regions such as the oral cavity, pharynx, and nasal cavity. The intricate anatomical structure of these regions poses considerable challenges to efficacious treatment strategies. Despite the availability of myriad treatment modalities, the overall therapeutic efficacy for HNTs continues to remain subdued.