Optimal low-frequency mechanical vibration enhances extracellular polymeric substances-mediated phosphorus removal in biological systems.

The biological phosphorus removal (BPR) process relies on frequent phosphorus exchange between functional microorganisms and their surrounding environment. However, limited mass transfer restricts the overall phosphorus removal efficiency. In this study, low-frequency mechanical vibration (LFMV) was introduced into the anaerobic/oxic reactors.

4D-MRI at 0.55T for internal target volume delineation in liver radiation therapy planning.

Background: Low-field MRI provides superior soft-tissue contrast compared to CT while costing significantly less than high-field MRI, which makes it a more accessible option for MRI-guided radiation therapy planning. Four-dimensional MRI (4D-MRI) is a technique that has been increasingly adopted clinically for internal target volume (ITV) delineation in free-breathing liver radiotherapy planning, and it requires high spatial resolution and accurate respiratory phase differentiation to enable precise dose planning. The feasibility of 4D-MRI at low-field strength, specifically at 0.

Albumin mediates the association between maternal exposure to multiple metals and gestational diabetes mellitus: Findings from the Guangxi Birth Cohort Study.

Background: Metals are significantly associated with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, the effects of liver function on the relationships between metals and GDM risk remain unexplored. This study aimed to investigate whether maternal liver function mediates the association between exposure to multiple metals and GDM among pregnant women.

miR-590-5p mediates mitochondrial respiration, proliferation, and apoptosis in thyroid carcinoma cells via fibroblast growth factor receptor substrate 2.

Objective: Thyroid carcinoma (TC) is the most common cancer of the endocrine system. Dysregulation of microRNA-590-5p (miR-590-5p) has been associated with various malignancies. Targeting mitochondrial respiration is beneficial in treating TC.

Effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation therapy combined with orthotic insole intervention on lower limb function improvement in children with foot drop and inversion deformity.

Objective: To evaluate whether combining proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) therapy with customized orthotic insoles leads to greater improvements in gait parameters, ankle range of motion, and lower-limb function than either intervention alone in pediatric foot drop and inversion deformity.

Methods: Ninety-seven children (aged 5-14 years) with foot drop and inversion deformity were randomized into three groups: (1) PNF plus insole, (2) insole only, and (3) PNF only. All interventions lasted 12 weeks.

Viscoelastic and conductive nerve guidance conduits for peripheral nerve repair.

Peripheral nerve injury is challenging to self-repair and often leads to severe functional impairment. Utilizing neural tissue engineering scaffolds to promote nerve regeneration presents a promising strategy. However, current nerve scaffolds generally lack the ability to accurately replicate the viscoelastic properties of native neural tissues.

A Self-Delivering Oxygen Modulator for Breast Cancer Immunotherapy via Pyroptosis Induction and PD-L1 Degradation.

Abnormal tumor microenvironments and the immunosuppressive phenotype of tumor cells substantially hinder their therapeutic effect. In this work, a self-delivering oxygen modulator (PPCT) is fabricated to simultaneously suppress mitochondrial respiration and downregulate PD-L1 expression, thereby enhancing photodynamic therapy (PDT) and promoting pyroptosis-mediated immunogenic cell death for synergistic breast cancer immunotherapy. Specifically, the PPCT nanoplatform is constructed by conjugating the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX and a PD-L1-blocking peptide via a hydrophilic oligo (ethylene glycol) linker and a matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2)-cleavable peptide sequence (PLGLAG).

A common structural mechanism for RNA recognition by the SF3B complex in mRNA splicing and export.

The SF3B complex plays a critical role in branch point adenosine recognition during pre-mRNA splicing. Its largest subunit SF3B1 is frequently mutated in cancers, leading to aberrant alternative splicing. Besides its function in pre-mRNA splicing, the SF3B complex also binds mature or intronless mRNAs to facilitate their nuclear export.

A rare case of sero-negative anti-glomerular basement membrane disease combined with diabetic nephropathy and literature review.

We report a case of a 59-year-old male who exhibited an insidious onset of hematuria, nephrotic syndrome, and mild renal dysfunction, with negative serum anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies. The initial renal biopsy diagnosed diabetic nephropathy. As the disease progressed, the clinical manifestations evolved into rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, and a second kidney biopsy ultimately diagnosed anti-glomerular basement membrane disease in conjunction with diabetic nephropathy.

The mechanism of alpha-lipoic acid regulating dopaminergic neuronal damage in Parkinson's disease through the Nrf2/HMOX1 pathway.

Objective: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder distinguished by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). This study explored the mechanism by which alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) modulates dopaminergic neuronal damage via the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) pathway.

Methods: A PD mouse model was established using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), followed by ALA and the Nrf2 inhibitor (ML385) treatment.

Lymph node-targeted metabolic regulatory nanovaccines to boost cancer immunotherapy by potentiating dendritic cell-mediated antigen presentation.

Tumor vaccines represent a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of cancer. However, suboptimal targeting efficiency to dendritic cells (DCs) and inadequate antigen presentation by metabolically dysfunctional DCs significantly hinder vaccination efficacy. drug screening reveals that lovastatin (Lov) effectively inhibits antigen degradation in DCs by modulating the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, thereby enhancing antigen presentation.

Effects of DRG/DIP payment reform on hospital pharmacy administration and pharmaceutical services in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: In China, a government-led policy introduced in 2019 and 2020 aims to reduce medical costs through a national medical care payment system based on Diagnostic-Related Groups (DRG) and Diagnosis-Intervention Packet (DIP). Hospital pharmacists play a crucial role in the implementation of this policy by enhancing the rational use of medicines and delivering pharmaceutical services. The purpose of this study is to assess the current state of hospital pharmacy administration and pharmaceutical services, while examining the effects of the DRG/DIP policy on these aspects.

Multimodal analysis stratifies genetic susceptibility and reveals the pathogenic mechanism of kidney injury in diabetic nephropathy.

The genetic etiology of diabetic nephropathy (DN) is masked by inaccurate phenotyping and ethnic disparities. Here, we conduct a stepwise genome-wide association study (GWAS) in the Chinese Han population, using a precise phenotype of biopsy-proven DN as cases, patients with type 2 diabetes without microvascular complications as controls, and healthy individuals for comparison. Our analysis reveals that the genetic etiology of DN is primarily attributed to an inherent susceptibility to kidney injury.

A multifunctional hydrogel system with synergistic effects against infections and inflammation in perioperative cataract surgery.

Advancing therapeutic strategies with high bioavailability, simplified regimens, and reduced bacterial resistance is crucial for perioperative cataract care. Herein, multifunctional hydrogel eye drops (designated as FQT) were synthesized through a simple one-pot synthesis, employing thermosensitive F127 as the structural scaffold and incorporating quaternized chitosan (QCS) and tannic acid (TA). QCS and TA not only serve as active agents conferring synergistic non-antibiotic antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, but also cooperatively interact with F127 through hydrogen bonding, ionic interactions, and electrostatic forces to significantly modulate those hydrogels' key physicochemical properties, including thermosensitivity, thixotropy, visibility, erosion resistance, and bioavailability.

Bioadhesive and antioxidant hydrogel by MoS-TA dual-catalytic system initiated free radical polymerization combined with phototherapy for cartilage regeneration.

Tissue engineering has been used as a potential treatment strategy for articular cartilage regeneration, but current hydrogel scaffolds often fail to meet these criteria due to weak mechanical strength and unfavorable biocompatibility. Inspired by the metal ion-polyphenol redox system-initiated free radical polymerization (MPi-FRP), a novel molybdenum disulfide-tannic acid (MoS-TA) dual-catalytic system was used as an initiator for the free radical polymerization of methacrylated hyaluronate (HAMA) to synthesize a HAMA-MoS-TA (abbreviated as HAMA-M) nanocomposite hydrogel for cartilage repair under mild conditions. Compared to the pure HAMA hydrogel, HAMA-M hydrogels exhibited robust mechanical properties, and the adhesive strength was promoted for 81.

Insights into the bacterial fraction of sediments from the South China Sea: physiological, chemotaxonomic, and genomic characterization of seven novel members of the family.

The family is phenotypically and phylogenetically heterogeneous group of bacteria, which has vast metabolic capability in carbohydrates degradation and secondary metabolite production. Deep marine sediments harbor highly diverse microorganisms, playing important roles in ecosystem. Here, we investigated the cultivable fraction of bacteria associated with the sediments of South China Sea ( = 152).

Autophagy-induced NR2F1 activation promotes the apoptosis of lens epithelial cells and facilitates cataract-associated fibrosis through targeting STAT3.

Cataracts, a widely prevalent ocular pathology, engender visual impairment and emerge as a primary etiological factor contributing to ocular blindness. Substantial evidence substantiates that epithelial-mesenchymal transition stands prominently among the pivotal causative factors associated with this debilitating condition. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Characteristics, preparation and applicability in oral delivery systems of cellulose ether-based buccal films.

With the rapid development of buccal films (BFs), the demand for film-forming materials and preparation techniques has increased. Cellulose ethers (CEs) exhibit favorable properties, such as effective film formation, mucosal adhesion, and biocompatibility; as such, they are most commonly employed as film-forming materials, essential for BF fabrication. CE-based BFs, classified as orodispersible and buccal mucoadhesive films, can be prepared through solvent casting, inkjet printing, three-dimensional printing, electrospinning, and hot melt extrusion.

The association between occupational silica exposure and leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Respirable crystalline silica is a proven lung carcinogen, but there is limited information of the carcinogenic effects of silica on non-respiratory organs. We aimed to systematically review cohort studies and conduct a meta-analysis to explore the relationship between occupational exposure to silica and the risk of leukemia development. We performed an exhaustive search across three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) to identify pertinent cohort studies published since 1987.

Signal integrity research of high-speed interconnection systems based on scattering parameters.

As an important characteristic of a signal transmission network, scattering parameters can accurately reflect the signal transmission situation. By establishing a circuit model based on scattering parameters for the signal path unit, studying the signal attenuation and reflection curves of components including transmission lines, transmission media, vias, high-speed connectors, and transceiver termination devices, a circuit simulation model completely based on scattering parameters is proposed. This model can be parametrically adjusted according to the requirements of actual circuit implementation, and accurately reflect the high-speed signal transmission quality of the final circuit.

Trends and gender disparities in the burden of rheumatoid arthritis in Pakistan from 1990 to 2021.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) significantly drives global morbidity and mortality, yet its evolving impact in low- and middle-income countries remains underexplored. This study harnesses extensive global burden of disease (GBD) data to delineate the temporal trends of RA burden in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from 1990 to 2021, examine its association with socio-demographic development, and forecast future trajectories through 2036. This retrospective epidemiological study quantified RA disease metrics in Pakistan through GBD data interrogation.

Molecular networking-based discovery of components with antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities in burdock root.

Arctium lappa L. (burdock) is widely consumed as a vegetable in Asia and Europe. However, the bioactive constituents of burdock roots have not been systematically studied.

Comparison of Superovulated Embryo Quality in Simmental Cattle Inseminated with 0 °C-Refrigerated and Liquid Nitrogen-Frozen Semen.

Semen quality plays a crucial role in bovine in vivo embryo production. This study aimed to compare the effects of 0 °C-refrigerated semen and liquid nitrogen-frozen semen on embryo quality in Simmental cattle. Semen collected from five bulls was equally divided into two groups: one diluted with a 0 °C refrigeration solution and stored at 0 °C, and the other diluted with a cryopreservation solution and stored in liquid nitrogen for 24 h.

Mechanism of LINC00958 in ferroptosis of breast cancer through the SRSF1/GPX4 axis.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women. Ferroptosis is a novel iron-dependent form of cell death and affects cancer development. This study was conducted to explore the role of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA958 (LINC00958) in the ferroptosis of BC cells.

Prediction of lung adenocarcinoma prognosis and clinical treatment efficacy by telomere-associated gene risk model.

Background: The most prevalent cause of cancer-related death in China and across the globe is lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Telomere shortening (TS) has been found to contribute to the development of LUAD. Therefore, our aim is to investigate the impact of telomere-related genes (TRGs) on immunotherapy and clinical prognosis prediction in LUAD.