Unraveling the Nyctinastic movement of Oxalis triangularis 'Purpurea': the role of circadian clock, hormones, and Ca signaling.

Oxalis triangularis 'Purpurea' is an ornamental plant that exhibits nyctinastic movement. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The nyctinastic movement of the leaflets is regulated by a motor organ termed the pulvinus, in which the flexor cells and extensor cells adjust their osmosis potential antagonistically to drive the opening or closure of the leaflets.

Effects of balance device training on ankle function and postural control ability in patients with functional ankle instability.

Background: Functional ankle instability (FAI) is a common chronic disease after ankle sprains, and exercise intervention can improve symptoms of instability. This research aims to assess the effect of two new ankle balance device training programs on the ankle function and postural control ability in individuals with functional ankle instability.

Methods: A total of sixty-eight participants with FAI were randomly assigned to three groups: the spherical ankle balance device (SABD) group, the ensiform ankle balance device (EABD) group and the control group.

Time-Dependent Diffusion MRI-Based Microstructural Mapping for Characterizing HER2-Zero, -Low, -Ultra-Low, and -Positive Breast Cancer.

Background: With breast cancer treatment advances, accurate non-invasive methods are needed to distinguish its human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) subtypes. Recently developed time-dependent diffusion MRI (t-dMRI) has potential in characterizing cellular tissue microstructures in breast cancer. However, its role in identifying HER2 subtypes is unknown.

Dietary intervention with Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides mitigates cadmium liver toxicity: a gut-liver axis perspective.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in food chains poses a global health threat, necessitating safe and effective dietary interventions. While polysaccharides are emerging as detoxifying agents, the role of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides (PSP) in Cd-induced liver injury remains unexplored. This study established a female rat model of cadmium (Cd)-induced liver toxicity with PSP supplementation (125 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks.

Comparing Multi-Value Diffusion MRI Models for Predicting Pathologic Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer.

Background Multi-value diffusion MRI models have been used to predict pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer. However, there is a lack of longitudinal comparative research. Purpose To compare the performance of various diffusion MRI-derived longitudinal parameters during NAC for prediction of pCR in breast cancer.

Molybdenum etching-treated ultrathin NiFeMo LDHs nanosheet arrays as a performance anodic catalyst for efficient industrial production of hydrogen.

Water-splitting is a critical technology for the conversion and storage of renewable energy. The slow anodic process dynamics with high overpotential greatly limit the commercialization of electrolytic hydrogen production. Herein, we proposed an electrochemical etching method to achieve molybdenum component-controlled dissolution of ultrathin NiFeMo layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanosheet arrays on nickel-iron foam (NFF) to create reconstructed oxygen evolution reaction (OER) active sites in LDHs.

Current Status and Determinants of Postoperative Visual Function-Related Quality of Life in Retinal Detachment Patients: A Multivariate Analysis.

Purpose: Retinal detachment is a sight-threatening condition that requires surgical intervention. However, conventional surgical procedures for retinal detachment repair often adversely impact patients' quality of life. Identifying key factors affecting quality of life is crucial for designing effective clinical interventions.

Comparative Analysis of the Bioactivity and Anti-Inflammatory Effects Against Endotoxin in Mitochondria for Transplantation: Impact of Muscle Origin in Rats.

Background: Mitochondria are essential for cellular energy production and cell survival. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in various neurological disorders, prompting the development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting these organelles. Among these, mitochondrial transplantation (MT), which replaces dysfunctional mitochondria with healthy counterparts from donor tissues, has emerged as a promising strategy.

Embryonic mast cells arise from the Cpa3-expressing precursors but not granulocyte-monocyte progenitors.

Most of the mast cells (MCs) in connective tissues, such as skin, are long-lived embryonic-derived immune cells that play important roles in host defense and in various immunological diseases, including allergies. Their embryonic origin and ontogeny remain to be fully studied since several overlapping waves of embryonic hematopoiesis have been reported to give rise to these cells. Here, combining single-cell RNA sequencing and new genetic fate mapping models, we identified a Cpa3-expressing population sequentially appearing in the yolk sac, fetal liver, and peripheral tissues which gives rise to dermal MCs during embryonic days 11.

Quantifying tumor morphological complexity based on pretreatment MRI fractal analysis for predicting pathologic complete response and survival in breast cancer: a retrospective, multicenter study.

Background: The tumor morphological complexity is closely associated with treatment response and prognosis in patients with breast cancer. However, conveniently quantifiable tumor morphological complexity methods are currently lacking.

Methods: Women with breast cancer who underwent NAC and pretreatment MRI were retrospectively enrolled at four centers from May 2010 to April 2023.

Biomechanical parameters quantified by MR elastography for predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and disease-free survival in breast cancer: a prospective longitudinal study.

Background: Little is known regarding biomechanical properties derived from multifrequency MR elastography temporal changes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and associated with pathologic complete response (pCR) and disease-free survival (DFS) in breast cancer. We aimed to investigate temporal changes in NAC-associated biomechanical parameters and assess biomechanical parameters as a predictor of pCR and DFS in breast cancer.

Methods: In this prospective longitudinal study, participants with breast cancer who received NAC were enrolled from February 2021 to May 2023.

Epigenetic landscapes drive CAR-T cell kinetics and fate decisions: Bridging persistence and resistance.

Chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment paradigm for B-cell malignancies and holds promise for solid tumor immunotherapy. However, CAR-T-cell therapy still faces many challenges, especially primary and secondary resistance. Some mechanisms of resistance, including CAR-T-cell dysfunction, an inhibitory tumor microenvironment, and tumor-intrinsic resistance, have been identified in previous studies.

Nomogram for Predicting Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response in Breast Cancer Using MRI-based Intratumoral Heterogeneity Quantification.

Background Intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) in breast cancer contributes to treatment failure and relapse. Noninvasive methods to quantify ITH are currently limited. Purpose To quantify ITH in breast cancer using pretreatment MRI, develop a nomogram to predict pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), and investigate biologic pathways associated with nomogram scores.

Progress of research on engineered extracellular vesicles from different sources for disease treatment.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer nanoparticles that encapsulate proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and small molecules and display low immunogenicity, high stability, and cross-species transmission. By applying engineering technologies, the surface of EVs can be modified and loaded with cargo with therapeutic properties. Thus, engineered EVs can play important roles in preventing and treating various diseases.

Nomograms Integrating MRI-derived Apparent Diffusion Coefficient and Clinicopathologic Features for Prediction of Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer.

Purpose To develop three nomograms integrating apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) derived from diffusion-weighted imaging to predict the status of pretreatment axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) (task 1), nonsentinel lymph nodes (task 2), and ALNs after neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment (task 3) in patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods Pretreatment MRI scans, including diffusion-weighted images, were retrospectively acquired from patients with breast cancer at multiple centers from May 2019 to May 2023. ADC values and clinicopathologic features were measured.

Crosstalk patterns of necroptosis signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome in the colonic epithelium and its initial role in colitis.

Inflammation-mediated epithelial damage, including necroptosis of the intestinal epithelia, can lead to subsequent immune responses, but the molecular mechanisms of inflammation in the initial stages are not well understood. Based on cellular experiments and mouse models, we investigated the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome under necroptotic conditions, and its contribution to the inflammatory response in colitis. Our results showed that, under inflammatory conditions, intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) undergo phosphor-MLKL-dependent necroptosis with subsequent activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome for caspase-1 activation and IL-1β maturation.

Health related quality of life and its influencing factors in Chinese patients with ocular tumors.

Background: Ocular tumors are a class of important ophthalmologic diseases that threaten patient visual acuity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, little is known about the factors affecting HRQoL among individuals with ocular tumors in mainland China.

Methods: Convenience sampling was employed to select 144 patients with ocular tumors being treated in a grade A tertiary hospital in Shanghai from August 2022 to May 2023 as study participants.

Caregiver's experiences with a mobile-based educational program and its impact on dietary treatment compliance of children with methylmalonic acidemia: an online survey.

Background: Compliance to highly restrictive diets is critical for children with Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA), and their caregivers play a prominent role in children's dietary treatment from early childhood through to adulthood. Despite lots of efforts by the multidisciplinary medical team to ensure the smooth implementation of dietary treatment, restricting dietary protein remains particularly challenging for children with MMA. This study aimed to assess dietary treatment compliance in children with MMA and evaluate the impact of WeChat-based parent education on compliance.

Exploring the Relationship Between Transitional Object Attachment and Emotion Regulation in College Students.

: Transitional attachment objects, such as blankets, play a critical role in childhood by helping children manage separation anxiety and regulate emotions. Although attachment to these objects often decreases as children grow older, it may persist into adulthood and influence emotion regulation and stress responses. Their influence on emotion regulation in adulthood remains uncertain.

METTL3 modulates colonic epithelium integrity via maintaining the self-renewal and differentiation of Lgr5+ stem cell.

The development and homeostasis of intestinal epithelium are mediated by actively proliferating Lgr5+ stem cells, which possess a remarkable self-renewal and differentiation capacity. Recently, our study demonstrated that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation was essential for the survival of colonic stem cells. Here, we show that methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) expression is downregulated in the colon mucosa in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and strongly associated with the differentiation and maturation of goblet cells during inflammation.

Dynamic Liquid Metal-Microfiber Interlocking Enables Highly Conductive and Strain-insensitive Metastructured Fibers for Wearable Electronics.

Stretchable fibers with high conductivity are vital components for smart textiles and wearable electronics. However, embedding solid conductive materials in polymers significantly reduces conductive pathways when stretched, causing a sharp drop in conductivity. Here, a stretchable metastructured fiber with dynamic liquid metal-microfiber interlocking interface is reported to realize highly conductive yet ultrastable conductance.

Investigating factors influencing quality of life in thyroid eye disease: insight from machine learning approaches.

Aims: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune orbital disorder that diminishes the quality of life (QOL) in affected individuals. Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO)-QOL questionnaire effectively assesses TED's effect on patients. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing visual functioning (QOL-VF) and physical appearance (QOL-AP) scores in Chinese TED patients using innovative data analysis methods.

The effects of plasma from patients with active thyroid-associated orbitopathy on the survival and inflammation of melanoma-associated fibroblasts.

Background: Plasma from patients with active thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO-A) could cause inflammation to fibroblasts, and such a mechanism was explored in the context of melanoma.

Methods: Plasma samples collected from TAO-A patients and healthy control (HC) were primarily co-cultured with the melanoma-associated fibroblasts (MAFs) derived from melanoma patients. The survival and inflammation of the co-cultured MAFs were measured after confirming the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.