The Role of MAPK12 in Prognosis of Patients With Liver Cancer and Effects on Stemness Characteristics.

Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is a prevalent and highly aggressive form of liver cancer, characterized by increasing rates of incidence and mortality globally. Although numerous treatment options currently exist, they frequently result in insufficient clinical outcomes for those diagnosed with LIHC. This highlights the urgent need to identify new biomarkers that can enhance prognostic evaluations and support the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for LIHC.

Nephrology in Nepal: How it Started and Where We Are.

Nepal has made significant strides in nephrology, progressing from no dialysis services to offering comprehensive kidney care, including dialysis and transplantation. The journey began in the 1980s with the establishment of the first nephrology unit at Bir Hospital and has since grown to encompass over 60 dialysis centers and multiple transplant facilities. Government initiatives, such as financial subsidies and health insurance schemes, have increased accessibility, yet disparities persist due to workforce shortages, uneven infrastructure distribution, and inconsistent quality control in dialysis services.

Controllable Synthesis of an Upconversion Metal-Organic Framework Core-Shell Hybrid for Highly Sensitive Fluorescence Detection of Dufulin in Crops and Fruits.

Developing a sensitive analysis of dufulin with high anti-interference performance remains challenging. Herein, a metal-organic framework (MOF)-encapsulated upconversion nanoparticle (UC) core-shell hybrid sensor (UC@CuMOF) was designed for the sensitive detection of dufulin. With the encapsulation of the CuMOF shell, the luminescence of UC under a 980 nm laser was strongly quenched by the shell through the photoinduced electron transfer effect.

3D printing of dexamethasone-loaded polycaprolactone-enhanced alginate hydrogels for individualized implants in inner ear therapy.

The anatomical and structural complexity and variability of the hearing organ pose significant challenges for efficient drug delivery to treat inner ear disorders. To address this issue, we developed a local drug delivery implant (LDDI) fabricated with 3D printing technology. The implant is personalized based on the individual patient's anatomy of the round window niche from where drugs can diffuse into the inner ear.

Excitation-inhibition imbalance in the motor control network: a key factor in post-stroke spasticity.

Spasticity is a recognized motor dysfunction that frequently arises following a stroke and significantly impacts the quality of life of affected patients. It is characterized by involuntary muscle activation resulting from overexcitation of the stretch reflex. Currently, therapeutic options for post-stroke spasticity are limited, and the underlying pathological mechanisms remain inadequately understood.

Integration of Carbonyl Groups with 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles: A Heat-Resistant Energetic Compound with Well-Balanced Performance via Heterocycle Transformation.

The exceptional combination of high density and superior thermal stability renders ketone-based energetic compounds particularly attractive for heat-resistant explosives. While extensive research has demonstrated successful carbonyl functionalization of azoles, such as pyrazoles, triazoles, 1,2,4-oxadiazoles, and imidazoles, the potential of carbonyl-substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole systems has surprisingly never been explored in energetic materials. In this study, the tetrazole-based energetic material 2,2'-bis(dinitromethyl)-2,2'-5,5'-bitetrazole () reacted with nitrosulfur mixed acid, successfully yielding the ketone-based energetic compound [2,2'-bi(1,3,4-oxadiazole)]-5,5'(4,4')-dione () featuring a bis(1,3,4-oxadiazole) skeleton.

Generalization of parallel ghost imaging based on laboratory X-ray source.

Ghost imaging is an imaging technique that achieves image reconstruction by measuring the intensity correlation function between the reference arm and the object arm. In parallel ghost imaging, each pixel of a position-sensitive detector is further regarded as a bucket detector, enabling the parallel acquisition of hundreds or thousands of ghost imaging subsystems in a single measurement, thus realizing high-resolution imaging with extremely low measurement counts. Relying on synchrotron radiation, we have achieved X-ray parallel ghost imaging with high pixel resolution, low dose, and ultra-large field of view.

Exercise training ameliorates high-fat diet-induced skeletal muscle atrophy and ferroptosis via downregulation of STING.

Background: High-fat diet (HFD)-induced sarcopenic obesity can lead to reductions in muscle fiber diameter, enhanced protein degradation, and various forms of cell death. Exercise training has been shown to alleviate HFD-induced muscle atrophy. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Potential sources of black carbon during CHINARE summer shipborne surveys in the Arctic Ocean.

Black carbon (BC) aerosols are considered key factors that contribute to rapid climate warming and ice melt in the Arctic region. However, compared with long-term observations from land-based stations, observational data over the Arctic Ocean remain relatively scarce. Four Arctic scientific expeditions were conducted in the summer and early autumn of 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2018 via the Chinese research vessel Xue Long, during which the BC concentrations along the routes were measured via light absorption methods.

Feeding the mood: The role of macronutrients in depression prevention and treatment.

Depression is a complex mental health disorder that significantly impairs quality of life and affects millions globally. Emerging evidence underscores a potential link between macronutrient imbalances and depression onset or progression. This review explores how macronutrients-carbohydrates, fats, and proteins-may influence depressive symptoms.

Metagenomics-based analysis of microbial community dynamics and flavor compound correlations during rice-flavor Baijiu brewing.

This study aimed to explore the microbial contribution to flavor compound production by analysing the succession patterns and metabolic functional characteristics of microbial communities during preparation, saccharification, and fermentation processes of rice-flavor Baijiu (RFB). The physicochemical parameters during RFB fermentation were systematically monitored, and the volatile flavor profile was characterized using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Concurrently, metagenomic sequencing was employed to elucidate the microbial community structure and its temporal dynamics throughout the fermentation process.

2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) induces early hearing loss in guinea pigs via activating AhR to trigger mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress-regulated autophagy.

2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant linked to early neurotoxicity, but its effects on hearing loss during early development remain unclear. We exposed weanling guinea pigs to BDE-47 (1, 10, 50 mg/kg/day) via gavage for 28 days, finding increased hearing thresholds at 0.5 and 4 kHz, hair cell damage, and elevated AhR, LC3B, and P-SQSTM1 levels.

Intervention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by Ling Gui Zhu Gan Granules and its volatile components through the metabolism of intestinal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids.

Objectives: Ling Gui Zhu Gan (LGZG) Granules is a marketed traditional Chinese medicine compound granule, which is formulated to be consistent with the key quality attributes of the traditional LGZG Decoction. The volatile components are important parts of its preparation process.

Methods: A high-fat diet (HFD)-induced Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) mouse model was established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of LGZG and preparation of LGZG's volatile components (IC-LGZG).

Thermodynamic Feedback Mechanisms for Mitigating Polarization in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is intrinsically determined by the interplay between the kinetic and thermodynamic processes, which jointly govern the polarization dynamics across multiple scales. Extensive efforts have been directed toward alleviating kinetic limitations, but the essential role of thermodynamic factors, particularly under extreme operating conditions, has been largely overlooked. This oversight has impeded the development of comprehensive design principle for optimizing LIBs.

Breaking Acid-Induced Fluorescence Quenching in Fluorescein Derivatives: Surfactant-Directed Aggregation Control for On-Demand Multiple Encryption.

The inactivation of fluorescein derivatives due to proton attack under acidic conditions completely limits the optical properties and hinders a wide range of applications. Aggregation-related quenching is found to be another fundamental trait in addition to spirocyclization. Self-assembled dispersions of surfactants have been shown to precisely break the quenching limitation, thereby fully restoring or even enhancing the original optical properties.

Sulfur and Its Derivatives in Dermatology: Insights Into Therapeutic Applications-A Narrative Review.

Background: Sulfur has been historically used in dermatological therapy due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities and demonstrates therapeutic efficacy in conditions such as scabies, tinea versicolor, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. However, systematic analyses of the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of different forms of sulfur (e.g.

Broadband, high-linearity TFLN electro-optic modulator for integrated microwave photonics using reconfigurable dual-parallel modulation.

Integrated electro-optic modulators with large bandwidth, high linearity and low driving voltage are key building blocks for integrated microwave photonic (IMWP) links to transmit broadband signals with high fidelity. In this work, thin-film lithium niobate electro-optic modulator consisting of a thermo-optic reconfigurable coupler and dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulation scheme is proposed and demonstrated to achieve spurious-free dynamic range of 112.87/107.

Time-resolved characteristics and self-absorption correction of laser-induced plasma in a transient electric field.

Transient electric field (TEF) assisted laser-induced plasma (LIP) is a simple, efficient, and low-cost method for plasma spectral enhancement. However, due to the self-absorption effect, the true spectral intensity is reduced, which poses difficulties in the diagnosis of the plasma parameters in the TEF, as well as in the study of the spectral enhancement mechanism. Here, we evaluated and investigated the self-absorption effect in the plasma within the TEF, and corrected it based on doublet lines.

Achieving true magnification in the parallel ghost imaging based on cone beam characteristics of the X-ray tube.

Ghost imaging (GI) facilitates image acquisition under low light conditions through single pixel measurements. In parallel ghost imaging, each pixel of the position-sensitive detector is regarded as a bucket detector, and hundreds or even thousands of ghost imaging processes are carried out simultaneously. In our previous work, we extended parallel ghost imaging from synchrotron radiation to X-ray tube.

Global burden of chronic kidney disease due to hypertension (1990-2021): a systematic analysis of epidemiological trends, risk factors, and projections to 2036 from the GBD 2021 study.

Background: Hypertension is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the global burden of CKD due to hypertension is rising with population aging. Previous GBD-related studies on CKD have limitations, and the updated global burden of disease (GBD) 2021 database can provide a more comprehensive understanding.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the global, regional, and national burden of CKD due to hypertension from 1990 to 2021, identify risk factors, and project trends until 2036.

A colorimetric DNAzyme biosensor based on G-triplex/hemin for detecting ofloxacin in food.

Ofloxacin, a synthetic antimicrobial drug, exhibits significant therapeutic potential in combating various bacterial infections. The exploration of ofloxacin's antimicrobial properties and the unique catalytic activity of G-triplex(G3) DNAzymes demonstrate the continuous efforts to develop cutting-edge biosensors for bacterial detection. G3 outperforms G4 due to a short, easily generated and dissociated sequence, which allows G3 multimeric sequences to fold more accurately than G4 ones of equivalent length, resulting in higher activity for the formed G3/hemin.

A long-term glioblastoma survivor with Lynch syndrome: a case report of tumor molecular and microenvironment characterization.

Lynch syndrome (LS) is a cancer syndrome caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes. Patients with Lynch syndrome have higher risk of brain tumors, predominantly high-grade gliomas, including glioblastoma (GBM). Here, we present a case of a 31-year-old male patient with a frontal lesion by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Efficacy and prognosis analysis of pulley traction-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection with dental floss for early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of pulley traction-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with dental floss in patients with early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions, and its impact on patient prognosis.

Methods: Clinical data of 77 patients with early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into groups according to different treatment regimens; 38 patients in the control group underwent ESD, whereas 39 patients in the study group underwent pulley traction-assisted ESD with dental floss.