Battery Cathode with Vertically Aligned Microstructure Fabricated by Directional Ice Templating.

Conventional slurry coating (SC) makes battery electrodes with random microstructure containing tortuous pores that restrict lithium ion diffusion and reduce battery capacities at faster discharge rates. Herein, a novel directional ice templating (DIT) is developed to make LiNiMnCoO (NMC811) cathodes that double the electrode mass loading and contain vertically aligned lamellae of electrode materials and pore channels to provide fast dual electron and ion transport. DIT uses in situ evolved ice structures to form the anisotropic microstructure.

Recent advances in dissolving microneedle delivery systems for breast cancer therapy.

Introduction: Breast cancer, a malignancy characterized by high recurrence and mortality rates, faces critical bottlenecks in conventional therapies including systemic toxicity and insufficient drug concentration at lesion sites. Dissolving microneedles (DMNs) are micron-scale arrays fabricated from biodegradable materials. By leveraging their unique capability to penetrate the epidermal barrier and deliver drugs with precision, DMNs pioneer a novel therapeutic approach for breast cancer treatment.

Adaptive normalizing flows for solving Fokker-Planck equation.

The Fokker-Planck (FP) equation governs the probabilistic response of diffusion processes driven by stochastic differential equations (SDEs). Gaussian mixture models and deep learning solvers are two state-of-the-art methods for solving the FP equation. Although mixture models mostly depend on empirical sampling strategies and predefined Gaussian components, deep learning techniques suffer from inherent interpretability deficits and require excessively large training samples.

Study on Different Staining Platforms for HER2 Cytoplasmic Granular Staining Pattern in Pure Apocrine Carcinoma of the Breast.

Objective: Accurate interpretation of HER2 low/ultralow expression has attracted increasing attention. This study aimed to explore the characteristics and interpretation strategies for the HER2 cytoplasmic granular staining pattern observed in pure apocrine carcinoma (AC), while investigating its impact on the interpretation of HER2 low/ultra-low expression cases.

Methods: The clinicopathologic information of 74 patients with pure AC and their previous HER2 (PATHWAY 4B5, Ventana platform) IHC results were retrospectively collected.

Design and Activity Evaluation of Berberine-Loaded Dual pH and Enzyme-Sensitive Colon-Targeting Microparticles.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a multifactorial disorder, and conventional oral berberine (BBR) suffers from poor colonic targeting. This study aimed to develop a colon-targeted microparticle system (BBR-ES MPs) based on chitosan (CS) and Eudragit S-100 to enhance BBR delivery efficiency and therapeutic efficacy in UC. : BBR-CS nanocarriers were prepared via ionotropic gelation and coated with Eudragit S-100 to form pH/enzyme dual-responsive MPs.

Inhibiting mitoNEET restores mitochondrial redox homeostasis and attenuates myofibroblast differentiation.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and incurable lung disease characterized by progressive destruction and scarring of lung tissue. A hallmark of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the accumulation of extracellular matrix produced by differentiated myofibroblasts. Recent studies have highlighted the role of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction in myofibroblast differentiation and disease progression.

Bacteroides Fragilis-Derived Outer Membrane Vesicles Deliver MiR-5119 and Alleviate Colitis by Targeting PD-L1 to Inhibit GSDMD-Mediated Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results from a breakdown in the symbiotic relationship between the intestinal commensal microflora and the mucosal immune system. Non-toxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, a common human colon symbiote, has been shown to alleviate colitis. However, the underlying mechanisms of this alleviation remain incompletely understood.

Coptis chinensis-derived extracellular vesicle-like nanoparticles delivered miRNA-5106 suppresses NETs by restoring zinc homeostasis to alleviate colitis.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder marked by persistent inflammation and damage to the intestinal mucosa. Despite significant advances in treatment, there remains an unmet need for more effective and safer therapeutic strategies.

Results: In this study, we isolated and characterized extracellular vesicle-like nanoparticles (ELNs) derived from Coptis chinensis (Cc-ELNs) and evaluated their therapeutic potential in IBD.

Gap solitons in moiré optical lattice with quartic dispersion.

This work investigates the theoretical properties and stability mechanisms of semi-infinite gap solitons in moiré optical lattices governed by quartic dispersion. Using the framework of Floquet-Bloch theory, we explore linear modes in commensurate and incommensurate lattice configurations, revealing distinct localization characteristics influenced by the lattice twist angle and dispersion coefficient. Numerical simulations confirm that gap solitons can emerge in a self-focusing Kerr medium, originating from nonlinear evolution of localized linear Bloch modes.

Latent Class Analysis of Cancer Risk Behaviors Among College Students on Guam: A Pacific Islands Cohort of College Students Study (PICCS).

This study aims to explore how cancer-related risk factors cluster among college students in Guam. Using the 2021-2022 Pacific Islands Cohort of College Students data, we conducted a latent class analysis (LCA) to organize the sample into classes based on clustering cancer risk factors, including tobacco use, binge drinking, low fruit/vegetable intake, physical inactivity, betel nut use, overweight/obesity, depression, and anxiety. Among the 577 college students surveyed, results show a high prevalence of low fruit/vegetable intake, overweight/obesity, depression, and anxiety.

Expert consensus on cancer treatment-related lung injury.

Background: Although advancements in cancer therapies have substantially improved the survival of cancer patients, these treatments may also result in acute or chronic lung injury. Cancer treatment-related lung injury (CTLI) presents with a diverse array of clinical manifestations and can involve multiple sites. Due to the lack of specific diagnostic protocols, CTLI can deteriorate rapidly and may be life-threatening if not promptly addressed.

Small bowel neuroendocrine tumor with scoliosis: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (SBNETs) often present with nonspecific clinical manifestations, which can complicate diagnosis and treatment when coexisting comorbidities in the perioperative period. This report discusses a rare case involving SBNETs associated with scoliosis, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the epidemiological characteristics, clinicopathologic features, and treatment strategies related to SBNETs.

Patient Concerns: A 69-year-old male presented with a 10-month history of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss.

Development of a CRISPR-based cytosine base editor for restriction-modification system inactivation to enhance transformation efficiency in Vibrio Sp. dhg.

Background: Vibrio sp. dhg is a fast-growing, alginate-utilizing, marine bacterium being developed as a platform host for macroalgae biorefinery. To maximize its potential in the production of various value-added products, there is a need to expand genetic engineering tools for versatile editing.

Polydopamine-based Nanoadjuvants Promote a Positive Feedback Loop for Cancer Immunotherapy via Overcoming Photothermally Boosted T Cell Exhaustion.

Immunogenic cell death, triggered by photothermal therapy or specific chemotherapy, strives to establish a positive feedback loop in cancer immunotherapy. This loop is characterized by the rapid release of antigens and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), ultimately leading to accelerated T cell infiltration. However, this loop is hindered by T cell exhaustion caused by adenosine originating from ATP and glucose deprivation in the immunosuppressive microenvironment.

DDR2 alleviates retinal vaso-obliteration and pathological neovascularization by modulating microglia M1/M2 phenotypic polarization in a mouse model of proliferative retinopathy.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a leading cause of blindness in premature infants, is characterized by retinal vaso-obliteration during hyperoxia and pathological neovascularization (NV) in relative hypoxia phase. Current treatments, which focus on the late stages of pathological neovascularization, are associated with numerous side effects. Studies demonstrated that discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2), a collagen-binding receptor tyrosine kinase, inhibits the experimental choroidal neovascularization and participates in tumor angiogenesis.

Carrier-Free Nanocombo-Sensitized Photoimmunotherapy via Activation of α2-Adrenergic Receptors.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)-based photoimmunotherapy has attracted increasing attention in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Nonetheless, monotherapy alone proves insufficient in eliciting robust and enduring tumor immunogenicity within the "cold" microenvironment of triple-negative breast cancer. Therefore, it is imperative to integrate phototherapy and immunostimulation strategies to achieve synergistic effects.

Serum Pharmacology Combining Network Pharmacology to Discover the Mechanism of Total Flavonoids in Aronia melanocarpa Fruit for Acute Lung Injury.

In this study, we used in vitro antioxidant assay and in vivo anti-inflammatory assay to comprehensively evaluate the activity of total flavonoids of Aronia melanocarpa fruit (AMF) in the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) and explored the mechanism of action of total flavonoids of AMF in the treatment of ALI based on the method of serum medicinal chemistry combined with network pharmacology. In the present study, 107.37 mg g alcoholic extract of total flavonoids was used for the determination of in vitro antioxidant activity by UV spectrophotometric method; the ALI model mice were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the organ index of mice, the wet-to-dry ratio of lungs, and the histopathological sections of lungs were measured; the levels of inflammatory factors (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], TL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) were determined in serum and alveolar lavage fluid of mice by ELISA; the composition of AMF total flavonoids and the migratory components of blood were analyzed on the basis of UHPLC-MS/MS.

Validating the accuracy of Omron J760 electronic blood pressure monitor in the general population according to AAMI/ESH/ISO (ISO 81060-2:2018) + AMD1:2020.

Purpose: The accuracy of the Omron J760 electronic blood pressure (BP) monitor for upper arm BP measurement in the adult general population was validated following the AAMI/ESH/ISO (ISO 81060-2:2018) + Amd1:2020 protocol. We expect that this device can be used for home blood pressure monitoring, with its measurements serving as a clinical reference.

Methods: Subjects meeting the age, gender, BP, and cuff distribution criteria as specified by the AAMI/ESH/ISO (ISO 81060-2:2018) + Amd1:2020 were recruited.

COVID-19 patient serum-derived extracellular vesicles deliver miR-20b-5p induces neutrophil extracellular traps.

Background: Severe cases of COVID-19 are characterized by an excessive presence of neutrophils. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), released by activated neutrophils due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, contribute to lung epithelial cell death and are key drivers in COVID-19-associated immunothrombosis. However, the mechanism underlying NET formation in COVID-19 remain unclear.

Efficacy and mechanism of Qianjinweijing Decoction for asthma: Integrating systematic review with meta-analysis and network pharmacology.

Background: Asthma seriously affects people's survival and quality of life, causing a huge economic burden on society. Modern clinical use of Qianjinweijing Decoction (QJWJ) for the treatment of asthma has achieved good results. However, there is still a lack of research on its efficacy and mechanism of action.

The association between serum albumin levels and metabolic syndrome based on the NHANES and two sample Mendelian randomization study.

Previous studies have shown that serum albumin levels are associated with a greater risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, it is unclear whether this association is causal or only influenced by confounding factors, so further investigation is needed to determine the causal relationships. Researchers selected participants with serum albumin, metabolic syndrome, and related covariates from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database for a total of 14,036 individuals, including 5483 individuals with MetS and 8553 individuals without MetS.

Platform Technology in Global Vaccine Regulation: Development, Applications, and Regulatory Strategies with Insights from China.

The concept of "platform technology" gained prominence after the Ebola outbreak and since then has become essential to international vaccine (prophylactic vaccines against infectious disease) regulatory frameworks. Its significance was further amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, where platform technology enabled the rapid development and approval of vaccines, optimizing regulatory processes, and enhancing global public health responses. As a transformative tool, platform technology streamlines product development, allowing for the reduction in the number of clinical trials or exemption from certain clinical trials and facilitating cross-referencing in regulatory submissions.

Bioengineered lubricin alters the lubrication modes of cartilage in a dose-dependent manner.

The low friction nature of articular cartilage has been attributed to the synergistic interaction between lubricin and hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid (SF). Lubricin is a mucinous glycoprotein that lowers the boundary mode coefficient of friction of articular cartilage in a dose-dependent manner. While there have been multiple attempts to produce recombinant lubricin and lubricin mimetic cartilage lubricants over the last two decades, these materials have not found clinical use due to challenges associated with large scale production, manufacturing, and purification.

Miconazole-splitomicin combined β-glucan hydrogel for effective prevention of Candida albicans periprosthetic joint infection.

As one of the most common and serious infections caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans), periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) increasingly concerns surgeons and scientists. Generally, biofilms shield C.