Magnetic field-targeting and ultrasound-responsive antibiotic delivery for enhanced penetration and eradication of bacterial biofilms.

Bacteria colonizing medical implants usually lead to biofilm formation and result in persistent infections. Conventional antibiotics often fail to effectively accumulate and penetrate the extracellular polymeric barriers of bacterial biofilms. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop effective antibiotic delivery systems capable of biofilm targeting and disruption.

Simultaneous Knockout of Tk1-SST and Tk1-FFT via CRISPR/Cas9 Enhances the Natural Rubber Accumulation in Taraxacum kok-saghyz.

Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TKS) synthesises natural rubber (NR) and inulin using sucrose as a carbon source. However, molecular mechanisms regulating inulin and NR accumulation remain largely unclear. Here, we report the generation of double-gene homozygous mutants, 1-sst1-fft, by simultaneously knocking out two key genes responsible for inulin biosynthesis (Tk1-SST and Tk1-FFT) using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

Two novel mitoviruses isolated from the filamentous fungus Gnomoniopsis sanguisorbae.

In this study, we isolated two novel mitoviruses co-infecting the fungus Gnomoniopsis sanguisorbae, which were designated as "Gnomoniopsis sanguisorbae mitovirus L" (GsMV-L) and "Gnomoniopsis sanguisorbae mitovirus M" (GsMV-M). The complete genome lengths of GsMV-L and GsMV-M were determined to be 2,785 and 2,529 nucleotides, respectively, with a GC content of 44% and 35%, respectively. Both viruses possess a single open reading frame (ORF) that encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) containing conserved catalytic motifs.

Dengue situation in Chinese mainland, 2023.

Background: Dengue fever outbreaks have occurred in Chinese mainland in recent years, especially in 2014 and 2019. In 2023, following the Corona Virus Disease 2019 pandemic, dengue fever has exhibited some new trends and characteristics.

Methods: Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyse temporal, spatial and demographic distribution.

A case report of hereditary spherocytosis complicated by massive splenomegaly and cholelithiasis.

Here, we report the case of a 53-year-old male patient with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and a 10-year course of disease, presenting with fatigue, jaundice, abdominal discomfort, massive splenomegaly (spleen size: 35 × 20 × 10 cm, weight: 10 kg), and cholelithiasis. The patient had a positive family history, with his father and daughter exhibiting similar symptoms. Combined splenectomy and cholecystectomy significantly alleviated hemolytic jaundice, anemia, and gallstone-related symptoms.

Time-delay compensation to reduce the influence on laser-introduced phase noise suppression in an optical fiber sensing array.

In a fiber sensing array, the time delay between channels significantly impacts the suppression of laser-introduced phase noise (LPN) through the reference interferometer scheme. A method for suppressing the impact of time delay, which includes the measurement and compensation, is proposed. Time delay in the entire 5-element sensor array is determined by calculating the phase difference between the calibrated signals, while compensating for the time delays between the sensing signals and the reference signal is achieved through temporal shifting of digital signal sequences.

Targeting MCM10 disrupts cancer stemness and counteracts sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent primary malignant tumor, with sorafenib as the main treatment for advanced cases. However, the development of resistance to sorafenib, often driven by cancer stemness, significantly limits its therapeutic efficacy. Minichromosome maintenance complex component 10 (MCM10), a critical regulator of DNA replication and tumor progression, has been implicated in cancer stemness and therapeutic resistance.

Ophthalmic changes are associated with visual cortex functional network reorganization after 90-day head-down tilt bed rest.

Background: The microgravity-induced cephalad fluid shift is thought to contribute to neuro-ophthalmological changes such as optic disc edema, globe flattening, and hyperopic shift. However, the effects of prolonged simulated microgravity on ophthalmic alterations and their potential relationship with functional reorganization in the visual cortex remain unclear. This study aimed to address these knowledge gaps.

Biosynthesis of Bioactive Human Neurotrophic Factor 3 in Silkworms and Its Biomedical Applications.

Neurotrophic factor 3 (NT-3), a potent neurotrophin, promotes neuronal survival and axonal regeneration while demonstrating a unique capacity to induce lineage-specific differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into functional neurons, underscoring its therapeutic potential in neural repair. Despite these advantages, the large-scale production of recombinant human NT-3 with preserved structure integrity and functional bioactivity remains a critical challenge. This study takes advantage of the silk gland bioreactor of silkworms for the recombinant expression of human NT-3 protein on a large scale.

Positive Selection Drives Mitochondrial Gene Rearrangement in Sternorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera).

Sternorrhyncha, a suborder of Hemiptera, comprises sap-feeding insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts, most of which are important agricultural and forestry pests, including aphids, psyllids, whiteflies, and scale insects. While the mitochondrial genome is a highly accessible molecular source for high-level and large-scale phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive mitochondrial phylogenomic investigation of Sternorrhyncha has been lacking. This deficiency is primarily attributable to the challenges associated with obtaining mitochondrial genomes from Coccoidea.

Cell surface Toll-like receptor polymorphisms influence and ectoparasite infections in striped hamsters.

This study explored how polymorphisms in cell surface Toll-like receptors (TLRs) influence susceptibility to and ectoparasite infections in striped hamsters. Among six TLR genes, four sites in TLR1, TLR4, and TLR10 genes were associated with susceptibility, while twelve sites across TLR4, TLR5, and TLR10 contributed to flea resistance. Similarly, eleven sites in TLR5, TLR6, and TLR10 were linked to gamasid mite parasitism.

Effect of Stepped Rehabilitation Training on Hip Joint Function and Bone Metabolism Markers in Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroplasty.

Aim: This study investigates the effects of stepped rehabilitation training on hip joint function and bone metabolism markers in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty (HA).

Methods: This retrospective analysis included 97 patients who underwent HA in our hospital between December 2021 and December 2023. The patients were divided into a control group (52 cases) and an observation group (45 cases) based on different rehabilitation training approaches.

Exogenous M2 Macrophage-Loaded Scaffolds Promote Early Periodontal Regeneration by Improving Osteogenic Differentiation, Cell Homing, and Angiogenesis.

Manipulating the immune microenvironment (including the macrophage phenotype) by tissue implants is an important direction in the field of tissue regeneration. This study reports a macrophage-loaded hybrid scaffold construction to improve the response efficiency of implant-macrophage-tissue regeneration axis and precisely polarize macrophages toward the pro-regenerative M2 phenotype in vitro, and constructed an M2 macrophage-loaded hybrid scaffold. The feasibility of using a macrophage-loaded hybrid scaffold for immune-mediated periodontal regeneration is studied in vivo and in vitro.

Interaction of ferroptosis and cuproptosis in the perspective of pulmonary hypertension.

Copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) are essential trace elements that are involved in normal human metabolic processes. Disruption of their homeostasis contributes to disease pathogenesis through mechanisms such as cuproptosis and ferroptosis. Cuproptosis targets lipoylated proteins to disrupt mitochondrial respiration, whereas ferroptosis is driven by lipid peroxidation.

Surface display of Ces17 in Escherichia coli for enhanced biodegradation of plasticizers.

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs), extensively employed as plasticizers, have emerged as persistent environmental pollutants that pose serious threats to ecosystems and human health. Effective and sustainable strategies for their biodegradation are urgently needed. In this study, a whole-cell biocatalyst was developed by engineering Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) to surface-display the carboxylesterase Ces17 derived from Bacillus licheniformis DBP-4.

Innovative screening for lower extremity atherosclerotic disease in people with diabetes: using novel and multidimensional PPG features.

. Diabetes mellitus presents a significant global health burden, with patients demonstrating high prevalence of lower extremity atherosclerotic disease (LEAD) and poor prognosis. Despite the crucial need for early screening, primary healthcare lacks accessible LEAD screening protocols for people with diabetes.

Evaluation of Combining Transrectal Biplane Ultrasonography with Sound Touch Elastography in Preoperative T Staging of Rectal Cancer.

Introduction: An accurate staging diagnosis of rectal cancer holds crucial importance in determining the appropriate treatment plan for patients.

Aim: To evaluate the application of transrectal biplane ultrasonography combined with Sound Touch Elastography (STE) technology in preoperative uT stage of rectal cancer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the ultrasonographic data of 32 patients.

Association of exposure to PM-bound metals with premature rupture of membranes: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Exposure to PM has been linked to premature rupture of membranes (PROM). However, research on the effects of PM-bound metals on the PROM is limited.

Methods: Here, we investigated this relationship using data from 6090 pregnant women, estimating exposure to 11 PM-bound metals throughout pregnancy.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for duplication of the gallbladder: A case report.

Introduction: Gallbladder duplication is a rare anomaly among clinical gallbladder diseases, with an incidence of approximately 1: 4000 worldwide. Abnormal embryonic development can lead to gallbladder duplication and alterations in the morphology of these structures. Currently, laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains the preferred treatment for gallbladder duplication.

Recent advances in NIR-II photothermal and photodynamic therapies for drug-resistant wound infections.

Bacterial infection can delay wound healing, while drug resistance further complicates the treatment of wound infection. Phototherapy, including photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), is a non/mini-invasive and efficient antibacterial strategy that rarely induces bacterial resistance. This treatment relies on specific wavelengths of light to activate photothermal agents (PTAs) or photosensitizers, killing bacteria by generating local heats or reactive oxygen species (ROS), respectively.

Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has long been recognized for its mild therapeutic effects, significant efficacy and minimal adverse reactions. However, challenges such as reliance on human expertise in TCM production and quality control, unclear compositions and usage of TCM and ambiguous targets hinder its sustainable development. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) provides transformative potential for addressing these limitations.

Current status and influencing factors of the second victim experience and support of operating room nurses.

Background: As the second victim, nurses may suffer severe physical and mental damage. How to reduce the trauma level of operating room nurses after adverse events, enhance career resilience, and stabilize the nursing team has become an urgent concern for operating room nursing managers.

Objective: To investigate the experience of operating room nurses as the Second Victim of adverse events, and analyze the risk factors affecting the psychological status of operating room nurses as the Second Victim.

The role of ultrasonography in detecting and classifying anorectal malformations in neonates: a retrospective study of 30 cases.

Background: Anorectal Malformations, a common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract, is caused by the defect or delay of hindgut development in the embryo.

Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to analyze the ultrasonographic and clinical features of 30 neonates with anorectal malformations to provide guidance for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Material And Methods: We selected 30 neonates with congenital anorectal malformations admitted to our hospital from January 2012 to June 2022.

Stereoisomeric AIE Photosensitizers for Biofilm Inhibition and Host-Directed Elimination of Intracellular Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria.

Bacteria can form biofilms on their surfaces or escape from the phagosomes and multiply in the cytoplasm to become intracellular bacteria, presenting a challenge for antibiotics to reach the bacterial cells and consequently making treatment difficult. In light of this, we employed two - molecules with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties, ()- and ()-TPE-EPy, which have the ability to hinder () bacteria () and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) biofilm formation by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and eradicate intracellular MRSA by host-directed therapy (HDT). These molecules can bind to the intracellular bacteria, target mitochondria, and generate ROS in situ, reduce mitochondrial membrane potential, subsequently induce autophagy to clear intracellular bacteria, and reduce inflammation.

Evaluating PurpleAir Sensors: Do They Accurately Reflect Ambient Air Temperature?

Low-cost sensors (LCSs) emerge as a popular tool for urban micro-climate studies by offering dense observational coverage. This study evaluates the performance of PurpleAir (PA) sensors for ambient temperature monitoring-a key but underexplored aspect of their use. While widely used for particulate matter, PA sensors' temperature data remain underutilized and lack thorough validation.