Early pharmacological blockade of the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis attenuates vertebral hypercalcification in a zebrafish model of pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), caused by pathogenic variants in , is characterized by pathological ectopic calcification with poorly understood mechanisms and no effective therapies. To address this, we developed the first zebrafish model of human PXE by introducing the pathogenic point mutation ( , F2 generation) using the highly efficient zhyA3A-CBE5 cytosine base editor. Three mutant types (Type1-Type3, T1-T3) stratified by calcification severity, exhibited reduced levels of the calcification inhibitors vitamin K1 (VK1) and carboxylated matrix Gla protein (cMGP), which were inversely correlated with the severity of calcification.

GNAS/PKA signaling promotes aberrant osteochondral differentiation of Gli1 tendon sheath progenitors.

Tendon injury promotes aberrant osteochondral differentiation of tendon stem cells (TSCs) and results in disability. However, the cellular subsets within the osteochondral lineage involved in this process and associated mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we found that, following Achilles tenotomy, murine Gli1 tendon sheath cells expanded rapidly, transitioning into tenogenic and osteochondrogenic cells.

Crossword puzzle training and neuroplasticity in mild cognitive impairment (COGIT-2): 78-week, multi-site, randomized controlled trial with cognitive, functional, imaging and biomarker outcomes.

Background: Cognitive training represents an important potential therapeutic strategy for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In our recently completed trial, crossword puzzles were superior to computerized cognitive training on Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale-11 (ADAS-Cog11) and function, correlating with decreased brain atrophy over 78 weeks.

Methods: COGIT-2 is a 78-week, multicenter, clinical trial comparing home-based, high-dose crosswords (4 puzzles per week) to low-dose crosswords (1 puzzle per week) and a health education control group in 240 MCI subjects.

Quantify the environmental factors interaction affecting soil Cd/As accumulation in farmland using collaborative filtering model combining global spatial and local property graph.

The complexity of farmland soil systems poses significant challenges in disentangling the interaction of environmental factors affecting heavy metal accumulation. Previous studies have predominantly focused on qualitatively characterizing the interactions between environmental factors on soil heavy metal concentrations in farmland, often neglecting in-depth quantitative analysis. In this study, a novel interaction effects quantization model based on collaborative filtering combining global spatial graph and local property graph is designed to analyze the interaction between the environmental factors and their potential impacts on soil Cd/As concentrations in farmland.

Targeting RelA/NLRP3/CCL3 axis mitigates microglia inflammatory response and promotes recovery after spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to loss of motor and sensory function below the lesion site, presenting a lifelong burden of disability. During the acute phase of SCI, microglia develop an inflammatory phenotype, characterized by the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling activation, exacerbating tissue damage and impeding trauma recovery. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear.

ASIC1a Promotes nucleus pulposus derived stem cells apoptosis through modulation of SIRT3-dependent mitochondrial redox homeostasis in intervertebral disc degeneration.

The death of human nucleus pulposus derived stem cells (NPSCs) is a key factor affecting the endogenous repair capability and degeneration of intervertebral discs (IVD). ASIC1a is thought to be closely associated with cells destiny in IVD degeneration (IVDD). However, its physiological and pathological roles in human NPSCs are unclear.

Vegfa signaling ameliorates cardiac fibrosis and restores endothelial regeneration in a point-mutated zebrafish model of pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

The ABCC6 gene is associated with pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a genetic disorder characterized by ectopic calcification in soft tissues, notably affecting the cardiovascular system. However, the underlying cardiovascular pathological mechanisms remain elusive and effective treatments are currently unavailable. Here, we employed a point-mutated zebrafish model harboring the abcc6a mutation (orthologous to the human ABCC6 variant) to investigate the cardiac homeostasis and regeneration.

Design and radiological confirmation of three-column cortical bone trajectory in the lower thoracic vertebrae.

Purpose: This study aims to design novel cortical bone trajectories for the lower thoracic vertebrae that traverse the anterior, middle, and posterior columns. We seek to establish novel theoretical guidelines and placement strategies to optimize the trajectory of CBT screws in osteoporotic patients.

Methods: Five different diameters of CBT screws, ranging from 3.

[Source Apportionment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Farmland Soil of a Stone Coal Mining Area and Its Surrounding Area Based on APCS-MLR and PMF Models].

To investigate the potential risk of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soil resulting from stone coal mining activities, soil samples were collected and analyzed from a stone coal mining site and its surrounding areas. The findings revealed that： ① The risk of heavy metal pollution in the vicinity of the stone coal mining area was notably high, with 61.6% of sampling sites exhibiting moderate to severe pollution as determined by the Nemerow composite pollution index, including 21.

Effectiveness and Safety of Combining Transarterial Chemoembolization with Tyrosine Kinase and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Standard treatments for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), offer limited efficacy, necessitating the exploration of additional therapeutic strategies. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown potential to enhance HCC outcomes when combined with TACE. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate safety and efficacy of TACE, TKIs, and ICIs (TACE + T + I) combination compared to TACE with TKIs alone (TACE + T) in patients with HCC.

RBX1 mitigates ferroptosis by inhibiting NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy and contributes to the attenuation of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Loss of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells is as one of the primary factors initiating intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD); however, the intrinsic physiological mechanisms of endogenous NP-derived stem cell (NPSC)-based therapy in IVDD remain poorly understood. Disturbed iron homeostasis is commonly observed in degenerative diseases, and an acidic microenvironment has been considered a crucial factor in IVDD. The molecular mechanism of ferroptosis in acidic microenvironments during IVDD has not been reported.

ActiveAR: Augmented Reality Task Support System With Proactive Context and Virtual Content Management.

Augmented Reality (AR) has long been expected to help users improve their working efficiency. However, due to the absence of intelligent systems, existing AR applications are greatly affected by the virtual content interference with real-world activities. Unlike existing work, which focuses more on hiding virtual content to reduce interference, in this work, we propose an innovative AR Task Support System where virtual contents actively guide users with task completion.

Metal-phenolic epigallocatechin gallate‑zinc antioxidant nanoparticles for cataract treatment.

In cataract, oxidative stress plays an important role. It breaks the balance of the antioxidant defense system by destroying biological macromolecules such as proteins, lipids and nucleic acids in the lens, induces lens opacity, and then leads to the formation of cataract. The antioxidant properties of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are well-established, particularly its ability to scavenge ROS and modulate cellular pathways.

Tumor-resident Malassezia can promote hepatocellular carcinoma development by downregulating bile acid synthesis and modulating tumor microenvironment.

Bacterial dysbiosis coincides with the carcinogenesis in malignancies such as lung and colon cancer, and has recently been suggested to involve in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mycobiome has not yet been definitively linked to liver tumorigenesis. Here we showed that the microbiota composition of HCC tumors was distinct from that of the normal adjacent to tumor (NAT) on the basis of richness and beta-diversity indices.

Association between triglyceride-glucose index and risk of acute kidney injury in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included aSAH patients in West China Hospital. The TyG index was calculated as ln[fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2].

Effects of geographical and soil factors on soilś arsenic levels: a case study in typical arsenic-contaminated paddy fields based on machine learning.

Heavy metal pollution in agricultural land has emerged as a contemporary environmental issue of prominent concern. The concentration of heavy metals in soil is influenced not only by inherent soil properties but also by geographical factors. Moreover, the identification of its influencing factors is challenging because of the intricate interactive effects among them.

A high voltage pulse power supply based on novel Blumlein type pulse forming line with periodic slotted insulation structure.

A high voltage pulse power supply based on a Blumlein type pulse forming line (PFL) with a Periodic Slotted Insulation Structure (PSIS) is designed and constructed in this paper. The Blumlein type PFL with PSIS, which inserts PSIS both in the inner line and outer line of the conventional Blumlein type PFL, is able to obtain output waveforms with higher quality and higher energy efficiency compared with the conventional Blumlein type PFL. Meanwhile, the combined insulation structure formed by the media of PSIS and the glycerin filled with the PFL can be used to optimize the electric field strength of the PFL, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the PFL in the repetitive-operation mode.

Next-Generation Flexible Embolic Systems: Targeted Transarterial Chemoembolization Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) remains the gold standard for treating intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet faces great challenges in overcoming tumor heterogeneity, hypoxia-induced angiogenesis, and metastatic progression. The development of advanced flexible embolization materials marks a revolutionary leap in interventional therapy, offering opportunities to revolutionize embolization precision, drug delivery kinetics, and tumor microenvironment modulation. This comprehensive review systematically examines the paradigm shift toward next-generation TACE technology, emphasizing the limitations of conventional approaches and innovations in flexible embolic agents.

Machine Learning and Mendelian Randomization Reveal a Tumor Immune Cell Profile for Predicting Bladder Cancer Risk and Immunotherapy Outcomes.

This study's objective was to develop predictive models for bladder cancer (BLCA) using tumor infiltrated immune cell (TIIC)-related genes. Multiple RNA expression data and scRNA-seq were downloaded from the TCGA and GEO databases. A tissue specificity index was calculated and a computational framework developed to identify TIIC signature scores based on three algorithms.

NH-MIL-101(Fe) Nanocrystals Synthesized by the Ionic Liquid-Ethanol Interface for Efficient CO Fixation at Mild Conditions.

In this study, an ionic liquid-ethanol interface strategy is proposed to synthesize NH-MIL-101(Fe) nanocrystals at room temperature. The as-synthesized nanocrystals exhibit small crystal sizes, abundant ligand defects, and unsaturated metal sites. The NH-MIL-101(Fe) nanocrystals present superior catalytic activity for the cycloaddition reaction of CO at mild conditions (room temperature and 1 bar CO pressure), much higher than the NH-MIL-101 (Fe) microcrystals synthesized by the conventional solvothermal method.

CuO Nano-Homojunction for High-Efficiency Electrocatalytic CO-to-Ethylene Conversion.

The efficient electrochemical CO reduction into value-added multi-carbon products is of great importance and remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate the highly selective, active, and long-term durable electrocatalytic production of ethylene from CO by constructing a CuO nano-homojunction, which is composed of CuO nanocubes in size of ≈100 nm and the surface-adhered CuO nanodots in size of ≈12 nm, as electrocatalyst. The maximum Faradaic efficiency of ethylene can reach 73.

Identification of GPX3 and JUN as Tumor Suppressors in Thyroid Cancer through Integrated WGCNA and Mendelian Randomization.

Thyroid cancer (TC) ranks among the most common malignancies globally, with an increasing incidence among younger populations. While papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) generally has a favorable prognosis, other forms of TC, such as anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), are associated with poor outcomes. Although specific mutations, such as BRAF, have been identified in certain types of TC, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear.

Source prevention or end-of-pipe treatment? Green public procurement and corporate environmental investment strategies.

As a market-based environmental policy instrument, Green Public Procurement (GPP) increases environmental legitimacy pressures on companies. However, it is unclear whether and how this change in pressure is reflected in corporate environmental investment strategies. Using manually collected data on corporate environmental investment and green public procurement data obtained through textual analysis techniques, this study observes that GPP significantly promotes corporate environmental investment in source prevention, but has no obvious effect on environmental investment in end-of-pipe treatment, suggesting that enterprises obtaining green procurement orders are more inclined to adopt a preventive environmental investment strategy in response to increasing environmental pressures.

EverywhereAR: A Visual Authoring System for Creating Adaptive AR Game Scenes.

As a pivotal application of Augmented Reality (AR) technology, AR games empower players to bridge reality with virtuality, offering a distinct and immersive experience set apart from traditional games. However, when creating AR games, one of the most formidable challenges faced by designers pertains to the unpredictability of intricate real-world environments, which hinders crafting naturally integrated scenes where virtual objects harmoniously blend with the players' surroundings. In this paper, we introduce EverywhereAR, a system that is capable of flexibly realizing the designer's idea in various real-world scenes.

Temporal-Interim Pose Synthesis and Distillation for Dynamic Human Pose Estimation.

In the task of dynamic human pose estimation (dynamic HPE), the temporal relationships between human body parts should be captured comprehensively to understand the dynamic human motions, where the correlated motion information eventually helps to recognize body parts. The popular methods are successful in terms of utilizing long-term motion information captured by low-speed cameras. Yet they neglect the underlying intermediate motions between captured frames, which comprise the temporal-interim poses lost in the video.