Studies of speckle contrast imaging based on an improved laser speckle imaging method.

Significance: Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is widely used for intraoperative blood flow monitoring, but traditional methods have limitations in imaging low blood flow velocities and small vessels. An improved LSCI method, termed the fluent imaging technique, is proposed to enhance imaging sensitivity and accuracy, providing real-time and high-resolution blood flow assessment for neurosurgical applications.

Aim: We aim to validate the performance of the fluent imaging technique in imaging small vessels with low blood flow velocities and assess its application in cerebrovascular surgical procedures, including carotid artery clamping, reperfusion, and ferric chloride -induced thrombosis.

Targeting ECM-producing cells with CAR-T therapy alleviates fibrosis in chronic kidney disease.

Kidney fibrosis is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a potential therapeutic target. However, clinical interventions and therapies targeting kidney fibrosis remain conceptual and practical challenges due to the complex origin, functional heterogeneity, and regulation of scar-forming cells. Here, we define fibroblasts, pericytes, and myofibroblasts as the major extracellular matrix (ECM)-producing cells in the kidney, highlighting their primary contribution to kidney fibrosis.

Epidemiological investigation of venomous snakebites in Yunnan Province.

Background: Snakebite envenoming constitutes a substantial public health concern worldwide. Yunnan Province, The lack of comprehensive epidemiological data on snakebite in Yunnan affects research, diagnostic, and treatment advancements. This research evaluates patient demographics, seasonal patterns, snake species associated with the disease, and treatment approaches to guide preventative and therapeutic initiatives in the province.

Multiomics Identifies Potential Biomarkers in Ankylosing Spondylitis Bone Formation.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a long-term inflammatory condition characterized by intricate pathogenesis and significant genetic predisposition. Current treatment methods cannot completely halt the progression of the disease. The purpose of this research is to discover possible therapeutic targets for AS by integrating Mendelian Randomization (MR), transcriptomics analysis, and machine learning, providing new options for the clinical treatment of AS.

Impact Factors for Trajectories of Medication and Healthy Lifestyle Adherence in Young Adults With Hypertension: A Mixed Methods Study.

Treatment adherence is a cornerstone of effective hypertension management. However, the dynamic patterns of adherence and their influencing factors among young Chinese adults with hypertension remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to explore the trajectories of medication adherence and healthy lifestyle behaviors, as well as the associated influencing factors, in this population.

Dietary zinc intake is inversely associated with the risk of hypertension in the periodontitis population.

Background: Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease, which is closely related to the development of several chronic diseases, including hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary zinc intake and the risk of hypertension in a periodontitis population.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional study design to select 10,061 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2014.

Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed the immunosuppressive remodeling of tumor-associated macrophages mediated by the MIF-CD74 axis in gastric cancer.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are pivotal immunosuppressive components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in gastric cancer (GC), yet their heterogeneity and metabolic crosstalk with tumor cells remain poorly understood. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on 75,743 cells from 11 GC tissues and identified four distinct TAM subsets (TAM-APOE, TAM-IDO1, TAM-SKAP1, TAM-POLB), each exhibiting unique functional signatures. Among these, the TAM-APOE subset, enriched in lipid metabolism and complement pathways, showed the strongest interaction with tumor cells via the MIF-CD74 axis.

Analysis of gene polymorphisms in patients with pulmonary infections based on next-generation sequencing technology and their prognostic predictive value.

Pulmonary infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and the older adult. Gene polymorphisms play a critical role in disease susceptibility, progression, and prognosis, yet their specific contributions to pulmonary infections remain underexplored. This study utilized next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to analyze gene polymorphisms in 200 patients with pulmonary infections and evaluate their prognostic value.

Organic solar cells with 21% efficiency enabled by a hybrid interfacial layer with dual-component synergy.

The cathode interfacial layer (CIL) critically influences electron extraction and charge recombination, thereby playing a pivotal role in organic solar cells (OSCs). However, most state-of-the-art CILs are constrained by limited conductivity, high recombination and poor morphology, which collectively hinder device efficiency and stability. Here we report an inorganic-organic hybrid CIL (AZnO-F3N), developed by a dual-component synergy strategy, which integrates organic material PNDIT-F3N with two-dimensional amorphous zinc oxide.

BCMA-targeted CAR T cell therapy can effectively induce disease remission in refractory lupus nephritis.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of anti-B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in treating refractory lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: This is an open-label, single-arm clinical trial assessing anti-BCMA CAR T cells in treating refractory LN patients. CAR T cells were infused following lymphodepletion therapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine.

MITF promotes MFN2-dependent mitochondrial fusion to protect retinal pigment epithelial cells from mitochondrial damage.

There is growing indication that protecting the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) against mitochondrial damage is crucial for preventing RPE cell dysfunction and retinal degeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we show that microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a potent antioxidant inducer in RPE, promotes mitochondrial fusion in RPE cells and protects them from mitochondrial uncoupler carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP)-induced mitochondrial damage in ARPE-19 or mouse primary RPE cells ex vivo and Mitf heterozygous mice (Mitf-/+), Mitf-overexpressing transgenic mice (Dct-Mitf) or AAV mediated MITF overexpression mice in vivo.

Polydopamine Nanoparticle-Integrated Smart Polysaccharide Hydrogel: Photothermal-Triggered CO Release for Diabetic Wound Microenvironment Modulation.

Purpose: Bacterial infection, oxidative stress, vascular damage, and nutrient deficiencies significantly hinder the repair of diabetic skin wounds. Conventional wound dressings offer limited protection and fail to effectively promote the healing of diabetic wounds. To address these challenges, we developed a photothermal-responsive polysaccharide hydrogel capable of releasing carbon dioxide (CO@PDA Hydrogel).

Exhaled gas biomarkers: a non-invasive approach for distinguishing diabetes and its complications.

Exhaled gas detection offers a safe, convenient, and non-invasive clinical diagnostic method for preventing the progression of diabetes to complications. In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and statistical methods were employed to identify four volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that exhibit significant differences between patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and those with Diabetic Complications (DC). Compared with those in DC patients, the concentrations of isoprene, acetone, and isopropanol were found to be higher in T2DM patients, whereas the concentrations of tetradecane were lower.

Identifying emphysema risk using brominated flame retardants exposure: a machine learning predictive model based on the SHAP methodology.

Background: Emphysema is a major contributor to lung disease progression and is associated with significant health risks, including exacerbations, mortality, and lung cancer. While environmental exposures, such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs), have been suggested as risk factors, their role in emphysema prediction has been largely overlooked. This study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model to predict emphysema risk incorporating BFRs exposure data and demographic characteristics.

Benzo[1,2-:4,5-']difuran-Based Polymer Donor with Chlorophenyl Side Chains Achieving High-Performance Organic Solar Cells.

The advances in high-performance polymer donors are significant for realizing efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). At present, the majority of polymer donors in top-performing OSCs utilize benzo[1,2-:4,5-']dithiophene (BDT) units, whereas structurally similar benzo[1,2-:4,5-']difuran (BDF)-based polymers remain less explored due to their lower efficiencies. Here, we designed and synthesized a polymer donor named PBDF-CB by incorporating chlorophenyl BDF as the electron-donating unit and fluorinated benzotriazole as the electron-accepting unit.

Cutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium boenickei due to lipolysis injection: A case report.

Cosmetic injection has emerged as a significant cause of cutaneous infections associated with rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM). Mycobacterium boenickei, a rare RGM first isolated from a leg wound in the United States in 2004, has been reported in only six strains worldwide. However, clinical cases of M.

The impact of nurses' caring behaviors and personality traits on workplace violence.

Aims: Based on the propensity score matching method, this study analyzes the correlation between nurses' exposure to workplace violence, caring behaviors, and personality traits. The analysis provides a foundation for developing individualized strategies to prevent workplace violence among nurses.

Methods: Convenience sampling was conducted from February to June 2024 in Grade 3A hospitals across 11 Chinese provinces.

A Refined Bulk P-I-N Structure in All-Polymer Solar Cells To Achieve 20.1% Efficiency and Improved Stability.

All-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) have shown good potential for achieving balanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operational stability. However, precise control of the morphology remains challenging. Here, we constructed a bulk p-i-n structure with a regulated i-region by incorporating a shamrock-shaped nonfullerene acceptor, AQI4.

How did staffing strategies change amid COVID-19 and post pandemic? A qualitative study.

Objectives And Design: A qualitative study was undertaken to explore the nature of staffing strategies from the perspectives of nursing, medicine and health disciplines employed in a hospital setting.

Setting: Interviews were conducted in six hospitals in Canada between November 2022 and September 2023.

Results: 118 healthcare professionals and leaders who experience changes in staffing strategies participated in this study.

Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Liquid Crystalline Phase of platinum(II)-Based Bent-Shaped Achiral Metallomesogens.

Achiral molecules can generate supramolecular chirality through spontaneous symmetry breaking during molecular assembly, offering new insights into the origin of molecular homochirality and the design of advanced chiral materials. Herein we report the design and synthesis of bent-core achiral platinum(II) complexes using phenylpyridine (ppy) derivatives as the cyclometalated ligand and acetylacetone (acac) as the auxiliary ligand. The liquid crystal properties and self-assembly behavior could be modulated by altering the type and number of substituents on the biphenyl unit.

Levistilide A attenuates carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-induced liver fibrosis by inhibiting the NF-κB/iNOS/NO signalling pathway in M1 macrophages.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Danggui (Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels), a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been extensively used for millennia due to its diverse pharmacological properties. It is commonly used to manage liver fibrosis (LF).

Validating a Multidimensional Perspective of the Relationship Between Workplace Bullying, Professional Quality of Life, and Turnover Intention of Chinese Novice Nurses.

The global shortage of nurses is a pressing social issue, and the high mobility of the nursing profession further exacerbates this challenge. Novice nurses' experiences of workplace bullying significantly increase their risk of leaving the profession. Therefore, exploring the mechanisms by which workplace bullying affects novice nurses' turnover intention is important for alleviating the nursing shortage and maintaining the stability of the nursing workforce.

High-Efficiency Detection of Total-PSA and Free-PSA in Whole Blood by Microfluidic Chip Integrated with Electromagnetic Co-Preprocessing.

Microfluidic chip analytical technology based on micronanotechnology has shown unique advantages in efficient detection of biochemical samples. Integrating micronanostructures, preprocessing, derivatives, and detection units on a chip can realize more efficient detection. In this paper, a multifunctional microfluidic chip integrated with electromagnetic copreprocessing and fluorescence sensing was designed and developed for detecting trace cancer markers total prostate-specific antigen (t-PSA) and free prostate-specific antigen (f-PSA) in whole blood samples.

Evaluating performance of large language models for atrial fibrillation management using different prompting strategies and languages.

This study evaluated large language models (LLMs) using 30 questions, each derived from a recommendation in the 2024 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for atrial fibrillation (AF) management. These recommendations were stratified by class of recommendation and level of evidence. The primary objective was to assess the reliability and consistency of LLM-generated classifications compared to those in the ESC guidelines.