Diversity-enhanced Collaborative Mamba for Semi-supervised Medical Image Segmentation.

Acquiring high-quality annotated data for medical image segmentation is tedious and costly. Semi-supervised segmentation techniques alleviate this burden by leveraging unlabeled data to generate pseudo labels. Recently, advanced state space models, represented by Mamba, have shown efficient handling of long-range dependencies.

Exploration of the Therapeutic Time Window for Thrombectomy in Rat Models of Middle Cerebral Artery Ischemia-Reperfusion.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic time window of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) reperfusion in rats and the potential mechanism of injury beyond the time window.

Methods: Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into eight groups: a sham operation group, six ischemia-reperfusion groups (reperfusion initiated 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h after infarction, respectively), and a 24-h infarction group without reperfusion therapy. Neurological function scores were assessed 24 h after reperfusion, and then brain samples were collected to explore the mechanisms.

Patient-tailored versus fixed post-trigger delay for optimized scan timing: a comparison of image quality and diagnostic confidence in run-off CT angiography.

Objectives: This study aimed to validate bolus tracking using a patient-tailored post-trigger delay (PTD) in run-off computed tomography angiography (CTA) and to compare the resulting image quality and diagnostic confidence with those obtained using a fixed PTD.

Materials And Methods: Participants were prospectively assigned to either fixed (10 s) or patient-tailored cohorts. We measured attenuation, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for each vascular segment.

The association of advanced lung cancer inflammation index with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in NHANES 2017-2020.

Background: The advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) is a composite index that combines inflammation and nutritional status, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with inflammation, nutritional status, and obesity. This study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between ALI and NAFLD.

Methods: We extracted cohort datasets from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the study.

Synergistic Antitumor Immunotherapy via Mitochondria Regulation in Macrophages and Tumor Cells by an Iridium Photosensitizer.

Mitochondrial targeting has emerged as an attractive method for antitumor treatment. However, most of the mitochondria targeted drugs focused on inhibiting tumor cells, while their potential for activation of immune responses in the tumor microenvironment has rarely been described. In this study, we report a photosensitive iridium complex , which enabled the simultaneous mitochondrial modulation of macrophages and tumor cells to achieve synergistic antitumor immunity.

Photoinduced Synergism of Ferroptosis/Pyroptosis/Oncosis by an O-Independent Photocatalyst for Enhanced Tumor Immunotherapy.

Due to O dependence, hypoxia-induced apoptosis resistance, and immunosuppressive microenvironment, the effect of traditional photodynamic therapy toward hypoxic solid tumors is severely limited. Herein, we report an O-independent photocatalyst (EBSe) for tumor immunotherapy potentiation via synergism of near-infrared (NIR) light-induced ferroptosis/pyroptosis/oncosis. Simple Se and ethyl modifications on methylene blue (MB) endow EBSe with a remarkable phototoxicity enhancement (>2500 folds) and an excellent phototoxicity index (PI > 32,000) to 4T1 cells under hypoxia.

Imaging predictors of progressive infarction in patients with anterior circulation small subcortical infarction.

Background: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the association between imaging characteristics and progressive infarction (PI) in patients with anterior circulation single subcortical infarction (ACSSI).

Methods: Between January 2020 and October 2022, we retrospectively enrolled 638 ACSSI patients admitted to the Stroke Unit of First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University within 48 h after symptom onset. Demographic characteristics, clinical information, laboratory data, and imaging features (the number of infarct slices and the maximal diameter of infarcts) were collected.

Stitching, Fine-tuning, Re-training: A SAM-enabled Framework for Semi-supervised 3D Medical Image Segmentation.

Segment Anything Model (SAM) fine-tuning has shown remarkable performance in medical image segmentation in a fully supervised manner, but requires precise annotations. To reduce the annotation cost and maintain satisfactory performance, in this work, we leverage the capabilities of SAM for establishing semi-supervised medical image segmentation models. Rethinking the requirements of effectiveness, efficiency, and compatibility, we propose a three-stage framework, i.

Influence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on the therapeutic effect of nucleoside (acid) analogs for hepatitis B virus.

Background: The effect of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on the efficacy of nucleoside analogues (NAs) in antiviral therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains controversial.

Aim: To investigate the influence of NAFLD on virological response in CHB patients undergoing NAs treatment.

Methods: Logistic regression analysis was conducted on a cohort of 465 CHB patients from two hospitals to determine whether NAFLD was a risk factor for adverse reactions to NAs.

A rhodamine based near-infrared fluorescent probe for selective detection of Cu ions and its applications in bioimaging.

A novel near-infrared fluorescent probe TM2 based on a rhodamine-bearing framework was disclosed with a large Stokes shift (100 nm). TM2 exhibits highly selective recognition for Cu in EtOH/HO (1 : 1, v/v) solution with a low detection limit (2.3 μM) and a wide detection range (0-50 μM).

A Ru(II) complex-based COX-2 targeting type I photosensitizer evokes ferroptosis and apoptosis.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) often faces challenges such as oxygen dependence and limited tumour specificity. We report a tumour-targeting photosensitizer (PS), RuCXB, which enhances uptake by cancer cells by targeting overexpressed cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme in tumours. RuCXB also reduces oxygen dependence a type I PDT mechanism and achieves a strong therapeutic effect through the synergistic induction of ferroptosis and apoptosis.

Modular Prodrug-Engineered Oxygen Nano-Tank With Outstanding Nanoassembly Performance, High Oxygen Loading, and Closed-Loop Tumor Hypoxia Relief.

The clinical translation of tumor hypoxia intervention modalities still falls short of expectation, restricted by poor biocompatibility of oxygen-carrying materials, unsatisfactory oxygen loading performance, and abnormally high cellular oxygen consumption-caused insufficient hypoxia relief. Herein, a carrier-free oxygen nano-tank based on modular fluorination prodrug design and co-assembly nanotechnology is elaborately exploited, which is facilely fabricated through the molecular nanoassembly of a fluorinated prodrug (FSSP) of pyropheophorbide a (PPa) and an oxygen consumption inhibitor (atovaquone, ATO). The nano-tank adeptly achieves sufficient oxygen enrichment while simultaneously suppressing oxygen consumption within tumors for complete tumor hypoxia alleviation.

TG/HDL-c ratio as a predictor of progressive infarction in patients with anterior circulation single subcortical infarction.

Background: The contributors predicting progressive infarction (PI) in patients with anterior circulation single subcortical infarction (ACSSI) and pontine single infarction (PSI) may be unidentical. The role of triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-c) ratio on PI is unclear. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the correlation between TG/HDL-c ratio and PI in patients with ACSSI or PSI.

A novel score to predict progression in anterior circulation single subcortical infarction patients.

Objective: Progressive infarction (PI) has a negative effect on functional prognosis. Our study aimed to develop and validate a risk score for predicting PI in patients with anterior circulation single subcortical infarction (ACSSI).

Methods: Between January 2020 and October 2022, we retrospectively enrolled 638 eligible patients with ACSSI.

Activation of RIG-I/MDA5 Signaling and Inhibition of CD47-SIRPα Checkpoint with a Dual siRNA-Assembled Nanoadjuvant for Robust Cancer Immunotherapy.

Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) play a crucial role in the anti-tumor immunity as they are responsible for capturing, processing, and presenting tumor antigens to T cells. However, their activation is often limited by the absence of adjuvants and the suppressive effects of immune checkpoints, such as CD47-SIRPα. Herein, we present a nanoadjuvant that is self-assembled from long RNA building blocks generated through rolling circle transcription (RCT) reaction and further modified with cationic liposomes.

Tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation accelerates hematogenous metastasis of malignant melanoma by triggering macrophage recruitment.

Background: Tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation (TCIPA) is not only a recognized mechanism for paraneoplastic thrombocytosis but also a potential breakthrough alternative for a low response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in hematogenous metastasis of malignant melanoma (MM). However, there is no TCIPA-specific model for further investigation of the relationship among TCIPA, the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), and metastasis.

Methods: We developed a TCIPA metastatic melanoma model with advanced hematogenous metastasis and enhanced TCIPA characteristics.

Knockout of Rnf213 Ameliorates Cerebral Ischemic-reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting Neuronal Apoptosis Through the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin/Bcl-2 Pathway.

Previous studies by us and others have shown that RING finger protein 213 (RNF213) is associated with cerebrovascular disease and systemic vasculopathy. Indeed, Rnf213 mRNA expression is increased in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of Rnf213 in CIRI.

Ratiometric singlet oxygen self-detecting and oxygen self-supplying nanosensor for real-time photodynamic therapy feedback and therapeutic effect enhancement.

Integration of singlet oxygen (O) detection that provides necessary therapeutic feedback into nanotheranostics for hypoxic tumor photodynamic therapy (PDT) is desirable but still challenging. Herein, we report a nanosensor (denominated PAPD) by combining dual-channel ratiometric sensing and oxygen-augmenting strategies, which synergistically realizes real-time O self-detection, O self-supply and enhanced phototherapy. PAPD nanosensor is constructed by encapsulating anthracene-based O sensitive fluorophore (DPA) into porphyrin metal-organic frameworks (PCN-224), decorating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as nanoenzymes, and coating polyethylene glycol thiol (PEG-SH) by the Au-S bond.

Manipulating the Subcellular Localization and Anticancer Effects of Benzophenothiaziniums by Minor Alterations of N-Alkylation.

Cationic, water-soluble benzophenothiaziniums have been recognized as effective type I photosensitizers (PSs) against hypoxic tumor cells. However, the study of the structure-property relationship of this type of PS is still worth further exploration to achieve optimized photodynamic effects and minimize the potential side effects. Herein, we synthesized a series of benzophenothiazine derivatives with minor N-alkyl alteration to study the effects on the structure-property relationships.

Single-atom engineering of hemicyanine and its amphiphilic derivative for optimized near infrared phototheranostics.

Near-infrared (NIR) dyes are widely used in the field of phototheranostics. Hemicyanine dyes (HDs) have recently received tremendous attention due to their easy synthesis and excellent NIR features. However, HDs can easily form non-fluorescent aggregates and their potential for phototherapy still needs further exploration due to their poor ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio Is Independently Associated with Progressive Infarction in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Methods: From April 2017 to December 2020, we retrospectively recruited 477 patients with acute ischemic stroke (within 48 hours after onset). Progressive infarction was defined as an increase of ≥1 point in motor power or ≥2 points on the total National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) within 7 days after admission and extension of the original infarction were further confirmed by diffusion-weighted imaging. Demographic characteristics, clinical information, and neuroimaging characteristics were evaluated after admission.

A lesion extending three or more slices as a predictor of progressive infarction in anterior circulation small subcortical infarction.

Progressive infarction (PI) is common in small subcortical infarction and may lead to a poor outcome. The purpose of our study is to identify neuroimaging predictors for PI. From April 2017 to December 2020, we enrolled 86 patients with an anterior circulation subcortical infarction within 48 h after onset.