Simultaneous detection and quantification of free phenol and three structural isomers of cresol in human blood using gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and their medical reference value ranges.

Free phenol and cresol isomers in human samples have drawn interest, particularly in the field of forensic toxicology. In this study, a simultaneous analytical method for the detection of unchanged phenol and three structural isomers of cresol in human blood was developed using GC-MS/MS. This method was applied to authentic human heart and peripheral vein blood samples obtained from a fatal intoxication case involving accidental exposure to liquified phenol containing cresol isomers.

Actinobacteria mediate anaerobic methane oxidation in iron-rich environment.

Recent research has identified the Actinobacterium Candidatus Mycobacterium methanotrophicum, which oxidizes methane aerobically in extremely acidic environments. In a previous study, we observed significant enrichment of Actinobacteria in an anaerobic iron-rich methane-oxidation reactor. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the anaerobic methane utilization potential of Actinobacteria using microcosm experiments, isotope labeling, and DNA stable isotope probing.

Progressive microneedles for targeting and intelligent drug delivery.

Microneedle-mediated drug delivery systems (MDDS) have experienced robust growth in recent years, with designers leveraging their creativity to apply these systems for direct drug delivery to the skin, mucous membranes, blood vessel walls and even internal organs. In order to achieve precise drug delivery, various delicately conceived drug release modes based on MDDS have been developed. Herein, to elucidate the design concepts of numerous reported MDDS, we have categorized them into two levels (Level-Ⅰ MDDS and Level-Ⅱ MDDS) depending on whether nanoscale and microscale carriers are integrated within the microneedles.

Correlations of vancomycin trough concentration and its efficacy and toxicity in patients in the intensive care unit.

Background: Plasma concentration monitoring is crucial for optimizing vancomycin use, particularly in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, the reference interval for vancomycin plasma concentration remains undetermined.

Aim: To evaluate the correlations of area under the curve (AUC) and trough concentration (C) with efficacy and nephrotoxicity in patients in the ICU.

Reusing of intraoperative exfoliated finger epidermis in the treatment of hand scar contracture in patients with RDEB.

Patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) frequently develop pseudosyndactyly due to recurrent hand blistering and subsequent scar contracture. Conventional release surgery typically employs allogeneic biological dressings or synthetic materials for wound isolation, yet existing approaches are associated with frequent dressing changes, prolonged healing cycles, and secondary trauma. This study pioneers the clinical application of intraoperatively shed epidermal tissue for fabricating autologous epidermal finger cuffs to cover post-surgical defects, evaluating its therapeutic efficacy.

Application Efficacy of the FACE-Q Scale Combined With Anatomic Landmark-Based Evaluation in Preoperative 3D-Printed Model Simulated Surgical Reduction for Cranio-Maxillofacial Multiple Fractures.

Background: The evaluation of therapeutic efficacy for cranio-maxillofacial fractures necessitates balancing objective anatomic reduction accuracy with subjective patient-reported quality of life. Traditional methods rely on radiographic metrics while neglecting multidimensional patient experiences.

Objective: This study integrates 3D-printed model-based anatomic landmark validation with quantitative FACE-Q scale evaluation, conducting a synergistic analysis between surgical precision (submillimeter-level error control) and patient-reported outcomes (appearance, function, psychology), thereby providing evidence-based decision-making support for complex fracture management.

Context-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane: Insight for methane emission mitigation.

Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) exhibits context-dependent metabolic versatility, governed by electron acceptor heterogeneity and anthropogenic perturbations. This study investigates the AOM potential by simulating three environments, high-dissolved organic carbon (DOC), high-nitrate with moderate sulfate, and sulfate-enhanced conditions, to investigate AOM potential under controlled perturbations. Substrate conversion dynamics were observed by monitoring the variation of methane, sulfate, nitrate, iron, etc.

Application of plant-derived extracellular vesicles as novel carriers in drug delivery systems: a review.

Introduction: Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (P-EVs) are nanoscale, lipid bilayer vesicles capable of transporting diverse bioactive substances, enabling intercellular and interspecies communication and material transfer. With inherent pharmacological effects, targeting abilities, high safety, biocompatibility, and low production costs, P-EVs are promising candidates for drug delivery systems, offering significant application potential.

Areas Covered: A comprehensive review of studies on P-EVs was conducted through extensive database searches, including PubMed and Web of Science, spanning the years 1959 to 2025.

Modulating metal-organic frameworks by surface engineering of stearic acid modification for follicular drug delivery and enhanced hair growth promotion.

Cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOF) as delivery carriers have gained great attention in the biomedical field. However, limited by challenges of moisture-sensitive nature, the design and application of CD-MOF-based hair follicle delivery for androgenic alopecia (AGA) has rarely been explored. We developed the metal-organic frameworks as hair follicle-targeted delivery system (SA-MOF), stearic acid (SA) was used to modify metal-organic frameworks to form a protective hydrophobic layer on the surface and provide the additional hair growth-promoting effect.

Improvement in Compatibility and Drug Release Performance of Hot-Melt Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives by Physical Blending Technique.

Background: Hot-melt Pressure-sensitive Adhesives (HMPSA) are eco-friendly pressuresensitive adhesives, with the potential of being used as substrates for transdermal patches. However, due to the low hydrophilicity of HMPSA, the application is limited in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plasters.

Methods: Three modified HMPSA were prepared with acrylic resin EPO, acrylic resin RL100, and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the modifying materials.

Dissolving microneedle synergistic rocaglamide-loaded liposome to regulate abnormal neutrophils for anti-psoriasis.

Psoriasis seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. Rocaglamide (RocA), derived from Aglaia odorata, exhibits potent pharmacological activities. Although its efficacy in psoriasis is unclear, RocA could be a promising therapeutic drug.

Pharmacokinetic Interaction between Imatinib and Tacrolimus in Rats.

Objective: Tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI), is the first-line treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Imatinib and tacrolimus are both substrates of the hepatic enzymes CYP3A4/5 and efflux transporter P-gp, so drug-drug interactions may occur during their co-administration treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic interaction between imatinib and tacrolimus in rats.

Safety and effectiveness of balloon catheter-assisted ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation in difficult-site liver cancer.

Background: Balloon catheter isolation is a promising auxiliary method for thermal ablation treatment of liver cancer. We aimed to explore the safety and effectiveness of balloon catheter isolation-assisted ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) in treating liver cancer in difficult anatomical locations.

Methods: Data of 132 patients with 145 difficult-site liver cancer treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA were retrospectively analyzed.

Femtosecond Laser Assisted Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry: Toward Sub-ppq Detection Limits for Organic Molecules.

Ultrasensitive analysis of organic molecules is crucial for various fundamental research and applications. State-of-the-art techniques for this purpose can achieve detection limits of several hundred ppq (parts-per-quadrillion), while a higher sensitivity is pursued constantly. To achieve this goal, we develop femtosecond laser assisted chemical ionization for mass spectrometry.

Herb-Nanoparticle Hybrid System for Improved Oral Delivery Efficiency to Alleviate Breast Cancer Lung Metastasis.

Background: Metastasis is a complex process involving multiple factors and stages, in which tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) play significant roles. A combination of orally bioavailable therapeutic agents that target both tumor cells and TME is conducive to prevent or impede the progression of metastasis, especially when undetectable. However, sequentially overcoming intestinal barriers, ensuring biodistribution in tumors and metastatic tissues, and enhancing therapeutic effects required for efficient therapy remain challenging.

Global Trends and Frontier in Research on Pancreatic Alpha Cells: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2013 to 2023.

Purpose: Over the past 20 years, much of the research on diabetes has focused on pancreatic beta cells. In the last 10 years, interest in the important role of pancreatic alpha cells in the pathogenesis of diabetes, which had previously received little attention, has grown. We aimed to summarize and visualize the hotspot and development trends of pancreatic alpha cells through bibliometric analysis and to provide research direction and future ideas for the treatment of diabetes and other islet-related diseases.

Characterization of Acellular Cartilage Matrix-Sodium Alginate Scaffolds in Various Proportions.

The development of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology has provided a new solution to address the shortage of donors, multiple surgeries, and aesthetic concerns in microtia reconstruction surgery. The production of bioinks is the most critical aspect of 3D bioprinting. Acellular cartilage matrix (ACM) and sodium alginate (SA) are commonly used 3D bioprinting materials, and there have been reports of their combined use.

Synergistic treatment of androgenetic alopecia with follicular co-delivery of minoxidil and cedrol in metal-organic frameworks stabilized by covalently cross-linked cyclodextrins.

Androgenetic alopecia seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. The main clinical therapeutic agent, minoxidil tincture, is challenged by solvent irritation and dose-dependent side effects. Our recent work has identified a biosafety natural product, cedrol, that is synergistic in combination with minoxidil, thereby improving medication safety by substantially reducing the clinical dose of minoxidil.

Cardamonin-loaded liposomal formulation for improving percutaneous penetration and follicular delivery for androgenetic alopecia.

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) has a considerable impact on the physical and mental health of patients. Nano preparations have apparent advantages and high feasibility in the treatment of AGA. Cardamonin (CAR) has a wide range of pharmacological activities, but it has the problems of poor solubility in water and low bioavailability.

Microneedle-mediated nose-to-brain drug delivery for improved Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Conventional transnasal brain-targeted drug delivery strategies are limited by nasal cilia clearance and the nasal mucosal barrier. To address this challenge, we designed dissolving microneedles combined with nanocarriers for enhanced nose-to-brain drug delivery. To facilitate transnasal administration, a toothbrush-like microneedle patch was fabricated with hyaluronic acid-formed microneedles and tannic acid-crosslinked gelatin as the base, which completely dissolved in the nasal mucosa within seconds leaving only the base, thereby releasing the loaded cyclodextrin-based metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) without affecting the nasal cilia and nasal microbial communities.

TPGS-mediated Transethosomes Enhance Transdermal Administration of Curcumin Effects on Deformability and Stability.

Background: Adding a suitable surfactant can enhance the transdermal permeability of transethosomes while also leveraging its functionality as a functional material. In this study, transethosomes were prepared using D-α-tocopherol acid polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) as edge activators for transdermal delivery of curcumin (Cur).

Methods: The TPGS-mediated curcumin-loaded transethosomes (Cur@TES) were prepared and formulated optimally, and the optimized formulations were characterized for their morphology, particle size, entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL).

Correlation Between N-Demethyl Imatinib Trough Concentration and Serious Adverse Reactions in Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Imatinib is the first-line treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumors; however, the clinical prognosis and adverse reactions of patients vary owing to individualized discrepancies in plasma exposure.

Methods: To determine the safe interval for steady-state plasma trough concentrations (C min ) of imatinib and its active metabolite, N-demethyl imatinib (NDI), 328 plasma samples from 273 patients treated with imatinib were retrospectively analyzed. Imatinib C min and NDI C min were tested, and adverse reactions were recorded.

Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Imatinib and Metformin in Rats.

Background And Objective: Imatinib is primarily transported into the liver by organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1), organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3), and novel organic cation transporter 2 (OCTN2), which is the first step in the metabolic and elimination of imatinib. Patients taking imatinib may concurrently take metformin, a substrate for OCT1. Drug-drug interactions (DDI) may occur between imatinib and metformin, affecting the clinical efficacy of imatinib.