New insights into tryptophan metabolism in ischemic stroke: A promising therapeutic target.

Ischemic stroke is a major cause of disability and mortality worldwide. Dysregulation of tryptophan metabolism has been increasingly implicated in its pathophysiology. Tryptophan is catabolized through three principal pathways: the kynurenine, serotonin, and microbial indole pathways, each producing bioactive metabolites that modulate neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and immune responses following stroke.

E3 ligase SINAT5 mediates ERF113 stability and negatively governs the module of ABI5-like-ERF113 in regulating banana fruit ripening.

Ethylene regulates fruit ripening at transcriptional, posttranscriptional, translational and posttranslational levels. However, the multiple regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we revealed a module that regulates fruit ripening transcriptionally and posttranslationally.

Prolonged exposure to polluted air and risk of overweight and central obesity in Chinese children and adolescents.

Background: The rapid economic development in China has led to significant challenges in air pollution. This study examines the relationship between prolonged exposure to air pollution and the prevalence of overweight and central obesity among Chinese children and adolescents.

Methods: A total of 161,093 children and adolescents (aged 9–18) from 32 provinces in China were analyzed.

Immune memory reactivation and T cell dynamics following 12-month homologous CoronaVac booster: a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Inactivated COVID-19 vaccines exhibit more rapid declines in antibody levels than other vaccine platforms, likely owing to transient antigen exposure and limited germinal center persistence. Moreover, although homologous boosting effectively restores humoral immunity, concerns persist regarding potential T cell exhaustion with repeated antigen exposure. We evaluated the effectiveness of delayed homologous CoronaVac booster immunization in reactivating immune memory.

Sarcopenia Is Associated With Increased Risk of Abnormal Sleep Duration in the Older People: A 10-Year Cohort Study From China.

Background: With the acceleration of the aging process, health issues of older people have gradually become one of the most important research topics. The older people experience significant reductions in muscle mass and physical performance. Cross-sectional studies have found an association between the sarcopenia and sleep duration.

In-Hospital BSL-2 Clinical Laboratory Biosafety Risk Identification and Risk Control.

Background: This study aimed to explore the management of risk assessment and risk control in the in-hospital biosafety management of BSL-2 clinical pathogenic microorganism laboratory.

Methods: Risk analysis was carried out for complex nosocomial pathogen infection risk, poor scientific research skills of medical staff, weak risk awareness, and unreasonable layout of laboratory division.

Results: Through effective risk control means, the infection risk of pathogenic microorganism laboratory was reduced, and the safe operation of the laboratory was guaranteed.

Function and application of brain‑derived neurotrophic factor precursors (Review).

Brain‑derived neurotrophic factor precursor (proBDNF) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of various human diseases. Through its interaction with p75NTR and sortilin receptors, proBDNF promotes apoptosis, impairs synaptic plasticity, and contributes to the regulation of immune system function, inflammatory responses and cellular metabolic processes. proBDNF is widely distributed throughout the body, and as such, extensive research has demonstrated that proBDNF is significantly associated with the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying several diseases.

Co-Doping Engineered High Performance Ni-Rich Layered Cathode.

Although layered oxides of LiNiCoMnO (NCM, x + y + z = 1) are promising high energy density cathode materials, they still face significant challenges such as the cracks caused by anisotropic strain and poor structural and thermal stability upon building high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for scale-up industrialization. Under this circumstance, the La and Mg elements are theoretically and experimentally introduced into the layered NCM cathode to modify the primary particles synergistically by the lattice orientation regulation and surface perovskite-phase coating. The synthesized La/Mg co-doped NCM cathode delivers a discharge-specific capacity of 203 mAh g at 0.

Ultralow Iridium Dopant (<0.5 at. %) in LiNiO Oxide for Improved Structure Stability.

The structural instability of LiNiO (LNO) during charge-discharge cycles is a significant challenge in developing high-capacity cathodes for lithium-ion batteries. In this work, we doped a trace amount of Ir (0.5 at.

Effects of Nighttime Noise Reduction by Using Earplugs on the Recovery of Burn Patients after Reconstructive Surgery.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of postoperative noise reduction by using earplugs at night on the healing time and scar quality of burn patients who underwent reconstructive surgery.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the clinical data of adult burn patients after they underwent reconstructive surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2022 to June 2023. The patients were divided into the postoperative noise reduction group (n = 66) and the control group (n = 75) based on whether they received postoperative noise reduction.

The role of astrocyte metabolic reprogramming in ischemic stroke (Review).

Ischemic stroke, a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide, is characterized by the sudden loss of blood flow in specific area of the brain. Intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator is the only approved pharmacological treatment for acute ischemic stroke; however, the aforementioned treatment has significant clinical limitations, thus there is an urgent need for the development of novel mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for ischemic stroke. Astrocytes, abundant and versatile cells in the central nervous system, offer crucial support to neurons nutritionally, structurally and physically.

Anisotropic Strain Evolution of Layered LiNiCoMnO Cathode in Formation Cycle.

The formation process plays a key role in developing long life and high energy density materials, during which the phase transition, strain evolution, and structural self-adaption interact rationally with each other to produce a qualified electrode for Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Taking the layered LiNiCoMnO cathode as an example, the substantial structural changes, both in the bulk and at the surface are thoroughly documented during the formation cycle. Upon initial charging, different phases emerge continuously, resulting in lattice mismatches, inhomogeneous strain, and microstructural distortions.

Hyperglycemia-triggered lipid peroxidation destabilizes STAT4 and impairs anti-viral Th1 responses in type 2 diabetes.

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are more susceptible to severe respiratory viral infections, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that patients with T2D and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, and influenza-infected T2D mice, exhibit defective T helper 1 (Th1) responses, which are an essential component of anti-viral immunity. This defect stems from intrinsic metabolic perturbations in CD4 T cells driven by hyperglycemia.

Safety and efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implantation along with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in children with uveitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implantation during phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in pediatric uveitis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on pediatric uveitis patients undergoing phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation with intravitreal dexamethasone implantation. Patients with a minimum follow-up of 6 months were included.

Neutrophil plasticity in liver diseases.

The liver has critical digestive, metabolic, and immunosurveillance roles, which get disrupted during liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. While previous research on the pathological development of these diseases has focused on liver-resident immune populations, such as Kupffer cells, infiltrating immune cells responding to pathogens and disease also play crucial roles. Neutrophils are one such key population contributing to hepatic inflammation and disease progression.

Regional Variations in Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents in Shaanxi Province.

This study aims to examine the geographical variation in physical fitness levels among Chinese children and adolescents in Shaanxi province. A total of 19,175 children from Shaanxi province with physical fitness data in 2019, participated in the study. Physical fitness was assessed using body mass index, force vital capacity, 50 m sprint, sit and reach, 1 min rope skipping, sit-ups, 50 m × 8 round-trip running, standing long jump, pull-ups, 800 m, and 1000 m running, and their standardized scores were aggregated to form a summary score.

LiZnCu Modified Cu Current Collector to Regulate Li Deposition.

Rationally designing a current collector that can maintain low lithium (Li) porosity and smooth morphology while enduring high-loading Li deposition is crucial for realizing the high energy density of Li metal batteries, but it is still challengeable. Herein, a LiZnCu alloy-modified Cu foil is reported as a stable current collector to fulfill the stable high-loading Li deposition. Benefiting from the in situ alloying, the generated numerous LiZnCu@Cu heterojunctions induce a homogeneous Li nucleation and dense growth even at an ultrahigh capacity of 12 mAh cm.

Immunogenicity and safety of different combinations involving a third booster dose of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine, inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine, and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in adults aged ≥60 years: a phase 4, randomized, open-label study.

Background: Concomitant administration of COVID-19, influenza, and pneumococcal vaccines could reduce the burden on healthcare systems. However, the immunogenicity and safety of various combinations of a third booster dose of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac), inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine (IIV4), and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23), particularly in different age groups, is still unknown.

Methods: A phase 4, randomized, open-label, controlled trial was conducted in Beijing, China.

Transcriptome and metabolome analyses provide insights into the fruit softening disorder of papaya fruit under postharvest heat stress.

Heat stress in summer causes softening disorder in papaya but the molecular mechanism is not clear. In this study, papaya fruit stored at 35 °C showed a softening disorder termed rubbery texture. Analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome identified numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) between the fruit stored at 25 °C and 35 °C.

Distinct enterotypes and dysbiosis: unraveling gut microbiota in pulmonary and critical care medicine inpatients.

Background: The gut-lung axis, pivotal for respiratory health, is inadequately explored in pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM) inpatients.

Methods: Examining PCCM inpatients from three medical university-affiliated hospitals, we conducted 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing on stool samples (inpatients, n = 374; healthy controls, n = 105). We conducted statistical analyses to examine the gut microbiota composition in PCCM inpatients, comparing it to that of healthy controls.

Pharmacological mTOR inhibitors in ameliorating Alzheimer's disease: current review and perspectives.

Traditionally, pharmacological mammalian/mechanistic targets of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase inhibitors have been used during transplantation and tumor treatment. Emerging pre-clinical evidence from the last decade displayed the surprising effectiveness of mTOR inhibitors in ameliorating Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive function decline and memory loss. Research shows mTOR activation as an early event in AD development, and inhibiting mTOR may promote the resolution of many hallmarks of Alzheimer's.

Dual-Site Doping in Transition Metal Oxide Cathode Enables High-Voltage Stability of Na-Ion Batteries.

Designing cathode materials that effectively enhancing structural stability under high voltage is paramount for rationally enhancing energy density and safety of Na-ion batteries. This study introduces a novel P2-NaKNiLiMnO (KLi-NaNMO) cathode through dual-site synergistic doping of K and Li in Na and transition metal (TM) layers. Combining theoretical and experimental studies, this study discovers that Li doping significantly strengthens the orbital overlap of Ni (3d) and O (2p) near the Fermi level, thereby regulates the phase transition and charge compensation processes with synchronized Ni and O redox.