Preparation of natural polymer-based hydrogels for oral delivery of anti-malarial drug: and cytotoxicity evaluation.

The current investigation involved the fabrication of gelatin-based hydrogels for controlled delivery of quinine. Hence, pH-responsive and biocompatible hydrogels were developed using natural polymer gelatin and synthetic monomer acrylic acid. The drug-loaded hydrogels indicated a new carrier system, which was confirmed by various physicochemical characterizations, including FTIR, TGA, DSC, and XRD, whereas SEM revealed the morphology of unloaded and drug-loaded hydrogels, respectively.

Whole-Genome Sequencing for the Prenatal Evaluation of Fetal Structural Anomalies: A prospective multicenter study.

Background: The clinical validity of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in postnatal settings is well documented, but studies of its use in prenatal settings are limited.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the performance of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for prenatal diagnosis of fetal structural anomalies compared with the commonly used testing strategy of copy-number variant sequencing (CNV-seq) plus exome sequencing (ES).

Study Design: WGS was performed in parallel with CNV-seq and ES for 96 parent-fetus trios with fetal structural anomalies.

Preparation of Metal Core Piezoelectric Fiber Based on a Mold-Assisted Wet Process.

Metal core piezoelectric fiber (MPF) is gaining attention for their potential applications in smart wearables and fault detection due to their excellent dynamic responsiveness. Traditional manufacturing methods, however, are hindered by inefficiencies, environmental concerns, and inconsistent quality, limiting the large-scale production and application. This research presents a novel continuous fabrication method for MPF using enamel-coated wire molds.

Progress, Challenges, and Prospects of Short-Read Genome Sequencing in Prenatal Diagnosis.

Background: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has been studied increasingly as a genetic testing technology in clinical applications, and its clinical validity has been preliminarily verified. In recent years, WGS has been employed in prenatal diagnosis.

Methods: This review synthesizes the current research and existing guidelines on the use of WGS for prenatal diagnosis.

Design of an athermal zoom optical system for space station applications.

An athermal zoom system is designed to meet the light weight requirements of space station health observation applications. In this study, we employ a loss function to steer the material parameters within the front fixed group and to mitigate the focal power contributed by individual lenses. This approach facilitates the optimization of thermal aberrations and manufacturing tolerances.

[Analysis of clinical manifestations and genetic variants among 11 Chinese pedigrees affected with Leber congenital amaurosis].

Objective: To retrospectively analyze 11 Chinese pedigrees affected with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and summarize the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics of patients.

Methods: Eleven Chinese pedigrees with probands diagnosed with LCA at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical phenotypic data of the probands were collected.

Self-Assembled Ag2S-Au Janus Nanoparticles for Targeted Photo-Responsive Thermal Ablation of Cancer Cells and Bacteria.

Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) represent one of the most complex nanoparticles, and achieving precise control over their synthesis remains a significant challenge. Here, we explore gold-silver sulfide (Au-Ag₂S) JNPs for targeted anticancer and antibacterial therapies. Au-Ag₂S JNPs were synthesized and characterized using TEM, HRTEM, XRD, EDS, and XPS, confirming their distinct dimeric structure with Au and Ag₂S components.

Bifunctional sodium hyaluronate microneedle patches integrating 5α-reductase and ROS regulation for boosted hair regeneration.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) - induced progressive hair loss is a worldwide phenomenon primarily attributed to excessive dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) within hair follicles. This leads to follicle atrophy and eventual loss, posing a significant challenge for hair regeneration in affected individuals. Herein, we designed a bifunctional sodium hyaluronate microneedle patch as an in situ medical intervention, incorporating glycyrrhizin-loaded dutasteride (GL-DUT) micelles as the 5α-reductase inhibitor to reduce DHT levels and mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles (MPDA NPs) as the ROS scavenger.

A ROS-scavenging CuO nanozyme-functionalized microneedle patch for androgenetic alopecia treatment.

Oxidative stress is closely linked to androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, research on antioxidants specifically targeting hair follicle tissue has been limited. The utilization of nanomaterials that possess superior reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capabilities and biocompatibility is a promising approach for the treatment of AGA.

A Robust Biprotein Stabilized Pericardium Valve Material Priming Resistance to Calcification.

In the absence of effective therapeutics, valve replacement remains the sole intervention for severe calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), which impacts 26% of adults aged 65 and even 50% of adults aged 85. Pericardium-based bioprosthetic heart valves benefit from marginating anticoagulation. Still, they face recalcification due to residual aldehydes and inadequate elastin stabilization from the glutaraldehyde cross-linking process, posing a significant clinical challenge.

Preparation and properties of metal-core piezoelectric fibers for dynamic sensing using the double heat-shrinkage method.

Metal-core piezoelectric fibers (MPF)are coaxial fibers composed of a metal core, piezoelectric material, conductive material, and insulating material. They possess piezoelectric effects and hold great application potential in sensors and intelligent products. The most commonly used preparation method for metal-core piezoelectric fibers is electrospinning.

[Results of screening and prenatal diagnosis for 71 fetuses with high risk for trisomy/monosomy 13 syndrome by non-invasive prenatal screening].

Objective: To analyze the clinical data and results of prenatal diagnosis for fetuses with high-risk for trisomy/monosomy 13 by non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT).

Methods: Clinical data of pregnant women with fetus at a high risk for trisomy/monosomy 13 by NIPT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2016 to May 2024 were reviewed, and relevant data such as Z-score, positive predictive value (PPV) and fetal fraction (FF) were analyzed to assess the correlation between them. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital (No.

Clinical application of whole exome sequencing (WES) in the genetic diagnosis of 768 Chinese patients with bilateral hearing loss.

Hearing loss is a prevalent sensory disability with strong genetic heterogeneity, affecting approximately 60% of patients due to genetic factors. To investigate the possible genetic causes of hearing loss in 768 unrelated Chinese patients and analyze the genetic diagnosis rates among patients with different clinical phenotypic characteristics, 768 patients were enrolled, and whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed for genetic testing. Sanger sequencing, MLPA, or qPCR were used to verify the parental origin of identified variants.

The hidden causes of pregnancy loss: a closer look.

Background: Unexpected pregnancy loss can be a traumatic experience for fertile couples. The aim of the study was to assess the nature and type of chromosomal variants involved in early and late pregnancy loss and provide couples an explanation on the cause of their pregnancy loss.

Methods: Investigations were conducted on 2928 pregnancy loss cases where products of conception (POC) samples could be retrieved for genetic analysis.

The application prospect of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.

With advancements in molecular biology and tissue engineering, significant progress has been made in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). In recent years, biomaterials have broadened therapeutic options for IVDD, particularly through the incorporation of metals, which impart antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cellular repair properties. The combination of metal ions, nanomaterials, and bioactive molecules further enhances the capacity of these materials to scavenge free radicals, regulate cell activity, and improve the microenvironment, thereby increasing their therapeutic efficacy and providing new opportunities for IVDD treatment.

A Novel Aldehyde Scavenging Modification Boosted Pericardium Valve Materials against Calcification.

Calcific aortic valve disease is an inexorably degenerative pathology and a common cause of morbidity and mortality in heart disease. Clinically, it has no effective medical therapy but can be managed with artificial heart valve replacement, particularly using bioprosthetic heart valves (BHV), entailing high biocompatibility. Current BHV mainly derives from glutaraldehyde (GA) cross-linked pericardium, however, residual aldehyde groups may inevitably remain during cross-link, potentially binding with calcium and inducing in situ calcification after implantation, thus leading to valve re-failure and posing a significant clinical challenge.

Smart Silk-Based In Situ Sol-Gel Modulates Rectal Microenvironment for Effective Ulcerative Colitis Alleviation.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, with untreated cases often progressing to colorectal cancer. Current treatments aim to induce inflammatory remission but often neglect the surrounding microenvironment, which significantly impairs mucosal healing and contributes to treatment failures. This study presents a novel silk fibroin-based fucoidan (SFU) in situ rectal gel, with sol-gel transition confirmed through rheological analysis under physiological pH and temperature conditions.

Metformin loaded MnO@SiO core-shell nanoparticles for glioblastoma multiforme targeted therapy.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) presents unique challenges that contribute to a poor early-stage prognosis, primarily due to the difficulty of chemotherapy drugs face in crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Despite decades of research, overall survival rates for GBM patients remain low. However, modified nanoscale biomaterials show promise in enhancing drug delivery and efficacy by effectively penetrating the BBB.

Common bean pan-genome reveals abundant variation patterns and relationships of stress response genes and pathways.

Long-term geographical isolation and the different directions of domestication can cause a large number of genome variations. Population genetic analysis based on a single reference genome cannot capture all the variation information. Pan-genome construction is an effective way to overcome this problem.

Engineering the Stable BiO Species for Efficient Electroreduction of CO into Formic Acid at Ampere-Level Current.

BiO species have been identified as the most important active species for the electroreduction of CO to HCOOH over Bi-based materials. However, the BiO species are unstable under high reduction current/potential, limiting further industrial application. Herein, we constructed robust BiO species by incorporating sodion (Na) into Bi nanosheets (denoted as Na-Bi nanosheets).

Novel LBR pathogenic variants with loss of sterol reductase activity participate in the pathogenesis of skeletal dysplasia via dysregulating canonical Wnt pathway.

Biallelic pathogenic variants in the lamin B receptor (LBR) with impaired sterol reductase function are associated with the development of perinatal lethal Greenberg dysplasia (GRBGD) and mild nonfatal skeletal dysplasia with or without Pelger-Huet anomaly (PHASK), as well as other related hereditary skeletal dysplasia. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we found two novel pathogenic variants of LBR, namely missense mutation (c.

F-actin dynamics regulates collective cell migration by modulating cell shape and stress correlation.

As an essential component in generating cell contractility, F-actin plays a pivotal role in collective cell migration. However, the mechanisms by which subcellular F-actin dynamics influence the collective behaviors of cell clusters across scales remain poorly understood. In this study, we developed a mechanical model to investigate how the dynamics of stress fibers and cryptic lamellipodia, prominent F-actin structures generating traction forces, regulate collective cell migration.

Genetic analysis of three patients from two unrelated Chinese families with autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay.

Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is a rare early-onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, spasticity, and sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy. This disorder is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous variants in the sacsin (SACS) gene on chromosome 13q12.12.

NIR-II Light-Activated Gold Nanocapsules for CO-Assisted Photothermal-Thermodynamic Synergistic Cancer Therapy.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) based on a second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) light source holds great promise in the field of tumor treatment. However, hyperthermia-induced heat shock protein (HSP) expression and limited therapeutic efficacy remain the major challenges for PTT. Herein, a NIR-II laser-responsive nanocapsule PC/AC@GR@HA (abbreviated as P/A@G@H) was designed for carbon oxide (CO)-assisted tumor PTT combined with thermodynamic therapy (TDT).