Long-term antifungal drug-delivery denture materials with plasma-initiated surface functionalization.

Conventional polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-based denture materials are susceptible to colonization and biofilm-formation by Candida species, leading to Candida-associated denture stomatitis (CADS), a recurring fungal infection that affects a large patient population. In this report, we developed a two-step, plasma-initiated surface functionalization approach to covalently bond poly (methacrylic acid) (PMAA) onto denture resins. Various reaction conditions were investigated and the effects of PMAA grafting yields on the physical properties of the resulting denture materials were determined.

Aging Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Cultured on a Native Young Extracellular Matrix, Are Protected From Senescence and Apoptosis Along With Increased Expression of HLA-DR and CD74 Associated With PI3K Signaling.

Older adults are the primary population for cell-based therapies for age-related diseases, but the efficacy of administering autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is impaired due to biological aging. In the present study, we cultured aging adipose (AD)-derived MSCs from > 65-year-old donors on extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesized by human amniotic fluid-derived pluripotent stem cells (ECM Plus) versus tissue culture plastic (TCP) and hypothesized that ECM Plus provided an ideal "young" microenvironment for reactivating and preserving early-stage progenitor cells within aging AD-MSCs. To test our hypothesis, we serially sub-cultured aging AD-MSCs on ECM Plus or TCP and characterized the cells both phenotypically and functionally, and then analyzed the cells at the single-cell transcriptomic level for the mechanisms that control cell fate.

Pharmacovigilance of drug-induced cataract using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System.

Cataract is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss, particularly among the elderly, with drug-induced cataract being an underrecognized yet significant contributor to visual impairment. This study investigates the associations between medications and cataract development using real-world data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from Q1 2004 to Q3 2024. A total of 54,800 reports were analyzed, including 2,336 cases involving 691 drugs in individuals aged 0-45 years.

Nutritional management adherence via an ePRO platform in patients with cancer: a machine learning model study.

Background: Electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) systems have significant potential for providing individualized and continuous nutritional management for patients with cancer. However, adherence to ePRO-guided nutritional interventions varies significantly, and the key factors associated with adherence remain poorly understood. This study aimed to assess adherence to nutritional targets via ePRO platforms and identify predictors influencing adherence to optimize management strategies.

Fortification of Cereal-Based Food with GG and GBI-30 and Their Survival During Processing.

Functional foods are evolving beyond basic nutrition to address nutrition-related diseases and enhance well-being. While probiotic-fortified products dominate this sector, most remain dairy-based. This study investigated the incorporation of GG and GBI-30 into cereal-based pasta and noodles, evaluating bacterial survival during processing and cooking.

Bile salt sensitive fluorescent probes for visualization of enzymatic proteolysis of hydrogels: Development and application to whey protein digestion.

Protein digestion is driven by interactions with enzymes and bile salts. To visualize and measure cleavage within hydrogels, fluorescent probes were developed by conjugating labeled whey protein isolate (WPI) to microbeads. These had favorable limits of detection (LOD) and range of operation.

Pharmacovigilance study of drug-induced eye movement disorder based on FDA adverse event reports from 2004 to 2024.

Eye movement disorder (EMD) is a significant cause of visual impairment and disruption of daily activities. Drug-induced EMD is an underrecognized but critical risk factor for patients. This study aimed to explore the relationship between medications and EMD using real-world data to improve patient safety and clinical decision-making.

Comparative Gastrointestinal Digestion Dynamics of Air-Dried and Freeze-Dried Yak Jerky: Insights from a Dynamic Human Stomach-Intestine (DHSI-IV) System.

Yak meat jerky, a traditional high-protein food commonly consumed in high-altitude regions, is often produced via air-drying, which may adversely affect its nutritional quality and digestibility. This study systematically compared the gastrointestinal digestion profiles of air-dried yak meat (ADM) and vacuum freeze-dried yak meat (VFDM) using a dynamic human stomach-intestine (DHSI-IV) system. Key digestive parameters, including gastric emptying kinetics, particle size distribution, and protein hydrolysis, were evaluated under physiologically relevant conditions.

Comparative Effects of Different Forms of Dietary Supplemental Selenium in Hot Environment-induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Pigs.

Background: Dietary selenium (Se) supplementation shows protective effects against heat stress in pigs, although further research is needed to fully understand its underlying processes.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of 3 forms of dietary supplemental Se on biochemical, physiological, and production responses in heat-stressed pigs.

Methods: Forty pigs [(Large White × Landrace) ×Duroc], female, 2.

Drug-related visual blurring: findings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database.

Background: Visual blurring is one of the most common symptoms in ophthalmology, and one of the important causes of secondary visual blurring is drug-related. This study assesses the risk of drug-related visual blurring using a large real-world database.

Methods: We analyzed adverse event reports from the U.

Diagnostic value of alpha-fetoprotein and prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence-II in serum, bile, and feces in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common pathological type of liver cancer and was the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide in 2020.

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of key tumor markers in serum, bile, and fecal samples for detecting HCC.

Methods: Blood, bile, and fecal samples were collected from patients ( = 265) with HCC and cholecystitis from Guangxi Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital.

Unraveling the impact of polystyrene microplastics with varying particle sizes and concentrations on lipid in vitro digestion and ex vivo absorption.

The contamination of microplastics (MPs) in food has become a global concern due to their ingestion through the food chain and associated health risks. However, the impacts of MPs on lipid digestion and absorption remain poorly understood. This study investigates the effects of MPs on soybean oil in vitro digestion and ex vivo absorption, focusing on particle size (small ∼30 μm, medium ∼50 μm, and large ∼100 μm) and concentration (0.

Impact of Freezing and Freeze Drying on GG Survival: Mechanisms of Cell Damage and the Role of Pre-Freezing Conditions and Cryoprotectants.

GG (LGG) is a common lactic acid bacteria used in the food industry with proven health benefits. Maintaining a high viability of probiotics during freeze drying and storage is crucial for their efficacy. The involvement of protectants and the optimization of operating conditions are promising techniques utilized to help bacteria microorganisms overcome environmental challenges.

A Comprehensive Comparison of Different Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Turbulence Models in Modeling Turbulent Plane Jets.

Turbulent plane jets are of great interest in a broad range of engineering applications such as combustion, mixing, and ventilation. Accurate prediction of the velocity field of jets is essential for accurate calculation of the mass and energy transfer in it. However, to date, no modeling works has comprehensively evaluated the computational accuracy and advantages of various Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence models for calculating plane jets.

CCN Proteins as Matricellular Regulators of Bone in Aging and Disease.

Purpose Of Review: This review explores the role of cell communication network (CCN) proteins in regulating skeletal physiology, aging, and disease, particularly within the context of balanced bone remodeling.

Recent Findings: Recent conceptualization of paracrine and endocrine networks in bone marrow as a form of osteoimmunological crosstalk suggests a significant role for matricellular signaling in regulating bone homeostasis. As multifunctional adapters of cell-matrix interactions, CCNs are emerging as a focal point for parathyroid hormone (PTH) signaling and regulation of the RANKL/RANK/OPG axis in skeletal aging.

Enhancing blending efficiency and in vitro aerosol performance of low-dose inhalable dry powders with spray freeze dried microparticles.

Carrier-based dry powder inhaler (DPI) products deliver low-dose drugs to the lungs by blending micronized drug particles with carriers. Traditional methods for obtaining fine particles, such as milling or spray drying, are not suitable for high-value, heat-sensitive drugs. Hence, we propose a novel strategy for preparing carrier-based DPI products based on spray freeze dried (SFD) particles.

New Insights into a Conceptual Bionic Colonic Bioreactor: A Model, 'Probiotics in Human Colon', Showing How Probiotics Alleviate Constipation from a Bioprocess Engineering Perspective.

Constipation is a common problem which often causes negative impacts on the patient's quality of life. Apart from the pharmacologic and diet approaches, the use of probiotics has gradually shown promising efficacy to alleviate constipation. However, an exact understanding of the underlying mechanisms of probiotic actions on alleviating constipation is still unclear and need to be explored.

Decoding goal-habit brain networks of OCD from the structural and functional connectivity.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) may involve an imbalance between goal-directed and habitual learning systems, and this study investigates the structural and functional brain networks underpinning these systems in OCD. Using predefined brain regions, structural and functional connectivity networks were constructed, and methods such as network-based statistics, average connectivity strength, structural-functional coupling, and partial least squares path modeling were employed to compare OCD patients and healthy controls. The results revealed that OCD patients showed increased structural connectivity within both the goal-directed and habitual learning networks, particularly in the subnetwork that connects these systems.

Assessing food digestion in the elderly using in vitro gastrointestinal models.

With the global population of individuals aged 65 and older projected to exceed 1.5 billion by 2050, understanding the impact of aging on digestion and nutrient absorption is essential for addressing the nutritional needs of the elderly. This review explores the limitations of traditional in vivo studies and underscores the growing importance of in vitro gastrointestinal models as an ethical and cost-effective alternative for investigating digestion in the elderly.

Uniform Spray Dried Loxapine Microparticles Potentially for Nasal Delivery: Exploring Discriminatory In Vitro Release Evaluation Methods.

This study aimed to develop suitable in vitro evaluation methods for the release behavior of nasal powders (NPs). We synthesized a range of standardized microparticles with adjustable size and morphology by co-spray-drying loxapine succinate (LOX) and gelatin (GEL) using an ethanol/water solvent mixture in a self-designed micro-fluidic jet spray dryer (MFJSD). The influence of the LOX/GEL mass ratio and solvent composition on particle characteristics, including size, morphology, and crystalline properties, was systematically investigated.

Disparities in overall survival of gastric cancer patients after radical gastrectomy: an age and rural-urban residence-based cohort study with propensity score matching analysis.

This study estimated overall survival (OS) among gastric cancer patients stratified by age and rural-urban residence after radical gastrectomy. Patients (n = 286) undergoing curative gastrectomy were categorized into four groups based on age (older ≥ 60 years or younger < 60 years) and residence (rural or urban), including rural older (G1), urban older (G2), rural younger (G3) and urban younger (G4) groups. G1 presented with significantly more males, upper stomach cancers and total gastrectomies, while less patients receiving ≥ 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Clinical symptoms and molecular epidemiologic characteristics of varicella patients among children and adults in Ganzhou, China.

Background: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is highly transmissible; however, there are limited studies in China.

Methods: The clinical symptoms, disease progression, and laboratory test results of varicella patients among children and adults diagnosed at Ganzhou Fifth People's Hospital from August 2021 to December 2022 were analysed retrospectively. Genetic polymorphisms in the open reading frame (ORF) 22 and ORF62 fragments of VZV isolates were analysed using molecular epidemiological methods.

Realization of Topology-Controlled Photonic Cavities in a Valley Photonic Crystal.

We report the experimental realization of a new type of topology-controlled photonic cavities in valley photonic crystals by adopting judiciously oriented mirrors to localize the valley-polarized edge states along their propagation path. By using microwave frequency- and time-domain measurements, we directly observe the strong confinement of electromagnetic energy at the mirror surface due to the extended time delay required for the valley index flipping. Moreover, we experimentally demonstrate that both the degree of energy localization and quality factors of the topology-controlled photonic cavities are determined by the valley-flipping time which is controlled by the topology of the mirror.

Insights into the digestive processes of normal and high-amylose rice using realistic boluses formed in the bio-inspired oral mastication simulator (iBOMS-III).

Mastication is essential for preparing food bolus for swallowing and digestion. This study employed the bio-inspired oral simulator (iBOMS-III) to investigate the effects of mastication on physical properties and starch hydrolysis of normal rice (NR) and high-amylose rice (HR), while validating its results through comparison with in vivo data from human subjects. The median particle size (d) of NR (1.