Immune checkpoints in hepatocellular carcinoma and the challenges of therapeutic resistance.

Objective: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) made a big change in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), thereby bringing fresh hope in terms of treatment to patients with few options until that time.

Methods: However, ICIs still encounter resistance mechanisms in a substantial number of patients, either in primary or secondary forms. This phenomenon of resistance occurs due to various reasons that comprise but are not restricted to epigenetic alterations, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments, and activation of TGF-β and VEGF signaling pathways.

Reduced Dietary Protein Levels Improved Growth Performance, Promoted Efficient Nutrient Utilization, Increased Fecal , and Reduced Fecal Malodorous Compounds in Late-Fattening Barrows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of reducing dietary protein levels on barrows during the late fattening period. Fifty Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire barrows with body weights averaging 76.30 ± 6.

An artificial intelligence model integrating culprit lesion diagnosis and risk assessment for acute coronary syndrome.

Background: An integrated machine learning (ML) approach capable of both diagnosing acute coronary syndrome (ACS, encompassing myocardial infarction and unstable angina) and predicting future ACS risk within defined optimal timeframes remains an unmet need in cardiovascular risk stratification.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre cohort study in China between January 2012 and December 2021. The derivation cohort (cohort 1+ cohort 2), consisting of a training, validation, and independent external test set, retrospectively included 1854 patients from four hospitals who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and received a definitive diagnosis of ACS or chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) within 7 days.

Covalent Organic Framework Nanohydrogel-Based Oxidase-Mimicking Nanozyme for Photocatalytic Antibacterial Therapy.

Water-soluble nanozymes have the potential to overcome the limitations of low catalytic efficiency of most heterogeneous nanozymes in aqueous solutions and further expand their applications in the biomedical field, but with significant synthetic challenges. Here we report an oxidase-mimicking water-soluble nanozyme based on zinc porphyrin-based covalent organic framework nanohydrogel (Zn-COF-NHG) for photocatalytic antibacterial. The in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) on scaffold of Zn-COF results in the exfoliation of crystalline COF nanosheets and assembly into nanohydrogels in aqueous solution.

Fluorine doping of biomass-derived hard carbon for boosted sodium-ion storage.

Mainstream hard carbon anode materials in sodium-ion batteries are frequently hindered by issues such as low kinetics for sodium-ion storage. In this work, we present a novel approach to overcome these key limitations by fluorine doping of wheat straw-derived hard carbon, which gives rise to a higher defect density, larger interlayer spacing and faster sodium-ion storage kinetics, when compared to the undoped hard carbon. As a result, the fluorine-doped hard carbon (HCF) exhibits an enhanced rate performance, higher specific capacity and optimized balance between slope and plateau capacity ratios, achieving a reversible capacity of 295 mAh g at 1.

Inflammatory responsive hydrogels incorporated with bevacizumab-loaded infinite coordination nanopolymers for accelerating cartilage repair.

Cartilage injury repair remains challenging because of its unique physical structure and pathological micro-environment, including vascular invasion and inflammatory environment. In this study, inflammatory responsive hydrogels (TA-Mg@Bev iHGs) reinforced by bevacizumab (Bev)-loaded infinite coordination nanopolymer (TA-Mg@Bev) were fabricated for accelerated cartilage repair via anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. The incorporation of TA-Mg@Bev iHGs enhanced the mechanical strength of TA-Mg@Bev via phenolic hydroxyl group-mediated hydrogen bond, enabling a sustained drug release under inflammatory environment.

Unveiling the impact of muscle fiber composition on taste and aroma compounds in Jinhua pig skeletal muscles.

Muscle fiber types critically influence pork flavor by modulating taste-active and aroma compounds. This study analyzed three muscles in Jinhua pigs-longissimus dorsi (LD, predominantly type IIb fibers), serratus ventralis (SV, mainly type I/IIa), and quadriceps femoris (QF)-revealing distinct flavor profiles. SV exhibited significantly higher free amino acids (FAAs), including umami (Asp, Glu), sweet (Ala, Gly, etc.

A bearing fault diagnosis method based on hybrid artificial intelligence models.

The working state of rolling bearing severely affects the performance of industrial equipment. Addressing the issue of that the difficulty of incipient weak signals feature extraction influences the rolling bearing diagnosis accuracy, an efficient bearing fault diagnostic technique, a proposition is forwarded for hybrid artificial intelligence models, which integrates Improved Harris Hawks Optimization (IHHO) into the optimization of Deep Belief Networks and Extreme Learning Machines (DBN-ELM). The process employs Maximum Second-order Cyclostationary Blind Deconvolution (CYCBD) to filter out noise from the vibration signals emitted by bearings; secondly, considering the issue with the conventional Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) algorithm which tends to prematurely converge to local optima, the differential evolution mutation operator is introduced and the escape energy factor is improved from linear to nonlinear in IHHO; then, a double-layer network model based on DBN-ELM is proposed, to avoid the number of hidden layer nodes of DBN from human experience interference, and IHHO is used to optimize DBN structure, which is denoted as IHHO-DBN-ELM method; with the optimal structure is obtained by using a combined IHHO optimized DBN and ELM; in conclusion, the proposed IHHO-DBN-ELM approach is applied to the bearing fault detection using the Western Reserve University's bearing fault dataset.

Psychoactive substances: novel molecular insights and therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder that causes severe cognitive decline and poses a significant burden on global health systems. Despite extensive research, effective treatments to stop neurodegeneration or promote neuronal regeneration in AD remain elusive. Psychoactive substances as modulators of neurophysiological functions, have received increased attention in research.

EEG assessment of artificial intelligence-generated content impact on student creative performance and neurophysiological states in product design.

Objectives: The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the use of Artificial Intelligence-Generated Content (AIGC) tools in design education, in terms of their effects on creative performance, concentration, and relaxation levels, for university students enrolled in an undergraduate design program.

Methods: An experimental design was implemented, using two groups differentiated by their design tool usage (AIGC tools versus traditional software). The sample consisted of 64 third-year undergraduate design students from a public university in Eastern China.

Association Between Chronic Pain, Coping Strategies, and Sleep Quality in Rural Chinese Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the current status of sleep quality and explore the associations between chronic pain, sleep quality, and coping strategies in older adults living in rural areas of China, a topic of growing interest and importance in gerontology and public health.

Patients And Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of Chinese older adults from a rural community in Northern Anhui, China, conducted from September to December 2023. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic items, chronic pain (visual analogue scale, VAS), coping strategies (Coping Strategies Questionnaire-Revised, CSQ-R), and sleep quality (Athens Insomnia Scale, AIS).

Research on aerodynamic characteristics and control method of rigid-flexible variable camber wing.

In order to realize the continuous chord bending of the wing and consider the material deformation limitation, a trailing-edge curvature variable wing section combining rigid and flexible structures is proposed. In the wing configuration design, the optimal lift-to-drag ratio is used as the optimization objective, and the wing section mean line is parameterized to obtain the optimal rigid-flexible hybrid deformation configuration. The aerodynamic characteristics of hybrid rigid-flexible deflection wing and traditional rigid deflection wing were compared by flow field calculation.

The relationship between harsh parenting, shyness and cyber victimization: based on the cross-lagged panel model and the random intercept cross-lagged panel model.

Objective: To examine the longitudinal associations between harsh parenting, shyness, and cyber victimization. The present study hypothesized that shyness mediated harsh parenting and cyber victimization.

Methods: Eight hundred and twenty-eight first-year middle school students voluntarily completed three rounds of questionnaires investigating harsh parenting, shyness, and cyber victimization at eight-month intervals.

Gut microbiota and metabolite features in NSCLC nude mouse models of subcutaneous tumor and leptomeningeal metastasis: a microbiome-metabolome combined analysis.

Background: The incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer are both elevated. In lung cancer, leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is a serious consequence. Patients suffering from LM have severe symptoms and a short survival time.

Modulation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling by STAT3 Inhibition Restores Myogenic Capacity in Sarcopenia.

Background: Sarcopenia is a progressive disorder characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function. Although STAT3 is known to regulate myogenic differentiation, its role in sarcopenia remains unclear.

Methods: STAT3 expression was assessed in skeletal muscle samples from sarcopenia patients and nonsarcopenic controls, as well as aged SAMP8 mice.

Optimal photosynthesis of 2-benzothiazoles over hexaazatrinaphthylene-based porous aromatic frameworks.

Porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) are considered as promising photocatalysts for efficient organic transformations. In this study, the synthesis of donor-acceptor (D-A)-type hexaazatrinaphthylene-based porous aromatic frameworks (HATN-PAFs) is presented. By linking HATN units with other different fragments, the surface areas, bandgaps, energy levels and photoelectric properties of HATN-PAFs could be easily tuned.

Biomimetic extracellular vesicles derived from chimeric antigen receptor monocytes to treat glioblastoma: An efficient and safe intranasal drug delivery nanoplatform.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising pharmacotherapeutic modality for glioblastoma (GBM) drug delivery. However, the clinical translation of EVs remains restricted due to their low yield and demanding extraction steps. Therefore, extracellular vesicle mimetics (EVMs), as alternatives to EVs, have received much attention.

Efficient photocatalytic C-3 thiocyanation of indoles over tetraphenylsilane-based porous aromatic frameworks.

The rational design and synthesis of donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) type tetraphenylsilane (TEPS)-based PAFs (PAF-403, PAF-404, and PAF-405) linked by acetylene bridges are presented. Among them, PAF-405 displays the highest efficiency for visible-light-induced C-3 thiocyanation of indoles (up to 99% yield) with broad substrate scope (15 examples), which could be recycled for five cycles with a slight loss of catalytic activity. A possible structure-performance correlation of TEPS-PAFs is proposed.

Chinese Expert Consensus on Leptomeningeal Metastases of Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer patients with leptomeningeal metastases (LMs) suffer from severe clinical symptoms, poor quality of life, narrow diagnostic and therapeutic time windows, low response to standard treatments, short survival periods, and poor prognoses. At present, there is a lack of precise diagnosis and treatment pathways and relevant consensus for LMs of lung cancer. In order to better guide the clinical diagnosis and treatment of LMs of lung cancer in an early, reasonable, and safe way, the experts of the Neurological Tumor Specialist Committee of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) have formulated this consensus based on the actual diagnosis and treatment of LMs of lung cancer in China, with reference to the latest research data, relevant guidelines and consensus, and the experts' clinical experience, as well as the results of experts' polling on the pre-set issues of LMs.

Single-cell transcriptome sequencing reveals new epithelial-stromal associated mesenchymal-like subsets in recurrent gliomas.

Gliomas, particularly glioblastomas, are highly malignant brain tumors with high recurrence rates and poor prognosis. Despite advances in treatment, recurrence remains a major challenge. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in tumor invasion and recurrence.

Neutrophil extracellular traps in central nervous system disorders: mechanisms, implications, and emerging perspective.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs), as a crucial defense mechanism of neutrophils, have garnered increasing attention in recent years for their roles in central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This review comprehensively summarizes the fundamental characteristics and formation mechanisms of NETs, while highlighting the latest research advances regarding their involvement in various CNS diseases. Specific mechanistic insights are discussed, including how NETs exacerbate ischemic stroke through immunothrombosis, promote blood-brain barrier disruption in multiple sclerosis, and contribute to neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease.

Risk prediction of stroke-associated pneumonia in acute ischemic stroke with atrial fibrillation using machine learning models.

Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is a serious complication of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), significantly affecting patient prognosis and increasing healthcare burden. AIS patients are often accompanied by basic diseases, and atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the common basic diseases. Despite the high prevalence of AF in AIS patients, few studies have specifically addressed SAP prediction in this comorbid population.

Bioinformatics prediction and experimental verification identify B4GALT1 as a diagnostic biomarker of glioblastoma.

Glycolysis plays a key role in the progression of glioblastoma (GBM). Gene expression and clinical information were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression, the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas database, and five Gene Expression Omnibus datasets. Twenty-one prognosis-related glycolytic differentially expressed genes were identified.

Immune inflammatory regulation in Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: insights from transcriptome analysis.

Background: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a critical neurological disorder mediated by autoimmune mechanisms, Previous literature suggests that immune inflammatory responses may be involved in the progression of anti NMDAR encephalitis, but its molecular regulatory mechanisms still remain uncertain. We aimed to identify transcriptome-wide landscape of mRNAs and explore the potential pathogenesis for anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from six patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and six controls for RNA extraction and library creation.

Validating attribute hierarchies in cognitive diagnosis models.

Cognitive diagnosis models (CDMs) are restricted latent class models that are widely used in educational and psychological fields. Attribute hierarchy, as an important structural feature of the CDM, can provide critical information for inferring examinees' attribute mastery patterns. Previous studies usually formulate likelihood ratio (LR) tests for full models and hierarchical models to validate attribute hierarchies, but their asymptotic distributions tend to become non-standard, resulting in test failures.