Two-step ligand exchange to promote charge transfer in PbSe quantum dot photodetectors for pulse monitoring.

Quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as promising materials for next-generation infrared semiconductors due to their facile solution processing, low-cost, tunable bandgap and superior optoelectronic properties. However, organic long-chain ligands that modify the surface of QDs hinder charge transfer, thus impairing the performance of QD infrared photodetectors. Here, we report a two-step ligand exchange strategy that decouples the native long-chain ligands from the QDs using specific molecules and then attaches the short-chain ligands, resulting in high response for lead-rich lead selenide (PbSe) QD photodetectors.

Dual-phase release finasteride-loaded microspheres for androgenetic alopecia treatment: rapid intervention and sustained control of dihydrotestosterone.

The core pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) involves abnormal accumulation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) within hair follicles. However, while existing oral formulations achieve DHT suppression, their delayed clinical efficacy (3-6 months for visible regrowth) fails to meet the need for early intervention. Additionally, the frequent dosing further compromises sustained DHT control through drug-level fluctuations and adherence challenges, enabling local regeneration.

Developing and validating a prognostic model to predict ICU mortality in patients with sepsis-associated thrombocytopenia: a retrospective cohort study based on MIMIC-IV.

Objective: Given the high morbidity and mortality of patients with sepsis-associated thrombocytopenia (SATP) in the intensive care unit, this study retrospectively analysed the influencing factors for poor prognosis in patients with SATP using the MIMIC database, constructed a nomogram model and verified the predictive performance of the model.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: The data from MIMIC-IV, V.

BCAA metabolism: the Achilles' heel of ovarian cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, and premature ovarian failure.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), including valine, leucine and isoleucine, are essential nutrient signals that influence mammalian animal metabolism. Many enzymes are involved in the metabolism of BCAAs, such as branched-chain amino acid transaminases (BCATs), branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKDH), and BCKDH kinase (BCKDK). The aberrant expression of enzymes involved in BCAA metabolism and an imbalance in BCAA amino acid intake can lead to disordered metabolism.

Flexible and Interfacial Stable Composite Polymer Electrolyte Membrane for Solid-State Lithium-Oxygen Battery: Dispersion of Anti-perovskite in Insulating Polyethylene Oxide.

This study pioneers the first-ever integration of an advanced composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) and anti-perovskite into solid-state lithium-oxygen batteries, highlighting its potential in revolutionizing battery performance. The anti-perovskite LiOHCl (LOC) exhibits exceptional ionic conductivity of 1.8 × 10 S cm.

Irinotecan and dexamethasone prodrug co-loaded liposomes for the treatment of breast cancer.

Cancer is a major global health challenge, which has a serious impact on human health and life. While Irinotecan (IRI) has been demonstrated to treat various cancers with remarkable efficacy, addressing its associated side effects remains a critical concern in clinical. Chemotherapy drugs are often used in combination with dexamethasone (DEX) in clinical practice to reduce their side effects.

Oxygen-Generating Transdermal Nanoplatform Codelivering BRD4 Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera/Verteporfin/CaO Synergistically Remodels Immunosuppressive Melanoma Microenvironment to Potentiate Combination Immunotherapy.

Melanoma relapse and metastasis remain formidable clinical challenges, with the inadequate immunogenicity and highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITME) presenting serious obstacles to current postsurgical immunotherapies. Herein, an oxygen self-supplying core-shell microneedle patch (AV@LDL&CaO MNs) featuring multiple innovative anticancer therapies and multimodal immunomodulatory properties is developed to facilitate melanoma postoperative management. Specifically, recombinant low-density lipoprotein nanoparticles (AV@LDL NPs) embedding both the bromodomain containing protein 4 (BRD4)-targeting proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) ARV825 and the photosensitizer verteporfin are strategically incorporated into the dissolvable shell, while the oxygen-generating nanoreactor (HA@CaO NPs) occupies the core compartment.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of shugan jieyu capsule combined with escitalopram in the treatment of senile depression.

To evaluate the synergistic effect of the Shugan Jieyu Capsule combined with Escitalopram in the treatment of senile depression. The study protocol has been registered in PROSPERO with registration number CRD42023440270. Eight databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Network (CNKI), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), VIP database, and Wanfang Database, were searched, respectively.

Harnessing the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter for enhanced oral delivery of peptide drugs: mechanisms, strategies, and therapeutic potential.

Introduction: Oral administration of peptide drugs (PDs) faces significant challenges due to the harsh gastrointestinal environment and low intestinal epithelial permeability, leading to poor bioavailability. Current intestinal delivery pathways are often constrained by limited intestinal transport efficiency, which further hinders the effective delivery of PDs. The apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) presents a promising target for enhancing the oral delivery of PDs.

Cell cycle proteins: Linking the cell cycle to tumors.

The cell cycle is a tightly coupled series of events that enable cells to grow and proliferate. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play crucial roles in the cell cycle by enabling cells to transition between different phases when they are activated. Cell cycle proteins enhance the activity of CDKs, while natural CDK inhibitors (CDKIs) suppress them.

On-call Mito-Firefighter: Dual-activated nanoparticles based on carboxymethyl chitosan/β-cyclodextrin to achieve mitochondria targeting and destruction/PTT/PDT cascade anticancer treatment.

Indocyanine green (ICG) demonstrates both photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) capabilities but faces challenges including rapid blood clearance, insufficient ROS production, and molecular chaperone-induced thermotolerance. However, highly efficient synchronous targeting delivery of photosensitizer and sensitizer to cancer cells remains a giant challenge due to their significantly different physicochemical properties. To address these limitations, we developed a dual-responsive nano-platform, TCS-βCD@CLRP/PEI-SS@ICG-NPs (I&C-NPs), designed for ICG and chloramphenicol (CLRP) co-delivery and cascade synergetic anti-tumor effect through mitochondrial destruction/photothermal therapy/photodynamic therapy (Mito destruction/PTT/PDT).

The self-assembled cabazitaxel-carboxymethylcellulose-mPEG polymer micelles for efficient antitumor activity and low systemic toxicity.

Cabazitaxel (CTX) has emerged as a significant chemotherapeutic drug. However, its poor hydrophilicity and adverse side effects limit its clinical application. In this study, we propose the preparation of self-assembled cabazitaxel-carboxymethylcellulose-mPEG polymer micelles (CTX-CMC-mPEG micelles).

Thermosensitive microemulsion gel incorporating nano-ZnO and black soybean tar improves treatment adherence and alleviates psoriasis-like skin disease.

Tar has been used as a natural product in the treatment of psoriasis for thousands of years and has achieved good clinical therapeutic effects. This study aimed to develop black soybean tar (BST)-zinc oxide (ZnO) composite thermosensitive microemulsion gels (BST-ZnO-MBGs) to improve the properties of BST, increase patient compliance, and enhance drug treatment effects. BST-ZnO20/500/3000-MBGs containing different sizes of ZnO were prepared by high pressure homogenization technology, and the rheology, zinc ion release and transdermal mechanism of the gels were studied.

Covalent Elaboration of Confined Surfaces Steers C─C Coupling Pathway for Selective Electrochemical CO Reduction at Ampere-Level.

Microenvironmental engineering of electrocatalysts is pivotal for directing reaction pathways and stabilizing key intermediates in CO reduction reaction (CORR) to multicarbon products, but it has yet to meet the industrial requirement for selectively producing a most desired product, such as ethylene or ethanol, at a steady above-ampere current level. Herein, a topotactic conversion cum covalent functionalization strategy is invoked to craft a catalyst with confined and modulated surfaces that can bias the reaction heavily for ethylene production with a 22-fold boost in the ethylene/ethanol ratio. The well-tuned covalent structural motif of ─Si─O─Cu─ on PDMS-CuO/C dramatically elevates the CH-forming activity with a faradaic efficiency reaching up to 71% and a high partial current density of 513.

Integrity of polymeric micelles regulates bioavailability of cyclosporine A: A FRET-based analysis during oral delivery.

This study comprehensively investigated the effect of structural integrity on the oral delivery efficacy of mPEG-b-PCL polymeric micelles (PMs) using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology. During mucus penetration, the integrity loss of PMs resulted from the "hydration effect" of mucins and the "solubilization effect" of bile salts. Increasing surface PEG density or decreasing particle size <50 nm resisted the "hydration effect", while shortening PCL chain or increasing aggregation number alleviated the "solubilization effect".

Unveiling the protective role of ESM1 in endothelial cell proliferation and lipid reprogramming.

Palmitic acid (PA), being the most prevalent free fatty acid in the human, holds significant implications as a risk factor for atherosclerosis (AS) due to its ability to induce physiological dysfunction in endothelial cells (ECs). Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1), has been identified as a marker for activated ECs. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying ESM1-induced endothelial cell proliferation remain elusive.

Lactic acid metabolism: gynecological cancer's Achilles' heel.

Lactic acid is significantly expressed in many cancers, including gynecological cancer, and has become a key regulator of the proliferation, development, metastasis and invasion of these cancers. In clinical and experimental studies, the level of lactic acid in gynecological cancer is closely related to metastasis and invasion, tumor recurrence and poor prognosis. Lactic acid can regulate the internal metabolic pathway of gynecological cancer cells and drive the autonomous role of non-cancer cells in gynecological cancer.

Decoding tumor angiogenesis: pathways, mechanisms, and future directions in anti-cancer strategies.

Angiogenesis, a crucial process in tumor growth and metastasis, necessitates targeted therapeutic intervention. This review reviews the latest knowledge of anti-angiogenesis targets in tumors, with emphasis on the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that regulate this process. We emphasize the tumor microenvironment's role in angiogenesis, examine endothelial cell metabolic changes, and evaluated potential therapeutic strategies targeting the tumor vascular system.

Linoleic acid co-administration promotes oral delivery of exenatide-loaded butyrate-decorated nanocapsules.

Epithelial cell entrance and trans-epithelial transport are two essential processes that directly affect the efficacy of oral delivery of nanocarriers. Herein, a hydroxyethyl starch-based nanocapsule dual decorated with butyrate and octadecylamine (ODA) was first constructed to enhance transporter-mediated endocytosis and trans-epithelial transport, while reducing exenatide (EXT) loss during absorption. The epithelial barrier was then treated with linoleic acid (LA), which functioned as a cell membrane fluidity regulator.

IGF2BP3/ESM1/KLF10/BECN1 positive feedback loop: a novel therapeutic target in ovarian cancer via lipid metabolism reprogramming.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is often detected at an advanced stage and has a high recurrence rate after surgery or chemotherapy. Thus, it is essential to develop new strategies for OC treatment. This study tended to investigate the effects of endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) in OC.

Neuroregulatory and clinical efficacy of auricular vagus nerve stimulation in elderly patients with chronic insomnia comorbid with functional dyspepsia: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: This study innovatively employs transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), a non-invasive physical therapy, to intervene in elderly patients with chronic insomnia (CI) comorbid with functional dyspepsia (FD). Through systematic investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying vagus nerve pathway regulation in ameliorating intestinal inflammatory microenvironment and modulating central neurotransmitter homeostasis, this research aims to provide a novel, neuromodulation-based precision therapeutic approach characterized by favorable safety and tolerability for integrated management of geriatric comorbidities.

Methods/design: This double-blind randomized controlled trial will enroll 60 elderly patients (60-85 years) meeting ICSD-3 criteria for CI and Rome IV criteria for FD.

Precision-targeted explosion of biomimetic nanoparticles for the effective treatment of uveal melanoma.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most prevalent primary intraocular malignancy in adults, originating from the melanocytes within the uvea. Currently, the treatment of ocular tumors predominantly relies on conventional approaches such as brachytherapy and enucleation. Despite the limited pharmaceutical treatment options for uveal melanoma (UM), the effectiveness of ocular drug delivery is hindered by the ocular barrier to local drug administration and the complex tumor microenvironment (TME).

Baicalein nanoemulsion in situ GEL for dry age-related macular degeneration.

Effective management of posterior ocular segment disorders necessitates sustained retinal drug delivery and rational therapeutic selection. Despite significant advances, developing drug delivery systems that simultaneously achieve deep tissue penetration and prolonged ocular surface retention remains challenging. To bridge this gap, we engineered a borneol- decorated baicalein nanoemulsion in-situ gel (Bor/Bai-N@GEL) ophthalmic formulation for dry age-related macular degeneration (d-AMD).

Effects of Xiangshao granules on clinical symptoms and serum hormone levels of menopausal syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiangshao granules in improving clinical symptoms and regulating serum hormone levels in patients with menopausal syndrome (MPS).

Methods: This study was developed according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eight databases including PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, CBM, Wanfang Database, and VIP database were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Xiangshao Granules in the treatment of MPS.

ESM1 suppresses LncRNA GAS5/miR-23a-3p/PTEN axis to promote the cisplatin-chemotherapy resistance of ovarian cancer cells via activating the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Background: Cisplatin chemotherapy is an important treatment for advanced ovarian cancer (OC). However, the development of cisplatin resistance greatly limits the survival time of OC patients. Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) has been found to be an important proto-oncogene promoting OC, but its mediating OC cisplatin resistance remains unknown.