Single-cell transcriptomic atlas of human retina from Chinese donors reveals population-specific cellular diversity.

The human retina exhibits complex cellular heterogeneity which is critical for visual function, yet comprehensive ethnic-specific references are scarce in ophthalmic transcriptomics. The lack of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from Asian populations particularly Chinese donors imposes significant limitations in understanding population-specific retinal biology. We constructed the first comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the human retina from Chinese donors, generated through high-throughput scRNA-seq of ∼290,000 viable cells obtained from 18 fresh retinal specimens (living donor and post-mortem specimens).

Thermochromic Hydrogel Smart Window for Iron-Chromium Flow Batteries: Dual Band Modulation and Efficient Energy Storage.

This study introduces the HydroTherm-Flow Smart Window (HTF Window), the first groundbreaking integration of thermochromic windows and Fe-Cr redox flow batteries (Fe-Cr RFBs), achieving dual functionalities of dynamic solar modulation-via dual-band (visible + near-infrared, NIR) modulation-and high-efficiency energy storage in a single component. Leveraging tunable hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) hydrogels, it enables ultrafast optical switching and autonomous nighttime opacity, overcoming the slow response and privacy limitations of conventional thermochromic systems. By repurposing the window as a compact electrolyte reservoir, it reduces the RFB spatial footprint while enhancing ionic conductivity by 30% via hydrogel "ion highways," achieving 77% energy efficiency with a 40% reduction in the solar heat gain coefficient.

The interaction between nitrogen source and light intensity affects the biomass and phenotypic plasticity of Scenedesmus obliquus.

As critical environmental factors, nitrogen and light not only regulate phytoplankton growth but also influence their phenotypic plasticity. Scenedesmus obliquus, an alga which is famous for its remarkable phenotypic plasticity, was studied to understand its response to varying combinations of nitrogen source and light intensity. It was cultured in media containing different nitrogen sources (NaNO, NHCl, CO(NH)) under a range of light intensities (25, 50, 75, 100, 150 µmol photons m s).

Delactylation of H3K9 by Sirtuin6 inhibits MGMT transcription and reverses temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) stands as one of the most formidable and deadly brain cancers, with temozolomide (TMZ) established as the primary chemotherapeutic agent. However, over 50 % of patients showed innate or acquired resistance. Sirtuins, a family of NAD-dependent deacetylases, have gained recognition as key regulators in shaping epigenetic landscapes and influencing chemoresistance across various cancers, yet their specific contribution to TMZ resistance in GBM has remained largely unexplored.

Deep Learning-Based Multimodal Prediction of NAC Response in LARC by Integrating MRI and Proteomics.

Purpose: Locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) exhibits significant heterogeneity in response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), with poor responders facing delayed treatment and unnecessary toxicity. Although MRI provides spatial pathophysiological information and proteomics reveals molecular mechanisms, current single-modal approaches cannot integrate these complementary perspectives, resulting in limited predictive accuracy and biological insight.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study developed a multimodal deep learning framework using a cohort of 274 LARC patients treated with NAC (2012-2021).

Real-World Analysis of Potential Drug-Drug Interactions with Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Based on the Hospital Prescription Analysis (HPA) Database in 9 Cities of China.

Purpose: To determine the real-world patterns and extent of potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) related to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMVr) in China.

Patients And Methods: Data on NMVr-treated patients from over 160 hospitals across 9 Chinese cities from January 2022 to December 2023 were extracted from the Hospital Prescription Analysis (HPA) database, which was established in Beijing in 1997 to promote rational medication use in China. Grade C, D and X DDIs from the Lexicomp database were defined as clinically significant and analyzed in this study.

Mapping the arterial vascular network in an intact human kidney using hierarchical phase-contrast tomography.

The architecture of kidney vasculature is essential the organ's specialised functions, yet is challenging to structurally map in an intact human organ. Here, we combined hierarchical phase-contrast tomography (HiP-CT) with topology network analysis to enable quantitative assessment of the intact human kidney vasculature, from the renal artery to interlobular arteries. Comparison with kidney vascular maps described for rodents revealed similar topologies to human, but human kidney vasculature possessed a significantly sharper decrease in radius from hilum to cortex, deviating from theoretically optimal flow resistance for smaller vessels.

Ischemic Stroke as a Rare Manifestation of Neurobrucellosis: A Case Report.

Background: This article presents a case report of a patient with neurobrucellosis (NB) complicated by ischemic stroke (IS).

Case Presentation: A male presented with new-onset left-sided limb weakness lasting three days, along with a 15-month history of intermittent fever and progressive right-sided limb weakness over eight months. A cranial MRI revealed an acute infarction in the left cerebellar vermis.

Progressive structural alterations in the cerebral small vessel disease with cognitive impairment and vascular dementia.

BackgroundThe progression of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) leads to cognitive decline, which can be categorized into subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment (svMCI) and vascular dementia (VaD).ObjectiveThis research aimed to examine the structural changes in gray (GM) and white matter (WM) in the brain across the disease spectrum.MethodsA total of 30 healthy controls (HC), 26 individuals with svMCI, and 29 individuals with VaD were included in study.

Succinic Acid-Induced Macrophage Endocytosis Promotes Extracellular Vesicle-Based Integrin Beta1 Transfer Accelerating Fibroblast Activation and Sepsis-Associated Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Sepsis-associated pulmonary fibrosis (SAPF) is a life-threatening condition driven by persistent fibroblast activation and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. While metabolic reprogramming, profibrotic extracellular vesicles (EVs), and integrin activation are implicated in pulmonary fibrosis, their interplay remains unclear. This study reveals that succinic acid, a product of glycometabolic reprogramming, promotes macrophage-mediated endocytosis, driving the release of profibrotic EVs.

Emergency one-stage endoscopic treatment in the older adults with acute cholangitis with choledocholithiasis: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Purpose: Current opinions on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) safety in older patients are contentious. This study aimed to assess emergency one-stage endoscopic treatment for choledocholithiasis-related cholangitis in older adults.

Methods: Patients with choledocholithiasis related cholangitis from January 2019 to July 2023 were recruited.

Molecular design of sensitizers for high-efficiency OLEDs: exploration of energy transfer dynamics.

As a class of functional materials used in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), sensitizers play a crucial role in the improvement of device efficiency, color purity, and stability. In recent years, thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) sensitizers have attracted much attention mainly because of their high exciton utilization efficiency by converting quenched triplet excitons into singlet excitons. Despite the experimental success of sensitization strategies in enhancing OLED performance, the lack of theoretical models for sensitizers continues to hinder further development.

Intratumoral Microbiome-related MRI Model for Predicting Breast Cancer Shrinkage Pattern Following Neoadjuvant Therapy.

Background Patients with breast cancer exhibit different tumor shrinkage patterns (TSPs) after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT), making accurate TSP prediction essential for breast-conserving surgery planning. The intratumoral microbiome influences treatment response, and related imaging features may improve TSP prediction. Purpose To develop an intratumoral microbiome-related MRI model that accurately predicts TSP following NAT.

Coordination-driven immobilization of his-tagged superoxide dismutase fusion protein on UIO-66-NH for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production.

Efficiently enhancing hydrogen peroxide (HO) production via photocatalysis remains challenging. This study employed genetic engineering to express His-tagged superoxide dismutase (His-SOD), which was selectively anchored onto the coordinatively unsaturated metal sites of etched UIO-66-NH₂ (UIO-66-NH) through coordination-driven assembly. The synergistic effect between His-SOD and UIO-66-NH significantly enhanced both the stability and substrate affinity of the enzyme, while simultaneously boosting the photocatalytic activity of the MOF.

How microplastics influence the health and microbiota of aquatic invertebrates: A review.

Concern about microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems, and their hazardous effects on aquatic organisms and microbiota in particular, is growing globally. Previous reviews focused on the impact of MPs on biological responses and microbial alterations in fish. The impacts of MPs on other aquatic organisms (mainly invertebrates) remain poorly understood.

Engineering silica-stabilized Pickering emulsions as versatile protein carriers.

Oil-in-water (o/w) Pickering emulsions (PEs), featuring multi-leveled structures and particle-assembled interfaces, have emerged as promising platforms for biomedical applications, due to their superior stability and biocompatibility compared to conventional surfactant-stabilized emulsions. In this study, silica nanoparticles (SNPs) with tunable sizes, surface charges, and morphologies were synthesized and utilized as stabilizers for o/w PEs. Bovine serum albumin and varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E were selected as model proteins to evaluate the feasibility of SNP-stabilized PEs as protein carriers.

Granzyme B activated near-infrared-II ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe for early detection of tumor response to immunotherapy.

Non-invasive optical imaging tools for early detecting anti-tumor immune responses are crucial for precision cancer immunotherapy. However, current probes often suffer from low imaging depth, single imaging channel, and inadequate quantification, hindering their in vivo applications. Here we develop a rare-earth-based NIR-II fluorescence ratiometric nanoprobe (DCGA) for in vivo real-time, precise, and non-invasive visualization of granzyme B (GzmB) activity, a key effector in T cell-mediated antitumor immunity, for early prediction of immunotherapy efficacy.

Cell-Active, Irreversible Covalent Inhibitors Targeting a Surface-Exposed Non-Catalytic Lysine on Aurora a Kinase by Using Squarate Chemistry.

Targeting surface-exposed lysines in kinases through covalent modification presents a major challenge due to their high pK and inherently low reactivity. While current research primarily targets more reactive catalytic lysines buried in the ATP-binding pocket, no systematic rational strategy has yet been developed for selectively engaging surface-exposed lysines. Herein, we present a versatile strategy for developing cell-active covalent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) by selectively targeting unique surface-exposed lysines using squarate chemistry.

Research on the driving factors of fish community structure and phylogenetic diversity in the Three Gorges Dam based on environmental DNA.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) technology enables rapid species identification through high-throughput sequencing, providing a critical technical tool for studies on regional biodiversity and species evolution. This study utilized eDNA technology, combined with taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity α and β diversity indices, to characterize fish community traits in the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) and investigate the influence of environmental factors on fish diversity. The results showed that eDNA detected a total of 87 fish species, with Cyprinidae (47 %) and Bagridae (12 %) being the dominant groups, among which 66 species (75.

Urinary 3-methylhistidine as a potential biomarker for sepsis-associated acute kidney injury: multidimensional metabolomics analysis in mice and human.

Background: Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is strongly associated with increased mortality in critical patients. The early detection of SA-AKI is crucial for clinical intervention. This study aims to integrate multiple metabolomics data related to SA-AKI to identify and validate novel metabolic markers.

Physician Practice Affiliation Drives Site of Care Cost Differentials: An Opportunity to Reduce Healthcare Expenditures.

The continued migration of physicians from independent practice to affiliation with larger entities has garnered significant scrutiny. These affiliation models include hospitals and health systems, payers and corporate entities, and management services organizations, which may or may not be private equity (PE)-backed. Data on the impact of different physician affiliation models on cost of care is limited.

In Situ Polymerized Organic Salt Interlayer for Enhanced Performance in Printable Mesoscopic Perovskite Solar Cells.

Achieving high efficiency in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) requires a stable and robust buried interface. In this work, a durable buffer layer at the buried interface of printable mesoscopic PSCs (p-MPSCs) is introduced by modifying the mesoporous TiO electron transport layer with sodium thioctate (ST), a self-polymerizing organic salt. Under relatively mild conditions, ST undergoes in situ polymerization on the inner surface of TiO, forming a cross-linked poly(ST) interfacial buffer layer at the junction with the perovskite.

Preoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with intra-lymph node methylene blue injection for sentinel lymph node identification: a minimally invasive sentinel lymph node biopsy tracing approach.

Objectives: To investigate the significance of preoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) coupled with injections of methylene blue (MB) into the lymph nodes, alongside intracutaneous injections of indocyanine green (ICG) for sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification in early breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: All patients from a single institution were prospectively randomized into two groups: CEUS Group (preoperative SLN-CEUS coupled with injections of MB into the lymph nodes, with ICG intracutaneous injections for SLN identification during surgery) and Blue Staining Group (intracutaneous injections of both ICG and MB for SLN mapping during surgery). Pathological results served as the gold standard.

Serum LACC1 level is a predictor of response to upadacitinib treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective observational cohort study.

Objective: This study investigates the predictive capacity of LACC1 regarding the response to upadacitinib (UPA) in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The study involved sixty adult patients with active RA who either did not respond well to or could not tolerate methotrexate. The regimen involved UPA monotherapy at 15 mg/day, while maintaining a fixed dose of glucocorticoids was acceptable.

SOX15 Transcriptionally Decreases the Level of MMP2 and Inhibits Vasculogenic Mimicry to Slow Down the Progression of Ovarian Cancer.

Background Information: Vascular mimicry (VM) is pivotal for promoting tumor cell proliferation and invasion in ovarian (OV) cancer patients. Sex-determining region Y-box 15 (SOX15) suppresses the malignant growth of tumor cells. However, the function of SOX15 in OV cancer remains undefined.