Biodegradable Zn-0.8Mg-0.2Sr alloy as an internal fixation material exhibits controlled degradation with enhanced osteogenesis.

Zinc (Zn) and its alloys are promising candidates for biodegradable metals in medical applications. However, their clinical use in internal fixation is hindered by low mechanical strength, uncontrolled corrosion, and insufficient bioactivity. To address these issues, we developed an extruded Zn-0.

Long-term outcomes of indeterminate focal hepatic observations less than 20 mm followed up with gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI).

Background: Indeterminate hepatic observations classified as Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category 3 (LR-3) exhibit uncertain malignant potential and pose a diagnostic challenge during hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance. Although most LR-3 observations remain stable, recent studies have reported variable progression rates to HCC. The purpose of the present study was to investigate and assess the clinical outcomes and progression-associated factors of LR-3 observations less than 20 mm in high-risk patients, on follow-up with serial gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-MRI).

The impact of systemic inflammation index on prolonged mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery: a retrospective study.

Background: Despite advancements in surgical techniques and intensive care management, the incidence of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) following cardiac surgery remains a significant concern.

Objectives: Investigate the relationship between the Systemic Inflammation Index (SII) and the occurrence of PMV, as well as the medium-term prognostic outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at Nanjing First Hospital, including data from adult patients who underwent CPB for cardiac surgery between January 2020 and December 2020.

Salix×jiangsuensis 'J172' enhanced lead tolerance under flooding stress by regulating the rhizosphere bacterial assembly and functions.

Lead (Pb) contamination threaten soil ecosystems, and the increased risk of flooding due to climate change may influence soil functions and metal bioavailability. However, the response of rhizosphere soil microbial communities to these combined stresses remains unclear. Here, fast-growing willow (Salix × jiangsuensis 'J172') was planted in soils with Pb contamination (control, 400 and 800 mg · kg) under non-flooded (NF) and flooded (IF: intermittent flooding and CF: continuous flooding) conditions for 60 d.

The antitumor effects and apoptotic mechanism of 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol in acute myeloid leukemia.

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer is a well-known herb in traditional Chinese medicine, with ginsenosides being its primary bioactive components. Among these, 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (20(S)-PPD) has demonstrated anti-tumor effects in various cancers. However, its role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unclear.

The bone thickness of the midpalatal suture in adults with different sagittal facial patterns: An exploratory study using cone-beam computed tomography images.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate the bone thickness of the midpalatal suture (BTMS) in adults with different sagittal facial patterns using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and explore potentially relevant factors that may affect BTMS.

Methods: CBCT images from 260 adult subjects with normodivergent facial patterns were divided into 3 groups (skeletal Class Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ). BTMS, maxillary base width, ANS-PNS length, and the angle between the palatal plane and the incisive foramen-PNS connection (PP-IP angle) were measured and analyzed from the pretreatment CBCT.

Vitamin C in Cardiovascular Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Evidence and Therapeutic Applications.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient that humans cannot synthesize, making its intake crucial for health. Discovered nearly a century ago, vitamin C is widely recognized for its ability to prevent scurvy and has become one of the most commonly used supplements. Beyond its antioxidant activity, vitamin C is pivotal in regulating lipid metabolism, promoting angiogenesis, enhancing collagen synthesis, modulating remodeling, and stabilizing the extracellular matrix.

Comparison of oscillatory activity in substantia nigra pars reticulata between Parkinson's disease and dystonia.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with disrupted neural activity in the substantia nigra, but its electrophysiological changes remain underexplored. This study investigates the oscillatory patterns of substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) in PD, compared to dystonia (DT). Intraoperative recordings of the SNr were obtained from 20 PD and 16 DT patients during DBS surgery.

UAV Onboard STAR-RIS Service Enhancement Mechanism Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning.

UAVs and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) have emerged as promising solutions to enhance communication coverage and performance. However, existing studies primarily focus on optimizing the amplitude and phase shift of a STAR-RIS without considering the impact of varying UAV hovering angles on signal reflection and transmission. In this paper, we propose a novel STAR-RIS-assisted UAV service enhancement mechanism that dynamically adjusts reflection/transmission regions based on the real-time user distribution, significantly improving the channel quality for both edge and occluded users.

Superhigh Magnetostriction in Non-Equilibrium Grown Fe-Ga Single-Crystals by Rapid-Directional-Solidification.

The non-equilibrium microstructure characterized by Tb supersaturation within Fe-Ga single-crystals is deduced to induce a substantial enhancement in magnetostriction. However, the growth of the non-equilibrium single-crystal remains a formidable obstacle, as existing methods can only produce either non-equilibrium polycrystal or near-equilibrium single-crystal, leading to the stagnation in magnetostriction. Herein, a rapid-directional-solidification (RDS) strategy is devised to grow non-equilibrium single-crystals.

Reconstruction of the ancient cyanobacterial proto-circadian clock system KaiABC.

Earlier in its history, the Earth used to spin faster than it does today. How ancient organisms adapted to the short day/night cycles during that time remains unclear. In this study we reconstruct and analyse the ancient circadian clock system KaiABC (anKaiABC) of cyanobacteria that existed ~0.

A novel scoring model for predicting prolonged mechanical ventilation in cardiac surgery patients: development and validation.

Objective: Prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) is a significant postoperative complication in cardiac surgery, associated with increased mortality and healthcare costs. This study aims to develop and validate a novel scoring model to predict the risk of PMV in cardiac surgery patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from 14 comprehensive hospitals in Jiangsu Province, including adult patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve surgery, and aortic surgery from January 2021 to December 2022.

New Insights into the Reductive Destruction of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Hydrated Electron-Based Systems.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) make up a class of highly toxic and persistent chemicals that have been widely detected in different environmental matrices. Recently, various hydrated electron-based techniques have been developed to destroy these compounds. However, the molecular mechanisms controlled by different hydrated electron photosensitizers are still unclear.

The effects of restorative material and connector cross-section area on the stress distribution of fixed partial denture: a finite element analysis.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of restorative materials and connector cross-section areas (CSAs) on the stress distribution of monolithic fixed partial dentures (FPDs).

Methods: FPDs, abutment teeth, periodontal ligament (PDL), and alveolar bone were modeled by computer-aided design. Four materials with varied elastic modulus (3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals [Zr], lithium disilicate [LD], polymer-infiltrated ceramic network [PICN], and resin composite [RC]) and five CSA of connectors (4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 mm) were set as FPD variables for finite element analysis (FEA).

Abnormal neuronal activity in the subthalamic nucleus contributes to dysarthria in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: This study investigated the subthalamic nucleus (STN) function and deep brain stimulation (DBS) effects on single-unit activity (SUA) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with dysarthria.

Methods: After presurgical speech analysis, we recorded STN neuronal activities while PD patients (n = 16) articulated Chinese Pinyin consonants. The Pinyin consonants were categorized by the manner and place of articulation for SUA cluster analysis.

Soil nutrient limitation controls trophic cascade effects of micro-food web-derived ecological functions in degraded agroecosystems.

Introduction: Soil nutrient supply drives the ecological functions of soil micro-food webs through bottom-up and top-down mechanisms in degraded agroecosystems. Nutrient limitation responds sensitively to variations in degraded agroecosystems through restoration practices, such as legume intercropping.

Objectives: This study examined the effects of legume intercropping on trophic cascade dynamics through resource supply in degraded purple soil ecosystems.

Midseason drying increases soil dissolved organic carbon and rice yield via soil cbbL bacteria.

An understanding of how irrigation regimes affect autotrophic microorganisms is essential, as this has direct implications for the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, rice yield and the sustainable agricultural practices. Here, the effects of three irrigation regimes on autotrophic microorganisms, soil active organic carbon fractions, and rice yield were explored. The irrigation regimes were: 1) rainfed (RF), 2) midseason drying (MD), and 3) continuous flooding (CF).

Helicobacter pylori Infection Is Not Associated with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Two-Year Cohort Study.

Introduction: Previous studies reported inconsistent results of the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: A cohort study of 2,063 adults without NAFLD at baseline, who participated in a repeated health checkup including a 13C-urea breath test and abdominal ultrasonography, was conducted to evaluate the link between H. pylori infection and NAFLD development.

Response of bacterial and fungal composition in tailings to Mn pollution.

Microorganisms are crucial for natural remediation of heavy metal pollution in mining areas. The regional survey and process analysis of Mn mine microbes is still limited. We investigated microbial species composition in tailings and adjacent soils of seven typical Mn mining areas in wet mid-subtropical China.

Biomechanical behaviour of tilted abutment after fixed partial denture restoration of CAD/CAM materials.

Background: Failure to restore missing teeth in time can easily lead to the mesial tilting of the distal abutment teeth. However, a fixed partial denture (FPD) can improve stress conduction and distribution and prevent periodontal injuries. In these more complex cases, it is necessary to consider various factors comprehensively to improve conventional treatment planning and achieve better results.

Inflammation unleashed: The role of pyroptosis in chronic liver diseases.

Pyroptosis, a newly identified form of programmed cell death intertwined with inflammatory responses, is facilitated by the Gasdermin family's pore-forming activity, leading to cell lysis and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This process is a double-edged sword in innate immunity, offering protection against pathogens while risking excessive inflammation and tissue damage when dysregulated. Specifically, pyroptosis operates through two distinct signaling pathways, namely the Caspase-1 pathway and the Caspase-4/5/11 pathway.