Implantable and injectable drug delivery systems for pain management.

Introduction: Pain is a widespread global health issue, significantly affecting quality of life and contributing to disability. It is estimated that between 20% and 30% of the global population suffer from some form of non-cancer chronic pain. Around 80% of surgical patients report postoperative acute pain, with less than 50% achieving adequate pain control.

Insect Peroxiredoxins: A Comprehensive Review of Their Classification, Distribution, Structural Features, Expression Profiles and Physiological Functions.

With the development of technology, an increasing amount of literature regarding the expression profiles and physiological functions of Prxs has been published. Despite this growing interest, there is currently no systematic review of expression profiles in different insects. Here, we performed a systematic review of the available literature on the location and expression of Prxs in different tissues, developmental stages and sexes in insects.

Clinicopathological and molecular significance of HER2-low expression in Asian women with triple-negative breast cancer.

Background: Heterogeneity of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression exists in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The evolution of the HER2 testing algorithm has led to the new classification of the HER2-low category, with unclear clinicopathological and molecular features in Asian women with HER2-low TNBC.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of HER2-low TNBC in Asian women.

Polarization-insensitive 90° optical hybrid on the thin-film lithium niobate platform.

We propose a simple polarization-insensitive 90° optical hybrid on the thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) platform. The design comprises one 1 × 2 multimode interference (MMI) coupler, three 2 × 2 MMI couplers, and crossing waveguides, effectively reducing the excitation of higher-order modes. By optimizing the length of the 2 × 2 MMI to balance the beat length difference between transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes, polarization-insensitive transmission across the entire C-band was achieved.

Molecular mechanism of pH sensing and activation in GPR4 reveals proton-mediated GPCR signaling.

Maintaining pH homeostasis is critical for cellular function across all living organisms. Proton-sensing G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), particularly GPR4, play a pivotal role in cellular responses to pH changes. Yet, the molecular mechanisms underlying their proton sensing and activation remain incompletely understood.

Low-Frequency Ultrasound Assisted in Improvement in Cell Development and Production of Parasporal Crystals from HD1.

is widely utilized as a microbial insecticide due to its production of parasporal crystals during the spore-forming stage. However, lower fermentation efficiency coupled with elevated production costs limit its broad application. Low-frequency ultrasound (LFU) has been employed in the fermentation industry to enhance microbial growth and metabolism.

Recent Advances in Physicochemical Control and Potential Green Ecologic Strategies Related to the Management of Mold in Stored Grains.

Grain serves as an essential cornerstone for sustaining life and social stability. However, during storage grain is often invaded by mold, which leads to mildew issues. This problem diminishes nutrient content and food quality and raises safety concerns, including toxin production, which can cause serious economic losses and catastrophic market stability and national food security conditions.

Soybean Sprout Peptides Alleviate Obesity via PI3K-Akt and JAK-STAT Pathway Modulation, Gut Microbiota Regulation, and Metabolic Reprogramming.

Obesity is a growing global health concern associated with severe metabolic disorders, necessitating the development of safer and more effective therapeutic strategies. Soybean sprout peptides (SSPs), derived from germinated soybeans, are bioactive compounds with potential antiobesity effects. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of SSPs through an integrated approach combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo experiments.

Correction: Lu et al. Host Volatiles Potentially Drive Two Evolutionarily Related Weevils to Select Different Grains. 2024, , 300.

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Scalable and shapable nacre-like ceramic-metal composites based on deformable microspheres.

Natural nacre that consists of brittle minerals and weak organics exhibits a high fracture toughness while retaining a high strength. The exceptional mechanical performance of nacre is attributed to its hierarchical structure like a 'brick-and-mortar' structure, which has inspired the development of tough ceramic-based composites. However, the practical applications of biomimetic structural ceramics are hindered by limited material size, fabrication efficiency and flexibility of being molded into various shapes.

Short-clustered maltodextrin mediates stabilization of gluten proteins during frozen storage compared to trehalose and guar gum.

To investigate impacts of short-clustered maltodextrin (SCMD), trehalose (TH), and guar gum (GUAR) on mediating stabilizations of gluten proteins against cold denaturation, we focused on conformational transformations of gluten protein during frozen storage and its molecular mechanism. Firstly, we found SCMD markedly improved hydration features and decreased the surface hydrophilicity of gluten proteins, with the integrity and continuity of gluten network improving after 8-week frozen storage, compared to TH and GUAR. Furthermore, SCMD and TH addition hindered the conversion of α-helix to disordered β-fold and β-turn, while GUAR did not.

Smartphone administered pulsed radio frequency energy therapy for expedited cutaneous wound healing.

Pulsed radio frequency energy (PRFE) therapy is a non-invasive, electromagnetic field-based treatment modality successfully used in clinical applications. However, conventional PRFE devices are often bulky, expensive, and require extended treatment durations, limiting patient adherence and efficacy. Here, we present a lightweight, cost-effective wearable PRFE system consisting of a flexible electronic bandage and a smartphone.

Reversing NK cell exhaustion: a novel strategy combining immune checkpoint blockade with drug sensitivity enhancement in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common lethal cancers worldwide. Natural killer cells (NK cells) play a key role in liver immunosurveillance, but in the tumor microenvironment, NK cells are readily depleted, as evidenced by down-regulation of activating receptors, reduced cytokine secretion, and attenuated killing function. The up-regulation of inhibitory receptors, such as PD-1, TIM-3, and LAG-3, further exacerbates the depletion of NK cells.

Volatiles of the Predator Recognized by Its Prey (Herbst) and (Linne) as Escape Signals.

The olfactory sensory system plays vital roles in daily activities, such as locating mate partners, foraging, and risk avoidance. Natural enemies can locate their prey through characteristic volatiles. However, little is known about whether prey can recognize the volatiles of their predators and if this recognition can increase the efficiency of prey escaping from predators.

HER2-low status improves prognosis prediction in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment: A comparison of pathological stage, modified CPS+EG scoring system, and Neo-Bioscore.

Objective: To explore the prognosis-predictive influence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low status in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT).

Methods: Consecutive patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent NAT and surgery from January 2009 to December 2020 at multiple centers were included. A modified CPS+EG scoring system that integrates HER2-low status, CPS+EGH was developed.

The effect of a 2-month abacus training on students with developmental dyscalculia.

Developmental dyscalculia (DD) is a specific mathematics learning disorder, characterized by the atypical development of number sense, arithmetic calculation, and atypical development of brain structures and brain activations in core brain regions for number processing. The current study examined the intervention effect of a 2-month abacus training on DD students. Results showed that compared with the non-trained control group, the DD students with abacus training showed higher scores in number sense, calculation, and sustained attention abilities.

Mitigating the Effects of Starch Derivatives on Cold Denaturation of Gluten Protein: Insights from Hydration Capacity and Conformation Behavior.

Mitigating the cold denaturation of gluten protein during frozen storage is crucial for the quality improvement of frozen cereal products. Our previous study observed that starch derivatives, especially short-clustered maltodextrin (SCMD), could significantly improve frozen dough quality, alleviating the deterioration of gluten-network structure. To further reveal the cryoprotection mechanism of SCMD on gluten protein during frozen storage, the modulatory roles of SCMD in the hydration capacity and conformation behavior of gluten protein were explored, in comparison with DE2 maltodextrin (MD) and pregelatinized starch (PGS).

Bimetallic peroxide nanoparticles induce PANoptosis by disrupting ion homeostasis for enhanced immunotherapy.

PANoptosis has recently emerged as a potential approach to improve the immune microenvironment. However, current methods for inducing PANoptosis are limited. Herein, through biological screening, the rational use of the nutrient metal ions Cu and Zn had great potential to induce PANoptosis.

Zinc-Nickel Bimetallic Hydroxide Nanosheets Activate the Paraptosis-Pyroptosis Positive Feedback Cycle for Enhanced Tumor Immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy holds significant promise for cancer treatment. However, the highly immunosuppressive nature of solid tumors limits its effectiveness. Herein, we developed bioactive zinc-nickel hydroxide (ZnNi(OH)) nanosheets (NSs) that can effectively initiate the paraptosis-pyroptosis positive feedback cycle through synergistic ionic effect, thereby mitigating the immunosuppression of solid tumors and enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Morphological and functional characterization of circulating hemocytes in Tribolium castaneum larvae.

Hemocytes are pivotal in the immune response of insects against invasive pathogens. However, our knowledge of hemocyte types and their specific function in Tribolium castaneum, an increasingly important Coleoptera model insect in various research fields, remains limited. Presently, a combination of morphological criteria and dye-staining properties were used to characterize hemocyte types from T.

Identification of novel drug targets for osteoarthritis by integrating genetics and proteomes from blood.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative osteoarticular disease, involving genetic predisposition. How the risk variants confer the risk of OA through their effects on proteins remains largely unknown. Therefore, we aimed to discover new and effective drug targets for OA and its subtypes.

Comprehensive Analysis of Allulose Production: A Review and Update.

Advancements in D-allulose production have seen significant strides in recent years, focusing on enzymatic conversion methods. Key developments include traditional immobilization techniques, the discovery of novel enzymes, directed evolution studies, and biosynthesis through metabolic pathway modification. Enzymatic conversion, particularly utilizing D-allulose 3-epimerase, remains fundamental for industrial-scale production.