Ovatodiolide: Recent Advances in Pharmacological Activities and Mechanisms.

Ovatodiolide, a macrocyclic diterpenoid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Anisomeles indica, exhibits diverse pharmacological activities in recent research. Its antitumor effects involve modulation of key signaling pathways (e.g.

Association of increased serum I-309 with renal function impairment and diabetic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine serum I-309 levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, as well as the association with clinical/laboratory phenotypes and disease complications.

Methods: A total of 155 T2DM patients and 30 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. The concentrations of serum I-309, interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, IL-23, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon (IFN)-γ were measured.

Molecular mechanism of self-activation induced by the intrinsically disordered region in Rac1b: Structural and functional insights.

Rac1b is a splicing variant of the RAC1 gene, characterized by a 19-amino-acid (19AA) insertion between residues 75 and 76. Overexpression of Rac1b has been observed in various cancers, establishing it as a potential target for anticancer therapies. Similar to Rac1, Rac1b functions as a GTPase, cycling between an active GTP-bound state and an inactive GDP-bound state.

Toward Smart SiC Self-Powered Deep Ultraviolet Photodetectors.

The reasonable construction of a heterojunction is promising for wide bandgap semiconductors in smart self-powered deep ultraviolet (DUV) photodetection. In this work, PbI nanosheet (NS) is prepared directly on the wide bandgap semiconductor of a SiC wafer for the success construction of a type-II heterojunction by a simple drop-casting method. Benefiting from the built-in electric field at the heterojunction interface, the as-fabricated SiC type-II heterojunction photodetector exhibits enhanced DUV photoresponse compared to the SiC wafer and PbI NS photodetectors.

Overcoming Radiotherapy Resistance in Chordoma through the Synergistic Action of Selenium-Containing Nanoparticles and THZ1.

Chordoma presents a formidable therapeutic challenge due to its distinct anatomical location, thus complicating its complete surgical resection coupled with marked resistance to both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Currently, effective systemic therapies remain unavailable, contributing to a poor prognosis for patients. To address this critical unmet need, we have developed a targeted drug delivery system tailored to the tumor biology of chordoma.

Mixed-Dimensional Nanowires/Nanosheet Heterojunction of GaSb/BiOSe for Self-Powered Near-Infrared Photodetection and Photocommunication.

With high surface-to-volume ratio, the abundant surface states and high carrier concentration are challenging the near-infrared photodetection behaviors of narrow band gap semiconductors nanowires. In this study, the narrow band gap semiconductor of BiOSe nanosheets (NSs) is adopted to construct mixed-dimensional heterojunctions with GaSb nanowires (NWs) for demonstrating the impressive self-powered NIR photodetection. Benefiting from the built-in electric field of ~ 140 meV, the as-constructed NW/NS mixed-dimensional heterojunction self-powered photodetector shows the low dark current of 0.

Development of one-step multiplex real-time PCR for the detection of CHV-1, CAdV-2, and CDV.

Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC) is a highly contagious disease that frequently affects canine populations and has emerged as a global epidemic. It has been reported that CIRDC can have a serious impact on related life. Therefore, the rapid detection and differentiation of common viruses that cause CIRDC are essential.

Light-induced tunable threshold voltage and synaptic behavior of a solution-processed indium oxide thin film transistor for logic computing and image denoising.

Oxygen vacancies (V) play a crucial role in promising amorphous metal oxide films for next-generation logic and synaptic computing. Here, a simple and reversible annealing-illumination method is introduced to control the concentration of V in solution-processed amorphous indium oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs), resulting in the precise regulation of the threshold voltage () in a large range from 1.6 V to -21.

Advancing Nanomaterial-Based Strategies for Alzheimer's Disease: A Perspective.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia. By 2050, the number of AD cases is projected to exceed 131 million, placing significant strain on healthcare systems and economies worldwide. The pathogenesis of AD is multifactorial, involving hypotheses/mechanisms, such as amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, cholinergic neuron damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Toward flexible and omnidirectional self-powered near-ultraviolet photodetection by constructing a mixed-dimensional nanobelt/nanosheet heterojunction of CdS/PbI.

Owing to the growing demand for scaling down and low-power consumption in the Internet of Things and wearable devices, there is an increasing need for miniaturized, self-powered flexible optoelectronics with omnidirectional photodetection ability. In this work, a mixed-dimensional heterojunction near-ultraviolet photodetector of CdS nanobelts/PbI nanosheets was prepared chemical vapor deposition and liquid-phase growth methods. Importantly, the as-fabricated self-powered near-ultraviolet photodetector displayed a low of 7 × 10 A, high / ratio of 2.

Physical insights guided rational design of anti-EGFR antibody to reverse the acquired resistance.

Cetuximab (Ctx), a monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) for colorectal cancer treatment, often faces diminished clinical efficacy due to acquired resistance driven by EGFR mutations. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying this mutation-induced drug resistance and developed a mechanism-based strategy to restore the binding affinity of Ctx to EGFR mutants. Through molecular dynamics simulations and free energy perturbation calculations, we discovered that most resistant mutations primarily alter the electrostatic properties of the binding interface.

Association of increased serum I-309 with phenotypes, disease activity, and cytokine pattern in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

The aim of this study was to determine serum I-309 levels in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients, as well as the association with disease phenotype, systemic activity, and T helper cell-related cytokines. A total of 58 pSS patients and 30 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in this study. The concentrations of serum I-309, interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-9, IL-13, IL-17, IL-22, IL-23, tumor-necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IFN-α, and IFN-β were measured with multiplex immunoassay.

A developed TaqMan probe-based qPCR was used to quantify the distribution of AMDV in various tissues of infected mink and its prevalence in northern China.

Aleutian mink disease (mink plasmacytosis) is a severe immune complex-mediated condition caused by the Aleutian Mink Disease Virus (AMDV), the most significant pathogen affecting mink health in the industry. Several studies have shown that AMDV epidemics can result in millions to tens of millions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. In this study, we developed a TaqMan probe-based real-time PCR technology (TaqMan-qPCR) for the specific, sensitive, and reproducible detection and quantification of AMDV in mink tissues by the VP2 gene, achieving detection limits as low as 1.

PACKMOL-GUI: An All-In-One VMD Interface for Efficient Molecular Packing.

PACKMOL is a widely utilized molecular modeling tool within the computational chemistry community. However, its tremendous advantages have been impeded by the longstanding lack of a robust open-source graphical user interface (GUI) that integrates parameter settings with the visualization of molecular and geometric constraints. To address this limitation, we have developed PACKMOL-GUI, a VMD plugin that leverages the dynamic extensibility of the Tcl/Tk toolkit.

Reconfigurable Phototransistors Driven by Gate-Dependent Carrier Modulation in WSe/TaNiSe van der Waals Heterojunctions.

Reconfigurable field-effect transistors (RFETs) offer notable benefits on electronic and optoelectronic logic circuits, surpassing the integration, flexibility, and cost-efficiency of conventional complementary metal-oxide semiconductor transistors. The low on/off current ratio of these transistors remains a considerable impediment in the practical application of RFETs. To overcome these limitations, a van der Waals heterojunction (vdWH) transistor composed of WSe/TaNiSe has been proposed.

Implication of serum soluble IL-2 receptor α in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the association of serum soluble IL-2 receptor α (sIL-2RA) with T2DM-related characteristics and complications.

Methods: Serum sIL-2RA levels were determined in 156 T2DM patients, and the association with T2DM-related characteristics and complications was evaluated.

Results: Serum sIL-2RA levels were significantly increased in T2DM patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) (median, IQR, 1434.

Immune enhancement of rhamnolipid/manganese calcium phosphate mineralized nanoparticle: A promising subunit antigen delivery system.

The use of biomimetic mineralization strategy is promising to solve the problem of poor stability and immune effect of subunit antigens. However, non-specifically inducing protein mineralization is still a challenge. we hypothesized that rhamnolipids with both protein and metal binding capacity could be used to develop more functional and biocompatible calcium mineralized nanoparticle (RMCP).

Tunable synaptic behaviors of solution-processed InGaO films for artificial visual systems.

Due to their persistent photoconductivity, amorphous metal oxide thin films are promising for construction of artificial visual systems. In this work, large-scale, uniformly distributed amorphous InGaO thin films with an adjustable In/Ga ratio and thickness are prepared successfully by a low-cost environmentally friendly and easy-to-handle solution process for constructing artificial visual systems. With the increase of the In/Ga ratio and film thickness, the number of oxygen vacancies increases, along with the increase of post-synaptic current triggered by illumination, benefiting the transition of short-term plasticity to long-term plasticity.

Toward High-Performance Self-Powered Near-Ultraviolet Photodetection by Constructing a Unipolar Heterojunction.

Constructing a unipolar heterojunction is an effective energy band engineering strategy to improve the performance of photoelectric devices, which could suppress dark current and enhance detectivity by modulating the transfer of carriers. In this work, unipolar heterojunctions of Si/PbI and GaSb/PbI are constructed successfully for high-performance self-powered near-ultraviolet photodetection. Owing to the unique band offset of unipolar heterojunctions, the transport of holes is blocked, and only photogenerated electrons in PbI can flow unimpeded under the driving force of the built-in electric field.

Creatine kinase mitochondrial 2 promotes the growth and progression of colorectal cancer enhancing Warburg effect through lactate dehydrogenase B.

Background: Mitochondrial creatine kinase (MtCK) plays a pivotal role in cellular energy metabolism, exhibiting enhanced expression in various tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Creatine kinase mitochondrial 2 (CKMT2) is a subtype of MtCK; however, its clinical significance, biological functions, and underlying molecular mechanisms in CRC remain elusive.

Methods: We employed immunohistochemical staining to discern the expression of CKMT2 in CRC and adjacent nontumor tissues of patients.

Rational Design of Dual-Functionalized Gd@C Nanoparticles to Relieve Neuronal Cytotoxicity in Alzheimer's Disease via Inhibition of Aβ Aggregation.

The accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and plays a crucial role in its pathogenesis. Particularly, the structured oligomeric species rich in β-sheet formations were implicated in neuronal organelle damage. Addressing this formidable challenge requires identifying candidates capable of inhibiting peptide aggregation or disaggregating preformed oligomers for effective antiaggregation-based AD therapy.

Quantifying the Length of Stay and Economic Impact of Albuterol and Levalbuterol in Hospitalized Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects millions in China and imposes a considerable economic burden on hospitalized patients who experience exacerbations. Nebulized short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA) are recommended as initial therapy for exacerbation patients, but the optimal SABA remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different SABAs, such as albuterol and levalbuterol, on the length of stay (LOS) and direct medical costs among hospitalized patients diagnosed with COPD.

Extrahepatic conditions of primary biliary cholangitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and risk.

Background And Aim: Many studies reported the prevalence of extrahepatic conditions (EHC) of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), but the great heterogeneity existed across different studies. Therefore, we conducted the systematic review and meta-analyses to determine EHC prevalence and association with PBC.

Methods: We searched PUBMED and included observational, cross-sectional and case-controlled studies.