Circadian disruption and ROS-NLRP3 signaling mediate sleep deprivation-enhanced silica nanoparticle toxicity in lacrimal glands.

Sleep deprivation (SD) and exposure to engineered nanomaterials such as silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are emerging risk factors for ocular surface disorders, particularly dry eye disease. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their combined impact on lacrimal gland function remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the synergistic effects of SD and SiNPs exposure on circadian regulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and structural integrity of the extraorbital lacrimal glands (ELGs) in C57BL/6J mice.

Boosting Nitrate-to-Ammonia Conversion over Copper-Based Electrocatalysts by Facilitating Hydrogenation and Product Desorption.

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NitRR) in neutral condition offers a sustainable route for ammonia (NH) production and water purification. For the most extensively investigated Cu-based electrocatalysts that favor NO adsorption, insufficient hydrogenation capability and sluggish NH desorption hinder the ultimate performance. Herein, we report Ca-doped CuO co-modified by oxalate (Ca─CuO─OA) as a novel and high-performance NitRR electrocatalyst.

In Situ Imaging of Extracellular Vesicles and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with a Near-Infrared Fluorescent Viscosity Probe.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have significant value in disease diagnosis. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a global health issue, and real-time monitoring of NAFLD is crucial to prevent its further deterioration. However, due to the lack of effective probes, in situ detection of EVs in living systems is still challenging, which hinders the application of EVs in the diagnosis of NAFLD and other diseases.

Evolution of water-soluble organic aerosol composition from clean days to haze episodes in rural area of North China Plain.

Water-soluble organic aerosol (WSOA) plays a significant role in air quality and human health. Here we characterized the chemical properties and molecular compositions of WSOA at a rural site in North China Plain during winter using a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer and electrospray ionization high-resolution orbitrap mass spectrometer (ESI-HRMS). Our results show that the mass concentration of WSOA was significantly higher than that observed in Beijing in winter 2020, contributing about 56 % of OA on average.

The role of neutrophil-related indicators in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a severe subtype of hemorrhagic stroke with a high rate of disability and mortality. With advances in diagnosis and treatment, early intervention for intracranial aneurysms (craniotomy clamping and interventional embolization) can effectively prevent rebleeding. However, early brain injury (EBI) and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) caused by aSAH still result in fatalities among hospitalized patients.

Observation of Vortex Stripes in UTe.

In conventional type-II superconductors, quantum vortices determine the magnetic response of the system and tend to form regular lattices. UTe is a recently discovered heavy Fermion superconductor exhibiting many anomalous macroscopic behaviors, but whether it has a multicomponent order parameter remains open. Here, we study the vortices of UTe by employing scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscopy.

Trans-Scale Progressive Failure Analysis Methodology for Composite Materials Incorporating Interfacial Phase Effect.

Fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites are generally composed of fibers and matrix with significantly different properties, which are non-uniform and anisotropic in nature. Macro-failure criteria generally view composite plies as a uniform whole and do not accurately reflect fiber- and matrix-scale failures. In this study, the interface phase effect between fiber and matrix has been introduced into the frame of trans-scale analysis to better model the failure process, and the equivalent mechanical property characterization model of the interface phase has also been established.

Redefining tear film Biology: Immune regulation, multi-omics integration, and systemic disease interfaces.

Traditionally considered a passive lubricant, the tear film, comprising three functionally distinct yet interdependent layers (lipid, aqueous, mucin), is now recognized as a dynamic interface that integrates ocular and systemic immune regulation. It orchestrates innate, adaptive, and tolerogenic immune responses to preserve ocular surface homeostasis. In dry eye disease (DED), dysfunction of these regulatory pathways initiates inflammatory cascades, leading to goblet cell loss and epithelial injury.

Lithium intercalated FeSe as a high-temperature superconducting ferromagnet.

Merging superconductivity and ferromagnetism in a single material may promise unparalleled quantum properties for next-generation devices. Here, we bring together the two antagonistic phenomena at a record-high temperature via electric-field controlled lithiation of FeSe. The in-situ gating allows us to switch the simple compound of FeSe between a nonmagnetic superconductor and a superconducting ferromagnet.

Treatment of systemic lupus erythemus overlap syndrome with autoimmune hepatitis using a combination of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents: Case report.

Rationale: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are distinct autoimmune disorders whose concurrent presentation (overlap syndrome) poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. While SLE-associated liver involvement is recognized, true SLE-AIH overlap is rare and lacks established management guidelines. This report details the successful management of such a case to contribute insights into this complex clinical scenario.

Decreased Lysosomal Polarity during Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury Revealed by a Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe.

Acute alcoholic liver injury (AALI) has become one of the main causes of chronic liver disease worldwide, and developing rapid, highly sensitive methods for AALI detection is urgently needed. AALI is closely associated with lysosomal damage; however, as an important microenvironmental indicator reflecting lysosomal status, the changes in lysosomal polarity during AALI are still unclear. Herein, we report a near-infrared fluorescent probe, , to target lysosomes to unveil the lysosomal polarity changes during AALI.

RIPK1 S213E mutant suppresses RIPK1-dependent cell death by preventing interactions with RIPK3 and CASP8.

RIPK1 (Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1) is fundamental in regulating cell proliferation, programmed cell death, and inflammation. Within the TNF (tumor necrosis factor) signaling pathway, the kinase activity of RIPK1 is essential for determining cellular fate, promoting either apoptosis or necroptosis. Mutations disrupting RIPK1 kinase activity significantly impact cellular fate decisions, highlighting its importance in the TNF signaling cascade.

Dual role of Heme oxygenase-1 in disease progression and treatment: A literature review.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) is a rate-limiting enzyme responsible for the degradation of heme into carbon monoxide (CO), biliverdin (BV), and ferrous ions. CO and BV, which scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), indicate the cytoprotective role of HMOX1. However, the excessive accumulation of ferrous ions, another key metabolite, exacerbates ROS production through the Fenton reaction.

Progressive gut microbiota shifts and functional alterations across aging stages and frailty in mice.

The gut microbiota modulates aging through metabolic and immune interactions. To characterize microbial changes during aging, we profiled gut microbiota across four stages in male C57BL/6J mice: young-adult, middle-aged, senescent, and frailty. Using 16S rRNA sequencing and targeted metabolomics, we observed a biphasic diversity pattern, with reduced richness in senescence followed by a rebound in frailty.

Rapid diagnostic imaging and targeted immunotoxin delivery in aggressive prostate cancer using CEACAM5-specific nanobodies.

Aggressive variant prostate cancer (AVPC) originates from metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) following androgen receptor-targeted therapies, leading to diverse pathological subtypes, notably castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5), is consistently expressed across AVPC phenotypes, including neuroendocrine prostate carcinoma (NEPC) and double-negative prostate carcinoma (DNPC), which are significant subtypes of CRPC, making it a promising therapeutic target. In this study, A high-affinity nanobody, B12, specific to CEACAM5, was discovered through phage library screening.

External quality assessment for nucleic acid quantitative testing of human hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus in Chongqing, China: 2009-2024.

Background: To achieve the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, accurate detection of HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA is crucial. This study presents the implementation of HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA External Quality Assessment (EQA) programs conducted in Chongqing, China, from 2009 to 2024, highlighting the significant contributions made by clinical laboratories.

Methods: Over a span of 16 years, a total of 160 samples were distributed in the HBV-DNA EQA program, while the HCV-RNA EQA program disseminated 105 samples encompassing diverse concentration levels.

Research on New Methods of Topic Mining and Topic Prediction for Medical Preprints on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Background and purpose To cope with the continuous risk of sudden infectious diseases and achieve real-time monitoring of research trends, this paper proposes a new prediction framework that combines public attention indicators with medical preprint topic analysis. In view of the lag problem of traditional topic prediction methods, this paper introduces Google Trends data to improve the timeliness of prediction. Methods In this study, 18,060 COVID-19-related preprint abstracts were obtained from the medRxiv platform using web crawler technology.

A photodynamic nanohybrid system reverses hypoxia and augment anti-primary and metastatic tumor efficacy of immunotherapy.

Photodynamic immunotherapy is a promising strategy for cancer treatment. However, the dysfunctional tumor vasculature results in tumor hypoxia and the low efficiency of drug delivery, which in turn restricts the anticancer effect of photodynamic immunotherapy. In this study, we designed photosensitive lipid nanoparticles.

Somatic loss-of-function mutations in CIDEB reduce hepatic steatosis by increasing lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation.

Background & Aims: Somatic and germline CIDEB mutations are associated with protection from chronic liver diseases. The mechanistic basis and whether CIDEB suppression would be an effective therapy against fatty liver disease remain unclear.

Methods: 21 CIDEB somatic mutations were introduced into cells to assess functionality.

Mediating role of sleep quality in the relationship between diabetes mellitus and visual function: a cross-sectional study.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global health concern associated with complications that significantly impair quality of life. Among these, the impact of DM on visual function and the underlying mechanisms, particularly the role of sleep quality, remain insufficiently understood. This cross-sectional study recruited 629 participants from Henan Provincial People's Hospital to examine the relationships among DM, sleep quality, and visual function.

Targeting RAGE with Nanobodies for Molecular Imaging of Cancers and Alzheimer's Disease.

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a multifunctional cell surface receptor implicated in aging and the progression of chronic diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Its interaction with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) promotes cellular stress and inflammation, underscoring the diagnostic and therapeutic relevance of targeting RAGE. In this study, we explored the potential of nanobodiessingle-domain antibodies known for high specificity, strong affinity, and deep tissue penetrationas molecular tools for RAGE-targeted applications.

Plin2 Coordinates Immune and Metabolic Reprogramming in Lacrimal Gland Aging.

Purpose: Aging impairs lacrimal gland function, contributing to dry eye syndrome and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to identify core molecular regulators of lacrimal gland aging and delineate their roles in immune imbalance and metabolic dysfunction.

Methods: Bulk transcriptomic profiling and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) were performed on lacrimal glands from young and aged C57BL/6 mice.

Probiotic-mediated tumor microenvironment reprogramming with protease-sensitive interleukin-15 and photothermal therapy.

T cell inadequacy or exhaustion often causes the failure of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-based immunotherapy. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) has been used to prime the tumor microenvironment (TME) to boost the efficiency of immunotherapy. However, its clinical application is hindered by systemic toxicity and low intratumoral concentrations.

CDH17-targeting CAR-NK cells synergize with CD47 blockade for potent suppression of gastrointestinal cancers.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, cancer relapse remains a significant challenge, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we engineered nanobody-based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cells targeting cadherin 17 (CDH17) for the treatment of GI tumors.