Expanded field OCTA Biomarkers Associated with the Development of Tractional Retinal Detachment in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate associations among expanded field swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) biomarkers and the development of tractional retinal detachment (TRD) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods: Patients with PDR without TRD at baseline were imaged with SS-OCTA. Quantitative and qualitative OCTA metrics were independently evaluated by two trained graders.

Early-Start vs. Late-Start Icodextrin for Children Receiving Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis: Findings from the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network.

Background: Experience with icodextrin use in children on long-term peritoneal dialysis is limited. We describe international icodextrin prescription practices and their impact on clinical outcomes: ultrafiltration, blood pressure control, residual kidney function (RKF), technique and patient survival.

Methods: We included patients under 21 years enrolled in the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network (IPPN) between 2007 and 2024, on automated PD with a daytime dwell.

Development and validation of a non-invasive nomogram for predicting proximal ureteral impacted calculi.

Objective: To develop and validate a prognostic nomogram for predicting the risk of proximal ureteral impacted calculi, supporting personalized clinical management.

Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study employed a continuous cohort of 391 patients with proximal ureteral stones treated between January 2021 and April 2024. Data from Longyan People's Hospital (affiliated with Xiamen Medical College) comprised the training set, while independent external validation was performed using data from The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

FOXO3 Protects Lens Epithelial Cells From UVB-Induced Oxidative Stress via the AMPK/FOXO3 Signaling Pathway.

Age-related cataract (ARC) represents a major global cause of visual impairment, with ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation recognized as a primary contributor to oxidative damage in the lens. FOXO3, a key regulator of aging, apoptosis, and oxidative stress-induced cell death, was investigated for its role and regulatory mechanisms in UVB-induced oxidative stress using human lens epithelial cells (HLECs). A progressive decrease in FOXO3 protein expression was observed in the lens capsules across various stages of cataract progression, as well as in UVB-exposed animal models and UVB-treated HLECs.

Cost-effectiveness and epidemiological impact of gender-neutral vaccination against human papillomavirus in economically developed metropolises of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, China.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes multiple diseases in both sexes. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness and epidemiological impact - defined as reductions in HPV-related disease cases - of a gender-neutral vaccination (GNV) strategy in China's economically developed metropolises: Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. A discrete-time Markov model simulated no vaccination, female-only vaccination (FOV), and GNV strategies among 12-year-olds.

Exosomal Proteome from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patient-Derived Xenograft Mice Serves as Identity of Liver Cancer.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes approximately 90% of liver cancers, yet its early detection remains challenging due to the low sensitivity of current diagnostic methods and the difficulty in identifying minimal cancer cells within the body. This study employed a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model to screen for biomarkers, leveraging its advantage of low background interference compared to human serum exosome studies. Using a novel microextraction technique, exosomes were isolated from just one microliter of serum from HCC PDX mice, followed by proteomic profiling.

Efficacy of Correcting Different Types of Astigmatism With Small Incision Lenticule Extraction: A Prospective Contralateral Eye Study.

Purpose: To evaluate axis-dependent visual and refractive outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) in patients with interocular astigmatic axis discordance.

Methods: Seventy-five patients (150 eyes) with interocular astigmatic axis discordance were included in the study. Based on interocular axis combinations, patients were stratified into three cohorts: with-the-rule (WTR)/against-the-rule (ATR) (n = 19), WTR/oblique astigmatism (OA) (n = 39), and ATR/OA (n = 17).

Preparation, Characterization, and Self-Assembly of P3HT-Based Janus Fibers via a Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly Process.

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)-based complex topological copolymers have attracted a great deal of attention for their unique electrical and optical properties. In this contribution, the P3HT-based Janus fibers with controlled lengths were innovatively prepared by sequential crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) of poly(--butylstyrene)--polyisoprene--poly(3-hexylthiophene) (PBS--PI--P3HT) triblock copolymer, cross-linking of the interlayer PI region, and dissociation of fibers in good solvent. The comprehensive characterizations showed that the PBS/P3HT Janus fibers have nearly half the width of PBS--PI--P3HT fibers and fiber lengths close to or slightly shorter than those of PBS--PI--P3HT fibers, indicating that the Janus fibers with adjustable lengths could be prepared in a large window range.

On Refining Exciton Dissociation and Charge Transport of Nonfullerene Organic Photovoltaics: from Star-Shaped Acceptors to Molecular Doping.

Nonfullerene acceptor-based organic solar cells have recently taken a milestone leap with power conversion efficiencies approaching 20%. A key to further boost the efficiencies up to the Shockley-Queisser limit rests upon attaining a delicate balance between exciton dissociation and charge transport. This perspective presents two seminal and reciprocal strategies developed by our group and others to reconcile the intricacy of charge carrier dynamics, spanning from intrinsic molecular structure design to extrinsic dopant exploitation.

Intensifying D-Orbitals Energy Level Splitting of Local Co Atoms in CoO Lattice for Accelerated Iodine Redox Kinetics.

Modulating the electronic structure of catalysts to maximize their power holds the key to address the challenges faced by zinc-iodine batteries (ZIBs), including the shuttle effect and slow redox kinetics at the iodine cathode. Herein, oxygen vacancies is innovatively introduced into CoO lattice to create high-spin-state Co active sites in nonstoichiometric CoO nanocrystals supported by carbon nanofibers (H-CoO/CNFs). This simple strategy intensifies crystal field splitting of Co 3d orbitals, optimizing the spin-orbital coupling between Co 3d orbitals and iodine species.

Hydrogen Radical Mediated Concerted Electron-Proton Transfer in 1D Sulfone-based Covalent Organic Framework for Boosting Photosynthesis of HO.

Solar-driven photocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction using covalent organic frameworks (COFs) offers a promising approach for sustainable hydrogen peroxide (HO) production. Despite their advantages, the reported COFs-based photocatalysts suffer insufficient photocatalytic HO efficiency due to the mismatched electron-proton dynamics. Herein, we report three one-dimensional (1D) COF photocatalysts for efficient HO production via the hydrogen radical (H•) mediated concerted electron-proton transfer (CEPT) process.

Vitamin D Binding Protein, a Ligand of Integrin beta 1, Motivates Both Tumor Cells and Schwann Cells to Promote Perineural Invasion in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a common pathological characteristic of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), closely linked to postoperative recurrence, metastasis, and unfavorable prognosis. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms that govern PNI in PDAC remain poorly elucidated. Here, group-specific component protein (GC) is identified as one of the most significantly upregulated genes related to PNI, primarily derived from malignant ductal cells compared to other cell types.

Phase II Dose-Randomized Study of Sunvozertinib in Platinum-Pretreated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Exon 20 Insertion Mutations (WU-KONG1B).

Purpose: WU-KONG1B (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03974022) is a multinational phase II, dose-randomized study to assess the antitumor efficacy of sunvozertinib in pretreated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor () exon 20 insertion mutations (exon20ins).

Methods: Eligible patients with advanced-stage exon20ins NSCLC were randomly assigned by 1:1 ratio to receive sunvozertinib 200 mg or 300 mg once daily (200 and 300 mg-rand cohorts).

Developing and validating a bi-polar gated respiratory motion management strategy for improved lung stereotactic body radiotherapy treatment.

Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an effective treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. However, patient breathing can affect treatment accuracy. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a bi-polar (BP) gated motion management strategy for SBRT and evaluate its feasibility geometrically and dosimetrically.

Targeting collagen in "armored and cold" tumors: Overcoming barriers to cancer therapy.

Collagen contributes to extracellular matrix formation and stiffness, providing a three-dimensional framework that supports the development and growth of solid tumors. By interacting with specific tumor cell receptors, collagen influences tumor cell signaling pathways, promoting cancer progression and drug resistance. Recent advancements in understanding the tumor extracellular matrix have underscored collagen's role in fostering an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and acting as a barrier to immunotherapy.

Etiological Profiles and Antibiotic Resistance of Urinary Tract Infections Among Different Age Categories in Children: A Retrospective Study of Xiamen Single-Center.

Purpose: To analyze the distribution of pathogens and drug resistance in children with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a single center in Xiamen and to guide the selection of empirical antibiotics in the clinic.

Methods: Clinical data of 2001 children with UTIs in Xiamen Children's Hospital between 2014 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, grouped by age and comorbidities. Differences in pathogen distribution and drug sensitivity were compared with the chi-square test applied and significance set at p < 0.

Hybrid Superconducting-Magnetic Van der Waals Heterostructures: Physics and Application.

Superconductivity and magnetism are two of the most extensively studied ordered systems in condensed matter physics. Recent advancements in the fabrication of van der Waals (vdW) layered materials have significantly advanced the exploration of both fundamental physics and practical applications within their heterostructures. The focus not only lies on the coexisting mechanism between superconductivity and magnetism, but also highlights the potential of these atomically thin layers to serve as crucial components in future superconducting circuits.

Current-Induced Magnetization Switching via 180° Néel Vector Reversal in Pt/CrO/Co Trilayers.

The 180° switching of the perpendicular Néel vector induced by the spin-orbit torque (SOT) presents significant potential for ultradense and ultrafast antiferromagnetic SOT-magnetoresistive random-access memory. However, its experimental realization remains a topic of intense debate. Here, unequivocal evidence is provided for the SOT-induced 180° switching of the perpendicular Néel vector in collinear antiferromagnetic CrO in a Pt/CrO/Co trilayer structure.

Advanced Architectures and Emerging Materials for High-Operating-Temperature Infrared Photodiodes.

High-operating-temperature (HOT) mid-wavelength and long-wavelength infrared photodetectors have emerged as critical enablers for eliminating bulky cryogenic cooling systems, offering transfromative potential in developing compact, energy-efficient infrared technologies with reduced size, weight, power, and cost. Focusing on infrared photodiodes, this review first discusses the fundamental mechanisms limiting performance at elevated operating temperatures. Subsequently, the progress in conventional epitaxial semiconductors, such as HgCdTe, InAsSb, and III-V type-II superlattice is reviewed, highlighting the evolution of device architectures designed to effectively suppress dark currents and approach background-limited performance.

Development and validation of a nomogram diagnostic model for sleep disorders in stroke patients: A cross-sectional study.

Stroke is a severe neurological disorder that significantly impacts patients' recovery and quality of life. Stroke patients frequently experience sleep disorders, including difficulty initiating sleep, insomnia, vivid dreams, and sleep apnea. These disorders not only disrupt nighttime rest but also significantly affect stroke recovery and prognosis, increasing the risks of recurrence and mortality.

Nr4a2, A Key Factor Controlling the Development and Functional Maintenance of Forebrain Car3 Neurons.

Nr4a2 (Nurr1) is well known to be vital for midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Recent single-cell RNA analyses reveal that Nr4a2 is expressed in lateral cerebral regions, within neurons named L4/L5/L6 IT Car3. These neurons have attracted intense attention for the molecular mechanisms underlying their development and functions.

A Prediction Model for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Bariatric Surgery Candidates with Obesity.

Background: Our study aimed to develop a predictive model for the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in bariatric surgery candidates for utilization during the preoperative evaluation.

Methods: Relevant clinical data were retrospectively collected for 453 patients who met the inclusion criteria and did not meet the exclusion criteria; the patients were randomized into training and test cohorts. Univariate analysis was performed on the training set.

Anti-M1R/B6R antibody characterization and bispecific design for enhanced orthopoxvirus protection.

The global outbreak of the mpox in humans, caused by the mpox virus (MPXV), underscores the urgent need for safe and effective therapeutics. In this study, we characterized the dominant MPXV immunogens, M1R and B6R, by sequencing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) from the immunized mice and analyzing their epitopes and functions through in vitro and in vivo assessments of binding and antiviral activities. Several broadly effective anti-M1R and anti-B6R neutralizing MAbs were identified and they exhibited enhanced antiviral effects against MPXV or vaccinia virus (VACV) when used in antibody cocktail and bispecific antibody designs.

The efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection for 10-20 mm rectal neuroendocrine tumors based on resection margin status.

Background: Current guidelines recommend that rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) smaller than 10 mm can be treated by endoscopic resection, whereas tumors larger than 20 mm should be treated by surgical resection. However, the optimal treatment of 10-20 mm rectal NETs remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for 10-20 mm rectal NETs based on resection margin status.