How do digital techniques of shape capture and alignment compare to traditional casting methods when applied to pediatric ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs)?

Achieving optimal alignment and fit is a key aspect of ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) design, as it directly influences the effectiveness of the device. While digital workflows offer the potential to integrate quantifiable alignment measures and corrections into AFO design, a major challenge remains in controlling lower-limb positioning and alignment during 3D scanning. This study aimed to evaluate pediatric AFO alignment and shape differences of directly scanned (live scan) vs casted lower limb models.

IL12-based phototherapeutic nanoparticles through remodeling tumor-associated macrophages combined with immunogenic tumor cell death for synergistic cancer immunotherapy.

Various cancer therapeutic strategies have been designed for targeting tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), but TAM reprogramming-based monotherapy is often clinically hindered, likely due to the lack of a coordinated platform to initiate T cell-mediated immunity. Herein, we fabricated reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive human serum albumin (HSA)-based nanoparticles (PEG/IL12-IA NPs) consisting of indocyanine green (ICG), arginine (Arg), and interleukin 12 (IL12). Upon laser irradiation, the nanoparticles were found to be able to dissociate, thus facilitating the release of IL12.

Self-enriching nanozyme with photothermal-cascade amplification for tumor microenvironment-responsive synergistic therapy and enhanced photoacoustic imaging.

Achieving precise intratumoral accumulation and coordinated activation remains a major challenge in nanomedicine. Photothermal therapy (PTT) provides spatiotemporal control, yet its efficacy is hindered by heterogeneous distribution of PTT agents and limited synergy with other modalities. Here, we develop a dual-activation nanoplatform (IrO-P) that integrates exogenous photothermal stimulation with endogenous tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive catalysis for synergistic chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and ferroptosis induction.

Engineered nanofiber scaffolds prime chromatin reorganization to sensitize cells for long-term and low-dose chemical hazard detection.

Fast and early detection of low-dose chemical toxicity is a critical unmet need in toxicology and human health, as conventional 2D culture models often fail to capture subtle cellular responses induced by sub-toxic exposures. Here, we present a bioengineered three-dimensional (3D) electrospun nanofibrous scaffold composed of polycaprolactone that enhances chromatin accessibility and primes fibroblasts for improved sensitivity to low-dose chemical stimuli in a short period. The scaffold mimics the extracellular matrix, providing topographical cues that reduce cytoskeletal tension and promote nuclear deformation, thereby increasing chromatin openness.

Simultaneous optimization of multiple plans within one treatment course with dosimetric pathfinding for temporally feathered radiation therapy.

Background: Radiotherapy workflows conventionally deliver one treatment plan multiple times throughout the treatment course. Non-coplanar techniques with beam angle optimization or dosimetrically optimized pathfinding (DOP) exploit additional degrees of freedom to improve spatial conformality of the dose distribution compared to widely used techniques like volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). The temporal dimension of dose delivery can be exploited using multiple plans (sub-plans) within one treatment course.

A barcode-specific immobilization interface for microfluidics-assisted uniform spatially barcoded microarray analysis.

Microfluidics-assisted spatially barcoded microarray technology offers a high-throughput, low-cost approach towards spatial transcriptomic profiling. A uniform barcoded microarray is crucial for spatially unbiased mRNA analysis. However, non-specific adsorption of barcoding reagents in microchannels occurs during liquid transport, causing non-uniform barcoding in the chip's functional regions.

Microgel-Crosslinked, thermo- and mechano- dual Responsive, Ketoprofen-Loaded hydrogels with high mechanical properties and rapid response.

Smart hydrogels have advanced rapidly in recent years. However, systems responsive to a single stimulus are typically triggered by specific cues, limiting their adaptability in complex and dynamic biological environments. To overcome this limitation, this study developed a dual-responsive hydrogel sensitive to both temperature and mechanical stress.

Viscosity-sensitive fluorescent probes based on the hemicyanine for the organelle-specific visualization during autophagy and ferroptosis.

The dynamic monitoring of cell death processes remains a significant challenge due to the scarcity of highly sensitive molecular tools. In this study, two hemicyanine-based probes (5a-5b) with D-π-A structures were developed for organelle-specific viscosity monitoring. Both probes exhibited correlation with the Förster-Hoffmann viscosity-dependent relationship (R > 0.

Facile Deep Brain Electrode Coating with MXene for Improved Electrode Performance.

Accurate brain signal recording and precise electrode placement are critical for the success of neuromodulation therapies such as deep brain stimulation (DBS). Addressing these challenges requires deep brain electrodes that provide high-quality, stable recordings while remaining compatible with high-resolution medical imaging modalities like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Moreover, such electrodes shall be cost-effective, easy to manufacture, and patient-compatible.

Self-supervised representation learning with continuous training data improves the feel and performance of myoelectric control.

Pattern recognition-based myoelectric control is traditionally trained with static or ramp contractions, but this fails to capture the dynamic nature of real-world movements. This study investigated the benefits of training classifiers with continuous dynamic data, encompassing transitions between various movement classes. We employed both conventional (LDA) and deep learning (LSTM) classifiers, comparing their performance when trained with ramp data, continuous dynamic data, and an LSTM pre-trained with a self-supervised learning technique (VICReg).

8-Nitrotryptanthrin inhibits colorectal cancer progression via TGF-β/SMAD and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways.

Objective: To investigate the anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms of 8-nitrotryptanthrin (8-Nitrotryp) against colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: The effects of 8-Nitrotryp on proliferation, colony formation, and migration were evaluated in HCT116 and SW480 cells, with comparisons to its parent compound tryptanthrin (Tryp). Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was assessed using JC-1 staining, and early apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.

Non-invasive maturity assessment of iPSC-CMs based on optical maturity characteristics using interpretable AI.

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) are an important resource for identifying novel therapeutic targets and cardioprotective drugs. However, a key limitation of iPSC-CMs is their immature, fetal-like phenotype. Cultivation of iPSC-CMs in lipid-supplemented maturation media (MM) enhances the structural, metabolic and electrophysiological properties of iPSC-CMs.

Supporting decision making for individuals living with dementia and their care partners with knowledge translation: An umbrella review.

Living with dementia requires decision making about numerous topics including daily activities and advance care planning (ACP). Both individuals living with dementia and care partners require informed support for decision making. We conducted an umbrella review to assess knowledge translation (KT) interventions supporting decision making for individuals living with dementia and their informal care partners.

pH-triggered Schottky heterojunctions for NIR-II-activated and tumor-specific pyroelectrodynamic and photothermal therapy.

Pyroelectrodynamic therapy (PEDT) of tumors faces challenges due to its low electrocatalytic efficiency at mild temperature and the potential for off-target toxicity to healthy tissue. To overcome these issues, we have engineered pyroelectric nanoparticles (NPs) that feature a pH-triggered heterojunction structure and tumor-selective reactive oxidative species (ROS) production, faclitating synergistic PEDT and mild photothermal therapy (PTT). Herein, molybdenum trioxide (MoO) was deposited in-situ on the surface of tetragonal BaTiO (tBT) to create tBT@MO.

An Electronic Health Record-Wide Association Study to identify populations at increased risk of E. coli bloodstream infections.

Objectives: Escherichia coli bacteraemias have been under mandatory surveillance in the UK for fifteen years, but cases continue to rise. Systematic searches of all features present within electronic healthcare records (EHRs), described here as an EHR-wide association study (EHR-WAS), could potentially identify under-appreciated factors that could be targeted to reduce infections.

Methods: We used data from Oxfordshire, UK, and an EHR-WAS method developed for use with large-scale COVID-19 data to estimate associations between E.

Novel Radiofluorinated Nanobody PET Tracer for Preclinical Studies of TIM3 Expression.

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3 (TIM3) is an inhibitory checkpoint glycoprotein expressed on immune cells, particularly tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and plays a critical role in suppressing antitumor immune responses. While dual blockade of TIM3 and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) has shown promising results in enhancing immune responses in advanced cancers, the lack of reliable, noninvasive methods for detecting TIM3 expression in tumors remains a major challenge. To address this, we developed and characterized a novel positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, [F]AlF-RESCA-HVCR2N2, based on a TIM3-specific nanobody labeled via [F]AlF radiochemistry.

A novel RHD*01N allele harboring a c.634+1G>A splice site variant results in the RhD-negative phenotype in a Chinese blood donor.

Background: The D-negative phenotype demonstrates significant ethnic diversity in its molecular background. This study reports the identification of a novel RHD*01 N allele resulting from a splicing site variation observed in a Chinese blood donor.

Study Design And Methods: The D blood group phenotype was determined using serological techniques, including the saline method, and the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) performed by both tube and microcolumn gel methods.

Fluorescence/Colorimetric Dual-Mode Probe Based on Nitrogen, Sulfur, and Boron Codoped MXene Quantum Dots for Detection of Glutathione and Imaging in Mitochondria.

Quantifying and monitoring glutathione (GSH) in living cells is of great significance for understanding GSH-related oxidative stress disorders and neoplastic conditions. In this work, we developed nitrogen/sulfur/boron codoped MXene quantum dots (NSB-MQDs) through a facile single-pot hydrothermal synthesis strategy for fluorescence/colorimetric detection and imaging of GSH. The fluorescence "Turn-On" sensing signal was generated by the electron or energy transfer process between GSH and NSB-MQDs, which exhibited a fluorescence quenching phenomenon with the increase of GSH.

Natural quercetin-derived carbon nanodots for dual antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy against bacterial infections.

Bacterial infections and the associated inflammatory responses present significant challenges to public health, underscoring the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. In this study, novel carbon dots (QA-CDs) derived from quercetin (QU) and 4-aminophenol (4-AP) were synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal method. This approach merges the antimicrobial properties of phenolic compounds with the multifunctional advantages of carbon-based nanomaterials.

Overcoming the Speed Limit of Four-Way DNA Branch Migration with Bulges in Toeholds.

Dynamic DNA nanotechnology creates programmable reaction networks and nanodevices by using DNA strands. The key reaction in dynamic DNA nanotechnology is the exchange of DNA strands between different molecular species, achieved through three- and four-way strand exchange reactions. While both reactions have been widely used, the four-way exchange reaction has traditionally been slower and less efficient than the three-way reaction.

In-Field Molecular Diagnostics of Plant Pathogens Using Bioluminescent CRISPR-Guided Caspase Assay.

In-field molecular diagnostics of plant pathogens are critical for crop disease management and precision agriculture, but tools are still lacking. Herein, we present a bioluminescent molecular diagnostic assay capable of detecting viable pathogens directly in minimally processed plant samples, enabling rapid and precise in-field crop disease diagnosis. The assay, called bioluminescent craspase diagnostics (BioCrastics), leverages newly discovered RNA-activated protease of CRISPR (Craspase) with enzymatic luminescence to generate a cascaded amplification, thus bypasses nucleic acid purification and amplification while achieving sub-nanogram sensitivity for fungal pathogens.

Impact of Blood Pressure Self-Management on Vascular Remodeling After Hypertensive Pregnancy.

Background: Hypertensive pregnancy disorders are associated with long-term adverse cardiac and vascular remodeling postindex pregnancy. The POP-HT trial (Physician Optimised Postpartum Hypertension Treatment) demonstrated that improved puerperal blood pressure control leads to reduced blood pressure and beneficial cardiac remodeling during the first year postpartum. This study describes the impact on postpartum vascular remodeling.

1+1>2: Synergistic Integration and Biomedical Applications of Nanozyme@Hydrogel Platforms.

Nanozyme-based therapies have shown substantial promise in antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer applications. The success of nanozymes in these areas largely depends on strategies such as chemical modification, ligand coupling, or carrier encapsulation, which enhance their in vivo stability and catalytic activity. Hydrogels, characterized by their soft, water-swollen three-dimensional (3D) networks, possess unique features such as biodegradability, tunable physicochemical properties, and injectability.