Freezing of gait is a significant and debilitating motor symptom often observed in individuals with Parkinson's disease.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging,along with its multi-level feature indice...Freezing of gait is a significant and debilitating motor symptom often observed in individuals with Parkinson's disease.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging,along with its multi-level feature indices,has provided a fresh perspective and valuable insight into the study of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.It has been revealed that Parkinson's disease is accompanied by widespread irregularities in inherent brain network activity.However,the effective integration of the multi-level indices of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging into clinical settings for the diagnosis of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease remains a challenge.Although previous studies have demonstrated that radiomics can extract optimal features as biomarkers to identify or predict diseases,a knowledge gap still exists in the field of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the ability of radiomics features based on multi-level indices of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging,along with clinical features,to distinguish between Parkinson's disease patients with and without freezing of gait.We recruited 28 patients with Parkinson's disease who had freezing of gait(15 men and 13 women,average age 63 years)and 30 patients with Parkinson's disease who had no freezing of gait(16 men and 14 women,average age 64 years).Magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained using a 3.0T scanner to extract the mean amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations,mean regional homogeneity,and degree centrality.Neurological and clinical characteristics were also evaluated.We used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm to extract features and established feedforward neural network models based solely on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging indicators.We then performed predictive analysis of three distinct groups based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging indicators indicators combined with clinical features.Subsequently,we conducted 100 additional five-fold cross-validations to determine the most effective model for each classification task and evaluated the performance of the model using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.The results showed that when differentiating patients with Parkinson's disease who had freezing of gait from those who did not have freezing of gait,or from healthy controls,the models using only the mean regional homogeneity values achieved the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.750(with an accuracy of 70.9%)and 0.759(with an accuracy of 65.3%),respectively.When classifying patients with Parkinson's disease who had freezing of gait from those who had no freezing of gait,the model using the mean amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation values combined with two clinical features achieved the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.847(with an accuracy of 74.3%).The most significant features for patients with Parkinson's disease who had freezing of gait were amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation alterations in the left parahippocampal gyrus and two clinical characteristics:Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Hamilton Depression Scale scores.Our findings suggest that radiomics features derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging indices and clinical information can serve as valuable indices for the identification of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.展开更多
By leveraging the unique qualities of microorganisms,engineered living materials(ELMs)offer functional and economic advantages in everyday applications along with notable ecological benefits.This study contributes to ...By leveraging the unique qualities of microorganisms,engineered living materials(ELMs)offer functional and economic advantages in everyday applications along with notable ecological benefits.This study contributes to the growing field of biodesign by examining the potential of Flavobacteria for thermochromic ELMs.Many Flavobacteria,commonly found in marine environments,produce iridescent structural colorations as their colonies expand on semi-solid surfaces through gliding motility.In this study,we analyzed the effects of temperature variations on flavobacterium Cellulophaga lytica PLY A 2,characterizing distinct changes in colony growth and iridescent colorations at a macroscopic and microscopic scale.Using scanning electron microscopy,we investigated the relationship between iridescent color and the underlying cell-based optical structures.By providing insights into the temperature-responsive behavior of Flavobacteria,our findings highlight their potential for future thermochromic ELMs-with applications ranging from sustainable food packaging to smart textiles-while encouraging further characterization studies within biodesign research.展开更多
Stem cell therapy shows promise for treating brain injuries;neural stem cells in particular are capable of repairing damage by forming new nerve cells and supporting recovery.However,optimizing the implantation and fu...Stem cell therapy shows promise for treating brain injuries;neural stem cells in particular are capable of repairing damage by forming new nerve cells and supporting recovery.However,optimizing the implantation and functionality of these cells in damaged brain regions remains challenging.Silk fibroin,a natural protein derived from silkworm silk,is a biocompatible material with exceptional properties that are useful for tissue engineering.Its biodegradability,mechanical robustness,and ability to promote cell growth make it particularly valuable for biomedical applications.Silk fibroin nanomaterials,which comprise silk fibroin processed into nanostructures,offer enhanced surface area,improved loading capacity for bioactive molecules,and superior nanoscale interactions with cells compared with bulk silk fibroin materials.In this study,we first extracted human-derived neural stem cells from a 14-week-old human fetus.Then,neural stem cells were loaded with 1%silk fibroin nanomaterials,which was identified as the optimal concentration to support human-derived neural stem cell growth and release of neurotrophic factors.Finally,1%silk fibroin nanomaterials were implanted into a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.The results showed that,compared with the treatment with human-derived neural stem cells alone,silk fibroin hydrogel carrying human-derived neural stem cells was significantly more effective at alleviating brain tissue damage,increasing neurotrophic factor secretion in the brain microenvironment,and promoting motor and cognitive function recovery.These findings suggest that silk fibroin nanomaterials loaded with human-derived neural stem cells could be used to treat hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.However,the mechanisms and related signaling pathways by which hydrogels combined with cells exert their reparative effects still require further in-depth investigation.展开更多
As Artificial Intelligence(AI)is moving fast from Large Language Models(LLMs)to AI Agents and Agentic Intelligence,the need to incorporate new AI into Decision Intelligence(DI)is becoming more and more urgent for both...As Artificial Intelligence(AI)is moving fast from Large Language Models(LLMs)to AI Agents and Agentic Intelligence,the need to incorporate new AI into Decision Intelligence(DI)is becoming more and more urgent for both practical and theoretic reasons:both decision and process complexities would be significantly increased due to the use of advanced AI tools and agents,and both traditional and recent thinking must be rethought and reconstructed accordingly.Our perspective would like to address this important issue based on some historical milestone developments in Computer-Aided Software Engineering(CASE)and recent efforts in digital theatrical technology[1].展开更多
Objective:To investigate the effect of Catalpa ovata fruit extract(COFE)on muscle growth and exercise performance in C2C12 myoblasts and mice.Me t h o d s:Cel l viabi l i ty was determined through a 3-(4,5-dimethylthi...Objective:To investigate the effect of Catalpa ovata fruit extract(COFE)on muscle growth and exercise performance in C2C12 myoblasts and mice.Me t h o d s:Cel l viabi l i ty was determined through a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.Myogenic differentiation was observed using Giemsa staining.COFE was administered to mice orally at 50 and 200 mg/kg for 10 weeks.Muscular strength was evaluated using the whole-limb grip strength assay.The expression levels of myogenesis-and energy metabolism-related proteins in vitro and in vivo were determined using Western blotting.Results:COFE significantly improved myoblast-to-myotube differentiation in C2C12 myoblasts.It also increased the expression of myogenesis determination protein 1 and myogenin compared with the control group.Moreover,the expression levels of glucose transporter type 4(Glut4)and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-alpha(PGC-1α)were significantly elevated in the presence of COFE in C2C12 myoblasts.COFE also markedly increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase,which regulates Glut4 and PGC-1αexpression levels in C2C12 myoblasts.Mice treated with COFE showed improved grip strength.Myogenesis-and energy metabolism-related protein levels in muscle tissue were significantly increased in COFE-administered mice.Conclusions:COFE treatment improves exercise performance by controlling myogenesis and energy metabolism in skeletal muscle.COFE has the potential to be used as an effective natural agent for enhancing muscular strength.展开更多
BACKGROUND Tumors characterized by high cellular stemness often have unfavorable clinical outcomes,primarily due to their heightened potential for metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy.Among the model genes,the cl...BACKGROUND Tumors characterized by high cellular stemness often have unfavorable clinical outcomes,primarily due to their heightened potential for metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy.Among the model genes,the clinical relevance and prognostic significance of Niemann-Pick type C2(NPC2)in gastric cancer(GC)remained largely unexplored.AIM To identify stemness-associated genes in GC.METHODS In this study,epithelial cells were categorized as either tumor or normal epithelial cells using the infer copy number variation method.Stemness scores were calculated for both cell types.The hierarchical Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis identified two gene modules with the strongest association with stemness.Prognostically significant stemness-related genes were pinpointed using univariate Cox regression based on The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset.A predictive model related to stemness was constructed using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression followed by multivariate Cox analysis.RESULTS Functional roles of NPC2 were validated using single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data.Further experimental validation revealed that elevated NPC2 expression promoted tumor cell stemness,invasiveness,migratory ability,and resistance to standard chemotherapeutic agents.Importantly,high NPC2 expression correlated with poorer overall survival in GC patients.CONCLUSION In summary,the proposed model offers prognostic insights that outperform traditional clinical staging and may inform more tailored therapeutic approaches for gastric cancer management.展开更多
Localized high-concentration electrolytes(LHCEs)are considered as promising electrolyte candidates to resolve technical issues of metal batteries owing to their unique interfacial properties and solvation structures.H...Localized high-concentration electrolytes(LHCEs)are considered as promising electrolyte candidates to resolve technical issues of metal batteries owing to their unique interfacial properties and solvation structures.Herein,we propose a self-assembly chemical strategy into the LCHEs induced by ordered nanostructure of zwitterionic co-solutes for highly efficient and ultrastable zinc(Zn)metal batteries.Through the systematic screening of six zwitterionic compounds,3-(decyldimethylammonio)propanesulfonate salt(C_(10))with the decyl chain and zwitterions was determined as an optimum to construct quasi-spherical aggregates with a periodic length of 3.77 nm,as confirmed by comprehensive synchronous small-angle X-ray scattering,Guinier,pair distance distribution function,Porod,and other spectroscopic characterizations and molecular dynamic simulation.In particularly,this self-assembled structure in electrolyte environments was attributed to increasing the proportion of both contact and aggregated ion pairs for the formation of LHCEs as well as to providing fast and selective Zn^(2+)conducting channels and uniform solid electrolyte interfaces for facilitated charge transfer kinetics.Moreover,the preferential adsorption of the self-assembled C_(10)on the Zn(002)surface modulated the electrical double layer to suppress hydrogen evolution and corrosion reactions.Consequently,the Zn‖Zn symmetric cells in Zn(OTf)_(2)/C_(10)electrolytes showed long-term plating/stripping behaviors over 2800 h at 1 mA cm^(-2)and 1 mAh cm^(-2)as well as over 1200 h even at 5 mA cm^(-2)and 5 mAh cm^(-2)with a very high depth of discharge of 42.7%.Furthermore,the ZnllVO_(2)/CNT full cells in Zn(OTf)_(2)/C_(10)electrolytes delivered a record-high capacity of 8.10 mAh cm^(-2)at an ultrahigh cathode mass loading of 50 mg cm^(-2)after 150 cycles.展开更多
This editorial is a commentary on the case report by Furuya et al focusing on the challenging diagnosis of early pancreatic adenocarcinoma and new tools for an earlier diagnosis.Currently,pancreatic cancer still has a...This editorial is a commentary on the case report by Furuya et al focusing on the challenging diagnosis of early pancreatic adenocarcinoma and new tools for an earlier diagnosis.Currently,pancreatic cancer still has a poor prognosis,mainly due to late diagnosis in an advanced stage.Two main precancerous routes have been identified as pathways to pancreatic adenocarcinoma:The first encompasses a large group of mucinous cystic lesions:intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and mucinous cystic neoplasm,and the second is pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia.In the last decade the focus of research has been to identify high-risk patients,using advanced imaging techniques(magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography or endoscopic ultrasonography)which could be helpful in finding“indirect signs”of early stage pancreatic lesions.Nevertheless,the survival rate still remains poor,and alternative screening methods are under investigation.Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography followed by serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytology could be a promising tool for identifying precursor lesions such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm,but confirming data are still needed to validate its role.Probably a combination of cross-sectional imaging,endoscopic techniques(old and new ones)and genetic and biological biomarkers also in pancreatic juice)could be the best solution to reach an early diagnosis.Biomarkers could help to predict and follow the progression of early pancreatic lesions.However,further studies are needed to validate their diagnostic reliability and to establish diagnostic algorithms to improve prognosis and survival in patients with pancreatic cancer.展开更多
Background:Despite the promise shown by large language models(LLMs)for standardized tasks,their multidimensional performance in real-world oncology decision-making remains unevaluated.This study aims to introduce a fr...Background:Despite the promise shown by large language models(LLMs)for standardized tasks,their multidimensional performance in real-world oncology decision-making remains unevaluated.This study aims to introduce a framework for evaluating LLMs and physician decisions in challenging lung cancer cases.Methods:We curated 50 challenging lung cancer cases(25 local and 25 published)classified as complex,rare,or refractory.Blinded three-dimensional,five-point Likert evaluations(1–5 for comprehensiveness,specificity,and readability)compared standalone LLMs(DeepSeek R1,Claude 3.5,Gemini 1.5,and GPT-4o),physicians by experience level(junior,intermediate,and senior),and AI-assisted juniors;intergroup differences and augmentation effects were analyzed statistically.Results:Of 50 challenging cases(18 complex,17 rare,and 15 refractory)rated by three experts,DeepSeek R1 achieved scores of 3.95±0.33,3.71±0.53,and 4.26±0.18 for comprehensiveness,specificity,and readability,respectively,positioning it between intermediate(3.68,3.68,3.75)and senior(4.50,4.64,4.53)physicians.GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 reached intermediate physician–level comprehensiveness(3.76±0.39,3.60±0.39)but junior-to-intermediate physician–level specificity(3.39±0.39,3.39±0.49).All LLMs scored higher on rare cases than intermediate physicians but fell below junior physicians in refractory-case specificity.AIassisted junior physicians showed marked gains in rare cases,with comprehensiveness rising from 2.32 to 4.29(84.8%),specificity from 2.24 to 4.26(90.8%),and readability from 2.76 to 4.59(66.0%),while specificity declined by 3.2%(3.17 to 3.07)in refractory cases.Error analysis showed complementary strengths,with physicians demonstrating reasoning stability and LLMs excelling in knowledge updating and risk management.Conclusions:LLMs performed variably in clinical decision-making tasks depending on case type,performing better in rare cases and worse in refractory cases requiring longitudinal reasoning.Complementary strengths between LLMs and physicians support case-and task-tailored human–AI collaboration.展开更多
The urgent demand for sustainable and efficient energy storage has spurred interest in magnesiumlithium hybrid-ion batteries(MLHB),which combine the safety and cost-effectiveness of magnesium(Mg)anodes with the superi...The urgent demand for sustainable and efficient energy storage has spurred interest in magnesiumlithium hybrid-ion batteries(MLHB),which combine the safety and cost-effectiveness of magnesium(Mg)anodes with the superior ion transport properties of lithium.However,the development of MLHB is hindered by the limitations of conventional cathode materials,including structural instability and high intercalation energy barriers.Here,we present a novel cathode architecture based on vanadium diselenide(VSe_(2)),synthesized via atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition(APCVD).This approach enables the direct growth of VSe_(2) nanoarchitectures on carbon nanotube film(CNTf)current collectors,ensuring excellent electron transport and mechanical robustness.Meanwhile,a conformal poly(3,4-ethy lenedioxythiophene)(PEDOT)coating is strategically engineered onto the VSe_(2) cathode surface through molecularly precise interfacial manipulation,which significantly enhances the mechanical toughness of the cathode,thereby alleviating stress concentration and preventing mechanical degradation.These are systematically validated by finite element modeling and advanced microscopy.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations and experiments reveal that pre-lithiation significantly improves electronic conductivity and facilitates Mg^(2+)insertion.The resulting VSe_(2)-based cathode exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance,achieving a specific capacity of 129 mAh g^(-1) at 2000 mA g^(-1) and maintaining 107.3 mAh g^(-1)over 3000 cycles at 1000 mA g^(-1),demonstrating remarkable cycling stability.This work establishes a scalable strategy for MLHB cathodes,advancing the frontier of multivalent-ion battery technology.展开更多
Temperature fluctuations challenge ectothermic species,particularly tropical fish dependent on external temperatures for physiological regulation.However,the molecular mechanisms through which low-temperature stress i...Temperature fluctuations challenge ectothermic species,particularly tropical fish dependent on external temperatures for physiological regulation.However,the molecular mechanisms through which low-temperature stress impacts immune responses in these species,especially in relation to chromatin accessibility and epigenetic regulation,remain poorly understood.In this study,we investigate chromatin and transcriptional changes in the head kidney and thymus tissues of Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus),a tropical fish of significant economic importance,under cold stress.By analyzing cis-regulatory elements in open chromatin regions and their associated transcription factors(TFs),we construct a comprehensive transcriptional regulatory network(TRN)governing immune responses,including DNA damage-induced apoptosis.Our analysis identifies 119 TFs within the TRN,with Stat1 emerging as a central hub exhibiting distinct binding dynamics under cold stress,as revealed by footprint analysis.Overexpression of Stat1 in immune cells leads to apoptosis and increases the expression of apoptosis-related genes,many of which contain Stat1-binding sites in their regulatory regions,emphasizing its critical role in immune cell survival during cold stress.These results provide insights into the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of immune responses to cold stress in tilapia and highlight Stat1 as a promising target for enhancing cold tolerance in tropical fish species.展开更多
A unitized regenerative fuel cell(URFC)is a device that may function reversibly as either a fuel cell(FC)or water elec-trolysis(WE).An important component of this device is the Membrane electrode assembly(MEA).Therefo...A unitized regenerative fuel cell(URFC)is a device that may function reversibly as either a fuel cell(FC)or water elec-trolysis(WE).An important component of this device is the Membrane electrode assembly(MEA).Therefore,this study aimed to compare the performance outcomes of MEA using electrodes with single and three catalyst layers.This study measured Electrochemical Surface Area(ECSA),Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy(EIS),X-ray Diffraction analysis(XRD),and X-ray Fluorescence(XRF).Furthermore,the round-trip efficiency(RTE)of the MEA,as w ell as the performance in FC and WE mode,was measured.In comparison,The ECSA values of Pt-Ru/C and Pt/C with three catalyst layers were higher than the single catalyst layer.This result was supported by electrode characterization data for XRD and XRF.The respective electrical conductivity values of Pt-Ru/C and Pt/C with three catalyst layers are also higher than the single cata-lyst layer,and the performance of URFC using MEA with three catalyst layers has the highest value of RTE among the MEA performances of URFC,which is 100%at a current density of 4 mA·cm-2.展开更多
Liver cancer is a major killer threatening human health worldwide.At this stage the clinical choice to the treatment of liver cancer is a combination of surgery,chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Alternatively,using hydrog...Liver cancer is a major killer threatening human health worldwide.At this stage the clinical choice to the treatment of liver cancer is a combination of surgery,chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Alternatively,using hydrogen to treat cancer has great prospects and development space.Herein,we fabricated a hierarchical and flexible electrode that being able to continuously generate hydrogen in vivo in the deep abdominal liver through efficient water electrolysis to kill tumor cells and regulate the tumor microenvironment.The flexibility of the electrode facilitated to fit the tumor surface and thus improved the contact area of hydrogen therapy.By in situ growth of molybdenum disulfide on a hierarchical carbon skeleton,improved reaction kinetics and smaller impedance with a low overpotential of 1.02 V at-10 m A/cm^(2)in cell culture medium and Tafel slope of 73 m V/dec were achieved.Animal experiments showed that the electrode could effectively inhibit the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in nude mice by efficient H_(2)-production in vivo.The apoptosis rate of cancer cells reached 81.8%,and the proliferation rate decreased to 3.39%.Moreover,this treatment does not affect the growth of normal hepatocytes according to the results of cell experiments.This study demonstrated that the in vivo hydrogen production by our flexible electrode is a safe and effective treatment for liver cancer,with the advantages of minimal invasiveness,simple operation,low side effects and low cost.展开更多
Dear Editor,Descemet’s membrane detachment(DMD)is considered as a potential sight-threatening complication following various intraocular surgeries,particularly cataract surgery[1].The labile adhesion between the Desc...Dear Editor,Descemet’s membrane detachment(DMD)is considered as a potential sight-threatening complication following various intraocular surgeries,particularly cataract surgery[1].The labile adhesion between the Descemet’s membrane(DM)and the posterior corneal stromal layer can be easily separated with minimal mechanical force.Several risk factors have been associated with the development of DMD including old age,improper intraoperative operation,corneal ectatic disorders,and endothelial disorders and so on[1-4].展开更多
This study investigates zinc’s(Zn)key role in enhancing the precipitation kinetics and refinement of Mg_(17)Al_(12)and Mg_(2)Sn phases in magnesium alloys through trace sodium(Na)additions.Magnesium alloys with varyi...This study investigates zinc’s(Zn)key role in enhancing the precipitation kinetics and refinement of Mg_(17)Al_(12)and Mg_(2)Sn phases in magnesium alloys through trace sodium(Na)additions.Magnesium alloys with varying compositions of aluminum(Al),tin(Sn),Zn,and Na were prepared and aged at 453 K.Microstructural analyses were conducted using transmission electron microscopy(TEM),scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM),and atom probe tomography(APT).Trace additions of Na significantly enhanced the precipitation responses of both Mg_(17)Al_(12)and Mg_(2)Sn phases.When Zn was co-added with Na,as in the ATZ641N3 alloy(Mg–6Al–4Sn–1Zn–0.3Na),there was a pronounced refinement in precipitate morphology and acceleration of precipitation kinetics.The ATZ641N3 alloy achieved a peak hardness of 103 Hv at 36 hours,compared to 91 Hv at 72 hours for the ATZ641 alloy without Na.The simultaneous addition of Zn and Na led to the formation of Sn–Na–Zn particles that acted as effective nucleation sites for Mg_(2)Sn,promoting aluminum partitioning and accelerating the precipitation of Mg_(17)Al_(12)through Al-rich regions.Additionally,Zn and Na co-segregated within the Mg_(17)Al_(12)phase,reducing misfit strain caused by Zn substitution and improving precipitate stability and refinement.These findings highlight Zn’s critical role,alongside trace Na additions,in refining and accelerating the precipitation of Mg_(17)Al_(12)and Mg_(2)Sn phases,thereby enhancing the age-hardening response of magnesium alloys.展开更多
AIM:To examined the effects of a high-fat diet(HFD)on retinal pathological changes and dysfunction using peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha(PPARα)knockout mice.METHODS:For four months,C57BL/6J and PPAR...AIM:To examined the effects of a high-fat diet(HFD)on retinal pathological changes and dysfunction using peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha(PPARα)knockout mice.METHODS:For four months,C57BL/6J and PPARαknockout mice received either HFD or a standard diet(SD).A fluorometric method was used to determine the retinal triglycerides.The retinal malondialdehyde(MDA)content was measured.Hematoxylin-eosin was used to evaluate retinal pathological changes.Protein expression was analyzed by Western blot and immunofluorescence,while mRNA expression was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.Electroretinogram was used to assess retinal function.RESULTS:HFD resulted in increased fatty acidβ-oxidation in the inner retina,particularly retinal ganglion cells(RGCs),as well as increased weight and accumulation of retinal triglyceride.Retinal fatty acid β-oxidation and triglyceride accumulation were affected by PPARα^(−/−)abnormalities.PPARαknockdown increased the infiltration and activation of inflammatory cells,as well as it upregulated the nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)signaling pathway and corresponding proinflammatory cytokine levels in the most retina subjected to the HFD.In the HFD mice,oxidative stress levels were elevated in the inner retina,particularly in the HFD PPARα^(−/−)mice.HFD-induced RGCs apoptosis initiation was exacerbated by PPARαdeficiency.Lastly,HFD feeding resulted in the lower amplitudes of scotopic a-wave,b-wave and photopic negative response(PhNR)wave,particularly in HFD PPARα^(−/−)mice.CONCLUSION:In HFD-fed mice retina,particularly in the inner retina,PPARα knockout increases lipid metabolic abnormalities,inflammatory responses,oxidative stress,apoptosis initiation and dysfunction.展开更多
BACKGROUND Primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)is a long-term liver condition defined by the inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts,resulting in complications such as liver cirrhosis,portal hypertension,and cholan...BACKGROUND Primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)is a long-term liver condition defined by the inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts,resulting in complications such as liver cirrhosis,portal hypertension,and cholangiocarcinoma.Although PSC predominantly affects adults,the incidence in pediatric patients is rising.For individuals in the advanced stages of liver disease,liver transplantation(LT)is the sole curative treatment option.However,the recurrence of PSC in the transplanted liver,known as recurrent PSC(rPSC),remains a significant concern.AIM To identify the potential risk factors for the recurrence of PSC in pediatric patients after undergoing LT.METHODS A literature search was carried out across databases,including PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,and Scopus,covering studies published from 1990 through 2024.The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was utilized to assess the quality of the selected studies.Statistical analyses were conducted using RevMan 5.3 software,where the risk of recurrence was quantified using hazard ratios(HR)with 95%CI.RESULTS A total of nine reports with 2524 pediatric patients with PSC were included in this analysis.The findings revealed several important risk factors connected to the rPSC in pediatric patients who had received a liver transplant,including concurrent inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),elevated liver enzyme levels,and the presence of PSCautoimmune hepatitis(AIH)overlap syndrome(all P<0.05).No statistically significant association was found between acute allograft rejection,Epstein-Barr virus infection,and the risk of rPSC recurrence in the pediatric liver transplant recipients.CONCLUSION The present systematic review and meta-analysis have identified various risk factors associated with the recurrence of PSC in pediatric patients who underwent LT,including IBD,elevated liver enzyme levels,and PSC-AIH overlap syndrome.展开更多
Objectives:Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin(BCG)therapy is a gold standard for patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC).Although a long-lasting therapeutic response is observed in mo...Objectives:Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin(BCG)therapy is a gold standard for patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC).Although a long-lasting therapeutic response is observed in most patients,BCG failure occurs in 30%–50%of patients and a progression to muscle-invasive disease is found in 10%–15%.Therefore,predicting high-risk patients who might not benefit from BCG treatment is critical.The purpose of this study was to identify,whether the presence of specific oncogenic mutations might be indicative of BCG treatment response.Methods:Nineteen high-grade NMIBC patients who received intravesical BCG were retrospectively enrolled and divided into“responders”and“non-responders”groups.Tissue samples from transurethral resection of bladder cancer were performed before starting therapy and were examined using a multigene sequencing panel.Results:Mutations in TP53,FGFR3,PIK3CA,KRAS,CTNNB1,ALK and DDR2 genes were detected.TP53 and FGFR3 were found to be the most frequently mutated genes in our cohort(31.6%and 26.3%,respectively),followed by PIK3CA(15.8%).In the BCG-responsive patient group,90%of samples were found to have mutated genes,with almost 50%of them showing mutations in tyrosine kinase receptors and CTNNB1 genes.On the other hand,in the BCG-unresponsive group,we found mutations in 44.4%of samples,mainly in TP53 gene.Conclusions:Our findings suggest that a Next-Generation Sequencing(NGS)multigene panel is useful in predicting BCG response in patients with NMIBC.展开更多
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is an aggressive malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by high recurrence rates following radical gastrectomy.To enhance treatment efficacy,reduce recurrence,and improve p...BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is an aggressive malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by high recurrence rates following radical gastrectomy.To enhance treatment efficacy,reduce recurrence,and improve patient survival,adjuvant chemotherapy is commonly administered based on established postoperative guidelines.Despite advancements in chemotherapy delivery,the overall response rate remains below 50%,primarily due to the lack of targeted therapies tailored to specific patient populations.AIM To explore sensitive biomarkers to assess the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in appropriate patient subgroups.METHODS This study retrospectively analyzed 1628 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for GC at our hospital in 2017 and 2018,with a subsequent five-year follow-up.Patients were divided based on whether they received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.The study aimed to determine optimal cutoff values for various biomarkersneutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio,carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen(CA)199,CA724,and CA242-using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Based on the optimal ROC cut-off,a novel combined metric,NLR-CEA,was developed to assess the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy following GC surgery.RESULTS Cox subgroup analysis demonstrated that postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival in the NLR-CEA_Low group with a rate of 0.41(0.26-0.63).In the NLR-CEA_Middle group,the protective effect was observed at 0.69(0.54-0.87),while in the NLR-CEA_High group,it was 0.73(0.53-0.99).Notably,a 32%difference in the efficacy of chemotherapy was observed between the NLR-CEA_Low and NLR-CEA_High groups.CONCLUSION NLR-CEA is an effective biomarker for evaluating the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in GC.Patients with NLR-CEA_Low exhibit significantly better responses to chemotherapy compared to those with NLRCEA_High.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82071909(to GF)the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province,No.2023-MS-07(to HL)。
文摘Freezing of gait is a significant and debilitating motor symptom often observed in individuals with Parkinson's disease.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging,along with its multi-level feature indices,has provided a fresh perspective and valuable insight into the study of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.It has been revealed that Parkinson's disease is accompanied by widespread irregularities in inherent brain network activity.However,the effective integration of the multi-level indices of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging into clinical settings for the diagnosis of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease remains a challenge.Although previous studies have demonstrated that radiomics can extract optimal features as biomarkers to identify or predict diseases,a knowledge gap still exists in the field of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the ability of radiomics features based on multi-level indices of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging,along with clinical features,to distinguish between Parkinson's disease patients with and without freezing of gait.We recruited 28 patients with Parkinson's disease who had freezing of gait(15 men and 13 women,average age 63 years)and 30 patients with Parkinson's disease who had no freezing of gait(16 men and 14 women,average age 64 years).Magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained using a 3.0T scanner to extract the mean amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations,mean regional homogeneity,and degree centrality.Neurological and clinical characteristics were also evaluated.We used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm to extract features and established feedforward neural network models based solely on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging indicators.We then performed predictive analysis of three distinct groups based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging indicators indicators combined with clinical features.Subsequently,we conducted 100 additional five-fold cross-validations to determine the most effective model for each classification task and evaluated the performance of the model using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.The results showed that when differentiating patients with Parkinson's disease who had freezing of gait from those who did not have freezing of gait,or from healthy controls,the models using only the mean regional homogeneity values achieved the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.750(with an accuracy of 70.9%)and 0.759(with an accuracy of 65.3%),respectively.When classifying patients with Parkinson's disease who had freezing of gait from those who had no freezing of gait,the model using the mean amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation values combined with two clinical features achieved the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.847(with an accuracy of 74.3%).The most significant features for patients with Parkinson's disease who had freezing of gait were amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation alterations in the left parahippocampal gyrus and two clinical characteristics:Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Hamilton Depression Scale scores.Our findings suggest that radiomics features derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging indices and clinical information can serve as valuable indices for the identification of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.
基金partial support from the Living Circular Labels project,funded by the Taskforce for Applied Research SIA’s KIEM programme(No.CIE.06.007)in the Netherlands。
文摘By leveraging the unique qualities of microorganisms,engineered living materials(ELMs)offer functional and economic advantages in everyday applications along with notable ecological benefits.This study contributes to the growing field of biodesign by examining the potential of Flavobacteria for thermochromic ELMs.Many Flavobacteria,commonly found in marine environments,produce iridescent structural colorations as their colonies expand on semi-solid surfaces through gliding motility.In this study,we analyzed the effects of temperature variations on flavobacterium Cellulophaga lytica PLY A 2,characterizing distinct changes in colony growth and iridescent colorations at a macroscopic and microscopic scale.Using scanning electron microscopy,we investigated the relationship between iridescent color and the underlying cell-based optical structures.By providing insights into the temperature-responsive behavior of Flavobacteria,our findings highlight their potential for future thermochromic ELMs-with applications ranging from sustainable food packaging to smart textiles-while encouraging further characterization studies within biodesign research.
基金Dalian Science and Technology Talent Innovation Support Policy Implementation Plan High-Level Talent Team,No.2022RG18(to JL)the Science and Technology Plan Orientation of Liaoning Province,No.[2021]49(to JL)+1 种基金Dalian High-Level Talent Innovation Support Plan,No.2021RQ028(to CH)Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province,No.2022-BS-238(to CH).
文摘Stem cell therapy shows promise for treating brain injuries;neural stem cells in particular are capable of repairing damage by forming new nerve cells and supporting recovery.However,optimizing the implantation and functionality of these cells in damaged brain regions remains challenging.Silk fibroin,a natural protein derived from silkworm silk,is a biocompatible material with exceptional properties that are useful for tissue engineering.Its biodegradability,mechanical robustness,and ability to promote cell growth make it particularly valuable for biomedical applications.Silk fibroin nanomaterials,which comprise silk fibroin processed into nanostructures,offer enhanced surface area,improved loading capacity for bioactive molecules,and superior nanoscale interactions with cells compared with bulk silk fibroin materials.In this study,we first extracted human-derived neural stem cells from a 14-week-old human fetus.Then,neural stem cells were loaded with 1%silk fibroin nanomaterials,which was identified as the optimal concentration to support human-derived neural stem cell growth and release of neurotrophic factors.Finally,1%silk fibroin nanomaterials were implanted into a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.The results showed that,compared with the treatment with human-derived neural stem cells alone,silk fibroin hydrogel carrying human-derived neural stem cells was significantly more effective at alleviating brain tissue damage,increasing neurotrophic factor secretion in the brain microenvironment,and promoting motor and cognitive function recovery.These findings suggest that silk fibroin nanomaterials loaded with human-derived neural stem cells could be used to treat hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.However,the mechanisms and related signaling pathways by which hydrogels combined with cells exert their reparative effects still require further in-depth investigation.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Development Fund,Macao Special Administrative Region(SAR)(0093/2023/RIA2,0157/2024/RIA2,0145/2023/RIA3)the Distinguished Program of Obuda University and the DeSci Center for Parallel Intelligence at the Obuda University,Hungary.This article is based on the report of“Digital Theaters and Theatrical Intelligence for Decision Science”Project(DeSCII-0017-1023-2023,PI:Qinghua Ni)initiated by DeSci International.
文摘As Artificial Intelligence(AI)is moving fast from Large Language Models(LLMs)to AI Agents and Agentic Intelligence,the need to incorporate new AI into Decision Intelligence(DI)is becoming more and more urgent for both practical and theoretic reasons:both decision and process complexities would be significantly increased due to the use of advanced AI tools and agents,and both traditional and recent thinking must be rethought and reconstructed accordingly.Our perspective would like to address this important issue based on some historical milestone developments in Computer-Aided Software Engineering(CASE)and recent efforts in digital theatrical technology[1].
基金supported by Project to Make Multi-Ministerial National Biological Research Resources More Advanced Program,Korea Environment Industry&Technology Institute,and funded by Korea Ministry of Environment(grant number RS-2023-00230403).
文摘Objective:To investigate the effect of Catalpa ovata fruit extract(COFE)on muscle growth and exercise performance in C2C12 myoblasts and mice.Me t h o d s:Cel l viabi l i ty was determined through a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.Myogenic differentiation was observed using Giemsa staining.COFE was administered to mice orally at 50 and 200 mg/kg for 10 weeks.Muscular strength was evaluated using the whole-limb grip strength assay.The expression levels of myogenesis-and energy metabolism-related proteins in vitro and in vivo were determined using Western blotting.Results:COFE significantly improved myoblast-to-myotube differentiation in C2C12 myoblasts.It also increased the expression of myogenesis determination protein 1 and myogenin compared with the control group.Moreover,the expression levels of glucose transporter type 4(Glut4)and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-alpha(PGC-1α)were significantly elevated in the presence of COFE in C2C12 myoblasts.COFE also markedly increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase,which regulates Glut4 and PGC-1αexpression levels in C2C12 myoblasts.Mice treated with COFE showed improved grip strength.Myogenesis-and energy metabolism-related protein levels in muscle tissue were significantly increased in COFE-administered mice.Conclusions:COFE treatment improves exercise performance by controlling myogenesis and energy metabolism in skeletal muscle.COFE has the potential to be used as an effective natural agent for enhancing muscular strength.
文摘BACKGROUND Tumors characterized by high cellular stemness often have unfavorable clinical outcomes,primarily due to their heightened potential for metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy.Among the model genes,the clinical relevance and prognostic significance of Niemann-Pick type C2(NPC2)in gastric cancer(GC)remained largely unexplored.AIM To identify stemness-associated genes in GC.METHODS In this study,epithelial cells were categorized as either tumor or normal epithelial cells using the infer copy number variation method.Stemness scores were calculated for both cell types.The hierarchical Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis identified two gene modules with the strongest association with stemness.Prognostically significant stemness-related genes were pinpointed using univariate Cox regression based on The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset.A predictive model related to stemness was constructed using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression followed by multivariate Cox analysis.RESULTS Functional roles of NPC2 were validated using single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data.Further experimental validation revealed that elevated NPC2 expression promoted tumor cell stemness,invasiveness,migratory ability,and resistance to standard chemotherapeutic agents.Importantly,high NPC2 expression correlated with poorer overall survival in GC patients.CONCLUSION In summary,the proposed model offers prognostic insights that outperform traditional clinical staging and may inform more tailored therapeutic approaches for gastric cancer management.
基金financially supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by the Korean government(MSIT)(No.NRF-2020R1A3B2079803 and No.RS-2024-00453815),Republic of Korea。
文摘Localized high-concentration electrolytes(LHCEs)are considered as promising electrolyte candidates to resolve technical issues of metal batteries owing to their unique interfacial properties and solvation structures.Herein,we propose a self-assembly chemical strategy into the LCHEs induced by ordered nanostructure of zwitterionic co-solutes for highly efficient and ultrastable zinc(Zn)metal batteries.Through the systematic screening of six zwitterionic compounds,3-(decyldimethylammonio)propanesulfonate salt(C_(10))with the decyl chain and zwitterions was determined as an optimum to construct quasi-spherical aggregates with a periodic length of 3.77 nm,as confirmed by comprehensive synchronous small-angle X-ray scattering,Guinier,pair distance distribution function,Porod,and other spectroscopic characterizations and molecular dynamic simulation.In particularly,this self-assembled structure in electrolyte environments was attributed to increasing the proportion of both contact and aggregated ion pairs for the formation of LHCEs as well as to providing fast and selective Zn^(2+)conducting channels and uniform solid electrolyte interfaces for facilitated charge transfer kinetics.Moreover,the preferential adsorption of the self-assembled C_(10)on the Zn(002)surface modulated the electrical double layer to suppress hydrogen evolution and corrosion reactions.Consequently,the Zn‖Zn symmetric cells in Zn(OTf)_(2)/C_(10)electrolytes showed long-term plating/stripping behaviors over 2800 h at 1 mA cm^(-2)and 1 mAh cm^(-2)as well as over 1200 h even at 5 mA cm^(-2)and 5 mAh cm^(-2)with a very high depth of discharge of 42.7%.Furthermore,the ZnllVO_(2)/CNT full cells in Zn(OTf)_(2)/C_(10)electrolytes delivered a record-high capacity of 8.10 mAh cm^(-2)at an ultrahigh cathode mass loading of 50 mg cm^(-2)after 150 cycles.
文摘This editorial is a commentary on the case report by Furuya et al focusing on the challenging diagnosis of early pancreatic adenocarcinoma and new tools for an earlier diagnosis.Currently,pancreatic cancer still has a poor prognosis,mainly due to late diagnosis in an advanced stage.Two main precancerous routes have been identified as pathways to pancreatic adenocarcinoma:The first encompasses a large group of mucinous cystic lesions:intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and mucinous cystic neoplasm,and the second is pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia.In the last decade the focus of research has been to identify high-risk patients,using advanced imaging techniques(magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography or endoscopic ultrasonography)which could be helpful in finding“indirect signs”of early stage pancreatic lesions.Nevertheless,the survival rate still remains poor,and alternative screening methods are under investigation.Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography followed by serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytology could be a promising tool for identifying precursor lesions such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm,but confirming data are still needed to validate its role.Probably a combination of cross-sectional imaging,endoscopic techniques(old and new ones)and genetic and biological biomarkers also in pancreatic juice)could be the best solution to reach an early diagnosis.Biomarkers could help to predict and follow the progression of early pancreatic lesions.However,further studies are needed to validate their diagnostic reliability and to establish diagnostic algorithms to improve prognosis and survival in patients with pancreatic cancer.
文摘Background:Despite the promise shown by large language models(LLMs)for standardized tasks,their multidimensional performance in real-world oncology decision-making remains unevaluated.This study aims to introduce a framework for evaluating LLMs and physician decisions in challenging lung cancer cases.Methods:We curated 50 challenging lung cancer cases(25 local and 25 published)classified as complex,rare,or refractory.Blinded three-dimensional,five-point Likert evaluations(1–5 for comprehensiveness,specificity,and readability)compared standalone LLMs(DeepSeek R1,Claude 3.5,Gemini 1.5,and GPT-4o),physicians by experience level(junior,intermediate,and senior),and AI-assisted juniors;intergroup differences and augmentation effects were analyzed statistically.Results:Of 50 challenging cases(18 complex,17 rare,and 15 refractory)rated by three experts,DeepSeek R1 achieved scores of 3.95±0.33,3.71±0.53,and 4.26±0.18 for comprehensiveness,specificity,and readability,respectively,positioning it between intermediate(3.68,3.68,3.75)and senior(4.50,4.64,4.53)physicians.GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 reached intermediate physician–level comprehensiveness(3.76±0.39,3.60±0.39)but junior-to-intermediate physician–level specificity(3.39±0.39,3.39±0.49).All LLMs scored higher on rare cases than intermediate physicians but fell below junior physicians in refractory-case specificity.AIassisted junior physicians showed marked gains in rare cases,with comprehensiveness rising from 2.32 to 4.29(84.8%),specificity from 2.24 to 4.26(90.8%),and readability from 2.76 to 4.59(66.0%),while specificity declined by 3.2%(3.17 to 3.07)in refractory cases.Error analysis showed complementary strengths,with physicians demonstrating reasoning stability and LLMs excelling in knowledge updating and risk management.Conclusions:LLMs performed variably in clinical decision-making tasks depending on case type,performing better in rare cases and worse in refractory cases requiring longitudinal reasoning.Complementary strengths between LLMs and physicians support case-and task-tailored human–AI collaboration.
基金supported by the Hubei Key Laboratory of Electronic Manufacturing and Packaging Integration(Grant No.EMPI2024013)the Hubei Province“Chutian Talent Plan”Science and Technology Innovation Team Project+1 种基金funding support from the Start-up Fund from Wuhan Universitythe Hubei Science and Technology Innovation Team Project。
文摘The urgent demand for sustainable and efficient energy storage has spurred interest in magnesiumlithium hybrid-ion batteries(MLHB),which combine the safety and cost-effectiveness of magnesium(Mg)anodes with the superior ion transport properties of lithium.However,the development of MLHB is hindered by the limitations of conventional cathode materials,including structural instability and high intercalation energy barriers.Here,we present a novel cathode architecture based on vanadium diselenide(VSe_(2)),synthesized via atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition(APCVD).This approach enables the direct growth of VSe_(2) nanoarchitectures on carbon nanotube film(CNTf)current collectors,ensuring excellent electron transport and mechanical robustness.Meanwhile,a conformal poly(3,4-ethy lenedioxythiophene)(PEDOT)coating is strategically engineered onto the VSe_(2) cathode surface through molecularly precise interfacial manipulation,which significantly enhances the mechanical toughness of the cathode,thereby alleviating stress concentration and preventing mechanical degradation.These are systematically validated by finite element modeling and advanced microscopy.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations and experiments reveal that pre-lithiation significantly improves electronic conductivity and facilitates Mg^(2+)insertion.The resulting VSe_(2)-based cathode exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance,achieving a specific capacity of 129 mAh g^(-1) at 2000 mA g^(-1) and maintaining 107.3 mAh g^(-1)over 3000 cycles at 1000 mA g^(-1),demonstrating remarkable cycling stability.This work establishes a scalable strategy for MLHB cathodes,advancing the frontier of multivalent-ion battery technology.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32130109 and 32373113)the National Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(23ZR1426800)SciTech Funding by CSPFTZ Lingang Special Area Marine Biomedical Innovation Platform.
文摘Temperature fluctuations challenge ectothermic species,particularly tropical fish dependent on external temperatures for physiological regulation.However,the molecular mechanisms through which low-temperature stress impacts immune responses in these species,especially in relation to chromatin accessibility and epigenetic regulation,remain poorly understood.In this study,we investigate chromatin and transcriptional changes in the head kidney and thymus tissues of Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus),a tropical fish of significant economic importance,under cold stress.By analyzing cis-regulatory elements in open chromatin regions and their associated transcription factors(TFs),we construct a comprehensive transcriptional regulatory network(TRN)governing immune responses,including DNA damage-induced apoptosis.Our analysis identifies 119 TFs within the TRN,with Stat1 emerging as a central hub exhibiting distinct binding dynamics under cold stress,as revealed by footprint analysis.Overexpression of Stat1 in immune cells leads to apoptosis and increases the expression of apoptosis-related genes,many of which contain Stat1-binding sites in their regulatory regions,emphasizing its critical role in immune cell survival during cold stress.These results provide insights into the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of immune responses to cold stress in tilapia and highlight Stat1 as a promising target for enhancing cold tolerance in tropical fish species.
基金support from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia under grant HICOE-2023-005.
文摘A unitized regenerative fuel cell(URFC)is a device that may function reversibly as either a fuel cell(FC)or water elec-trolysis(WE).An important component of this device is the Membrane electrode assembly(MEA).Therefore,this study aimed to compare the performance outcomes of MEA using electrodes with single and three catalyst layers.This study measured Electrochemical Surface Area(ECSA),Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy(EIS),X-ray Diffraction analysis(XRD),and X-ray Fluorescence(XRF).Furthermore,the round-trip efficiency(RTE)of the MEA,as w ell as the performance in FC and WE mode,was measured.In comparison,The ECSA values of Pt-Ru/C and Pt/C with three catalyst layers were higher than the single catalyst layer.This result was supported by electrode characterization data for XRD and XRF.The respective electrical conductivity values of Pt-Ru/C and Pt/C with three catalyst layers are also higher than the single cata-lyst layer,and the performance of URFC using MEA with three catalyst layers has the highest value of RTE among the MEA performances of URFC,which is 100%at a current density of 4 mA·cm-2.
基金financially supported by research grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52173235)Science and Technology Innovation and Improving Project of Army Medical University(No.2021XJS24)+1 种基金Science and Technology Innovation Capability Enhancement Project of Army Medical University(No.2022XJS20)Key Innovation Project for Clinical Technology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University(No.2018JSLC0025)。
文摘Liver cancer is a major killer threatening human health worldwide.At this stage the clinical choice to the treatment of liver cancer is a combination of surgery,chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Alternatively,using hydrogen to treat cancer has great prospects and development space.Herein,we fabricated a hierarchical and flexible electrode that being able to continuously generate hydrogen in vivo in the deep abdominal liver through efficient water electrolysis to kill tumor cells and regulate the tumor microenvironment.The flexibility of the electrode facilitated to fit the tumor surface and thus improved the contact area of hydrogen therapy.By in situ growth of molybdenum disulfide on a hierarchical carbon skeleton,improved reaction kinetics and smaller impedance with a low overpotential of 1.02 V at-10 m A/cm^(2)in cell culture medium and Tafel slope of 73 m V/dec were achieved.Animal experiments showed that the electrode could effectively inhibit the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in nude mice by efficient H_(2)-production in vivo.The apoptosis rate of cancer cells reached 81.8%,and the proliferation rate decreased to 3.39%.Moreover,this treatment does not affect the growth of normal hepatocytes according to the results of cell experiments.This study demonstrated that the in vivo hydrogen production by our flexible electrode is a safe and effective treatment for liver cancer,with the advantages of minimal invasiveness,simple operation,low side effects and low cost.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(No.2024J011318No.2024J011321)Fuzhou Science and Technology Program(No.2023-S-005).
文摘Dear Editor,Descemet’s membrane detachment(DMD)is considered as a potential sight-threatening complication following various intraocular surgeries,particularly cataract surgery[1].The labile adhesion between the Descemet’s membrane(DM)and the posterior corneal stromal layer can be easily separated with minimal mechanical force.Several risk factors have been associated with the development of DMD including old age,improper intraoperative operation,corneal ectatic disorders,and endothelial disorders and so on[1-4].
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Program(PNKA130)of the Korea Institute of Materials Science,Republic of Korea。
文摘This study investigates zinc’s(Zn)key role in enhancing the precipitation kinetics and refinement of Mg_(17)Al_(12)and Mg_(2)Sn phases in magnesium alloys through trace sodium(Na)additions.Magnesium alloys with varying compositions of aluminum(Al),tin(Sn),Zn,and Na were prepared and aged at 453 K.Microstructural analyses were conducted using transmission electron microscopy(TEM),scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM),and atom probe tomography(APT).Trace additions of Na significantly enhanced the precipitation responses of both Mg_(17)Al_(12)and Mg_(2)Sn phases.When Zn was co-added with Na,as in the ATZ641N3 alloy(Mg–6Al–4Sn–1Zn–0.3Na),there was a pronounced refinement in precipitate morphology and acceleration of precipitation kinetics.The ATZ641N3 alloy achieved a peak hardness of 103 Hv at 36 hours,compared to 91 Hv at 72 hours for the ATZ641 alloy without Na.The simultaneous addition of Zn and Na led to the formation of Sn–Na–Zn particles that acted as effective nucleation sites for Mg_(2)Sn,promoting aluminum partitioning and accelerating the precipitation of Mg_(17)Al_(12)through Al-rich regions.Additionally,Zn and Na co-segregated within the Mg_(17)Al_(12)phase,reducing misfit strain caused by Zn substitution and improving precipitate stability and refinement.These findings highlight Zn’s critical role,alongside trace Na additions,in refining and accelerating the precipitation of Mg_(17)Al_(12)and Mg_(2)Sn phases,thereby enhancing the age-hardening response of magnesium alloys.
基金Supported by the Anhui Medical University Research Fund(No.2023xkj035)National Natural Science Foundation Incubation Program Project of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University(No.2023GQFY05)the Key Research and Development Technology project of Anhui Province(No.2022j11020013).
文摘AIM:To examined the effects of a high-fat diet(HFD)on retinal pathological changes and dysfunction using peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha(PPARα)knockout mice.METHODS:For four months,C57BL/6J and PPARαknockout mice received either HFD or a standard diet(SD).A fluorometric method was used to determine the retinal triglycerides.The retinal malondialdehyde(MDA)content was measured.Hematoxylin-eosin was used to evaluate retinal pathological changes.Protein expression was analyzed by Western blot and immunofluorescence,while mRNA expression was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.Electroretinogram was used to assess retinal function.RESULTS:HFD resulted in increased fatty acidβ-oxidation in the inner retina,particularly retinal ganglion cells(RGCs),as well as increased weight and accumulation of retinal triglyceride.Retinal fatty acid β-oxidation and triglyceride accumulation were affected by PPARα^(−/−)abnormalities.PPARαknockdown increased the infiltration and activation of inflammatory cells,as well as it upregulated the nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)signaling pathway and corresponding proinflammatory cytokine levels in the most retina subjected to the HFD.In the HFD mice,oxidative stress levels were elevated in the inner retina,particularly in the HFD PPARα^(−/−)mice.HFD-induced RGCs apoptosis initiation was exacerbated by PPARαdeficiency.Lastly,HFD feeding resulted in the lower amplitudes of scotopic a-wave,b-wave and photopic negative response(PhNR)wave,particularly in HFD PPARα^(−/−)mice.CONCLUSION:In HFD-fed mice retina,particularly in the inner retina,PPARα knockout increases lipid metabolic abnormalities,inflammatory responses,oxidative stress,apoptosis initiation and dysfunction.
文摘BACKGROUND Primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)is a long-term liver condition defined by the inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts,resulting in complications such as liver cirrhosis,portal hypertension,and cholangiocarcinoma.Although PSC predominantly affects adults,the incidence in pediatric patients is rising.For individuals in the advanced stages of liver disease,liver transplantation(LT)is the sole curative treatment option.However,the recurrence of PSC in the transplanted liver,known as recurrent PSC(rPSC),remains a significant concern.AIM To identify the potential risk factors for the recurrence of PSC in pediatric patients after undergoing LT.METHODS A literature search was carried out across databases,including PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,and Scopus,covering studies published from 1990 through 2024.The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was utilized to assess the quality of the selected studies.Statistical analyses were conducted using RevMan 5.3 software,where the risk of recurrence was quantified using hazard ratios(HR)with 95%CI.RESULTS A total of nine reports with 2524 pediatric patients with PSC were included in this analysis.The findings revealed several important risk factors connected to the rPSC in pediatric patients who had received a liver transplant,including concurrent inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),elevated liver enzyme levels,and the presence of PSCautoimmune hepatitis(AIH)overlap syndrome(all P<0.05).No statistically significant association was found between acute allograft rejection,Epstein-Barr virus infection,and the risk of rPSC recurrence in the pediatric liver transplant recipients.CONCLUSION The present systematic review and meta-analysis have identified various risk factors associated with the recurrence of PSC in pediatric patients who underwent LT,including IBD,elevated liver enzyme levels,and PSC-AIH overlap syndrome.
文摘Objectives:Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin(BCG)therapy is a gold standard for patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC).Although a long-lasting therapeutic response is observed in most patients,BCG failure occurs in 30%–50%of patients and a progression to muscle-invasive disease is found in 10%–15%.Therefore,predicting high-risk patients who might not benefit from BCG treatment is critical.The purpose of this study was to identify,whether the presence of specific oncogenic mutations might be indicative of BCG treatment response.Methods:Nineteen high-grade NMIBC patients who received intravesical BCG were retrospectively enrolled and divided into“responders”and“non-responders”groups.Tissue samples from transurethral resection of bladder cancer were performed before starting therapy and were examined using a multigene sequencing panel.Results:Mutations in TP53,FGFR3,PIK3CA,KRAS,CTNNB1,ALK and DDR2 genes were detected.TP53 and FGFR3 were found to be the most frequently mutated genes in our cohort(31.6%and 26.3%,respectively),followed by PIK3CA(15.8%).In the BCG-responsive patient group,90%of samples were found to have mutated genes,with almost 50%of them showing mutations in tyrosine kinase receptors and CTNNB1 genes.On the other hand,in the BCG-unresponsive group,we found mutations in 44.4%of samples,mainly in TP53 gene.Conclusions:Our findings suggest that a Next-Generation Sequencing(NGS)multigene panel is useful in predicting BCG response in patients with NMIBC.
文摘BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is an aggressive malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by high recurrence rates following radical gastrectomy.To enhance treatment efficacy,reduce recurrence,and improve patient survival,adjuvant chemotherapy is commonly administered based on established postoperative guidelines.Despite advancements in chemotherapy delivery,the overall response rate remains below 50%,primarily due to the lack of targeted therapies tailored to specific patient populations.AIM To explore sensitive biomarkers to assess the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in appropriate patient subgroups.METHODS This study retrospectively analyzed 1628 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for GC at our hospital in 2017 and 2018,with a subsequent five-year follow-up.Patients were divided based on whether they received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.The study aimed to determine optimal cutoff values for various biomarkersneutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio,carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen(CA)199,CA724,and CA242-using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Based on the optimal ROC cut-off,a novel combined metric,NLR-CEA,was developed to assess the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy following GC surgery.RESULTS Cox subgroup analysis demonstrated that postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival in the NLR-CEA_Low group with a rate of 0.41(0.26-0.63).In the NLR-CEA_Middle group,the protective effect was observed at 0.69(0.54-0.87),while in the NLR-CEA_High group,it was 0.73(0.53-0.99).Notably,a 32%difference in the efficacy of chemotherapy was observed between the NLR-CEA_Low and NLR-CEA_High groups.CONCLUSION NLR-CEA is an effective biomarker for evaluating the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in GC.Patients with NLR-CEA_Low exhibit significantly better responses to chemotherapy compared to those with NLRCEA_High.
