Saponins from Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus attenuate atherosclerosis by inhibiting macrophage foam cell formation and inflammation.

Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus (AMB) is a traditional Chinese medicine with medicinal and food homology. AMB has various biological activities, including anti-coagulation, lipid-lowering, anti-tumor, and antioxidant effects. Saponins from Allium macrostemonis Bulbus (SAMB), the predominant beneficial compounds, also exhibited lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of SAMB on atherosclerosis and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the pharmacological impact of SAMB on atherosclerosis. In apolipoprotein E deficiency (ApoE-/-) mice with high-fat diet feeding, oral SAMB administration significantly attenuated inflammation and atherosclerosis plaque formation. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that SAMB effectively suppressed oxidized-LDL-induced foam cell formation by down-regulating CD36 expression, thereby inhibiting lipid endocytosis in bone marrow-derived macrophages. Additionally, SAMB effectively blocked LPS-induced inflammatory response in bone marrow-derived macrophages potentially through modulating the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. In conclusion, SAMB exhibits a potential anti-atherosclerotic effect by inhibiting macrophage foam cell formation and inflammation. These findings provide novel insights into potential preventive and therapeutic strategies for the clinical management of atherosclerosis.

Photo-thermal synergistic CO2 hydrogenation towards CO over PtRh bimetal-decorated GaN nanowires/Si.

Photo-thermal-synergistic hydrogenation is a promising strategy for upcycling carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals by maximally utilizing full-spectrum solar energy. Herein, by immobilizing Pt-Rh bimetal onto a well-developed GaN NWs/Si platform, CO2 was photo-thermo-catalytically hydrogenated towards CO under concentrated light illumination without extra energies. The as-designed architecture demonstrates a considerable CO evolution rate of 11.7 mol gGaN-1 h-1 with a high selectivity of 98.5% under concentrated light illumination of 5.3 W cm-2, leading to a benchmark turnover frequency of 26 486 mol CO per mol PtRh per hour. It is nearly 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than that of pure thermal catalysis under the same temperature by external heating without light. Control experiments, various spectroscopic characterization methods, and density functional theory calculations are correlatively conducted to reveal the origin of the remarkable performance as well as the photo-thermal enhanced mechanism. It is found that the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs is dramatically inhibited under high temperatures arising from the photothermal effect. More critically, the synergy between photogenerated carriers arising from ultraviolet light and photoinduced heat arising from visible- and infrared light enables a sharp reduction of the apparent activation barrier of CO2 hydrogenation from 2.09 downward to 1.18 eV. The evolution pathway of CO2 hydrogenation towards CO is also disclosed at the molecular level. Furthermore, compared to monometallic Pt, the introduction of Rh further reduces the desorption energy barrier of *CO by optimizing the electronic properties of Pt, thus enabling the achievement of excellent activity and selectivity. This work provides new insights into CO2 hydrogenation by maximally utilizing full-spectrum sunlight via photo-thermal synergy.

Solar-Driven Biomass Reforming for Hydrogen Generation: Principles, Advances, and Challenges.

Hydrogen (H2) has emerged as a clean and versatile energy carrier to power a carbon-neutral economy for the post-fossil era. Hydrogen generation from low-cost and renewable biomass by virtually inexhaustible solar energy presents an innovative strategy to process organic solid waste, combat the energy crisis, and achieve carbon neutrality. Herein, the progress and breakthroughs in solar-powered H2 production from biomass are reviewed. The basic principles of solar-driven H2 generation from biomass are first introduced for a better understanding of the reaction mechanism. Next, the merits and shortcomings of various semiconductors and cocatalysts are summarized, and the strategies for addressing the related issues are also elaborated. Then, various bio-based feedstocks for solar-driven H2 production are reviewed with an emphasis on the effect of photocatalysts and catalytic systems on performance. Of note, the concurrent generation of value-added chemicals from biomass reforming is emphasized as well. Meanwhile, the emerging photo-thermal coupling strategy that shows a grand prospect for maximally utilizing the entire solar energy spectrum is also discussed. Further, the direct utilization of hydrogen from biomass as a green reductant for producing value-added chemicals via organic reactions is also highlighted. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of photoreforming biomass toward hydrogen are envisioned.

Effects of Selenium and Cadmium on Human Liver and Kidney Functions in Exposed Black Shale Areas.

Animal experiments suggest that selenium (Se) may alleviate cadmium (Cd) toxicity in animal liver and kidneys, but its effect on human liver and kidneys remains uncertain. In China, areas with black shale have shown elevated levels of Se and Cd. According to the USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) evaluation method, the soil and rice in these areas pose significant risks. In black shale regions such as Enshi and Zhuxi County, residents who long-term consume local rice may surpass safe Se and Cd intake levels. Significantly high median blood Se (B-Se) and urine selenium (U-Se) levels were detected in these areas, measuring 416.977 µg/L and 352.690 µg/L and 104.527 µg/L and 51.820 µg/L, respectively. Additionally, the median blood Cd (B-Cd) and urine Cd (U-Cd) levels were markedly elevated at 4.821 µg/L and 3.848 µg/L and at 7.750 µg/L and 7.050 µg/L, respectively, indicating substantial Cd exposure. Nevertheless, sensitive liver and kidney biomarkers in these groups fall within healthy reference ranges, suggesting a potential antagonistic effect of Se on Cd in the human body. Therefore, the USEPA method may not accurately assess Cd risk in exposed black shale areas. However, within the healthy ranges, residents in the Enshi study area had significantly greater median levels of serum creatinine and cystatin C, measuring 67.3 µmol/L and 0.92 mg/L, respectively, than those in Zhuxi did (53.6 µmol/L and 0.86 mg/L). In cases of excessive Se and Cd exposure, high Se and Cd levels impact the filtration function of the human kidney to some extent.

Switching Intrinsic Magnetic Skyrmions with Controllable Magnetic Anisotropy in van der Waals Multiferroic Heterostructures.

Magnetic skyrmions, topologically nontrivial whirling spin textures at nanometer scales, have emerged as potential information carriers for spintronic devices. The ability to efficiently create and erase magnetic skyrmions is vital yet challenging for such applications. Based on first-principles studies, we find that switching between intrinsic magnetic skyrmion and high-temperature ferromagnetic states can be achieved in the two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) multiferroic heterostructure CrSeI/In2Te3 by reversing the ferroelectric polarization of In2Te3. The core mechanism of this switching is traced to the controllable magnetic anisotropy of CrSeI influenced by the ferroelectric polarization of In2Te3. We propose a useful descriptor linking the presence of magnetic skyrmions to magnetic parameters and validate this connection through studies of a variety of similar vdW multiferroic heterostructures. Our work demonstrates that manipulating magnetic skyrmions via tunable magnetic anisotropies in vdW multiferroic heterostructures represents a highly promising and energy-efficient strategy for the future development of spintronics.

Saponins from Allium macrostemon Bulbs Attenuate Endothelial Inflammation and Acute Lung Injury via the NF-κB/VCAM-1 Pathway.

Endothelial inflammation is a multifaceted physiological process that plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of diverse diseases, encompassing but not limited to acute lung infections like COVID-19, coronary artery disease, stroke, sepsis, metabolic syndrome, certain malignancies, and even psychiatric disorders such as depression. This inflammatory response is characterized by augmented expression of adhesion molecules and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we discovered that saponins from Allium macrostemon bulbs (SAMB) effectively inhibited inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by the exogenous inflammatory mediator lipopolysaccharide or the endogenous inflammatory mediator tumor necrosis factor-α, as evidenced by a significant reduction in the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) with decreased monocyte adhesion. By employing the NF-κB inhibitor BAY-117082, we demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of SAMB on VCAM-1 expression may be attributed to the NF-κB pathway's inactivation, as characterized by the suppressed IκBα degradation and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation. Subsequently, we employed a murine model of lipopolysaccharide-induced septic acute lung injury to substantiate the potential of SAMB in ameliorating endothelial inflammation and acute lung injury in vivo. These findings provide novel insight into potential preventive and therapeutic strategies for the clinical management of diseases associated with endothelial inflammation.

Longitudinal polarization manipulation based on all-dielectric terahertz metasurfaces.

Polarization modulation of electromagnetic waves plays an important role in the field of optics and optoelectronics. Current polarization optics are typically limited to the modulation in a single transverse plane. However, manipulating polarization along the longitudinal direction is also important for full-space polarization modulation. Here, we propose two kinds of all-dielectric terahertz metasurfaces for longitudinally spatial polarization manipulation. The metasurfaces are capable of controlling polarization along the propagation path, namely: i) a longitudinal bifocal metalens with different polarization states at each focal point, and ii) a versatile metalens can simultaneously generate a uniformly polarized focused beam and a vector beam with varying polarization along the propagation path. Furthermore, the measurement of the dielectric thickness is demonstrated based on the polarization modulation feature of the metalens. The proposed metasurfaces allow for effective polarization state alteration along the propagation path, exhibiting significant potential for applications in versatile light-matter interactions, optical communications, and quantum optics.

Microenvironment with NIR-Controlled ROS and Mechanical Tensions for Manipulating Cell Activities in Wound Healing.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) orchestrates cell behavior and tissue regeneration by modulating biochemical and mechanical signals. Manipulating cell-material interactions is crucial for leveraging biomaterials to regulate cell functions. Yet, integrating multiple cues in a single material remains a challenge. Here, near-infrared (NIR)-controlled multifunctional hydrogel platforms, named PIC/CM@NPs, are introduced to dictate fibroblast behavior during wound healing by tuning the matrix oxidative stress and mechanical tensions. PIC/CM@NPs are prepared through cell adhesion-medicated assembly of collagen-like polyisocyanide (PIC) polymers and cell-membrane-coated conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CM@NPs), which closely mimic the fibrous structure and nonlinear mechanics of ECM. Upon NIR stimulation, PIC/CM@NPs composites enhance fibroblast cell proliferation, migration, cytokine production, and myofibroblast activation, crucial for wound closure. Moreover, they exhibit effective and toxin removal antibacterial properties, reducing inflammation. This multifunctional approach accelerates healing by 95%, highlighting the importance of integrating biochemical and biophysical cues in the biomaterial design for advanced tissue regeneration.

Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn. Ethanolic Extract Attenuates Endothelial Activation and Alleviates Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Endothelial pro-inflammatory activation is pivotal in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury pathophysiology. The dried flower bud of Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn. (EG) is a commonly utilized traditional Tibetan medicine. However, its role in regulating endothelium activation and cardiac I/R injury has not been investigated. Herein, we showed that the administration of EG ethanolic extract exhibited a potent therapeutic efficacy in ameliorating cardiac endothelial inflammation (p < 0.05) and thereby protecting against myocardial I/R injury in rats (p < 0.001). In line with the in vivo findings, the EG extract suppressed endothelial pro-inflammatory activation in vitro by downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (p < 0.05) and diminishing monocytes' firm adhesion to endothelial cells (ECs) (p < 0.01). Mechanistically, we showed that EG extract inhibited the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways to attenuate EC-mediated inflammation (p < 0.05). Collectively, for the first time, this study demonstrated the therapeutic potential of EG ethanolic extract in alleviating I/R-induced inflammation and the resulting cardiac injury through its inhibitory role in regulating endothelium activation.

Perioperative Adjunctive Esketamine for Postpartum Depression Among Women Undergoing Elective Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the most common mental health conditions during the perinatal and postpartum periods, which can have adverse effects on both mother and infant. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of perioperative adjunctive esketamine administration after cesarean deliveries in the prevention of PPD. Design, Setting, and Participants: A single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted from January 1, 2022, to January 1, 2023, at Fujian Provincial Hospital among 298 women aged 18 to 40 years, with an American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I to III classification and singleton full-term pregnancies who were scheduled for elective cesarean deliveries. Primary analyses were performed on a modified intention-to-treat basis. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to the esketamine (n = 148) and control (n = 150) groups. Those in the esketamine group received a single intravenous injection of 0.25 mg/kg of esketamine immediately after fetal delivery, followed by 50 mg of esketamine as an adjuvant in patient-controlled intravenous analgesia for 48 hours after surgery. Saline was given to the control group of patients. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was assessments of PPD symptoms by using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at postpartum day 7. Positive screening for PPD was defined as a score of 10 or more points on the EPDS. In addition, the EPDS was analyzed as a continuous variable to evaluate depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes included the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) of postoperative pain, along with safety evaluations including adverse events and clinical assessments at postpartum days 14, 28, and 42. Results: A total of 298 pregnant women were included, with 150 in the control group (median age, 31.0 years [IQR, 29.0-34.0 years]) and 148 in the esketamine group (median age, 31.0 years [IQR, 28.0-34.0 years]). The prevalence of depression symptoms was significantly lower among patients given esketamine compared with controls (23.0% [34 of 148] vs 35.3% [53 of 150]; odds ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.33-0.91; P = .02) on postpartum day 7. In addition, the esketamine group also showed a significantly lower change in EPDS scores (difference of least-squares means [SE], -1.17 [0.44]; 95% CI, -2.04 to -0.31; effect size, 0.74; P = .008). However, there were no differences between the groups in the incidence of positive screening results for PPD or in changes from the baseline EPDS scores at postpartum days 14, 28, and 42. There were no differences in NRS scores at rest and on movement except on movement at 72 hours postoperatively, when scores were significantly lower in the esketamine group (median, 3.0 [IQR, 2.0-3.0] vs 3.0 [IQR, 3.0-3.5]; median difference, 0 [95% CI, 0-0]; P = .03). Conclusions and Relevance: These results suggest that intravenous administration of esketamine during the perioperative period of elective cesarean delivery can improve depression symptoms during the early postpartum period. However, this antidepression effect may not be universally applicable to patients with low EPDS scores. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2100054199.

Rh/InGaN1-xOx nanoarchitecture for light-driven methane reforming with carbon dioxide toward syngas.

Light-driven dry reforming of methane toward syngas presents a proper solution for alleviating climate change and for the sustainable supply of transportation fuels and chemicals. Herein, Rh/InGaN1-xOx nanowires supported by silicon wafer are explored as an ideal platform for loading Rh nanoparticles, thus assembling a new nanoarchitecture for this grand topic. In combination with the remarkable photo-thermal synergy, the O atoms in Rh/InGaN1-xOx can significantly lower the apparent activation energy of dry reforming of methane from 2.96 eV downward to 1.70 eV. The as-designed Rh/InGaN1-xOx NWs nanoarchitecture thus demonstrates a measurable syngas evolution rate of 180.9 mmol gcat-1 h-1 with a marked selectivity of 96.3% under concentrated light illumination of 6 W cm-2. What is more, a high turnover number (TON) of 4182 mol syngas per mole Rh has been realized after six reuse cycles without obvious activity degradation. The correlative 18O isotope labeling experiments, in-situ irradiated X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ISI-XPS) and in-situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy characterizations, as well as density functional theory calculations reveal that under light illumination, Rh/InGaN1-xOx NWs facilitate releasing *CH3 and H+ from CH4 by holes, followed by H2 evolution from H+ reduction with electrons. Subsequently, the O atoms in Rh/InGaN1-xOx can directly participate in CO generation by reacting with the *C species from CH4 dehydrogenation and contributes to the coke elimination, in concurrent formation of O vacancies. The resultant O vacancies are then replenished by CO2, showing an ideal chemical loop. This work presents a green strategy for syngas production via light-driven dry reforming of methane.

A Respiratory Motion Prediction Method Based on LSTM-AE with Attention Mechanism for Spine Surgery.

Respiratory motion-induced vertebral movements can adversely impact intraoperative spine surgery, resulting in inaccurate positional information of the target region and unexpected damage during the operation. In this paper, we propose a novel deep learning architecture for respiratory motion prediction, which can adapt to different patients. The proposed method utilizes an LSTM-AE with attention mechanism network that can be trained using few-shot datasets during operation. To ensure real-time performance, a dimension reduction method based on the respiration-induced physical movement of spine vertebral bodies is introduced. The experiment collected data from prone-positioned patients under general anaesthesia to validate the prediction accuracy and time efficiency of the LSTM-AE-based motion prediction method. The experimental results demonstrate that the presented method (RMSE: 4.39%) outperforms other methods in terms of accuracy within a learning time of 2 min. The maximum predictive errors under the latency of 333 ms with respect to the x, y, and z axes of the optical camera system were 0.13, 0.07, and 0.10 mm, respectively, within a motion range of 2 mm.

Broadband short-wave near-infrared-emitting phosphor MgNb2O6:Cr3+ for pc-LED applications.

Broadband short-wave near-infrared (NIR) phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs) have been attracting keen interest for miniature NIR spectroscopy, while still lacking sufficient novel broadband NIR-emitting phosphors. Herein, we report a novel MgNb2O6:Cr3+ polycrystalline phosphor with a broad NIR emission band centered at 970 nm and a large full-width at half-maximum of approximately 155 nm under excitation of bluish-green light at around 515 nm. The optimized phosphor MgNb2O6:1%Cr3+ features a high internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of ∼85.5% and a moderate external QE of 25.2%. The fluorescence properties determined by two distorted hexa-coordination octahedral sites (i.e. [MgO6] and [NbO6]), low crystal field strength (Dq/B ∼ 1.65), and Cr3+-doping concentration were systematically investigated for comprehensive understanding of photophysical mechanisms. Besides, this broadband NIR phosphor MgNb2O6:Cr3+ exhibits a moderate thermal quenching of 21.4%@373 K for pc-LED application. An NIR pc-LED self-built by combining the optimal phosphor with a commercial cyan of ∼515 nm exhibits an NIR output power increase from 3.19 to 11.38 mW as the drive current is varied from 40 to 220 mA. With the help of this prototype pc-LED device, multiple applications were successfully performed to clearly recognize blood vessel distributions in the human finger, penetrate a plastic cap, and distinguish multi-color text. Undoubtedly, further development of such broadband short-wave NIR-emitting phosphors will make novel pc-LED devices for significant applications in biomedical imaging, nondestructive safety detection, intelligent identification, etc.

Genome Analysis for Cholesterol-Lowing Action and Bacteriocin Production of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WLPL21 and ZDY04 from Traditional Chinese Fermented Foods.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, a typical ecological species against pathogens, used due to its bacteriocin yield in fermented foods, was proven to have the capacity to lower cholesterol. In this study, using L. plantarum ATCC8014 as the control, L. plantarum WLPL21 and ZDY04 were probed with whole-genome sequencing to ascertain their potential ability to lower cholesterol and yield bacteriocins, as well as to further evaluate their survival capacity in vitro. Our results showed 386 transport-system genes in both L. plantarum WLPL21 and ZDY04. Correspondingly, the in vitro results showed that L. plantarum WLPL21 and ZDY04 could remove cholesterol at 49.23% and 41.97%, respectively, which is 1.89 and 1.61 times that of L. plantarum ATCC8014. The survival rates of L. plantarum WLPL21 and ZDY04 in 1% H2O2, pH 3.0, and 0.3% bile salt were higher than those of L. plantarum ATCC8014. Our results exhibited a complete gene cluster for bacteriocin production encoded by L. plantarum WLPL21 and ZDY04, including plnJKR, plnPQAB, plnEFI, plnSUVWY, and plnJK; and plnMN, plnPQA and plnEFI, respectively, compared with only plnEF in L. plantarum ATCC8014. The present study suggests that the combination of genomic analysis with in vitro evaluations might be useful for exploring the potential functions of probiotics.

Comprehensive assessment of immune context and immunotherapy response via noninvasive imaging in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUNDThe tumor immune microenvironment can provide prognostic and therapeutic information. We aimed to develop noninvasive imaging biomarkers from computed tomography (CT) for comprehensive evaluation of immune context and investigate their associations with prognosis and immunotherapy response in gastric cancer (GC).METHODSThis study involved 2,600 patients with GC from 9 independent cohorts. We developed and validated 2 CT imaging biomarkers (lymphoid radiomics score [LRS] and myeloid radiomics score [MRS]) for evaluating the IHC-derived lymphoid and myeloid immune context respectively, and integrated them into a combined imaging biomarker [LRS/MRS: low(-) or high(+)] with 4 radiomics immune subtypes: 1 (-/-), 2 (+/-), 3 (-/+), and 4 (+/+). We further evaluated the imaging biomarkers' predictive values on prognosis and immunotherapy response.RESULTSThe developed imaging biomarkers (LRS and MRS) had a high accuracy in predicting lymphoid (AUC range: 0.765-0.773) and myeloid (AUC range: 0.736-0.750) immune context. Further, similar to the IHC-derived immune context, 2 imaging biomarkers (HR range: 0.240-0.761 for LRS; 1.301-4.012 for MRS) and the combined biomarker were independent predictors for disease-free and overall survival in the training and all validation cohorts (all P < 0.05). Additionally, patients with high LRS or low MRS may benefit more from immunotherapy (P < 0.001). Further, a highly heterogeneous outcome on objective response ​rate was observed in 4 imaging subtypes: 1 (-/-) with 27.3%, 2 (+/-) with 53.3%, 3 (-/+) with 10.2%, and 4 (+/+) with 30.0% (P < 0.0001).CONCLUSIONThe noninvasive imaging biomarkers could accurately evaluate the immune context and provide information regarding prognosis and immunotherapy for GC.

Cognitive impairment associated with cerebellar volume loss in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3.

BACKGROUND: Many neuroscience and neurology studies have forced a reconsideration of the traditional motor-related scope of cerebellar function, which has now expanded to include various cognitive functions. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3; the most common hereditary ataxia) is neuropathologically characterized by cerebellar atrophy and frequently presents with cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE: To characterize cognitive impairment in SCA3 and investigate the cerebellum-cognition associations. METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional cohort study recruited 126 SCA3 patients and 41 healthy control individuals (HCs). Participants underwent a brain 3D T1-weighted images as well as neuropsychological tests. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and region of interest (ROI) approaches were performed on the 3D T1-weighted images. CERES was used to automatically segment cerebellums. Patients were grouped into cognitively impaired (CI) and cognitively preserved (CP), and clinical and MRI parameters were compared. Multivariable regression models were fitted to examine associations between cerebellar microstructural alterations and cognitive domain impairments. RESULTS: Compared to HCs, SCA3 patients showed cognitive domain impairments in information processing speed, verbal memory, executive function, and visuospatial perception. Between CI and CP subgroups, the CI subgroup was older and had lower education, as well as higher severity scores. VBM and ROI analyses revealed volume loss in cerebellar bilateral lobule VI, right lobule Crus I, and right lobule IV of the CI subgroup, and all these cerebellar lobules were associated with the above cognitive domain impairments. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate the multiple cognitive domain impairments in SCA3 patients and indicate the responsible cerebellar lobules for the impaired cognitive domain(s).

Liquid biopsy biomarkers to guide immunotherapy in breast cancer.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy has emerged as a promising treatment strategy for breast cancer (BC). However, current reliance on immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of PD-L1 expression alone has limited predictive capability, resulting in suboptimal efficacy of ICIs for some BC patients. Hence, developing novel predictive biomarkers is indispensable to enhance patient selection for immunotherapy. In this context, utilizing liquid biopsy (LB) can provide supplementary or alternative value to PD-L1 IHC testing for identifying patients most likely to benefit from immunotherapy and exhibit favorable responses. This review discusses the predictive and prognostic value of LB in breast cancer immunotherapy, as well as its limitations and future directions. We aim to promote the individualization and precision of immunotherapy in BC by elucidating the role of LB in clinical practice.

Effects of chemical factors on the infectivity of Decapod iridescent virus 1 (DIV1).

The effects of chemical factors on the infectivity of DIV1 have not been fully accessed yet. In order to investigate the stability of DIV1 to strong brine, pH, and other chemical conditions, we conducted a bioassay using clinically healthy Penaeus vannamei individuals. DIV1 inoculum was exposed to various chemical conditions, and the infectivity of DIV1 was determined through intramuscular injection. The results showed that DIV1 lost its infectivity when exposed to strong brine, specifically in a 3 mol/L NaCl solution for a duration of 1 h. Moreover, DIV1 was found to be inactivated within 1 h when subjected to pH levels below 3.1 or above 9.6. Additionally, both Triton X-100 and 1 % formaldehyde demonstrated the ability to inactivate DIV1. These results provide valuable insights into the tolerance of DIV1 towards certain chemical factors, serving as a reference for the establishment of biosecurity measures against DIV1.

Investigation of critical factors influencing the underestimation of hearing loss predicted by the ISO 1999 predicting model.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors influencing the underestimation of noise-induced permanent threshold shift (NIPTS) among manufacturing workers, providing baseline data for revising noise exposure standard. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was designed with 2702 noise-exposed workers from 35 enterprises from 10 industries. Personal noise exposure level(LAeq,8h) and noise kurtosis level were determined by a noise dosimeter. Questionnaires and hearing loss tests were performed for each subject. The predicted NIPTS was calculated using the ISO 1999:2013 model for each participant, and the actual measured NIPTS was corrected for age and sex. The factors influencing the underestimation of NIPTS were investigated. RESULTS: The predicted NIPTS at each test frequency (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6kHz) and mean NIPTS at 2, 3, 4, and 6kHz (NIPTS2346) using the ISO 1999:2013 model were significantly lower than their corresponding measured NIPTS, respectively (P < 0.001). The ISO model significantly underestimated the NIPTS2346 by 12.36 dB HL. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that noise exposure level, exposure duration, age, and kurtosis could affect the degree of underestimation of NIPTS2346. The generalized additive model (GAM) with (penalized) spline components showed nonlinear relationships between critical factors (age, exposure duration, noise level, and kurtosis) and the underestimated NIPTS2346.The underestimated NIPTS2346 decreased with an increase in exposure duration (especially over ten years). There was no apparent trend in the underestimated NIPTS2346 with age. The underestimated NIPTS2346 decreased with the increased noise level [especially > 90 dB(A)]. The underestimated NIPTS2346 increased with an increase in noise kurtosis after adjusting for the noise exposure level and exposure duration and ultimately exhibiting a linear regression relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The ISO 1999 predicting model significantly underestimated the noise-induced hearing loss among manufacturing workers. The degree of underestimation became more significant at the noise exposure condition of fewer than ten years, less than 90 dB(A), and higher kurtosis levels. It is necessary to apply kurtosis to adjust the underestimation of hearing loss and consider the applying condition of noise energy metrics when using the ISO predicting model.