Recent progress in the applications of presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography imaging in parkinsonism.

Nowadays, presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography, which assesses deficiencies in dopamine synthesis, storage, and transport, is widely utilized for early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of parkinsonism. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest developments in the application of presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography imaging in disorders that manifest parkinsonism. We conducted a thorough literature search using reputable databases such as PubMed and Web of Science. Selection criteria involved identifying peer-reviewed articles published within the last 5 years, with emphasis on their relevance to clinical applications. The findings from these studies highlight that presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography has demonstrated potential not only in diagnosing and differentiating various Parkinsonian conditions but also in assessing disease severity and predicting prognosis. Moreover, when employed in conjunction with other imaging modalities and advanced analytical methods, presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography has been validated as a reliable in vivo biomarker. This validation extends to screening and exploring potential neuropathological mechanisms associated with dopaminergic depletion. In summary, the insights gained from interpreting these studies are crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of preclinical investigations and clinical trials, ultimately advancing toward the goals of neuroregeneration in parkinsonian disorders.

Predicting lymphovascular invasion in non-small cell lung cancer using deep convolutional neural networks on preoperative chest CT.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) plays a significant role in precise treatments of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aims to build a non-invasive LVI prediction diagnosis model by combining preoperative CT images with deep learning technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective observational study included a series of consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and received pathologically confirmed diagnoses. The cohort was randomly divided into a training group comprising 70 % of the patients and a validation group comprising the remaining 30 %. Four distinct deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) prediction models were developed, incorporating different combination of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) CT imaging features as well as clinical-radiological data. The predictive capabilities of the models were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) values and confusion matrices. The Delong test was utilized to compare the predictive performance among the different models. RESULTS: A total of 3034 patients with NSCLC were recruited in this study including 106 LVI+ patients. In the validation cohort, the Dual-head Res2Net_3D23F model achieved the highest AUC of 0.869, closely followed by the models of Dual-head Res2Net_3D3F (AUC, 0.868), Dual-head Res2Net_3D (AUC, 0.867), and EfficientNet-B0_2D (AUC, 0.857). There was no significant difference observed in the performance of the EfficientNet-B0_2D model when compared to the Dual-head Res2Net_3D3F and Dual-head Res2Net_3D23F. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest that utilizing deep convolutional neural network is a feasible approach for predicting pathological LVI in patients with NSCLC.

A 1T'-MoTe2/GaN van der Waals Schottky junction for self-powered UV imaging and optical communication.

Schottky-type self-powered UV photodetectors are promising for next-generation imaging systems. Nevertheless, conventional device fabrication using high-energy metal deposition brings unintentional interface defects, leading to deteriorated device performance and inhomogeneities. Emerging two-dimensional (2D) metallic materials offer an alternative pathway to overcoming such limitations because of their naturally passivated surfaces and the ease of combining with mature bulk semiconductors via van der Waals (vdW) integration. Here, we report the controllable preparation of MoTe2 in the pure 1T' phase and the fabrication of a high-performance 1T'-MoTe2/GaN vdW Schottky photodiode. With the reduced interface states and suppressed dark current as low as 20 pA at zero bias, the photodiode exhibits a remarkable UV-to-visible (R350/R400) rejection ratio of 1.6 × 104, a stable photoresponsivity of ∼50 mA W-1 and a detectivity of 3.5 × 1012 Jones under 360 nm illumination. The photocurrent ON/OFF ratio reaches ∼4.9 × 106 under 10.5 mW irradiation (360 nm). In particular, the 1T'-MoTe2/GaN Schottky diode shows excellent weak-light detection capability, which could detect a 3 nW 360 nm laser and the light emission from a lighter with a pronounced Ilight/Idark ratio of ∼2. Finally, the applications of the device in self-powered UV imaging and optical communication are demonstrated. These results reveal the great prospects of 2D/3D integration in multifunctional optoelectronics, which may inspire novel 2D-related devices and expand their applications in widespread fields.

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis reveals genes related to growth performance in Hu sheep.

Hu sheep are a unique breed in our country with great reproductive potential, the extent of whose breeding has been steadily rising in recent years. The study subjects in this experiment were 8-month-old Hu sheep (n = 112). First of all, the growth performance, slaughter performance and meat quality of their eye muscle quality were assessed, meanwhile their live weight, carcass weight, body length, body height, chest circumference, chest depth and tube circumference were respectively 33.81 ± 5.47 kg, 17.43 ± 3.21 kg, 60.36 ± 4.41 cm, 63.25 ± 3.88 cm, 72.03 ± 5.02 cm, 30.70 ± 2.32 cm and 7.36 ± 0.56 cm, with a significant difference between rams and ewes (P < 0.01). Following that, transcriptome sequencing was done, and candidate genes related to growth performance were identified using the weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) approach, which was used to identified 15 modules, with the turquoise and blue modules having the strongest association with growth and slaughter performance, respectively. We discovered hub genes such as ARHGAP31, EPS8, AKT3, EPN1, PACS2, KIF1C, C12H1orf115, FSTL1, PTGFRN and IFIH1 in the gene modules connected with growth and slaughter performance. Our research identifies the hub genes associated with the growth and slaughter performance of Hu sheep, which play an important role in their muscle growth, organ and cartilage development, blood vessel development and energy metabolic pathways. Our findings might lead to the development of potentially-useful biomarkers for the selection of growth and slaughterer performance-related attributes of sheep and other livestock.

A modified low-priming cardiopulmonary bypass system in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with medium risk of transfusion: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The FUWAI-SAVE system is a modified low-priming cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) system. The study aimed to explore whether the FUWAI-SAVE system can reduce the perioperative blood transfusion and its impact on other postoperative complications during cardiac surgery. Metohds: This study was a single-center, single-blind, randomized controlled trial, registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (identifier: ChiCTR2100050488). Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB and intermediate risk for transfusion risk stratification were randomly assigned to an intervention group (FUWAI-SAVE group) or a control group (conventional group). The primary endpoint of the study was the peri-CPB red blood cell transfusion (RBC) rate. The secondary endpoints included the transfusion rate of other blood products, the amount of blood products transfused, the incidence of major complications, in-hospital mortality, and others. Results: 360 patients were randomized from December 9, 2021, to January 30, 2023. The rate of the primary endpoint was significantly lower in the FUWAI-SAVE group compared to the control group [ OR (95%CI): 0.649 (0.424-0.994)]. Meanwhile, the amount of RBC transfusion during the peri-CPB period was significantly lower in the FUWAI-SAVE group compared to the control group, with a mean difference of -0.626 (-1.176 to -0.076) units. The occurrence rate of major complications did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions: Among adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB, the application of the FUWAI-SAVE system significantly reduced RBC transfusion rate and amount. The FUWAI-SAVE system can be considered an important component of comprehensive blood management strategies in cardiac surgery.

Simple and sensitive electrochemical sensing of amethopterin by using carbon nanobowl/cyclodextrin electrode.

Resulted from the severe side effects, the development of inexpensive, simple and sensitive method for amethopterin (ATP, an antineoplastic drug) is very important but it still remains a challenge. In this work, low cost nanohybrid composed of carbon nanobowl (CNB) and ß-cyclodextrins (ß-CD) (CNB-CD) was prepared with a simple autopolymerization way and applied as electrode material to develop a novel electrochemical sensor of ATP. Scanning-/transmission-electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, photographic image and electrochemical technologies were utilized to characterize morphologies and structure of the as-prepared CNB and CNB-CD materials. On the basic of the coordination advantages from CNB (prominent electrical property and surface area) and ß-CD (superior molecule-recognition and solubility capabilities), the CNB-CD nanohybrid modified electrode exhibits superior sensing performances toward ATP, and a low detection limit of 0.002 µM coupled with larger linearity of 0.005-12.0 µM are obtained. In addition, the as-prepared sensor offers desirable repeatability, stability, selectivity and practical application property, confirming that this proposal may have important applications in the determination of ATP.

Deciphering the role of zinc homeostasis in the tumor microenvironment and prognosis of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of zinc homeostasis is widely recognized as a hallmark feature of prostate cancer (PCa) based on the compelling clinical and experimental evidence. Nevertheless, the implications of zinc dyshomeostasis in PCa remains largely unexplored. METHODS: In this research, the zinc homeostasis pattern subtype (ZHPS) was constructed according to the profile of zinc homeostasis genes. The identified subtypes were assessed for their immune functions, mutational landscapes, biological peculiarities and drug susceptibility. Subsequently, we developed the optimal signature, known as the zinc homeostasis-related risk score (ZHRRS), using the approach won out in multifariously machine learning algorithms. Eventually, clinical specimens, Bayesian network inference and single-cell sequencing were used to excavate the underlying mechanisms of MT1A in PCa. RESULTS: The zinc dyshomeostasis subgroup, ZHPS2, possessed a markedly worse prognosis than ZHPS1. Moreover, ZHPS2 demonstrated a more conspicuous genomic instability and better therapeutic responses to docetaxel and olaparib than ZHPS1. Compared with traditional clinicopathological characteristics and 35 published signatures, ZHRRS displayed a significantly improved accuracy in prognosis prediction. The diagnostic value of MT1A in PCa was substantiated through analysis of clinical samples. Additionally, we inferred and established the regulatory network of MT1A to elucidate its biological mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: The ZHPS classifier and ZHRRS model hold great potential as clinical applications for improving outcomes of PCa patients.

Disease progression in proposed brain-first and body-first Parkinson's disease subtypes.

A new Parkinson's disease (PD) subtyping model has been recently proposed based on the initial location of α-synuclein inclusions, which divides PD patients into the brain-first subtype and the body-first subtype. Premotor RBD has proven to be a predictive marker of the body-first subtype. We found compared to PD patients without possible RBD (PDpRBD-, representing the brain-first subtype), PD patients with possible premotor RBD (PDpRBD+, representing the body-first subtype) had lower Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (MDS UPDRS-III) score (p = 0.022) at baseline but presented a faster progression rate (p = 0.009) in MDS UPDRS-III score longitudinally. The above finding indicates the body-first subtype exhibited a faster disease progression in motor impairments compared to the brain-first subtype and further validates the proposed subtyping model.

Lower HBV DNA level is associated with more severe liver fibrosis in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B with normal alanine transaminase.

BACKGROUND: The association of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels and liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with immune-tolerant phase remains unclear. We explored the association between liver fibrosis and HBV DNA levels in HBeAg-positive CHB patients with normal alanine transaminase (ALT) with relatively high HBV DNA. METHODS: Six hundred and twenty-two HBeAg-positive CHB patients with normal ALT were included. Patients were divided into three categories: low (6 log10 IU/mL ≤ HBV DNA < 7 log10 IU/mL), moderate (7 log10 IU/mL ≤ HBV DNA < 8 log10 IU/mL), and high (HBV DNA ≥ 8 log10 IU/mL). APRI, FIB-4, transient elastography, or liver biopsy were used to assess liver fibrosis. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 33.0 years and 57.9% patients were male. 18.8%, 52.1%, and 29.1% of patients had low, moderate, and high HBV DNA levels, respectively. The APRI (0.33 vs. 0.26 vs. 0.26, P < 0.001), FIB-4 (1.03 vs. 0.71 vs. 0.68, P < 0.001), and LSM values (7.6 kPa vs. 5.6 kPa vs. 5.5 kPa, P = 0.086) were higher in low HBV DNA group than other two groups. Low HBV DNA group had higher proportions of significant fibrosis (24.8% vs. 9.9% vs. 3.3%, P < 0.001) and cirrhosis (7.7% vs. 2.5% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.004) than moderate and high HBV DNA groups. Moderate (OR 3.095, P = 0.023) and low (OR 4.968, P = 0.003) HBV DNA were independent risk factors of significant fibrosis. CONCLUSION: Lower HBV DNA level was associated with more severe liver fibrosis in HBeAg-positive CHB patients with ALT.

Cost-effectiveness of endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke in China: evidence from Shandong Peninsula.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the endovascular treatment (EVT) of acute ischemic stroke has made significant progress in many aspects. Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is usually recommended before endovascular treatment in clinical practice, but the value of the practice is controversial. The latest meta-analysis evaluation was that the effect of EVT versus EVT plus IVT did not differ significantly. The cost-effectiveness analysis of EVT plus IVT needs further analysis. This study assesses the health benefits and economic impact of EVT plus IVT in Shandong Peninsula of China. METHOD: We followed a cross-section design using the Chinese-Shandong Peninsula public hospital database between 2013 and 2023. The real-world costs and health outcomes were collected through the Hospital Information System (HIS) and published references. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) from the perspective of Chinese healthcare using the complex decision model to compare the costs and effectiveness between EVT versus EVT + IVT. One-way and Monte Carlo probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the economic evaluation model. RESULTS: EVT alone had a lower cost compared with EVT + IVT whether short-term or long-term. Until 99% dead of AIS patients, the ICER per additional QALY was RMB696399.30 over the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of 3× gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Shandong. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis of 3 months, 1 year and long-term horizons had a 97.90%, 97.43% and 96.89% probability of cost-effective treatment under the WTP threshold (1×GDP). The results of the one-way sensitivity analysis showed that direct treatment costs for EVT alone and EVT + IVT were all sensitive to ICER. CONCLUSIONS: EVT alone was more cost-effective treatment compared to EVT + IVT in the Northeast Coastal Area of China. The data of this study could be used as a reference in China, and the use of the evaluation in other regions should be carefully considered.

Pharmacological targets of SGLT2 inhibitors on IgA nephropathy and membranous nephropathy: a mendelian randomization study.

Introduction: Emerging research suggests that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors may play a pivotal role in the treatment of primary glomerular diseases. This study was aimed to investigate potential pharmacological targets connecting SGLT2 inhibitors with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and membranous nephropathy (MN). Methods: A univariate Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted using publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets. Co-localization analysis was used to identify potential connections between target genes and IgAN and MN. Then, Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) was employed to predict diseases associated with these target genes and SGLT2 inhibitors (canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin). Subsequently, phenotypic scan analyses were applied to explore the causal relationships between the predicted diseases and target genes. Finally, we analyzed the immune signaling pathways involving pharmacological target genes using the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG). Results: The results of MR analysis revealed that eight drug targets were causally linked to the occurrence of IgAN, while 14 drug targets were linked to MN. In the case of IgAN, LCN2 and AGER emerged as co-localized genes related to the pharmacological agent of dapagliflozin and the occurrence of IgAN. LCN2 was identified as a risk factor, while AGER was exhibited a protective role. KEGG analysis revealed that LCN2 is involved in the interleukin (IL)-17 immune signaling pathway, while AGER is associated with the neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) signaling immune pathway. No positive co-localization results of the target genes were observed between two other SGLT2 inhibitors (canagliflozin and empagliflozin) and the occurrence of IgAN, nor between the three SGLT2 inhibitors and the occurrence of MN. Conclusion: Our study provided evidence supporting a causal relationship between specific SGLT2 inhibitors and IgAN. Furthermore, we found that dapagliflozin may act on IgAN through the genes LCN2 and AGER.

Benserazide, a cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) inhibitor, potentially enhances the anticancer effects of paclitaxel via inhibiting the S-sulfhydration of SIRT1 and the HIF1-α/VEGF pathway.

Cancer targeted therapy is essential to minimize damage to normal cells and improve treatment outcomes. The elevated activity of Cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS), an enzyme responsible for producing endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S), plays a significant role in promoting tumor growth, invasiveness, and metastatic potential. Consequently, the selective inhibition of CBS could represent a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer. Currently, there is much interest in combining paclitaxel with other drugs for cancer treatment. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of combining benserazide, a CBS inhibitor, with paclitaxel in treating tumors. Firstly, we demonstrated CBS is indeed involved in the progression of multiple cancers. Then it was observed that the total binding free energy between the protein and the small molecule is -98.241 kJ/mol. The release of H2S in the group treated with 100 µM benserazide was reduced by approximately 90% compared to the negative control, and the thermal denaturation curve of the complex protein shifted to the right, suggesting that benserazide binds to and blocks the CBS protein. Next, it was found that compared to paclitaxel monotherapy, the combination of benserazide with paclitaxel demonstrated stronger antitumor activity in KYSE450, A549, and HCT8 cells, accompanied by reduced cell viability, cell migration and invasion, as well as diminished angiogenic and lymphangiogenic capabilities. In vivo studies showed that the combined administration of benserazide and paclitaxel significantly reduced the volume and weight of axillary lymph nodes in comparison to the control group and single administration group. Further mechanistic studies revealed that the combination of benserazide and paclitaxel significantly suppressed the S-sulfhydration of SIRT1 protein, thereby inhibiting the expression of SIRT1 protein and activating SIRT1 downstream Notch1/Hes1 signaling pathway in KYSE450, A549, and HCT8 cells. Meanwhile, we observed that benserazide combined with paclitaxel induced a more significant downregulation of HIF-1α, VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D proteins expression levels in KYSE450, A549, and HCT8 cells compared to paclitaxel alone. These findings indicated that benserazide enhances the anticancer effects of paclitaxel via inhibiting the S-sulfhydration of SIRT1 and down-regulating HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway. This study suggests that benserazide may have potential as a chemosensitizer in cancer treatment.

A new seven-axis robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty system improves component positioning: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study.

This study compared the radiologic and clinical outcomes of a new seven-axis robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty (THA) and conventional THA. Hundred and four patients were randomly assigned to two groups-the robotic-assisted THA group (RAS group) and the conventional THA group (CON group). The preoperative and postoperative Harris Hip score (HHS), acetabular inclination, anteversion, femoral offset, and leg length discrepancy (LLD) were compared. During the follow-up, no patients had any complications that could be associated with the use of the robot. The proportion of acetabular cups in the safety zone was significantly higher in the RAS group than that in the CON group. The two groups had significantly different mean absolute difference of inclination and anteversion. There was no significant difference in the postoperative HHSs, changes in HHSs, femoral offset, and lower limb length between the two groups. The seven-axis robotic-assisted THA system is safe and effective, and leads to better acetabulum cup positioning compared to conventional THA. The improvements observed in the HHS, LLD, and femoral offset in the RAS group were similar to those in the CON group.Clinical trial registration time: 19/05/2022.Clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR2200060115.

GWAS and Transcriptomic Analysis Identify OsRING315 as a New Candidate Gene Controlling Amylose Content and Gel Consistency in Rice.

Cooking quality is the main factor determining the market value of rice. Although several major genes and a certain number of QTLs controlling cooking quality have been identified, the genetic complexity and environmental susceptibility limit the further improvement for cooking quality by molecular breeding. This research conducted a genome-wide association study to elucidate the QTLs related to cooking quality including amylose content (AC), gel consistency (GC) and alkali spreading value (ASV) by using 450 rice accessions consisting of 300 indica and 150 japonica accessions in two distinct environments. A total of 54 QTLs were identified, including 25 QTLs for AC, 12 QTLs for GC and 17 QTLs for ASV. Among them, 10 QTLs were consistently observed by the same population in both environments. Six QTLs were co-localized with the reported QTLs or cloned genes. The Wx gene for AC and GC, and the ALK gene for ASV were identified in every population across the two environments. The qAC9-2 for AC and the qGC9-2 for GC were defined to the same interval. The OsRING315 gene, encoding an E3 ubiquitin ligase, was considered as the candidate gene for both qAC9-2 and qGC9-2. The higher expression of OsRING315 corresponded to the lower AC and higher GC. Three haplotypes of OsRING315 were identified. The Hap 1 mainly existed in the japonica accessions and had lower AC. The Hap 2 and Hap 3 were predominantly present in the indica accessions, associated with higher AC. Meanwhile, the GC of accessions harboring Hap 1 was higher than that of accessions harboring Hap 3. In addition, the distribution of the three haplotypes in several rice-growing regions was unbalanced. The three traits of cooking quality are controlled by both major and minor genes and susceptible to environmental factors. The expression level of OsRING315 is related to both AC and GC, and this gene can be a promising target in quality improvement by using the gene editing method. Moreover, the haplotypes of OsRING315 differentiate between indica and japonica, and reveal the differences in GC and AC between indica and japonica rice.

High-throughput screening of 222 pesticides in road environments in a megacity of northern China: A new approach to urban population exposure.

A large number of pesticides have been widely manufactured and applied, and are released into the environment with negative impact on human health. Pesticides are largely used in densely populated urban environments, in green zones, along roads and on private properties. In order to characterize the potential exposure related health effects of pesticide and their occurrence in the urban environment, 222 pesticides were screened and quantified in 228 road dust and 156 green-belt soil samples in autumn and spring from Harbin, a megacity in China, using GC-MS/MS base quantitative trace analysis. The results showed that a total of 33 pesticides were detected in road dust and green-belt soil, with the total concentrations of 650 and 236 ng/g (dry weight = dw), respectively. The concentrations of pesticides in road dust were significantly higher than that in green-belt soil. Pesticides in the environment were influenced by the seasons, with the highest concentrations of insecticides in autumn and the highest levels of herbicides in spring. In road dust, the concentrations of highways in autumn and spring (with the mean values of 94.1 and 68.2 ng/g dw) were much lower than that of the other road classes (arterial roads, sub-arterial roads and branch ways). Whereas in the green-belt soil, there was no significant difference in the concentration of pesticides between the different road classes. A first risk assessment was conducted to evaluate the potential adverse health effects of the pesticides, the results showed that the highest hazard index (HI) for a single pesticide in dust and soil was 0.12, the hazard index for children was higher than that for adults, with an overall hazard index of less than 1. Our results indicated that pesticide levels do not have a significant health impact on people.

Unraveling the role of sulfiredoxin-1 in early-onset preeclampsia: A key player in trophoblast ferroptosis.

Preeclampsia (PE) significantly contributes to obstetric complications and maternal mortality, yet its pathogenesis and mechanisms are not well understood. Sulfiredoxin-1 (SRXN1) is known for its antioxidant activity and its role in defending against oxidative stress; it is also linked to various cancers. However, the role of SRXN1 in PE remains unclear. Our study found a significant decrease in SRXN1 levels in the serum and placental tissues of patients with early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE). Similarly, a PE-like mouse model showed reduced SRXN1 expression. Our in vitro experiments showed that reducing SRXN1 impaired trophoblast viability, decreased invasion and migration, and led to cell death, primarily through ferroptosis. These results are consistent with analyses of placental tissues from EOPE patients. In summary, lower SRXN1 levels during pregnancy contribute to trophoblast ferroptosis, potentially affecting the development and progression of EOPE.

Empowering parents to optimize feeding practices with preschool children (EPO-Feeding): A study protocol for a feasibility randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Parental feeding practices (PFPs) play a key role in fostering preschoolers' dietary habits and in mitigating the risk of childhood obesity. Nevertheless, parents often employ inappropriate feeding practices, leading to children's potential nutrition-related issues. Thus, research is needed to inform interventions that focus on optimizing feeding practices. METHODS: This protocol describes the evaluation of a novel intervention-Empowering Parents to Optimize Feeding Practices (EPO-Feeding Program). The program will be evaluated with a two-arm feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Yangzhou, China. The program includes four weekly group-based training sessions led by healthcare professionals for parents of preschool children. The intervention incorporates sessions, group discussions, motivational interviewing, and supplementary materials (e.g., key messages and educational videos) aimed at enhancing parents' knowledge, skills, and behaviours related to feeding practices. The primary outcomes include i) implementation feasibility, primarily assessed through retention rates; and ii) program acceptability through a survey and qualitative process evaluation. Secondary outcomes encompass the potential impacts on i) PFPs, ii) parental perception of child weight (PPCW), iii) parenting sense of competence, iv) children's eating behaviours, and v) child weight status. Quantitative analyses include descriptive estimates for evaluating the feasibility and linear mixed regression analysis for testing the potential effects. Qualitative valuation will use thematic framework analysis. DISCUSSION: If this study shows this program to be feasible to implement and acceptable to parents, it will be used to inform a fully powered trial to determine its effectiveness. The research will also help inform policy and practices in the context of child nutrition promotion, particularly regarding implementing group-based training sessions by healthcare providers in similar settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, Protocol #NCT06181773, 20/11/2023.

NIR light-activated nanocomposites combat biofilm formation and enhance antibacterial efficacy for improved wound healing.

Nanoparticle-based therapies are emerging as a pivotal frontier in biomedical research, showing their potential in combating infections and facilitating wound recovery. Herein, selenium-tellurium dopped copper oxide nanoparticles (SeTe-CuO NPs) with dual photodynamic and photothermal properties were synthesized, presenting an efficient strategy for combating bacterial infections. In vitro evaluations revealed robust antibacterial activity of SeTe-CuO NPs, achieving up to 99% eradication of bacteria and significant biofilm inhibition upon near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Moreover, in vivo studies demonstrated accelerated wound closure upon treatment with NIR-activated SeTe-CuO NPs, demonstrating their efficacy in promoting wound healing. Furthermore, SeTe-CuO NPs exhibited rapid bacterial clearance within wounds, offering a promising solution for wound care. Overall, this versatile platform holds great promise for combating multidrug-resistant bacteria and advancing therapeutic interventions in wound management.

Pourbaix Machine Learning Framework Identifies Acidic Water Oxidation Catalysts Exhibiting Suppressed Ruthenium Dissolution.

The demand for green hydrogen has raised concerns over the availability of iridium used in oxygen evolution reaction catalysts. We identify catalysts with the aid of a machine learning-aided computational pipeline trained on more than 36,000 mixed metal oxides. The pipeline accurately predicts Pourbaix decomposition energy (Gpbx) from unrelaxed structures with a mean absolute error of 77 meV per atom, enabling us to screen 2070 new metallic oxides with respect to their prospective stability under acidic conditions. The search identifies Ru0.6Cr0.2Ti0.2O2 as a candidate having the promise of increased durability: experimentally, we find that it provides an overpotential of 267 mV at 100 mA cm-2 and that it operates at this current density for over 200 h and exhibits a rate of overpotential increase of 25 µV h-1. Surface density functional theory calculations reveal that Ti increases metal-oxygen covalency, a potential route to increased stability, while Cr lowers the energy barrier of the HOO* formation rate-determining step, increasing activity compared to RuO2 and reducing overpotential by 40 mV at 100 mA cm-2 while maintaining stability. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and ex situ ptychography-scanning transmission X-ray microscopy show the evolution of a metastable structure during the reaction, slowing Ru mass dissolution by 20× and suppressing lattice oxygen participation by >60% compared to RuO2.