Hierarchical Porous Reduced Graphene Oxide/Poly(l-lactic acid) Fiber Films: The Influence of Recrystallization on Strength.

Electrospinning technology for fabricating nanofiber films and the Hummer method for synthesizing graphene oxide (GO), along with subsequent reduction, have been significantly advanced, demonstrating immense potential for large-scale industrial applications. Nanofibrous films loaded with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have been widely explored for their applications in electromagnetic shielding, the biomedical fields, and pollutant adsorption. However, fragile mechanical performance of electrospun fibers with limited surface post-treatment methods has somewhat hindered their further industrial development. In response to this challenge, we propose a dual-regulation strategy involving post-treatment to form porous nanofiber films and the controlled flake size of rGO for surface coating during preparation. This approach aims to achieve poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA)/rGO electrospun fibrous films with enhanced mechanical properties. It offers a roadmap for the continued application and standardized production of fibrous films loaded with rGO.

Embryonically active piriform cortex neurons promote intracortical recurrent connectivity during development.

Neuronal activity plays a critical role in the maturation of circuits that propagate sensory information into the brain. How widely does early activity regulate circuit maturation across the developing brain? Here, we used targeted recombination in active populations (TRAP) to perform a brain-wide survey for prenatally active neurons in mice and identified the piriform cortex as an abundantly TRAPed region. Whole-cell recordings in neonatal slices revealed preferential interconnectivity within embryonically TRAPed piriform neurons and their enhanced synaptic connectivity with other piriform neurons. In vivo Neuropixels recordings in neonates demonstrated that embryonically TRAPed piriform neurons exhibit broad functional connectivity within piriform and lead spontaneous synchronized population activity during a transient neonatal period, when recurrent connectivity is strengthening. Selectively activating or silencing these neurons in neonates enhanced or suppressed recurrent synaptic strength, respectively. Thus, embryonically TRAPed piriform neurons represent an interconnected hub-like population whose activity promotes recurrent connectivity in early development.

Pharmacotherapy for Venous Thromboprophylaxis following Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

The optimal pharmacological prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) after hip or knee arthroplasty is uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of various medications. We searched multiple databases for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing medications (including factor Xa inhibitors, factor IIa inhibitor, warfarin, unfractionated heparin [UFH], low-molecular-weight heparin [LMWH], aspirin, pentasaccharide) for VTE prophylaxis post-arthroplasty. Outcomes included any postoperative VTE identified with screening, major bleeding, and death. We used LMWH as the main comparator for analysis and performed trial sequential analysis (TSA) for each pairwise comparison. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessments, Developments and Evaluations). We analyzed 70 RCTs (55,841 participants). Factor Xa inhibitors decreased postoperative VTE significantly compared with LMWH (odds ratio [OR]: 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44-0.68, high certainty). Pentasaccharides probably reduce VTE (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.36-1.02, moderate certainty), while the factor IIa inhibitor dabigatran may reduce VTE (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.40-1.42, low certainty). UFH probably increases VTE compared with LMWH (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.91-1.89, moderate certainty), and other agents like warfarin, aspirin, placebo, and usual care without thromboprophylaxis increase VTE (high certainty). Factor Xa inhibitors may not significantly affect major bleeding compared with LMWH (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.81-1.39, low certainty). No medications had a notable effect on mortality compared with LMWH (very low certainty). TSA suggests sufficient evidence for the benefit of factor Xa inhibitors over LMWH for VTE prevention. Compared with LMWH and aspirin, factor Xa inhibitors are associated with reduced VTE after hip or knee arthroplasty, without an increase in bleeding and likely no impact on mortality.

Novel PATL2 variants cause female infertility with oocyte maturation defect.

PURPOSE: Oocyte maturation defect (OOMD) is a rare cause of in vitro fertilization failure characterized by the production of immature oocytes. Compound heterozygous or homozygous PATL2 mutations have been associated with oocyte arrest at the germinal vesicle (GV), metaphase I (MI), and metaphase II (MII) stages, as well as morphological changes. METHODS: In this study, we recruited three OOMD cases and conducted a comprehensive multiplatform laboratory investigation. RESULTS: Whole exome sequence (WES) revealed four diagnostic variants in PATL2, nonsense mutation c.709C > T (p.R237*) and frameshift mutation c.1486_1487delinsT (p.A496Sfs*4) were novel mutations that have not been reported previously. Furthermore, the pathogenicity of these variants was predicted using in silico analysis, which indicated detrimental effects. Molecular dynamic analysis suggested that the A496S variant disrupted the hydrophobic segment, leading to structural changes that affected the overall protein folding and stability. Additionally, biochemical and molecular experiments were conducted on cells transfected with wild-type (WT) or mutant PATL2 (p.R237* and p.A496Sfs*4) plasmid vectors. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that PATL2A496Sfs*4 and PATL2R237* had impacts on protein size and expression level. Interestingly, expression levels of specific genes involved in oocyte maturation and early embryonic development were found to be simultaneously deregulated. The findings in our study expand the variation spectrum of the PATL2 gene, provide solid evidence for counseling on future pregnancies in affected families, strongly support the application of in the diagnosis of OOMD, and contribute to the understanding of PATL2 function.

Correlation between cerebral neurotransmitters levels by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive dysfunction is the main manifestation of central neuropathy. Although cognitive impairments tend to be overlooked in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), there is a growing body of evidence linking DM to cognitive dysfunction. Hyperglycemia is closely related to neurological abnormalities, while often disregarded in clinical practice. Changes in cerebral neurotransmitter levels are associated with a variety of neurological abnormalities and may be closely related to blood glucose control in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM). AIM: To evaluate the concentrations of cerebral neurotransmitters in T2DM patients exhibiting different hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. METHODS: A total of 130 T2DM patients were enrolled at the Department of Endocrinology of Shanghai East Hospital. The participants were divided into four groups according to their HbA1c levels using the interquartile method, namely Q1 (< 7.875%), Q2 (7.875%-9.050%), Q3 (9.050%-11.200%) and Q4 (≥ 11.200%). Clinical data were collected and measured, including age, height, weight, neck/waist/hip circumferences, blood pressure, comorbidities, duration of DM, and biochemical indicators. Meanwhile, neurotransmitters in the left hippocampus and left brainstem area were detected by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS: The HbA1c level was significantly associated with urinary microalbumin (mALB), triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and beta cell function (HOMA-ß), N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr), and NAA/choline (NAA/Cho). Spearman correlation analysis showed that mALB, LDL-C, HOMA-IR and NAA/Cr in the left brainstem area were positively correlated with the level of HbA1c (P < 0.05), whereas HOMA-ß was negatively correlated with the HbA1c level (P < 0.05). Ordered multiple logistic regression analysis showed that NAA/Cho [Odds ratio (OR): 1.608, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.004-2.578, P < 0.05], LDL-C (OR: 1.627, 95%CI: 1.119-2.370, P < 0.05), and HOMA-IR (OR: 1.107, 95%CI: 1.031-1.188, P < 0.01) were independent predictors of poor glycemic control. CONCLUSION: The cerebral neurotransmitter concentrations in the left brainstem area in patients with T2DM are closely related to glycemic control, which may be the basis for the changes in cognitive function in diabetic patients.

Carboxylic acid isomer-directed synthesis of CdS nanocluster isomers.

Selective synthesis of nanocluster (NC) isomers with tailored structures holds significant importance for enhancing their applications. Here, we develop an effective strategy for the selective synthesis of CdS NC isomers through the judicious choice of a pair of carboxylic acid isomer additives. Specifically, CdS NC-312 and NC-323 (denoted by their UV-vis absorption peak position) could be selectively produced by introducing a conventional mixture of Cd and S precursors, with the addition of 2-methylbutyric acid (2-MA) and 3-methylbutyric acid (3-MA), respectively. The synthesized NC isomers demonstrated a precise isomeric relationship, sharing both the isomeric inorganic core and organic surface. Alternatively, the as-synthesized NCs were interconvertible by re-adding the acid isomers. The density functional theory calculations further support that 2-MA and 3-MA have specific selectivity for producing CdS NC isomers by interfacial tuning. Finally, the generality of this methodology was also evidenced with applications in other CdS NC synthetic systems. This study unveils the intriguing correlation between additive structures and the configuration of NCs, providing a foundation for the selective synthesis of NC isomers.

First-Principles Study on Janus-Structured Sc2CX2/Sc2CY2 (X, Y = F, Cl, Br) Heterostructures for Solar Energy Conversion.

Two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures have good application prospects in solar energy conversion due to their excellent optoelectronic performance. In this work, the electronic structures of Sc2CF2/Sc2CCl2, Sc2CF2/Sc2CBr2, and Sc2CCl2/Sc2CBr2 heterostructures, as well as their properties in photocatalysis and photovoltaics, have been comprehensively studied using the first-principles method. Firstly, both of the three thermodynamically and dynamically stable heterostructures are found to have type-II band alignment with band gap values of 0.58 eV, 0.78 eV, and 1.35 eV. Meanwhile, the photogenerated carriers in Sc2CF2/Sc2CCl2 and Sc2CF2/Sc2CBr2 heterostructures are predicated to follow the direct Z-scheme path, enabling their abilities for water splitting. As for the Sc2CCl2/Sc2CBr2 heterostructure, its photovoltaic conversion efficiency is estimated to be 20.78%. Significantly, the light absorption coefficients of Sc2CF2/Sc2CCl2, Sc2CF2/Sc2CBr2, and Sc2CCl2/Sc2CBr2 heterostructures are enhanced more than those of the corresponding monolayers. Moreover, biaxial strains have been observed to considerably tune the aforementioned properties of heterostructures. All the theoretical results presented in this work demonstrate the application potential of Sc2CX2/Sc2CY2 (X, Y = F, Cl, Br) heterostructures in photocatalysis and photovoltaics.

Tau Protein Accumulation Trajectory-Based Brain Age Prediction in the Alzheimer's Disease Continuum.

Clinical cognitive advancement within the Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum is intimately connected with sustained accumulation of tau protein pathology. The biological brain age and its gap show great potential for pathological risk and disease severity. In the present study, we applied multivariable linear support vector regression to train a normative brain age prediction model using tau brain images. We further assessed the predicted biological brain age and its gap for patients within the AD continuum. In the AD continuum, evaluated pathologic tau binding was found in the inferior temporal, parietal-temporal junction, precuneus/posterior cingulate, dorsal frontal, occipital, and inferior-medial temporal cortices. The biological brain age gaps of patients within the AD continuum were notably higher than those of the normal controls (p < 0.0001). Significant positive correlations were observed between the brain age gap and global tau protein accumulation levels for mild cognitive impairment (r = 0.726, p < 0.001), AD (r = 0.845, p < 0.001), and AD continuum (r = 0.797, p < 0.001). The pathologic tau-based age gap was significantly linked to neuropsychological scores. The proposed pathologic tau-based biological brain age model could track the tau protein accumulation trajectory of cognitive impairment and further provide a comprehensive quantification index for the tau accumulation risk.

Prominin-1 null Xenopus laevis develop subretinal drusenoid-like deposits, cone-rod dystrophy, and RPE atrophy.

Mutations in the PROMININ-1 (PROM1) gene are associated with inherited, non-syndromic vision loss. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to induce truncating prom1-null mutations in Xenopus laevis to create a disease model. We then tracked progression of retinal degeneration in these animals from the ages of 6 weeks to 3 years old. We found that retinal degeneration caused by prom1-null is age-dependent and likely involves death or damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) that precedes photoreceptor degeneration. As prom1-null frogs age, they develop large cellular debris deposits in the subretinal space and outer segment layer which resemble subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) in their location, histology, and representation in color fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). In older frogs, these SDD-like deposits accumulate in size and number, and they are present before retinal degeneration occurs. Evidence for an RPE origin of these deposits includes infiltration of pigment granules into the deposits, thinning of RPE as measured by OCT, and RPE disorganization as measured by histology and OCT. The appearance and accumulation of SDD-like deposits and RPE thinning and disorganization in our animal model suggests an underlying disease mechanism for prom1-null mediated blindness of death and dysfunction of the RPE preceding photoreceptor degeneration, instead of direct effects upon photoreceptor outer segment morphogenesis, as was previously hypothesized.

The Naples prognostic score serves as a predictor and prognostic indicator for cancer survivors in the community.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation, malnutrition, and cancer are intricately interconnected. Despite this, only a few studies have delved into the relationship between inflammatory malnutrition and the risk of death among cancer survivors. This study aimed to specifically investigate the association between the categorically defined Naples prognostic score (NPS) and the prognosis of cancer survivors. METHODS: Data from 42,582 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999-2018) were subjected to analysis. Naples prognostic scores (NPS) were computed based on serum albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (TC), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), and participants were stratified into three groups accordingly. Cancer status was ascertained through a self-administered questionnaire, while mortality data were sourced from the National Death Index up to December 31, 2019. Multiple logistic regression was employed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) between NPS and cancer prevalence within the U.S. community population. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Log-rank test were utilized to compare survival disparities among the three groups. Additionally, Cox proportional regression was utilized to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% CI. RESULTS: The incidence of cancers was 9.86%. Among the participants, 8140 individuals (19.1%) were classified into Group 0 (NPS 0), 29,433 participants (69.1%) into Group 1 (NPS 1 or 2), and 5009 participants (11.8%) into Group 2 (NPS 3 or 4). After adjusting for confounding factors, the cancer prevalence for the highest NPS score yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 1.64 (95% CI: 1.36, 1.97) (P(for trend) < 0.05). In comparison to cancer survivors in Group 0, those with the highest NPS had adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of 2.57 (95% CI: 1.73, 3.84) for all-cause mortality, 3.44 (95% CI: 1.64, 7.21) for cardiovascular mortality, 1.60 (95% CI: 1.01, 2.56) for cancer mortality, and 3.15 (95% CI: 1.74, 5.69) for other causes of mortality (All P(for trend) < 0.05). These associations remained consistent when stratified by age, sex, race, and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the Naples prognostic score (NPS), serving as a novel prognostic metric integrating inflammation and nutritional status, is closely linked to cancer prognosis within the general population.

Clinical evaluation of new bone formation during limb lengthening in children using ultrasound combined with superb microvascular imaging.

Aims: Given the possible radiation damage and inaccuracy of radiological investigations, particularly in children, ultrasound and superb microvascular imaging (SMI) may offer alternative methods of evaluating new bone formation when limb lengthening is undertaken in paediatric patients. The aim of this study was to assess the use of ultrasound combined with SMI in monitoring new bone formation during limb lengthening in children. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, ultrasound and radiograph examinations were performed every two weeks in 30 paediatric patients undergoing limb lengthening. Ultrasound was used to monitor new bone formation. The number of vertical vessels and the blood flow resistance index were compared with those from plain radiographs. Results: We categorized the new bone formation into three stages: stage I (early lengthening), in which there was no obvious callus formation on radiographs and ultrasound; stage II (lengthening), in which radiographs showed low-density callus formation with uneven distribution and three sub-stages could be identified on ultrasound: in Ia punctate callus was visible; in IIb there was linear callus formation which was not yet connected and in IIc there was continuous linear callus. In stage III (healing), the bone ends had united, the periosteum was intact, and the callus had disappeared, as confirmed on radiographs, indicating healed bone. A progressive increase in the number of vertical vessels was noted in the early stages, peaking during stages IIb and IIc, followed by a gradual decline (p < 0.001). Delayed healing involved patients with a prolonged stage IIa or those who regressed to stage IIa from stages IIb or IIc during lengthening. Conclusion: We found that the formation of new bone in paediatric patients undergoing limb lengthening could be reliably evaluated using ultrasound when combined with the radiological findings. This combination enabled an improved assessment of the prognosis, and adjustments to the lengthening protocol. While SMI offered additional insights into angiogenesis within the new bone, its role primarily contributed to the understanding of the microvascular environment rather than directly informing adjustments of treatment.

Unified Crystal Phase Control with MACl for Inducing Single-Crystal-Like Perovskite Thin Films in High-Pressure Fusion Toward High Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cell Modules.

Perovskite solar cells, recognized for their high photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE), cost-effectiveness, and simple fabrication, face challenges in PCE improvement due to structural defects in polycrystalline films. This study introduces a novel fabrication method for perovskite films using methylammonium chloride (MACl) to align grain orientation uniformly, followed by a high-pressure process to merge these grains into a texture resembling single-crystal perovskite. Employing advanced visual fluorescence microscopy, charge dynamics in these films are analyzed, uncovering the significant impact of grain boundaries on photo-generated charge transport within perovskite crystals. A key discovery is that optimal charge transport efficiency and speed occur in grain centers when the grain size exceeds 10 µm, challenging the traditional view that efficiency peaks when grain size surpasses film thickness to form a monolayer. Additionally, the presence of large-sized grains enhances ion activation energy, reducing ion migration under light and improving resistance to photo-induced degradation. In application, a perovskite solar cell module with large grains achieve a PCE of 22.45%, maintaining performance with no significant degradation under continuous white LED light at 100 mA cm-2 for over 1000 h. This study offers a new approach to perovskite film fabrication and insights into optimizing perovskite solar cell modules.

Milk-derived extracellular vesicles functionalized with anti-tumour necrosis factor-α nanobody and anti-microbial peptide alleviate ulcerative colitis in mice.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) manifests clinically with chronic intestinal inflammation and microflora dysbiosis. Although biologics can effectively control inflammation, efficient delivery to the colon and colon epithelial cells remains challenging. Milk-derived extracellular vesicles (EV) show promise as an oral delivery tool, however, the ability to load biologics into EV presents challenges to therapeutic applications. Here, we demonstrate that fusing cell-penetrating peptide (TAT) to green fluorescent protein (GFP) enabled biologics loading into EV and protected against degradation in the gastrointestinal environment in vitro and in vivo after oral delivery. Oral administration of EV loaded with anti-tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) nanobody (VHHm3F) (EVVHH) via TAT significantly reduced tissue TNF-α levels and alleviated pathologies in mice with acute UC, compared to VHH alone. In mice with chronic UC, simultaneously introducing VHH and an antimicrobial peptide LL37 into EV (EVLV), then administering orally improved intestinal barrier, inflammation and microbiota balance, resulted in relief of UC-induced depression and anxiety. Collectively, we demonstrated that oral delivery of EVLV effectively alleviated UC in mice and TAT efficiently loaded biologics into EV to confer protection from degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. This therapeutic strategy is promising for UC and is a simple and generalizable approach towards drug-loaded orally-administrable EV treatment for other diseases.

Ultrasound-Based Micro-/Nanosystems for Biomedical Applications.

Due to the intrinsic non-invasive nature, cost-effectiveness, high safety, and real-time capabilities, besides diagnostic imaging, ultrasound as a typical mechanical wave has been extensively developed as a physical tool for versatile biomedical applications. Especially, the prosperity of nanotechnology and nanomedicine invigorates the landscape of ultrasound-based medicine. The unprecedented surge in research enthusiasm and dedicated efforts have led to a mass of multifunctional micro-/nanosystems being applied in ultrasound biomedicine, facilitating precise diagnosis, effective treatment, and personalized theranostics. The effective deployment of versatile ultrasound-based micro-/nanosystems in biomedical applications is rooted in a profound understanding of the relationship among composition, structure, property, bioactivity, application, and performance. In this comprehensive review, we elaborate on the general principles regarding the design, synthesis, functionalization, and optimization of ultrasound-based micro-/nanosystems for abundant biomedical applications. In particular, recent advancements in ultrasound-based micro-/nanosystems for diagnostic imaging are meticulously summarized. Furthermore, we systematically elucidate state-of-the-art studies concerning recent progress in ultrasound-based micro-/nanosystems for therapeutic applications targeting various pathological abnormalities including cancer, bacterial infection, brain diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic diseases. Finally, we conclude and provide an outlook on this research field with an in-depth discussion of the challenges faced and future developments for further extensive clinical translation and application.

Environmentally degradable carbon dots for inhibiting P. globosa growth and reducing hemolytic toxin.

Red tides not only destroy marine ecosystems but also pose a great threat to human health. The traditional anti-red tide materials are difficult to degrade effectively in the natural environment and there may be risks of environmental leakage and secondary pollution. Furthermore, they cannot reduce the toxicity of toxins released by algae. It is very important to prepare degradable materials that can effectively control red tide and reduce their toxins in the future. Herein, degradable CDs (De-CDs) with biocompatibility and non-toxicity is successfully prepared using the one-step electrolytic method. De-CDs can effectively inhibit P. globosa (algae associated with red tide) growth. More importantly, the De-CDs not only can attenuate the toxicity of toxins released by P. globosa, but also can be degraded under visible-light irradiation in the seawater and avoids environmental leakage. The successful preparation of De-CDs provides a new idea for degradable materials with anti-red tide algae in the future.

Effects of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with or without Endostar on the regression of retropharyngeal lymph node and prognosis of patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of combining Endostar with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (ECCRT) compared to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) on the regression rate of retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLNs) and the relationship between regression rate of RLNs and prognosis of patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). METHODS: A total of 122 LANPC patients with RLNs metastasis were included. Metastatic RLNs were delineated both before and after treatment slice by slice on the magnetic resonance images cross-section. The regression rate of RLNs, adverse effects (AE) were evaluated. The median regression rate of RLNs was taken as the cut-off value, and the patients were furtherly divided into high regression rate (HRR) group and low regression rate (LRR) group, then survival times were evaluated. RESULTS: The median regression rates of RLNs in the ECCRT and CCRT groups were 81% and 50%, respectively (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of grade 3/4 AEs between the two groups, except for oral mucositis (ECCRT 26.23% vs. CCRT 44.26%, P = 0.037). The 3-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS) rates in the HRR and LRR groups were 85.48% and 86.67% (P = 0.983), 80.65% and 68.33% (P = 0.037), 83.87% and 85% (P = 0.704), 93.55% and 81.67% (P = 0.033), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in the ECCRT group had higher regression rates of RLNs and lower incidence of severe oral mucositis. Furthermore, patients in the HRR group had a better 3-year PFS and LRFFS rate than those in the LRR group.

ZnIn2S4-based multi-interface coupled photocatalyst for efficient photothermal synergistic catalytic hydrogen evolution.

Photothermal synergistic catalysis is a novel technology that converts energy. In this study, ZnIn2S4 with S-vacancy (ZIS-Vs) is combined with Nickel, Nickle Oxide and Carbon Nanofiber aggregates (Ni-NiO@CNFs) to create a multi-interface coupled photocatalyst with double Schottky barrier, double channel and mixed photothermal conversion effect. Theoretical calculation confirms that the Gibbs free energy (ΔG*H) of the S-scheme heterojunction in the composite material is -0.07 eV, which is close to 0. This promotes the adsorption of H* and accelerates the formation of H2. Internal photothermal catalysis is achieved by visible-near infrared (Vis-NIR, RT) irradiation. The internal photothermal catalytic hydrogen production rate of the best sample (0.9Ni-NiO@CNFs/ZIS-Vs) is as high as 17.24 mmol·g-1·h-1, and its photothermal conversion efficiency (η) is as high as 61.42 %. Its hydrogen production efficiency is 20.52 times that of ZIS-Vs (0.84 mmol·g-1·h-1) under visible light (Vis, RT) conditions. When the Vis-NIR light source is combined with external heating (75 ℃), the hydrogen production efficiency is further improved, and the hydrogen production efficiency (29.16 mmol·g-1·h-1) is 26.75 times that of ZIS-Vs (1.09 mmol·g-1·h-1, Vis-NIR, RT). Further analysis shows that the increase in hydrogen production resulted from the apparent activation energy (Ea) of the catalyst decreasing from 16.7 kJ·mol-1 to 9.28 kJ·mol-1. This study provides a valuable prototype for the design of an efficient photothermal synergistic catalytic system.

[Effect of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on TREM2/Akt/GSK3ß pathway in cerebral cortex of APP/PS1 transgenic mice].

The Chinese medical mechanism of Huanglian Jieduo Decoction on treating Alzheimer's disease(AD) characterized by "toxin damaging brain collateral" is still unclear. This study aims to explore the mechanism of Huanglian Jieduo Decoction on regulating triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2(TREM2)/protein kinase B(Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase 3ß(GSK3ß) pathway to improve the cognitive deficit in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. APP/PS1 mice of approximately nine months old were randomly divided into the model group, the low, medium, and high(2.5, 5, and 10 g·kg~(-1)) groups of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction, and 0.75 mg·kg~(-1) donepezil hydrochloride group, and the C57BL/6J mice with the same age were taken as the normal group. After one month of continuous oral administration, a Morris water maze was performed to detect the learning and memory ability of mice. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was applied to observe the morphology of neuronal cells in the cortical area of mice. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the protein expressions of ß-amyloid(Aß_(1-42)), CD86, and arginase 1(Arg1). The mRNA levels of interleukin(IL)-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10 in the cortex of mice were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR). The protein expressions of TREM2, phosphoinositide-3 kinase(PI3K), Akt, GSK3ß, and beta-catenin(ß-catenin) in mouse cortex were determined by Western blot. The results indicated that the escape latency of the model group was significantly prolonged, and the residence time in the target quadrant and the number of crossing the platform were significantly reduced compared with the normal group. Mice in the model group had a significantly lower number of neurons in the cortex and showed nuclear pyknosis and a significant increase in the expressions of Aß_(1-42) and CD86. The mRNA levels of IL-1ß and IL-6 in tissue were significantly increased, IL-10 were increased, while Arg1 were significantly decreased. The expression of TREM2, p-PI3K(Y607), p-Akt(T308), p-GSK3ß(Ser9), and ß-catenin in the cortex were significantly down-regulated. Compared with the model group, the escape latency of the mice in the administration group was significantly shortened, and the number of crossing the platform and the residence time in the target quadrant were significantly increased. Furthermore, the number of neurons in the cortex of mice was increased, and nuclear pyknosis was improved. Aß_(1-42) deposition was decreased significantly. The mRNA levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and CD86 were significantly decreased, while IL-10 and Arg1 levels were significantly increased. The expression of TREM2, p-PI3K(Y607), p-Akt(T308), p-GSK3ß(Ser9), and ß-catenin protein in the cortex of each administration group was significantly up-regulated compared with the model group. In conclusion, Huanglian Jiedu Decoction reduced the expression of Aß_(1-42) and neuroinflammation to a neuro-protective effect, thereby improving the learning and memory ability in APP/PS1 mice, which may be related to the TREM2/Akt/GSK3ß signaling pathway.

Impact of Obesity on Midurethral Sling Failure in a Highly Hispanic Population.

IMPORTANCE: Mixed data exist in the literature regarding the impact of obesity on midurethral sling (MUS) failure rates. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of obesity and Hispanic ethnicity on MUS failure. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of females who underwent MUS surgery, alone or with concomitant prolapse repair, with at least 1 year of follow-up. Body mass index (BMI) classes were categorized as normal (<25 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2), obese (30-39.9 kg/m2), and severe obesity (≥40 kg/m2). The primary outcome was MUS failure, defined as a composite of subjectively unchanged or worsened symptoms or need for additional procedures. Secondary outcomes included risk factors related to MUS failure and the effect of ethnicity on MUS failure rates. RESULTS: A total of 322 women were included for analysis. The mean age was 52.3 years. Increasing BMI was associated with higher MUS failure, with multivariate logistic regression showing a 5% increased risk for each 1 kg/m2 BMI increase. Failure rates were significantly different between normal BMI and severe obesity (16.7% vs 36.4%, P = 0.04). After adjusting for other variables, transobturator slings had a higher risk of failure compared with retropubic slings, whereas surgeon training and patient ethnicity did not affect failure rates. CONCLUSIONS: We found that increasing BMI was associated with higher MUS failures, with significantly higher failure rates in the severely obese population. Although MUS remains the standard of care for treatment of SUI, based on our findings, counseling should be individualized to the patient, taking into account each patient's unique characteristics.

Predicting rectal cancer prognosis from histopathological images and clinical information using multi-modal deep learning.

Objective: The objective of this study was to provide a multi-modal deep learning framework for forecasting the survival of rectal cancer patients by utilizing both digital pathological images data and non-imaging clinical data. Materials and methods: The research included patients diagnosed with rectal cancer by pathological confirmation from January 2015 to December 2016. Patients were allocated to training and testing sets in a randomized manner, with a ratio of 4:1. The tissue microarrays (TMAs) and clinical indicators were obtained. Subsequently, we selected distinct deep learning models to individually forecast patient survival. We conducted a scanning procedure on the TMAs in order to transform them into digital pathology pictures. Additionally, we performed pre-processing on the clinical data of the patients. Subsequently, we selected distinct deep learning algorithms to conduct survival prediction analysis using patients' pathological images and clinical data, respectively. Results: A total of 292 patients with rectal cancer were randomly allocated into two groups: a training set consisting of 234 cases, and a testing set consisting of 58 instances. Initially, we make direct predictions about the survival status by using pre-processed Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) pathological images of rectal cancer. We utilized the ResNest model to extract data from histopathological images of patients, resulting in a survival status prediction with an AUC (Area Under the Curve) of 0.797. Furthermore, we employ a multi-head attention fusion (MHAF) model to combine image features and clinical features in order to accurately forecast the survival rate of rectal cancer patients. The findings of our experiment show that the multi-modal structure works better than directly predicting from histopathological images. It achieves an AUC of 0.837 in predicting overall survival (OS). Conclusions: Our study highlights the potential of multi-modal deep learning models in predicting survival status from histopathological images and clinical information, thus offering valuable insights for clinical applications.