Topological Surface State Evolution in Bi2Se3 via Surface Etching.

Topological insulators are materials that have an insulating bulk interior while maintaining gapless boundary states against back scattering. Bi2Se3 is a prototypical topological insulator with a Dirac-cone surface state around Γ. Here, we present a controlled methodology to gradually remove Se atoms from the surface Se-Bi-Se-Bi-Se quintuple layers, eventually forming bilayer-Bi on top of the quintuple bulk. Our method allows us to track the topological surface state and confirm its robustness throughout the surface modification. Importantly, we report a relocation of the topological Dirac cone in both real space and momentum space as the top surface layer transitions from quintuple Se-Bi-Se-Bi-Se to bilayer-Bi. Additionally, charge transfer among the different surface layers is identified. Our study provides a precise method to manipulate surface configurations, allowing for the fine-tuning of the topological surface states in Bi2Se3, which represents a significant advancement toward nanoengineering of topological states.

The association between the eGFR slope and cardiorenal prognosis in patients with renoprotective treatments: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The associations between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope and the cardiorenal prognosis in patients with renoprotective drugs have not been well characterized yet. METHODS: PubMed, Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, Weipu databases and Clinicaltrial.gov were searched from inception to April 2023. Event-driven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating renoprotective drugs and reporting eGFR slopes in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, type 2 diabetes, or chronic kidney disease were included. RESULTS: In all, 25 RCTs with 179,893 participants were included. The preservation of eGFR was observed in patients with renoprotective drugs, with a comparator-adjusted total eGFR slope of 0.51 mL/min per 1.73 m2/year (95% CI, 0.31 to 0.70). It was indicated that the eGFR preservation reflected by the positive comparator-adjusted total eGFR slope was associated with a reduced risk of composite renal outcome (ß = -0.097, 95% CI, -0.178 to -0.016, p = 0.022), but was not associated with the risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or all-cause mortality. In patients with SGLT2i, MRA, or RAASi treatments, the placebo-adjusted acute eGFR slope was -0.59 mL/min per 1.73 m2 per week (95% CI, -0.74 to -0.43), which was marginally associated with a reduced risk of composite renal outcome (ß = 0.290, 95% CI, 0.000 to 0.581, p = 0.050), but was not associated with the risks of MACE or all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The eGFR preservation reflected by the positive comparator-adjusted total eGFR slope was associated with a reduced risk of composite renal outcome in patients receiving renoprotective agents. Greater acute decline in eGFR during the initiation of the treatment might confer a trend of fewer renal events in patients receiving SGLT2i, MRA, or RAASi.

Optimal cut-off values and diagnostic significance of clinical laboratory indicators in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify clinical laboratory parameters for the diagnosis of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), establish optimal cutoffs for early screening, and develop a diagnostic model for precise diagnosis. METHODS: The study conducted a retrospective analysis of 279 NDMM patients and 553 healthy subjects at Zhejiang Province People's Hospital between January 2008 and June 2023. Multifactor LR was employed to explore clinical laboratory indicators with diagnostic value for NDMM, determine optimal cutoff values and contract a diagnostic model. The diagnostic efficacy and clinical utility were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC), sensitivity, specificity, and other indicators. RESULTS: Multifactor analysis revealed that hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (Alb), and platelet distribution width (PDW) were significant diagnostic factors for NDMM. Optimal cutoff values for Hb, Alb, and PDW in MM diagnosis were determined, and the results showed a significant increase in the probability of NDMM diagnosis when Alb was below 39.3 g/L, Hb was below 11.6 g/dL, and PDW was below 14.1 fL. The diagnostic model constructed from the development cohort demonstrated a high area under the ROC curve of 0.960 (95% CI 0.942-0.978) and exhibited good sensitivity (0.860), specificity (0.957). The area under the curve (AUC) value of the diagnostic model in the external validation cohort was 0.979, confirming its good diagnostic efficacy and generalization. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal cutoff values for Hb, Alb, and PDW and the diagnostic model designed in the study provided good accuracy and sensitivity for the initial screening and diagnosis of NDMM.

Nitrogen fixation by alkali and alkaline earth metal hydrides assisted by plasma.

The chemical behaviors of alkali and alkaline earth metal hydrides including LiH, KH, MgH2, CaH2, and BaH2 under nitrogen plasma differ significantly from one another, exhibiting an ammonia production trend that contrasts with that observed under thermal conditions. A prominent feature of KH is its ability to facilitate plasma-assisted N2 fixation without generating H2 byproduct, showing high atomic economy in utilization of hydride ions for N2 reduction.

The weight reduction mediated by anti-obesity medication and the cardiovascular outcome.

The association between anti-obesity medications (AOMs) as well as their weight-loss effects and cardiovascular outcomes need to be comprehensively investigated. We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials for Studies, and Clinicaltrial.gov website from the inception to April 2024 and included 129 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of AOMs. When compared with placebo, every 5 kg weight reduction mediated by AOMs was associated with the reduced risks of 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (relative risk [RR] 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60-0.85), myocardial infarction (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60-0.95), stroke (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.42-0.85), and heart failure (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54-0.95). As for glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA)-users, similar cardiovascular benefits were also observed with 5 kg weight loss. This study indicated that the weight reductions mediated by AOMs were associated with cardiovascular benefits observed in AOM-users.

Environmentally relevant concentrations of perfluorobutane sulfonate impair locomotion behaviors and healthspan by downregulating mitophagy in C. elegans.

Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), a chemical compound within the group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), has been utilized as an alternative to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) recently. Previous research has indicated that PFBS might be linked to a range of health concerns. However, the potential impacts of environmentally relevant concentrations of PFBS (25 nM) on aging as well as the underlying mechanisms remained largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the impact of PFBS exposure on aging and the associated mechanisms in Caenorhabditis elegans. Our findings indicated that exposure to PFBS impaired healthspan of C. elegans. Through bioinformatic screening analyses, we identified that the dysfunctions of pink-1 mediated mitophagy might play a critical role in PFBS induced aging. The results furtherly revealed that PFBS exposure led to elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitophagy impairment through downregulating pink-1/pdr-1 pathway. Furthermore, the mitophagy agonist Urolithin A (UA) effectively reversed PFBS-induced mitophagy dysfunction and enhanced healthspan in C. elegans. Taken together, our study suggested that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of PFBS could accelerate aging by downregulating the pink-1 mediated mitophagy. Promoting mitophagy within cells could be a promising therapeutic strategy for delaying PFBS-induced aging.

Efficacy and safety of camrelizumab plus apatinib in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma previously treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (CAP 02 Re-challenge): A single-arm, phase II study.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), there remains an unmet need for options to address disease progression after prior ICIs. This single-arm phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of re-challenge with camrelizumab plus apatinib in patients with advanced ESCC who were previously treated with ICIs. METHODS: This study enrolled patients aged 18-75 years with unresectable locally advanced, locally recurrent, or distant metastatic ESCC who received prior ICIs. Patients received intravenous camrelizumab 200 mg every 2 weeks and oral apatinib 250 mg daily until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or consent withdrawal. The primary endpoint was the investigator-assessed confirmed objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS: Between September 1, 2021 and March 29, 2023, 49 eligible patients were enrolled and received treatment. Among the 49 patients, the confirmed ORR was 10.2 % (95 % CI 3.4-22.2), the disease control rate (DCR) was 69.4 % (54.6-81.7), the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.6 months (95 % CI 3.8-6.5) and overall survival (OS) was 7.5 months (5.5-13.6). Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 17 patients (34.7 %). No treatment-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the confirmed ORR was modest and did not reach clinically meaningful improvement for patients with ESCC who were previously treated with ICIs, with a manageable safety profile.

Unraveling the mechanism of aroma loss during prolonged hot air drying of non-smoked bacon: Insights into aroma compounds generation and retention.

In this study, the potential mechanism of aroma loss in non-smoked bacon due to excessive hot air drying (beyond 24 h) was investigated, focusing on protein conformational changes and the inhibition of heme protein-mediated lipid oxidation by oleic acid. The results showed that prolonged hot-air drying caused a stretching of the myofibrillar protein (MP) conformation in bacon before 36 h, leading to an increase in reactive sulfhydryl groups, surface hydrophobicity, and the exposure of additional hydrophobic sites. Consequently, the binding ability of MP to the eight key aroma compounds (hexanal, 1-octen-3-ol, (E)-2-nonenal, 3-methyl-butanoic acid, 2-undecenal, (E, E)-2,4-decadienal, 2,3-octanedione, and dihydro-5-pentyl-2(3H)-furanone) was enhanced, resulting in their retention. On the other hand, a sustained increase in oleic acid levels has been demonstrated to effectively inhibit heme protein-mediated lipid oxidation and the formation of these key aroma compounds. Using lipidomic techniques, 30 lipid molecules were identified as potential precursors of oleic acid during the bacon drying process. Among these precursors, triglycerides (16:0/18:0/18:1) may be the most significant.

Current landscape of mRNA technologies and delivery systems for new modality therapeutics.

Realizing the immense clinical potential of mRNA-based drugs will require continued development of methods to safely deliver the bioactive agents with high efficiency and without triggering side effects. In this regard, lipid nanoparticles have been successfully utilized to improve mRNA delivery and protect the cargo from extracellular degradation. Encapsulation in lipid nanoparticles was an essential factor in the successful clinical application of mRNA vaccines, which conclusively demonstrated the technology's potential to yield approved medicines. In this review, we begin by describing current advances in mRNA modifications, design of novel lipids and development of lipid nanoparticle components for mRNA-based drugs. Then, we summarize key points pertaining to preclinical and clinical development of mRNA therapeutics. Finally, we cover topics related to targeted delivery systems, including endosomal escape and targeting of immune cells, tumors and organs for use with mRNA vaccines and new treatment modalities for human diseases.

From fractional quantum anomalous Hall smectics to polar smectic metals: nontrivial interplay between electronic liquid crystal order and topological order in correlated topological flat bands.

Symmetry-breaking orders can not only compete with each other, but also be intertwined, and the intertwined topological and symmetry-breaking orders make the situation more intriguing. This work examines the archetypal correlated flat band model on a checkerboard lattice at fillingν=2/3and we find that the unique interplay between smectic charge order and topological order gives rise to two novel quantum states. As the interaction strength increases, the system first transitions from a Fermi liquid (FL) into FQAH smectic (FQAHS) state, where the topological order coexists cooperatively with smectic charge order with enlarged ground-state degeneracy and interestingly, the Hall conductivity isσxy=ν=2/3, different from the band-folding or doping scenarios. Further increasing the interaction strength, the system undergoes another quantum phase transition and evolves into a polar smectic metal (PSM) state. This emergent PSM is an anisotropic non-Fermi liquid, whose interstripe tunneling is irrelevant while it is metallic inside each stripe. Different from the FQAHS and conventional smectic orders, this PSM spontaneously breaks the two-fold rotational symmetry, resulting in a nonzero electric dipole moment and ferroelectric order. In addition to the exotic ground states, large-scale numerical simulations are also used to study low-energy excitations and thermodynamic characteristics. We find that the onset temperature of the incompressible FQAHS state, which also coincides with the onset of non-polar smectic order, is dictated by the magneto-roton modes. Above this onset temperature, the PSM state exists at an intermediate-temperature regime. Although theT = 0 quantum phase transition between PSM and FQAHS is first order, the thermal FQAHS-PSM transition could be continuous. We expect the features of the exotic states and thermal phase transitions could be accessed in future experiments.

Huopuxialing Decoction: A Promising Candidate for Precancerous Lesions of Gastric Cancer Treatment Based on Bioinformatics and Experimental Verification.

BACKGROUND: The Precancerous Lesion of Gastric Cancer (PLGC) is an early stage in the development of gastric cancer. The clinical application of HPXLD has been found to be effective in treating PLGC, but the mechanism of how HPXLD acts on PLGC is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to reveal the molecular mechanism of how HPXLD can be used to treat PLGC and investigate this mechanism through bioinformatics and experimental validation. METHODS: PLGC-associated target genes were identified through bioinformatics analysis. A rat model of PLGC was induced using N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoquanidine (MNNG) in combination with ranitidine, hot saline, ethanol, and intermittent fasting, with interventions by HPXLD. The pathological alterations in gastric mucosa were assessed through Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot analyses were employed to evaluate the changes in expression levels of inflammation-related proteins. RESULTS: After conducting bioinformatics analysis, it was found that there were 23 HPXLDPLGC crossover genes, which were significantly enriched in the IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and NF-kappa B signaling pathway. The results of HE showed that HPXLD was effective in improving gastric mucosal histopathological changes. Additionally, the IHC results demonstrated that HPXLD was able to downregulate the expression of IL-6, COX-2, MCP- 1, and MMP-9. Furthermore, Western blot analysis revealed that HPXLD was able to downregulate the expressions of IL-6, IL-17RA, ACT1, NF-κB, and TNF-α. CONCLUSION: HPXLD has been shown to improve PLGC by reducing the expression of inflammation- related proteins. This suggests that HPXLD may potentially be a treatment option for PLGC.

Photocatalytic production of a C12 liquid biofuel precursor and H2 by Ni(OH)2-ZnIn2S4 in anaerobic water.

Herein, we presented a bifunctional photocatalytic system for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) valorization over Ni(OH)2-modified ZnIn2S4. Instead of forming 2,5-diformylfuran C6 products from conventional HMF aerobic oxidation, C-C coupling C12 products and H2 were produced in anaerobic water, which can be an important liquid fuel intermediate and gaseous energy carrier, respectively. This work could spark more insight for biomass utilization.

Causal relationship between genetically predicted uterine leiomyoma and cancer risk: a two-sample Mendelian randomization.

Purpose: Studies have demonstrated that hormonal imbalance, such as elevated level of estrogen or reduced level of progesterone, was the main inducing factor of uterine leiomyoma (UL) development and some cancers. UL has been reported to be associated with several cancers in observational studies. However, the causal associations between UL and cancers remain unclear. Methods: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to investigate the causal associations between UL and 16 site-specific cancers using the public databases. Four methods, namely, the inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode, were applied in our MR analysis. Sensitivity tests were also performed to evaluate the robustness of these causal associations. Results: The IVW analysis indicated that genetically predicted UL increased the risk of low malignant potential ovarian cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.40, p = 0.004], serous ovarian cancer (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.10-1.52, p = 0.002), invasive mucinous ovarian cancer (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.08-1.44, p = 0.003), clear cell ovarian cancer (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03-1.51, p = 0.023), breast cancer (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02-1.11, p = 0.002), and brain tumor (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.06-1.42, p = 0.007). Conversely, genetically predicted UL reduced the risk of gastric cancer (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85-0.98, p = 0.008). The causal effects were consistent in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that UL exhibits a causal relationship with high risk of several cancers. We suggest reinforcing the cancer screening in UL patients to enable the early detection of cancers.

Expression profiling of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) microRNAs and microRNA core genes by Bacillus thuringiensis GS57 infection.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding RNAs, which are functional in a variety of biological processes through post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. However, the role of miRNAs in the interaction between Bacillus thuringiensis and insects remains unclear. In this study, small RNA libraries were constructed for B. thuringiensis-infected (Bt) and uninfected (CK) Spodoptera exigua larvae (treated with double-distilled water) using Illumina sequencing. Utilising the miRDeep2 and Randfold, a total of 233 known and 726 novel miRNAs were identified, among which 16 up-regulated and 34 down-regulated differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified compared to the CK. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that potential target genes of DE miRNAs were associated with ABC transporters, fatty acid metabolism and MAPK signalling pathway which are related to the development, reproduction and immunity. Moreover, two miRNA core genes, SeDicer1 and SeAgo1 were identified. The phylogenetic tree showed that lepidopteran Dicer1 clustered into one branch, with SeDicer1 in the position closest to Spodoptera litura Dicer1. A similar phylogenetic relationship was observed in the Ago1 protein. Expression of SeDicer1 increased at 72 h post infection (hpi) with B. thuringiensis; however, expression of SeDicer1 and SeAgo1 decreased at 96 hpi. The RNAi results showed that the knockdown of SeDicer1 directly caused the down-regulation of miRNAs and promoted the mortality of S. exigua infected by B. thuringiensis GS57. In conclusion, our study is crucial to understand the relationship between miRNAs and various biological processes caused by B. thuringiensis infection, and develop an integrated pest management strategy for S. exigua via miRNAs.

Immobilized Drugs on Dual-Mode Imaging Ag2S/BaSO4/PVA Embolic Microspheres for Precise Localization, Rapid Embolization, and Local Antitumor Therapy.

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in interventional therapy and tumor embolism therapy plays a significant role. The choice of embolic materials that have good biocompatibility is an essential component of TAE. For this study, we produced a multifunctional PVA embolization material that can simultaneously encapsulate Ag2S quantum dots (Ag2S QDs) and BaSO4 nanoparticles (BaSO4 NPs), exhibiting excellent second near-infrared window (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging and X-ray imaging, breaking through the limitations of traditional embolic microsphere X-ray imaging. To improve the therapeutic effectiveness against tumors, we doped the doxorubicin (DOX) antitumor drug into microspheres and combined it with a clotting peptide (RADA16-I) on the surface of microspheres. Thus, it not only embolizes rapidly during hemostasis but also continues to release and accelerate tumor necrosis. In addition, Ag2S/BaSO4/PVA microspheres (Ag2S/BaSO4/PVA Ms) exhibited good blood compatibility and biocompatibility, and the results of embolization experiments on renal arteries in rabbits revealed good embolic effects and bimodal imaging stability. Therefore, they could serve as a promising medication delivery embolic system and an efficient biomaterial for arterial embolization. Our research work achieves the applicability of NIR-II and X-ray dual-mode images for clinical embolization in biomedical imaging.

The predictive value of intraoperative facial motor evoked potentials in cerebellopontine angle tumor surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to explore the value of intraoperative facial motor evoked potentials (FMEP) for facial outcomes in cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor surgery to provide an evidence-based consensus standard for future clinical practice and prospective studies. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched from inception to June 2023. Study quality was assessed with the QUADAS-2 tool. Bivariate and random-effects models for meta-analysis and meta-regression generated summary receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) and forest plots for estimates of sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: We included 17 studies (1,206 participants). Sensitivity was lower in the immediate (IM) post-operative (0.76, 95% CI 0.65-0.84) compared to follow-up (FU) period (0.82, 95% CI 0.74-0.88) while specificity was similar in both groups (IM, 0.94, 95% CI 0.89-0.97; FU, 0.93, 95% CI 0.87-0.96). Data driven estimates improved FMEP performance but require confirmation from future studies. Amplitude cutoff criteria and studies that scored new deficits as worse than House-Brackmann (HB) grade 2 yielded best sensitivities. CONCLUSIONS: FMEP demonstrated statistically significant accuracy for facial function monitoring. Implementation of FMEPs varied widely across studies. SIGNIFICANCE: Our study is the first systematic review with meta-analysis to demonstrate that intraoperative FMEP is valuable in CPA tumor surgery for facial outcomes. Meta-regression identified the methods that were most useful in the application of FMEPs.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Mya japonica (Jay, 1857 Myida:myidae).

The soft-shell clam Mya japonica (Jay, 1857) is a commercially important fishery resource. In this study, we identified the complete mitochondrial genome of M. japonica and performed a phylogenetic analysis to explore its genetic relationship with Mya arenaria. The genome is 21,396 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 23 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and 5 D-Loop control regions. The atp8 gene was annotated in Myidae for the first time. Notably, the genome contains an additional trnM, consistent with M. arenaria. The length of the cox2 gene is 1,947 bp, which is 513 bp longer than that in M. arenaria. Its base composition is 29.14% A, 37.26% T, 10.89% C, and 22.71% G. Phylogenetic analysis based on 12 PCGs and 2 rRNAs indicates that M. japonica and M. arenaria form a sister group. In this study, the identification and phylogenetic analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of M. japonica provide significant information for future taxonomic and evolutionary research of the genus Mya.

Dynamic histone modification signatures coordinate developmental programs in strawberry fruit ripening.

Chromatin structure plays a critical role in the regulation of dynamic gene expression in response to different developmental and environmental cues, but as yet their involvement in fruit ripening is not well understood. Here, we profile seven histone modifications in the woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) genome and analyze the histone modification signatures during ripening. Collectively, segments painted by the seven marks cover ~85% of the woodland strawberry genome. We report an eight-state chromatin structure model of the woodland strawberry based on the above histone marks, which reveals a diverse chromatin environment closely associated with transcriptional apparatus. Upon this model we build a chromatin-centric annotation to the strawberry genome. Expression of many genes essential for fruit ripening, such as abscisic acid catabolism, anthocyanin accumulation and fruit softening, are associated with shifts of active genic states and polycomb-associated chromatin states. Particularly, the expression levels of ripening-related genes are well correlated with histone acetylation, indicating a regulatory role of histone acetylation in strawberry ripening. Our identification of the chromatin states underpinning genome expression during fruit ripening not only elucidates the coordination of different pathways of morphological and metabolic development but also provides a framework to understand the signals that regulate fruit ripening.

Advancing Scaffold-Assisted Modality for In Situ Osteochondral Regeneration: A Shift From Biodegradable to Bioadaptable.

Over the decades, the management of osteochondral lesions remains a significant yet unmet medical challenge without curative solutions to date. Owing to the complex nature of osteochondral units with multi-tissues and multicellularity, and inherently divergent cellular turnover capacities, current clinical practices often fall short of robust and satisfactory repair efficacy. Alternative strategies, particularly tissue engineering assisted with biomaterial scaffolds, achieve considerable advances, with the emerging pursuit of a more cost-effective approach of in situ osteochondral regeneration, as evolving toward cell-free modalities. By leveraging endogenous cell sources and innate regenerative potential facilitated with instructive scaffolds, promising results are anticipated and being evidenced. Accordingly, a paradigm shift is occurring in scaffold development, from biodegradable and biocompatible to bioadaptable in spatiotemporal control. Hence, this review summarizes the ongoing progress in deploying bioadaptable criteria for scaffold-based engineering in endogenous osteochondral repair, with emphases on precise control over the scaffolding material, degradation, structure and biomechanics, and surface and biointerfacial characteristics, alongside their distinguished impact on the outcomes. Future outlooks of a highlight on advanced, frontier materials, technologies, and tools tailoring precision medicine and smart healthcare are provided, which potentially paves the path toward the ultimate goal of complete osteochondral regeneration with function restoration.

Characteristics and mechanisms of T-cell senescence: A potential target for cancer immunotherapy.

Immunosenescence, the aging of the immune system, leads to functional deficiencies, particularly in T cells, which undergo significant changes. While numerous studies have investigated age-related T-cell phenotypes in healthy aging, senescent T cells have also been observed in younger populations during pathological conditions like cancer. This review summarizes the recent advancements in age-associated alterations and markers of T cells, mechanisms, and the relationship between senescent T cells and the tumor microenvironment. We also discuss potential strategies for targeting senescent T cells to prevent age-related diseases and enhance tumor immunotherapy efficacy.