Organic photovoltaic biomaterial with fullerene derivatives for near-infrared light sensing in neural cells.

Retinal degenerative diseases, which can lead to photoreceptor cell apoptosis, have now become the leading irreversible cause of blindness worldwide. In this study, we developed an organic photovoltaic biomaterial for artificial retinas, enabling neural cells to detect photoelectric stimulation. The biomaterial was prepared using a conjugated polymer donor, PCE-10, and a non-fullerene receptor, Y6, both known for their strong near-infrared light absorption capabilities. Additionally, a fullerene receptor, PC61BM, was incorporated, which possesses the ability to absorb reactive oxygen species. We conducted a comprehensive investigation into the microstructure, photovoltaic properties, and photothermal effects of this three-component photovoltaic biomaterial. Furthermore, we employed Rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cells (PC-12) as a standard neural cell model to evaluate the in vitro photoelectric stimulation effect of this photovoltaic biomaterial. The results demonstrate that the photovoltaic biomaterial, enriched with fullerene derivatives, can induce intracellular calcium influx in PC-12 cells under 630 nm (red light) and 780 nm (near-infrared) laser irradiation. Moreover, there were lower levels of oxidative stress and higher levels of mitochondrial activity compared to the non-PC61BM group. This photovoltaic biomaterial proves to be an ideal substrate for near-infrared photoelectrical stimulation of neural cells and holds promise for restoring visual function in patients with photoreceptor apoptosis.

Characteristics of the Mixed Yogurt Fermented from Cow-Soy Milk in the Presence of Transglutaminase.

The mixed yogurt was fermented from Cow-Soy milk and modified by transglutaminase (TG). The effects of mixed milk and TG on the quality characteristics of mixed yogurt were investigated by texture characteristics, rheology (rheometer) and structure (scanning electron microscopy). The findings revealed that the mixed yogurt with 50% cow milk exhibited lower hardness, viscosity and consistency. Furthermore, when TG was added, the yogurt showed better rheological properties, sensory score and a more stable microstructure. Compared with the samples without TG modification, the viscosity and cohesiveness of the modified samples increased by 10% and 100%, respectively. The combination of cow milk and soy milk improved the texture of yogurt, and the TG addition further improved the physicochemical properties of yogurt. This finding provided a meaningful reference for the development of mixed yogurt with a suitable taste from animal and plant milk, and laid a basis for the practical application of mixed yogurt in the dairy industry, which will meet the requirements for dairy products for consumers in future.

Review of the lethal mechanism of insulin poisoning and the characteristic of forensic identification.

Insulin, as the only hypoglycemic hormone in the body, plays a key role in blood sugar control. However, excessive insulin intake can lead to insulin poisoning and even death, which often occurs in clinical and forensic work. At present, some researches on insulin poisoning have been carried out at home and abroad, however, it seems that the mechanism and forensic characteristics of insulin poisoning are not clear and complete. Therefore, in this paper, we reviewed the potential mechanism of insulin poisoning, the methods of insulin detection and the forensic identification of poisoning cases, aiming at providing services for the forensic identification of insulin poisoning.

Effects of microplastics on typical macrobenthos in sargassum ecosystems.

Recently, microplastics (MPs) have attracted extensive attention to their wide distribution and potential toxicity in ecosystems. However, there was a lack of research focused on MPs in seaweed bed ecosystems. This study investigated the distribution and toxicity of MPs in macrobenthos in Sargassum ecosystem. According to the in-situ investigation results, the abundance of MPs in the sediment was 0.9-2.3 items/g, the indoor microcosmic experiment was constructed. After exposure to MPs (0, 2, and 20 items/g) for 30 days, the abundance of MPs in macrobenthos exhibits a concentration-dependent increase. However, there was no significant bioaccumulation of MPs at the trophic level. The indoor toxicity test revealed that MPs induced oxidative stress and altered intestinal microflora composition in macrobenthos, even at actual environmental concentrations (2 items/g). It may result in a perturbation of the organism's homeostatic equilibrium. High-concentration (20 items/g) MPs had a greater impact on alkaline phosphatase (AKP) in Mollusks. The increase in AKP activity could be indicative of an adaptive mechanism in some macrobenthos while the decline in AKP activity might signal a decrease in their survival. These results elucidated the fate of MPs in ecosystem and the ecological risks of MPs to large benthic animals on model environmental conditions.

The relationship between medical staff burnout and subjective wellbeing: the chain mediating role of psychological capital and perceived social support.

Background: Medical staff play a crucial role in delivering healthcare services, especially during epidemics of infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is a growing issue of burnout and low wellbeing among this group. While it is widely recognized that burnout has a negative impact on subjective wellbeing, the exact relationship between the two is not yet completely understood. The purpose of this study is to explore the chain mediating role of psychological capital and perceived social support between burnout and subjective wellbeing among medical staff. Methods: Using the convenient sampling method, 604 medical staff were selected for a cross-sectional study. All participants completed a self-report questionnaire that collected demographic information, as well as data from the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey, General Wellbeing Schedule, Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and Perceived Social Support Scale. SPSS 27.0 and SPSS PROCESS macro were used for data analysis. Results: There was a significant correlation between burnout, psychological capital, perceived social support, and subjective wellbeing (p < 0.01). Burnout not only has a direct negative impact on the subjective wellbeing of medical staff (effect: -0.2045; Bootstrap 95%CI: -0.2506, -0.1583), but also exerts an indirect influence on subjective wellbeing through three pathways: the independent mediating effect of psychological capital (effect: -0.0481; Bootstrap 95%CI: -0.0876, -0.0109), the independent mediating effect of perceived social support (effect: -0.0092; Bootstrap 95%CI: -0.0203, -0.0003), and the chained mediating effect of psychological capital and perceived social support (effect: -0.0092; Bootstrap 95%CI: -0.0183, -0.0019). Conclusion: High burnout in medical staff can impair the level of psychological capital, leading to diminished perceived social support and ultimately reduced subjective wellbeing. The findings of this study contribute to understanding the potential pathways between burnout and subjective wellbeing and provide preliminary data support for developing strategies to improve the mental health of medical staff.

The Effectiveness of Digital Interactive Intervention on Reducing Older Adults' Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety and depression are prevalent among older adults, and digital interactive interventions have shown promise in promoting their mental well-being. However, limited research has explored the effects of different types of digital interactive interventions across various devices on anxiety and depression in older adults with different health conditions. METHODS: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were conducted using seven selected databases to identify relevant studies up to July 19, 2023. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection, data extraction, and quality appraisals. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. For the meta-analysis, the effect size was calculated as the standardized mean difference (SMD) using a random-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 20 randomized control trails involving 1,309 older adults fulfilled inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis results demonstrates that the digital interactive intervention technologies had a significance on depression (SMD = -0.656 s, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.992 to -0.380, p < 0.001) and anxiety (SMD = -0.381 s, 95% CI = -0.517 to -0.245, p < 0.001). Physical interactive interventions demonstrated a significant effect on depression and anxiety (SMD = -0.711 s, 95% CI = -1.102 to -0.319, p < 0.001) and (SMD = -0.573 s, 95% CI = -0.910 to -0.236, p = 0.001). Similarly, immersive interactive interventions also showed a significant effect on depression and anxiety (SMD = -0.699 s, 95% CI = -1.026 to -0.373, p < 0.001) and (SMD = -0.343 s, 95% CI = -0.493 to -0.194, p < 0.001). Additionally, in the internal medicine group, significant intervention effects were observed for depression (SMD = -0.388, 95% CI = -0.630 to -0.145, p = 0.002) and anxiety (SMD = -0.325, 95% CI = -0.481 to -0.169, p < 0.001). Similarly, in the neurocognitive disorders group, significant intervention effects were found for depression (SMD = -0.702, 95% CI = -0.991 to -0.413, p < 0.001) and anxiety (SMD = -0.790, 95% CI = -1.237 to -0.342, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results indicated that various digital interactive devices, including physical and immersive interactive devices, have a positive impact on depression and anxiety among older adults. However, mobile games were not effective in addressing depression. Digital interactive technologies did not significantly influence anxiety intervention, except for elderly individuals undergoing surgical procedures. Nevertheless, these interventions effectively addressed depression and anxiety in older individuals with neurocognitive disorders, internal medical issues, and those without health issues.

What Is the Real-life Experience of Older Adults on Smart Healthcare Technologies? An Exploratory Interview Study.

INTRODUCTION: Smart healthcare technologies exhibit the great potential to support older Hong Kong adults with their health problems. Although there are various smart healthcare technologies in the Hong Kong market, and some adoption predictors have been proposed and investigated, little is known about older users' views on and real-life experiences with these technologies. This exploratory study examined the experiences, functional needs and barriers of three kinds of smart healthcare technology (i.e., smart wearable devices, smart health monitors, and healthcare applications) with older adults in real-life. METHODS: A convenience sampling method was applied to recruit twenty-two older adults from the Hong Kong community. The interview was designed in semi-structured and conducted in a face-to-face setting. The content analysis was used to summarize the older adults' functional needs and barriers in real-life. RESULTS: We found older adults mainly applied SHCTs to address physical health, but there are few technological solutions for mental health in practice. There are four types of barriers in using smart healthcare technology. However, social support in Hong Kong community greatly help to reduce the barriers in technology use. Based on the findings, we discussed the possible solutions based on the social and technology perspective. CONCLUSION: Current technologies still could not fully address older adults needs for healthy aging and various barriers still hinder the actual adoption. By deeply understanding and considering the social context, technology innovation can facilitate the adoption of smart healthcare technology and promote a healthy aging society.

Temporin-GHaK Exhibits Antineoplastic Activity against Human Lung Adenocarcinoma by Inhibiting the Wnt Signaling Pathway through miRNA-4516.

(1) Background: GHaK is derived from the antimicrobial peptide temporin-GHa by substituting the amino acid H with K to enhance its bactericidal activity. The present research aims to broaden the pharmacological potential of GHaK by exploring its antineoplastic activity against human lung adenocarcinoma. (2) Methods: The cell viability, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and cell cycle of A549 and PC-9 cells were tested after GHaK treatment. miRNA sequencing, RT-PCR, Western blotting, and luciferase reporter gene assay were further performed to reveal the potential mechanism. (3) Results: GHaK significantly suppressed cell viability, migration, and invasion; induced apoptosis; and caused cell cycle arrest in the G2/M and S phase in PC-9 and A549 cells, respectively. The miRNA sequencing results show a total of 161 up-regulated and 115 down-regulated miRNAs. Furthermore, the study identified six up-regulated miRNAs (miR-4516, miR-4284, miR-204-5p, miR-12136, miR-4463, and miR-1296-3p) and their inhibitory effects on the expressions of target genes (Wnt 8B, FZD2, DVL3, and FOSL1) caused by miR-4516 directly interacting with Wnt 8B. Western blotting revealed the down-regulation of p-GSK-3ß, along with a decreased expressions of cyclin A1 and CDK2 in A549 cells and cyclin B1 and CDK1 in PC-9 cells. (4) Conclusions: Temporin-GHaK exhibits antineoplastic activity against human lung adenocarcinoma by inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway through miRNA-4516.

Dual-targeted nanoparticulate drug delivery systems for enhancing triple-negative breast cancer treatment.

The efficacy of DNA-damaging agents, such as the topoisomerase I inhibitor SN38, is often compromised by the robust DNA repair mechanisms in tumor cells, notably homologous recombination (HR) repair. Addressing this challenge, we introduce a novel nano-strategy utilizing binary tumor-killing mechanisms to enhance the therapeutic impact of DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer treatment. Our approach employs a synergistic drug pair comprising SN38 and the BET inhibitor JQ-1. We synthesized two prodrugs by conjugating linoleic acid (LA) to SN38 and JQ-1 via a cinnamaldehyde thioacetal (CT) bond, facilitating co-delivery. These prodrugs co-assemble into a nanostructure, referred to as SJNP, in an optimal synergistic ratio. SJNP was validated for its efficacy at both the cellular and tissue levels, where it primarily disrupts the transcription factor protein BRD4. This disruption leads to downregulation of BRCA1 and RAD51, impairing the HR process and exacerbating DNA damage. Additionally, SJNP releases cinnamaldehyde (CA) upon CT linkage cleavage, elevating intracellular ROS levels in a self-amplifying manner and inducing ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. Our results indicate that SJNP effectively targets murine triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with minimal adverse toxicity, showcasing its potential as a formidable opponent in the fight against cancer.

Building a novel TRUCK by harnessing the endogenous IFN-gamma promoter for cytokine expression.

Despite the remarkable success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T therapy in hematological malignancies, its efficacy in solid tumors remains limited. Cytokine-engineered CAR T cells offer a promising avenue, yet their clinical translation is hindered by the risks associated with constitutive cytokine expression. In this proof-of-concept study, we leverage the endogenous interferon (IFN)-γ promoter for transgenic interleukin (IL)-15 expression. We demonstrate that IFN-γ expression is tightly regulated by T cell receptor signaling. By introducing an internal ribosome entry site IL15 into the 3' UTR of the IFN-γ gene via homology directed repair-mediated knock-in, we confirm that IL-15 expression can co-express with IFN-γ in an antigen stimulation-dependent manner. Importantly, the insertion of transgenes does not compromise endogenous IFN-γ expression. In vitro and in vivo data demonstrate that IL-15 driven by the IFN-γ promoter dramatically improves CAR T cells' antitumor activity, suggesting the effectiveness of IL-15 expression. Last, as a part of our efforts toward clinical translation, we have developed an innovative two-gene knock-in approach. This approach enables the simultaneous integration of CAR and IL-15 genes into TRAC and IFN-γ gene loci using a single AAV vector. CAR T cells engineered to express IL-15 using this approach demonstrate enhanced antitumor efficacy. Overall, our study underscores the feasibility of utilizing endogenous promoters for transgenic cytokines expression in CAR T cells.

The rehabilitation efficacy of diaphragmatic breathing combined with limb coordination training for lower limb lymphedema following gynecologic cancer surgery.

Objective: To investigate the impact of diaphragmatic breathing combined with limb training on lower limb lymphedema following surgery for gynecological cancer. Methods: From January 2022 to May 2022, 60 patients with lower limb lymphedema post-gynecologic cancer surgery were chosen. They were split into a control group (n = 30) and a treatment group (n = 30). The control group underwent complex decongestive therapy (CDT) for managing lower limb lymphedema after gynecologic cancer surgery, while the treatment group received diaphragmatic breathing combined with limb coordination training alongside CDT. Both groups completed a 4-week treatment regimen. The lower limb lymphedema symptoms were evaluated using the genital, lower limb, buttock, and abdomen (GCLQ) scores; bilateral lower limb circumference measurements; and anxiety and depression scores. Results: Compared to sole CDT administration, individuals undergoing diaphragmatic breathing coupled with limb coordination training experienced notable reductions in scores for the self-perceived symptom assessment questionnaire (GCLQ), bilateral lower limb circumference, as well as anxiety and depression scores. Conclusion: The incorporation of diaphragmatic breathing combined withalongside limb coordination training can accelerate and augment the efficacy of treating lower limb lymphedema post-gynecologic cancer surgery.

Deciphering the molecular mechanism of long non-coding RNA HIF1A-AS1 regulating pancreatic cancer cells.

Background: HIF1A-AS1, an antisense transcript of HIF1α gene, is a 652-bp LncRNA that is globally expressed in multiple tissues of animals. Recent evidence indicated that HIF1A-AS1 was involved in tumorigenesis of several types of cancer. However, the role of lncRNA in PC has not been reported, and the molecular mechanism remains elusive. Results: In order to investigate the role of HIF1A-AS1 in PC, it was overexpressed in some PC cell lines (PANC-1, PATU8988 and SW1990), and a series of experiments including cell viability detection, flow cytometry, transwell migration, clone formation and wound healing were performed. Functionally, the results indicated that overexpression of HIF1A-AS1 could greatly inhibit proliferation and migration and promote apoptosis of PC cells. Moreover, the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) quantitative proteomics analysis was implemented to explore the underlying mechanism and the results indicated that OE of HIF1A-AS1 globally affected the expression levels of multiple proteins associated with metabolism of cancer. At last, the network analysis revealed that most of these differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were integrated and severed essential roles in regulatory function. In view of this, we guessed HIF1A-AS1 overexpression induced the dysfunction of metabolism and disordered proteins' translation, which may account for its excellent tumour suppressor effect. Conclusions: HIF1A-AS1 altered the cell function of PC cell lines via affecting the expression of numerous proteins. In summary, HIF1A-AS1 may exhibit a potential therapeutic effect on PC, and our study provided useful information in this filed.

Microfluidic-Based dsRNA Delivery Nanoplatform for Efficient Spodoptera exigua Control.

Nanotechnology-based RNA interference (RNAi) offers a promising approach to pest control. However, current methods for producing RNAi nanopesticides are mainly implemented in a batch-to-batch manner, lacking consistent quality control. Herein, we present a microfluidic-based nanoplatform for RNA nanopesticide preparation using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as nanocarriers, taking advantage of the enhanced mass transfer and continuous processing capabilities of microfluidic technology. The dsRNA@LNPs were rapidly formed within seconds, which showed uniform size distribution, improved leaf wettability, and excellent dispersion properties. The delivery efficiency of dsRNA@LNPs was evaluated by targeting the chitin synthetase B (CHSB) gene ofSpodoptera exigua. The dsRNA@LNPs can effectively resist nuclease-rich midgut fluid degradation. Importantly, dsCHSB@LNPs exhibited increased mortality rates, significant reduction of larvae growth, and enhanced gene suppression efficiency. Therefore, a continuous nanoplatform for RNAi nanopesticide preparation is demonstrated by utilizing microfluidic technology, representing a new route to produce RNAi nanopesticides with enhanced quality control and might accelerate their practical applications.

Effectiveness of sensor-based interventions in improving gait and balance performance in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Sensor-based interventions (SI) have been suggested as an alternative rehabilitation treatment to improve older adults' functional performance. However, the effectiveness of different sensor technologies in improving gait and balance remains unclear and requires further investigation. METHODS: Ten databases (Academic Search Premier; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Complete; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; MEDLINE; PubMed; Web of Science; OpenDissertations; Open grey; ProQuest; and Grey literature report) were searched for relevant articles published up to December 20, 2022. Conventional functional assessments, including the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, normal gait speed, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Falling Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), were used as the evaluation outcomes reflecting gait and balance performance. We first meta-analyzed the effectiveness of SI, which included optical sensors (OPTS), perception sensors (PCPS), and wearable sensors (WS), compared with control groups, which included non-treatment intervention (NTI) and traditional physical exercise intervention (TPEI). We further conducted sub-group analysis to compare the effectiveness of SI (OPTS, PCPS, and WS) with TPEI groups and compared each SI subtype with control (NTI and TPEI) and TPEI groups. RESULTS: We scanned 6255 articles and performed meta-analyses of 58 selected trials (sample size = 2713). The results showed that SI groups were significantly more effective than control or TPEI groups (p < 0.000) in improving gait and balance performance. The subgroup meta-analyses between OPTS groups and TPEI groups revealed clear statistically significant differences in effectiveness for TUG test (mean difference (MD) = - 0.681 s; p < 0.000), normal gait speed (MD = 4.244 cm/s; p < 0.000), BBS (MD = 2.325; p = 0.001), 6MWT (MD = 25.166 m; p < 0.000), and FES-I scores (MD = - 2.036; p = 0.036). PCPS groups also presented statistically significant differences with TPEI groups in gait and balance assessments for normal gait speed (MD = 4.382 cm/s; p = 0.034), BBS (MD = 1.874; p < 0.000), 6MWT (MD = 21.904 m; p < 0.000), and FES-I scores (MD = - 1.161; p < 0.000), except for the TUG test (MD = - 0.226 s; p = 0.106). There were no statistically significant differences in TUG test (MD = - 1.255 s; p = 0.101) or normal gait speed (MD = 6.682 cm/s; p = 0.109) between WS groups and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: SI with biofeedback has a positive effect on gait and balance improvement among a mixed population of older adults. Specifically, OPTS and PCPS groups were statistically better than TPEI groups at improving gait and balance performance, whereas only the group comparison in BBS and 6MWT can reach the minimal clinically important difference. Moreover, WS groups showed no statistically or clinically significant positive effect on gait and balance improvement compared with control groups. More studies are recommended to verify the effectiveness of specific SI. Research registration PROSPERO platform: CRD42022362817. Registered on 7/10/2022.

Incidence of Cytomegalovirus Infection After Repeat Keratoplasty and Associated Rate of Graft Failure.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this work was to compare the prognosis and characteristics of patients with Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (CMV+) with those of patients without virus infection (Virus-) undergoing repeat keratoplasty. METHODS: This prospective propensity score-matched cohort study enrolled patients who underwent repeat keratoplasty for graft failure at the Peking University Third Hospital between January 2016 and May 2022. Patients with prior viral keratitis before the first keratoplasty were excluded. The primary outcome measure was the graft failure rate. The secondary outcome measures included the anterior segment characteristics, intraocular pressure (IOP), and endothelial cell density. RESULTS: Ninety-four matched patient pairs were included. The graft failure rate in the CMV+ group (71%) was higher than that in the Virus- group (29%) (P < 0.001). CMV infection in the cornea increased the risk of repeat graft failure and shortened the median survival time (hazard ratio, 3.876; 95% confidence intervals, 2.554-5.884; P < 0.001). The characteristics of graft failure included exacerbation of ocular surface inflammation, neovascularization, and opacification. Epithelial defects, high IOP, and endothelial decompensation were observed at an increased frequency in the CMV+ group (all P < 0.005). Recurrent CMV infection presented as early endothelial infection in the CMV+ group. Recurrence of CMV infection was confined to the graft endothelium without involving the stroma and epithelium post-repeat endothelial keratoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: CMV infection post-keratoplasty leads to persistent endothelial damage and graft opacification and significantly increases the risk of repeat graft failure. Localized recurrence of CMV infection in the endothelial grafts underscores the importance of monitoring and treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR1800014684.

The causality of gut microbiota on onset and progression of sepsis: a bi-directional Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Several observational studies have proposed a potential link between gut microbiota and the onset and progression of sepsis. Nevertheless, the causality of gut microbiota and sepsis remains debatable and warrants more comprehensive exploration. Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to test the causality between gut microbiota and the onset and progression of sepsis. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for 196 bacterial traits were extracted from the MiBioGen consortium, whereas the GWAS summary statistics for sepsis and sepsis-related outcomes came from the UK Biobank. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) approach was the primary method used to examine the causal association. To complement the IVW method, we utilized four additional MR methods. We performed a series of sensitivity analyses to examine the robustness of the causal estimates. Results: We assessed the causality of 196 bacterial traits on sepsis and sepsis-related outcomes. Genus Coprococcus2 [odds ratio (OR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.69-0.94), p = 0.007] and genus Dialister (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.97, p = 0.016) had a protective effect on sepsis, whereas genus Ruminococcaceae UCG011 (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.20, p = 0.024) increased the risk of sepsis. When it came to sepsis requiring critical care, genus Anaerostipes (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.31-0.76, p = 0.002), genus Coprococcus1 (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.43-1.00, p = 0.049), and genus Lachnospiraceae UCG004 (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.34-0.77, p = 0.001) emerged as protective factors. Concerning 28-day mortality of sepsis, genus Coprococcus1 (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.48-0.94, p = 0.020), genus Coprococcus2 (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.27-0.86, p = 0.013), genus Lachnospiraceae FCS020 (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.52-0.95, p = 0.023), and genus Victivallis (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.68-0.99, p = 0.042) presented a protective effect, whereas genus Ruminococcus torques group (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.00-2.35, p = 0.049), genus Sellimonas (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.04-1.50, p = 0.019), and genus Terrisporobacter (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.02-2.02, p = 0.040) presented a harmful effect. Furthermore, genus Coprococcus1 (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.92, p = 0.031), genus Coprococcus2 (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.14-0.83, p = 0.018), and genus Ruminiclostridium6 (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.22-0.83, p = 0.012) were associated with a lower 28-day mortality of sepsis requiring critical care. Conclusion: This MR analysis unveiled a causality between the 21 bacterial traits and sepsis and sepsis-related outcomes. Our findings may help the development of novel microbiota-based therapeutics to decrease the morbidity and mortality of sepsis.

Investigating the Acid Erosion Characteristics of Carbonate Rocks under Hydrodynamic Action.

In carbonate areas, the unique dissolution features bring a lot of resistance to engineering constructions. The acidic filtrate will definitely cause accelerated dissolution of the surrounding rocks, and the mechanism of accelerated dissolution of such rocks in acid is not clear. In order to explore the dissolution pattern of carbonate rocks after the alteration of their primary environments, a self-made rotating reaction device was used to conduct laboratory dissolution experiments on carbonate cores under three conditions. The mass loss, the change of pH, the molar concentration of Ca2+ and Mg2+, and the morphological changes before and after acid erosion were obtained. The results of correlation analysis show that the dissolution characteristics of carbonate are significantly related to dissolution time, composition of rocks, liquid flow rate, and acid concentration. Segmented characteristics were recorded between CaO/MgO and the reaction sequence (m). When 2 < CaO/MgO < 30, the increase of CaO/MgO has a significant contribution to the chemical dissolution rate; however, when 30 < CaO/MgO < 66, the increase of CaO/MgO does not contribute significantly to the chemical dissolution rate. The dissolution rate is positively correlated with the liquid flow rate. Also, liquid flow rate changes affect dolomite more than they do limestone. The mass loss rate (Rc) order of the rocks of the five carbonate formations was Maocaopu > Qingyan > Falang > Anshun > Dengying. Differences in dissolution induced by the acidic fluids in different formations will eventually form complex dissolution channels.

Supramolecular Nanoparticles of Histone and Hyaluronic Acid for Co-Delivery of siRNA and Photosensitizer In Vitro.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has significant potential as a treatment for cancer by targeting specific genes or molecular pathways involved in cancer development and progression. The addition of siRNA to other therapeutic strategies, like photodynamic therapy (PDT), can enhance the anticancer effects, providing synergistic benefits. Nevertheless, the effective delivery of siRNA into target cells remains an obstacle in cancer therapy. Herein, supramolecular nanoparticles were fabricated via the co-assembly of natural histone and hyaluronic acid for the co-delivery of HMGB1-siRNA and the photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) into the MCF-7 cell. The produced siRNA-Ce6 nanoparticles (siRNA-Ce6 NPs) have a spherical morphology and exhibit uniform distribution. In vitro experiments demonstrate that the siRNA-Ce6 NPs display good biocompatibility, enhanced cellular uptake, and improved cytotoxicity. These outcomes indicate that the nanoparticles constructed by the co-assembly of histone and hyaluronic acid hold enormous promise as a means of siRNA and photosensitizer co-delivery towards synergetic therapy.

Synergistic Effect of ZIF-8 and Pt-Functionalized NiO/In2O3 Hollow Nanofibers for Highly Sensitive Detection of Formaldehyde.

A rapid and accurate monitoring of hazardous formaldehyde (HCHO) gas is extremely essential for health protection. However, the high-power consumption and humidity interference still hinder the application of HCHO gas sensors. Hence, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8)-loaded Pt-NiO/In2O3 hollow nanofibers (ZPNiIn HNFs) were designed via the electrospinning technique followed by hydrothermal treatment, aiming to enable a synergistic advantage of the surface modification and the construction of a p-n heterostructure to improve the sensing performance of the HCHO gas sensor. The ZPNiIn HNF sensor has a response value of 52.8 to 100 ppm HCHO, a nearly 4-fold enhancement over a pristine In2O3 sensor, at a moderately low temperature of 180 °C, along with rapid response/recovery speed (8/17 s) and excellent humidity tolerance. These enhanced sensing properties can be attributed to the Pt catalysts boosting the catalytic activity, the p-n heterojunctions facilitating the chemical reaction, and the appropriate ZIF-8 loading providing a hydrophobic surface. Our research presents an effective sensing material design strategy for inspiring the development of cost-effective sensors for the accurate detection of indoor HCHO hazardous gas.

Ternary heterostructure-driven photoinduced electron-hole separation enhanced oxidative stress for triple-negative breast cancer therapy.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) stand as among the most significant metal oxide nanoparticles in trigger the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induce apoptosis. Nevertheless, the utilization of ZnO NPs has been limited by the shallowness of short-wavelength light and the constrained production of ROS. To overcome these limitations, a strategy involves achieving a red shift towards the near-infrared (NIR) light spectrum, promoting the separation and restraining the recombination of electron-hole (e--h+) pairs. Herein, the hybrid plasmonic system Au@ZnO (AZ) with graphene quantum dots (GQDs) doping (AZG) nano heterostructures is rationally designed for optimal NIR-driven cancer treatment. Significantly, a multifold increase in ROS generation can be achieved through the following creative initiatives: (i) plasmonic Au nanorods expands the photocatalytic capabilities of AZG into the NIR domain, offering a foundation for NIR-induced ROS generation for clinical utilization; (ii) elaborate design of mesoporous core-shell AZ structures facilitates the redistribution of electron-hole pairs; (iii) the incorporation GQDs in mesoporous structure could efficiently restrain the recombination of the e--h+ pairs; (iv) Modification of hyaluronic acid (HA) can enhance CD44 receptor mediated targeted triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In addition, the introduced Au NRs present as catalysts for enhancing photothermal therapy (PTT), effectively inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. The resulting HA-modified AZG (AZGH) exhibits efficient hot electron injection and e--h+ separation, affording unparalleled convenience for ROS production and enabling NIR-induced PDT for the cancer treanment. As a result, our well-designed mesoporous core-shell AZGH hybrid as photosensitizers can exhibit excellent PDT efficacy.