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An electrochemical sensor was developed for the detection of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), utilizing the synergistic effects of graphene (Gr) and MOF-on-MOF nanozymes (FeCu-NZs). Initially, Fe-MOF with peroxide-like activity is synthesized using a solvothermal method. Subsequently, the organic ligand on its surface binds Cu 2+ , enhancing the enzyme-like activity further. The resulting FeCu-NZs exhibit a distinctive electrochemical signal in response to H 2 O 2 . Moreover, integrating FeCu-NZs with Gr significantly amplifies the electrochemical signal and effectively reduces the sensor's detection limit. The developed sensor exhibited linear ranges of 0.1-3800 μM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 μM. Additionally, FeCu-NZs catalyze H 2 O 2 to generate abundant •OH radicals, and colorimetric detection of H 2 O 2 is facilitated using the color rendering principle of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Notably, this detection method was applied to determine  H 2 O 2 concentrations in real samples, achieving a recovery exceeding 95.7%. In summary, this research provides a practical platform for the construction of traditional nanozymes and the integration of electrochemical systems, which have broad applications in food analysis, environmental monitoring, and medical diagnosis., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth is the mainstream method in realizing advanced semiconductor nanowires (NWs), as widely applied to many III-V compounds. It is exclusively explored also for antimony (Sb) compounds, such as the relevant GaAsSb-based NW materials, although morphological inhomogeneities, phase segregation, and limitations in the supersaturation due to Sb strongly inhibit their growth dynamics. Fundamental advances are now reported here via entirely catalyst-free GaAsSb NWs, where particularly the Sb-mediated effects on the NW growth dynamics and physical properties are investigated in this novel growth regime. Remarkably, depending on GaAsSb composition and nature of the growth surface, both surfactant and anti-surfactant action is found, as seen by transitions between growth acceleration and deceleration characteristics. For threshold Sb-contents up to 3-4%, adatom diffusion lengths are increased ≈sevenfold compared to Sb-free GaAs NWs, evidencing the significant surfactant effect. Furthermore, microstructural analysis reveals unique Sb-mediated transitions in compositional structure, as well as substantial reduction in twin defect density, ≈tenfold over only small compositional range (1.5-6% Sb), exhibiting much larger dynamics as found in VLS-type GaAsSb NWs. The effect of such extended twin-free domains is corroborated by ≈threefold increases in exciton lifetime (≈4.5 ns) due to enlarged electron-hole pair separation in these phase-pure NWs., (© 2023 The Authors. Small published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Non-SMC condensin I complex subunit G (NCAPG), a member of the subunit of condensin complex, is significantly overexpressed in various cancers and involved in the pathogenesis of cancers. However, the roles of NCAPG in ovarian cancer remain unclear., Methods: The mRNA expression, overall survival, and disease-free survival of NCAPG in ovarian cancer were analyzed by GEPIA and KM plotter database, and the expression levels of NCAPG in OC tissues and cell lines were determined by qPCR and immunohistochemistry analysis. shRNA targeting NCAPG gene (sh-NCAPG) was utilized to knock down NCAPG expression in OVCAR3 and SKOV3 cells. Subsequently, CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, transwell invasion assay and flow cytometric analysis were performed to detect the effect of NCAPG on OC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. Finally, western blot assays were performed to detect the mechanism of NCAPG in ovarian cancer., Results: Analysis using GEPIA and KM plotter database showed NCAPG was upregulated in ovarian cancer and negatively associated with the survival of OC patients. qPCR and immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed it was highly expressed in both ovarian cancer tissues and cells. The silencing of NCAPG inhibited OC cell proliferation and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis. Additionally, flow cytometric analysis revealed that NCAPG knockdown arrested the cell cycle at G2 and S phases. Furthermore, we also found that downregulation of NCAPG could suppress OC cell proliferation and invasion via activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway., Conclusion: Our results suggest that NCAPG exhibits an important role in the development and progression of ovarian cancer and implicates NCAPG as a potential therapeutic target in ovarian cancer., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Cell-derived microparticles, which are recognized as nanosized phospholipid bilayer membrane vesicles, have exhibited great potential to serve as drug delivery systems in cancer therapy. However, for the purpose of comprehensive therapy, microparticles decorated with multiple therapeutic components are needed, but effective engineering strategies are limited and still remain enormous challenges. Herein, Bi 2 Se 3 nanodots and doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) co-embedded tumor cell-derived microparticles (Bi 2 Se 3 /DOX@MPs) are successfully constructed through ultraviolet light irradiation-induced budding of parent cells which are preloaded with Bi 2 Se 3 nanodots and DOX via electroporation. The multifunctional microparticles are obtained with high controllability and drug-loading capacity without unfavorable membrane surface destruction, maintaining their excellent intrinsic biological behaviors. Through membrane fusion cellular internalization, Bi 2 Se 3 /DOX@MPs show enhanced cellular internalization and deepened tumor penetration, resulting in extreme cell damage in vitro without considering endosomal escape. Because of their distinguished photothermal performance and tumor homing target capability, Bi 2 Se 3 /DOX@MPs exhibit admirable dual-modal imaging capacity and outstanding tumor suppression effect. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, intravenous injection of Bi 2 Se 3 /DOX@MPs into H22 tumor-bearing mice results in remarkably synergistic antitumor efficacy by combining photothermal therapy with low-dose chemotherapy in vivo. Furthermore, the negligible hemolytic activity, considerable metabolizability, and low systemic toxicity of Bi 2 Se 3 /DOX@MPs imply their distinguished biocompatibility and great potential for tumor theranostics., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2019 The Authors. Published by WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Aim: The extent and specifics regarding cognitive dysfunction in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) or major depressive disorder (MDD) and their unaffected first-degree relatives (FDR) have not been addressed in any single study. The present study compared the cognitive function of patients with BD or MDD, their FDR, and healthy control (HC) individuals., Methods: The study population comprised adults (aged 18-55 years) with BD, adults with MDD, FDR (children or siblings of patients with BD or MDD), and HC (n = 105, 109, 85, and 95, respectively). The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status was used to assess neurocognitive functions, with five domains and 12 tests. A Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale brief form was applied to evaluate IQ. Status of mood was assessed using the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Hamilton Depression Scale., Results: The mixed model indicated significant variation among the four groups in cognitive function. Cognitive impairments, compared to HC, progressively greater from least to most were found in: FDR, MDD, and BD (F = 32.74, P < 0.001). Years of education correlated with cognitive performance (F = 17.04, P < 0.001), as did IQ (F = 240.63, P < 0.001). The total score for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression negatively correlated with cognitive function (F = 5.78, P = 0.017)., Conclusion: Among the study groups, patients with BD had the most severe deficits, followed by MDD patients and FDR. Cognitive deficits could not be associated with a specific psychiatric disorder, but differences in degree were noted., (© 2018 The Authors. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences © 2018 Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology.)