Search

Highlights Electrodeposited amorphous IrO x thin electrodes are first developed for proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells. An ultralow loading of 0.075 mg cm−2 archives superior performance to catalyst-coated membrane (2 mg cm−2). > 96% of catalyst savings and > 42-fold higher catalyst utilization are demonstrated.

Purpose: Cerebral edema (CE) is the main secondary injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by road traffic accidents (RTAs). It is challenging to be predicted timely. In this study, we aimed to develop a prediction model for CE by identifying its risk factors and comparing the timing of edema occurrence in TBI patients with varying levels of injuries. Methods: This case-control study included 218 patients with TBI caused by RTAs. The cohort was divided into CE and non-CE groups, according to CT results within 7 days. Demographic data, imaging data, and clinical data were collected and analyzed. Quantitative variables that follow normal distribution were presented as mean ± standard deviation, those that do not follow normal distribution were presented as median (Q1, Q3). Categorical variables were expressed as percentages. The Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to identify risk factors for CE. Logistic curve fitting was performed to predict the time to secondary CE in TBI patients with different levels of injuries. The efficacy of the model was evaluated using the receiver operator characteristic curve. Results: According to the study, almost half (47.3%) of the patients were found to have CE. The risk factors associated with CE were bilateral frontal lobe contusion, unilateral frontal lobe contusion, cerebral contusion, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and abbreviated injury scale (AIS). The odds ratio values for these factors were 7.27 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.08 − 25.42, p = 0.002), 2.85 (95% CI: 1.11 − 7.31, p = 0.030), 2.62 (95% CI: 1.12 − 6.13, p = 0.027), 2.44 (95% CI: 1.25 − 4.76, p = 0.009), and 1.5 (95% CI: 1.10 − 2.04, p = 0.009), respectively. We also observed that patients with mild/moderate TBI (AIS ≤ 3) had a 50% probability of developing CE 19.7 h after injury (χ2 = 13.82, adjusted R2 = 0.51), while patients with severe TBI (AIS > 3) developed CE after 12.5 h (χ2 = 18.48, adjusted R2 = 0.54). Finally, we conducted a receiver operator characteristic curve analysis of CE time, which showed an area under the curve of 0.744 and 0.672 for severe and mild/moderate TBI, respectively. Conclusion: Our study found that the onset of CE in individuals with TBI resulting from RTAs was correlated with the severity of the injury. Specifically, those with more severe injuries experienced an earlier onset of CE. These findings suggest that there is a critical time window for clinical intervention in cases of CE secondary to TBI.

Interventional therapy has been widely used in surgeries involving neurology, vasculature, and breasts.Image-guided, robot-assisted interventional therapy significantly enhances surgical precision and safety, emerging as a critical trend in modern interventional surgery. Among various interventional imaging methods, interventional magnetic resonance imaging (i-MRI) stands out due to its excellent soft tissue differentiation, diverse imaging contrasts, ability to yield quantitative data, and no ionizing radiation. However, the challenges facing MRI-guided therapy include the relatively low speed of imaging and the stringent compatibility demands of interventional devices. Advance in the rapid i-MRI techniques and MR-compatible equipment have propelled i-MRI to a pivotal role in clinical applications, encompassing neurological, cardiovascular, prostate, and breast interventions. This review initially provides an overview of the current i-MRI landscape. It then consolidates the application of i-MRI in multiple medical interventions, offering illustrative examples. The article further delves into the obstacles posed by i-MRI, specifically slow imaging speed and the delicate spatiotemporal resolution balance. Ultimately, it envisages the growth potential of i-MRI in multimodal imaging, real-time MRI, and i-MRI-guided interventional robotic surgery.

BackgroundPulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and usually lethal pulmonary disease. Despite considerable research efforts, no effective therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis has been developed. NecroX-5 has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-tumor activities. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether NecroX-5 exhibits antifibrotic property in bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis.ResultsWe found that pre-treatment with NecroX-5 alleviated inflammatory response, reduced oxidative stress, inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and ameliorated pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. Our data further indicated that NecroX-5 substantially reduced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, NLRP3 overexpression significantly reversed the protective effects of NecroX-5 in lung epithelial cells exposed to BLM.ConclusionsOverall, our results demonstrate the potent antifibrotic properties of NecroX-5 and its therapeutic potential for pulmonary fibrosis.

BackgroundOsteoporosis (OP), affecting millions around the globe, is a prevalent degenerative condition of the bones characterized by a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and an increase in bone fragility. A novel anthropometric measure, the Body Roundness Index (BRI), provides a more accurate assessment of body fat distribution compared to traditional metrics. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study aims to explore the relationship between BRI and total BMD in U.S. adults aged 20 and above.MethodsData from NHANES (2011–2018) were examined, encompassing 9,295 participants following exclusions. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was employed to measure BMD. BRI was calculated using waist circumference (WC) and height. The study accounted for variables such as demographic traits, physical exam results, lab test findings, and survey responses. Weighted multivariable linear regression models and smooth curve fitting methods were utilized to assess the relationship between BRI and total BMD.ResultsThe research found a notable inverse relationship between BRI and total BMD. In the model with full adjustments, an increase of one unit in BRI was linked to a 0.0313 g/cm2 reduction in total BMD (P < 0.0001). Moreover, an inflection point was identified at BRI = 9.5229, where each one-unit rise in BRI beyond this threshold corresponded to a more substantial decrease in total BMD (0.0363 g/cm2). Analysis by subgroups revealed that this negative association was consistent across most demographic and health-related categories.ConclusionsThe results demonstrate a notable inverse relationship between BRI and total BMD, indicating that a higher BRI could be associated with lower BMD and a potentially greater risk of developing OP. This underscores the significance of accounting for body fat distribution in preventing OP and advocates for the use of BRI as a valuable marker for early intervention approaches.

Ischemic stroke poses a significant global health burden, with rapid revascularization treatments being crucial but often insufficient to mitigate ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has shown promise in reducing cerebral I/R injury, but its potential molecular mechanism, particularly its interaction with non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), remains unclear. This study investigates DEX’s therapeutic effect and potential molecular mechanisms in reducing cerebral I/R injury. A transient middle cerebral artery obstruction (tMACO) model was established to simulate cerebral I/R injury in adult rats. DEX was administered pre-ischemia and post-reperfusion. RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were performed on the ischemic cerebral cortex to identify differentially expressed non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and mRNAs. The sequencing results showed 6,494 differentially expressed (DE) mRNA and 2698 DE circRNA between the sham and tMCAO (I/R) groups. Additionally, 1809 DE lncRNA, 763 DE mRNA, and 2795 DE circRNA were identified between the I/R group and tMCAO + DEX (I/R + DEX) groups. Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated significant enrichment in multicellular biogenesis, plasma membrane components, and protein binding. KEGG analysis further highlighted the potential mechanism of DEX action in reducing cerebral I/R injury, with hub genes involved in inflammatory pathways. This study demonstrates DEX’s efficacy in reducing cerebral I/R injury and offers insights into its brain-protective effects, especially in ischemic stroke. Further research is warranted to fully understand DEX’s neuroprotective mechanisms and its clinical applications.

Immune dysfunction is a primary culprit behind spontaneous miscarriage (SM). To address this, immunosuppressive agents have emerged as a novel class of tocolytic drugs, modulating the maternal immune system's tolerance towards the embryo. Rapamycin (PubChem CID:5284616), a dual-purpose compound, functions as an immunosuppressive agent and triggers autophagy by targeting the mTOR pathway. Its efficacy in treating SM has garnered significant research interest in recent times. Autophagy, the cellular process of self-degradation and recycling, plays a pivotal role in numerous health conditions. Research indicates that autophagy is integral to endometrial decidualization, trophoblast invasion, and the proper functioning of decidual immune cells during a healthy pregnancy. Yet, in cases of SM, there is a dysregulation of the mTOR/autophagy axis in decidual stromal cells or immune cells at the maternal-fetal interface. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have highlighted the potential benefits of low-dose rapamycin in managing SM. However, given mTOR's critical role in energy metabolism, inhibiting it could potentially harm the pregnancy. Moreover, while low-dose rapamycin has been deemed safe for treating recurrent implant failure, its potential teratogenic effects remain uncertain due to insufficient data. In summary, rapamycin represents a double-edged sword in the treatment of SM, balancing its impact on autophagy and immune regulation. Further investigation is warranted to fully understand its implications.

IntroductioncGMP-dependent protein kinase 1 (PRKG1) has shown to be associated with some tumorigenesis, while the role of PRKG1 in bladder cancer is unclear.MethodsTo investigate the biological and clinical significance of PRKG1 in bladder cancer, we detected the expression of PRKG1 and explored the function of PRKG1 in bladder cancer cells. The PRKG1 transcripts data was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and immunohistochemistry staining was conducted on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sample tissues. Relationship between clinical characteristics of patients and expression of PRKG1 was analyzed in FFPE samples, TCGA database, and GSE19423 dataset. PRKG1 was over-expressed, and cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and spheroidizing ability were then detected. Chemosensitivity to cisplatin was detected with cell viability, and half-maximal drug inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated. In addition, the relation between PRKG1 expression and the infiltration level of tumor immune cells in tumor microenvironment were analyzed.ResultsThe results showed expression of PRKG1 was lower in bladder cancer, compared with normal tissues both at protein and transcript levels. Lower PRKG1 expression was related to higher tumor grade, T stage, and muscle invasion, also predicted worse overall survival and recurrence free survival in patients treated with Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) intravesical immunotherapy. Analysis of tumor immune cells infiltration showed lower PRKG1 was associated with non-inflamed tumor microenvironment.ConclusionThe present study firstly identified the anti-tumor role and tumor immune regulatory role of PRKG1, also found loss of PRKG1 could be used as a prognosis factor. The present study provided a potential biomarker and therapy target to bladder cancer.

We discuss the angular dependence of the recently proposed transverse momentum dependent quark and gluon diffractive parton distributions at small-x. We introduce the diffractive versions of the Sivers function and the elliptic gluon Wigner distribution and evaluate them in simple models with gluon saturation and study their geometric scaling properties. We also show that the diffractive version of the linearly polarized gluon distribution identically vanishes to leading order. These distributions enrich the physics opportunities for measuring semi-inclusive diffractive DIS processes at the future electron-ion colliders.

The gaming industry has been greatly impacted by virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and metaverse which provide immersive and interactive experiences. A detailed summary of the use of VR and AR in game development is given in this paper. It looks at how AR platforms are being developed for environmental simulations, assesses how presence is used in AR location-aware games, and talks about how mobile AR games that rely on image recognition are made. It also explores how VR technology affects gamer satisfaction, how AR is being used to create innovative gameplay and interactive interfaces, and how AR-based interactive training systems are being developed. We dive into the technical underpinnings, examining how VR and AR combine real-world and virtual elements to create innovative gaming experiences. This review attempts to provide insights into the current state of VR and AR in game development as well as the possible future trajectories of these technologies by looking into case studies and new developments. It becomes clear as we navigate this fusion of reality and imagination that VR and AR are more than just technological tools, rather, they are catalysts that are changing the way we interact with and experience games.