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Oral antibiotics have served as a primary strategy for bacterial infection. However, the increasingly prominent issues including antibiotics resistance and intestinal dysbiosis sounded the alarm to this traditional administration strategy. Herein, we summarize the state-of-the-art advances in the delivery of oral antibiotics. In this review, the emergency of bacterial infection and the effect of excessive antibiotics are discussed at first. Then, current attempts to prevent microflorae from resistance and dysbiosis are briefly enumerated, including oral co-administration systems (like protectors, adsorbents, activity enhancers, etc.) and nanoparticle-based delivery systems. Moreover, we also briefly introduce the development of mimetic antibiotics based on metal particles and highlight a novel micelle nanoparticle system, which possesses a positive charge and glucosylated surface to achieve targeted treatment. We strongly believe such an ingenious design could be applied in more scenarios for oral antibiotics delivery. Ultimately, we also put forward a concise summary and perspective of this field.

Abstract Background Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a leading cause of malignancy-related deaths worldwide, and the efficacy of immunotherapy on PAAD is limited. Studies report that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in modulating genomic instability and immunotherapy. However, the identification of genome instability-related lncRNAs and their clinical significance has not been investigated in PAAD. Methods The current study developed a computational framework for mutation hypothesis based on lncRNA expression profile and somatic mutation spectrum in pancreatic adenocarcinoma genome. We explored the potential of GInLncRNAs(genome instability-related lncRNAs) through co-expression analysis and function enrichment analysis. We further analyzed GInLncRNAs by Cox regression and used the results to construct a prognostic lncRNA signature. Finally, we analyzed the relationship between GILncSig (genomic instability derived 3-lncRNA signature) and immunotherapy. Results A GILncSig was developed using bioinformatics analyses. It could divide patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, and there was a significant difference in OS between the two groups. In addition, GILncSig was associated with genome mutation rate in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, indicating its potential value as a marker for genomic instability. The GILncSig accurately grouped wild type patients of KRAS into two risk groups. The prognosis of the low-risk group was significantly improved. GILncSig was significantly correlated with the level of immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint. Conclusions In summary, the current study provides a basis for further studies on the role of lncRNA in genomic instability and immunotherapy. The study provides a novel method for identification of cancer biomarkers related to genomic instability and immunotherapy.

Abstract Objectives To investigate the relationship between prior coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection in females and subsequent treatment outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Methods A systematic literature review was carried out up to 16 December 2022, in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Random‐effect models were adopted to estimate the pooled effects as mean differences (MDs) or odds ratios (ORs). I2 statistic and Egger's test were applied to assess heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. Results After screening 1480 records, 15 cohort studies totalling 1905 cycles were included in this meta‐analysis. In a comparison of previously COVID‐19‐infected versus uninfected women, no significant differences were observed in the primary outcomes of the retrieved oocytes number (MD = 0.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: ‐0.75–0.88; I2 = 0) and clinical pregnancy rate (OR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.74–1.24; I2 = 0). Pooled analyses of other predefined outcomes, which encompassed four cycle characteristics, six laboratory indicators and four pregnancy results, also showed no adverse effects of prior COVID‐19 infection. Most outcomes remained consistent after further sensitivity and subgroup analyses, and no significant publication bias was observed. Conclusions Our work provides the first systematic evidence that COVID‐19 infection history in females may have no measurable detrimental impact on the subsequent ART cycle. More data are needed to assess the live birth outcome and the optimal time interval from infection to assisted reproduction.

ABSTRACT Transcription factors (TFs) play a crucial role in regulating gene expression in living organisms, and any malfunction in their functions can lead to severe physiological consequences. The regulation of TFs occurs at multiple levels, with autogenous regulation being a common mode of regulation where the expression of a TF gene is dependent on its own function. Although bioinformatics analysis of promoter sequences is frequently used to predict autogenous regulation events, it is not entirely reliable. In this study, we present a simple yet effective strategy to identify the autogenous regulation of a TF. We have demonstrated the effectiveness of this method on three fungal TFs (the Carbon Catabolite Repressor CreA and two uncharacterized TFs of secondary metabolism) and have generated a set of plasmids to facilitate the construction of experimental strains in fungi. Our method can be applied to both positive and negative-acting TFs and generalized for other organisms. Hence, this work provides a reliable and straightforward method for identifying autogenous regulation events, which is useful for understanding TFs’ functions. IMPORTANCE Transcription factors (TFs) play a crucial role in deciphering biological information from the DNA of living organisms. Improper regulation of their functions can disrupt cellular physiology and lead to diseases in humans. As one of the key regulatory mechanisms, some TFs control their own expression levels through autogenous regulation. However, identifying autogenous regulation events of TFs has been a tedious task. In this study, we present a straightforward approach that provides a reliable means to identify TF autogenous regulation events. Our method provides a valuable means for understanding the function of this important class of proteins in cells.

Abstract The development of bioactive scaffolds by mimicking bone tissue extracellular matrix is promising for bone regeneration. Herein, inspired by the bone tissue composition, a novel pearl powder (PP) hybrid fish gelatin methacrylate (GelMa) hydrogel scaffold loaded with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for bone regeneration is presented. With the help of microfluidic‐assisted 3D printing technology, the composition and structure of the hybrid scaffold can be accurately controlled to meet clinical requirements. The combination of fish skin GelMa and PP also endowed the hybrid scaffold with good biocompatibility, cell adhesion, and osteogenic differentiation ability. Moreover, the controlled release of VEGF enables the scaffold to promote angiogenesis. Thus, the bone regeneration in the proposed scaffolds could be accelerated under the synergic effect of osteogenesis and angiogenesis, which has been proved in the rat skull defect model. These features indicate that the PP hybrid scaffolds will be an ideal candidate for bone regeneration in clinical applications.

IntroductionPlants that display heteroblasty possess conspicuous variations in leaf morphology between their juvenile and adult phases, with certain species retaining juvenile-like leaves even in adulthood. Nevertheless, the ecological advantages of maintaining two or more distinct leaf types in heteroblastic plants at the adult stage remain unclear.MethodThe aim of this study is to examine the adaptive significance of heteroblastic leaves sampled from branches with divergent functions (sterile and fertile branches) of mature Ficus pumila individuals by comparing their morphological, anatomical, and physiological characteristics.ResultLeaves on sterile branches (LSs) exhibited a significantly larger specific leaf area, thinner palisade and spongy tissues, lower chlorophyll contents, and lower light saturation points than leaves on fertile branches (LFs). These results demonstrate that LSs are better adapted to low light environments, while LFs are well equipped to take advantages of high light conditions. However, both LFs and LSs have a low light compensation point with no significant difference between them, indicating that they start to accumulate photosynthetic products under similar light conditions. Interestingly, significant higher net photosynthetic rate was detected in LFs, showing they have higher photosynthetic capacity. Furthermore, LFs produced significant more nutrients compared to LSs, which may associate to their ability of accumulating more photosynthetic products under full light conditions and higher photosynthetic capacity.DiscussionOverall, we observed a pattern of divergence in morphological features of leaves on two functional branches. Anatomical and physiological features indicate that LFs have an advantage in varied light conditions, providing amounts of photosynthetic products to support the sexual reproduction, while LSs adapt to low light environments. Our findings provide evidence that heteroblasty facilitates F. pumila to utilize varying light environments, likely associated with its growth form as a climbing plant. This strategy allows the plant to allocate resources more effectively and optimize its overall fitness.

Abstract The proper organization of cells and tissues is essential for their functionalization in living organisms. To create materials that mimic natural structures, researchers have developed techniques such as patterning, templating, and printing. Although these techniques own several advantages, these processes still involve complexity, are time‐consuming, and have high cost. To better simulate natural materials with micro/nanostructures that have evolved for millions of years, the use of ice templates has emerged as a promising method for producing biomimetic materials more efficiently. This article explores the historical approaches taken to produce traditional biomimetic structural biomaterials and delves into the principles underlying the ice‐template method and their various applications in the creation of biomimetic materials. It also discusses the most recent biomedical uses of biomimetic materials created via ice templates, including porous microcarriers, tissue engineering scaffolds, and smart materials. Finally, the challenges and potential of current ice‐template technology are analyzed.

In recent years, an increasing number of studies have examined the mechanisms underlying nonverbal emotional information processing in people with high social anxiety (HSA). However, most of these studies have focused on the processing of facial expressions, and there has been scarce research on gesture or even face-gesture combined processing in HSA individuals. The present study explored the processing characteristics and mechanism of the interaction between gestures and facial expressions in people with HSA and low social anxiety (LSA). The present study recruited university students as participants and used the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale scores to distinguish the HSA and LSA groups. We used a 2 (group: HSA and LSA) × 2 (emotion valence: positive, negative) × 2 (task: face, gesture) multifactor mixed design, and videos of a single face or gesture and combined face-gesture cues were used as stimuli. We found that (1) there is a distinction in the processing of faces and gestures, with individuals recognizing gestures faster than faces; (2) there is an attentional enhancement in the processing of gestures, particularly for negative gestures; and (3) when the emotional valence of faces and gestures align, it facilitates the recognition of both. However, incongruent gestures have a stronger impact on the processing of facial expressions compared to facial expressions themselves, suggesting that the processing of facial emotions is more influenced by environmental cues provided by gestures. These findings indicated that gestures played an important role in emotional processing, and facial emotional processing was more dependent on the environmental cues derived from gestures, which helps to clarify the reasons for biases in the interpretation of emotional information in people with HSA.

Corneal elasticity can resist elastic deformations under intraocular pressure to maintain normal corneal shape, which has a great influence on corneal refractive function. Elastography can measure tissue elasticity and provide a powerful tool for clinical diagnosis. Air-coupled ultrasound optical coherence elastography (OCE) has been used in the quantification of ex-vivo corneal elasticity. However, in-vivo imaging of the cornea remains a challenge. The 3D air-coupled ultrasound OCE with an axial motion artifacts correction algorithm was developed to distinguish the in-vivo cornea vibration from the axial eye motion in anesthetized rabbits and visualize the elastic wave propagation clearly. The elastic wave group velocity of in-vivo rabbit cornea was measured to be 5.96 ± 0.55 m/s, which agrees with other studies. The results show the potential of 3D air-coupled ultrasound OCE with an axial motion artifacts correction algorithm for quantitative in-vivo assessment of corneal elasticity.

Abstract Background The early diagnosis of sepsis is beneficial to put forward a reasonable clinical treatment plan as soon as possible. This study was to explore the expression of Tripartite Motif 7 (TRIM7) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with sepsis and its diagnostic value. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 69 patients with infectious diseases were enrolled in the emergency room. They were divided into the sepsis group (34 cases) and the non-sepsis infection group (35 cases). There were 25 healthy subjects who were selected as the control group. The expression of TRIM7 in PBMCs was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The correlation between the expression of TRIM7 mRNA and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 was discussed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized for evaluating the value of TRIM7 expression for the early diagnosis of sepsis. Results The fluorescence intensity representing the expression level of TRIM7 in PBMCs of patients in the sepsis group was the lowest among three groups. The TRIM7 mRNA expression in PBMCs of the sepsis group was greatly decreased in comparison with that of the non-sepsis infection group and control group (P

Abstract Background Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids poses a threat to medical providers and to nurses especially. This harm is not only physical, but psychology as well and can ultimately impact patient safety. This study aims to understand the prevalence of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among Chinese registered nurses and explores the factors that influence this exposure. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted for 31 province-level divisions in China, using a self-created questionnaire entitled Status Survey on Occupational Exposure in Nurses. Descriptive statistics were used to describe both the demographic characteristics of the respondents and the characteristics of occupational exposure. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentage, and the relationship between possible influential factors and the occurrence of occupational exposure was determined using binary logistic regression. Results Out of a total of 20,791 nurses analyzed, over half (52.1%) of them had experienced occupational exposure to blood or body fluids, but over 1/3 (34.6%) of them did not ever report their exposures to a supervisor/official. The top three causes of under-reporting were: the source patient failed to test positive for infectious pathogens (43.6%), perception of a burdensome reporting process (24.6%), and indifferent attitude towards being infected (16.9%). Nurses who worked over 8 hours per day had higher risks of exposure (OR 1.199, 95% CI 1.130 to 1.272, P

Abstract Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is a major type of bladder cancer with a high incidence worldwide, resulting in a great disease burden. Treatment and surveillance are the most important part of NIMBC management. In 2018, we issued “Treatment and surveillance for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer in China: an evidence-based clinical practice guideline”. Since then, various studies on the treatment and surveillance of NMIBC have been published. There is a need to incorporate these materials and also to take into account the relatively limited medical resources in primary medical institutions in China. Developing a version of guideline which takes these two issues into account to promote the management of NMIBC is therefore indicated. We formed a working group of clinical experts and methodologists. Through questionnaire investigation of clinicians including primary medical institutions, 24 clinically concerned issues, involving transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), intravesical chemotherapy and intravesical immunotherapy of NMIBC, and follow-up and surveillance of the NMIBC patients, were determined for this guideline. Researches and recommendations on the management of NMIBC in databases, guideline development professional societies and monographs were referred to, and the European Association of Urology was used to assess the certainty of generated recommendations. Finally, we issued 29 statements, among which 22 were strong recommendations, and 7 were weak recommendations. These recommendations cover the topics of TURBT, postoperative chemotherapy after TURBT, Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy after TURBT, combination treatment of BCG and chemotherapy after TURBT, treatment of carcinoma in situ, radical cystectomy, treatment of NMIBC recurrence, and follow-up and surveillance. We hope these recommendations can help promote the treatment and surveillance of NMIBC in China, especially for the primary medical institutions.

Objective: To explore the structural and functional characteristics of microbiota in oropharynx of sub-healthy children with gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome (GHRS) differentiated by traditional Chinese medicine, and screen the biometric operational taxonomic units (OTUs) to assist the clinical diagnosis. Methods: We recruited children according to the “GHRS diagnostic scale”, collected their oropharyngeal swabs, and sequenced the 16S rDNA V4 region. We described the bacterial structure with alpha-indexes, beta-distances, and relative abundances; moreover, we screened the differential genera/OTUs with Wilcoxon rank-sum test, MetagenomeSeq analysis, and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis, in which biometric OTUs were selected to construct the receiver operating characteristic curve to verify the diagnostic value. The bacterial function was predicted with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways according to 16S rDNA gene by using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States. Results: The study population was composed of 10 children with GHRS and 10 healthy control children. GHRS children were more likely to overeat (gluttony, P = .033). Alpha-indexes, such as Sobs, abundance-based coverage estimator, Bootstrap, and Qstat, were significantly higher in the GHRS group, while beta-distances did not exhibit any significant intergroup differences. There were 9 differently distributed non-predominant genera between the groups in Wilcoxon rank-sum test, as well as 13 non-predominant genera in MetagenomeSeq analysis and 3 non-predominant OTUs in LEfSe analysis. OTU44 and OTU196 were used to construct the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the area under curve was 0.92. Predicted functions showed that pathways related to oxidative phosphorylation and carbon metabolism were enriched in healthy control samples, while the pathway related to renin secretion was remarkably enriched in GHRS samples. Conclusion: Unique oropharyngeal microbial structure and function were identified in GHRS children. OTU44 and OTU196 were specific OTUs, which could be used as biomarkers of GHRS to assist clinical diagnosis.