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Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a highly lethal helminth infection. Current chemotherapeutic strategies for AE primarily involve the use of benzimidazoles (BZs) such as mebendazole (MDZ) and albendazole (ABZ), which exhibit limited efficacy. In a previous study, the vaccine of recombinant Echinococcus granulosus P29 (rEgP29) showed significant immunoprotection against E. granulosus in both mice and sheep. In the current study, we utilized hybridoma technology to generate five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against P29, among which 4G10F4 mAb exhibited the highest antigen-specific binding capacity. This mAb was selected for further investigation of anti-AE therapy, both in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, 4G10F4 inhibited a noteworthy inhibition of E. multilocularis protoscoleces and primary cells viability through complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) mechanism. In vivo, two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, mice were intraperitoneally injected with Em protoscoleces, and subsequently treated with 4G10F4 mAb (2.5/5/10 mg/kg) at 12 weeks postinfection once per week for 8 times via tail vein injection. Mice that were treated with 4G10F4 mAb only in dosage of 5mg/kg exhibited a significant lower mean parasite burden (0.89±0.97 g) compared to isotype mAb treated control mice (2.21±1.30 g). In the second experiment, mice were infected through hepatic portal vein and treated with 4G10F4 mAb (5mg/kg) at one week after surgery once per week for 8 times. The numbers of hepatic metacestode lesions of the 4G10F4 treatment group were significantly lower in comparison to the isotype control group. Pathological analysis revealed severe disruption of the inner structure of the metacestode in both experiments, particularly affecting the germinal and laminated layers, resulting in the transformation into infertile vesicles after treatment with 4G10F4. In addition, the safety of 4G10F4 for AE treatment was confirmed through assessment of mouse weight and evaluation of liver and kidney function. This study presents antigen-specific monoclonal antibody immunotherapy as a promising therapeutic approach against E. multilocularis induced AE. Author summary: Echinococcosis encompasses two significant zoonotic tapeworm diseases, cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis, respectively. AE is widely acknowledged as the most fatal helminth infection, with a mortality rate exceeding 90% within 10–15 years of diagnosis if left untreated or inadequately treated. Two benzimidazole carbamates, albendazole and mebendazole, are the only anti-infective drugs that are clinically efficient in interrupting the larval growth of Echinococcus spp. However, due to their toxicity and limited efficacy, there is a pressing need to explore novel therapeutic strategies for AE. In this study, a therapeutic antibody named 4G10F4 was produced against hydatid P29 using hybridoma technology. This candidate antibody significantly inhibited E. multilocularis both in vitro and in vivo, representing a potentially efficacious and safe antigen-specific monoclonal antibody immunotherapy for the treatment of AE. Additionally, it has been identified as a promising antibody drug and molecular target for the development of anti-AE therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To retard the mutual contact of W grains to inhibit their growth, in this study, CeO2·2H2O was first coated on the surface of pure W (undoped) particles by a weight percentage of 4% using a wet chemical method to prepare CeO2·2H2O-doped W-based (doped) powders, with W particles as the core and CeO2·2H2O as the shell (W–CeO2·2H2O core–shell structure), without hydrogen reduction treatment. The undoped and doped powders were subsequently sintered using a spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus to fabricate bulk materials. The macroscopic migration of the CeO2 shell in the core–shell W–CeO2 system via viscous flow during the initial sintering stage was studied through simulations and experiments. The results showed that a core–shell structure with W particles as the core and CeO2·2H2O as the shell was successfully prepared. The doped powder contained approximately 3.97% CeO2, consistent with the designed content of 4%. The shell materials migrated among the selected four sintered powders, filling the pores and contributing to the improvement in the relative density of the sintered bulk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependency of 3D printing on thermoplastics releases volatile organic compounds and contributes to global microplastic pollution. The objective of this study is to explore the potential of hydro‐degradable starch‐based composite as a 3D printing material by considering its printability, hydro‐degradability, and strength. Starch is hydro degradable, however, it exhibits low strength thus attempts are made to improve the strength of the composite by starch coating and using lemongrass essential oil (LEO) as an additive. The result shows that 0.2 wt% of LEO increased the strength of starch/wood powder/glycerol/LEO (SWGL) composite by 55% and reduced the contact angle by ≈27° compared to the control. Starch coating increases the strength of the composite by filling up the voids in the structure and producing an integrated homogeneous surface. The SWGL composites exhibit good hydro degradability, especially under acidic conditions, due to the high‐water sorption rate and solubility. The printability of SWGL composites is good where the objects are printed as designed with the aid of a heating chamber. In conclusion, SWGL with 0.5wt% LEO is suitable for real‐life application as the 3D printing material for photo frames and souvenirs due to its good hydro degradability and moderate tensile strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe diabetes distress and related factors among Chinese Americans with type 2 diabetes in New York City (NYC). Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of the baseline data from three research studies conducted among community-dwelling Chinese American adults with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) was used to measure sources of diabetes distress including emotional-, regimen-, interpersonal-, and physician-related distress. A score of 2 or greater indicates moderate diabetes distress or higher. Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) was used to measure depressive symptoms. Participants' sociodemographic information was also collected. Descriptive statistics were used to describe diabetes distress, and logistic least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to examine factors associated with diabetes distress level. Results: Data from 178 participants (mean age 63.55± 13.56 years) were analyzed. Most participants were married (76.40%), had a high school degree or less (65.73%), had a household annual income < $25,000 (70.25%), and reported limited English proficiency (93.22%). About 25.84% reported moderate or higher overall distress. The most common sources of distress were emotional burden (29.78%), followed by regimen- (28.65%), interpersonal- (18.54%), and physician-related distress (14.04%). Participants who were younger, female, limited English proficient, and had elevated depressive symptoms were more likely to have higher diabetes distress. Conclusion: Diabetes distress is prevalent among Chinese immigrants with type 2 diabetes, especially emotional- and regimen-related distress. Given the known link between diabetes distress and poor glycemic control, it is critical to screen for diabetes distress at primary care clinics and incorporate psychological counseling in diabetes care in this underserved population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Acute cellular rejection (ACR) after lung transplant is a leading risk factor for chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Prior studies have demonstrated dynamic microbial changes occurring within the allograft and gut that influence local adaptive and innate immune responses. However, the lung microbiome's overall impact on ACR risk remains poorly understood. Objectives: To evaluate whether temporal changes in microbial signatures were associated with the development of ACR. Methods: We performed cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses (joint modeling of longitudinal and time-to-event data and trajectory comparisons) of 16S rRNA gene sequencing results derived from lung transplant recipient lower airway samples collected at multiple time points. Measurements and Main Results: Among 103 lung transplant recipients, 25 (24.3%) developed ACR. In comparing samples acquired 1 month after transplant, subjects who never developed ACR demonstrated lower airway enrichment with several oral commensals (e.g., Prevotella and Veillonella spp.) than those with current or future (beyond 1 mo) ACR. However, a subgroup analysis of those who developed ACR beyond 1 month revealed delayed enrichment with oral commensals occurring at the time of ACR diagnosis compared with baseline, when enrichment with more traditionally pathogenic taxa was present. In longitudinal models, dynamic changes in α-diversity (characterized by an initial decrease and a subsequent increase) and in the taxonomic trajectories of numerous oral commensals were more commonly observed in subjects with ACR. Conclusions: Dynamic changes in the lower airway microbiota are associated with the development of ACR, supporting its potential role as a useful biomarker or in ACR pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The black rock series in the Qiongzhusi Formation contains important geochemical information about the early Cambrian tectonic and ecological environment of the southwestern Yangtze Block. In this paper, major, trace, and rare earth element data are presented in an attempt to reveal the sediment source during the deposition of the early Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation and to reconstruct the sedimentary tectonic environment and weathering intensity during that time. The basin primarily received continental clastic material with neutral-acidic igneous rocks from a stable source and with a moderate level of maturity during the depositional period of the Qiongzhusi Formation. Furthermore, the strata were weakly influenced by submarine hydrothermal fluids during diagenesis. The reconstruction of the sedimentary environment and weathering intensity shows that P2O5 enrichment and water body stratification occurred due to the effects of upwelling ocean currents during the depositional period of the Qiongzhusi Formation. The combination of upwelling and bottom-water hydrothermal fluids led to environmental changes in the study area, from dry and hot to moist and warm. Last, the reconstruction of the tectonic environment of the Qiongzhusi Formation indicates that deposition occurred in continental slope and marginal marine environments associated with a continental arc tectonic system. These findings provide an essential basis for the comprehensive reconstruction of the early Cambrian sedimentary environment of the Yangtze Block.

Abstract Background Difference of perspective between patients and physicians over integrative medicine (IM) research and service provision remains unclear despite significant use worldwide. We observed an exceptionally low utilisation of IM and potential underreporting in diabetes. We aimed to explore the barriers and recommendations regarding service delivery and research of IM service among diabetes patients and physicians. Methods A 10-group, 50-participant semi-structured focus group interview series was conducted. Twenty-one patients with diverse severity of disease, comorbidities and education levels; and 29 physicians (14 conventional medicine (ConM) and 15 Chinese medicine (CM)) with diverse clinical experience, academic background and affiliation were purposively sampled from private and public clinics. Their perspectives were qualitatively analysed by constant comparative method. Results Seven subthemes regarding barriers towards IM service were identified including finance, service access, advice from medical professionals, uncertainty of service quality, uncertainty of CM effect, difficulty in understanding CM epistemology and access to medical records. Patients underreported the use of CM due to the concern over neutrality of medical advice among physicians. Inconvenience of service access, frequent follow-up, use of decoction and long-term financial burden were identified as key obstacles among patients. Regarding research design, ConM physicians emphasised standardisation and reproducibility while CM physicians emphasised personalisation. Some CM-related outcome measurements were suggested as non-communicable. Both physicians acknowledged the discordance in epistemology should be addressed by pragmatic approach. Conclusion Key obstacles of CAM clinical utilisation are different between patients. Further assessment on IM should be pragmatic to balance between standardisation, reproducibility and real-world practice. Evidence-based IM programs and research should merge with existing infrastructure.