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Through the silver ion catalysis to form colored KMnO4, and combined with the DNA hybridization chain reaction and silver nanowire for signal amplification, a highly sensitive and selective colorimetric sensor has been developed for the detection of Hg2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Patients with cerebral sinus and cortical venous thrombosis develop venous infarcts in approximately 50% of cases, resulting in serious clinical symptoms. An animal model is needed to further clarify the underlying mechanisms and consequences surrounding cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, particularly for severe ones. Methods Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to develop a new superior sagittal sinus thrombosis model involving cortical veins. The superior sagittal sinus was exposed and ligated. A microcatheter was inserted into the sinus, then both common carotid arteries were temporary occluded to reduce cerebral blood flow, and thrombin was injected into the sinus. Twenty-four hours later, after evaluating neurological function and obtaining a magnetic resonance imaging, animals were sacrificed and data pertaining to brain water content, infarct volume, and tissue histology was collected. Results Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis and brain infarction were detected in all rats (100%). Hemorrhagic infarction, when present, and brain edema were observed in the brain parenchyma of the parietal lobe. The rate of hemorrhage was 59%, which is similar to that seen clinically in patients with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis. Brain edema, as measured by brain water content percentage, was significantly increased in thrombosed animals compared with sham-operated animals (80.8% ± 0.55% vs. 78.8% ± 0.14%, P < 0.05). Infarct volumes were 53.02 ± 7.91 mm 3 . Conclusions We suggest that our modified model of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, involving cortical veins, is suitable for the study of its underlying mechanisms, as well as therapeutic approaches directed at the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mainstream organic solar cells (OSCs) suffer a great variation of photovoltaic performance among different batches of polymers, which brings an opportunity for all-small-molecule OSCs to take leading position of industrialization. In recent years, benzodithiophene terthiophene rhodamine (BTR), as small molecule donor, has played an important role in this field. Here we investigated two typical BTR based all-small-molecule OSCs processed with different annealing methods, to explore the morphology optimization brought by them. As a result, BTR:PC 71 BM system was optimized by solvent vapor annealing (SVA) reaching an excellent fill factor (FF) of 79.1% via tuning molecular packing intensity, while BTR:Y6 with temperature annealing (TA) yielded a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.125% whose molecular packing orientation had been changed. Additionally, by crossing using SVA and TA methods, we found that these two method can't be utilized together to further improve the PCE for either system. Therefore, our work offers better PCEs for these two reported combinations and further studies the compatibility between specific BTR based active layers and designated annealing methods, providing deeper understanding of device engineering on all-small-molecule OSCs. In our work, all small molecule OSCs based on BTR:PC 71 BM and BTR:Y6 reach their best PCE of 10.113% and 12.125% by choosing suitable annealing ways, respectively. The combination of SVA and TA can only result reduced PCEs in both systems. Image 1 • We successfully pushed the PCEs of two reported all small molecule system to a higher level. • Morphology investigation revealed deeper insight of annealing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic solar cell (OSC) has achieved great progress in the past few years. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) has stepped into a new stage due to the evolution of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs). The gap between lowest unoccupied molecular orbit of acceptor and highest occupied molecular orbit of donor (| E LUMOA - E HOMOD |) is proportional to the value of open circuit voltage (V OC). Applying two similar polymeric donors with different energy levels offers possibility of changing V OC without significantly impacting short circuit current (J SC) and fill factor (FF). Here we chose halogenated polymers PM6 and PM7 as donors to cope with a newly design asymmetric molecule TPIC-4Cl derived from IT-4Cl. As a result, the PM7:TPIC-4Cl device achieved a PCE of 15.1% than its PM6:TPIC-4Cl counterparts (14.4%), wherein the improvement of V OC from 0.855 V to 0.885 V contributed most. Our work proves the feasibility of improving photovoltaic performance of NFA OSCs by utilizing polymeric donors with similar structure yet different HOMOs. Besides, the PCE over 15% of OSCs involving no Y6 or its derivatives sheds light on another direction of OSC research. Image 1 • Here we investigated the device performance based on newly reported asymmetric molecule TPIC-4Cl when coping with PM6 (fluprinated) and PM7 (chlorinated). • Recongnizable increase of V OC in PM7 based device leads to the better PCE, which proves the efficacy of chlorinating polymer donor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Connexin43 (Cx43) is involved in the inflammation of many tissue types. Dental caries is infectious disease resulting from mineralized tissue dissolution by a specific bacterial population, causing pulp inflammation. However, Cx43's role in dental pulp remains unclear. Here, we investigated the function of Cx43 during pulp inflammation. Materials and Methods: We constructed a dentin injury model in Sprague–Dawley rats to investigate changes in Cx43 expression during pulp inflammation. Cx43 was inhibited in human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) that had been stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to investigate the effect of Cx43 on inflammatory response. Promotion of TLR4‐NF‐κB pathway activity and special Cx43 channel inhibitors were used to clarify the function of Cx43 in hDPCs. Results: Dentin injury led to low‐level inflammation in dental pulp. Following dentin injury, Cx43 expression initially decreased before gradually recovering to normal levels. Cx43 inhibition reduced LPS‐induced expression of inflammatory cytokines and NF‐κB pathway activity. Promotion of NF‐κB pathway activity counteracted the effect of Cx43 in hDPCs. Furthermore, inhibition of Cx43 hemichannels reduced LPS‐induced inflammatory cytokine expression. Conclusions: Cx43 is involved in inflammation of dental pulp, while its inhibition reduced LPS‐induced inflammation in hDPCs through NF‐κB pathway via blockage of hemichannels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid material composed of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) with peroxidase mimicking activity was used to design a rapid, sensitive and low-cost colorimetric method for the determination of Ag(I). The g-C3N4-PtNPs hybrid was synthesized by reduction of chloroplatinic acid using sodium borohydride under ultrasonication and in the presence of g-C3N4. The hybrid can catalyze the oxidation 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to produce a blue-colored product with an absorption maximum at 652 nm. On addition of Ag(I) and in the presence of citric acid, it will be reduced to form Ag(0) under the catalytic action of PtNPs. Ag(0) is then adsorbed on the surface of the g-C3N4-PtNPs. This results in the inhibition of the enzyme mimetic activity of the hybrid. Hence, less blue product will be formed from TMB. Under optimum conditions, Ag(I) can be quantified in the 0.05-5.0 nM concentration range with a 22 pM detection limit. This assay is rapid and reliable and was applied to the determination of Ag(I) in spiked real water samples.A hybrid nanomaterial consisting of graphitic carbon nitride and platinum nanoparticles (g-C3N4-PtNPs) can catalyze the oxidation of tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to produce a blue-colored product (TMBox). The enzyme mimetic activity of the hybrid is inhibited by Ag+, thereby decreasing the generation of blue product from TMB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Periodontitis represents the foremost oral condition in young men, strongly correlated with socioeconomic elements and oral health behaviors. This research aimed to assess the prevalence of periodontitis and associated associations with socio-demographics and oral health practices for subsequent Hazard Ratio (HR) estimation. Methods: A total of 46,476 young men were recruited to the study between August 2022 and October 2023. A questionnaire on socio-demographic factors and oral health-related behaviors related to periodontitis was completed. The standard procedure was used for oral examination. Logistic regression and hazard ratios were used to estimate the influencing factors, whereas the nomogram was used to predict the risk of periodontitis in young men. Results: A total of 46,476 young men were surveyed and completed the questionnaire. The overall prevalence of periodontitis among young men was 1.74%. Out of these, 1.7% had mild periodontitis and 0.6% had moderate periodontitis. Age and dental calculus were important factors in the periodontal health of young men. This nomogram, which includes 7 easily obtainable clinical characteristics routinely collected during periodontitis risk assessment, provides clinicians with a user-friendly tool to assess the risk of periodontal disease in young men. Conclusions: Regular dental prophylaxis is crucial for young men to maintain their gingival health and prevent the onset of periodontitis. Dental calculus plays a prominent role in this matter, as it serves as a significant contributing factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal-derived biomaterials have been extensively employed in clinical practice owing to their compositional and structural similarities with those of human tissues and organs, exhibiting good mechanical properties and biocompatibility, and extensive sources. However, there is an associated risk of infection with pathogenic microorganisms after the implantation of tissues from pigs, cattle, and other mammals in humans. Therefore, researchers have begun to explore the development of non-mammalian regenerative biomaterials. Among these is the swim bladder, a fish-derived biomaterial that is rapidly used in various fields of biomedicine because of its high collagen, elastin, and polysaccharide content. However, relevant reviews on the biomedical applications of swim bladders as effective biomaterials are lacking. Therefore, based on our previous research and in-depth understanding of this field, this review describes the structures and compositions, properties, and modifications of the swim bladder, with their direct (including soft tissue repair, dural repair, cardiovascular repair, and edible and pharmaceutical fish maw) and indirect applications (including extracted collagen peptides with smaller molecular weights, and collagen or gelatin with higher molecular weights used for hydrogels, and biological adhesives or glues) in the field of biomedicine in recent years. This review provides insights into the use of swim bladders as source of biomaterial; hence, it can aid biomedicine scholars by providing directions for advancements in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence from observational studies and clinical trials suggests an association between periodontal disease and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the causal relationship between periodontal disease and AD remains to be determined. Methods: We obtained periodontal disease data from the FinnGen database and two sets of AD data from the IEU consortium and PGC databases. Subsequently, we conducted a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationship between periodontal disease and AD. Results: The results of the random‐effects IVW analysis revealed no evidence of a genetic causal relationship between periodontal disease and AD, regardless of whether the AD data from the IEU consortium or the AD data from the PGC database were utilized. No heterogeneity, multiple effects of levels, or outliers were observed in this study. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that there is no causal relationship between periodontal disease and AD at the genetic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Investigation of nanotopography on SOCE mediated cell migration via live-cell imaging on opaque implant surface" published in the Journal of Nanobiotechnology. The correction addresses a typesetting mistake in the article's title, which should have included the phrase "on opaque implant surface." The original article has been revised to correct this error. The publisher apologizes for any inconvenience caused. The document also includes a note from the publisher stating their neutrality regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Fractures present serious health challenges for older adults, including premature mortality and reduced quality of life. Obesity has become significantly prevalent in China. However, the association between obesity and fractures remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between obesity and fractures among Chinese women above 50 years of age. Methods: A prospective cohort study was designed based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey, using data from 1997 to 2015. The average follow-up duration was seven years. Trained investigators measured body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) at baseline. Obesity was defined according to World Health Organization recommendations. Waist-to-height ratio (W-HtR) was calculated, with 0.5 as the cutoff value. Onset of fractures, self-reported by the participants during the follow-up period, was the primary outcome. Cox hazard regression models were used to assess the association between BMI, WC, W-HtR and subsequent risk of fracture. A sensitivity analysis was conducted by multiple imputation of missing data on the variables at baseline. Results: A total of 2,641 women aged ≥ 50 years were involved in the study. In all the models, no significant association existed between BMI and fracture risk. However, women with WC ≥ 88 cm had significantly higher risk of fracture than those with WC < 80 cm according to both the unadjusted (HR = 1.744, 95% CI: 1.173–2.591) and adjusted models (HR = 1.796, 95% CI: 1.196–2.695). In addition, W-HtR and fracture risk were positively associated according to both the unadjusted (HR = 1.798, 95% CI: 1.230–2.627) and adjusted models (HR = 1.772, 95% CI: 1.209–2.599). Results of the sensitivity analysis were consistent with those of the above analyses. Conclusions: Abdominal obesity increased the risk of all-cause fractures in Chinese women ≥ 50 years old. Intervention strategies and measures to prevent or address abdominal obesity would be helpful to decrease the fracture incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Dealloying technology constructs a uniformly nanostructured surface. • The nanostructured abutment induces a denser gingival epithelium. • The newly formed dense gingival epithelium can resist oral bacterial invasion. • Dealloyed nanostructures resist damage from plastic dental scalers. Fabricating biofavorable nanostructures on Ti6Al4V abutment surface is a promising strategy for improving gingival soft tissue integration (STI) in order to prevent bacteria invasion. Although some structures show both biocompatible and bacterial repulsive, the decades exposure in oral cavity cannot guarantee zero infection. Therefore, developing bioactive and rigid layer is a realistic strategy for clinical scenario. In this study, the dealloying technique was introduced to create nano-grass layer on Ti6Al4V surface by removing Al element. The average size of 30 nm surface could induce the highest and aligned extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion in primary human gingival fibroblasts, accompanied by extensive focal adhesions formation. The epithelial layer in the gingiva-abutment interface was condenser and crosslinked, as indicated by more ECM proteins expression and resistant to HRP invasion. Mechanistically, the cdc42 upregulation and ERK activation account for actin filaments rearrangement and focal adhesions enrichment. Moreover, the grass-like surface showed slight bacteria repulsive property. Thanks to the advantages of dealloying technique, the rigid layer did not show significant damage after conventional scaling by plastic dental scaler. In conclusion, the dealloying technique may be a novel convenient and realistic strategy creating rigid nanoporous surface for both enhancing STI and resistant to physical biofilm removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Following cerebral ischemia, microRNA- (miR-) 29b in circulating blood is downregulated. This study investigates the underlying mechanism and implications of miR-29b in leukocyte induction. Methods. miR-29b from stroke patients and rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). miR-29b agomir was used to increase miR-29b expression in leukocytes via intravenous injection. C1q and tumor necrosis factor (C1QTNF) 6, interleukin- (IL-) 1β, zonula occludens- (ZO-) 1, occludin, and ischemic outcomes were assessed in MCAO rats. Additionally, hCMEC/D3 cells were subjected to oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) and cocultured with HL-60 cells. Results. miR-29b levels in neutrophils were found to be significantly lower in stroke patients compared with healthy controls, which may indicate its high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for stroke. Moreover, miR-29b levels in leukocytes showed a negative correlation with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and C1QTNF6 levels. In MCAO rats, miR-29b overexpression reduced brain infarct volume and brain edema, decreasing IL-1β levels in leukocytes and in the brain 24 hours poststroke. miR-29b attenuated IL-1β expression via C1QTNF6 inhibition, leading to decreased blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and leukocyte infiltration. Moreover, miR-29b overexpression in HL-60 cells downregulated OGD-induced hCMEC/D3 cell apoptosis and increased ZO-1 and occludin levels in vitro. Conclusion. Leukocytic miR-29b attenuates inflammatory response by augmenting BBB integrity through C1QTNF6, suggesting a novel miR-29b-based therapeutic therapy for ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel supramolecular gel has been prepared via host–guest interaction between cucurbit[8]uril (Q[8]) and N-(4-diethylaminobenzyl)chitosan (EBCS). The structure of supramolecular gel has been characterized. The spectrum of 1H NMR demonstrated the benzene ring of EBCS is reside inside the hydrophobic cavity of Q[8] and the host–guest interaction between Q[8] and EBCS was the main driving force for the formation of the supramolecular gel. The network structure of the xerogel of Q[8]/EBCS gel was observed by SEM. The Q[8]/EBCS gel system showed thermosensitive and pH-sensitive properties. The physical characterization by SEM, DSC, TG demonstrated the distinguished characters, which proved the formation of supramolecular gel instead of physical blending. The in vitro release study of the 5-fluorouracil-loaded supramolecular gel showed that sustained release profile in acidic condition, suggesting that Q[8]/EBCS gel could be a potential carrier for pH-sensitive drug controlled release system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We evaluated the variations of bacterial communities in six heavy metal contaminated soils sampled from Yanzi Bian (YZB) and Shanping Cun (SPC) tailings located in northwestern China. Statistical analysis showed that both the heavy metals and soil chemical properties could affect the structure and diversity of the bacterial communities in the tailing soils. Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, pH, SOM (soil organic matters), TP (total phosphorus) and TN (total nitrogen) were the main driving factors of the bacterial community variations. As a consequence, the relative abundances of certain bacterial phyla including Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Nitrospirota and Bacteroidota were significantly increased in the tailing soils. Further, we found that the abundance increasement of these phyla were mainly contributed by certain species, such as s__unclassified_g__Thiobacillus (Proteobacteria), s__unclassified_g__Sulfobacillus (Firmicutes) and Leptospirillum ferriphilum (Nitrospirota). Thus, these species were considered to be strongly heavy metal tolerant. Together, our findings will provide a useful insight for further bioremediations of these contaminated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

20MnTiB steel is the most widely used high-strength bolt material for steel structure bridges in China, and its performance is of great significance to the safe operation of bridges. Based on the investigation of the atmospheric environment in Chongqing in recent years, the corrosion solution to simulate the humid climate of Chongqing was designed in this study, and the stress corrosion experiment of high-strength bolts in the simulated humid climate of Chongqing was carried out. The effects of temperature, pH and concentration of simulated corrosion solution on the stress corrosion behavior of 20MnTiB high-strength bolts were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) specifically expressed on the surface of pancreatic β-cells and insulinoma, is a potential biomarker for imaging β-cell mass (BCM). In this study, two new 68Ga-labelled GLP1R targeting agents were prepared and their biological properties for imaging BCM and insulinoma were evaluated. [68Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-MAL-Cys39-exendin-4 ([68Ga]Ga- 4) and its dimer ([68Ga]Ga- 5) were synthesized from corresponding precursors. Cell uptake studies were evaluated in INS-1 cells. Biodistribution and microPET studies were performed in male normal Sprague-Dawley rats, diabetic rats and insulinoma xenograft NOD/SCID mice. [68Ga]Ga- 4 and [68Ga]Ga- 5 were efficiently radiolabelled by a simple one-step reaction without purification leading to high radiochemical yields and radiochemical purities (both >95%, decay corrected, n = 6, molar activity 15 GBq/μmol). They both showed excellent stability (~95%) in phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4, and in rat serum (~90%) for 2 h. Biodistribution studies and small animal PET/CT imaging showed that [68Ga]Ga- 4 displayed specific uptake in rat pancreas and mouse insulinoma, and a reduced uptake in the pancreas of diabetic rat was observed (~62% reduction). Notably, it exhibited a rapid time-to-peak pancreatic uptake (0.96 ± 0.19%ID/g in 15 min) and fast clearance from the kidney (42% clearance in 30 min). Results suggested a favorable in vivo kinetics for human imaging studies. [68Ga]Ga- 4 targeting GLP1R of pancreatic β-cells may be a potentially useful PET agent and a suitable candidate for further structural modification studies. This agent has demonstrated several advantages, rapid time-to-peak pancreatic uptake and faster clearance from the kidney, factors may enhance diagnosis of diabetes and insulinoma. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First study to show circRNAs expression profile of neutrophil transcriptome in patients with asymptomatic MMD. • Involved in signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells, targeting neutrophil may alter stem cell fate. • Altered target genes of DE-circRNAs were enriched in nervous system development, in the plasma membrane and involved in binding activity. • Some target genes of DE-circRNAs were predicted enriched in angiogenesis related pathways including HIF-1 pathway. • DE-circRNAs included the ones derived from the protein-coding genes such as DLG5, PTPRK, ITGB7, EIF4G3, PUM2 and ACTB. Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare cerebrovascular disorder with higher incidences in Eastern Asian countries but the natural course remains uncertain. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in brain disorders, but their role in the development of MMD is unclear. Neutrophil depletion has been shown to affect stem cell migration, fate, and therapeutic outcomes. We investigated the circRNAs expression profile of neutrophil transcriptome in patients with asymptomatic MMD. Microarray based circRNAs profiling was determined between neutrophil samples from patients with asymptomatic MMD and healthy subjects. The microarray results were followingly confirmed by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses (KEGG) were adopted for annotation and predicting the functions of differentially expressed circRNAs. From this comparative circRNA microarray analysis of neutrophil samples from patients with asymptomatic MMD and healthy subjects, 123 circRNAs were identified differentially expressed between the two groups. Of these, 54 were upregulated and 69 were downregulated compared to controls (fold change >2.0 and P < 0.05). GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the differentially expressed circRNAs were mainly involved in immune responses, angiogenesis and metabolism in asymptomatic MMD. Besides, the hypoxia inducing factor-1α signaling pathway was found to be the critical pathway involved in the angiogenesis of disease pathogenesis. This is a pilot study on the neutrophils from the asymptomatic MMD and aberrantly expressed circRNAs in the profiling obtained by high-throughput microarray may help provide insights into MMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overwhelming evidence suggests that microglia play an important role in ischemic injury and they polarize into two different phenotypes with distinct functions after ischemic stroke. We performed the present study to investigate whether L-3-n butylphthalide (NBP) has an effect on microglial polarization. Mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 45 min, and then immediately after reperfusion were treated with NBP or vehicle via the caudal vein for 7 consecutive days. 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining showed that NBP treatment resulted in a tendency to decrease cerebral infarct volume at 1 day after MCAO, and significant decreased infarct volume at 3 days after MCAO. Sensorimotor function was evaluated by the adhesive removal test and balance beam test, which were superior in NBP-treated mice compared with vehicle-treated mice at 1 and 3 days after MCAO. Immunofluorescent staining further indicated that NBP treatment significantly increased the number of CD206+/Iba1+ M2 microglia/macrophages and reduced the number of CD16+/Iba1+ M1 cells at 3 and 7 days after MCAO reperfusion. Western blot also showed an elevation of M2 marker (arginase-1) in NBP-treated brains at 7 days after MCAO. In conclusion, our results clearly show that NBP treatment significantly mitigates ischemic brain damage and promotes recovery of neurological function in early phase after ischemic stroke, probably by skewing M1 microglia/macrophages polarization towards M2 phenotype. Thus, our study provides new evidence that NBP might be a promising candidate for ameliorating injury caused by ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maladaptive alterations of astrocytic plasticity may cause brain edema in the acute stage of stroke and glial scar formation in the recovery stage. The present study was designed to investigate the potential regulation of limb remote ischemic post-conditioning (RIPC) on astrocytic plasticity in experimental cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Cerebral ischemia was induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) for 1 h in C57BL/6 mice, who were treated with RIPC immediately after reperfusion. The results showed that RIPC decreased hemispheric swelling, infarct volume and brain atrophy, and increased neurological function recovery and survival rates of ischemic mice at 3 and 14 d after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, respectively. Moreover, the proportion of astrocyte subtypes was adjusted by RIPC treatment, demonstrated by decreased expression of the fibrous type (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP) and increased expression of the protoplasmic type (glutamine synthetase, GS) in the ipsilateral side of the mouse brain at 14 d after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. RIPC treatment adjusted the proportion of GFAP subtypes by downregulating the protein level of GFAPα, as well as upregulating the GFAPδ/GFAPα ratio in the ipsilateral side at 3 and 14 d after reperfusion. Notably, RIPC inhibited the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activators of transcriptions 3 (p-STAT3) in the ipsilateral side at 3 and 14 d after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Taken together, the results show that RIPC treatment could regulate reactive astrocytic plasticity and inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation to promote neurological function recovery following ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work demonstrates the use of quantum dots (QDs) with photocatalytic activity as a sensitive, inexpensive and rapid colorimetric platform for Cu 2+ sensing. Based on the simple thiol compound mediated QDs growing method, CdS QDs can be quickly formed in situ, which possess excellent photocatalytic ability for the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to produce a colored product under light irradiation. Cu 2+ can catalyze the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups in glutathione (GSH) which act as a stabilizer for CdS QDs. In the presence of Cu 2+ , GSH is oxidized and loss the stabilization ability for the growth of CdS QDs, thus resulting in the decrease of the absorbance. Under optimum conditions, as low as 5.3 nM Cu 2+ can be detected. This sensing system is simple, reliable and holds great potential to provide a new general platform for ultrasensitive monitoring of a variety of analytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioinspired slippery surfaces (BSSs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their antifouling, drag reduction, and self-cleaning properties. Accordingly, various technical terms have been proposed for describing BSSs based on specific surface characteristics. However, the terminology can often be confusing, with similar-sounding terms having different meanings. Additionally, some terms fail to fully or accurately describe BSS characteristics, such as the surface wettability of lubricants (hydrophilic or hydrophobic), surface wettability anisotropy (anisotropic or isotropic), and substrate morphology (porous or smooth). Therefore, a timely and thorough review is required to clarify and distinguish the various terms used in BSS literature. This review initially categorizes BSSs into four types: slippery solid surfaces (SSSs), slippery liquid-infused surfaces (SLISs), slippery liquid-like surfaces (SLLSs), and slippery liquid-solid surfaces (SLSSs). Because SLISs have been the primary research focus in this field, we thoroughly review their design and fabrication principles, which can also be applied to the other three types of BSS. Furthermore, we discuss the existing BSS fabrication methods, smart BSS systems, antifouling applications, limitations of BSS, and future research directions. By providing comprehensive and accurate definitions of various BSS types, this review aims to assist researchers in conveying their results more clearly and gaining a better understanding of the literature. Bioinspired slippery surfaces (BSSs) have been classified into four types: slippery solid surface (SSS), slippery liquid-infused surface (SLIS), slippery liquid-like surface (SLLS), and slippery liquid–solid surface (SLSS). The most studied type (SLIS) was used as an example to explain the design principles and fabrication strategies of BSS according to the "3 M" methodology (materials, methods, and morphologies). SLIS can be further classified into the six types according to the hydrophi l ic/hydropho b ic surface wettability of lubricants, the isotropic/anisotropic surface wettability, and the porous/smooth surface morphology of the substrate: SLIS-LIP, SLIS-LIS, SLIS-LAP, SLIS-BIP, SLIS-BIS, and SLIS-BAP. [Display omitted] • Bioinspired slippery surfaces (BSSs) have been classified into four types. • BSSs were described according to lubricants, surface wettability, and the substrate. • The design and fabrication of slippery liquid-infused surface (SLIS) were reviewed. • Fabrication, antifouling, limitations and future focuses of BSSs were reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the use of graphene oxide (GO) as catalytic probe and deposition substrate, a novel label free electrochemical biosensor has been fabricated for sensitive detection of Pb 2+ . As a result of Pb 2+ induced conformational change of aptamer, GO can be captured on electrode surface. The Ag + reduction process can be accelerated by the captured GO, which resulted in the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on GO surface. Through detecting the oxidation signal of the formed AgNPs by voltammetry, highly sensitive detection of Pb 2+ can be realized. The detection limit of this assay for Pb 2+ was 80 pM with a linear range from 0.1 nM to 10.0 μM. The developed sensor is simple, sensitive, selective, and do not need complex tagging process, thus holds great potential for Pb 2+ and other molecular detection in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare stroke subtype, which has many overlapping symptoms with non-thrombotic cerebral venous sinus stenosis (CVSS) in the acute phase. Despite these similarities, their therapeutic regimens and outcomes are entirely different, and treatment delay is life-threatening. This study aims to address their clinical differences to help promote proper patient care. Methods: 34 cases of CVST and 34 cases of non-thrombotic CVSS diagnosed with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the acute phase (symptoms onset within 7days) were consecutively enrolled in this prospective non-randomized and controlled study. Differences between CVST and CVSS in their clinical manifestation, plasma biomarkers, and MR or DSA imaging were compared. Results: CVST and CVSS overlap in many ways, but differ in their respective medical histories and neurological deficits. However, 20.6% of CVST and 64.7% of CVSS occur without a definitive medical history, and 70.6% of CVST and 64.7% of CVSS occur without focal neurologic deficits. In the acute phase of CVST, d-dimer and fibrinogen are found to be abnormally elevated in 94.1% and 73.5% of cases, respectively. In the CVSS group, d-dimer and fibrinogen are only elevated in 17.6% and 5.9% of cases, respectively (binary logistic regressions test, all P <0.001). In the CVST group, the predominant features in MRI/MRV and DSA imaging include local brain lesions, flow void signal loss, non-visualization, and a local filling defect sign at the involved sinus. Conversely, in the CVSS group, imaging revealed symmetrically small bilateral ventricles and the spread of cerebral edema in MRI/MRV. DSA imaging in the CVSS group revealed external compression and a narrow sinus with disproportionate venous engorgement. Despite these findings, positive imaging only appears in a minority of patients in the two groups during the acute phase (Table 4). Conclusions: DSA may be beneficial to diagnose CVST in ambiguous patients suspected to have either CVST or CVSS. Clinically useful biomarkers (d-dimer and fibrinogen) may predict CVST in the emergency room in the ambiguous patients with or without equivocal MRI/MRV imaging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Titania nanotubes (TiNTs) array shows mild photothermal effect. • TiNTs can realize mild photothermal therapy (mPTT) conception. • mPTT promotes macrophages M2 polarization. • mPTT inhibits endothelial progenitor cells function. • mPTT promotes osteoblasts differentiation. Peri-implantitis is the main cause of implant failure with limited clinical management. Recently, the photothermal therapy (PTT) has attracted more and more attention, due to its convenient and efficient erasure of bacteria. Unfortunately, the high temperature may also cause healthy tissues damage, so that there is a call for the balance between "kill and heal" during PTT. Here, the disregarded photothermal effect of titania nanotubes array (TiNTs) is investigated, to realize the mild PTT (mPTT) idea. It is found that the delivered heat is inversely proportional to TiNTs diameters (30–80 nm) and in proportional to NIR light power (300–2000 mW/cm2). The maximum temperature elevation is reached within 4–6 min (13.4℃ under 300 mW/cm2), which belongs to the temperature range of mPTT. In addition, the peri -implantitis related cells including macrophages, endothelial progenitor cells and osteoblasts all exhibit favorable phenotype alterations after mPTT. Specifically, the macrophages are undergoing M2 polarization (anti-inflammation, pro-healing), endothelial progenitor cells show functional suppression (abnormal vascularization inhibition) and osteoblasts exhibit enhanced osteogenic differentiation (beneficial for new bone repair). In conclusion, these findings suggest that mPTT conveyed by TiNTs may control inflammation and promote bone regeneration, which may be a promising choice for peri -implantitis management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drug-coated balloons (DCB) can decrease the incidence of restenosis in the treatment of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of submaximal angioplasty with DCB dilation compared with aggressive angioplasty in patients with symptomatic ICAS., Methods: This study prospectively and consecutively enrolled patients with symptomatic ICAS who underwent DCB angioplasty between January 2021 and December 2023. Based on the balloon size, the patients were divided into submaximal (50-80% of normal vessel diameter) or aggressive (80-100% of normal vessel diameter) angioplasty groups. The efficacy and safety of angioplasty including ischemic stroke/intracranial hemorrhage, death, arterial dissection, and follow-up outcomes were compared between the two groups., Results: The patients were divided into submaximal (n=55) and aggressive (n=62) angioplasty groups. All the balloons were successfully delivered to the lesion location and expanded. The dissection rate (3.6% vs 17.7%, P=0.018) and incidence of remedial stenting (7.3% vs 21.0%, P=0.040) after balloon dilation were significantly greater after aggressive angioplasty than after submaximal angioplasty. A residual stenosis rate of ≥30% was more common in the submaximal angioplasty group than in the aggressive angioplasty group (27.3% vs 8.1%, P=0.006). Periprocedural complications (1.8% vs 8.1%, P=0.212), recurrent ischemic events (1.8% vs 4.8%, P=0.621), and restenosis (3.6% vs 8.1%, p=0.445) were comparable between the groups., Conclusions: Submaximal angioplasty has a favorable technical profile, periprocedural safety, and long-term efficacy, suggesting that it is a promising alternative treatment for symptomatic ICAS., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

Introduction: Tissue repair can be promoted by moderate inflammation but suppressed by excessive levels. Therefore, control of excessive inflammation following removal of infection plays a critical role in promotion of pulpal repair. Connexin 43 (Cx43) forms hemichannels (HCs) or gap channels (GJs) to facilitate the delivery of small molecules between cells to regulate both inflammation and repair. Understanding the role of Cx43 in dental pulp may help develop a potential strategy to attenuate the inflammation and promote the formation of reparative dentin in deep caries., Methods: We firstly investigated the expression profile of Cx43 in infected human third molars by histological analysis; then, we detected channel activity of Cx43 and the effect of mediating release of small molecules in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) by molecular biology methods. Results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and the unpaired t -test. The level of significance was set at α  = 0.05., Results: Analysis showed that the expression of Cx43 was upregulated in human third molars as the degree of infection increased, and Cx43 was not only expressed in odontoblast layer, but also detected in cell-rich zone and pulp proper. LPS activated Cx43 HCs in hDPCs while inhibiting GJs; blockade of Cx43 HCs attenuated LPS-induced inflammation. Furthermore, LPS promoted the extracellular release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) within hDPCs, thus exacerbating LPS-induced inflammation. The blockade of Cx43 HCs inhibited the extracellular release of ATP and HMGB1 within hDPCs., Conclusion: Collectively, our finding suggested that Cx43 plays a key role in infection and inflammation in dental pulp. LPS activates Cx43 HCs to mediate the extracellular release of ATP and HMGB1 to exacerbate LPS-induced inflammation of hDPCs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Hu, Long, Li, Lan, He, Li and Li.)

Angle-of-Attack (AOA) and angle-of-sideslip (AOS) are critical flight parameters affecting the flight safety, and their accuracy and reliability directly impact the operating status and performance of some significant airborne systems. To enhance the redundancy and accuracy of AOA and AOS, this article investigates the problem of the airflow angles estimation and complementary filter design for civil aircraft. Specifically, an extended Kalman filter based AOA and AOS estimation method considering acceleration correction is developed to increase the redundancy. Subsequently, a novel inertial AOA and inertial AOS calculation method using attitude angles, azimuth angle, and flight path angle is introduced, and two schemes for designing the discrete complementary filter based on Tustin transform are presented to improve the accuracy. Through simulations, the developed algorithms are verified, and the results illustrate that the AOA estimation error is within ± 0.6°, and the AOS estimation error is within ± 0.3°., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

As newly discovered substrate anchored extracellular vesicles, migrasomes (Migs) may bring a new opportunity for manipulating target cells bioactivities. In this study, the M2 macrophages derived Migs are obtained by titania nanotubes surface (NTs). Due to the benefits of nanostructuring, the NTs surface is not only able to induce RAW264.7 for M2 polarization but also to generate more Migs formation, which can be internalized by following seeded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Then, the NTs surface induced Migs are collected by density-gradient centrifugation for MSCs treatment. As indicated by immunofluorescence staining, alkaline phosphatase activity, and alizarin red staining, the osteogenic differentiation capacity of MSCs is significantly enhanced by Migs treatment, in line with the dosage. By RNA-sequence analysis, the enhancement of osteogenic differentiation is correlated with PI3K-AKT pathway activation that may originate from the M2 polarization state of donor cells. Finally, the Migs are coated onto Ti surface for therapeutic application. Both the in vitro and in vivo analysis reveal that the Migs coated Ti implant shows significant enhancement of osteogenesis. In conclusion, this study suggests that the nanosurface may be a favorable platform for Migs production, which may bring a new concept for tissue regeneration., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)