Good Effect Research Articles

Preparation of geopolymer based on municipal solid waste incineration fly ash-phosphorus slag and its function for solidification of heavy metals

Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) contains potential contaminants and needs to be efficiently solidified/stablized and so should be managed properly. To achieve this goal, alkali-activated MSWIFA and phosphorus slag (PS) based geopolymer solidified bodies were investigated. Therefore, the mechanical properties of the solidified body, heavy metal leaching characteristics, heavy metal chemical forms, and heavy metal solidification/stabilization mechanisms were also analyzed. The results show that: The addition of an appropriate amount of PS can promote the strength development of a solidified body. When the mass ratio of MSWIFA to PS is 7:3, the strength of the solidified body reaches 22.8 MPa at 90d curing age, which is 5.3 times higher than that of the unmodified material. The MSWIFA/PS immobilized Zn 99.9 %, Pb 99.4 % and Cd 99.8 % in 60 day leaching tests. Meanwhile, PS can significantly increase the proportion of chemically stabilized forms of heavy metals in the solidified body. PS affects on the hydration process of the solidified body. When the mass fraction of PS doping was 30 %, the main hydration products of the solidified body were calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and calcium alumina (AFt). When the mass fraction of PS is 50 %, the main hydration products are calcium aluminosilicate hydrate (C-A-S-H), sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (N-A-S-H), and AFt. These hydration products have good solidification effects on heavy metals. Therefore, it can be concluded that the MSWIFA/PS solidified body is an environmentally friendly and efficient binder.

An efficient copper(II) salamo-based complex fluorescence chemosensor for detecting sulfide ions: Structure exploration and practical application

A novel salamo-based fluorescent chemical sensor l-Cu2+ was designed and prepared via the reaction of H2L and Cu(OAc)2·H2O. The whole research has found that Cu(II) atom in the complex crystal are located in the N2O2 cavity of H2L, forming a four-coordination system. Hirshfeld surface analysis confirmed the presence of hydrogen bonding and π···π stacking interactions. As a probe molecule, l-Cu2+can selectively and sensitively detect S2- without interference from other ions, and can be effectively used within the biological pH range. In addition, DFT theoretical calculations and molecular electrostatic potential analysis (ESP) were used to investigate the electron cloud density and positive and negative electrostatic potentials inside the probe, as well as the mechanism for identifying sulfur ions. Finally, the probe l-Cu2+has shown good practical application effects and can recognize S2− in three different water samples. It can also be used as a qualitative detection strip. l-Cu2+complex possesses excellent application prospect in bacteriostasis.

Nutraceutical Content and Biological Properties of Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Fractions of the Phytocomplex from Pistacia atlantica Desf. Buds, Roots, and Fruits.

The aim of the present investigation was to obtain 12 aqueous extracts and 1 oil from Pistacia atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica specimens. The samples differed for processed plant organs (i.e., roots, buds, and fruits), gender and geographical station of the collected trees. Total phenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins were determined, revealing that bud extracts exhibited the highest phenolic content (386.785 ± 16.227 mg GAE/g DM), followed by fruit and root preparations. Similar results were detected for flavonoids and tannins, whose quantitation ranged from 0.014 ± 0.005 to 74.780 ± 9.724 mg CE/g DM and from 0.037 ± 0.003 to 14.793 ± 0.821 mg CE/g DM, respectively. The biochemical profile of the extracts was further characterized by HPLC-DAD, in terms of specific phenolics. This analysis identified gallic acid as a typical metabolite for ripe fruit, while hydroxytyrosol for female roots and male buds. In parallel, P. atlantica fruit oil was profiled by GC-MS analysis, which detected 37 lipophilic components, including palmitic acid (the major component, ~55%), anacardol, tetradecanol, arachidic acid, squalene, and some terpenes. The samples revealed interesting antioxidant activity, with EC50 values ranging from 0.073 ± 0.001 to 193.594 ± 28.942 mg/mL and from 0.029 ± 0.001 to 103.086 ± 20.540 mg/mL, in that order, for DPPH and reducing power assays. Concerning the total antioxidant capacity, the results ranged from 0.053 ± 0.008 to 51.648 ± 1.659 mg AAE/g DM. Finally, the antimicrobial potential of the plant extracts was estimated against 7 bacterial species and 2 fungal strains, known to be human pathogens, demonstrating a good antibiotic effect for the bud extracts. All these findings strongly suggest that P. atlantica would represent a natural reservoir for novel additives to be used in therapeutic, food, and cosmetic products.

Spatiotemporal Synergism in Osteomyelitis Treatment with Photoactivated Core-Shell Zinc Oxide/Silver Sulfide Heterogeneous Nanoparticles.

Osteomyelitis is primarily caused by bacterial infections, and treatment requires precise sequential therapy, including antibacterial therapy in the early stages and bone defect reconstruction in later stages. We aimed to synthesize core-shell-structured zinc oxide/silver sulfide heterogeneous nanoparticles (ZnO/Ag2S NPs) using wet chemical methods. Using density functional theory and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, we showed that the optimized band structure endowed ZnO/Ag2S NPs with photodynamic properties under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Moreover, ZnO/Ag2S NPs exhibited a distinguished and stable photothermal performance within the same wavelength range. With single-wavelength irradiation, ZnO/Ag2S NPs achieved a bifunctional antibacterial effect during the acute stage of osteomyelitis. Antibacterial action was confirmed through colony-forming unit (CFU) counting assays, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) observations, live-dead staining, growth curves, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays. The Ag2S coating on the NPs realized the sustained release of zinc ions, thereby controlling the zinc ion concentration. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, alizarin red S (ARS) staining, and qPCR assays confirmed that the ZnO/Ag2S NPs exhibited good osteogenic effects in vitro. These effects were verified in an in vivo mouse femur model during chronic stages using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological analysis. This study provides a novel biocompatible core-shell nanomaterial for the two-phase treatment of osteomyelitis, contributing to versatile nanotherapies for infections and inflammation.

Modelling of doxycycline-based prevention of bacterial sexually transmitted infections in comparison to condom-based and test-based prevention.

Doxycycline-based prevention of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been assessed in various studies and has been recommended by the European AIDS Clinical Society to be proposed to persons with repeated STIs on a case-by-case basis. However, while good preventive effects could be shown for Chlamydia trachomatis and Treponema pallidum in Europe, no reliable prevention against doxycycline resistance-affected bacterial causes of STIs like Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium was confirmed. In a modelling-approach, we assessed potential beneficial effects even against the latter microorganisms in case of optimized adherence with doxycycline prevention. These effects were modelled for Germany in comparison to traditional prevention schemes like condom-based STI-prevention and testing-as-prevention. With estimated risk reduction in the ranges of 86% for N. gonorrhoeae and of 82% for Mycoplasma genitalium, expectable preventive efficacy similar to alternative preventive approaches could be calculated in case of optimized adherence with doxycycline prevention. In case of repeated risk exposure, the preventive potential of condom-based prevention was decreased compared to both optimized doxycycline prevention and testing-as-prevention. As suggested by the applied modelling, the preventive effect of optimized doxycycline prevention against bacterial STIs is in a similar range, like other common prevention strategies.

Anti-inflammatory activity of seven plant species with potential use as livestock feed additives

Inflammatory conditions and associated oxidative stress are common in livestock. The present study aimed to investigate in depth the anti-inflammatory activity of seven medicinal plants (Dichrostachys cinerea, Ehretia rigida, Salix babylonica, Vachellia erioloba, V. gerrardii, V. sieberiana and V. tortilis) traditionally used to treat inflammatory disorders in South Africa. These plants are being investigated for possible inclusion in animal feed as additives to support health and promote growth. The anti-inflammatory potential of plant extracts was evaluated in terms of inhibition of the 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) enzyme and nitric oxide (NO) release in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, together with cytotoxicity studies. The effect of plant extracts in modulating the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators including cyclooxygenase (COX), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) was evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In vitro antioxidant activity was investigated using chemical assays. ULPC-MS and ICP-MS were used to detect potentially bioactive phytochemicals and concentrations of essential elements respectively. Methanol and acetone extracts of D. cinerea had the best activity against 15-LOX (IC50 values of 0.80 and 0.64 mg/ml, respectively). The methanol extracts of E. rigida, V. tortilis and V. sieberiana inhibited NO with IC50 of 90.11, 101.52 and 94.11 µg/ml respectively, higher than that of the positive control (IC50 = 30.00 µg/ml). Furthermore, these plants had low cytotoxicity (LC50 ≥ 70 µg/ml) against RAW 264.7 macrophages. Interestingly, E. rigida, V. sieberiana and V. tortilis extracts decreased the expression of iNOS, COX and IL-6. There was a positive correlation between the inhibition of NO release from macrophages by plant extracts and the downregulation of iNOS mRNA levels. There was no significant difference in the antioxidant activity (ABTS) of D. cinerea methanolic extract with IC50 = 5.37 µg/ml compared to the positive controls, Trolox (IC50 = 4.42 µg/ml) and ascorbic acid (IC50 = 4.43 µg/ml). Flavonoids, fatty acids and essential trace elements such as Fe, Zn and Mn were detected in E. rigida, and these are likely to be responsible for the good anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts. This study provides the first evidence of the regulation of pro-inflammatory mediator and cytokine genes by the selected plant extracts. These results support the use of the plants, in particular E. rigida, as potential feed additives to reduce inflammation associated with many diseases.

A grating-modified broadband D-type photonic crystal fiber polarization filter

In this paper, a D-type grating-modified broadband photonic crystal fiber polarization filter based on surface plasmon resonance is proposed. The asymmetric design of D-type photonic crystal fiber is helpful to achieve single-mode polarization filtering, and grating can increase the coupling between the core mode and the SPP mode and thus increase the constraint loss. From our simulation results, it can be seen that the applicable bandwidth range can easily reach 1 μm. At the communication wavelength of 1750 nm, the calculated constraint losses of x-polarized and y-polarized core modes are 4.2526 dB cm−1 and 1491.8 dB cm−1, respectively, and the crosstalk is up to 1292 dB. The proposed grating-modified of photonic crystal fiber has achieved good filtering effect in the near-infrared band, and even extended to the mid-infrared band.

Photothermal/photodynamic antibacterial hydrogel embedded with copper carbon dots and Au nanoparticles

In this paper, we created a hydrogel (named AuNPs-CuCCDs@Gel) with photothermal and photodynamic performance through incorporating copper carbon dots (CuCCDs) and Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) into gelatin and chitosan hydrogels. The thus-obtained hydrogel exhibited a high photothermal and photodynamic antibacterial activity with a superior singlet oxygen yield (0.70), which was better than that of methylene blue (0.52). After laser irradiation at 808 nm for 6 min, the temperature of AuNPs-CuCCDs@Gel rose from room temperature to 50 °C, which manifested good effects for avoiding local heat damage and protecting normal cells. AuNPs-CuCCDs@Gel exhibited the highest antibacterial efficacy of 96.46% and 97.48% against S. aureus and E. coli respectively. The significantly improved bactericidal performance was attributed to the synergistic effects of hyperthermia and reactive oxygen species (ROS). This work suggests that photothermal/photodynamic antibacterial hydrogel is a promising agent for treating wound infection.

Peripherally inserted central-related upper extremity deep vein thrombosis and machine learning.

To establish a prediction model of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) associated with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) based on machine learning (ML), and evaluate the effect. 452 patients with malignant tumors who underwent PICC implantation in West China Hospital from April 2021 to December 2021 were selected through convenient sampling. UEDVT was detected by ultrasound. Machine learning models were established using the least absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) regression algorithm: Seeley scale model (ML-Seeley-LASSO) and ML model. The information of patients with and without UEDVT was randomly allocated to the training set and test set of the two models, and the prediction effect of machine learning and existing prediction tools was compared. Machine learning training set and test set were better than Seeley evaluation results, and ML-Seeley-LASSO performance in training set was better than ML-LASSO. The performance of ML-LASSO in the test set is better than that of ML-Seeley-LASSO. The use of ML model (ML-LASSO and ML-Seeley-LASSO) in PICC-related UEDVT shows good effectiveness (the area under the subject's working characteristic curve is 0.856, 0.799), which is superior to the currently used Seeley assessment tool. The risk of PICC-related UEDVT can be estimated and predicted relatively accurately by using the method of ML modeling, so as to effectively reduce the incidence of PICC-related UEDVT in the future.

The differential effect of two cereal foods on gut environment: a randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study.

Cereal-based foods such as fruit granola (FG) and corn flakes (CF) form part of a fiber-rich diet. Dietary fiber has a good effect on human health. However, changes in gut microbiota and intestinal immunity have not been investigated. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effects of FG and CF intake on gut microbiota, metabolome, and the immune system. Subjects continuously consume CF or FG for 4 weeks. Stool samples, and questionnaires on defecation were collected before, 2 weeks after, and 4 weeks after intake. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Fecal metabolomes were analyzed using GC/MS and CE-TOF/MS. Fecal IgA was analyzed using ELISA. The defecation frequency after cereal based food intake was improved. The different cereal-based foods had different effects on gut microbiome. The increase in intestinal IgA levels was positively correlated with the relative abundance of Dialister and the Lachnospiraceae ND3007 group in CF and FG group, respectively. SCFAs showed a positive correlation with Prevotella 9 in the FG group. This study showed that the supplement in dietary fiber contained in CF and FG improves bowel movements. CF and FG each had different effects on gut microbes, metabolites and different relationships between fecal IgA or SCFAs and gut microbiota.

Dual-Band Image Fusion Approach Using Regional Weight Analysis Combined with a Multi-Level Smoothing Filter

Image fusion is an effective and efficient way to express the feature information of an infrared image and abundant detailed information of a visible image in a single fused image. However, obtaining a fused result with good visual effect, while preserving and inheriting those characteristic details, seems a challenging problem. In this paper, by combining a multi-level smoothing filter and regional weight analysis, a dual-band image fusion approach is proposed. Firstly, a series of dual-band image layers with different details are obtained using smoothing results. With different parameters in a bilateral filter, different smoothed results are achieved at different levels. Secondly, regional weight maps are generated for each image layer, and then we fuse the dual-band image layers with their corresponding regional weight map. Finally, by imposing proper weights, those fused image layers are synthetized. Through comparison with seven excellent fusion methods, both subjective and objective evaluations for the experimental results indicate that the proposed approach can produce the best fused image, which has the best visual effect with good contrast, and those small details are preserved and highlighted, too. In particular, for the image pairs with a size of 640 × 480, the algorithm could provide a good visual effect result within 2.86 s, and the result has almost the best objective metrics.

Improvement by Medication Less than Expected in Parkinson's Disease: Blinded Evaluation of Levodopa Response.

The latest Movement Disorder Society (MDS) diagnostic criteria require a good and sustained response to medication to get a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, PD. The aim of this study was to evaluate levodopa response in a group of patients with probable PD, diagnosed by movement disorder specialists. An acute levodopa challenge test (LDCT) was performed after pausing the dopaminergic medication for 6 half-times. The motor part of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale was performed in the OFF-state and after LDCT (ON). A good effect was defined as >30% improvement. A video-protocol was used to secure standardized motor examination with blinded assessments of the UPDRS-III OFF and ON. An age-matched group of control subjects (CS) was included but did not go through LDCT. All participants were evaluated with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). In the statistical analysis, 37 patients were included. Twenty-one patients showed an improvement ≤30%, while 16 patients showed an improvement >30%. LDCT showed an overall mean improvement of 27.3% of motor UPDRS. In 43.2%, there was a discrepancy between the effect seen with the LDCT and the patients' self-perceived medicine evaluation. Patients with PD had a significantly lower MoCA score and more depressive symptoms compared to CS. We showed an acute effect of levodopa using LDCT that was around 30% improvement. While it lends support to the use of this limit in the MDS diagnostic criteria, an acute effect of less than 30% should be considered acceptable in some patients. Our study highlights a discrepancy in the objective measure of medicine effect on motor symptoms and the patient's subjective evaluation.

Optimal path for automated pedestrian detection: image deblurring algorithm based on generative adversarial network

The pedestrian detection technology of automated driving is also facing some challenges. Aiming at the problem of specific target deblurring in the image, this research built a pedestrian detection deblurring model in view of Generative adversarial network and multi-scale convolution. First, it designs an image deblurring algorithm in view of Generative adversarial network. Then, on the basis of image deblurring, a pedestrian deblurring algorithm in view of multi-scale convolution is designed to focus on deblurring the pedestrians in the image. The outcomes showcase that the peak signal to noise ratio and structural similarity index of the image deblurring algorithm in view of the Generative adversarial network are the highest, which are 29.7 dB and 0.943 dB respectively, and the operation time is the shortest, which is 0.50 s. The pedestrian deblurring algorithm in view of multi-scale convolution has the highest peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity indicators in the HIDE test set and GoPro dataset, with 29.4 dB and 0.925 dB, 40.45 dB and 0.992 dB, respectively. The resulting restored image is the clearest and possesses the best visual effect. The enlarged part of the face can reveal more detailed information, and it is the closest to a real clear image. The deblurring effect is not limited to the size of the pedestrians in the image. In summary, the model constructed in this study has good application effects in image deblurring and pedestrian detection, and has a certain promoting effect on the development of autonomous driving technology.

A food quality detection method based on electronic nose technology

Food quality detection is of great importance for human health and industrial production. Currently, the common detection methods are difficult to achieve the need for fast, accurate, and non-destructive detection. In this work, an electronic nose (E-nose) detection method based on the combination of convolutional neural network combined with wavelet scattering network (CNN-WSN) and improved seahorse optimizes kernel extreme learning machine (ISHO-KELM) is proposed for identifying the quality level of a variety of food products. In the feature extraction part, the abstract features of CNN are fused with the scattering features of WSN, and the obtained CNN-WSN fusion features can characterize the original information of the food quality effectively. In the classifier design and decision-making section, chaotic mapping is used to initialize the population in the seahorse optimisation algorithm (SHO), avoiding the problem that SHO may fall into local optimal solutions. The kernel parameters and regularisation coefficients of the KELM model were then optimized by improving the locomotion, predation, and reproduction behaviors of the hippocampal populations, which solved the problem of the difficult selection of the key parameters in the model, and thus improved the accuracy and generalization of the overall model. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed food quality detection model, the E-nose system was first built and milk quality data were collected independently, and then tested on two publicly available food quality datasets as well as a self-collected milk quality dataset, respectively. The experimental results show that the food quality detection method proposed in this work has good quality assessment effect on different datasets.

Determination of catechol in tea based on the inhibition of CS@Cd composites electrochemiluminescence

To address growing concerns about food safety, sensors for catechol (CA) have been urgently needed. In this work, cadmium-coated carbon spheres (CS@Cd) composites are prepared via hydrothermal synthesis and further used to fabricate a CS@Cd modified glassy carbon electrode (CS@Cd/GCE). Importantly, CS@Cd has good sensitization effect on the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of luminol-H2O2 system. Besides, CA is able to inhibit the ECL of CS@Cd/GCE owing to the consumption of H2O2 induced by CA, and thus a novel strategy for ECL detection of CA is formulated. At optimum conditions, CS@Cd/GCE exhibits good linear relationship in the range of 1.0 × 10-11 ∼ 1.0 × 10-4 mol·L-1 with a low limit of detection of 2.5 × 10-12 mol·L-1 (S/N = 3). Finally, this method achieves a satisfactory outcome for the detection of CA in tea samples.

Effects of cerium oxide nanoenzyme-gelatin methacrylate anhydride hydrogel in the repair of infected full-thickness skin defect wounds in mice

Objective: To investigate the effects of cerium oxide nanoenzyme-gelatin methacrylate anhydride (GelMA) hydrogel (hereinafter referred to as composite hydrogel) in the repair of infected full-thickness skin defect wounds in mice. Methods: This study was an experimental study. Cerium oxide nanoenzyme with a particle size of (116±9) nm was prepared by hydrothermal method, and GelMA hydrogel with porous network structure and good gelling performance was also prepared. The 25 μg/mL cerium oxide nanoenzyme which could significantly promote the proliferation of human skin fibroblasts and had high superoxide dismutase activity was screened out. It was added to GelMA hydrogel to prepare composite hydrogel. The percentage of cerium oxide nanoenzyme released from the composite hydrogel was calculated after immersing it in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) for 3 and 7 d. The red blood cell suspension of mice was divided into PBS group, Triton X-100 group, cerium oxide nanoenzyme group, GelMA hydrogel group, and composite hydrogel group, which were treated with corresponding solution. The hemolysis of red blood cells was detected by microplate reader after 1 h of treatment. The bacterial concentrations of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli were determined after being cultured with PBS, cerium oxide nanoenzyme, GelMA hydrogel, and composite hydrogel for 2 h. The sample size in all above experiments was 3. Twenty-four 8-week-old male BALB/c mice were taken, and a full-thickness skin defect wound was prepared in the symmetrical position on the back and infected with MRSA. The mice were divided into control group without any drug intervention, and cerium oxide nanoenzyme group, GelMA hydrogel group, and composite hydrogel group applied with corresponding solution, with 6 mice in each group. The wound healing was observed on 3, 7, and 14 d after injury, and the remaining wound areas on 3 and 7 d after injury were measured (the sample size was 5). The concentration of MRSA in the wound exudation of mice on 3 d after injury was measured (the sample size was 3), and the blood flow perfusion in the wound of mice on 5 d after injury was observed using a laser speckle flow imaging system (the sample size was 6). On 14 d after injury, the wound tissue of mice was collected for hematoxylin-eosin staining to observe the newly formed epithelium and for Masson staining to observe the collagen situation (the sample size was both 3). Results: After immersion for 3 and 7 d, the release percentages of cerium oxide nanoenzyme in the composite hydrogel were about 39% and 75%, respectively. After 1 h of treatment, compared with that in Triton X-100 group, the hemolysis of red blood cells in PBS group, GelMA hydrogel group, cerium oxide nanoenzyme group, and composite hydrogel group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with that cultured with PBS, the concentrations of MRSA and Escherichia coli cultured with cerium oxide nanoenzyme, GelMA hydrogel, and composite hydrogel for 2 h were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The wounds of mice in the four groups were gradually healed from 3 to 14 d after injury, and the wounds of mice in composite hydrogel group were all healed on 14 d after injury. On 3 and 7 d after injury, the remaining wound areas of mice in composite hydrogel group were (29±3) and (13±5) mm2, respectively, which were significantly smaller than (56±12) and (46±10) mm2 in control group and (51±7) and (38±8) mm2 in cerium oxide nanoenzyme group (with P values all <0.05), but was similar to (41±5) and (24±9) mm2 in GelMA hydrogel group (with P values both >0.05). On 3 d after injury, the concentration of MRSA on the wound of mice in composite hydrogel group was significantly lower than that in control group, cerium oxide nanoenzyme group, and GelMA hydrogel group, respectively (with P values all <0.05). On 5 d after injury, the volume of blood perfusion in the wound of mice in composite hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in control group, cerium oxide nanoenzyme group, and GelMA hydrogel group, respectively (P<0.05). On 14 d after injury, the wound of mice in composite hydrogel group basically completed epithelization, and the epithelization was significantly better than that in the other three groups. Compared with that in the other three groups, the content of collagen in the wound of mice in composite hydrogel group was significantly increased, and the arrangement was also more orderly. Conclusions: The composite hydrogel has good biocompatibility and antibacterial effect in vivo and in vitro. It can continuously sustained release cerium oxide nanoenzyme, improve wound blood perfusion in the early stage, and promote wound re-epithelialization and collagen synthesis, therefore promoting the healing of infected full-thickness skin defect wounds in mice.

A comprehensive review of the anticancer effects of decursin.

Cancer is a globally complex disease with a plethora of genetic, physiological, metabolic, and environmental variations. With the increasing resistance to current anticancer drugs, efforts have been made to develop effective cancer treatments. Currently, natural products are considered promising cancer therapeutic agents due to their potent anticancer activity and low intrinsic toxicity. Decursin, a coumarin analog mainly derived from the roots of the medicinal plant Angelica sinensis, has a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and especially anticancer activities. Existing studies indicate that decursin affects cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, angiogenesis, and metastasis. It also indirectly affects the immune microenvironment and can act as a potential anticancer agent. Decursin can exert synergistic antitumor effects when used in combination with a number of common clinical anticancer drugs, enhancing chemotherapy sensitivity and reversing drug resistance in cancer cells, suggesting that decursin is a good drug combination. Second, decursin is also a promising lead compound, and compounds modifying its structure and formulation form also have good anticancer effects. In addition, decursin is not only a key ingredient in several natural herbs and dietary supplements but is also available through a biosynthetic pathway, with anticancer properties and a high degree of safety in cells, animals, and humans. Thus, it is evident that decursin is a promising natural compound, and its great potential for cancer prevention and treatment needs to be studied and explored in greater depth to support its move from the laboratory to the clinic.

Sex differences in the effectiveness and tolerability of dolutegravir plus rilpivirine as a switch strategy in people living with HIV.

Dolutegravir + rilpivirine (DTG + RPV) is an effective antiretroviral therapy regimen approved in clinical guidelines as a switch therapy for virologically suppressed people with HIV. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of DTG + RPV in women and men in real-world clinical practice. This was a retrospective analysis of treatment-experienced people with HIV from a large HIV unit who switched to DTG + RPV. We analysed treatment effectiveness, rates of adverse events and discontinuation, and metabolic changes after 48 weeks of treatment. HIV-RNA levels <50 copies/mL were analysed at 48 weeks using both intention-to treat analysis (where missing data were interpreted as failures) and per-protocol analysis (excluding those with missing data or changes due to reasons other than virological failure). Outcomes were compared between women and men based on sex at birth. A total of 307 patients were selected (71 women and 236 men). No transgender people were included. At baseline, women had lived with HIV infection and received antiretroviral therapy for longer than men (23.2 vs 17.4 years and 18.9 vs 14.2 years, respectively). In the intention-to-treat analysis, 74.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 63.4-83.3%) of women and 83.5% (95% CI 78.2-87.7) of men had HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL. In the per-protocol analysis, 96.4% (95% CI 87.7-99) of women and 99% (95% CI 98.9-99.7) of men had HIV-RNA levels <50 copies/mL. Two women and two men had HIV-RNA >50 copies/mL at 48 weeks. Discontinuation due to adverse events was more frequent in women than in men: 12.7% vs 7.2% (p < 0.02). Neuropsychiatric and gastrointestinal events were the most frequently reported. A median (interquartile range) weight gain of 1.9 kg (0-4.2) in women and 1.2 kg (-1-3.1) in men was reported (median of differences between baseline visit and week 48); the remaining changes in metabolic parameters were neutral. DTG + RPV exhibited good and similar virological effectiveness in women and men in real-world settings. However, poorer tolerability and more treatment interruptions were observed in women.

Incidence and risk factors of depression in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Many studies have explored the relationship between depression and metabolic syndrome (MetS), especially in older people. China has entered an aging society. However, there are still few studies on the elderly in Chinese communities. To investigate the incidence and risk factors of depression in MetS patients in mainland China and to construct a predictive model. Data from four waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were selected, and middle-aged and elderly patients with MetS (n = 2533) were included based on the first wave. According to the center for epidemiological survey-depression scale (CESD), participants with MetS were divided into depression (n = 938) and non-depression groups (n = 1595), and factors related to depression were screened out. Subsequently, the 2-, 4-, and 7-year follow-up data were analyzed, and a prediction model for depression in MetS patients was constructed. The prevalence of depression in middle-aged and elderly patients with MetS was 37.02%. The prevalence of depression at the 2-, 4-, and 7-year follow-up was 29.55%, 34.53%, and 38.15%, respectively. The prediction model, constructed using baseline CESD and Physical Self-Maintenance Scale scores, average sleep duration, number of chronic diseases, age, and weight had a good predictive effect on the risk of depression in MetS patients at the 2-year follow-up (area under the curve = 0.775, 95% confidence interval: 0.750-0.800, P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 74%. The prevalence of depression in middle-aged and elderly patients with MetS has increased over time. The early identification of and intervention for depressive symptoms requires greater attention in MetS patients.

3D-Printed Magnesium Peroxide-Incorporated Scaffolds with Sustained Oxygen Release and Enhanced Photothermal Performance for Osteosarcoma Multimodal Treatments.

The hypoxic microenvironment in osteosarcoma inevitably compromises the antitumor effect and local bone defect repair, suggesting an urgent need for sustained oxygenation in the tumor. The currently reported oxygen-releasing materials have short oxygen-releasing cycles, harmful products, and limited antitumor effects simply by improving hypoxia. Therefore, the PCL/nHA/MgO2/PDA-integrated oxygen-releasing scaffold with a good photothermal therapy effect was innovatively constructed in this work to achieve tumor cell killing and bone regeneration functions simultaneously. The material distributes MgO2 powder evenly on the scaffold material through 3D printing technology and achieves the effect of continuous oxygen release (more than 3 weeks) through its slow reaction with water. The in vitro and in vivo results also indicate that the scaffold has good biocompatibility and sustained-release oxygen properties, which can effectively induce the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells, achieving excellent bone defect repair. At the same time, in vitro cell experiments and subcutaneous tumorigenesis experiments also confirmed that local oxygen supply can promote osteosarcoma cell apoptosis, inhibit proliferation, and reduce the expression of heat shock protein 60, thereby enhancing the photothermal therapy effect of polydopamine and efficiently eliminating osteosarcoma. Taken together, this integrated functional scaffold provides a unique and efficient approach for antitumor and tumor-based bone defect repair for osteosarcoma treatment.