Search Results (114)

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells have emerged as promising therapeutic agents in regenerative dermatology. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of Bio-Pulsed avian mesenchymal stem cell-derived sEVs (AMSC-sEVs), topically applied for hair follicle stimulation and skin rejuvenation. Two prospective, single-arm clinical trials were conducted: one involving 30 participants using a hair ampoule over 60 days, and the other involving 30 participants applying a facial essence for 28 days. Objective measurements demonstrated significant improvements in the anagen/telogen hair ratio, reduced shedding, increased collagen density, and reduced wrinkle depth and pigmentation. Small RNA sequencing and qPCR profiling confirmed that Bio-Pulsed AMSC-sEVs were enriched with regenerative microRNAs, such as miR-21-5p and miR-199a-5p, associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects. No adverse events were reported. These findings suggest that Bio-Pulsed AMSC-sEVs may offer a safe, non-invasive, and cell-free approach to enhance skin and hair regeneration in human subjects. Full article

Background: Cancer and fibrotic diseases represent major global health challenges, underscoring the need for safe, multifunctional natural therapies. Although natural products possess notable anticancer properties, their clinical translation is often hindered by non-selective cytotoxicity toward normal cells. Moreover, their therapeutic potential against chronic conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a natural hydrosol blend, The Greatest Love of Nature (TGLON), in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and mitigating IPF. Methods: TGLON, composed of 12 steam-distilled plant hydrosols, was chemically characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Its cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay against five human cancer cell lines (A-549, HepG2, MCF-7, MKN-45, and MOLT-4) and normal human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5). In vivo safety and therapeutic efficacy were evaluated in Sprague Dawley rats and a bleomycin-induced IPF mouse model, following protocols approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Results: TGLON maintained >90% viability in MRC-5 cells at an 80-fold dilution and significantly inhibited the proliferation of A-549 (41%), HepG2 (84%), MCF-7 (50%), MKN-45 (38%), and MOLT-4 (52%) cells. No signs of toxicity were observed in rats administered TGLON orally at 50% (v/v), 10 mL/kg. In mice, TGLON alleviated bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Conclusions: TGLON exhibited selective anticancer and anti-fibrotic activities under non-toxic conditions, supporting its potential as a bioactive agent for early-stage disease prevention and non-clinical health maintenance. Full article

Background: Previous studies have shown that ventilation strategies used in general anesthesia influence perioperative outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This study investigated the perioperative effects of non-intubated anesthesia (NIA) versus intubated anesthesia (IA) in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing VATS. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed patients who underwent elective VATS for early-stage NSCLC between January 2015 and December 2022. Patients were categorized into the NIA and IA groups based on the ventilation strategies during general anesthesia. Comprehensive outcome data, including intraoperative and postoperative variables, were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the odds ratios for conversion from NIA to IA. Results: A total of 372 patients who received NIA and 1560 who received IA for VATS were eligible for analysis. After propensity score matching, 336 patients were included in each group. In the matched analysis, patients who received NIA demonstrated favorable perioperative outcomes, including reduced opioid consumption, lower postoperative complication rates, and shorter hospital stays, compared to those who received IA. Additionally, patients with a lower baseline oxygen saturation and those who experienced intraoperative pulmonary and cardiovascular adverse events had a higher risk of conversion from NIA to IA. Conclusions: NIA during VATS in patients with early-stage NSCLC was associated with superior perioperative outcomes. Prospective studies are warranted to further evaluate the impact of NIA on perioperative outcomes in this patient population. Full article

Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) exhibits satisfactory mechanical properties and biocompatibility, with an elastic modulus closely resembling that of natural bone. This property reduces the stress-shielding effect associated with bone implants. However, the biological inertness of the PEKK surface remains a significant limitation for its application in bone tissue engineering. The objective of this study was to create a superhydrophilic 3D porous structure on the surface of PEKK to enhance biocompatibility, in terms of vascularization and bone remodeling. A combination of mechanical, chemical, and physical surface treatments was employed to modify the PEKK surface. Initially, mechanical sandblasting was used to create a rough surface to promote mechanical interlocking with bone tissue. Subsequently, chemical acid etching and physical low-temperature atmospheric plasma cleaning were applied to develop a superhydrophilic 3D porous surface. The modified surfaces were characterized for morphology, roughness, hydrophilicity, and functional groups. Cellular responses, including vascularization and bone remodeling, were evaluated to assess the potential for improved biocompatibility. The combination of acid etching and low-temperature atmospheric plasma cleaning, with or without prior sandblasting, successfully created a superhydrophilic 3D porous structure on the PEKK surface. This modified surface enhanced the tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. It also promoted the adhesion and mineralization of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and slightly reduced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase expression and F-actin ring size in mouse macrophage cells. This study introduces an innovative and effective surface modification strategy for PEKK surface, combining mechanical, chemical, and physical treatments to enhance biocompatibility. The modified PEKK surface promotes angiogenic and osteogenic responses while slightly inhibiting osteoclastic activity, making it a potential alternative for dental and orthopedic PEKK implant applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: The post-hepatectomy survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) faces challenges due to high recurrence rates, especially early recurrence (ER). We investigated DNA methylation in HCC and developed a methylation-based model for ER prediction (MER). Methods: We studied HCC patients with ER within a year post-hepatectomy, comparing them to those who remained recurrence-free (RF) for 5 years. In a testing set, we examined genome-wide methylation profiles to identify differences between ER and RF. Validation in an independent cohort confirmed candidate markers using real-time quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP). We constructed MER by incorporating identified gene methylation, clinical information, and serum protein marker, and evaluated its predictive performance using ROC analysis and Cox regression. Results: Distinct signatures of hypermethylation and hypomethylation were observed between ER and RF, as well as between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic groups. Significant aberrant methylation pathways, including FGFR signaling, the PI3K network, and the MAPK pathway, were observed in non-cirrhotic ER patients. Conversely, cirrhotic ER patients showed notable associations with Wnt/β-catenin signaling, cell adhesion, and migration mechanisms. Through qMSP analysis, we identified ER-associated genes, including BDNF, FOXL2, LMO7, NCAM1, NEIS3, PLA2G7, and LTB4R. MER demonstrated strong predictive ability for ER, with an AUC of 0.855, surpassing current indicators such as AFP, tumor size, and BCLC stage. Combining different predictors resulted in heightened AUC values. Importantly, the inclusion of MER yielded to the highest AUC of 0.952, underscoring the substantial contribution of MER to predictive accuracy. Conclusions: This study discovered the involvement of aberrant DNA methylation in HCC with early recurrence. The MER outperforms clinicopathological predictors and achieves robust prediction capabilities in identifying patients at risk of ER. Full article

Doxycycline (Dxy), a broad-spectrum antibiotic with anti-inflammatory effects, is commonly used in ophthalmology but is unstable as a topical eyedrop, degrading quickly into inactive forms and requiring frequent application. To address this, gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) loaded with Dxy (DNPs) were developed as a stable ophthalmic nanomedicine for enhancing corneal wound healing by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In this study, female Sprague–Dawley rats underwent lamellar keratectomy, and various Dxy formulations—oral, conventional eyedrops, and DNP-containing eyedrops—were evaluated for corneal wound repair. Clinical assessments included fluorescein staining, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry for MMP-2, MMP-9, and α-SMA. The DNP group (0.01% Dxy in DNPs, applied twice daily) demonstrated faster corneal thickness recovery and epithelial healing on days 7 and 14 compared to 0.1% Dxy eyedrop treatments applied twice or four times daily. DNP-treated eyes also showed reduced angiogenesis intensity and lower MMP-2 and MMP-9 immunoreactive scores, with enhanced stromal recovery and reduced neovascularization. These results highlight DNPs’ potential as a superior treatment for corneal wounds, providing effective healing with less frequent dosing and lower drug concentrations. This study supports DNPs’ potential for clinical application as a stable and efficient therapeutic agent in ophthalmology. Full article

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a debilitating, multi-etiological disease that is commonly seen in clinical practice and in the emergency department. In this review, we introduce the definition, symptoms, and causes of poisoning-related AKI; we also discuss its mechanisms, risk factors, and epidemiology, as well as elaborate on the relevant laboratory tests. Subsequently, we discuss the treatment strategies for toxin- and substance-related AKI caused by Glafenin, antimicrobial agents, lithium, contrast media, snake venom, herbicides, ethylene glycol, synthetic cannabinoids, cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines. Finally, for a comprehensive overview of poisoning-related AKI, we review the management, prevention, and outcomes of this condition. Full article

Conventional diagnostic methods for glaucoma primarily rely on non-dynamic fundus images and often analyze features such as the optic cup-to-disc ratio and abnormalities in specific retinal locations like the macula and fovea. However, hyperspectral imaging techniques focus on detecting alterations in oxygen saturation within retinal vessels, offering a potentially more comprehensive approach to diagnosis. This study explores the diagnostic potential of hyperspectral imaging for glaucoma by introducing a novel hyperspectral imaging conversion technique. Digital fundus images are transformed into hyperspectral representations, allowing for a detailed analysis of spectral variations. Spectral regions exhibiting differences are identified through spectral analysis, and images are reconstructed from these specific regions. The Vision Transformer (ViT) algorithm is then employed for classification and comparison across selected spectral bands. Fundus images are used to identify differences in lesions, utilizing a dataset of 1291 images. This study evaluates the classification performance of models using various spectral bands, revealing that the 610–780 nm band outperforms others with an accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and AUC-ROC all approximately at 0.9007, indicating its superior effectiveness for the task. The RGB model also shows strong performance, while other bands exhibit lower recall and overall metrics. This research highlights the disparities between machine learning algorithms and traditional clinical approaches in fundus image analysis. The findings suggest that hyperspectral imaging, coupled with advanced computational techniques such as the ViT algorithm, could significantly enhance glaucoma diagnosis. This understanding offers insights into the potential transformation of glaucoma diagnostics through the integration of hyperspectral imaging and innovative computational methodologies. Full article

The importance of bacteria detection lies in its role in enabling early intervention, disease prevention, environmental protection, and effective treatment strategies. Advancements in technology continually enhance the speed, accuracy, and sensitivity of detection methods, aiding in addressing these critical issues. This study first reports the fabrication of an inverter constructed using crosslinked-poly(4-vinylphenol) (C-PVP) as the dielectric layer and an organic complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (O-CMOS) based on pentacene and N,N′-ditridecylperylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI-C₁₃) as a diagnostic biosensor to rapidly detect bacterial concentration. Bacteria including Escherichia coli O157, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25922, and Enterococcus faecalis SH-1051210 were analysed on the inverters at an ultra-low operating voltage of 2 V. The high density of negative charge on bacteria surfaces strongly modulates the accumulated negative carriers within the inverter channel, resulting in a shift of the switching voltage. The inverter-based bacteria sensor exhibits a linear-like response to bacteria concentrations ranging from 10² to 10⁸ CFU/mL, with a sensitivity above 60%. Compared to other bacterial detectors, the advantage of using an inverter lies in its ability to directly read the switching voltage without requiring an external computing device. This facilitates rapid and accurate bacterial concentration measurement, offering significant ease of use and potential for mass production. Full article

Circulating exosomes derived from polymicrobial sepsis contain various non-coding RNAs and proteins. Isobaric tags for a relative or absolute quantitation proteomic analysis of the exosomal content revealed 70 dysregulated proteins in the circulating exosomes from septic mice. Next-generation sequencing was used to profile the long non-coding RNA expression in primary cultured macrophages treated with exosomes obtained from the blood of septic C57BL/6 mice, and it was discovered that the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)/miR-17-92a-1 cluster host gene (MIR17HG) pathways were activated in the macrophages. The inhibition of MIR17HG expression by RNA interference resulted in significantly decreased cell viability. RNA pull-down assays of MIR17HG revealed that ten protein targets bind to MIR17HG. Interaction networks of proteins pulled down by MIR17HG were constructed using GeneMANIA, and their functions were mainly involved in ribonucleoprotein granules, type I interferons, the regulation of organelle assembly, the biosynthesis of acetyl coenzyme A, as a signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) protein phosphorylation, and mRNA splicing. Furthermore, RNA interference inhibited MIR17HG expression, resulting in significantly decreased cell survival. In conclusion, this work discovered considerable MIR17HG overexpression in macrophages treated with circulating exosomes from sepsis-affected animals. This study’s findings assist us in comprehending the role of exosomes in modulating inflammatory responses and mediating pathogenic pathways in macrophages during sepsis. Full article

In this paper, mobile devices were used to estimate the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of wireless channels with three wireless access points (APs). Using the RSSI, the path loss exponent (PLE) was adapted to calculate the estimated distance among the test points (TPs) and the APs, through the root mean square error (RMSE). Moreover, in this paper, the proposed adaptive PLE (APLE) of the TPs was obtained by minimizing the positioning errors of the PLEs. The training samples of RSSI were measured by TPs for 6 days, and different surge processing methods were used to obtain APLE and to improve the positioning accuracy. The surge signals of RSSI were reduced by the cumulated distribution function (CDF), hybrid Kalman filter (KF), and threshold filtering methods, integrating training samples and APLE. The experimental results show that with the proposed APLE, the position accuracy can be improved by 50% compared to the free space model for six TPs. Finally, dynamic real-time indoor positioning was performed and measured for the performance evaluation of the proposed APLE models. The experimental results show that, the minimum dynamic real-time positioning error can be improved to 0.88 m in a straight-line case with the hybrid method. Moreover, the average positioning error of dynamic real-time indoor positioning can be reduced to 1.15 m using the four methods with the proposed APLE. Full article

Background and Objectives: Approximately 5–10% of all patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) harbor a BRAF^V600E mutation. These patients exhibit distinct metastatic patterns, poor prognosis, and heterogenous survival outcomes. The findings from the TRIBE study indicated that the administration of FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab as first-line treatment extended the median duration of overall survival (OS). In this study, we explored the effects of UGT1A1 polymorphism on the outcomes of irinotecan dose escalation versus FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab in patients with BRAF^V600E-mutant mCRC. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 25 patients who had received a diagnosis of BRAF^V600E-mutant mCRC between October 2015 and August 2022. All patients underwent UGT1A1 genotyping before receiving bevacizumab plus FOLFIRI. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary endpoints were OS and adverse events (AEs). The two treatment arms were compared in terms of 6-month PFS and 12-month OS. Results: Over a median follow-up duration of 15.0 (interquartile range, 10.0–30.5) months, no significant differences were noted between the treatment arms in severe AEs (SAEs), 6-month PFS, or 12-month OS (all p < 0.05). Regarding AEs, the FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab regimen was associated with a lower incidence of anorexia than was the FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab regimen (p = 0.042). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab with irinotecan dose escalation is an effective first-line treatment regimen for patients with BRAF^V600E-mutant mCRC. This regimen leads to acceptable clinical outcomes with manageable AEs. However, the effects on survival and safety outcomes could only be speculated, and further studies are needed because of the sample size, the follow-up for the OS evaluation, and the non-uniformity in all the variables considered in the two groups. Full article

Global precipitation is becoming increasingly intense due to the extreme climate. Therefore, creating new technology to manage water resources is crucial. To create a sustainable urban and ecological environment, a water level and water quality control system implementing artificial intelligence is presented in this research. The proposed smart monitoring system consists of four sensors (two different liquid level sensors, a turbidity and pH sensor, and a water oxygen sensor), a control module (an MCU, a motor, a pump, and a drain), and a power and communication system (a solar panel, a battery, and a wireless communication module). The system focuses on low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) devices along with low power consumption and high precision. This proposal collects rainfall from the preceding 10 years in the application region as well as the region’s meteorological bureau’s weekly weather report and uses artificial intelligence to compute the appropriate water level. More importantly, the adoption of dynamic adjustment systems can reserve and modify water resources in the application region more efficiently. Compared to existing technologies, the measurement approach utilized in this study not only achieves cost savings exceeding 60% but also enhances water level measurement accuracy by over 15% through the successful implementation of water level calibration decisions utilizing multiple distinct sensors. Of greater significance, the dynamic adjustment systems proposed in this research offer the potential for conserving water resources by more than 15% in an effective manner. As a result, the adoption of this technology may efficiently reserve and distribute water resources for smart cities as well as reduce substantial losses caused by anomalous water resources, such as floods, droughts, and ecological concerns. Full article

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is a progressive stage of prostate cancer that often spreads to the bone. Radium-223, a bone-targeting radiopharmaceutical, has been shown to improve the overall survival in mCRPC in patients without visceral metastasis. However, the impact of prior systemic therapy on the treatment outcome of mCRPC patients receiving radium-223 remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the optimal choice of systemic therapy before radium-223 in mCRPC patients. The study included 41 mCRPC patients who received radium-223 therapy, with 22 receiving prior enzalutamide and 19 receiving prior abiraterone. The results showed that the median overall survival was significantly longer in the enzalutamide group than in the abiraterone group (25.1 months vs. 14.8 months, p = 0.049). Moreover, the number of patients requiring blood transfusion was higher in the abiraterone group than in the enzalutamide group (9.1% vs. 26.3%, p = 0.16). The study also found that the number of doses of Radium-223 received was significantly associated with overall survival (≥5 vs. <5, HR 0.028, 95%CI 0.003–0.231, p = 0.001). Our study provides insights into the optimal treatment choice for mCRPC prior to radium-223, indicating that enzalutamide prior to radium-223 administration may have better outcomes compared to abiraterone in mCRPC patients without visceral metastasis. Full article