Search Results (34)

Liver fibrosis, caused by chronic hepatic injury, is a major threat to human health worldwide, as there are no specific drugs available for its treatment. Natural compounds, such as berberine (BBR) and quercetin (QR), have shown the ability to regulate energy metabolism and protect the liver without significant adverse effects. Additionally, combination therapy (the cocktail therapy approach), using multiple drugs, has shown promise in treating complicated conditions, including liver injury. In this study, we prepared a salt formulation of BBR and QR (BQS) to enhance their combined effect on liver fibrosis. The formation of BQS was confirmed using various analytical techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrated that the dissolution efficiency and bioavailability of QR significantly increased in the BQS form, aligning with that of BBR, compared to the physically mixed (BQP) form. Moreover, BQS exhibited a superior inhibitory effect on fibrosis compared to BQP in the human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 by modulating lipid accumulation, inflammation, apoptosis, and the cell cycle. Furthermore, in a mouse model of hepatic fibrosis induced by methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diets, BQS demonstrated enhanced anti-fibrotic activities compared to BQP. These findings suggest that BQS holds promise as a potential alternative treatment for liver fibrosis. Importantly, this study provides novel insights into achieving a cocktail effect through the salt formation of two or more drugs. The results highlight the potential of salt formulations in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy and consistent biological processes of drug combinations. Full article

With the advances in edge computing and artificial intelligence, the demands of multifunctional electronics with large area efficiency are increased. As the scaling down of the conventional transistor is restricted by physical limits, reconfigurable electronics are developed to promote the functional integration of integrated circuits. Reconfigurable electronics refer to electronics with switchable functionalities, including reconfigurable logic operation functionalities and reconfigurable responses to electrical or optical signals. Reconfigurable electronics integrate data-processing capabilities with reduced size. Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor materials exhibit excellent modulation capabilities through electrical and optical signals, and structural designs of 2D material devices achieve versatile and switchable functionalities. 2D semiconductors have great potential to develop advanced reconfigurable electronics. Recent years witnessed the rapid development of 2D material devices for reconfigurable electronics. This work focuses on the working principles of 2D material devices used for reconfigurable electronics, discusses applications of 2D-material-based reconfigurable electronics in logic operation and artificial intelligence, and further provides a future outlook for the development of reconfigurable electronics based on 2D material devices. Full article

With the development of artificial intelligence and edge computing, the demand for high-performance non-volatile memory devices has been rapidly increasing. Two-dimensional materials have ultrathin bodies, ultra-flattened surfaces, and superior physics properties, and are promising to be used in non-volatile memory devices. Various kinds of advanced non-volatile memory devices with semiconductor, insulator, ferroelectric, magnetic, and phase-change two-dimensional materials have been investigated in recent years to promote performance enhancement and functionality extension. In this article, the recent advances in two-dimensional material-based non-volatile memory devices are reviewed. Performance criteria and strategies of high-performance two-dimensional non-volatile memory devices are analyzed. Two-dimensional non-volatile memory array structures and their applications in compute-in-memory architectures are discussed. Finally, a summary of this article and future outlooks of two-dimensional non-volatile memory device developments are given. Full article

Depression is currently a major contributor to unnatural deaths and the healthcare burden globally, and a patient’s battle with depression is often a long one. Because the causes, symptoms, and effects of medications are complex and highly individualized, early identification and personalized treatment of depression are key to improving treatment outcomes. The development of wearable electronics, machine learning, and other technologies in recent years has provided more possibilities for the realization of this goal. Conducting regular monitoring through biosensing technology allows for a more comprehensive and objective analysis than previous self-evaluations. This includes identifying depressive episodes, distinguishing somatization symptoms, analyzing etiology, and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment programs. This review summarizes recent research on biosensing technologies for depression. Special attention is given to technologies that can be portable or wearable, with the potential to enable patient use outside of the hospital, for long periods. Full article

To further develop Liupao tea products and enhance their flavor, this study investigated the effects of different fermentation methods on the aroma quality of Liupao tea. The aroma quality of Liupao tea was comprehensively analyzed using HS-SPME in combination with GC-Q-TOF-MS, electronic nose, and sensory evaluations. Electronic nose detection showed that the aroma fingerprints of Liupao tea samples with different fermentation methods were different. Sulfides, alcohols, ketones, and methyls were the main aroma categories affecting the aroma of the four groups of Liupao tea samples. GC-Q-TOF-MS analysis revealed significant differences in the composition of aroma components among the four fermentation methods of Liupao tea (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the total amount of aroma compounds was found to be highest in the group subjected to hot fermentation combined with the inoculation of Monascus purpureus (DMl group). Based on the OPLS-DA model, candidate differential aroma components with VIP > 1 were identified, and characteristic aroma compounds were selected based on OAV > 10. The key characteristic aroma compounds shared by the four groups of samples were 1,2,3-Trimethoxybenzene with a stale aroma and nonanal with floral and fruity aromas. The best sensory evaluation results were obtained for the DMl group, and its key characteristic aroma compounds mainly included 1,2,3-Trimethoxybenzene, nonanal, and cedrol. The results of this study can guide the development of Liupao tea products and process optimization. Full article

Background and Aims Coinfection of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) with hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes the most severe form of viral hepatitis, and the global prevalence of HDV infection is underestimated. Although serological testing of anti-HDV antibodies is widely used in the diagnosis of HDV, its diagnostic efficacy remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of HDV serological tests, the results of which may assist in the diagnosis of HDV. Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were searched from the beginning to 31 May 2023. Study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool. STATA SE was used for the meta-analysis of the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio. Results Among a total of 1376 initially identified studies, only 12 articles met the final inclusion criteria. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 1.00 (95% CI: 0.00–1.00) and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.50–0.78) for HDV total antibodies, 0.96 (95% CI: 0.83–0.99) and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.82–1.00) for anti-HDV IgM and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.86–0.98) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.67–1.00) for anti-HDV IgG. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for HDV serological tests were 0.99 (95% CI: 0.96–1.00) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.79–0.96). Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that serological tests have high diagnostic performance in detecting antibodies against HDV, especially in HDV IgM and IgG. However, this conclusion is based on studies of a limited number and quality, and the development of new diagnostic tools with higher precision and reliability is still necessary. Full article

Green biodegradable bio-based films have gained interest in replacing petroleum-derived plastic packaging materials as a new preservation strategy for fruits and vegetables to alleviate environmental pressures. In this study, we aimed to develop novel biodegradable composite films based on microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA). Our results demonstrated that the addition of 3% MCC to PLA could improve its tensile strength. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that MCC dispersed well in PLA at lower content while agglomerated at higher content. It was discovered that all four types of MCC/PLA biocomposite films could retard the color change of Lanzhou lily bulbs, accompanied by maintaining favorable total soluble solid, total sugar, total polyphenols, and flavonoid content, inhibiting the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and the content of malondialdehyde during storage. Moreover, the preservation effect of MCC/PLA biocomposite films on Lanzhou lily bulbs was evaluated using a membership function, and the SSS MCC/PLA biocomposite film demonstrated a favorable fresh-keeping effect. In conclusion, four types of MCC from different biomass materials added to PLA-based products can be beneficial in improving the attractive properties of biocomposite films. These films are expected to replace petroleum-derived plastics as a new packaging material for preserving Lanzhou lily bulbs. Full article

Prefabricated pavement, with its advantages of a high paving speed, low material consumption, low carbon emissions, high strength, and easy construction, has gradually been used to address issues associated with traditional cement pavement construction. However, even under the long-term combined effects of vehicle loads and environmental loads, the joints between pavement slabs remain prone to various problems. This paper proposes the use of steel-fiber-reinforced self-stressing concrete (SFRSSC) with a certain level of self-stress for joint pouring and connection to control the development of cracks in the joints and achieve seamless integration between the slabs. Additionally, the self-stress generated by SFRSSC is utilized to enhance the continuity of the prestressed design in precast slabs, thereby extending their service life. Through laboratory experiments and field tests, the self-stress magnitude, mechanical strength, and long-term applicability of SFRSSC were studied. The results indicate that SFRSSC can achieve self-stress levels of over 7 MPa under standard curing conditions, but the values decrease significantly when removed from the standard curing environment. SFRSSC exhibits a compressive strength of over 60 MPa and a flexural strength of over 9 MPa, both of which exceed the requirements of the relevant standards, making it suitable for use as a pavement joint material. During long-term monitoring in the field, SFRSSC demonstrates favorable expansion effects and high stability. The longitudinal expansion remains stable at 100 με, while the transverse expansion exhibits minor shrinkage, maintained at around 25.2 με. Therefore, the application of SFRSSC in assembly-type prestressed pavement joints shows high applicability. Full article

This paper is a comprehensive review of the techniques for the detection of pancreatic enzymes, which are common biochemical indicators of pancreatitis, including amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, and lipase. Pancreatitis is a disease with self-digestion due to the abnormal activation of digestive enzymes in the pancreas. Hospitalization is often required due to the lack of convenient therapeutic agents. The main recent results are reported in this review, especially the techniques that enable portability and Point-of-Care testing (POCT). This is because timely diagnosis at the early stage and avoiding recurrence after recovery are the keys to treatment. It is also important to reduce the rate of misdiagnosis and to avoid overtreatment. Various detection methods are discussed, with particular attention given to the implementation of chemical sensing and probe design. The new sensing technology for digestive enzymes makes it possible to perform early screening for pancreatitis in remote areas or in one’s own home. Full article

Glaesserella parasuis (G. parasuis) can cause peritonitis in piglets. However, the pathogenesis of peritonitis remains unclear. Baicalin has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the PANX-1/P2X7 axis and the P2Y6 signaling pathway in peritonitis induced by G. parasuis and the effect of baicain on the PANX-1/P2X7 axis and P2Y6 pathway activation triggered by G. parasuis. A G. parasuis serovar 5 isolate SH0165 strain was obtained from the lungs of commercially produced pigs which had the typical symptoms of Glässer’s disease, namely arthritis, fibrinous polyserositis, hemorrhagic pneumonia, and meningitis. Then, 35 piglets were randomly divided into five groups, each group containing seven piglets. The groups consisted of a negative control group, an infection group, a 25 mg/kg baicalin group, a 50 mg/kg baicalin group, and a 100 mg/kg baicalin group. The results showed that G. parasuis could promote PANX-1/P2X7 axis and P2Y6 activation; induce NLRP3/caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 expression; trigger PLC/PKC and MLCK/MLC signaling activation; attenuate the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1, E-cadherin, Occludins, and claudin 1; and stimulate CD14, CD24, CD36, CD47, and CD91 expression in the peritoneum as measured via Western blot (p < 0.01; PLC, p < 0.05). Baicalin could significantly inhibit PANX-1/P2X7 axis, P2Y6, and NLRP3/caspase-1 activation; reduce IL-1β and IL-18 expression; attenuate PLC/PKC and MLCK/MLC activation; promote ZO-1, E-cadherin, occludins, and claudin 1 expression; and reduce CD14, CD24, CD36, CD47, and CD91 expression in the peritoneum induced by G. parasuis as measured via Western blot. Our results deepen the understanding of the mechanism of peritonitis triggered by G. parasuis and provide some novel potential methods of controlling G. parasuis infection. Full article

With its excellent electrical and mechanical properties and the rapid development of its device fabrication technologies, laser-induced graphene (LIG) has played an important role in the field of wearable technologies since its discovery in 2014. In recent years, with the relentless development of wearable devices, newly developed LIG-based wearable devices also possess multifunction and intelligence characteristics. This review is aimed toward two of the most important fields related to the development of LIG, namely, health care and human–computer interaction (HCI). We introduce multifunctional and intelligent LIG-based wearable systems for health care and HCI developed over the recent years, sorting out their design ideas, preparation process, performance, and application. Furthermore, we discuss the future development direction of LIG-based wearable systems for health care and HCI. Full article

Sleep is an essential physiological activity, accounting for about one-third of our lives, which significantly impacts our memory, mood, health, and children’s growth. Especially after the COVID-19 epidemic, sleep health issues have attracted more attention. In recent years, with the development of wearable electronic devices, there have been more and more studies, products, or solutions related to sleep monitoring. Many mature technologies, such as polysomnography, have been applied to clinical practice. However, it is urgent to develop wearable or non-contacting electronic devices suitable for household continuous sleep monitoring. This paper first introduces the basic knowledge of sleep and the significance of sleep monitoring. Then, according to the types of physiological signals monitored, this paper describes the research progress of bioelectrical signals, biomechanical signals, and biochemical signals used for sleep monitoring. However, it is not ideal to monitor the sleep quality for the whole night based on only one signal. Therefore, this paper reviews the research on multi-signal monitoring and introduces systematic sleep monitoring schemes. Finally, a conclusion and discussion of sleep monitoring are presented to propose potential future directions and prospects for sleep monitoring. Full article

Sensors enable the detection of physiological indicators and pathological markers to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term monitoring of diseases, in addition to playing an essential role in the observation and evaluation of physiological activities. The development of modern medical activities cannot be separated from the precise detection, reliable acquisition, and intelligent analysis of human body information. Therefore, sensors have become the core of new-generation health technologies along with the Internet of Things (IoTs) and artificial intelligence (AI). Previous research on the sensing of human information has conferred many superior properties on sensors, of which biocompatibility is one of the most important. Recently, biocompatible biosensors have developed rapidly to provide the possibility for the long-term and in-situ monitoring of physiological information. In this review, we summarize the ideal features and engineering realization strategies of three different types of biocompatible biosensors, including wearable, ingestible, and implantable sensors from the level of sensor designing and application. Additionally, the detection targets of the biosensors are further divided into vital life parameters (e.g., body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate), biochemical indicators, as well as physical and physiological parameters based on the clinical needs. In this review, starting from the emerging concept of next-generation diagnostics and healthcare technologies, we discuss how biocompatible sensors revolutionize the state-of-art healthcare system unprecedentedly, as well as the challenges and opportunities faced in the future development of biocompatible health sensors. Full article

Continuous blood pressure (BP) monitoring is of great significance for the real-time monitoring and early prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Recently, wearable BP monitoring devices have made great progress in the development of daily BP monitoring because they adapt to long-term and high-comfort wear requirements. However, the research and development of wearable continuous BP monitoring devices still face great challenges such as obvious motion noise and slow dynamic response speeds. The pulse wave transit time method which is combined with photoplethysmography (PPG) waves and electrocardiogram (ECG) waves for continuous BP monitoring has received wide attention due to its advantages in terms of excellent dynamic response characteristics and high accuracy. Here, we review the recent state-of-art wearable continuous BP monitoring devices and related technology based on the pulse wave transit time; their measuring principles, design methods, preparation processes, and properties are analyzed in detail. In addition, the potential development directions and challenges of wearable continuous BP monitoring devices based on the pulse wave transit time method are discussed. Full article

Human–Machine Interface (HMI) plays a key role in the interaction between people and machines, which allows people to easily and intuitively control the machine and immersively experience the virtual world of the meta-universe by virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) technology. Currently, wearable skin-integrated tactile and force sensors are widely used in immersive human–machine interactions due to their ultra-thin, ultra-soft, conformal characteristics. In this paper, the recent progress of tactile and force sensors used in HMI are reviewed, including piezoresistive, capacitive, piezoelectric, triboelectric, and other sensors. Then, this paper discusses how to improve the performance of tactile and force sensors for HMI. Next, this paper summarizes the HMI for dexterous robotic manipulation and VR/AR applications. Finally, this paper summarizes and proposes the future development trend of HMI. Full article