Search Results (2,798)

Skin photoaging is primarily induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation and is accompanied by extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, abnormal pigmentation, and loss of skin elasticity. Excessive melanin synthesis represents a key cause of pigmentary skin disorders. Natural polyphenols with dual skin-whitening and anti-photoaging activities have attracted increasing attention as cosmetic ingredients. This study examined the effects of polyphenol-enriched fraction from the brown alga Sargassum fusiforme (SFP). Zebrafish embryos and human melanoma A375 cells were used to evaluate the depigmenting efficacy of SFP, while UVA-induced human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) were employed to assess its anti-photoaging activity. SFP significantly decreased melanin levels in both models in a dose-dependent and reversible manner by suppressing tyrosinase activity. In terms of anti-photoaging effects, SFP markedly suppressed UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression and elevated key ECM components, including type I collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. In conclusion, SFP exerts dual beneficial effects by attenuating melanogenesis via tyrosinase inhibition and alleviating photoaging damage by suppressing MMPs to protect ECM. These results provide a scientific foundation for the use of SFP as a dual-purpose natural cosmetic ingredient with significant potential in the cosmetics sector. Full article

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae are an increasing challenge in pediatric practice due to the combined effects of biofilm formation, multidrug resistance (MDR), and limited therapeutic options for children. Biofilm development promotes bacterial persistence by impairing antibiotic penetration, enabling metabolic adaptation, promoting persister-cell formation, facilitating horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and inducing stress-induced mutagenesis, thereby reducing the effectiveness of conventional antimicrobial therapy. These mechanisms are further compounded by pediatric-specific challenges, including age-dependent pharmacokinetic variability, congenital urinary tract abnormalities, device-associated infections, and the limited availability of validated diagnostic tools for biofilm-associated infections. This narrative review integrates current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying biofilm-mediated antimicrobial resistance with the unique diagnostic, pharmacological, and therapeutic challenges encountered in pediatric patients with K. pneumoniae UTIs. Emerging therapeutic strategies, such as optimized antibiotic combination therapy, bacteriophages, biofilm matrix-degrading enzymes, quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSIs), antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and microbiome-directed approaches are critically evaluated with particular emphasis on their potential applicability in children. Although several anti-biofilm strategies have demonstrated encouraging results in experimental models, robust pediatric clinical evidence remains scarce. Current international guidelines continue to rely primarily on planktonic antimicrobial susceptibility testing without addressing biofilm-specific therapeutic considerations. In the absence of validated biofilm diagnostics, catheter stewardship and dosing optimization remain the most defensible clinical interventions available today. Broader translation of anti-biofilm strategies into pediatric practice will require dedicated pharmacokinetic studies, standardized biofilm diagnostics, and prospective clinical trials. Full article

Guidelines in early breast cancer place adjuvant chemotherapy before radiotherapy, permit radiotherapy concurrently with endocrine and anti-HER2 agents, but discourage it before or during cytotoxic chemotherapy. This narrative review asks whether that convention remains defensible. Its historical basis, a single randomised trial whose distant-metastasis signal did not survive long-term follow-up, is weaker than is commonly assumed. Its contemporary basis is stronger and is stated here explicitly: an asymmetry of absolute benefit, in which a two-point gain in locoregional control yields roughly half a percentage point of mortality benefit once the EBCTCG four-to-one relationship is applied, whereas degradation of systemic therapy reaches mortality undiscounted. We specify three conditions under which a sequencing change could be justified and note that the absolute loss from a short chemotherapy delay cannot presently be quantified from randomised data. Meanwhile, chemotherapy has lengthened while radiotherapy has contracted to a one- to three-week whole-breast schedule, potentially extended when a sequential tumour-bed boost is required. The retrospective evidence is limited: one cohort offers a hypothesis-generating locoregional signal qualified by an unexpectedly high control-arm event rate and an unplanned subgroup analysis, while another supports only short-term feasibility and tolerability; neither demonstrates benefit in distant control or survival. We further argue that the population in which the question remains clinically live is narrow and probably contracting, since genomic de-escalation withdraws from chemotherapy the phenotypes with the most favourable arithmetic. Adjuvant sequencing is best regarded as an open, testable question within a defined population rather than a general case for change. Full article

Conventional microsphere drug carriers for ulcerative colitis (UC) face challenges such as limited residence time, variable drug release, and an increased risk of systemic exposure and side effects. In this study, pH-sensitive, core–shell hydrogel microcapsules were designed and fabricated using a BUCHI B-390 microsphere preparation device via electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Olsalazine sodium was encapsulated in the microcapsules, allowing for pH-responsive drug release in colon tissue for UC treatment in mice. XRD studies demonstrated the amorphous state of the drug in the formulation. The preparation of SCO microcapsules was optimized based on the drug encapsulation efficiency and the drug loading capacity, with the S₂C₁O microcapsule having the highest drug encapsulation efficiency (59.2%) and drug loading capacity (21.3%), and the production yield was approximately 62.5%. The degradation experiment results indicated that the alginate/CMCS hydrogel shell has anti-resistant and colon-targeted properties, with minimal drug leakage under acidic conditions (0.1% release at 2 h, pH 1.2) and rapid, controlled release at colonic pH (7.4) (cumulative release of 68.7% at 12 h), protecting the drug from gastric degradation. An in vivo experiment suggested that treatment with these microcapsules in UC mice significantly reduced inflammatory markers (NF-κB p65 was reduced by 18.8% relative to the free drug group) and histological damage in UC models relative to free drug administration. The improved therapeutic efficacy is linked to precise localization in inflamed tissue, reducing systemic exposure and off-target effects. Overall, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that this microcapsule system provides a promising alternative to existing UC drug delivery systems. Full article

Excessive ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation disrupts extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis in skin photoaging by impairing the balance between synthesis and degradation, yet whether silk fibroin peptide (SF), a small bioactive peptide from Bombyx mori, can restore this balance through mechanotransduction pathways remains unknown. Herein, we demonstrate that SF dose-dependently rescues human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) from UVA-induced oxidative stress, senescence, and ECM disintegration. Notably, SF not only suppresses reactive oxygen species (ROS) and restores activities of antioxidant enzymes, but is also associated with the recovery of the ITGB1-FAK mechanotransduction axis, as evidenced by restored fibronectin levels and increased focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation, whereas integrin β1 (ITGB1) expression itself was not significantly altered. This mechanosensory recovery is accompanied by restoration of downstream transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling, upregulation of COL1A1, COL3A1 and ELN transcription, and simultaneous suppression of MMP1, MMP3 and MMP9. Unlike conventional antioxidants or exogenous collagen supplements that merely counteract oxidative damage or provide structural substitutes, SF may facilitate recovery of the disrupted cell–matrix interface potentially through modulation of integrin-mediated mechanochemical signal conversion, which may contribute to ECM homeostasis restoration. Collectively, SF promotes mechanotransduction, offering a potential paradigm for anti-aging strategies that target ECM homeostasis through integrin signaling. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study investigated the effects of a single dose of psilocybin-containing Psilocybe cubensis extract on gut microbiota composition, microbial metabolism, and intestinal immune-related responses. Methods: A single dose of P. cubensis extract (35 mg/L) was subjected to colonic fermentation using the SHIME^® model inoculated with fecal microbiota from individuals with severe anxiety. Psilocybin and psilocin concentrations, microbial metabolites, gut microbiota composition, intestinal barrier integrity, and cytokine responses were evaluated. Results: During colonic fermentation, the concentrations of both psilocybin and psilocin decreased significantly, suggesting their metabolism or degradation within the gut microbial environment. Treatment reduced ammonia production by 19–25% and decreased gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels. By contrast, the concentrations of the short-chain fatty acids acetic, propionic, and butyric increased by 2.26-, 2.69-, and 2.21-fold, respectively, after 20 h of fermentation. Microbial profiling revealed marked increases in the relative abundances of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus after 20 h and 15 days, together with a slight reduction in α-diversity. Fermentation supernatants also altered cytokine profiles and influenced intestinal barrier-related responses, although these effects reflected a complex immunomodulatory pattern rather than a uniform anti-inflammatory response. Conclusions: These findings indicate that psilocybin-containing P. cubensis extract can modulate gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity under in vitro colonic conditions. The observed changes in microbial metabolites, bacterial taxa, and host-related responses support the hypothesis that gut-microbiota-mediated mechanisms may contribute to the broader biological effects of psilocybin. However, these in vitro findings do not establish clinical benefits for intestinal or mental health, and further validation in animal models and well-controlled clinical studies is required. Full article

Osteoarthritis is an irreversible degenerative joint disease driven by sustained NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses, and conventional intra-articular hyaluronic acid or small-molecule NF-κB inhibitors cannot achieve targeted on-demand treatment due to poor solubility, rapid clearance and lack of lesion microenvironment responsiveness. OA with inherent anti-chondrolytic activity can self-assemble into nanocarriers in water, yet it lacks stimuli-responsive capacity. Herein, we rationally designed and synthesized an OA-Der by covalently conjugating o-phenylenediamine fragments to the OA backbone. ¹H NMR and HRESI-MS spectra fully verified the accurate chemical structures of intermediate and final OA-Der. Blank OA-Der micelles exhibited uniform spherical core–shell nanostructures (50–150 nm) under TEM and AFM, while pathological high NO triggered complete disassembly of micellar assemblies. We further co-assembled OA-Der with NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7082 to construct NO-responsive BAY@OA-Der supramolecular micelles. In vitro experiments using human C28/I2 chondrocytes with LPS-induced inflammatory injury demonstrated that BAY@OA-Der significantly improved cell viability and reduced apoptotic chondrocyte proportion. At mRNA and protein levels, the supramolecular micelle formulation remarkably suppressed NF-κB p65 phosphorylation, downregulated cartilage-degrading ADAMTS5, and upregulated ACAN compared with free BAY or blank OA-Der. Collectively, this natural bioactive self-assembled NO-responsive delivery platform achieves synergistic anti-inflammatory and matrix-protective effects by precisely releasing drugs at NO-overexpressed osteoarthritis inflammatory sites and offers an in vitro design strategy for osteoarthritis responsive delivery systems. Full article

Background: Astilbin is a bioactive flavonoid with documented anti-inflammatory properties; however, its sustained interactions with the gut microbiota remain poorly understood. Fecal samples from three healthy donors were pooled and fermented with astilbin in an in vitro human colonic model over 7 days. This exploratory study aimed to characterize the temporal ecological shifts associated with prolonged astilbin exposure. Methods: Time-resolved 16S rRNA gene sequencing, PICRUSt2 functional prediction, BugBase phenotypic inference, and pseudo-targeted metabolomics were integrated to track microbial-metabolic dynamics. Results: Astilbin exposure was associated with a highly coordinated, three-stage microbial succession. Day 3 (D3) emerged as a putative inflection point, where the enrichment of pioneer degraders (Flavonifractor, Bacteroides) was temporally correlated with the appearance of polyphenol cleavage intermediates. This transition featured an early decrease in markers of proteolytic fermentation alongside a transient in vitro lipid-stress response. By D7, the community shifted toward a stable configuration enriched in butyrogenic taxa (Roseburia, Subdoligranulum, Megamonas), with progressive depletion of potentially opportunistic pathogens (Escherichia-Shigella). Multi-omics integration suggested that these structural successions were strongly associated with marked metabolic shifts. Inflammatory lipid markers (e.g., leukotriene B4) showed a characteristic “D3-burst/D7-clearance” pattern, whereas potentially barrier-protective metabolites, particularly 3-indolepropionic acid (3-IPA, log₂FC = 2.00) and urolithin B (log₂FC = 1.18), accumulated substantially. Conclusions: This exploratory study provides valuable high-resolution insights into astilbin’s potential as a dynamic ecological modulator. It outlines a temporal framework illustrating how the gut microbiota may shift from proteolytic fermentation toward 3-IPA-associated homeostasis. Although limited by a pooled fecal model and the absence of a vehicle control, these hypothesis-generating findings offer a solid foundation for future in vivo studies and mechanistic validations across diverse human cohorts. Full article

Background: Aging of the population increases the incidence of osteoporosis with atlantoaxial instability. Poor bone microarchitecture causes high rates of screw loosening, implant failure, and revision surgery, which remains a critical challenge for upper cervical surgery. Traditional atlantoaxial fixation is less effective in those with low bone mineral density, while thoracolumbar screw augmentation techniques are limited by the complex craniocervical anatomy. Methods: This review systematically summarizes the mainstream screw optimization strategies from a bioengineering perspective, including low-modulus alloy substrate modification, bionic threaded structural design, bioactive surface coatings, expandable screws, and cement-augmented cannulated screws. We compare the biomechanical anchorage performance, osteogenic capacity, and clinical complications of each technique. Results: Low-elastic-modulus titanium alloys reduce stress shielding; gradient multi-thread, bicortical, and CBT trajectory designs significantly improve anti-pullout stability; HA, tantalum, and composite extracellular matrix coatings promote osseointegration; and expandable screws and fenestrated cement screws can achieve reliable reinforcement. However, a narrow atlantoaxial space restricts the application of cement augmentation and expandable implants, and long-term, large-sample clinical evidence for the efficacy of novel screws is insufficient. Conclusion: Patient-specific porous degradable screws, which combine 3D-printed biomaterials, gradient alloys, and sustained-release bioactive coatings, represent a promising future research direction. This review provides theoretical support for the development of atlantoaxial internal fixation devices targeting elderly osteoporotic patients. Full article

Phenolic panels are widely used in applications requiring stringent fire resistance due to their advantages of flame retardancy, heat resistance, low smoke emission, and low toxicity. However, traditional products are prone to powdering and slagging under high temperatures or open flames, leading to structural failure and limiting their use in high-end applications. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive research summaries and recommendations addressing the critical failure mode known as “carbonization.” This is a review of research progress in this field: first, it analyzes the thermal degradation mechanisms underlying powdering; then, it summarizes key strategies for enhancing anti-powdering performance from two broad categories: chemical strategies (resin modification and flame retardant systems) and physical strategies (interface design and process optimization); next, it outlines relevant characterization methods; finally, it discusses future development trends, aiming to provide a concise reference for related research and development efforts. Full article

Jacket foundations, with their excellent adaptability and economic efficiency, have been increasingly widely applied in medium-deep water areas. However, the scouring and erosion effects in the marine environment, coupled with complex wind-wave loads, have severely restricted the long-term safe service of jacket foundations. In this study, a structure-pile-soil coupled dynamic response model considering the effects of scour depth and changes in wind and wave directions for the jacket-type offshore wind turbine is developed by integrating the wind and wave load generation capability of OpenFAST and the nonlinear pile-soil interaction analysis function of OpenSees. By quantitatively analyzing key response parameters such as tower top displacement, nacelle acceleration, and internal forces of the foundation tower and pile shaft, this study reveals the significant influence of soil stiffness degradation induced by scour on structural dynamic characteristics, and verifies the effective suppression mechanism of the feathering shutdown strategy on structural responses under extreme loads. The research results indicate that scour has a negligible impact on the fundamental frequency of the jacket-type offshore wind turbine structure, while it significantly reduces the high-order frequencies and leads to a substantial increase in pile shaft internal forces; the effect of wind-wave angle intensifies the spatially coupled vibration response of the structure. The study provides important theoretical and technical support for the anti-scour design, multi-directional load assessment, and formulation of safety control strategies for jacket foundations in complex deep-sea environments. Full article

Developing efficient and eco-friendly catalysts for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to degrade persistent antibiotics in water remains a major challenge. Herein, acid-base etched montmorillonite is employed to activate PMS for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation under neutral to weakly alkaline conditions. Compared with pristine montmorillonite and acid-etched montmorillonite (A-Mon), base-etched montmorillonite (B-Mon) achieves the highest removal efficiency, eliminating 92% of SMX within 120 min. The degradation rate constant of the B-Mon/PMS system is 0.19 min⁻¹, which is 2.7 times that of the pristine montmorillonite/PMS system. Reactive species analysis reveals that the B-Mon/PMS system increases the singlet oxygen (¹O₂) concentration by 10.3-fold compared to PMS alone. Electron spin resonance (ESR), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and quenching experiments demonstrate that medium-weak Lewis basic sites on the B-Mon surface play a pivotal role in PMS activation and SMX degradation. Moreover, these medium-weak Lewis basic sites facilitate ¹O₂ generation via the self-decomposition mechanism of PMS. Stability tests confirm that B-Mon exhibits excellent cycling stability and anti-interference capability. This work provides a deeper mechanistic insight into the development of environmentally friendly aluminum-based catalysts for practical remediation of complex water. Full article

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by inflammation and cartilage destruction, partly mediated by interleukin (IL)-1β-induced nucle factor (NF)-κB activation. Ectoine (Ec) is a natural osmoprotectant with anti-inflammatory properties; however, its effects on NF-κB signaling in OA remain unclear. This study investigated whether ectoine attenuates IL-1β-induced inflammation in chondrocytes by suppressing NF-κB activation and mitigates OA progression in a rat model. Methods: Primary rat chondrocytes were pretreated with ectoine (0–3.0% w/v) and then stimulated with IL-1β (10 ng/mL). Cell viability was evaluated. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of inflammatory markers (inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], cyclooxygenase [COX]-2, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, and matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-3/13), and NF-κB pathway activity was assessed through p65 phosphorylation and inhibitor of NF-κB alpha (IκBα) degradation. In vivo, OA was induced using the modified Hulth method, followed by intra-articular injection of ectoine alone or combined with hyaluronic acid (HA). Cartilage integrity was assessed using Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scoring at 8 weeks. Results: Ectoine at 1.5% significantly inhibited IL-1β-induced NF-κB activation, reducing p65 phosphorylation by 59% and IκBα degradation by 41%. This inhibition decreased proinflammatory mediators (iNOS 43%, COX-2 35%, TNF-α 41%) and matrix-degrading enzymes (MMP-3 23%, MMP-13 31%), while increasing type II collagen by 84%. In vivo, ectoine reduced cartilage erosion (OARSI score: 7.0 vs. 10.2 in OA group). The Ec–HA combination improved cartilage retention by 43% compared with ectoine alone. Conclusions: These preclinical findings suggest that ectoine was associated with reduced NF-κB activation markers and attenuated OA-like changes in rat models. The enhanced effect observed with HA supports further investigation of combined therapeutic strategies for OA management. Full article

To improve the feeding value of forage mulberry as a non-grain feed, solid-state mixed fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Pichia membranifaciens (1:1) was optimized via single-factor tests and an L₉ (3⁴) orthogonal design. The optimal conditions (7 days, 28 °C, 30% inoculum, 1:1.2 solid-to-water ratio) reduced crude fiber (CF) content by 44.60%, and increased crude protein (CP), crude fat (EE), and total amino acids (TAA) by 35.77%, 68.85%, and 40.85%, respectively (p < 0.01). Mechanistically, the organic acids produced by L. plantarum lowered the fermentation pH to 4.0–4.5. This pH change was likely associated with the observed 50.84% increase in yeast cellulase activity. Yeast metabolites appeared to promote the proliferation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This implies a potential synergistic interaction between the two strains under acidic conditions. The in vitro ruminal dry matter digestibility (DMD) and CP digestibility reached 72.30% and 78.60%, respectively. These values were significantly higher than those of the unfermented control (p < 0.01). Therefore, this pH-enzyme synergistic fermentation strategy can effectively degrade anti-nutritional components. It also improves the feeding nutritional quality of mulberry forage for animal production. Full article

With the advancement of net-zero targets and the large-scale deployment of distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and electric vehicles (EVs) in residential sectors, home energy management systems (HEMS) have become central to improving end-use energy efficiency. However, reliance on synthetic data, simplified and homogeneous load modeling, and lack of coordination between dynamic pricing mechanisms and multi-device scheduling, make them practically inefficient. Furthermore, most studies address only unilateral user-side optimization while neglecting the distribution network operational constraints and omitting rigorous anti-arbitrage mechanisms to preclude speculative user behavior. To address these gaps, this paper proposes a data-driven coordinated scheduling framework for residential PV-BESS and multi-device systems formulated within bi-level game-theoretic architecture. The upper-level employs particle swarm optimization (PSO) to determine dynamic additional price signals for peak shaving and distribution network security, with explicit constraints on distribution transformer capacity, node voltage deviation, and load ramp rate adapted to three-user scenarios. The lower-level formulates a mixed-integer quadratic programming (MIQP) model to achieve multi-objective optimization of user electricity cost, thermal comfort, device usage preference, battery cycle degradation, and end-of-cycle energy balance. Simulation results for representative summer and winter days indicate that the proposed framework reduces user-side electricity cost by around 30%, elevates PV self-consumption rate to over 70%, and achieves about 20% peak load reduction with around 15% peak-valley difference narrowing on the grid side. All distribution network security constraints and anti-arbitrage rules are strictly satisfied. The framework effectively reconciles the objectives of both residential users and the distribution grid. Full article