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Developing multi‐resonance thermally activated fluorescence (MR‐TADF) emitters with both fast reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) rate and narrow emission bandwidth still remains a formidable challenge. Herein, a design strategy of fused MR skeleton containing heavy chalcogen (sulfur or selenium) for high‐performance MR‐TADF molecules is developed. Impressively, Se‐embedded emitter (DSeBN) shows extremely narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM) value of 16 nm and ultrafast RISC rate constant up to 2.0 × 106 s−1. The organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) based on this emitter exhibits excellent performance parameters with extremely narrow FWHM of 17 nm and high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 35.31%. Significantly, much suppressed efficiency roll‐off is achieved, in which the EQE still stayed at 32.47% and 25.05% at the luminance of 100 and 1000 cd m−2, respectively. These results represent the state‐of‐the‐art device performance in terms of efficiency and FWHM, shedding new light on the development of practical MR‐TADF emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To compare the effects of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and histamine‐2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) use on the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in septic patients at high risk for developing stress ulcers. Methods: Using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV version 2.2 database, septic patients with high‐risk factors for stress ulcers (i.e., shock, coagulopathy, invasive mechanical ventilation, or chronic liver diseases) were included. Exposures included PPIs and H2RAs within 24 h of intensive care unit (ICU) admission or prior to ICU admission. The primary end point was severe sepsis‐associated AKI as defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria stage 3 (KDIGO‐3). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance baseline characteristics. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the effect size. Results: 4731 PPI users and 4903 H2RA users were included. After PSM, there were 1785 pairs exposed to PPIs and H2RAs. In the PSM cohort, the cumulative incident KDIGO‐3 rate was higher in the PPI group than in the H2RA group (log‐rank test, p = 0.009). Regression analyses showed that PPI exposure [adjusted hazard ratio 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–1.58, p = 0.002] was associated with incident KDIGO‐3 compared with H2RA use. This association remained consistent in sensitivity analyses. Additionally, the PPI group had a higher need for kidney replacement therapy compared with the H2RA group (3.6% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.012). Conclusions: Among septic patients at high risk for developing stress ulcers, PPI exposure was associated with incident KDIGO‐3 AKI compared with H2RA use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the added value of extracellular volume fraction (ECV) and arterial enhancement fraction (AEF) derived from enhanced CT to conventional image and clinical features for differentiating between pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and atypical parotid adenocarcinoma (PCA) pre‐operation. Methods: From January 2010 to October 2023, a total of 187 cases of parotid tumors were recruited, and divided into training cohort (102 PAs and 51 PCAs) and testing cohort (24 PAs and 10 atypical PCAs). Clinical and CT image features of tumor were assessed. Both enhanced CT‐derived ECV and AEF were calculated. Univariate analysis identified variables with statistically significant differences between the two subgroups in the training cohort. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with the forward variable selection method was used to build four models (clinical model, clinical model+ECV, clinical model+AEF, and combined model). Diagnostic performances were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Delong's test compared model differences, and calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) assessed calibration and clinical application. Results: Age and boundary were chosen to build clinical model, and to construct its ROC curve. Amalgamating the clinical model, ECV, and AEF to establish a combined model demonstrated superior diagnostic effectiveness compared to the clinical model in both the training and test cohorts (AUC = 0.888, 0.867). There was a significant statistical difference between the combined model and the clinical model in the training cohort (p = 0.0145). Conclusions: ECV and AEF are helpful in differentiating PA and atypical PCA, and integrating clinical and CT image features can further improve the diagnostic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short wavelength (SW) emission region of the materials employing strong donor (DS) phenothiazine (PTZ) is generally correlated to its quasi‐axial (QAPTZ) conformer arrangement. This propels to investigate the specific role of weak donors (DW) such as carbazole (CZ) in determining the emission characteristics of molecular heredity (MH) type structural design encompassing dual donors of varying strength. For this purpose, a common DS(PTZ)–Acceptor unit is linked to the DW(CZ) unit via different linkage positions to form M1, M2, and M3, which not only alters the absorption and dual emission characteristics but also influences the delayed fluorescence phenomenon. The SW emission originates by minimizing the aggregation factor rather than by literature envisaged QAPTZ conformer. Incorporating M1 as a single molecular white light emitter (SMWLE) in near UV light emitting diode (LED) devices results in cold white light emission with CRI of 68 and CIE of (0.24, 0.33), while its corresponding solution‐processed organic light‐emitting diode devices delivers warm white electroluminescence with an EQE of 5.8%. Overall, this work demonstrates the significant contribution of the DW in attaining the white light emission characteristics of MH molecular design not only at the molecular level but also in practical light‐emitting devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was reported that the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway is involved in the regulation of aerobic glycolysis and that brain glycolytic dysfunction results in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Icariin (ICA), an active component extracted from Epimedii Folium, has been reported to produce neuroprotective effects in multiple models of AD, but its underlying mechanism remains to be fully described. We aimed to investigate the protective effects of ICA on animal and cell models of AD and confirm whether the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway has functions in the neuroprotective function of ICA. The 3 × Tg‐AD mice were treated with ICA. HT22 cells, the Aβ25‐35 peptide and Dickkopf‐1 (DKK1) agent (a specific inhibitor of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway) were used to further explore the underlying mechanism of ICA that produces anti‐AD effects. Behavioral examination, western blotting assay, staining analysis, biochemical test, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays were applied. We first demonstrated that ICA significantly improved cognitive function and autonomous behavior, reduced neuronal damage, and reversed the protein levels and activities of glycolytic key enzymes, and expression of protein molecules of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, in 3 × Tg‐AD mice back to wild‐type levels. Next, we further found that ICA increased cell viability and effectively improved the dysfunctional glycolysis in HT22 cells injured by Aβ25‐35. However, when canonical Wnt signaling was inhibited by DKK1, the above effects of ICA on glycolysis were abolished. In summary, ICA exerts neuroprotective effects in 3 × Tg‐AD animals and AD cellular models by enhancing the function of glycolysis through activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Obesity can affect periodontal tissues and exacerbate periodontitis. Pyroptosis, a newly identified type of inflammatory cell death, is involved in the development of periodontal inflammation. The saturated fatty acid palmitic acid (PA) is elevated in obese patients. The effect of PA on pyroptosis in periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) and its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Materials and Methods: Human PDLCs were isolated from healthy individuals and cultured for experiments. The effects of PA on PDLC pyroptosis and the underlying mechanisms were examined by transmission electron microscopy, quantitative real‐time PCR and western blotting. Results: The morphology of PDLCs in the PA group indicated pyroptotic characteristics, including swollen cells, plasma membrane rupture and changes in subcellular organelles. PA induced inflammatory responses in PDLCs, as indicated by an increase in IL‐1β in the cell culture supernatant. Furthermore, we found that the pyroptosis‐related proteins caspase‐1, caspase‐4 and GSDMD were involved in PA‐induced cell death. GSDMD and caspase‐4 inhibitors alleviated pyroptotic death of PDLCs. Moreover, PA promoted NF‐κB P65 phosphorylation. A NF‐κB inhibitor decreased IL‐1β expression and partly rescued cell death induced by PA. Conclusion: PA activated the NF‐κB pathway and induced the inflammatory response in PDLCs. Caspase‐4/GSDMD mediated PDLC pyroptosis induced by PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonunion resulting from early bone resorption is common after bone transplantation surgery. In these patients, instability or osteoporosis causes hyperactive catabolism relative to anabolism, leading to graft resorption instead of fusion. Systemic zoledronate administration inhibits osteoclastogenesis and is widely used to prevent osteoporosis; however, evidence on local zoledronate application is controversial due to osteoblast cytotoxicity, uncontrolled dosing regimens, and local release methods. We investigated the effects of zolendronate on osteoclastogenesis and osteogenesis and explored the corresponding signaling pathways. In vitro cytotoxicity and differentiation of MC3T3E1 cells, rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and preosteoclasts (RAW264.7 cells) were evaluated with different zolendronate concentrations. In vivo bone regeneration ability was tested by transplanting different concentrations of zolendronate with β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) bone substitute into rat femoral critical-sized bone defects. In vitro , zolendronate concentrations below 2.5 × 10-7 M did not compromise viability in the three cell lines and did not promote osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3E1 cells and BMSCs. In RAW264.7 cells, zoledronate inhibited extracellular regulated protein kinases and c-Jun n-terminal kinase signaling, downregulating c-Fos and NFATc1 expression, with reduced expression of fusion-related dendritic cell‑specific transmembrane protein and osteoclast-specific Ctsk and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (. In vivo , histological staining revealed increased osteoid formation and neovascularization and reduced fibrotic tissue with 500 μM and 2000 μM zolendronate. More osteoclasts were found in the normal saline group after 6 weeks, and sequential osteoclast formation occurred after zoledronate treatment, indicating inhibition of bone resorption during early callus formation without inhibition of late-stage bone remodeling. In vivo , soaking β-TCP artificial bone with 500 μM or 2000 μM zoledronate is a promising approach for bone regeneration, with potential applications in bone transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective study was conducted at a medical center in southern Taiwan to assess the accuracy of the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model (HIIFRM) in predicting falls. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and optimal cutoff points were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Data analysis was conducted using information from the electronic medical record and patient safety reporting systems, capturing 303 fall events and 47,146 non‐fall events. Results revealed that at the standard threshold of HIIFRM score ≥5, the median score in the fall group was significantly higher than in the non‐fall group. The top three units with HIIFRM scores exceeding 5 were the internal medicine (50.6%), surgical (26.5%), and oncology wards (14.1%), indicating a higher risk of falls in these areas. ROC analysis showed an HIIFRM sensitivity of 29.5% and specificity of 86.3%. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.57, indicating limited discriminative ability in predicting falls. At a lower cutoff score (≥2), the AUC was 0.75 (95% confidence interval: 0.666–0.706; p < 0.0001), suggesting acceptable discriminative ability in predicting falls, with an additional identification of 101 fall events. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting an appropriate cutoff score when using the HIIFRM as a fall risk assessment tool. The findings have implications for fall prevention strategies and patient care in clinical settings, potentially leading to improved outcomes and patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CA is a plant derivative with antibacterial and antiviral pharmacological effects, however, the therapeutic effect of CA on Klebsiella pneumonia and its mechanism study is still unclear. A rat KP model was established in vitro, a pneumonia cell model was established in vivo, the histopathological changes in the lungs were observed by HE staining after CA treatment, the expression of relevant inflammatory factors was detected by ELISA, the changes in the expression of proteins related to the AhR‐Src‐STAT3‐IL‐10 signaling pathway were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence in the lungs, and the interactions between the proteins were verified by COIP relationship. The results showed that CA was able to attenuate the injury and inflammatory response of lung tissues, and molecular docking showed that there were binding sites between CA and AhR, and COIP demonstrated that AhR interacted with both STAT3 and Ser. In addition, CA was able to up‐regulate the expression levels of pathway‐related proteins of AhR, IL‐10, p‐Src, and p‐STAT3, and AhR knockdown was able to reduce LPS‐induced inflammatory responses and up‐regulate pathway‐related proteins, whereas CA treatment of AhR‐knockdown‐treated A549 cells did not show any statistically significant difference compared with the AhR knockdown group, demonstrating that CA exerts its pharmacological effects. These findings elucidated the mechanism of CA in the treatment of KP and demonstrated that CA is a potential therapeutic agent for KP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the presence of natural neoantigens, autologous tumor cells hold great promise as personalized therapeutic vaccines. Yet autologous tumor cell vaccines require multi‐step production that frequently leads to the loss of immunoreactive antigens, causing insufficient immune activation and significantly hampering their clinical applications. Herein, we introduce a novel whole‐cell cancer vaccine by cloaking cancer cells with lipopolysaccharide‐decorated manganese(II)‐phenolic networks (MnTA nanocloaks) to evoke tumor‐specific immune response for highly efficacious synergistic cancer immunotherapy. The natural polyphenols coordinate with Mn2+ and immediately adhere to the surface of individual cancer cells, thereby forming a nanocloak and encapsulating tumor neoantigens. Subsequent decoration with lipopolysaccharide induces internalization by dendritic cells, where Mn2+ ions are released in the cytosol, further facilitating the activation of the stimulator of the interferon genes (STING) pathway. Highly effective tumor suppression was observed by combining the nanocloaked cancer cell treatment with anti‐programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti‐PD‐L1) antibodies‐mediated immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Our work demonstrates a universal yet simple strategy to engineer a cell‐based nanobiohybrid system for enhanced cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinelliacordata (Araceae) is a perennial herb species distributed in China and Japan. Several studies have shown that there are two types of this species, and chromosome counts have shown irregular variation among populations. In this study, we investigated the morphological characteristics, established the chromosome number in root tips, reconstructed phylogenetic relationship based on whole chloroplast genomes, and elucidated biogeographic patterns based on data collected from the Chinese Virtual Herbarium (CVH) and the Plant Photo Bank of China (PPBC) for the two types of P. cordata, including type I (greenish leaf blade) and type II (colored leaf blade). We found stable significant differences in morphometric characteristics (color of the leaf blade abaxially, petiole, spathe and appendix) and the number of chromosomes. The results of the phylogenetic analysis showed that types I and II were located to different places in the evolutionary tree compared to the group. The distribution regions of these types of P. cordata were also slightly different in mainland China. These findings suggested that P. cordata should be divided into P. cordata (type I) and Pinellia discolor (type II, a cryptic species) and the latter is here described as a new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study published in the journal Respirology that examines the impact of Staphylococcal enterotoxin-specific IgE sensitization on the effectiveness of omalizumab therapy in severe asthma. The study found that Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria commonly found in the upper airways, produces Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) that can stimulate the production of specific IgE antibodies. High levels of SE-IgE have been associated with severe late-onset asthma. The study conducted a prospective observational study to evaluate the clinical efficacy of omalizumab in patients with severe asthma who are allergic and non-allergic to aeroallergens, with and without positive SE-IgE. The results provide valuable insights into the characteristics of these patient groups. The study found that omalizumab reduced acute exacerbation rates and improved asthma control in patients with allergic asthma, regardless of SE-IgE sensitization. However, in non-allergic asthma patients, only those with SE-IgE sensitization responded to omalizumab. The study also discovered that patients who responded well to omalizumab had higher levels of eosinophils and lower levels of neutrophils in their sputum. Additionally, the addition of clarithromycin to omalizumab treatment improved asthma control in patients who had a poor or partial response to omalizumab. [Extracted from the article]

Total neointima implantation (patch neointima technique + triple‐branched stent graft placement) has been performed in proximal aortic repair for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) for more than 10 years at a center. However, there is no report on the mid‐term outcomes with a control group of the surgical procedure. Consequently, the authors aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique in this study. Patients who underwent the total neointima implantation were classified as Group A, and those who underwent the conventional aortic root reconstruction with the "sandwich" technique and the total aortic arch replacement were classified as Group B. Furthermore, the authors described the preoperative characteristics, operative data, and patient outcomes. Group A patients experienced a shorter surgery duration, lower volumes of perioperative bleeding, and fewer red blood cell transfusions. The incidence of neurological complications was significantly reduced in Group A. All patients maintained a normal range of proximal aortic sizes after surgery. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed no significant differences between the patients in the two groups regarding cumulative mortality and the incidence of moderate‐to‐severe aortic insufficiency. In well‐selected patients, total neointima implantation is an alternative procedure for the surgical repair of ATAAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most visible sign of facial aging is often seen in the periocular area. However, periocular rejuvenation remains challenging due to the particularity of periocular anatomic locations. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the fractional‐ablative CO2 laser‐facilitated recombinant human collagen permeation in periocular rejuvenation. Patients/Methods: This 3‐month prospective single‐blinded and self‐controlled trial enrolled 26 patients with periocular aging who underwent the treatments of fractional‐ablative CO2 laser along with laser‐facilitated recombinant human collagen permeation. Following the treatments, the patients were quantitatively assessed by various periocular skin aging indices before and after the treatment and monitored for any related adverse events. Results: The patients showed significant improvements with the periocular skin aging indices 3 months after the treatments, which were detailed with a 47.3% decrease in lower eyelid skin rhytids, a 41.4% decrease in the lower eyelid skin texture, a 35.0% decrease in the static crow's feet, a 29.3% decrease in the amount of upper eyelid laxity, and a 20.2% increase in the MRD1 as compared with baseline (p < 0.05). Moreover, total skin thickness under ultrasound was increased in both upper and lower eyelids (5.6% and 3.3%, p < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, six patients (23.1%, 6/26) had erythema for 2 weeks, and two (2/26, 7.7%) had mild hyperpigmentation for 3 months. Conclusions: Fractional‐ablative CO2 laser combined with laser‐facilitated recombinant human collagen permeation can be a safe and effective treatment for periocular rejuvenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used 10 × genomics single‐cell transcriptome sequencing technology to reveal the tumor immune microenvironment characteristics of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in a patient with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). A total of 8008 high‐quality cells were finally obtained for subsequent bioinformatic analysis, which were divided into 10 cell clusters further identified as B cells, T cells, myeloid cells, NK cells, and cancer cells. Such SCLC related genes as NOTCH1, MYC, TSC22D1, SOX4, BLNK, YBX3, VIM, CD8A, CD8B, and KLF6 were expressed in different degrees during differentiation of T and B cells. Different ligands and receptors between T, B and tumor cells almost interact through MHC II, IL‐16, galectin, and APP signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignancy occurring in the head and neck. Identification of immune‐related methylated biomarkers might be helpful for NPC detection and prognostic evaluation. Methods: A co‐methylation network based on WGCNA was constructed to identify modules associated with NPC and immune cells. In combination with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and immune‐related genes from ImmPort database, the candidate immune‐related methylated genes (IRMGs) were obtained. Results: Our combined analysis identified 12 IRMGs. Among them, both the methylation and mRNA expression of CCL28, CSK, and PRKCB were correlated with the infiltration of B cells. CD1D, CR2, and GDF10 were favorable markers. Demethylation experiments validated that downregulation of GDF10, PRKCB, SLC40A1, and TGFBR3 in NPC resulted from promoter hypermethylation. Additionally, a diagnostic model was developed and exhibited high discriminative accuracy. Conclusions: These results provided a group of immune‐related methylated biomarkers that may help with the diagnosis and prognosis of NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this study were to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting postoperative transient neurological dysfunctions (TND) in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) who underwent modified triple‐branched stent graft implantation. This retrospective study developed a nomogram‐based model in a consecutive cohort of 146 patients. Patient characteristics, preoperative clinical indices, and operative data were analyzed. Univariate and multivariable analyses were applied to identify the most useful predictive variables for constructing the nomogram. Discrimination and the calibration of the model was evaluated through the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness‐of‐fit test and the decision curve analysis (DCA). At the same time, to identify and compare long‐term cumulative survival rate, Kaplan‐Meier survival curve was plotted. The incidence rate of postoperative TND observed in our cohort were 40.9%. Supra‐aortic dissection with or without thrombosis, creatinine >115 μmol and albumin <39.7 g/L, selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) time >7 min and total operation time >303 min, were confirmed as independent predictors that enhanced the likelihood of TND. Internal validation showed good discrimination of the model with under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.818 and good calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow test, p >.05). DCA revealed that the nomogram was clinically useful. In the long‐term survival there was no significant difference between patients with or without TND history. The results showed the predict model based on readily available predictors has sufficient validity to identify TND risk in this population, that maybe useful for clinical decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to 80% of children with autism spectrum disorder have at least one other neuropsychiatric comorbidity. The causes of such disorders are highly genetic, yet many studies fail to take analysis further than risk gene discovery to see cellular and mechanistic changes occurring. Therefore, the goal of this study was to unveil novel gene expression signatures involved in important neurodevelopmental processes that, when disrupted, lead to each of the autism comorbidities of interest. We achieved this by analysing a single‐nuclei RNA sequencing dataset with prefrontal cortex samples from autism spectrum disorder plus comorbidities for differentially expressed genes. The highest number of alterations was seen in excitatory neurons, which also showed differential population and cell–cell interactions across disorders and an increase in expression of genes involved in neurodevelopmental pathways. Interestingly, the group without comorbidities displayed an increase in neuron–neuron interactions yet a decrease in population number, suggesting a major rewiring of neuronal connections. Further analysis of the topmost significant genes from this cell type in developing prefrontal cortex datasets revealed interesting expression trajectories corresponding to important time points during corticogenesis. This further identified four novel candidate genes that show a potential link to developmental pathways that may contribute to autism and its comorbidities when dysregulated. The study provides a better understanding of co‐occurring conditions at a transcriptomic and cell‐type level and thereby aid future research in providing earlier diagnosis, care and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: To gain a better understanding of how Pyricularia oryzae population shifts is important for selecting suitable resistance genes for rice breeding programs. However, the relationships between P. oryzae pathogenic dynamics, geographic distribution, rice varieties, and timeline are not well studied. RESULTS: Resistance genes Piz‐5, Pi9(t), Pi12(t), Pi20(t), Pita‐2, and Pi11 showed stable resistance to the Taiwan rice blast fungus over 8 years of observations. Furthermore, 1749 rice blast isolates were collected from 2014 to 2021 and categorized into five pathotype clusters based on their correlation analysis between the geographic sources and virulence of Lijiangxintuanheigu monogenic lines. A detailed map of their distributions in Taiwan is presented. Isolates collected from the western region of Taiwan had greater pathotype diversity than those from the east region. Isolates collected from the subtropical region had greater diversity than those from the tropical region. Rice cultivars carrying Pik alleles were highly susceptible to pathotype L4. Cultivars with Piz‐t were highly susceptible to pathotype L5, and those with Pish were highly susceptible to pathotype L1. The geographical distribution of each pathotype was distinct, and the population size of each pathotype fluctuated significantly each year. CONCLUSION: The regional mega cultivars significantly impact the evolution of Pyricularia oryzae in Taiwan within the span of 8 years. However, the annual fluctuation of pathotype populations likely correlate to the rising annual temperatures that selected pathotype clusters by their optimal growth temperature. The results will provide useful information for effective disease management, and enable the R‐genes to prolong their function in the fields. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, yet pharmacotherapies for TBI are currently lacking. Neuroregeneration is important in brain repair and functional recovery. In this study, probucol, a cholesterol‐lowering drug with established safety profiles, was examined for its therapeutic effects and neuroregenerative actions in TBI. Experimental Approach: Male mice were subjected to the controlled cortical impact model of TBI, followed by daily administration of probucol. Neurological and cognitive functions were evaluated. Histological analyses of the neocortex and hippocampus were performed to detect the lesion, dendritic degeneration (microtubule‐associated protein 2), synaptic density (synaptophysin), neurogenesis (doublecortin), brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) activation. Involvement of BDNF/TrkB pathway in probucol‐mediated effects was examined in primary cultures of cortical neurons. Key Results: Probucol reduced brain lesion volume, enhanced the recovery of body symmetry, improved motor function and attenuated memory dysfunction after TBI. Meanwhile, probucol promoted post‐injury dendritic growth and synaptogenesis and increased hippocampal proliferating neuronal progenitor cells, along with the formation as well as the survival of newborn neurons. Moreover, probucol enhances BDNF expression and TrkB activation. In vitro, probucol promoted neurite outgrowth, which was inhibited by a selective TrkB antagonist ANA‐12. Conclusions and Implications: Probucol enhanced functional restoration and ameliorated cognitive impairment after TBI by promoting post‐injury neuronal remodelling and neurogenesis. Increased activation of BDNF/TrkB pathway by probucol, at least in part, contributed to the neuroregenerative effects of probucol. Together, it may be promising to repurpose probucol for TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure, elastic properties, and thermodynamic properties of cubic boron arsenide (c‐BAs) under high temperature and high pressure are studied based on first‐principles calculations. The obtained equilibrium structure and mechanical properties are in good agreement with other theoretical results. First, the phonon dispersion spectra at zero pressure and high pressure are calculated. The results show that c‐BAs is dynamically stable under pressure of 0–110 GPa. Second, the lattice constants, elastic constants, Young's modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, B/G, sound velocity, and Debye temperature of c‐BAs under zero pressure and high pressure are calculated. c‐BAs are predicted to be unstable above 112.3 GPa in accordance with the elastic stability criterion. Furthermore, it is indicated by the calculated B/G ratio that c‐BAs is brittle at zero GPa and begins to tend to be ductile as pressure rises to 46.4 GPa. The calculated elastic anisotropy coefficients indicate that c‐BAs has elastic anisotropy. The thermodynamic properties of c‐BAs are investigated at high temperatures and pressures by combining generalized density function theory and the quasiharmonic Debye model. It is suggested by the calculated elastic and thermodynamic properties that c‐BAs can be used as candidate structures for the fabrication of efficient solar cells and thermoelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A giant coronary artery aneurysm (GCAA) concurrent with coronary artery fistula is a rare condition, and it becomes even more unusual when combined with a single coronary artery (SCA) anomaly. Here, we report such an extremely rare case, who is a 35‐year‐old woman presenting with severe chest distress. A GCAA with fistula to the right ventricle was noted, occurring in a single coronary artery, diagnosed by multimodality cardiovascular imaging techniques. Both GCAA and coronary artery fistula can cause severe cardiac complications, which jeopardize life. While an SCA is mostly asymptomatic, it may also lead to sudden cardiac death as well. Therefore, surgical intervention was recommended. We chose a novel thrombus‐inducing strategy to eliminate the GCAA and repair the fistula. Symptoms were relieved after the surgery, and the patient remained asymptomatic over 8 months of follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of doxofylline as an adjuvant in reducing severe exacerbation for different clinical subtypes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: The clinical trial was an open‐label non‐randomized clinical trial that enrolled patients with COPD. The patients were divided into two groups (doxofylline group[DG] and non‐doxofylline group[NDG]) according to whether the adjuvant was used. Based on the proportion of inflammatory cells present, the patients were divided into neutrophilic, eosinophilic, and mixed granulocytic subtypes. The rates of severe acute exacerbation, use of glucocorticoids, and clinical symptoms were followed up in the first month, the third month, and the sixth month after discharge. Results: A total of 155 participants were included in the study. The average age of the participants was 71.2 ± 10.1 years, 52.3% of the patients were male, and 29.7% of the participants had extremely severe cases of COPD. In the third month after discharge the numbers of patients exhibiting severe exacerbation among the neutrophilic subtype were 5 (6.6%) in the DG versus 17 (22.4%) in the NDG (incidence rate ratio[IRR] = 0.4 [95% CI: 0.2–0.9] P = 0.024). In the sixth month after discharge, the numbers were 3 (3.9%) versus 13 (17.1%; IRR = 0.3 [95%; CI: 0.1–0.9], P = 0.045), and those for the eosinophilic subtype were 0 (0.0%) versus 4 (14.8%), P = 0.02. In the eosinophilic subtype, the results for forced expiratory volume in the first second and maximal mid‐expiratory flow were significantly higher in the DG. The mean neutrophil and eosinophil levels were significantly lower than in the NDG among the neutrophilic subtype, and the neutrophil percentage was lower than in the NDG among the eosinophilic subtype. At the six‐month follow‐up, the dose adjustment rates of the neutrophilic and eosinophilic subtypes showed a significant difference (P< 0.05). Conclusions: As an adjuvant drug, doxofylline has a good therapeutic effect on patients with the neutrophilic and eosinophilic clinical subtypes of COPD. It can reduce the incidence of severe exacerbation, the use of glucocorticoids, and inflammatory reactions in the long term (when used for a minimum of 3 months). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case report of a 47-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed a lung infection caused by Tropheryma whipplei (TW). SLE patients are more susceptible to infections due to decreased immunity and immunosuppressive medications. The patient's SLE was controlled with treatment, but the immunosuppressive and biological agents made her more susceptible to TW infection. The article highlights the need for further research on the role of belimumab (a biological agent) in infection and emphasizes the importance of recognizing the risk of opportunistic infections in SLE patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. [Extracted from the article]

The present study investigated the effects of a far-infrared radiation (FIR) lamp therapy on changes in muscle damage and proprioception markers after maximal eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors (EF: Study 1) and the knee flexors (KF: Study 2) in comparison to a sham treatment condition. In each study, 24 healthy sedentary women were assigned to a FIR or a sham treatment group (n = 12/group). They performed 72 maximal EF eccentric contractions (Study 1) or 100 maximal KF eccentric contractions (Study 2) with their non-dominant limbs. They received a 30-min FIR (wavelength: 8–14 µm) or sham treatment at 1, 25, 49, 73 and 97 h post-exercise to the exercised muscles. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque, muscle soreness, plasma creatine kinase activity, and proprioception assessed by position sense, joint reaction angle, and force match were measured before, and 0.5, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h post-exercise. The outcome measures showed significant changes (P < 0.05) at 0.5-hour post-exercise (before treatment) similarly (P > 0.05) between the conditions in both studies. However, changes in all measures at 24–120 h post-exercise were smaller (P < 0.05) for the FIR than sham condition in both studies. For example, MVC torque returned to the baseline by 72 h post-exercise for the FIR condition in both studies, but was still 19 ± 6% (Study 1) or 17 ± 12% (Study 2) lower than the baseline at 120 h post-exercise for the sham condition. These results suggested that the FIR lamp therapy was effective for accelerating recovery from muscle damage. FIR lamp therapy was effective for recovering muscle strength and proprioception 1–3 days faster to the baseline. FIR lamp therapy was effective for attenuating muscle soreness by 55–60%, and reducing peak plasma CK activity by 45–89%. The effects of the FIR lamp therapy appear to be greater than other therapeutic interventions for eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage that have been investigated previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interfacial mechanisms of carrier transport in perovskite solar cells with different types of zinc oxide (hydrothermal solution method (ZnOHT) and sol–gel method (ZnOSG)) are investigated. Power conversion efficiencies of the devices with ZnOHT and ZnOSG layers are 18.66% and 13.39%, respectively, which are significantly varied by the rates of photoelectron injection and electron–hole recombination. The space‐charge‐limited current and electrochemical impedance measurements both show that the device utilizing ZnOHT layer exhibits fewer internal defects compared to that with ZnOSG layer. Via transient absorption spectroscopy, faster injection of photoelectrons from the active layer to the transport layer occurs at ≈3.8 ps in the devices with ZnOHT layer, which is half of the value observed in devices with ZnOSG layer and benefits the device performance. Moreover, a faster electron–hole recombination in devices with ZnOSG degrades device performance due to the trap states in high‐defect‐density devices. Both device performances stably maintain a level higher than 98% of the initial value after over 600 h without encapsulation in glove box. Finally, the structural and electronic properties of charge transport layer can be controlled by the methods of preparation and ZnOHT shows great promise in enhancing perovskite solar cell efficiency with relatively low‐temperature process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KMT2C and KMT2D are the most frequently mutated epigenetic genes in human cancers. While KMT2C is identified as a tumor suppressor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the role of KMT2D remains unclear in this disease, though its loss promotes B cell lymphoma and various solid cancers. Here, it is reported that KMT2D is downregulated or mutated in AML and its deficiency, through shRNA knockdown or CRISPR/Cas9 editing, accelerates leukemogenesis in mice. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and AML cells with Kmt2d loss have significantly enhanced ribosome biogenesis and consistently, enlarged nucleolus, increased rRNA and protein synthesis rates. Mechanistically, it is found that KMT2D deficiency leads to the activation of the mTOR pathway in both mouse and human AML cells. Kmt2d directly regulates the expression of Ddit4, a negative regulator of the mTOR pathway. Consistent with the abnormal ribosome biogenesis, it is shown that CX‐5461, an inhibitor of RNA polymerase I, significantly restrains the growth of AML with Kmt2d loss in vivo and extends the survival of leukemic mice. These studies validate KMT2D as a de facto tumor suppressor in AML and reveal an unprecedented vulnerability to ribosome biogenesis inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Propofol is a drug with potential anticancer effect. This study aimed to explore the effect of propofol on chemosensitivity of cervical cancer cells to paclitaxel. Methods: HeLa and CaSki cells were selected for drug experiments. Cell viability was evaluated via CCK‐8 assay, and the combination index (CI) was calculated by CompuSyn software. A clinically relevant concentration and IC30 of propofol were selected in combination with 5 nM paclitaxel. BrdU incorporation, transwell, and flow cytometry assays were utilized to evaluate cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. The expression of β‐tubulin, stathmin 1, and GAPDH proteins was evaluated by Western blot. The stathmin 1 cDNA plasmid was used to establish stathmin 1‐overexpressing CaSki cells. Results: At clinically relevant concentrations (0–80 μM), propofol did not affect cancer cell viability, but high concentrations (100–800 μM) reduced cell viability. The CI values of propofol with IC30 (200 μM in HeLa; 400 μM in CaSki) combined with 5 nM paclitaxel were <1. The effect of propofol with IC30 combined with paclitaxel on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were stronger than individual effect, while 30 μM propofol had no effect. The Western blot results showed 30 μM propofol did not affect β‐tubulin and stathmin 1 expression in cells, although paclitaxel upregulated β‐tubulin expression while downregulating stathmin 1 expression. Compared with paclitaxel alone, cotreatment with propofol at its IC30 and paclitaxel decreased stathmin 1 expression but had no effect on β‐tubulin expression. High stathmin 1 expression weakened the effect of paclitaxel on cell viability and apoptosis, while propofol partially reversed these effect. Conclusion: Propofol at clinically relevant concentrations had no effect on the malignant biological behaviors of cervical cancer cells, while propofol at high concentrations decreased.Propofol with IC30 and paclitaxel had synergetic effect on cancer cells through a reduction in stathmin 1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy, in combination with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) targeting to programmed death‐1 (PD‐1) or its ligand PD‐L1, is one of the first‐line treatments for patients with advanced non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, a large proportion of patients, especially those with PD‐L1 negative tumors, do not benefit from this treatment. This may be due to the existence of multiple immunosuppressive mechanisms other than the PD‐1/PD‐L1 axis. Human leukocyte antigen‐G (HLA‐G) has been identified as an immune checkpoint protein (ICP) and a neoexpressed tumor‐associated antigen (TAA) in a large proportion of solid tumors. In this study, we evaluated the induction of HLA‐G as well as PD‐L1 using sublethal doses of chemotherapeutics including pemetrexed in different NSCLC cell lines. Except for gefitinib, most of the chemotherapeutic agents enhanced HLA‐G and PD‐L1 expression in a dose‐dependent manner, whereas pemetrexed and carboplatin treatments showed the most consistent upregulation of PD‐L1 and HLA‐G in each cell line. In addition to protein levels, a novel finding of this study is that pemetrexed enhanced the glycosylation of HLA‐G and PD‐L1. Pemetrexed potentiated the cytotoxicity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to treat NSCLC. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that CTL‐mediated cytotoxicity was most pronounced when both anti‐PD‐L1 and anti‐HLA‐G ICBs were combined with pemetrexed treatment. In conclusion, anti‐HLA‐G could be an intervention strategy in addition to the anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1 pathway for NSCLC. Moreover, dual targeting of PD‐L1 and HLA‐G combined with pemetrexed might have a better extent of CTL‐based immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐G is considered as an immune checkpoint protein and a tumor‐associated antigen. In the previous work, it is reported that CAR‐NK targeting of HLA‐G can be used to treat certain solid tumors. However, the frequent co‐expression of PD‐L1 and HLA‐G) and up‐regulation of PD‐L1 after adoptive immunotherapy may decrease the effectiveness of HLA‐G‐CAR. Therefore, simultaneous targeting of HLA‐G and PD‐L1 by multi‐specific CAR could represent an appropriate solution. Furthermore, gamma‐delta T (γδT) cells exhibit MHC‐independent cytotoxicity against tumor cells and possess allogeneic potential. The utilization of nanobodies offers flexibility for CAR engineering and the ability to recognize novel epitopes. In this study, Vδ2 γδT cells are used as effector cells and electroporated with an mRNA‐driven, nanobody‐based HLA‐G‐CAR with a secreted PD‐L1/CD3ε Bispecific T‐cell engager (BiTE) construct (Nb‐CAR.BiTE). Both in vivo and in vitro experiments reveal that the Nb‐CAR.BiTE‐γδT cells could effectively eliminate PD‐L1 and/or HLA‐G‐positive solid tumors. The secreted PD‐L1/CD3ε Nb‐BiTE can not only redirect Nb‐CAR‐γδT but also recruit un‐transduced bystander T cells against tumor cells expressing PD‐L1, thereby enhancing the activity of Nb‐CAR‐γδT therapy. Furthermore, evidence is provided that Nb‐CAR.BiTE redirectes γδT into tumor‐implanted tissues and that the secreted Nb‐BiTE is restricted to the tumor site without apparent toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aim at investigating antifungal activities of Bacillus velezensis FJAT‐52631 and its lipopeptides against Colletotrichum acutatum ex situ and in situ. The results showed that the strain FJAT‐52631 and its crude lipopeptides (10 mg/ml) exhibited strong inhibitory effects on growth of C. acutatum FJAT‐30256 with an inhibition rate of 75.3% and an inhibition zone diameter of 17.66 mm, respectively. Both the viable bacterial cultures and lipopeptides of FJAT‐52631 could delay the onset of loquat anthracnose by 1 day and lower the incidence of loquat anthracnose in situ. The whole cultures of B. velezensis FJAT‐52631 displayed a 50% biocontrol efficacy on loquat anthracnose at the fourth day after inoculation, but the crude lipopeptides not. The average lesion diameter of the whole‐culture treated group was 5.62 mm, which was smaller than that of control group (6.81 mm). All the three types of lipopeptides including iturin A, fengycin, and surfactin A secreted from the strain FJAT‐52631 exhibited antifungal activities. Among them, surfactin A displayed higher antifungal activity at a concentration of 1.25 mg/mL than other two lipopeptides even if at a concentration of 60 mg/mL. Thus, the results indicated that surfactin A produced by FJAT‐52631 played a major role in the biocontrol of the loquat anthracnose. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation revealed the structural deformities in the mycelia of C. acutatum. The above results suggested that the antifungal lipopeptides from B. velezensis FJAT‐52631 would be potential in biocontrol against anthracnose disease of loquat caused by C. acutatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older people living in long‐term care homes are particularly susceptible to loneliness and social isolation, which the COVID‐19 pandemic has exacerbated further. 'Tochie' is a smart audio device that allows family members to remotely record and send messages, such as daily reminders and comforting recordings, to their loved ones in LTC settings. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using Tochie to improve resident‐family connections, and to investigate user experience, impact and lessons learned. Methods: Participants included 10 residents, nine family members and six care staff from two LTC homes in British Columbia, Canada. A Tochie was provided to each resident to use with their family members over a 4‐week intervention period. The research team provided support and gathered feedback from family members and care staff through weekly phone and email correspondence. Qualitative descriptive design was used, including pre‐ and post‐intervention focus groups and interviews held via Zoom and phone to gather participants' experiences with Tochie. Themes were identified through thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were identified: (1) Facilitating emotional connection, (2) Using the device in creative and personalised ways and (3) Structural challenges and supports. Based on these findings, recommendations for future research and practice are provided. Conclusion: The COVID‐19 pandemic has prompted a rethinking of what it means to 'stay in touch' with loved ones in LTC settings. This study found that Tochie has opened up new opportunities for family connection and provided emotional support for residents. The results of this study offer valuable insights into the implementation of assistive technology in LTC homes to support resident care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic disease following Nocardia seriolae infection in a wide range of aquatic animals has been reported in many Asian countries and recently in America and Mexico. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological relationship among N. seriolae isolates in Taiwan by investigating their genotype and enzymatic activities. A total of 66 strains isolated from 14 known and four unknown host fish from five sites in Taiwan were characterized using five combined methods. High genotypic diversity was recognized among the isolates with 10 pulsotypes being identified from the pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis method and 21 reptypes from the repetitive extragenic palindromic amplification method; however, no natural plasmids were detected in this bacterial population. Pulsotypes A8 and RI analysed by PFGE and repPCR, respectively, were found to be predominant within five sites in Taiwan over 17 years of isolation. Enzymatically, the majority of isolates displayed high leucine arylamidase, β‐glucosidase and α‐glucosidase activities but were negative for lipase, α‐galactosidase, β‐glucuronidase, N‐acetyl‐glucosaminidase, α‐mannosidase and α‐fucosidase activities. We identified a strong association between genotype and enzymatic activity since the majority of pulsotypes displayed the same type of enzymatic profile. This study provides comprehensive and potential epidemiological data, which will aid the fish farming activities and prevention method development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of photothermal agents (PTAs) with robust photostability and high photothermal conversion efficiency is of great importance for cancer photothermal therapy. Herein, a novel PTA was created using two‐dimensional intermetallic PtSnBi nanoplates (NPs), which demonstrated excellent photostability and biocompatibility with a high photothermal conversion efficiency of ∼61 % after PEGylation. More importantly, PtSnBi NPs could be employed as photoacoustic imaging contrast agents for tumor visualization due to their strong absorbance in the NIR range. In addition, both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that PtSnBi NPs had a good photothermal efficacy under NIR laser irradiation. Therefore, the remarkable therapeutic characteristics of PtSnBi NPs make them a most promising candidate for cancer theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlation between the electrodes and the properties of the BiI3 device is systematically investigated. The X‐ray and UV photoemission spectroscopies are carried out to study the chemical state and electronic structure of the metal/BiI3 interfaces formed by the in‐situ deposition of BiI3 on the metal. This revealed the upward diffusion of Ag and the self‐formation of a conductive filament; the latter is further confirmed via tunneling electron microscopy. By coating the Au substrate with Ag layers of various thicknesses as a buffer layer, the morphology, surface roughness, chemical states, and quantity of the filament in the BiI3 layer can be manipulated. The device with the structure of Au/10 nm Ag/BiI3/Au demonstrated an ultrahigh on/off ratio of 109, good retention of 104 s, and multistate data storage. This study provides not only a fundamental insight into the interaction of BiI3 with metal, which will be helpful to design resistive switching devices and optoelectronics based on BiI3 material, but also a facile method to control the quantity of conductive filament in the BiI3 layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the effect of dose calculation accuracy on inverse linear energy transfer (LET) optimization for intensity‐modulated proton therapy, and to determine whether adding more beams would improve the plan robustness to different dose calculation engines. Methods: Two sets of intensity‐modulated proton therapy plans using two, four, six, and nine beams were created for 10 prostate cancer patients: one set was optimized with dose constraints (DoseOpt) using the pencil beam (PB) algorithm, and the other set was optimized with additional LET constraints (LETOpt) using the Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm. Dose distributions of DoseOpt plans were then recalculated using the MC algorithm, and the LETOpt plans were recalculated using the PB algorithm. Dosimetric indices of targets and critical organs were compared between the PB and MC algorithms for both sets of plans. Results: For DoseOpt plans, dose differences between the PB and MC algorithms were minimal. However, the maximum dose differences in LETOpt plans were 11.11% and 15.85% in the dose covering 98% and 2% (D2) of the clinical target volume, respectively. Furthermore, the dose to 1 cc of the bladder differed by 11.42 Gy (relative biological effectiveness). Adding more beams reduced the discrepancy in target coverage, but the errors in D2 of the structure were increased with the number of beams. Conclusion: High modulation of LET requires high dose calculation accuracy during the optimization and final dose calculation in the inverse treatment planning for intensity‐modulated proton therapy, and adding more beams did not improve the plan robustness to different dose calculation algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tic disorders are common neurodevelopmental disorders during childhood. Whether prenatal and postnatal exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) plays a role in the development of tic disorders remains unexplored. Objectives: To investigate the association of exposure between PM2.5 during the pregnancy and infancy periods and the risk of tic disorders. Methods: This birth cohort study recruited singleton live births at term gestations in central Taiwan from the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database between 2004 and 2012 and followed up to the end of 2017. New cases of tic disorders were defined using the ICD‐9‐CM (307.2) and ICD‐10‐CM (F95), which include all tic spectrum disorders. We assigned daily PM2.5 concentrations derived from a satellite‐based model to individuals based on maternal residential addresses at delivery. We fit Cox proportional hazard model and distributed lag non‐linear model to estimate the associations between PM2.5 and tic disorders, with hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) as the effect measure. Results: Of the 309,376 singleton live births at term gestations, we identified 5902 (1.9%) tic disorder cases. The HR of tic disorders was positively associated with a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5: during pregnancy HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04, 1.15 and during infancy HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.06, 1.18. The vulnerable time window for infants with increased risk of tic disorders was 6–52 weeks after birth. We observed a nonlinear relationship between PM2.5 and the risk of tic disorders, with exposure to PM2.5 between 16 and 64 μg/m3 being associated with the risk of tic disorders. The association was restricted to Tourette's disorder group. Infant sex did not modify these associations. Conclusions: Infants delivered at term and exposed to PM2.5 are associated with an increased risk of tic disorders (6–52 weeks). Further studies are needed to confirm these associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cutaneous toxicities are common adverse effects following epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR‐TKI) therapy. Zinc deficiency causes diverse diseases, including skin toxicities. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of zinc deficiency in patients with EGFR‐TKI‐induced skin toxicities. Experimental Design: This retrospective study enrolled 269 patients with diverse skin disorders who visited our hospital between January 2016 and December 2017. The skin toxicity severities and plasma zinc levels of 101 EGFR‐TKI‐treated cancer patients were analysed and compared with those of 43 non‐EGFR‐TKI‐treated cancer patients and 125 patients without cancer but presenting cutaneous manifestations. Additionally, the role of zinc in erlotinib‐induced skin eruptions was established in a 14‐day‐murine model. Clinical features were further evaluated following systemic zinc supplementation in EGFR‐TKI‐treated cancer patients. Results: EGFR‐TKI‐treated patients demonstrated severe cutaneous manifestations and a significant decrease in plasma zinc levels than those of the control groups. The serum zinc level and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) 5.0 grading of EGFR‐TKI‐induced skin toxicities showed a significant negative correlation (r = −0.29; p < 0.0001). Moreover, erlotinib treatment decreased the plasma zinc levels and induced periorificial dermatitis in rats confirming zinc deficiency following EGFR‐TKI treatment. Zinc supplementation to the EGFR‐TKI‐treated cancer patients showed a significant decrease in the CTCEA grading (p < 0.0005 for mucositis and p < 0.0.0001 for all other cases) after 8 weeks. Conclusions: Skin impairment following EGFR‐TKI therapy could be ameliorated through zinc supplementation. Thus, zinc supplementation should be considered for cancer patients undergoing EGFR‐TKI therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the effects of counter anions of varying sizes including BF4–, PF6–, SbF6–, and Tf2N– on the rheological properties of a range of hyperbranched polyethylene ionomers containing covalently bound quaternary ammonium cations. While the choice of counter anions has no significant effect on thermal properties, distinct effects on rheological properties have been demonstrated. With the increase of counter anion size in the order from BF4– to PF6–, SbF6–, and Tf2N–, the ionic interactions of the counter anion with the quaternary ammonium ion weaken, leading to reduced terminal relaxation time, zero‐shear viscosity, and flow activation energy. The differences in these properties are most pronounced with the ionomer having Tf2N– counter anion since it is significantly larger than the others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]