Objective
To investigate the expression of miR-217 and HIF-1α/VEGF pathway in patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and its effect on angiogenesis in DFU rats.
Methods
The serum levels of miR-217, ...HIF-1α and VEGF were detected in DFU and simple diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, and healthy controls. DFU rat models were established and treated with miR-217 inhibitors and/or HIF-1α siRNA. The ulcer healing of DFU rats was observed. Besides, ELISA method was performed to detect the serum level of HIF-1α, VEGF and inflammatory factors, immunohistochemical (IHC) method to test the micro-vessel density (MVD), as well as qRT-PCR and Western blot to determine expressions of miR-217, HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR2, eNOS, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in tissues.
Results
The serum levels of miR-217 were up-regulated while HIF-1α and VEGF were down-regulated in DFU patients and rats when compared with DM and healthy controls (all
P
< 0.05). Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that
HIF
-
1α
was the direct target gene of miR-217. DFU rats treated with miR-217 inhibitors had decreased foot ulcer area and accelerated ulcer healing, with significantly reduced inflammatory factors (IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6), as well as elevated HIF-1α and VEGF (all
P
< 0.05); meanwhile, they remarkably increased the MVD in foot dorsum wound tissues and the protein expressions of HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR2, eNOS, MMP-2, and MMP-9 (all
P
< 0.05).
Conclusion
Inhibiting miR-217 could up-regulate HIF-1α/VEGF pathway to promote angiogenesis and ameliorate inflammation of DFU rats, thereby effectively advancing the healing of ulcerated area.
Tunable plasmon resonances in suspended 2D molybdenum oxide flakes are demonstrated. The 2D configuration generates a large depolarization factor and the presence of ultra-doping produces ...visible-light plasmon resonances. The ultra-doping process is conducted by reducing the semiconducting 2D MoO sub(3) flakes using simulated solar irradiation. The generated plasmon resonances can be controlled by the doping levels and the flakes' lateral dimensions, as well as by exposure to a model protein.
Abstract Subthreshold depression (StD) is a highly prevalent condition associated with increased service utilization and social morbidity. Nevertheless, due to limitations in current diagnostic ...systems that set the boundary for major depressive disorder (MDD), very few brain imaging studies on the neurobiology of StD have been carried out, and its underlying neurobiological mechanism remains unclear. In recent years, accumulating evidence suggests that the disruption of the default mode network (DMN), a network involved in self-referential processing, affective cognition, and emotion regulation, is involved in major depressive disorder. Using independent component analysis, we investigated resting-state default mode network (DMN) functional connectivity (FC) changes in two cohorts of StD patients with different age ranges (young and middle-aged, n = 57) as well as matched controls (n = 79). We found significant FC increase between the DMN and ventral striatum (key region in the reward network), in both cohorts of StD patients in comparison with controls. In addition, we also found the FC between the DMN and ventral striatum was positively and significantly associated with scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), a measurement of depressive symptomatology. We speculate that this enhanced FC between the DMN and the ventral striatum may reflect a self-compensation to ameliorate the lowered reward function.
Knowledge of the in-situ stress field in the rock mass at depth is important to provide stress boundary conditions for underground excavation design, stability evaluation, and the optimization of ...ground support systems. In the present study, in-situ stress measurement using hydraulic fracturing method is conducted in the Beishan area in Gansu Province, China, a preferred candidate site for China's high-level radioactive waste repository. Information on the stress magnitudes and orientations in three sub-areas is obtained from 136 measurement points in nine sub-vertical boreholes at depths ranging from 30 to 700m, and the distribution characteristics of the in-situ stress field is analyzed. The pressure–time records obtained from the test intervals with pre-existing fractures are discussed according to the acoustic borehole televiewer (BHTV) images. The measurement results indicate that the regional stress field is dominated by horizontal stress within most of the measurement depth ranges. A piecewise distribution of the principal stresses reveals approximately three stress domains with increasing depth. At shallow and medium depths, the stress fields are characterized by σH>σh>σv and σH>σv>σh, respectively, where σH, σh, and σv are maximum horizontal, minimum horizontal, and vertical stresses, respectively. With further increase of depth, the maximum principal stress changes from horizontal to vertical (i.e. σv>σH>σh). Fracture impression results reveal that the maximum horizontal stress is dominantly oriented in the NNE–NEE direction, which is in agreement with the orientation of regional tectonic stress field generated from movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. In addition, it is found that the orientations of σH are affected by the geological structures significantly.
•Geological features of the Beishan area are described.•The results of the hydro-fracturing in-situ stress measurements are presented.•The distribution characteristics of the in-situ stress filed are analyzed.•The regional stress field associated with the geological evolution is discussed.
Planar 2D materials are possibly the ideal channel candidates for future field effect transistors (FETs), due to their unique electronic properties. However, the performance of FETs based on 2D ...materials is yet to exceed those of conventional silicon based devices. Here, a 2D channel thin film made from liquid phase exfoliated molybdenum oxide nanoflake inks with highly controllable substoichiometric levels is presented. The ability to induce oxygen vacancies by solar light irradiation in an aqueous environment allows the tuning of electronic properties in 2D substoichiometric molybdenum oxides (MoO3−x). The highest mobility is found to be ≈600 cm2 V−1 s−1 with an estimated free electron concentration of ≈1.6 × 1021 cm−3 and an optimal IOn/IOff ratio of >105 for the FETs made of 2D flakes irradiated for 30 min (x = 0.042). These values are significant and represent a real opportunity to realize the next generation of tunable electronic devices using electronic inks.
Electronic inks of 2D MoO3−x flakes based on a solar light irradiation in liquid‐phase exfoliated method are used for developing channels FETs for future high‐performance printed nanoelectronic devices. It is shown that the carrier concentration, energy band, and carrier charge mobility in 2D MoO3−x‐based FETs can be tuned and the optimal substoichiometric value with the maximum transconductance is obtained.
Background
Induction of labour has become an increasingly common procedure. Ripening methods, including mechanical devices and pharmacological agents, improve the success rate of labour induction.
...Objective
To compare the efficacy and safety of the double‐balloon catheter with prostaglandin E2 agents used for labour induction.
Search strategy
We searched electronic sources from MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science, the Cochrane Library Database of Systematic Reviews, and ClinicalTrials.gov website.
Selection criteria
Only randomised controlled trials comparing the PGE2 agents with the double‐balloon catheter for cervical ripening and labour induction in women with unfavourable cervices were included in the analysis.
Data collection and analysis
The main outcomes included the vaginal delivery rate within 24 hours and risk of caesarean section. We calculated relative risks and mean differences using fixed‐ and random‐effects models.
Main results
Nine studies (1866 patients) were included in this systematic review. Both the double‐balloon catheter and PGE2 agents were comparable with regard to rate of caesarean section (RR 0.92; 95% CI 0.79, 1.07), vaginal delivery within 24 hours (RR 0.95; 95% CI 0.78, 1.16) and maternal adverse events, but the risk of excessive uterine activity (RR 10.02; 95% CI 3.99, 25.17) and need for neonatal intensive care unit admissions (RR 1.31; 95% CI 1.01, 1.69) were significantly increased in women who received PGE2 agents.
Conclusions
The double‐balloon catheter demonstrated greater safety and cost‐effectiveness than PGE2 agents for cervical ripening and labour induction. The efficacy profiles of both methods were similar.
Tweetable
Double‐balloon catheter versus prostaglandin E2 for cervical ripening and labour induction
Tweetable
Double‐balloon catheter versus prostaglandin E2 for cervical ripening and labour induction
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of irreversible dementia, is predicted to affect 152 million people by 2050. Evidence from large-scale preventive randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on ...modifiable risk variables in Europe has shown that multi-domain lifestyle treatments for older persons at high risk of dementia may be practical and effective. Given the substantial differences between the Chinese and European populations in terms of demographics and living conditions, direct adoption of the European program in China remains unfeasible. Although a RCT has been conducted in China previously, its participants were mainly from rural areas in northern China and, thus, are not representative of the entire nation.There is an urgent need to establish cohorts that represent different economic, cultural, and geographical situations in order to explore implementation strategies and evaluate the effects of early multi-domain interventions more comprehensively and accurately.
We developed an integrated intervention procedure implemented in urban neighborhood settings, namely China Initiative for Multi-Domain Intervention (CHINA-IN-MUDI). CHINA-IN-MUDI is a 2-year multicenter open-label cluster-randomised controlled trial centered around a Chinese-style multi-domain intervention to prevent cognitive decline. Participants aged 60-80 years were recruited from a nationally representative study, i.e. China Healthy Aging and Dementia Study cohort. An external harmonization process was carried out to preserve the original FINGER design. Subsequently, we standardized a series of Chinese-style intervention programs to align with cultural and socioeconomic status. Additionally, we expanded the secondary outcome list to include genomic and proteomic analyses. To enhance adherence and facilitate implementation, we leveraged an e-health application.
Screening commenced in July 2022. Currently, 1,965 participants have been randomized into lifestyle intervention (n = 772) and control groups (n = 1,193). Both the intervention and control groups exhibited similar baseline characteristics. Several lifestyle and vascular risk factors were present, indicating a potential window of opportunity for intervention. The intervention will be completed by 2025.
This project will contribute to the evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of intervention strategies in controlling AD risk and reducing clinical events, providing a basis for public health decision-making in China.
Eutectic gallium‐indium (EGaIn) liquid metal droplets have been considered as a suitable platform for producing customized 3D composites with functional nanomaterials owing to their soft and highly ...reductive surface. Herein, the synthesis of a 3D plasmonic oxide framework (POF) is reported by incorporating the ultra‐thin angstrom‐scale‐porous hexagonal molybdenum oxide (h‐MoO3) onto the spherical EGaIn nanodroplets through ultrasonication. Simultaneously, a large number of oxygen vacancies form in h‐MoO3, boosting its free charge carrier concentration and therefore generating a broad surface plasmon resonance across the whole visible light spectrum. The plasmonic chemical sensing properties of the POF is investigated by the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering detection of rhodamine 6G (R6G) at 532 nm, in which the minimum detectable concentration is 10−8 m and the enhancement factor reached up to 6.14 × 106. The extended optical absorption of the POF also allowed the efficient degradation of the R6G dye under the excitation of ultraviolet‐filtered simulated solar light. Furthermore, the POF exhibits remarkable photocurrent responses towards the entire visible light region with the maximum response of ≈1588 A W−1 at 455 nm. This work demonstrates the great potential of the liquid metal‐based POFs for high‐performance sensing, catalytic, and optoelectronic devices.
A liquid metal‐based 3D plasmonic oxide framework (POF) is developed, which consists of eutectic EGaIn nanodroplets coated with sub‐stoichiometric ultra‐thin hexagonal MoO3–x. The POF shows a broadband surface plasmon resonance across the visible and near‐infrared region. Together with the ultra‐high surface active area, the 3D POF demonstrates excellent performances in chemical sensing, photocatalytic, and optoelectronic applications.
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