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Since the first dendrimer was reported in 1978 by Fritz Vögtle, dendrimer research has grown exponentially, from synthesis to application in the past four decades. The distinct structure characteristics of dendrimers include nanoscopic size, multi-functionalized surface, high branching, cavernous interior, and so on, making dendrimers themselves ideal drug delivery vehicles. This mini review article provides a brief overview of dendrimer’s history and properties and the latest developments of dendrimers as drug delivery systems. This review focuses on the latest progress in the applications of dendrimers as drug and gene carriers, including 1) active drug release strategies to dissociate drug/gene from dendrimer in response to stimuli; 2) size-adaptive and charge reversal dendrimer delivery systems that can better take advantage of the size and surface properties of dendrimer; 3) bulk and micro/nano dendrimer gel delivery systems. The recent advances in dendrimer formulations may lead to the generation of new drug and gene products and enable the development of novel combination therapies.

Digital currencies are becoming increasingly important to governments and financial institutions around the world as advanced technology develops. The central bank of China has led research on digital currency around the world since China has one of the largest electronic payment markets. With this digital currency, the People's Bank of China is promoting inclusive financial growth, enhancing monetary policy transmission, and improving payment efficiency. As well as its impact on international monetary systems, financial security, privacy protection, and financial security protection will also be profoundly affected. In this paper, the focus will be on the Chinese central bank's digital currency development, technical foundation, and application status. As well as analyzing its impact on future innovations in financial technology, opportunities and challenges will also be discussed. By developing a digital currency, China has expressed its interest in the future of the modern financial system in a positive way with forward-looking and responsive layouts. DCEP, as a new payment tool, aims to replace some cash and improve the speed and security of fund circulation. Compared with traditional electronic payment methods, CBDC is expected to bring breakthroughs in user privacy protection, reduced transaction costs, and improved cross-border payment convenience.

Piezo1 is a bona fide mechanosensitive ion channel ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells. The distribution of Piezo1 within a cell is essential for various biological processes including cytokinesis, cell migration, and wound healing. However, the underlying principles that guide the subcellular distribution of Piezo1 remain largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that membrane curvature serves as a key regulator of the spatial distribution of Piezo1 in the plasma membrane of living cells. Piezo1 depletes from highly curved membrane protrusions such as filopodia and enriches to nanoscale membrane invaginations. Quantification of the curvature-dependent sorting of Piezo1 directly reveals the in situ nano-geometry of the Piezo1-membrane complex. Piezo1 density on filopodia increases upon activation, independent of calcium, suggesting flattening of the channel upon opening. Consequently, the expression of Piezo1 inhibits filopodia formation, an effect that diminishes with channel activation. This study demonstrates that the curvature of the cell membrane directly regulates the spatial distribution of Piezo1, a widely expressed mechanosensitive ion channel. Piezo1 may flatten upon activation and can mechanically inhibit membrane dynamics

Isoliensinine, liensinine and neferine are major bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids in the seed embryo of lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera) and exhibit potential anti-cancer activity. Here, we explored the effects of these alkaloids on triple-negative breast cancer cells and found that among the three alkaloids isoliensinine possesses the most potent cytotoxic effect, primarily by inducing apoptosis. Interestingly, isoliensinine showed a much lower cytotoxicity against MCF-10A, a normal human breast epithelial cell line. Further studies showed that isoliensinine could significantly increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in triple-negative breast cancer cells, but not in MCF-10A cells. The isoliensinine-induced apoptosis could be attenuated by radical oxygen scavenger N-acetyl cysteine, suggesting that the cytotoxic effect of isoliensinine on cancer cells is at least partially achieved by inducing oxidative stress. We found that both p38 MAPK and JNK signaling pathways were activated by isoliensinine treatment and contributed to the induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibitors or specific siRNAs of p38 MAPK and JNK could attenuate apoptosis induced by isoliensinine. However, only the p38 inhibitor or p38-specific siRNA blocked the elevation of ROS in isoliensinine-treated cells. Our findings thus revealed a novel antitumor effect of isoliensinine on breast cancer cells and may have therapeutic implications.

In the digital age, social media has not only transformed the way individuals interact but has also become a significant platform for self-presentation, especially among young people. Social comparison regarding appearance has become more prevalent in this environment, raising concerns about its impact on mental health. This study specifically examines the effects of upward social comparison (USC) on appearance anxiety, providing empirical support for the relationship between USC and appearance anxiety. Based on the Stress-Vulnerability Model, the Stress and Coping Model, Objectification Theory, and Self-Compassion Theory, the study constructs a moderated mediation model. An anonymous survey was conducted of 397 young adults (mean age = 21.6 years, SD = 2.12 years). The results showed that: (1) USC significantly predicted appearance anxiety (β = 0.546, p < 0.001); (2) self-objectification partially mediated the relationship between USC and appearance anxiety, with the mediation effect accounting for 21% of the total effect; (3) self-compassion moderated the relationship between USC and self-objectification, such that higher levels of self-compassion weakened the effect of USC on self-objectification.

Anisotropic materials with oppositely signed dielectric tensors support hyperbolic polaritons, displaying enhanced electromagnetic localization and directional energy flow. However, the most reported hyperbolic phonon polaritons are difficult to apply for active electro-optical modulations and optoelectronic devices. Here, we report a dynamic topological plasmonic dispersion transition in black phosphorus via photo-induced carrier injection, i.e., transforming the iso-frequency contour from a pristine ellipsoid to a non-equilibrium hyperboloid. Our work also demonstrates the peculiar transient plasmonic properties of the studied layered semiconductor, such as the ultrafast transition, low propagation losses, efficient optical emission from the black phosphorus’s edges, and the characterization of different transient plasmon modes. Our results may be relevant for the development of future optoelectronic applications. Here, the authors report the generation and manipulation of transient hyperbolic plasmons in black phosphorus via ultrafast photocarrier injection, demonstrating a topological transition of the non-equilibrium iso-frequency contours and the coexistence of different transient plasmonic modes.

Stroke-induced depression is a common complication and an important risk factor for disability. Besides psychiatric symptoms, depressed patients may also exhibit a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, and even take gastrointestinal symptoms as the primary reason for medical treatment. It is well documented that stress may disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome in patients suffering from post-stroke depression (PSD), and that disruption of the gut microbiome is closely related to the severity of the condition in depressed patients. Therefore, maintaining the balance of intestinal microbiota can be the focus of research on the mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of PSD. Furthermore, stroke can be effectively treated with acupuncture at all stages and it may act as a special microecological regulator by regulating intestinal microbiota as well. In this article, we reviewed the studies on changing intestinal microbiota after acupuncture treatment and examined the existing problems and development prospects of acupuncture, microbiome, and poststroke depression, in order to provide new ideas for future acupuncture research.

This study aimed to assess the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have reported the use of acupuncture for the treatment of post-stroke aphasia (PSA). We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data Information Site, and China Science and Technology Journal Database from January 2013 to June 2023. RCTs utilizing acupuncture as an intervention for the treatment of post-stroke aphasia were included in this study. The overall quality score (OQS) of RCTs was independently evaluated by two researchers using the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) and the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) guidelines, with the agreement between researchers calculated using Cohen's kappa statistics. In conclusion, we included 38 RCTs in this study. The median OQS of the 38 RCTs was 13 (minimum 8, maximum 20) based on the CONSORT statement. Out of all CONSORT items, 10 (27%) had a positive rate of greater than 80%, while 17 (46%) had a positive rate of less than 10%. The median OQS of the 38 RCTs was 12 (minimum 6, maximum 14) based on the STRICTA guideline. Within the STRICTA guideline, 6 items (35%) had a positive rate of greater than 80%, and 3 items (18%) had a positive rate of less than 10%. Most items based on the CONSORT and STRICTA guidelines were observed to have a perfect or good degree of agreement. The overall reporting quality of RCTs for acupuncture treatment of PSA was found to be suboptimal. Notably, the reporting quality of the STRICTA guideline is higher compared to the CONSORT statement. Therefore, strict adherence to both the CONSORT and STRICTA statements is recommended to enhance the quality of RCT reports on acupuncture treatment for post-stroke aphasia.

According to several studies, a specific dietary pattern can reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. However, the robustness of these results has not been tested. The study intends to investigate the association between nutrition intake and cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults (≥45-years) and provide reliable, evidence-based references for healthcare decision-makers, researchers, and policymakers. Are the dietary characteristics of community-dwelling adults (≥45-years) associated with the occurrence of cognitive impairment? The primary objective of this protocol is to synthesize the longitudinal observational evidence on the relationship between nutrition intake patterns and the incidence of cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults (≥45-years), and to provide detailed dietary recommendations for the prevention of cognitive impairment in this population. Cohort studies conducted among adults (≥45-years) will be included. The following electronic databases will be searched for relevant records published by July 2023, with a restriction on language to English: Pubmed, Medline, Embase, Web of science, Cochrane Library. The studies will be selected, the data will be extracted, and the bias risk will be assessed by two independent investigators. The Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines will be followed to summarize observational studies, and the protocol will adhere to the recommendations from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols 2015 statement. Endnote X9 will be used to manage data screening. We will use Review Manager 5.4 and Stata 16.0 to conduct data analysis, and a random-effects model will be applied to pool clinically homogenous studies. The results will be presented based on the form of nutrition intake. For assessing publication bias, Egger's test and visual inspection of funnel plots will be utilized. As this study does not involve primary data, ethical approval is not required. The final report will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. A registration number of DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/NAKC3 was assigned to it on October 15, 2022 on Prospero.

Background Comorbidity of major depressive disorder (MDD) and abnormal lipid metabolism (ALM) is common. Psychotic major depression (PMD) is a severe subtype of MDD. However, the occurrence of psychotic symptoms in MDD patients with ALM has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to explore the risk factors for psychotic symptoms in MDD patients with ALM. Methods A total of 1289 first-episode, drug-naïve (FEDN) MDD patients aged 18–45 years were recruited. Sociodemographic data and various clinical parameters, including lipid profiles, thyroid function tests, and thyroid antibodies, were measured. Patients were evaluated using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), and the positive subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results In the FEDN MDD sample, the prevalence of ALM was 81.12% (1047/1289). Among MDD patients with ALM, levels of total cholesterol (TC), HAMA, HAMD, suicide attempts, TSH, TgAb, TPOAb, fasting glucose, and blood pressure were significantly higher in the PMD group than in the NPMD group. Binary logistic regression indicated that HAMD scores (OR = 1.187 [1.045, 1.349], P  = 0.0085), HAMA scores (OR = 1.699 [1.510, 1.912], P  < 0.0001), and TSH levels (OR = 1.116 [1.001, 1.234], P  = 0.0472) were independent risk factors for psychotic symptoms in MDD patients with ALM. Conclusion Our study identified a high prevalence of psychotic symptoms in young MDD patients with ALM. Key predictors, including HAMD, HAMA, and TSH, demonstrated strong predictive accuracy. These findings highlight the potential of these factors for early identification of psychotic symptoms in this patient population. Future research is needed to validate these results and explore the underlying mechanisms.