Cyanobacteria play pivotal roles in global biogeochemical cycles and aquatic ecosystems due to their widespread distribution and significant contributions to primary production. Yet, the interactions between cyanobacteria and antibiotics remain unclear. This study revealed that Synechocystis sp., a cyanobacterial species, removed 94.27% of 0.1 mg l⁻¹ chloramphenicol (CAP) through enzyme-mediated degradation. While cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450s) were found unnecessary for CAP removal, a gene encoding cyanobacterial nitroreductase was significantly up-regulated (7.85-fold) under CAP exposure. The purified nitroreductase exhibited strong binding affinity to CAP (K _d = 2.9 nM) and a Michaelis constant (K _m) of 104.0 μM. By engineering a bacterial strain with nitroreductase, 94.43% of 0.1 mg l⁻¹ CAP was removed within 2 h. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses showed that nitroreductase genes and transcripts are globally distributed across diverse microbial phyla. These findings uncover a novel enzyme for CAP degradation and advance sustainable biotechnologies to mitigate antibiotic pollution, addressing critical environmental challenges in aquaculture and other industries globally.

Epidermal growth factor receptor/mitogen-activated protein kinase (EGFR/MAPK) signaling is highly activated in various types of cancer. The long noncoding RNAs induced by this pathway and their roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, based on the profiling of long noncoding RNAs triggered by EGFR/MAPK signaling, we identified that ESSENCE (EGF [epidermal growth factor] Signal Sensing CAD's Effect; ENST00000415336), which is mediated by the transcription factor early growth response factor 1, functions as a potent oncogenic molecule that predicts poor prognosis in CRC. Mechanistically, ESSENCE directly interacts with carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase (CAD) and competitively attenuates CAD degradation mediated by its newly discovered E3 ligase KEAP1, thereby suppressing ferroptosis and promoting CRC progression. Importantly, combinational treatment of the mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor selumetinib and ferroptosis inducer sulfasalazine synergistically suppresses ESSENCE-high CRC in a patient-derived xenograft mouse model. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the crucial role of ESSENCE in mediating CRC progression by regulating CAD stabilization and suggest a therapeutic strategy of targeting the ESSENCE–CAD axis in CRC.

Bacterial infections markedly strain healthcare systems financially, compounded by the rise of drug-resistant strains and biofilm-associated infections. Gas therapy has emerged as a notable solution, disrupting biofilms and targeting resistant bacteria through controlled gas release mechanisms. However, achieving precise and controlled gas release remains a critical challenge for the successful implementation of gas therapy. In this perspective, we summarize recent advancements in photocatalytic gas release for treating bacterial infections. It also outlines crucial challenges that must be addressed to fully leverage this promising therapeutic strategy, enhancing its precision and effectiveness in clinical settings.

Self-propulsion enzymatic nanomotors have shown tremendous potential in the field of diagnostics. In a study led by Wang and coworkers, nanoenzyme-driven cup-shaped nanomotors were designed for enhanced cell penetration and synergistic photodynamic/thermal treatments under single near-infrared laser irradiation. By combining the concepts of self-propulsion enzymatic nanomotors and synergistic dual-modal therapy, this work provides a new idea and tool for the application of nanomotors in the biomedical field.

Endometriosis is marked by the ectopic growth, spread, and invasion of endometrial tissue beyond the uterus, resulting in recurrent bleeding, pain, reproductive challenges, and the formation of nodules or masses. Despite advancements in detection methods like ultrasound and laparoscopy, these techniques remain limited by low specificity and invasiveness, underscoring the need for a highly specific, noninvasive in vitro diagnostic method. This study investigates the potential of using menstrual blood as a noninvasive diagnostic sample for endometriosis by targeting genetic and inflammatory markers associated with endometriosis lesions. A novel digital droplet enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ddELISA) was developed, leveraging SiO₂ nanoparticles for the femtomolar-sensitive detection of inflammatory cytokines (OPN, IL-10, IL-6) in menstrual blood. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed differentiation patterns across endometrial tissues and menstrual blood, affirming that menstrual blood replicates key inflammatory and immune properties of endometriosis. Furthermore, endometriosis menstrual blood endometrial cells derived from human menstrual blood displayed similar properties to endometrial stromal cells in endometriosis lesions, validating menstrual blood as a suitable in vitro diagnostic sample. In contrast to traditional ELISA, ddELISA supports multi-target detection with enhanced sensitivity and reduced processing time, allowing precise biomarker analysis from minimal sample volumes. Our ddELISA-based approach shows promise as a rapid, accessible, and accurate diagnostic tool for endometriosis, with potential for practical clinical application.

Bariatric surgery has emerged as a promising intervention for obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition strongly associated with obesity and anovulatory infertility. While weight management is a key therapeutic strategy, the optimal approach remains uncertain. A recent randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of bariatric surgery on ovulation rates in obese women with PCOS. However, methodological limitations, including baseline body mass index discrepancies and minimal weight loss in the medical management group, necessitate cautious interpretation of the findings. To further investigate this issue, we conducted a prospective cohort study involving 192 women with PCOS who had undergone bariatric surgery. We assessed 30 reproductive and metabolic parameters at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Most metabolic parameters improved significantly by 3 months postsurgery but plateaued thereafter, with only triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showing continued improvement. Reproductive outcomes demonstrated sustained improvements in ovulatory dysfunction, coinciding with a reduction in luteinizing hormone levels. However, testosterone levels and polycystic ovarian morphology showed limited improvement, while anti-Müllerian hormone levels remained unchanged. Despite the total weight loss exceeding 30%, further weight reduction did not proportionally enhance outcomes. These findings suggest that while bariatric surgery effectively improves metabolic health and ovulation in PCOS, its long-term hormonal and ovarian effects remain unclear and require further investigation. Head-to-head comparisons with emerging therapies are also urgently needed to refine weight management strategies for this high-risk population.

Stress-induced apoptosis presents an obstacle to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation to repair steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH). Thus, appropriate intervention strategies should be explored to mitigate this. In our previous study, we discovered a new subgroup of BMSCs—the oxidative stress-resistant BMSCs (OSR-BMSCs)—which can survive the oxidative stress microenvironment in the osteonecrotic area, through a mechanism that currently remains unclear. In this study, we found that B-lymphoid tyrosine kinase (BLK) may be the crucial factor regulating the oxidative stress resistance of OSR-BMSCs, as it is highly expressed in these cells. Knockdown of BLK eliminated oxidative stress resistance, aggravated oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, reduced the survival of OSR-BMSCs in the oxidative stress microenvironment of the osteonecrotic area, and greatly weakened the transplantation efficacy of OSR-BMSCs for SONFH. By contrast, BLK was weakly expressed in oxidative stress-sensitive BMSCs (OSS-BMSCs). Overexpression of BLK in susceptible OSS-BMSCs allowed them to acquire oxidative stress resistance, inhibited oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, promoted their survival in the osteonecrotic area, and improved the transplantation efficacy of OSS-BMSCs for SONFH. Mechanistically, BLK concurrently activates redox and apoptotic signaling networks through its tyrosine kinase activity, which confers oxidative stress resistance to BMSCs and inhibits their stress-induced apoptosis of BMSCs. Herein, we report that OSR-BMSCs have intrinsic oxidative stress resistance that is conferred and mediated by BLK. This finding provides a potential new intervention strategy for improving the survival of transplanted BMSCs and the therapeutic efficacy of BMSC transplantation for SONFH.

Facial masks are often used to treat skin problems, and the introduction of microcurrent ion penetration technology can improve drug penetration and help facial tissue repair. However, most microcurrent stimulation masks contain a direct current power supply and require external power sources, resulting in inconvenient portability and use. Herein, we provide a noninvasive self-powered iontophoresis mask with a water-driven power supply, which is continuously prepared by self-constructing equipment to continually construct a zinc–manganese fiber battery (Zn-Mn@FB) and then seamlessly integrated with a nonwoven cellulose-based superabsorbent fiber substrate. The mask can be activated by water and is simple and portable to use. Zn-Mn@FB demonstrated a capacitance retention of 65.22% (1,000 cycles) and a specific discharge capacity of 27.33 mAh/g (10 cm), which improved with an increase in battery length to up to 41 mAh/g (30 cm). The iontophoresis mask exhibited a stable current within the safe range of 0.09 to 0.59 mA (within 800 s) after water activation, and the drug penetration area increased by 102.64%. The platform is expected to become a practical device for enhanced transdermal drug delivery in the medical field, with the potential to integrate additional components for expanded functionality and productization in the future.

Stimuli-responsive materials have shown promising applications in the areas of sensing, bioimaging, information encryption, and bioinspired camouflage. In particular, multi-stimuli-responsive materials represent a hot topic due to their modulated properties under multiple stimuli. Herein, we successfully developed multi-stimuli-responsive inks and a series of complex multi-stimuli-responsive 3-dimensional (3D) structures were fabricated via digital light processing 3D-printing technology. Notably, these complex 3D structures show shape memory, fast-response photochromic and thermochromic behavior, and excellent repeatability due to the combination of photochromic molecules (4-(2,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)vinyl) benzyl methacrylate) and thermochromic pigments. Furthermore, a programmable encrypted box that changes colors and morphology by controlling temperature and ultraviolet irradiation was designed and printed, and this encrypted box exhibits strong security using OpenCV-based image recognition technology. This strategy provides a promising approach for the design of multi-stimuli-responsive materials and complex encryption systems in the future.

Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) plays a crucial role in guiding reperfusion therapy and patient selection for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) through perfusion parameter maps of the brain; however, its widespread use is limited by the complexity of acquisition protocols and high radiation dose. Previous studies have attempted to reduce radiation exposure by equally lowering the temporal sampling rate; however, it may miss the peak of arterial enhancement, leading to underestimation of blood flow parameter. Here, we investigate the feasibility of using a generative adversarial network (GAN) to generate perfusion maps from 3 phases of CTP (mCTP). The three phases were chosen based on the multiphase computed tomography angiography scanning protocol: the peak arterial input function phase, the peak venous output function phase, and the delayed venous output function phase. The findings demonstrate that the GAN model achieved high visual overlap and performance for cerebral blood flow and time-to-maximum maps, with a mean structural similarity index measure of 0.921 to 0.971 and 0.817 to 0.883, a mean normalized root mean squared error of 0.019 to 0.108 and 0.058 to 0.064, and a mean learned perceptual image patch similarity of 0.039 to 0.088 and 0.141 to 0.146, respectively. For the 2 external datasets, the volume agreement between the model- and CTP-derived infarct and hypoperfusion areas was the intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.731 to 0.883 and 0.499 to 0.635, and the Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.720 to 0.808 and 0.533 to 0.6540, respectively. Qualitative assessments of diagnostic quality further confirmed that the mCTP-derived maps were comparable to those obtained from traditional CTP. In conclusion, the GAN-based model is effective in generating perfusion maps from mCTP, which could serve as a viable alternative to traditional CTP in the diagnostic evaluation of AIS.