Phosphate binder therapy is essential for managing hyperphosphatemia in patients undergoing hemodialysis. However, nonadherence remains a common challenge. Gummy formulations are considered patient-friendly because they do not require water and are easily chewed. In this study, we developed a calcium acetate gummy formulation (CA-G) and evaluated its pharmaceutical properties and palatability in both healthy volunteers and patients undergoing hemodialysis. CA-G (3.5 g per formulation) was prepared using a gelatin-based matrix containing calcium acetate (CA; 250 mg) and organoleptic masking agents (flavors and sweeteners). The formulation was evaluated for drug content, dissolution behavior, water activity, penetration distance, and phosphate-binding efficacy. Four flavored CA-Gs (yuzu, Darjeeling tea, lemon, and apple) were prepared. In a gustatory sensation test, 24 healthy volunteers evaluated palatability using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). In addition, palatability was assessed by nine patients undergoing hemodialysis using a 5-point scale, and changes in serum phosphate levels were explored. CA content was 102.8% of the intended amount; maximum dissolution rate was 97.6%; water activity was 0.732; and penetration distance was 13.1 mm. Incorporation of CA into the gummy matrix did not compromise maximum phosphate-binding efficacy. Flavored CA-Gs showed significantly higher palatability VAS scores than the non-flavored formulation in healthy volunteers, with at least 75% of patients rating them acceptable. Serum phosphate levels decreased after CA-G supplementation. These findings suggest that palatable and flavor-varied CA-G may represent a patient-friendly dosage-form option for patients undergoing hemodialysis.

This study investigates a non-ureolytic approach to fungal-based Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) using organic calcium sources. As prior research has mainly focused on bacterial-based MICP, this study systematically evaluates the ability of filamentous fungi to induce non-ureolytic calcium carbonate formation. Five fungal strains, i.e., Trichoderma reesei, Neurospora crassa, Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Pleurotus ostreatus, were assessed using calcium acetate and calcium lactate as organic calcium sources. All strains, except P. ostreatus, facilitated calcium precipitation under at least one of the tested conditions. Notably, P. chrysogenum achieved apparent precipitation efficiencies around 90%, while F. oxysporum exceeded 96% under selected acetate and lactate conditions and exhibited more consistent growth across the tested conditions. Structural characterisation confirmed that calcium carbonate deposited on and around fungal biomass, with calcite and vaterite crystals identified as the main polymorphs. These findings show that filamentous fungi can mediate non-ureolytic calcium carbonate precipitation from organic calcium sources, with clear differences in growth, pH response, calcium removal, and mineral formation among fungal species. The study provides a microbiological basis for understanding fungal-driven carbonate biomineralisation and supports further investigation of filamentous fungi under non-ureolytic MICP conditions.

Hypoparathyroidism is the most common complication after total thyroidectomy and may be particularly severe in pediatric Graves' disease. We report the case of a 14-year-old boy with Graves' disease who developed profound postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy, with serum calcium 5.9 mg/dL, ionized calcium 0.83 mmol/L, and undetectable parathyroid hormone. Despite intravenous and high-dose oral calcium plus calcitriol, biochemical control remained poor, with persistent hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and ongoing treatment requirements after 16 days. Off-label subcutaneous palopegteriparatide, a long-acting PTH(1-34) prodrug, was started after multidisciplinary assessment and informed consent from the family. Serum calcium improved within 48 h, intravenous calcium was stopped after 5 days, and calcitriol, sevelamer, and calcium acetate were discontinued within 11 days. Treatment was well tolerated. This case suggests that early PTH replacement may be a useful rescue strategy in selected children with severe refractory post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia.

Calcified amorphous tumors (CATs) are rare, non-neoplastic intracardiac masses first described by Reynolds et al. in 1997. Although increasingly reported, their pathogenesis remains poorly understood, and they are frequently misdiagnosed as vegetations, cardiac myxomas, or malignant tumors. Proposed mechanisms include abnormalities in calcium-phosphate metabolism and hypercoagulable states. We report a case of CAT formation in a patient receiving peritoneal dialysis with severe, refractory hyperphosphatemia. A 47-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, and end-stage renal disease on peritoneal dialysis had unremitting hyperphosphatemia (>10 mg/dL). Phosphate control was limited despite having trialed sevelamer and calcium acetate and intolerance to tenapanor due to gastrointestinal adverse effects. She had mixed adherence to dietary recommendations. She presented with leg pain and imaging raised concern for a psoas abscess. As part of an infectious embolic evaluation, transthoracic echocardiography revealed mitral valve dysfunction caused by a mobile intracardiac mass. Surgical resection was performed, and histopathologic examination confirmed a CAT. CATs typically present with symptoms related to valvular obstruction or embolization. Imaging findings on echocardiography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging are nonspecific, making histopathology essential for definitive diagnosis. Surgical excision remains the treatment of choice, with recurrence reported rarely. Given the propensity for calcium-phosphate deposition in patients with chronic hyperphosphatemia, strict phosphate control may reduce the risk of CAT development in patients with end-stage renal disease, though further studies are needed to clarify preventive strategies.

Cell-free biosensor systems offer a promising platform for portable diagnostics. Here, we evaluate electrochemical readout from these systems, using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a redox enzyme reporter. HRP was synthesized in an Escherichia coli cell-free transcription-translation system supplemented with hemin, calcium acetate, and commercial disulfide bond enhancers. Electrochemical detection of its activity was established by chronoamperometry, with hydrogen peroxide as a substrate and tetramethylbenzidine as a redox mediator. Cell-free expressed HRP produced a strong steady-state current compared to a catalytically inactive mutant and a no-template control. Kinetic analysis showed a Km for the cell-free expressed HRP close to that of the native enzyme. To explore the potential of HRP as an electrochemical reporter, we placed it under the control of a tetracycline-responsive regulatory promoter and demonstrated a 2.5-fold current increase in the presence of anhydrotetracycline. These results support HRP as an electrochemical reporter for cell-free biosensors, offering a complementary alternative to existing optical reporters for future use in handheld analytical devices.

Transitioning to a resource-efficient and sustainable circular economy is vital for tackling climate- and environmental-related challenges. This study demonstrates a closed-loop strategy for upcycling agricultural biowaste eggshells. Water-insoluble proteins were extracted from both shell membranes and shell fragments by boiling in water using protein denaturants. The ground eggshells also were used to prepare calcium acetate (Ca(CH3COO)2) and to treat Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood. Mineralisation of the wood was achieved by performing a two-step impregnation process using aqueous solutions of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (NH4H2PO4) and Ca(CH3COO)2 salts. Morphological studies revealed the relatively low saturation of wood matrix with mineral, with cell lumina mostly unfilled, while elemental mapping confirmed homogeneous distribution of Ca and P within the wood matrix. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that wood treatment resulted in the in-situ co-precipitation of low-crystallinity hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2), and spectroscopic analysis indicated carbonate substitution within the Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 crystal lattice, suggesting the formation of carbonated hydroxyapatite (Ca10-x(PO4)6-x(CO3)x(OH)2-x-2y(CO3)y). Microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC) and cone calorimeter (CC) measurements of mineralised wood revealed a reduction in the total heat release (THR) compared with untreated wood, indicating potential for further optimisation of wood modification process. Results suggest that the proposed aqueous solution-based processing approach for converting an abundant resource, chicken eggshells, into value-added products has potential for new technology and bioeconomy development and represents a promising pathway towards improved sustainability.

Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a key regulator of cancer cell survival and proliferation, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Quinalizarin is a potent CK2 inhibitor; however, its clinical application is limited by suboptimal delivery and bioavailability. This study aimed to develop and characterize a quinalizarin-gold nanoparticle nanocomplex (QGNPs) and evaluate its potential to enhance anticancer activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). QGNPs were synthesized using sulfhydryl calcium acetate as a linking agent. The nanocomplex was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. Drug loading and release profiles were assessed using UV-Vis spectroscopy. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated in A549 lung cancer cells using MTT assay, and cellular uptake was examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. QGNPs demonstrated successful conjugation, with an increase in particle size from ~ 15 to 85.18 ± 8.25 nm and a zeta potential shift to - 19.59 ± 5.62 mV. The nanocomplex exhibited pH-responsive drug release, with significantly higher quinalizarin release under acidic conditions (pH 5.0) compared to physiological pH (7.4). In vitro studies showed that QGNPs significantly enhanced cytotoxic activity compared to free quinalizarin, with lower IC50 values. Confocal microscopy confirmed efficient intracellular uptake of QGNPs in A549 cells. QGNPs represent a promising nanocarrier system for improving the delivery and anticancer efficacy of quinalizarin in NSCLC. The enhanced cytotoxicity and pH-responsive release suggest potential for targeted cancer therapy. However, further studies are required to elucidate underlying mechanisms and to evaluate radiosensitization and in vivo therapeutic efficacy.

Blue honeysuckle is an emerging small berry with high nutritional value; However, the soft texture of its fresh fruit leads to poor storability and transportability, severely limiting its economic returns. Calcium is a key element in maintaining the structural integrity of plant cell walls and membranes, and plays a decisive role in fruit firmness and postharvest quality. To elucidate the effects of different calcium fertilizers on the fruit firmness, yield, and fruit quality of blue honeysuckle, a two-year field experiment was conducted using foliar application of 2 L of calcium fertilizer (CaC, CaA, CaL, SAC and AAC) at a concentration of 1 mg/L, with the control receiving an equal volume of water. The results showed that sugar alcohol calcium had the best effect on fruit firmness, fresh weight, yield, solid-acid ratio, total anthocyanins, and ascorbic acid, significantly improving yield and quality. Amino acid calcium was most effective in increasing fruit volume and fruit number per plant. Calcium acetate and calcium lactate showed balanced improvements across indicators. Calcium chloride significantly enhanced fruit shape index, total phenols, and total flavonoids. These findings elucidate the specific effects of various treatments on key fruit traits, providing a theoretical basis for precision cultivation and quality regulation, thereby facilitating the standardization and high-quality development of the industry.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) disrupts the gut microbiome through dietary restrictions, uraemia, and polypharmacy, including phosphate binders. This dysbiosis contributes to systemic inflammation, accumulation of uremic toxins, and reduced short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria. Hyperphosphatemia, a key CKD complication, typically emerges in advanced stages. This review examines the impact of phosphate binders on gut microbiota and explores emerging biological therapies. Phosphate binders are standard treatment for hyperphosphatemia but may influence gut microbiota by altering luminal pH, intestinal transit, and availability of metabolites such as SCFAs and vitamin K. These changes can impair gut barrier integrity and promote inflammation. Evidence on their microbiome effects is mixed: some studies show minimal compositional changes with calcium acetate or sucroferric oxyhydroxide, while others report individual variability and subtle taxon-specific shifts, particularly with iron-based binders. Even when compositional changes are limited, certain binders may modulate uremic toxin levels. Given the limitations of conventional therapies, biological approaches such as probiotics, synbiotics, and phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) are gaining interest. These strategies may reduce intestinal phosphate availability by lowering pH, enhancing calcium-phosphate binding, and promoting microbial phosphate uptake and storage, while supporting gut barrier function. Overall, current evidence remains heterogeneous and limited by small cohorts and preclinical designs. Although microbiota-targeted therapies show mechanistic promise, robust clinical trials are needed before they can be recommended beyond adjunctive use.

The Sanxingdui Site's waterlogged ivory tusks, a testament to ancient sacrificial practices and a biogenetic archive of the Chengdu Basin's paleo-environment, face collapse due to centuries of burial-induced degradation. Clay and moisture clogging microcracks weaken their structure, greatly increasing the challenge of effective consolidation. Inspired by bone's natural resilience, we developed a biomimetic, minimally invasive method to preserve these cultural treasures, using Sanxingdui waterlogged and deteriorated ivories as a model. Through detailed analysis, we identified barriers to consolidation and introduced calcium-based solutions─calcium acetate solution for deep, clay-rich fissures and calcium hydroxide nanoparticle suspension for larger cracks, combined with diammonium phosphate─to form a bone-like hydroxyapatite network in situ within cracks and fissures. This strengthens artifacts by 69.7% in hardness and 90.9% in elastic modulus, reduces water loss during dehydration from 31.3 ± 2.6% to 9.6 ± 0.7%, and ensures stability after 180 days of aging (25 ± 3 °C, 85 ± 5% RH). Our integrated approach to material design, synthesis, and evaluation not only sets a standard for conserving waterlogged heritage materials, such as bones, wood, and textiles, but also inspires innovative binding solutions for fields like adhesives and civil engineering. Blending materials science with archeology, this work safeguards humanity's shared history.

The potential for calcium carbonate (CaCO3) mineralization of mycelium composites (MCs) using a procedure commonly applied to natural wood is explored. The effects of this mineralization on the structural, thermal, and compressive properties of the materials are explored, revealing unexpected outcomes that challenge prior observations reported for mineralized wood. CaCO3 was deposited into MCs via an in situ, vacuum-assisted mineralization process using calcium acetate and sodium bicarbonate, with treatment durations of 5 and 24 h, resulting in mineral contents of ∼1 and 10 wt %, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and selective area electron diffraction (SAED) confirmed the formation of CaCO3 crystals, identifying the predominant polymorphs; namely vaterite and calcite. Notably, mineralization led to a reduction in the thermal stability of the composites, suggesting a potential catalytic effect of CaCO3 on the thermal degradation of the MC. Compressive testing of the MCs further indicated a decline in their mechanical strength following mineralization, likely attributable to structural alterations induced during the process. In addition, Water Contact Analysis (WCA) showed a substantial decrease in surface hydrophobicity following mineralization, with contact angles reduced by more than 50% relative to untreated MCs. This study underscores the need for careful evaluation of mineralization strategies, as they may lead to deterioration rather than enhancement of MC performance. This is found to be contrary to many other previous reports on the mineralization of biomass materials.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) represents the key phenolic compound in green tea, which has been verified to possess various biological effects but suffers from low stability and poor bioavailability. To address these issues, EGCG-loaded nanoliposomes (ELs) were screened and prepared using an ethanol injection-calcium acetate gradient (EtOH-CAG) method. An encapsulation efficiency of 94.61% was achieved, involving a particle size of 118.6 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.23. Via layer-by-layer assembly, nanoliposomes modified with either ε-polylysine (ε-PL) monolayer (ELP) or ε-polylysine/sodium alginate (SA) bilayer (ELPA) exhibited substantially improved stability. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal analysis confirmed the effective loading of EGCG and the successful decoration of ε-PL and SA. Molecular docking analyses of dual ligands further characterized the surface modification mechanism, which was primarily mediated by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. ELPA maintained robust stability under conditions including 200 mM salt concentration, a pH range of 4-10, temperatures up to 55 °C, and a 25-day storage duration. The modified systems showed considerably enhanced cellular uptake without causing cytotoxicity. Collectively, the developed ε-PL/SA bilayer nanoliposomes offer an eco-friendly, efficient strategy to enhance EGCG stability and in vitro bioavailability in functional food applications.