Single-Cell Unsaturated Lipid Profiling for Studying Chemoresistance Heterogeneity of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Chemoresistance to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a critical issue in clinical practice. Lipid metabolism takes a unique role in breast cancer cells; especially, unsaturated lipids involving cell membrane fluidity and peroxidation are highly remarked. At present, for the lack of a high-resolution molecular recognition platform at the single-cell level, it is still hard to systematically study chemoresistance heterogeneity based on lipid unsaturation proportion. By designing a single-cell mass spectrometry workflow based on CyESI-MS, we profiled the unsaturated lipids of TNBC cells to evaluate lipidomic remodeling under platinum stress. Profiling revealed the heterogeneity of the polyunsaturated lipid proportion of TNBC cells under cisplatin treatment. A cluster of cells identified by polyunsaturated lipid accumulation was found to be involved in platinum sensitivity. Furthermore, we found that the chemoresistance of TNBC cells could be regulated by fatty acid supplementation, which determinates the composition of unsaturated lipids. These discoveries provide insights for monitoring and controlling cellular unsaturated lipid proportions to overcome chemoresistance in breast cancer.

[Acute heart failure with altered ejection fraction : Electrocardiographic signs with mortality at the Abidjan cardiology institute]

INTRODUCTION

Heart failure with impaired ejection fraction (HFIEF) represents the end-stage of most cardiac diseases, and is responsible for a high mortality rate. In order to identify patients at risk, numerous clinical and paraclinical prognostic factors have been proposed. The electrocardiogram (ECG), easy to perform and inexpensive, retains a powerful role in the prognostic evaluation of heart failure patients. The aim was to evaluate ECG signs associated with mortality in a retrospective cohort of patients with ICFEA.

METHODOLOGY

The study was observational and analytical based on retrospective data collected from patients benefiting from a primary hospitalization for ICFEA at the Abidjan Heart Institute from January 2018 to July 2020.

RESULTS

Of the 370 patients included, 197 had died by August 1, 2020, representing an overall mortality of 53%. Mortality progressed gradually up to one year, then remained unchanged up to 30 months. In multivariate Cox regression including ECG variables only, the presence of intra-ventricular conduction disorders (OR: 1.80; 95% CI [1.01-3.25]), microvoltage (OR: 1.82; 95% CI [1.05-16]), and pathological Q waves (OR: 1.70; 95% CI [1.02-2.83]), were significantly associated with overall mortality. When ECG variables and clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic demographic variables were included, only the presence of pathological Q waves (OR:1.74; 95% CI [1.01-3.01]) persisted as a risk factor for mortality. Hypertension and treatment of heart failure, in particular ACEI/ARII, beta-blockers and ARM, were protective factors. The presence of Q waves was associated with a significant reduction in survival, based on curves obtained using the Kaplan-Meier model.

CONCLUSION

ICFEA is responsible for high mortality, mainly in the year following the 1st hospitalization for cardiac decompensation. The presence of pathological Q waves is the only electrocardiographic sign that remains statistically associated with a poor prognosis, after adjustment.

Effects of beta-blockers use on mortality of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a challenging disease with limited prevention and treatment options. The usage of beta-blockers may have potential benefits in different critical illnesses. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between beta-blocker therapy and mortality in patients with ARDS. Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) IV database and focused on patients diagnosed with ARDS. The primary outcome of the study was 30-day mortality. To account for confounding factors, a multivariable analysis was performed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was carried out on a 1:1 ratio. Robust assessments were conducted using inverse probability weighting (IPTW), standardized mortality ratio weighting (SMRW), pairwise algorithms (PA), and overlap weights (OW). Results: A total of 1,104 patients with ARDS were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses found that the 30-day mortality for 489 patients (23.7%) who received beta-blockers was significantly lower than the mortality rate of 615 patients (35.9%) who did not receive beta-blockers. After adjusting for potential confounders through PSM and propensity score, as well as utilizing IPTW, SMRW, PA, and OW, the results remained robust, with the hazard ratios (HR) ranging from 0.42 to 0.58 and all p-values < 0.001. Evaluation of the E-values indicated the robustness of the results even in the presence of unmeasured confounding. Conclusion: The findings suggest a potential association between beta-blocker usage and reduced mortality in critically ill patients with ARDS. However, further validation of this observation is needed through randomized controlled trials.

Single-cell metabolite profiling enables information-rich classification of lymphocyte types and subtypes

Lymphocytes play crucial roles in the human immune system; however, detailed metabolite characteristics need to be further investigated. Herein, we propose a lymphocyte classification method based on metabolite profiling at the single-cell level. The percentages of different lymphocyte types were calculated with a low margin of error, confirming that the metabolites could serve as a basis for lymphocyte classification. Furthermore, we analyzed the CD4/CD8 ratio in human peripheral blood to verify the feasibility of this method for the classification of lymphocyte subtypes. The proposed method is expected to be a potential tool for the clinical diagnosis of lymphocyte-related diseases.

Application of multidisciplinary in situ simulation training in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke: a quality improvement project

BACKGROUND

Ischemic stroke refers to a disorder in the blood supply to a local area of brain tissue for various reasons and is characterized by high morbidity, mortality, and disability. Early reperfusion of brain tissue at risk of injury is crucial for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to evaluate comfort levels in managing acute stroke patients with hypoxemia who required endotracheal intubation after multidisciplinary in situ simulation training and to shorten the door-to-image time.

METHODS

This quality improvement project utilized a comprehensive multidisciplinary in situ simulation exercise. A total of 53 participants completed the two-day in situ simulation training. The main outcome was the self-reported comfort levels of participants in managing acute stroke patients with hypoxemia requiring endotracheal intubation before and after simulation training. A 5-point Likert scale was used to measure participant comfort. A paired-sample t-test was used to compare the mean self-reported comfort scores of participants, as well as the endotracheal intubation time and door-to-image time on the first and second days of in situ simulation training. The door-to-image time before and after the training was also recorded.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that in situ simulation training could enhance participant comfort when managing acute stroke patients with hypoxemia who required endotracheal intubation and shorten door-to-image time. For the emergency management of hypoxemia or tracheal intubation, the mean post-training self-reported comfort score was significantly higher than the mean pre-training comfort score (hypoxemia: 4.53±0.64 vs. 3.62±0.69, t= -11.046, P<0.001; tracheal intubation: 3.98±0.72 vs. 3.43±0.72, t= -6.940, P<0.001). We also observed a decrease in the tracheal intubation and door-to-image time and a decreasing trend in the door-to-image time, which continued after the training.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that the implementation of in situ simulation training in a clinical environment with a multidisciplinary approach may improve the ability and confidence of stroke team members, optimize the first-aid process, and effectively shorten the door-to-image time of stroke patients with emergency complications.

Ethanol extract of Paridis rhizoma attenuates carrageenan-induced paw swelling in rats by inhibiting the production of inflammatory factors

CONTEXT

Inflammation has been identified as a key factor contributing to the development of numerous diseases. Several anti-inflammatory drugs have been developed to treat inflammation-related diseases. However, some of such drugs are associated with varying degrees of side effects. Therefore, it is imperative to develop new anti-inflammatory drugs with reducing side effects for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. Natural anti-inflammatory drugs have emerged as an important area of research in recent years. The study was to determine the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Paridis rhizoma extract (PRE) in rat models of acute inflammation induced by carrageenan and RAW264.7 cells models induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PRE was investigated using the carrageenan-induced paw oedema model on rats in vivo. Histopathology examined the extent of inflammatory infiltration and tissue damage. The effect of PRE on the levels of specific cytokines was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 assay evaluated the cytotoxic effects of PRE on Raw264.7 cells. The mRNA expression levels of cytokines were quantified using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Western blot measured TNF-α, IL6, TLR4, p-P65, p-IKB, HO1, SOD1 and SOD2. Fluorescence measured the cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

RESULTS

PRE treatment reduced interstitial edema and structural damage in a dose-dependent manner in vivo. PRE inhibited inflammatory responses in vivo and in vitro, as evidenced by the decreased expression of inflammatory factors, production of ROS, and increased expression of SOD1, SOD2, and HO1. Moreover, PRE inhibited the activity of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) pathway.

CONCLUSION

The anti-inflammatory activity and potential mechanism of PRE were demonstrated according to the results. PRE reduced LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells by inhibiting the NF-KB signaling pathway and ROS production in vitro. PRE alleviated interstitial edema and structural damage in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model on rats in vivo. This study provided an idea for future development of PR-based anti-inflammatory drugs.

Evaluation of Chlamydia trachomatis screening from the perspective of health economics: a systematic review

Background

Most Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections are asymptomatic. The infection can persist and lead to severe sequelae. Therefore, screening for CT can primarily prevent serious sequelae.

Aim

To systematically evaluate CT screening from the perspective of health economics, summarize previous findings from different target populations, and make practical recommendations for developing local CT screening strategies.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochran Library, and National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (Ovid) were searched from January 1, 2000, to March 4, 2023. Studies reporting the cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, or cost-utility of CT screening were eligible to be included. A narrative synthesis was used to analyze and report the results following the PRISMA guidelines. The Consensus on Health Economic Criteria (CHEC) list was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies.

Results

Our review finally comprised 39 studies addressing four populations: general sexually active people (n = 25), pregnant women (n = 4), women attending STD and abortion clinics (n = 4), and other high-risk individuals (n = 6). The total number of participants was ~7,991,198. The majority of studies assessed the cost-effectiveness or cost-utility of the screening method. The results showed that the following screening strategies may be cost-effective or cost-saving under certain conditions: performing CT screening in young people aged 15-24 in the general population, military recruits, and high school students; incorporating CT screening into routine antenatal care for pregnant women aged 15-30; opportunistic CT screening for women attending STD and abortion clinics; home-obtained sampling for CT screening using urine specimens or vaginal swab; performing CT screening for 14-30-year-old people who enter correctional institutions (i.e., jail, detention) as soon as possible; providing CT screening for female sex workers (FSWs) based on local incidence and prevalence; adding routine CT screening to HIV treatment using rectal samples from men who have sex with men (MSM).

Conclusion

We found that CT screening in general sexually active people aged 15-24, military recruits, high school students, pregnant women aged 15-30, women attending STD and abortion clinics, people entering jail, detention, FSWs, and MSM has health economic value. Due to the different prevalence of CT, diversities of economic conditions, and varying screening costs among different populations and different countries, regions, or settings, no uniform and standard screening strategies are currently available. Therefore, each country should consider its local condition and the results of health economic evaluations of CT screening programs in that country to develop appropriate CT screening strategies.

Chiral recognition of neutral guests by chiral naphthotubes with a bis-thiourea endo-functionalized cavity

Developing chiral receptors with an endo-functionalized cavity for chiral recognition is of great significance in the field of molecular recognition. This study presents two pairs of chiral naphthotubes containing a bis-thiourea endo-functionalized cavity. Each chiral naphthotube has two homochiral centers which were fixed adjacent to the thiourea groups, causing the skeleton and thiourea groups to twist enantiomerically through chiral transfer. These chiral naphthotubes are highly effective at enantiomerically recognizing various neutral chiral molecules with an enantioselectivity up to 17.0. Furthermore, the mechanism of the chiral recognition has been revealed to be originated from differences in multiple non-covalent interactions. Various factors, such as the shape of cavities, substituents of guests, flexibility of host and binding modes are demonstrated to contribute to creating differences in the non-covalent interactions. Additionally, the driving force behind enantioselectivity is mainly attributed to enthalpic differences, and enthalpy -entropy compensation has also been observed to influence enantioselectivity.

[Comparison of incubation periods of infections of Omicron variants BA.2 and BF.7 in Beijing]

Objective: To understand the incubation periods of infections of Omicron variants BA.2 and BF.7 in two COVID-19 epidemics and related factors in Beijing and provide basic parameters for the establishment of 2019-nCoV dynamic transmission model. Methods: The COVID-19 cases with specific exposure time and onset time in the Omicron variant BA.2 infection epidemic in April 2022 and in the Omicron variant BF.7 infection epidemic in October 2022 in Beijing were included in the analysis. The rank-sum test was conducted to estimate the differences in the incubation period between two types of infections. The incubation period distribution of the Omicron variant infection was fitted by using Weibull, Gamma and lognormal distributions. Multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to assess the effects of age, sex, variant type and vaccination status on the incubation periods. Results: A total of 64 cases of variant BA.2 infection and 58 cases of variant BF.7 infection were included. The M(Q1,Q3) of the incubation period was 3.00 (3.00, 4.00) days for BA.2 infection and 3.00 (2.00, 3.25) days for BF.7 infection. The lognormal distribution was the best fit. Multivariate analysis of variance showed that there were some differences in the incubation periods between two types of infections of Omicron variants, and the incubation period of variant BF.7 infection was shorter than that of variant BA.2 infection. Conclusion: Omicron variant BF.7 infection had shorter incubation period compared with Omicron variant BA.2 infection.

Active immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone affects thymic T cell production, migration, and colonization in male rat lymphoid tissue

Active immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) inhibits animal reproduction and has become a friendly alternative to surgical castration, which has been reported to affect the proportion of thymic T cell subpopulations. The effects of active immunization against GnRH on T cell migration from the thymus to the periphery and T cell distribution in lymphoid tissues remain unclear. Here, we showed that active immunization against GnRH increased thymic size and weight, enlarged the number of thymocytes, and enhanced CD4+ recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) and CD8+ RTEs migration to the blood and spleen. Active immunization against GnRH had no significant effect on naïve CD4+, naïve CD8+, CD4+ memory/activated, or CD8+ memory/activated T cells. In addition, active immunization against GnRH increased the proportion of CD3+ T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes. The percentages of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T cells in the blood, spleen, and lymph nodes were not significantly affected by GnRH immunization. Overall, these results enhance our understanding of thymic T cell production, migration, and colonization in rat lymphoid tissues affected by GnRH immunization.

Vault Height Is a Key Predictive Factor for Anterior Segment Measurement Error by IOLMaster 700 in Eyes With Phakic Intraocular Lens

Purpose

To identify risk factors of ocular anterior segment measurement error by the IOLMaster 700 in eyes implanted with an implantable Collamer lens (ICL).

Methods

In total, 152 patients with clear lens (152 eyes, group 1) and another 32 cataract patients (57 eyes, group 2) who underwent ICL implantation were included, and the presence of measurement error by the IOLMaster 700 was determined based on B-scan images. The risk factors for measurement error were evaluated by logistic regression, and the optimal threshold was determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Results

The ICL was misidentified as the anterior surface of the crystalline lens in 51.97% of eyes (79/152) in group 1 and 80.70% of eyes (46/57) in group 2. For every 100-µm decrease in the vault height, a 3.57- and 5.78-fold increase in the risk of measurement error was observed in group 1 and group 2, respectively. We identified an optimal threshold of the vault height at 389.47 µm for predicting biometric measurement error in eyes implanted with ICL, which showed an area under the curve of 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.90-0.97), a sensitivity of 0.87, and a specificity of 0.86.

Conclusions

Patients with ICL implantation, particularly those with a vault height less than 389.47 µm, are at a greater risk of anterior segment biometric measurement error by the IOLMaster 700.

Translational Relevance

The threshold of vault height can help to identify high-risk patients and further optimize biometric measurement.

Dynamic DNA 5-hydroxylmethylcytosine and RNA 5-methycytosine Reprogramming During Early Human Development

After implantation, complex and highly specialized molecular events render functionally distinct organ formation, whereas how the epigenome shapes organ-specific development remains to be fully elucidated. Here, nano-hmC-Seal, RNA bisulfite sequencing (RNA-BisSeq), and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) were performed, and the first multilayer landscapes of DNA 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and RNA 5-methylcytosine (m5C) epigenomes were obtained in the heart, kidney, liver, and lung of the human foetuses at 13-28 weeks with 123 samples in total. We identified 70,091 and 503 organ- and stage-specific differentially hydroxymethylated regions (DhMRs) and m5C-modified mRNAs, respectively. The key transcription factors (TFs), T-box transcription factor 20 (TBX20), paired box 8 (PAX8), krueppel-like factor 1 (KLF1), transcription factor 21 (TCF21), and CCAAT enhancer binding protein beta (CEBPB), specifically contribute to the formation of distinct organs at different stages. Additionally, 5hmC-enriched Alu elements may participate in the regulation of expression of TF-targeted genes. Our integrated studies reveal a putative essential link between DNA modification and RNA methylation, and illustrate the epigenetic maps during human foetal organogenesis, which provide a foundation for for an in-depth understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying early development and birth defects.

Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu granules attenuate bone destruction in mice with collagen-induced arthritis by promoting mitophagy of osteoclast precursors to inhibit osteoclastogenesis

BACKGROUND

Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine formula used empirically for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), has been shown to alleviate bone destruction in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to characterize the effects of Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu granules (GSZGs) on bone destruction in RA and the underlying mechanism.

STUDY DESIGN

A CIA arthritis model using DBA/1 mice. The animals were divided into a normal group; CIA model group; low, medium, and high-dose GSZG groups (3, 6, and 9 g/kg/day); and a methotrexate group (1.14 mg/kg/w). In vitro, a cytokine induced osteoclastogenesis model was established.

METHODS

After 28 days of treatment, the paw volume was measured, bone destruction was examined by micro-CT, and the generation of osteoclasts in bone tissue was evaluated via tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect and underlying mechanism of action of GSZG on RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis were investigated in vitro.

RESULTS

The in vivo analyses demonstrated that the paw volume and degree of bone erosion of mice in the medium- and high-dose GSZG groups were significantly decreased compared to the CIA model group. In addition, GSZG treatment suppressed the excessive generation of osteoclasts in the bone tissue of CIA mice. In vitro, GSZG inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Specifically, it only inhibited the generation of osteoclast precursors (OCPs); it had no significant effect on the fusion of OCPs or maturation of osteoclasts. Finally, we showed that the inhibitory effect of GSZG on osteoclastogenesis was related to the promotion of PTEN-induced kinase protein 1 (PINK1)/Parkin pathway-mediated mitophagy of osteoclast precursors, which was verified using a PINK1 knockdown small interfering RNA in OCPs.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that GSZG is a candidate for the treatment of bone destruction in RA and provide a more detailed elucidation of the mechanism of GSZG anti-RA bone erosion, i.e., inhibition of the ROS/NF-κB axis through the PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitochondrial autophagic pathway to inhibit osteoclast precursor production, compared to the published literature.

3-Bromopyruvate-loaded bismuth sulfide nanospheres improve cancer treatment by synergizing radiotherapy with modulation of tumor metabolism

BACKGROUND

Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the most mainstream cancer therapeutic modalities. However, due to the lack of specificity of the radiation adopted, both normal and cancerous cells are destroyed indiscriminately. This highlights the crucial need to improve radiosensitization. This study aims to address this issue by constructing a multifunctional nanospheres that can sensitize multiple aspects of radiotherapy.

RESULTS

Nanospheres containing high atomic element Bi can effectively absorb ionizing radiation and can be used as radiosensitizers. Cell viability after Bi₂S₃ + X-ray treatment was half that of X-ray treatment alone. On the other hand, exposed 3-bromopyruvate (3BP) could reduce the overactive oxygen (O₂) metabolism of tumor cells and alleviate tumor hypoxia, thereby promoting radiation-induced DNA damage. The combination index (CI) of 3BP and Bi₂S₃-based RT in Bi₂S₃-3BP + X-ray was determined to be 0.46 with the fraction affected (f_a) was 0.5 via Chou-Talalay's isobolographic method, which indicated synergistic effect of 3BP and Bi₂S₃-based RT after integration into Bi₂S₃-3BP + X-ray. Under the combined effect of 3BP and RT, autophagy was over-activated through starvation-induced and redox homeostasis dysregulation pathways, which in turn exhibited pro-death effects. In addition, the prepared nanospheres possess strong X-ray attenuation and high near-infrared (NIR) optical absorption, thus eliminating the need for additional functional components and could serve as bimodal contrast agents for computed tomography/photoacoustic (CT/PA) imaging.

CONCLUSIONS

The rational design of multifunctional nanospheres with the unique properties provided a novel strategy to achieving high therapeutic efficacy in RT. This was accomplished through simultaneous activation of multiple sensitization pathways by increasing ionizing radiation, reducing tumor oxygen consumption, inducing pro-death autophagy, and providing multiple-imaging guidance/monitoring.

LIPUS-S/B@NPs regulates the release of SDF-1 and BMP-2 to promote stem cell recruitment-osteogenesis for periodontal bone regeneration

Purpose: Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)-based nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) have been widely used as the carrier for sustainable drug delivery. However, the drug release from the NPs was usually incomplete and uncontrollable. Herein, a low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) assisted SDF-1/BMP-2@nanoparticles (S/B@NPs) system was fabricated to facilitate stem cell recruitment-osteogenesis for periodontal bone regeneration. Methods: In this work, S/B@NPs were prepared with double-emulsion synthesis method. Then the S/B release profile from NPs was evaluated with or without low intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment. Afterwards, the stem cell recruiting and osteoinductive capacities of LIPUS-S/B@NPs were detected with human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) in vitro and in a rat periodontal bone defect model. Results: The results indicated that S/B@NPs were successfully prepared and LIPUS could effectively regulate the release of S/B and increase their final releasing amount. Moreover, LIPUS-S/B@NPs system significantly promoted hPDLCs migrating and osteogenesis in vitro and recruiting rBMSCs to the rat periodontal defect and facilitated bone regeneration in vivo. Conclusion: Our LIPUS assisted S/B@NPs system can effectively facilitate stem cell recruitment and periodontal bone regeneration. Considering its reliable safety and therapeutic effect on bone fracture, LIPUS, as an adjuvant therapy, holds great potential in the regulation of drug delivery systems for bone healing.

Predicting post-operative vault and optimal implantable collamer lens size using machine learning based on various ophthalmic device combinations

BACKGROUND

Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery has been proven to be a safe, effective, and predictable method for correcting myopia and myopic astigmatism. However, predicting the vault and ideal ICL size remains technically challenging. Despite the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in ophthalmology, no AI studies have provided available choices of different instruments and combinations for further vault and size predictions. This study aimed to fill this gap and predict post-operative vault and appropriate ICL size utilizing the comparison of numerous AI algorithms, stacking ensemble learning, and data from various ophthalmic devices and combinations.

RESULTS

This retrospective and cross-sectional study included 1941 eyes of 1941 patients from Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center. For both vault prediction and ICL size selection, the combination containing Pentacam, Sirius, and UBM demonstrated the best results in test sets [R² = 0.499 (95% CI 0.470-0.528), mean absolute error = 130.655 (95% CI 128.949-132.111), accuracy = 0.895 (95% CI 0.883-0.907), AUC = 0.928 (95% CI 0.916-0.941)]. Sulcus-to-sulcus (STS), a parameter from UBM, ranked among the top five significant contributors to both post-operative vault and optimal ICL size prediction, consistently outperforming white-to-white (WTW). Moreover, dual-device combinations or single-device parameters could also effectively predict vault and ideal ICL size, and excellent ICL selection prediction was achievable using only UBM parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Strategies based on multiple machine learning algorithms for different ophthalmic devices and combinations are applicable for vault predicting and ICL sizing, potentially improving the safety of the ICL implantation. Moreover, our findings emphasize the crucial role of UBM in the perioperative period of ICL surgery, as it provides key STS measurements that outperformed WTW measurements in predicting post-operative vault and optimal ICL size, highlighting its potential to enhance ICL implantation safety and accuracy.

Covalent Organic Framework Nanosheets for Fluorescence Quantification of Peptide

Rapid and sensitive quantification of peptides plays an important role in clinical diagnosis. Fluorescence assay is one of the most promising peptide detection tools, but it relies on intrinsic fluorescence or additional derivatization, resulting in poor versatility. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have shown a good application prospect in the field of fluorescence detection, but their application scope is limited to heavy metal ions and some small polar organic molecules. Herein, we report the application of COFs nanosheet for fluorescence detection of peptides. Fluorescent sp² acrylonitrile-linked COFs nanosheets (TTAN-CON) were prepared by water-assisted ultrasonic exfoliation which performed with excellent fluorescence properties with Stokes shifts of 146 nm and fluorescence quantum yield of up to 24.45%. Compared to the bulk fluorescent COFs, exfoliated CONs films performed with better stability of fluorescence signal in solution. We found the fluorescence of TTAN-CON can be effectively quenched by hydrophobic peptides at a very rapid rate (less than 5 min per sample). TTAN-CON presented good sensitivity and selectivity for hydrophobic peptides detection via the static and dynamic joint quenching mechanism. TTAN-CON was further used to detect NLLGLIEAK and ProGRP_31-98, two target peptide fragments of lung cancer biomarker ProGRP. The fluorescence intensities of TTAN-CON were negative linearly correlated with the amounts of hydrophobic NLLGLIEAK over the range of 5-1000 ng/mL with the correlation coefficients over 0.99, and the limit of detection was 1.67 ng/mL, displaying higher sensitivity and convenience than traditional optical methods. What's more, the quantification of ProGRP_31-98 was achieved by the quantification of hydrophobic peptides in its enzyme hydrolysis products. We anticipate COFs nanosheets to be a universal fluorescence detection work-box for peptides biomarkers with clinical significance.

Multifunctional Nanoplatform-Mediated Chemo-Photothermal Therapy Combines Immunogenic Cell Death with Checkpoint Blockade to Combat Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Distant Metastasis

Background

Breast cancer has become the most common cancer in women. Compare with other subtypes of breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is more likely to relapse and metastasize. Highly effective therapeutic strategies are desperately needed to be explored. In this study, a multifunctional nanoplatform is expected to mediate chemo-photothermal therapy, which can combine immunogenic cell death with checkpoint blockade to combat TNBC and distant metastasis.

Methods

Poly (lactic acid-glycolic acid)-Poly (ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) nanoparticles (NPs), a type of polymeric NPs, loaded with IR780, a near-infrared (NIR) dye, and doxorubicin (DOX) as the chemotherapeutic drug, were assembled by an improved double emulsification method (designated as IDNPs). The characterization, intracellular uptake, biosafety, photoacoustic (PA) imaging performance, and biodistribution of IDNPs were studied. Chemo-photothermal therapeutic effect and immunogenic cell death (ICD) were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The potency of chemo-photothermal therapy-triggered ICD in combination with anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) immunotherapy in eliciting immune response and treating distant tumors was further investigated.

Results

IR780 and DOX were successfully loaded into PLGA-PEG to form the IDNPs, with size of 243.87nm and Zeta potential of -6.25mV. The encapsulation efficiency of IR780 and DOX was 83.44% and 5.98%, respectively. IDNPs demonstrated remarkable on-site accumulation and PA imaging capability toward 4T1 TNBC models. Chemo-photothermal therapy demonstrated satisfactory therapeutic effects both in vitro and in vivo, and triggered ICD efficiently. ICD, in combination with anti-PD-1, provoked a systemic antitumor immune response against distant tumors.

Conclusion

Multifunctional IDNPs were successfully synthesized to mediate chemo-photothermal therapy, which combines immunogenic cell death with checkpoint blockade to combat TNBC and distant metastasis, showing great promise preclinically and clinically.

Recent Progress on Honeycomb Layered Oxides as a Durable Cathode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are becoming promising candidates for energy storage devices due to the low cost, abundant reserves, and excellent electrochemical performance. As the most important unit, layered cathodes attract much attention, where honeycomb-layered-oxides (HLOs) manifest outstanding structural stability, high redox potential, and long-life electrochemistry. Here, recent progress on HLOs as well as Na₃ Ni₂ SbO₆ and Na₃ Ni₂ BiO₆ as two representative materials are introduced, and the crystal and electronic structure, electrochemical performance, and modification strategies are summarized. The advanced high nickel HLOs are highlighted toward development of state-of-the-art sodium-ion batteries. This review would deepen the understanding of superstructure in layered oxides, as well as structure-property relationship, and inspire more interest in high output voltage, long lifespan sodium-ion batteries.

Selective adsorption of trace morpholine impurities over N-ethyl morpholine by tetralactam solids

The separation and especially the removal of morpholine (MOR) impurities from N-ethyl morpholine (NEM) is of great significance in the fine chemical industry. Herein, we offer a novel strategy for the selective adsorption of MOR over NEM by tetralactam solids. The adsorbent realized the purification of NEM by adsorbing traces of MOR impurities, such that the purity can be improved from around 98% to over 99.5%. Single crystal structures indicate that N-H⋯O and N-H⋯N hydrogen bonding interactions are essential in the selective separation.

[Cardiovascular risk assessment among patients with hypertension based on SCORE2 and SCORE-OP algorithms in black Africans]

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events. The cardiovascular risk assessment is performed using specific algorithms, particularly SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP developed by the European Society of Cardiology.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospective cohort study from February 1, 2022, to July 31, 2022, enrolling 410 hypertensive patients. Epidemiological, paraclinical, therapeutic, and follow-up data were analyzed. Cardiovascular risk stratification of patients was performed using SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP algorithms. We compared the initial and 6-month cardiovascular risks.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 60.88 ± 12.35 years with a female predominance (sex ratio = 0.66). In addition to hypertension, dyslipidemia (45.4%) was the most frequently associated risk factor. A high proportion of patients were classified as high (48.6%) and very high (46.3%) cardiovascular risk, with a significant difference between men and women. Reassessment of cardiovascular risk after 6 months of treatment found significant differences compared with the initial cardiovascular risk (p < 0.001). The rate of patients at low to moderate cardiovascular risk (49.5%) increased substantially, whereas the proportion of patients at very high risk decreased (6.8%).

CONCLUSION

Our study conducted at Abidjan Heart Institute in a young population of patients with hypertension revealed a severe cardiovascular risk profile. Almost half of the patients are classified at very high cardiovascular risk, based on the SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP. The widespread use of these new algorithms for risk stratification should lead to more aggressive management and prevention strategies for hypertension and associated risk factors.

[Determination of eight cannabinoids in foods with enhanced matrix removal-lipid adsorbent by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry]

A novel method was developed for the simultaneous determination of eight cannabinoids in six types of food matrices, including chocolate, fondant, biscuit, beverage, cookie and baijiu, using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The sample extraction and cleanup steps were optimized, and various purification methods were investigated to remove the oil matrix and glue in chocolate and fudge, respectively. Enhanced matrix removal-lipid adsorbent (EMR-Lipid) provided efficient, selective cleanup of the evaluated matrices. The sample was extracted using acetonitrile, followed by EMR-Lipid cleanup, and then dried using anhydrous sodium sulfate. The acetonitrile layer was concentrated by nitrogen to near-dry after 100 μL 10% glycerol in methanol was added to improve the recovery by reducing loss during concentration under the stream of nitrogen gas. Eight cannabinoids were separated using a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH Shield RP18 column (100 mm×3.0 mm, 1.7 μm). The responses of the cannabinoids in the positive and negative ionization modes were investigated and optimized, and the responses were superior in the negative ion mode compared to those in the positive ion mode. MS detection was performed in the multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using an electrospray source in the negative ion mode. The cannabinoids were quantified using an external standard with matrix calibration curves to reduce the influences of the matrix effects on the quantitative results. The developed method was verified, and the conditions of sample pretreatment were also optimized. The calibration curves of tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidivarin, tetrahydrocannabivarin, and cannabigerol and those of cannabidiol, cannabinol, cannabidiolic acid, and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid exhibited good linearities, with r>0.995, in the ranges of 2-200 and 0.4-40 ng/mL, respectively. The respective limits of detection (LODs, S/N=3) and quantification (LOQs, S/N=10) of tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidivarin, tetrahydrocannabivarin, and cannabigerol were 4 and 10 μg/kg, and those of cannabidiol, cannabinol, cannabidiolic acid, and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid were 0.8 and 2 μg/kg. The average recoveries of the cannabinoids were 82.0%-114.9% under three spiked levels with corresponding relative standard deviations (RSDs) of <15% (n=6). EMR-Lipid provided efficient, selective cleanups of food matrices with good accuracy. The method is sensitive, rapid, accurate, simple to execute, and it is suitable for the determination of cannabinol compounds in typical food matrices.

Mechanism of action of quercetin in rheumatoid arthritis models: meta-analysis and systematic review of animal studies

Quercetin, a typical flavonoid derived from a common natural plant, has multiple biological activities. Previous research in animal models has demonstrated the effectiveness of quercetin in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The pharmacological effects and probable mechanisms of quercetin were evaluated in this study. Three databases, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, were searched for relevant studies from the creation of the databases to November 2022. Methodological quality was assessed using the SYRCLE risk of bias tool. STATA 15.1 was used to perform the statistical analysis. This research included 17 studies involving 251 animals. The results indicated that quercetin was able to reduce arthritis scores, paw swelling, histopathological scores, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-17 (IL-17), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) and increase interleukin-10 (IL-10), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). These may be related to quercetin's potential anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and osteoprotective properties. However, more high-quality animal studies are needed to assess the effect of quercetin on RA. Additionally, the safety of quercetin requires further confirmation. Given the importance of the active ingredient, dose selection and the improvement of quercetin's bioavailability remain to be explored.

Thallium exposure induces changes in B and T cell generation in mice

Thallium (Tl) is a high-priority toxic metal that poses a severe threat to human health. The toxicity characteristics induced by Tl have been partially discussed. However, the immunotoxic effects of Tl exposure have remained largely unexplored. Our findings demonstrated that 50 ppm of Tl exposure for one week induced severe weight loss in mice, which was accompanied by appetite suppression. Moreover, although Tl exposure did not induce significant pathological damage to skeletal muscle and bone, Tl inhibited the expression of B cell development-related genes in the bone marrow. Additionally, Tl exposure increased B cell apoptosis and reduced its generation in the bone marrow. Analysis of B cells in the blood indicated that the percentage of B-2 cells decreased significantly, whereas B-2 cell proportions in the spleen did not. The percentage of CD4⁺ T cells in the thymus increased significantly, and the proportion of CD8⁺ T cells did not. Furthermore, although the proportion of the total CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells was not significantly altered in the blood and spleen, Tl exposure promoted the migration of naïve CD4⁺ T cells and recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) from the thymus to the spleen. These results suggest that Tl exposure can affect B and T cell generation and migration, which provides new evidence for Tl-induced immunotoxicity.

Single-Shot Multi-Frame Imaging of Femtosecond Laser-Induced Plasma Propagation

Single-shot ultrafast multi-frame imaging technology plays a crucial role in the observation of laser-induced plasma. However, there are many challenges in the application of laser processing, such as technology fusion and imaging stability. To provide a stable and reliable observation method, we propose an ultrafast single-shot multi-frame imaging technology based on wavelength polarization multiplexing. Through the frequency doubling and birefringence effects of the BBO and the quartz crystal, the 800 nm femtosecond laser pulse was frequency doubled to 400 nm, and a sequence of probe sub-pulses with dual-wavelength and different polarization was generated. The coaxial propagation and framing imaging of multi-frequency pulses provided stable imaging quality and clarity, as well as high temporal/spatial resolution (200 fs and 228 lp/mm). In the experiments involving femtosecond laser-induced plasma propagation, the probe sub-pulses measured their time intervals by capturing the same results. Specifically, the measured time intervals were 200 fs between the same color pulses and 1 ps between the adjacent different. Finally, based on the obtained system time resolution, we observed and revealed the evolution mechanism of femtosecond laser-induced air plasma filaments, the multifilament propagation of femtosecond laser in fused silica, and the influence mechanism of air ionization on laser-induced shock waves.