Screening and identification of functional bacterial attachment genes in aerobic granular sludge

The screening and identification of attachment genes is important to exploring the formation mechanism of biofilms at the gene level. It is helpful to the development of key culture technologies for aerobic granular sludge (AGS). In this study, genome-wide sequencing and gene editing were employed for the first time to investigate the effects and functions of attachment genes in AGS. With the help of whole-genome analysis, ten attachment genes were screened from thirteen genes, and the efficiency of gene screening was greatly improved. Then, two attachment genes were selected as examples to further confirm the gene functions by constructing gene-knockout recombinant mutants of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia; when the two attachment genes were knocked out, the attachment potential was reduced by 50.67% and 43.93%, respectively. The results provide a new theoretical principle and efficient method for the development of AGS from the perspective of attachment genes.

Oxidative stress is associated with Aβ accumulation in chronic sleep deprivation model

Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation is the main pathological change in Alzheimer's disease (AD), which results from the imbalance of production and clearance of Aβ in the brain. Our previous study found that chronic sleep deprivation (CSD) led to the deposition of Aβ in the brain by disrupting the balance of Aβ production and clearance, but the specific mechanism was not clear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of oxidative stress on Aβ accumulation in CSD rats. We found that the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly increased after CSD, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased in the brain. Furthermore, the serum ROS was elevated and SOD declined after CSD. The levels of oxidative stress in the brain were significantly correlated with β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1), and receptor of advanced glycation end products (RAGE) levels in hippocampus and prefrontal lobe, and the concentration of serum oxidative mediators were strongly correlated with plasma levels of soluble LRP1 (sLRP1) and soluble RAGE (sRAGE). These results suggested that the oxidative stress in the brain and serum may involved in the CSD-induced Aβ accumulation. The underlying mechanism may be associated with disrupting the balance of Aβ production and clearance.

Myricetin Oligomer Triggers Multi-Receptor Mediated Penetration and Autophagic Restoration of Blood-Brain Barrier for Ischemic Stroke Treatment

Restoration of blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, which drives worse outcomes of ischemic stroke, is a potential target for therapeutic opportunities, whereas a sealed BBB blocks the therapeutics entrance into the brain, making the BBB protection strategy paradoxical. Post ischemic stroke, hypoxia/hypoglycemia provokes the up-regulation of transmembrane glucose transporters and iron transporters due to multiple metabolic disorders, especially in brain endothelial cells. Herein, we develop a myricetin oligomer-derived nanostructure doped with Ce to bypass the BBB which is cointermediated by glucose transporters and iron transporters such as glucose transporters 1 (GLUT1), sodium/glucose cotransporters 1 (SGLT1), and transferrin(Tf) reporter (TfR). Moreover, it exhibits BBB restoration capacity by regulating the expression of tight junctions (TJs) through the activation of protective autophagy. The myricetin oligomers scaffold not only acts as targeting moiety but is the prominent active entity that inherits all diverse pharmacological activities of myricetin. The suppression of oxidative damage, M1 microglia activation, and inflammatory factors makes it a multitasking nanoagent with a single component as the scaffold, targeting domain and curative components.

Deep neural network-estimated age using optical coherence tomography predicts mortality

The concept of biological age has emerged as a measurement that reflects physiological and functional decline with ageing. Here we aimed to develop a deep neural network (DNN) model that predicts biological age from optical coherence tomography (OCT). A total of 84,753 high-quality OCT images from 53,159 individuals in the UK Biobank were included, among which 12,631 3D-OCT images from 8,541 participants without any reported medical conditions at baseline were used to develop an age prediction model. For the remaining 44,618 participants, OCT age gap, the difference between the OCT-predicted age and chronological age, was calculated for each participant. Cox regression models assessed the association between OCT age gap and mortality. The DNN model predicted age with a mean absolute error of 3.27 years and showed a strong correlation of 0.85 with chronological age. After a median follow-up of 11.0 years (IQR 10.9-11.1 years), 2,429 deaths (5.44%) were recorded. For each 5-year increase in OCT age gap, there was an 8% increased mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.08, CI:1.02-1.13, P = 0.004). Compared with an OCT age gap within ± 4 years, OCT age gap less than minus 4 years was associated with a 16% decreased mortality risk (HR = 0.84, CI: 0.75-0.94, P = 0.002) and OCT age gap more than 4 years showed an 18% increased risk of death incidence (HR = 1.18, CI: 1.02-1.37, P = 0.026). OCT imaging could serve as an ageing biomarker to predict biological age with high accuracy and the OCT age gap, defined as the difference between the OCT-predicted age and chronological age, can be used as a marker of the risk of mortality.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Desmaulus extinctorium (Littorinimorpha, Calyptraeoidea, Calyptraeidae) and molecular phylogeny of Littorinimorpha

For the purpose of determining the placement of Calyptraeidae within the Littorinimorpha, we hereby furnish a thorough analysis of the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of Desmaulus extinctorium. This mitogenome spans 16,605 base pairs and encompasses the entire set of 37 genes, including 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs and two rRNAs, with an evident AT bias. Notably, tRNASer1 and tRNASer2 lack dihydrouracil (DHU) arms, resulting in an inability to form a secondary structure. Similarly, tRNAAla lacks a TΨC arm, rendering it incapable of forming a secondary structure. In contrast, the remaining tRNAs demonstrate a characteristic secondary structure reminiscent of a cloverleaf. A comparison with ancestral gastropods reveals distinct differences in three gene clusters (or genes), encompassing 15 tRNAs and eight PCGs. Notably, inversions and translocations represent the major types of rearrangements observed in D. extinctorium. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates robust support for a monophyletic grouping of all Littorinimorpha species, with D. extinctorium representing a distinct Calyptraeoidea clade. In summary, this investigation provides the first complete mitochondrial dataset for a species of the Calyptraeidae, thus providing novel insights into the phylogenetic relationships within the Littorinimorpha.

Phloretic acid requires the insulin/IGF-1 pathway and autophagy to enhance stress resistance and extend the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans

Objective: In humans, aging is associated with increased susceptibility to most age-related diseases. Phloretic acid (PA), a naturally occurring compound found in Ginkgo biloba and Asparagus, exhibits has potential as an anti-aging agent and possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PA on longevity and stress resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans (C.elegans) and the mechanisms that underlie its effects. Methods: First, we examined the effects of PA on lifespan and healthspan assay, stress resistance and oxidative analysis, lipofuscin levels. Second, we examined the insulin/insulin-like pathway, mitochondria, autophagy-related proteins, and gene expression to explain the possible mechanism of PA prolonging lifespan. Results: Our findings demonstrated that PA dose-dependently extended the C.elegans lifespan, with 200 μM PA showing the greatest effect and increased the C.elegans lifespan by approximately 16.7%. PA enhanced motility and the pharyngeal pumping rate in senescent C.elegans while reducing the accumulation of aging pigments. Further investigations revealed that daf-16, skn-1, and hsf-1 were required for mediating the lifespan extension effect of PA in C.elegans since its impact was suppressed in mutant strains lacking these genes. This suggests that PA activates these genes, leading to the upregulation of downstream genes involved in stress response and senescence regulation pathways. Furthermore, PA did not extend the lifespan of the RNAi atg-18 and RNAi bec-1 but it attenuated SQST-1 accumulation, augmented autophagosome expression, upregulated autophagy-related gene expression, and downregulated S6K protein levels. These findings suggest that the potential life-extending effect of PA also involves the modulation of the autophagy pathway. Conclusion: These findings results highlight the promising anti-aging effects of PA and warrant further investigation into its pharmacological mechanism and medicinal development prospects.

HERC5-catalyzed ISGylation potentiates cGAS-mediated innate immunity

The cytosolic DNA sensor cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is essential to elicit type I interferon cascade response; thus, the activity of cGAS must be strictly regulated to boost the antiviral innate immunity. Here, we report that cGAS is responsible for the DNA-induced ISG15 conjugation system. The E3 HERC5 catalyzes the ISGylation of cytoplasmic cGAS at lysine 21, 187, 219, and 458, whereas Ubl carboxy-terminal hydrolase 18 removes the ISGylation of cGAS. The interaction of cGAS and HERC5 depends on the cGAS C-terminal domain and the RRC1-4 and RRC1-5 domains of HERC5. Mechanically, HERC5-catalyzed ISGylation promotes DNA-induced cGAS oligomerization and enhances cGAS enzymatic activity. Deficiency of ISGylation attenuates the downstream inflammatory gene expression induced by the cGAS-STING axis and the antiviral ability in mouse and human cells. Mice deficient in Isg15 or Herc6 are more vulnerable to herpes simplex virus 1 infection. Collectively, our study shows a positive feedback regulation of the cGAS-mediated innate immune pathway by ISGylation.

Real-time in situ fluorescence imaging of telomerase and miR378 in living cells using a two-color DNA tetrahedron nanoprobe combined with molecular beacons

A biosensor that can detect biomarkers accurately, quickly, and conveniently is important for the diagnosis of various diseases. However, most of the existing detection methods require sample extraction, which makes it difficult to detect and image intracellular molecules or to detect two different types of biomarkers simultaneously. In this study, we constructed a DNA tetrahedral nanoprobe (DTP) capable of detecting both miR378 and telomerase, both of which are tumor markers. In the presence of miR378, FAM on the molecular beacon of DTP fluoresced via Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), and the limit of detection was 476 pM with excellent specificity. When present, telomerase binds to telomerase substrate (TS) primers, extending the repeat sequence (TTAGGG)n to trigger Cy3 fluorescence. A strong linear relationship existed between the fluorescence intensity of Cy3 and the number of HeLa cells. The limit of detection was 800 HeLa cells. In addition, DTP was less cytotoxic to and biocompatible with HeLa cells and fluoresced only in cancer cells, which can help to sensitively distinguish between normal and cancer cells. In conclusion, DTP can simultaneously detect the content of miR378 and activity of telomerase and realize intracellular imaging, which has broad application prospects in early cancer diagnosis and treatment.

DNA methylation fine-tunes pro-and anti-inflammatory signalling pathways in inactive ulcerative colitis tissue biopsies

DNA methylation has been implied to play a role in the immune dysfunction associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the disease development of ulcerative colitis (UC). Changes of the DNA methylation and correlated gene expression in patient samples with inactive UC might reveal possible regulatory features important for further treatment options for UC. Targeted bisulfite sequencing and whole transcriptome sequencing were performed on mucosal biopsies from patients with active UC (UC, n = 14), inactive UC (RM, n = 20), and non-IBD patients which served as controls (NN, n = 11). The differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified by DMRseq. Correlation analysis was performed between DMRs and their nearest differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed based on correlated DMR regulated genes. DMR regulated genes then were functional annotated. Cell-type deconvolutions were performed based on methylation levels. The comparisons revealed a total of 38 methylation-regulated genes in inactive UC that are potentially regulated by DMRs (correlation p value < 0.1). Several methylation-regulated genes could be identified in inactive UC participating in IL-10 and cytokine signalling pathways such as IL1B and STAT3. DNA methylation events in inactive UC seem to be fine-tuned by the balancing pro- and anti- inflammatory pathways to maintain a prevailed healing process to restore dynamic epithelium homeostasis.

Biomarkers in the Severity of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study

Background

The occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common and severe disease of the digestive system in neonates. This study aims to assess the value of the intestinal tissue oxygen saturation (rintSO2) combined with the levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and mean platelet volume (MPV) in predicting the severity of NEC in preterm infants.

Methods

This experiment was a retrospective cohort study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Hongqi Hospital Affiliated to Mudanjiang Medical University between January 2017 and July 2022. Premature neonates with NEC were enrolled and divided into mild-moderate NEC group and severe NEC group according to Bell's stage. The general information data, rintSO2 and blood parameters such as the white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet count (PLT), PCT, MPV, red blood cell distribution width (RDW), hemoglobin (Hb), C-reactive protein (CRP) were compared between the two groups.

Results

A total of 122 patients were enrolled, including 79 mild-moderate NEC and 43 severe NEC. The rintSO2 was lower in severe group than in mild-moderate group (P = 0.042), the PCT and MPV were both higher in severe group than in mild-moderate group (P = 0.048, P = 0.049). The results of logistic regression suggested that the rintSO2 (OR = 1.491, P = 0.003), PCT (OR = 3.071, P = 0.001) and MPV (OR = 4.027, P = 0.015) were independent predictive factors for severity of NEC. The area under the curve (AUC) of the rintSO2 combined with PCT and MPV showed good diagnostic ability in the severity of NEC.

Conclusion

The rintSO2 combined with PCT and MPV may be considered as the early biomarkers in the severity of NEC and could help us to diagnose the case early with early treatment with better prognosis.

Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of 43 Cases of Occipital Condylar Fractures: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the mechanism of occipital condyle fractures (OCFs), their clinical symptoms, computer tomography (CT) scan findings, treatment options, and classification.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 43 patients with OCFs who were admitted to our neurosurgery center between 2017 and 2023.

RESULTS

The investigation covered their clinical symptoms, CT scan results, and treatment outcomes. It was found that 25.6% of the patients suffered from severe craniocerebral injuries with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 3-8 points, 9.3% had moderate injuries with GCS scores of 9-12 points, and 65.1% exhibited mild injuries with GCS scores of 13-15 points. Of these patients, 90.7% showed improvement upon discharge, 4.7% succumbed to their injuries, and another 4.7% developed paraplegia. Symptoms indicative of OCF in individuals with CCJ injuries included neck pain, swelling, cranial nerve palsy, and posterior pharyngeal wall swelling. Frequently observed complications in OCF patients included cerebral contusion, occipital bone fractures, and skull base fractures. Employing thin-layer CT scans of the CCJ area, along with sagittal and coronal CT reconstructions, is essential for identifying OCFs. The fractures were classified into 3 types based on the Anderson-Montesano classification, which, when modified, provides enhanced treatment guidance.

CONCLUSIONS

OCFs are predominantly present in cases of high-energy trauma, with high-resolution thin-layer CT scans serving as the preferred diagnostic method. The application of the modified Anderson-Montesano classification, distinguishing between stable and unstable fractures, facilitates the determination of suitable treatment strategies. Stable OCFs can be managed using a rigid neck brace, while unstable OCFs may require Halo-vest frame fixation or surgical intervention.

Polyphenolic oligomer-derived multienzyme activity for the treatment of ischemic Stroke through ROS scavenging and blood-brain barrier restoration

Oxidative stress and blood-brain barrier (BBB) injury are two major stress disorders before and after ischemic stroke (IS) therapy. The intense inflammatory response also causes damage to nerve cells, affecting the repair of brain tissue. In this study, polyphenolic nanoparticles (PPNs) with strong free radical scavenging ability were designed to treat IS multimodally. To investigate the mechanism of polyphenolic polymerization, solid nanoparticles were synthesized using four kinds of polyphenol compounds as the basic unit under the control of temperature. The form of polymerization between monomers with different structures led to changes in the chemical properties of the corresponding nanoparticles as well as the antioxidant capacity at the cellular level. Particularly, PPNs can significantly improve cerebral infarction and penetrate and repair the BBB, and even downregulate levels of inflammatory cytokines. Molecular signaling pathway studies have shown that PPNs can provide comprehensive treatment of IS by promoting the expression of tight junction protein and enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Therefore, PPNs combined with the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and BBB repair ability not only provide a perfect therapeutic pathway but also give ideas for the development of natural material carriers that have a wide application prospect.

tRNA-derived fragments: mechanism of gene regulation and clinical application in lung cancer

Lung cancer, being the most widespread and lethal form of cancer globally, has a high incidence and mortality rate primarily attributed to challenges associated with early detection, extensive metastasis, and frequent recurrence. In the context of lung cancer development, noncoding RNA molecules have a crucial role in governing gene expression and protein synthesis. Specifically, tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), a subset of noncoding RNAs, exert significant biological influences on cancer progression, encompassing transcription and translation processes as well as epigenetic regulation. This article primarily examines the mechanisms by which tRFs modulate gene expression and contribute to tumorigenesis in lung cancer. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current bioinformatics analysis of tRFs in lung cancer, with the objective of offering a systematic and efficient approach for studying the expression profiling, functional enrichment, and molecular mechanisms of tRFs in this disease. Finally, we discuss the clinical significance and potential avenues for future research on tRFs in lung cancer. This paper presents a comprehensive systematic review of the existing research findings on tRFs in lung cancer, aiming to offer improved biomarkers and drug targets for clinical management of lung cancer.

Exploring causality between bone mineral density and frailty: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

OBJECTIVE

The bidirectional correlation between low bone mineral density (BMD) and frailty, despite its extensive documentation, still lacks a conclusive understanding. The objective of this Mendelian randomization (MR) study is to investigate the bidirectional causal relationship between BMD and frailty.

METHODS

We utilized summary statistics data for BMD at different skeletal sites-including heel BMD (e-BMD, N = 40,613), forearm BMD (FA-BMD, N = 8,143), femoral neck BMD (FN-BMD, N = 32,735), and lumbar spine BMD (LS-BMD, N = 28,489), alongside frailty index (FI, N = 175,226) data in participants of European ancestry. MR analysis in our study was conducted using well-established analytical methods, including inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median (WM), and MR-Egger approaches.

RESULTS

We observed negative causal estimates between genetically predicted e-BMD (IVW β = - 0.020, 95% confidence interval (CI) = - 0.038, - 0.002, P = 0.029) and FA-BMD (IVW β = -0.035, 95% CI = -0.066, -0.004, P = 0.028) with FI. However, the results did not reach statistical significance after applying the Bonferroni correction, with a significance threshold set at P < 0.0125 (0.05/4). There was no causal effect of FN-BMD (IVW β = - 0.024, 95% CI = -0.052, 0.004, P = 0.088) and LS-BMD (IVW β = - 0.005, 95% CI = -0.034, 0.024, P = 0.749) on FI. In the reverse Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, we observed no causal effect of FI on BMD at various skeletal sites.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides support for the hypothesis that low BMD may be a potential causal risk factor for frailty, but further research is needed to confirm this relationship. However, our findings did not confirm reverse causality.

Stabilization of Networked Switched Systems Under DoS Attacks

This article studies the stability issue of networked switched systems (NSSs) under denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. To address this issue, the derived limitations imposed on both the frequency of DoS attacks on each subsystem and the upper limit of attack duration that each subsystem can tolerate are mode-dependent, which is more efficient and flexible than the current results for NSSs. Moreover, we reveal the relationship between the upper bound of the average maximum tolerable attack duration associated with the corresponding subsystem and the actual mode-dependent average dwell time. Furthermore, we identify that the total tolerable DoS attack duration as a percentage of the system runtime in this article can be higher than existing results. Finally, an example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of our work.

Voluntary exercise during puberty promotes spatial memory and hippocampal DG/CA3 synaptic transmission in mice

Physical exercise has been shown to have an impact on memory and hippocampal function across different age groups. Nevertheless, the influence and mechanisms underlying how voluntary exercise during puberty affects memory are still inadequately comprehended. This research aims to examine the impacts of self-initiated physical activity throughout adolescence on spatial memory. Developing mice were exposed to a 4-wk voluntary wheel running exercise protocol, commencing at the age of 30 d. After engaging in voluntary wheel running exercise during development, there was an enhancement in spatial memory. Moreover, hippocampal dentate gyrus and CA3 neurons rather than CA1 neurons exhibited an increase in the miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents. In addition, there was an increase in the expression of NR2A/NR2B subunits of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and α1GABAA subunit of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors, as well as dendritic spine density, specifically within dentate gyrus and CA3 regions rather than CA1 region. The findings suggest that voluntary exercise during development can enhance spatial memory in mice by increasing synapse numbers and improving synaptic transmission in hippocampal dentate gyrus and CA3 regions, but not in CA1 region. This study sheds light on the neural mechanisms underlying how early-life exercise improves cognitive function.

Replacement of Concrete Aggregates with Coal-Derived Flash Graphene

Each year, the growth of cities across developing economies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America drives demand for concrete to house and serve their burgeoning populations. Since 1950, the number of people living in urban areas has quadrupled to 4.2 billion, with another predicted 2.5 billion expected to join them in the next three decades. The largest component of concrete by volume is aggregates, such as sand and rocks, with sand as the most mined material in the world. However, the extraction rate of sand currently exceeds its natural replenishment rate, meaning that a global concrete-suitable sand shortage is extremely likely. As such, replacements for fine aggregates, such as sand, are in demand. Here, flash Joule heating (FJH) is used to convert coal-derived metallurgical coke (MC) into flash graphene aggregate (FGA), a blend of MC-derived flash graphene (MCFG), which mimics a natural aggregate (NA) in size. While graphene and graphene oxide have previously been used as reinforcing additives to concrete, in this contribution, FGA is used as a total aggregate replacement for NA, resulting in 25% lighter concrete with increases in toughness, peak strain, and specific compressive strength of 32, 33, and 21%, respectively, with a small reduction in specific Young's modulus of 11%. FJH can potentially enable the replacement of fine NA with FGA, resulting in lighter, stronger concrete.

Perfluorocarbon Nanoparticles Incorporating Ginkgolide B: Artificial O2 Carriers with Antioxidant Activity and Antithrombotic Effect

Ischemic stroke primarily leads to insufficient oxygen delivery in ischemic area. Prompt reperfusion treatment for restoration of oxygen is clinically suggested but mediates more surging reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and oxidative damage, known as ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Therefore, the regulation of oxygen content is a critical point to prevent cerebral ischemia induced pathological responses and simultaneously alleviate IRI triggered by the sudden oxygen restoration. In this work, we constructed a perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based artificial oxygen nanocarrier (PFTBA-L@GB), using an ultrasound-assisted emulsification method, alleviates the intracerebral hypoxic state in ischemia stage and IRI after reperfusion. The high oxygen solubility of PFC allows high oxygen efficacy. Furthermore, PFC has the adhesion affinity to platelets and prevents the overactivation of platelet. The encapsulated payload, ginkgolide B (GB) exerts its anti-thrombosis by antagonism on platelet activating factor and antioxidant effect by upregulation of antioxidant molecular pathway. The versatility of the present strategy provides a practical approach to build a simple, safe, and relatively effective oxygen delivery agent to alleviate hypoxia, promote intracerebral oxygenation, anti-inflammatory, reduce intracerebral oxidative stress damage and thrombosis and caused by stroke.

Whole-Exome Sequencing Identifies Mutation Profile and Mutation Signature-Based Clustering Associated with Prognosis in Appendiceal Pseudomyxoma Peritonei

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare malignant clinical syndrome with little known about the global mutation profile. In this study, whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed in 49 appendiceal PMP to investigate mutation profiles and mutation signatures. A total of 4,020 somatic mutations were detected, with a median mutation number of 56 (1-402). Tumor mutation burden (TMB) was generally low (median 1.55 mutations/Mb, 0.12-11.26 mutations/Mb). Mutations were mainly enriched in the function of cancer-related axonogenesis, extracellular matrix-related processes, calcium signaling pathway, and cAMP signaling pathway. Mutations in FCGBP, RBFOX1, SPEG, RTK-RAS, PI3K-AKT, and focal adhesion pathways were associated with high-grade mucinous carcinoma peritonei. These findings revealed distinct mutation profile in appendiceal PMP. Ten mutation signatures were identified, dividing patients into mutation signature cluster (MSC) 1 (N = 28, 57.1%) and MSC 2 (N = 21, 42.9%) groups. MSC (P = 0.007) was one of the four independent factors associated with 3-year survival. TMB (P = 0.003) and microsatellite instability (P = 0.002) were independent factors associated with MSC 2 grouping. Taken together, our findings provided a broader view in the understanding of molecular pathologic mechanism in appendiceal PMP and may be critical to developing an individualized approach to appendiceal PMP treatment.

IMPLICATIONS

This work describes exhaustive mutation profile of PMP based on WES data and derives ten mutation signatures, which divides patients into two clusters and serve as an independent prognostic factor associated with 3-year survival.

Emodin inhibits HDAC6 mediated NLRP3 signaling and relieves chronic inflammatory pain in mice

Chronic pain reduces the quality of life and ability to function of individuals suffering from it, making it a common public health problem. Neuroinflammation which is mediated by the Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation in the spinal cord participates and modulates chronic pain. A chronic inflammatory pain mouse model was created in the current study by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into C57BL/6J left foot of mice. Following CFA injection, the mice had enhanced pain sensitivities, decreased motor function, increased spinal inflammation and activated spinal astrocytes. Emodin (10 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally into the mice for 3 days. As a result, there were fewer spontaneous flinches, higher mechanical threshold values and greater latency to fall. Additionally, in the spinal cord, emodin administration reduced leukocyte infiltration level, downregulated protein level of IL-1β, lowered histone deacetylase (HDAC)6 and NLRP3 inflammasome activity and suppressed astrocytic activation. Emodin also binds to HDAC6 via four electrovalent bonds. In summary, emodin treatment blocked the HDAC6/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, suppresses spinal inflammation and alleviates chronic inflammatory pain.

Retrospective study of single-use digital flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy versus miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy for 1.5-2.5cm lower pole renal stones

PURPOSE

Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical information of patients with 1.5-2.5 cm lower pole renal stones treated by single-use digital flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (fURS) and miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL) in affiliated hospital of the Nantong University from January 2020 to December 2022. To compare the safety and efficacy of single-use fURS and MPCNL in the treatment from 1.5cm to 2.5cm lower pole renal stones.

METHODS

Clinical information of 141 patients were collected and divided into single-use fURS group and MPCNL group according to their treatment methods, including 83 patients in the single-use fURS group and 58 patients in the MPCNL group. Baseline data, data on the clinical characteristics of stones, laboratory examination data, operation time, and postoperative data of the two groups were collected. Statistical analysis was made on the collected data to analyze the differences and causes between the two groups of patients.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the baseline data and preoperative clinical features of 141 patients between the two groups (P > 0.05). In comparison of postoperative serum indexes, the drop values of hemoglobin and creatinine in single-use fURS group were lower than those in MPCNL group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The stone free rate was higher in the MPCNL group than in the single-use fURS group on the first day after surgery. At the 1st month after surgery, the two groups were similar. At 3rd month after surgery, the single-use fURS group was slightly higher than the MPCNL group, with no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The total complication rate in single-use fURS group was slightly lower than that in MPCNL group, but there was no statistical significance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Single-use fURS has similar safety and efficacy to MPCNL in the treatment of 1.5-2.5cm lower pole renal stones. Single-use fURS may be a new option for the treatment of these stones.

Moving-Target Circumnavigation Using Adaptive Neural Anti-Synchronization Control via Distance-Only Measurements

In this work, we investigate the unknown moving-target circumnavigation problem in GPS-denied environments. A minimum of two tasking agents is excepted to circumnavigate the target cooperatively and symmetrically without prior knowledge of its position and velocity in order to achieve optimal sensor coverage persistently for the target. To achieve this goal, we develop a novel adaptive neural anti-synchronization (AS) controller. Based on relative distance-only measurements between the target and two tasking agents, a neural network is used to approximate the displacement of the target such that the position of the target can be estimated accurately and in real time. On this basis, a target position estimator is designed by considering whether all agents are in the same coordinate system. Furthermore, an exponential forgetting factor and a new information utilization factor are introduced to improve the accuracy of the aforementioned estimator. Rigorous convergence analysis of position estimation errors and AS error shows that the closed-loop system is globally exponentially bounded by the designed estimator and controller. Both numerical and simulation experiments are conducted to demonstrate the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Inhibition of HDAC6 alleviates cancer‑induced bone pain by reducing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome

Cancer‑induced bone pain (CIBP) is characterized as moderate to severe pain that negatively affects the daily functional status and quality of life of patients. When cancer cells metastasize and grow in bone marrow, this activates neuroinflammation in the spinal cord, which plays a vital role in the generation and persistence of chronic pain. In the present study, a model of CIBP was constructed by inoculating of MRMT‑1 rat breast carcinoma cells into the medullary cavity of the tibia in male Sprague‑Dawley rats. Following two weeks of surgery, CIBP rats exhibited damaged bone structure, increased pain sensitivity and impaired motor coordination. Neuroinflammation was activated in the spinal cords of CIBP rats, presenting with extensive leukocyte filtration, upregulated cytokine levels and activated astrocytes. Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) works as a therapeutic target for chronic pain. The intrathecal injection of the HDAC6 inhibitor tubastatin A (TSA) in the lumbar spinal cord resulted in decreased spinal inflammatory cytokine production, suppressed spinal astrocytes activation and reduced NOD‑like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activity. Consequently, this effect alleviated spontaneous pain and mechanical hyperalgesia and recovered motor coordination in CIBP rats. It was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation assay that TSA treatment reduced the interaction between HDAC6 and NLRP3. Cell research on C6 rat glioma cells served to verify that TSA treatment reduced HDAC6 and NLRP3 expression. In summary, the findings of present study indicated that TSA treatment alleviated cancer‑induced bone pain through the inhibition of HDAC6/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in the spinal cord.

Potential application value of pigment epithelium-derived factor in sensorineural hearing loss

The inner ear is a complex and precise auditory perception system responsible for receiving and converting sound signals into neural signals, enabling us to perceive and understand sound. However, the occurrence and development of inner ear diseases and auditory disorders, such as sensorineural hearing loss, remain a global problem. In recent years, there has been increasing research on the treatment of inner ear diseases and auditory regeneration. Among these treatments, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), as a multifunctional secretory protein, exhibits diverse biological activities and functions through various mechanisms, and has shown potential applications in the inner ear. This minireview comprehensively evaluates the performance of PEDF in sensorineural hearing loss in inner ear and its potential targets and therapeutic prospects.

Stereoselective Hydrosilylation of 1,2-Diketones Catalyzed by Chiral Frustrated Lewis Pairs

The asymmetric reduction of 1,2-diketones for the synthesis of optically active 1,2-diols, especially 1,2-anti-diols, remains a formidable challenge. In this paper, we describe the first highly stereoselective hydrosilylation of unsymmetrical vicinal diketones with PhSiH3 by using a chiral frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) catalyst, giving a variety of 1,2-diaryl-1,2-anti-diols in high yields with excellent d.r. values and up to 97 % ee. The chiral FLP catalyst exhibits the ability to control regio-, diastereo- and enantioselectivites concurrently.

Manganese-Based Immunomodulatory Nanocomposite with Catalase-Like Activity and Microwave-Enhanced ROS Elimination Ability for Efficient Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease commonly associated with the accumulation of hyperactive immune cells (HICs), particularly macrophages of pro-inflammatory (M1) phenotype, accompanied by the elevated level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreased pH and O2 content in joint synovium. In this work, an immunomodulatory nanosystem (IMN) is developed for RA therapy by modulating and restoring the function of HICs in inflamed tissues. Manganese tetraoxide nanoparticles (Mn3 O4 ) nanoparticles anchored on UiO-66-NH2 are designed, and then the hybrid is coated with Mn-EGCG film, further wrapped with HA to obtain the final nanocomposite of UiO-66-NH2 @Mn3 O4 /Mn-EGCG@HA (termed as UMnEH). When UMnEH diffuses to the inflammatory site of RA synovium, the stimulation of microwave (MW) irradiation and low pH trigger the slow dissociation of Mn-EGCG film. Then the endogenously overexpressed hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) disintegrates the exposed Mn3 O4 NPs to promote ROS scavenging and O2 generation. Assisted by MW irradiation, the elevated O2 content in the RA microenvironment down-regulates the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Coupled with the clearance of ROS, it promotes the re-polarization of M1 phenotype macrophages into anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype macrophages. Therefore, the multifunctional UMnEH nanoplatform, as the IMN, exhibits a promising potential to modulate and restore the function of HICs and has an exciting prospect in the treatment of RA.

In-situ integrated electrodes of FeM-MIL-88/CP for simultaneous ultra-sensitive detection of dopamine and acetaminophen based on crystal engineering strategy

Designing and exploiting integrated electrodes is the current inevitable trend to realize the sustainable development of electrochemical sensors. In this work, a series of integrated electrodes prepared by in situ growing the second metal ion-modulated FeM-MIL-88 (M = Mn, Co and Ni) on carbon paper (CP) (FeM-MIL-88/CP) were constructed as the electrochemical sensing platforms for the simultaneous detection of dopamine (DA) and acetaminophen (AC). Among them, FeMn-MIL-88/CP exhibited the best sensing behaviors and achieved the trace detection for DA and AC owing to synergistic catalysis between Fe3+, Mn2+ and CP. The electrochemical sensor based on FeMn-MIL-88/CP showed ultra-high sensitivities of 2.85 and 7.46 μA μM-1 cm-2 and extremely low detection limits of 0.082 and 0.015 μM for DA and AC, respectively. The FeMn-MIL-88/CP also exhibited outstanding anti-interference ability, repeatability and stability, and satisfactory results were also obtained in the detection of actual samples. The mechanism of Mn2+ modulation on the electrocatalytic activity of FeMn-MIL-88/CP towards DA and AC was revealed for the first time through the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Good adsorption energy and rapid electron transfer worked synergistically to improve the sensing performances of DA and AC. This work not only provided a high-performance integrated electrode for the sensing field, but also demonstrated the influencing factors of electrochemical sensing at the molecular levels, laying a theoretical foundation for the sustainable development of subsequent electrochemical sensing.

Low anterior resection syndrome and quality of life after intersphincteric resection for rectal cancer: a propensity score-matched study

PURPOSE

Our aim was to perform a propensity score-matched study to compare the long-term functional outcomes and quality of life following intersphincteric resection vs. low anterior resection (LAR) with very low anastomosis.

METHODS

Patients who underwent intersphincteric resection or low anterior resection with low anastomosis (≤ 4 cm from the anal verge) for rectal cancer between January 2017 and June 2020 were retrospectively included. A propensity score-matching process was performed. Functional outcomes and quality of life were assessed using the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version (EQ-5D-3L), EORC-QLQ C30, EORC-QLQ CR29, Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS), Wexner, and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaires. The primary outcome was the presence of LARS at least 12 months after surgery. The second outcome was the postoperative quality of life of included patients.

RESULTS

After propensity matching, 128 patients were included, including 58 males and 70 females with a median age of 59.5. Patients in the intersphincteric resection group showed a higher incidence of incontinence to flatus (32.8% versus 14.0%, p = 0.043) and stools (42.2% versus 21.9%, p = 0.046), pain/discomfort (25.0% versus 7.8%, p = 0.001), and bowel dysfunction, while the LARS scores (15.0 versus 13.2, p = 0.461) and major LARS rates (26.6% versus 14.1%, p = 0.078) were comparable in both groups.

CONCLUSION

ISR leads to increased bowel incontinence rate and increased anal pain, without affecting the grade of low anterior resection syndrome, fecal urgency, and clustering. LAR might be the preferred sphincteric-preserving approach when negative resection margins and a safe anastomosis are guaranteed. Patients should be fully informed about potential functional impairment after sphincter-preservation procedures.

Comparative spatial proteomics of Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes

Plasmodium parasites contribute to one of the highest global infectious disease burdens. To achieve this success, the parasite has evolved a range of specialized subcellular compartments to extensively remodel the host cell for its survival. The information to fully understand these compartments is likely hidden in the so far poorly characterized Plasmodium species spatial proteome. To address this question, we determined the steady-state subcellular location of more than 12,000 parasite proteins across five different species by extensive subcellular fractionation of erythrocytes infected by Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium yoelii, Plasmodium berghei, and Plasmodium chabaudi. This comparison of the pan-species spatial proteomes and their expression patterns indicates increasing species-specific proteins associated with the more external compartments, supporting host adaptations and post-transcriptional regulation. The spatial proteome offers comprehensive insight into the different human, simian, and rodent Plasmodium species, establishing a powerful resource for understanding species-specific host adaptation processes in the parasite.

Construction of a CRISPR Interference System for Gene Knockdown in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia AGS-1 from Aerobic Granular Sludge

To identify the function of attachment genes involved in biofilm formation in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia AGS-1 isolated from aerobic granular sludge, an effective gene molecular tool is needed. We developed a two-plasmid CRISPRi system in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia AGS-1. One plasmid expressed dCas9 protein with the l-arabinose inducible promoter, and the other plasmid contained the sgRNA cassette complementary to the target gene. Under control of the araC-inducible promoter, this system exhibited little leaky basal expression and highly induced expression that silenced endogenous and exogenous genes with reversible knockdown. This system achieved up to 211-fold suppression for mCherry expression on the nontemplate strand compared to the template strand (91-fold). The utility of the developed CRISPRi platform was also characterized by suppressing the xanA and rpfF genes. The expression of these two genes was rapidly depleted and the adhesion ability decreased, which demonstrated that the modulation of either gene was an important factor for biofilm formation of the AGS-1 strain. The system also tested the ability to simultaneously silence transcriptional suppression of multiple targeted genes, an entire operon, or part of it. Lastly, the use of CRISPRi allowed us to dissect the gene intricacies involved in flagellar biosynthesis. Collectively, these results demonstrated that the CRISPRi system was a simple, feasible, and controllable manipulation system of gene expression in the AGS-1 strain.

Detection of CSTF2 by nano fluorescent probe and its correlation with malignant biological characteristics in liver cancer

To develop a novel nano DNA fluorescent probe for in situ detection of CSTF2 in liver cancer (LC) and study its correlation with the development of LC, we developed nano-TiO2-DNA fluorescent probe which can bind with CSTF2 in LC samples with high efficiency. The detection process of CSTF2 did not involve the use PCR technology, and the concentration of CSTF2 can be directly observed by fluorescence intensity. This probe exhibited excellent physicochemical properties in ethyl alcohol at -20°C and could directly and selectively permeate into Hep-3B cells. By using CSTF2 Nano-TiO2-DNA probe, we found that the CSTF2 level increased greatly in LC tissue and cells, and high CSTF2 level was closely associated with high levels of tumor markers and poor prognosis in LC patients. After transfection, CSTF2 was overexpressed or silenced in Hep-3B cells, and we find that high CSTF2 level effectively increased the activity and invasion of Hep-3B cells and reduced their apoptosis. Furthermore, high CSTF2 level significantly increased the tumor volume and weight in mice models by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway. Therefore, CSTF2 can serve as an early biomarker of LC and a novel potential target for its treatment.

Asymmetric catalysis with FLPs

Chiral catalysts play a crucial role in the realm of asymmetric catalysis. Since their breakthrough discovery in 2006, chiral frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have risen as a novel catalyst category for a broad range of metal-free asymmetric reactions. This review provides an overview of the remarkable progress made in this field over the past 15 years. The design and synthesis of chiral FLPs and their applications in hydrogenation, hydrosilylation, transfer hydrogenation, and various other reactions are summarized and highlighted.

Recent advances in immunopeptidomic-based tumor neoantigen discovery

The role of aberrantly expressed proteins in tumors in driving immune-mediated control of cancer has been well documented for more than five decades. Today, we know that both aberrantly expressed normal proteins as well as mutant proteins (neoantigens) can function as tumor antigens in both humans and mice. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) technologies have made significant advances since the early 2010s, enabling detection of rare but clinically relevant neoantigens recognized by T cells. MS profiling of tumor-specific immunopeptidomes remains the most direct method to identify mutant peptides bound to cellular MHC. However, the need for use of large numbers of cells or significant amounts of tumor tissue to achieve neoantigen detection has historically limited the application of MS. Newer, more sensitive MS technologies have recently demonstrated the capacities to detect neoantigens from fewer cells. Here, we highlight recent advancements in immunopeptidomics-based characterization of tumor-specific neoantigens. Various tumor antigen categories and neoantigen identification approaches are also discussed. Furthermore, we summarize recent reports that achieved successful tumor neoantigen detection by MS using a variety of starting materials, MS acquisition modes, and novel ion mobility devices.

Bounded Antisynchronization of Multiple Neural Networks via Multilevel Hybrid Control

The bounded antisynchronization (AS) problem of multiple discrete-time neural networks (NNs) based on the fuzzy model is studied, in consideration of the differences in quantity and communication among different NN groups, the variabilities of dynamics, and communication topological affected by environments. To reduce the energy consumption of communication, a cluster pinning communication mechanism is proposed, and an impulsive observer is designed to estimate the state of target NN. Then, a multilevel hybrid controller based on the impulsive observer is built including the AS controller and the bounded synchronization (BS) controller. Sufficient conditions for bounded AS are obtained by analyzing the stability of the BS augmented error (BSAE) and the AS augmented error (ASAE) based on the fuzzy-based Lyapunov functional (FBLF). Finally, a numerical example and an application example are given to verify the validity of the obtained results.

TTC13 expression and STAT3 activation may form a positive feedback loop to promote ccRCC progression

Background

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) originates from renal tubular epithelial cells and is mainly classified into three histological types, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) which accounts for about 75% of all kidney cancers and is characterized by its strong invasiveness and poor prognosis. Hence, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms underlying the occurrence and progression of ccRCC to identify effective biomarkers for the early diagnosis and the prognosis prediction.

Methods

The mRNA level of TTC13 was quantified by RT-PCR, while the protein level was determined by western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Cell proliferation was measured by cck-8, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The binding of STAT3 to the promoter region of TTC13 was determined by the luciferase reporter assay and chip experiments. STAT3 nuclear translocation was assessed by immunofluorescence staining.

Results

We found that TTC13 was up-regulated in ccRCC, and TTC13 promoted cell proliferation as well as inhibited cell apoptosis and autophagy of ccRCC through wnt/β-catenin and IL6-JAK-STAT3 signaling pathways. Furthermore, TTC13 might play a role in the immune infiltration and immunotherapy of ccRCC. Mechanistically, STAT3 activated the transcription of TTC13 gene.

Conclusions

STAT3 directly regulated TTC13 expression through a positive feedback loop mechanism to promote ccRCC cell proliferation as well as reduce cell apoptosis and autophagy. These findings suggested new and effective therapeutic targets for more accurate and personalized treatment strategies.

Inhibition of urethral stricture by a catheter loaded with nanoparticle/ pirfenidone complexes

Background: Urethral strictures are common injurious conditions of the urinary system. Reducing and preventing urethral strictures has become a hot and challenging topic for urological surgeons and related researchers. In this study, we developed a catheter loaded with nanoparticle/pirfenidone (NP/PFD) complexes and evaluated its effectiveness at inhibiting urethral stricture in rabbits, providing more references for the clinical prevention and reduction of urethral stenosis. Methods: Twelve adult male New Zealand rabbits were selected and divided into the following four groups in a ratio of 1:1:1:1 using the random number table method: Group A, sham; Group B, urethral stricture (US); Group C, US + unmodified catheter; and Group D, US + NP/PFD catheter. On the 30th day after modelling, retrograde urethrography was performed to evaluate urethral stricture formation, and histopathological examination was performed on the tissues of the corresponding surgical site. Meanwhile, changes in the expression level of Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in the tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: The NP/PFD complexes adhered uniformly to the catheter surface. They remained on the surface of the catheter after insertion into the urethra. In addition, the NP/PFD complexes spread into the urethral epithelium 2 weeks after surgery. Ultimately, urethral strictures were significantly reduced with the placement of the NP/PFD complex catheter. Conclusion: Our catheter loaded with NP/PFD complexes effectively delivered PFD to the urethral epithelium through continuous local delivery, thereby reducing fibrosis and stricture after urethral injury, which may be associated with the inhibition of TGF-β1 expression.

Biotin-decorated hollow gold nanoshells for dual-modal imaging-guided NIR-II photothermal and radiosensitizing therapy toward breast cancer

Radiotherapy (RT) is dominantly used in breast cancer therapy but is facing fierce side effects because of the limited difference between tumor and normal tissues in response to ionizing radiation. Herein, we construct a core-shell nanoparticle of UiO-66-NH2@AuNS. Then the solid gold shell was etched into hollow AuNS (HAuNS) and further modified with biotin-PEG-SH (PEG-bio) to obtain HAuNS@PEG-bio. HAuNS@PEG-bio demonstrates effective near infrared II (NIR-II) region photothermal therapy (PTT) performance, and the increase of temperature at the tumor site promotes the blood circulation to alleviate the hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Meanwhile, HAuNS exhibits strong X-ray absorption and deposition ability due to the high atomic coefficient of elemental Au (Z = 79) and hollowed-out structure. Through the dual radiosensitization of the high atomic coefficient of Au and the hypoxia alleviation from PTT of HAuNS, the breast cancer cells could undergo immunogenic cell death (ICD) to activate the immune response. At the in vivo level, HAuNS@PEG-bio performs NIR-II photothermal, radiosensitization, and ICD therapies through cellular targeting, guided by infrared heat and CT imaging. This work highlights that the constructed biotin-decorated hollow gold nanoshell has a promising potential as a diagnostic and treatment integration reagents for the breast cancer.

GSH-activatable camptothecin prodrug-loaded gold nanostars coated with hyaluronic acid for targeted breast cancer therapy via multiple radiosensitization strategies

Breast cancer has overtaken lung cancer to rank as the top malignant tumor in terms of incidence. Herein, a gold nanostar (denoted as AuNS) is used for loading disulfide-coupled camptothecin-fluorophore prodrugs (denoted as CPT-SS-FL) to form a nanocomposite of AuNS@CPT-SS-FL (denoted as AS), which, in turn, is further encapsulated with hyaluronic acid (HA) to give the final nanoplatform of AuNS@CPT-SS-FL@HA (denoted as ASH). ASH effectively carries the prodrug and targets the CD44 receptor on the surface of tumor cells. The endogenously overexpressed glutathione (GSH) in tumor cells breaks the disulfide bond to activate the prodrug and release the radiosensitizer drug camptothecin (CPT) and the fluorescence imaging reagent rhodamine derivative as a fluorophore (FL). The released FL can track the precise release position of the radiosensitizer camptothecin in tumor cells in real time. The AuNS has strong X-ray absorption and deposition ability due to the high atomic coefficient of elemental Au (Z = 79). At the same time, the AuNS can alleviate the tumor microenvironment (TME) hypoxia through its mild photothermal therapy (PTT). Therefore, through the multiple radiosensitizing effects of GSH depletion, the high atomic coefficient of Au, and hypoxia alleviation, accompanied by the radiosensitizer camptothecin, the designed ASH nanoplatform can effectively induce strong immunogenic cell death (ICD) at the tumor site via radiosensitizing therapy combined with PTT. This work provides a new way of constructing a structurally compact and highly functionalized hierarchical system toward efficient breast cancer treatment through ameliorating the TME with multiple modalities.

SGN-YOLO: Detecting Wood Defects with Improved YOLOv5 Based on Semi-Global Network

Object detection based on wood defects involves using bounding boxes to label defects in the surface image of the wood. This step is crucial before the transformation of wood products. Due to the small size and diverse shape of wood defects, most previous object detection models are unable to filter out critical features effectively. Consequently, they have faced challenges in generating adequate contextual information to detect defects accurately. In this paper, we proposed a YOLOv5 model based on a Semi-Global Network (SGN) to detect wood defects. Unlike previous models, firstly, a lightweight SGN is introduced in the backbone to model the global context, which can improve the accuracy and reduce the complexity of the network at the same time; the backbone is embedded with the Extended Efficient Layer Aggregation Network (E-ELAN), which continuously enhances the learning ability of the network; and finally, the Efficient Intersection and Merger (EIOU) loss is used to solve the problems of slow convergence speed and inaccurate regression results. Experimental results on public wood defect datasets demonstrated that our approach outperformed existing target detection models. The mAP value was 86.4%, a 3.1% improvement over the baseline network model, a 7.1% improvement over SSD, and a 13.6% improvement over Faster R-CNN. These results show the effectiveness of our proposed methodology.

Immunogenic Radiation Therapy for Enhanced Antitumor Immunity via a Core-Shell Nanosensitizer-Mediated Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment Modulation

Due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and weak radiation absorption, the immune response triggered by radiation therapy (RT) is limited. Herein, a core-shell nanosensitizer UiO@MnS (denoted as UM) was genuinely constructed for the amplification of RT efficacy and induction of immunogenicity via integrating MnS-reprogrammed TME with Hf-based UiO-sensitized RT. The acid-sensitive MnS would produce H2S under acidic TME to improve oxygenation through inhibition mitochondrial respiration and reducing metabolic oxygen consumption, leading to decreased HIF-1α expression and enhanced radiosensitization. In addition, the generated H2S inhibited the catalase activity to increase the H2O2 level, which subsequently enhanced the Mn2+-mediated Fenton-like reaction, resulting in G2/M cell cycle arrest to improve the cellular sensitivity for radiation. This impressive tumor oxygenation, cell cycle arrest, and radiosensitization procedure boosted RT efficacy and resulted in strong antitumor immunogenicity. Taken together, combining the immunosuppressive TME modulation with a sensitizing radiation strategy shows great promise for magnifying immunogenic RT outputs.

Association Between Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Hematoma Progression After Cerebral Contusion

BACKGROUND

The objective of this research was to examine the impact of the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) on the advancement of hematoma after cerebral contusion.

METHODS

The clinical information and laboratory test findings of people with cerebral contusion were retrospectively analyzed. Using the tertiles of MLR, the study participants were categorized into three groups, enabling the evaluation of the correlation between MLR and the advancement of hematoma after cerebral contusion.

RESULTS

Among the cohort of patients showing progression, MLR levels were significantly higher compared with the nonprogress group (P < 0.001). The high MLR group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with hematoma progression compared with the medium and low MLR groups. However, the medium MLR group had a lower proportion of patients with hematoma progression compared with the low MLR group. High MLR levels were independently linked to a higher risk of hematoma progression (Odds Ratio 3.546, 95% Confidence Interval 1.187-10.597, P = 0.024). By incorporating factors such as Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission, anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy, white blood cell count, and MLR into the model, the predictive performance of the model significantly improved (area under the curve 0.754).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that MLR may serve as a potential indicator for predicting the progression of hematoma after cerebral contusion. Further research is necessary to investigate the underlying pathological and physiological mechanisms that contribute to the association between MLR and the progression of hematoma after cerebral contusion and to explore its clinical implications.

VEGFC ameliorates salt-sensitive hypertension and hypertensive nephropathy by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome via activating VEGFR3-AMPK dependent autophagy pathway

Salt-sensitivity hypertension (SSHTN) is an independent predictor for cardiovascular mortality. VEGFC has been reported to be a protective role in SSHTN and hypertensive kidney injury. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. The current study aimed to explore the protective effects and mechanisms of VEGFC against SSHTN and hypertensive nephropathy. Here, we reported that VEGFC attenuated high blood pressure as well as protected against renal inflammation and fibrosis in SSHTN mice. Moreover, VEGFC suppressed the activation of renal NLRP3 inflammasome in SSHTN mice. In vitro, we found VEGFC inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, meanwhile, upregulated autophagy in high-salt-induced macrophages, while these effects were reversed by an autophagy inhibitor 3MA. Furthermore, in vivo, 3MA pretreatment weakened the protective effects of VEGFC on SSHTN and hypertensive nephropathy. Mechanistically, VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR3) kinase domain activated AMPK by promoting the phosphorylation at Thr183 via binding to AMPK, thus enhancing autophagy activity in the context of high-salt-induced macrophages. These findings indicated that VEGFC inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation by promoting VEGFR3-AMPK-dependent autophagy pathway in high-salt-induced macrophages, which provided a mechanistic basis for the therapeutic target in SSHTN and hypertensive kidney injury.

Corrigendum: An integrative pharmacology model for decoding the underlying Therapeutic Mechanisms of Ermiao Powder for Rheumatoid arthritis

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.801350.].

Multidetector CT-derived tricuspid annulus measurements predict tricuspid regurgitation reduction after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

AIM

To use multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT)-derived tricuspid annulus (TA) measurements to identify predictors for tricuspid regurgitation (TR) reduction after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and to investigate the impact of TR change on prognosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective, single-centre study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent TAVR with concomitant baseline mild or more severe TR from April 2012 to April 2022. TA parameters were measured using MDCT.

RESULTS

The study comprised 266 patients (mean age 74.2 ± 7.6 years, 147 men) and 45.1% had more than one grade of TR reduction at follow-up. Independent predictors of TR reduction at follow-up were distance between TA centroid and antero-septal commissure (odd ratio [OR] 0.776; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.672-0.896, p=0.001), baseline TR of moderate or worse (OR 4.599; 95% CI: 2.193-9.648, p<0.001), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (OR 1.018; 95% CI: 1.002-1.035, p=0.027), age (OR 0.955; 95% CI: 0.920-0.993, p=0.019), and pre-existing atrial fibrillation (OR 0.209; 95% CI: 0.101-0.433, p<0.001). Patients without TR reduction had higher rates of rehospitalisation (hazard ratio [HR] 0.642; 95% CI: 0.413-0.998, p=0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

The MDCT-derived TA parameter was predictive of TR reduction after TAVR. Persistent TR after TAVR was associated with higher rates of rehospitalisation.