Semiconducting polymer dots for multifunctional integrated nanomedicine carriers

The expansion applications of semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) among optical nanomaterial field have long posed a challenge for researchers, promoting their intelligent application in multifunctional nano-imaging systems and integrated nanomedicine carriers for diagnosis and treatment. Despite notable progress, several inadequacies still persist in the field of Pdots, including the development of simplified near-infrared (NIR) optical nanoprobes, elucidation of their inherent biological behavior, and integration of information processing and nanotechnology into biomedical applications. This review aims to comprehensively elucidate the current status of Pdots as a classical nanophotonic material by discussing its advantages and limitations in terms of biocompatibility, adaptability to microenvironments in vivo, etc. Multifunctional integration and surface chemistry play crucial roles in realizing the intelligent application of Pdots. Information visualization based on their optical and physicochemical properties is pivotal for achieving detection, sensing, and labeling probes. Therefore, we have refined the underlying mechanisms and constructed multiple comprehensive original mechanism summaries to establish a benchmark. Additionally, we have explored the cross-linking interactions between Pdots and nanomedicine, potential yet complete biological metabolic pathways, future research directions, and innovative solutions for integrating diagnosis and treatment strategies. This review presents the possible expectations and valuable insights for advancing Pdots, specifically from chemical, medical, and photophysical practitioners' standpoints.

Role of long noncoding RNAs in pathological cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction: An emerging insight into molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of heart failure (HF), accounting for high mortality and morbidity worldwide. As a consequence of ischemia/reperfusion injury during MI, multiple cellular processes such as oxidative stress-induced damage, cardiomyocyte death, and inflammatory responses occur. In the next stage, the proliferation and activation of cardiac fibroblasts results in myocardial fibrosis and HF progression. Therefore, developing a novel therapeutic strategy is urgently warranted to restrict the progression of pathological cardiac remodeling. Recently, targeting long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) provided a novel insight into treating several disorders. In this regard, numerous investigations have indicated that several lncRNAs could participate in the pathogenesis of MI-induced cardiac remodeling, suggesting their potential therapeutic applications. In this review, we summarized lncRNAs displayed in the pathophysiology of cardiac remodeling after MI, emphasizing molecular mechanisms. Also, we highlighted the possible translational role of lncRNAs as therapeutic targets for this condition and discussed the potential role of exosomes in delivering the lncRNAs involved in post-MI cardiac remodeling.

Cognition of nursing translational medical research among nursing practitioners in China

BACKGROUND

Nursing translational research (TR) begins with clinical discovery and medical research and leads to clinical application in patients. TR is key to improving nursing quality and developing the nursing profession. However, its development in China remains limited, and the reasons for this are unclear. We aim to enhance the recognition of nursing TR among nursing practitioners in China by exploring their cognition about nursing TR and associated influences.

METHODS

We distributed an internet-based questionnaire to 683 nursing practitioners between February 13 and March 15, 2023. We analyzed the characteristics and cognition of nursing TR using descriptive statistics, the chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and stepwise logistic regression analysis. The majority (79.65%) of nursing practitioners who responded to the questionnaire were willing to participate in nursing TR.

FINDINGS

Nursing practitioners with a higher educational level, stronger recognition of the importance of nursing TR, and stronger recognition of transdisciplinary nursing TR were more willing to participate in nursing TR.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study can accelerate nursing practitioners' willingness to participate in nursing TR.

APPLICATION TO PRACTICE

We identified strategies to promote TR: provide further education, optimize courses in higher education, disseminate information, provide guidance on the importance of nursing TR, and establish a nursing TR platform with appropriate potential collaborators.

A perioperative layered autologous tissue expansion graft for hollow organ repair

Tissue engineering has not been widely adopted in clinical settings for several reasons, including technical challenges, high costs, and regulatory complexity. Here, we introduce the Perioperative Layered Autologous Tissue Expansion graft (PLATE graft), a composite biomaterial and collagen-reinforced construct with autologous epithelium on one side and smooth muscle tissue on the other. Designed to mimic the structure and function of natural hollow organs, the PLATE graft is unique in that it can be produced in a standard operating theatre and is cost-effective. In this proof-of-principle study, we test its regenerative performance in eight different organs, present biomechanical and permeability tests, and finally explore its in vivo performance in live rabbits.

A review of the therapeutic potential of dental stem cells as scaffold-free models for tissue engineering application

In the realm of regenerative medicine, tissue engineering has introduced innovative approaches to facilitate tissue regeneration. Specifically, in pulp tissue engineering, both scaffold-based and scaffold-free techniques have been applied. Relevant articles were meticulously chosen from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases through a comprehensive search spanning from October 2022 to December 2022. Despite the inherent limitations of scaffolding, including inadequate mechanical strength for hard tissues, insufficient vents for vessel penetration, immunogenicity, and suboptimal reproducibility-especially with natural polymeric scaffolds-scaffold-free tissue engineering has garnered significant attention. This methodology employs three-dimensional (3D) cell aggregates such as spheroids and cell sheets with extracellular matrix, facilitating precise regeneration of target tissues. The choice of technique aside, stem cells play a pivotal role in tissue engineering, with dental stem cells emerging as particularly promising resources. Their pluripotent nature, non-invasive extraction process, and unique properties render them highly suitable for scaffold-free tissue engineering. This study delves into the latest advancements in leveraging dental stem cells and scaffold-free techniques for the regeneration of various tissues. This paper offers a comprehensive summary of recent developments in the utilization of dental stem cells and scaffold-free methods for tissue generation. It explores the potential of these approaches to advance tissue engineering and their effectiveness in therapies aimed at tissue regeneration.

Challenges and Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Neuroradiology

PURPOSE

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in medical research and is garnering increased attention in the public consciousness. This represents a critical time period in which medical researchers, healthcare providers, insurers, regulatory agencies, and patients are all developing and shaping their beliefs and policies regarding the use of AI in the healthcare sector. The successful deployment of AI will require support from all these groups. This commentary proposes that widespread support for medical AI must be driven by clear and transparent scientific reporting, beginning at the earliest stages of scientific research.

METHODS

A review of relevant guidelines and literature describing how scientific reporting plays a central role at key stages in the life cycle of an AI software product was conducted. To contextualize this principle within a specific medical domain, we discuss the current state of predictive tissue outcome modeling in acute ischemic stroke and the unique challenges presented therein.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Translating AI methods from the research to the clinical domain is complicated by challenges related to model design and validation studies, medical product regulations, and healthcare providers' reservations regarding AI's efficacy and affordability. However, each of these limitations is also an opportunity for high-impact research that will help to accelerate the clinical adoption of state-of-the-art medical AI. In all cases, establishing and adhering to appropriate reporting standards is an important responsibility that is shared by all of the parties involved in the life cycle of a prospective AI software product.

Organoids derived from patients provide a new opportunity for research and individualized treatment of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

BACKGROUND

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is an extremely rare and highly invasive tumor. Due to the lack of accurate models that reflect the biological characteristics of primary tumors, studying MPM remains challenging and is associated with an exceedingly unfavorable prognosis. This study was aimed to establish a new potential preclinical model for MPM using patient-derived MPM organoids (MPMOs) and to comprehensively evaluate the practicality of this model in medical research and its feasibility in guiding individualized patient treatment.

METHODS

MPMOs were constructed using tumor tissue from MPM patients. Histopathological analysis and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were employed to determine the ability of MPMOs to replicate the original tumor's genetic and histological characteristics. The subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft models were employed to assess the feasibility of establishing an in vivo model of MPM. MPMOs were also used to conduct drug screening and compare the results with retrospective analysis of patients after treatment, in order to evaluate the potential of MPMOs in predicting the effectiveness of drugs in MPM patients.

RESULTS

We successfully established a culture method for human MPM organoids using tumor tissue from MPM patients and provided a comprehensive description of the necessary medium components for MPMOs. Pathological examination and WGS revealed that MPMOs accurately represented the histological characteristics and genomic heterogeneity of the original tumors. In terms of application, the success rate of creating subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft models using MPMOs was 88% and 100% respectively. Drug sensitivity assays demonstrated that MPMOs have different medication responses, and these differences were compatible with the real situation of the patients.

CONCLUSION

This study presents a method for generating human MPM organoids, which can serve as a valuable research tool and contribute to the advancement of MPM research. Additionally, these organoids can be utilized as a means to evaluate the effectiveness of drug treatments for MPM patients, offering a model for personalized treatment approaches.

Necropsy in Mouse Research

Necropsy is the postmortem examination of an animal's body. Experiments on laboratory animals are performed to gather scientific data relevant to basic and, even more often, translational research, mainly in the field of translational medicine. A necropsy conducted on laboratory animals subjected to experimental research provides an opportunity to exhaustively explore pathological processes that took place during life. In order to achieve that goal, procedures of biomaterial collection should be performed timely, bearing in mind the inevitable process of postmortem tissue decay, and precisely, to avoid mechanical tissue damage.In this chapter, procedures of collecting organs and tissue in a way that ensures the preservation of the organ structure, tissue organization, morphological characteristics of cells, and last but not least, intracellular protein and nucleic acid content and chromosome organization are going to be described step by step.

Phosphatidic acid-enabled MKL1 contributes to liver regeneration: Translational implication in liver failure

Liver regeneration following injury aids the restoration of liver mass and the recovery of liver function. In the present study we investigated the contribution of megakaryocytic leukemia 1 (MKL1), a transcriptional modulator, to liver regeneration. We report that both MKL1 expression and its nuclear translocation correlated with hepatocyte proliferation in cell and animal models of liver regeneration and in liver failure patients. Mice with MKL1 deletion exhibited defective regenerative response in the liver. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that MKL1 interacted with E2F1 to program pro-regenerative transcription. MAPKAPK2 mediated phosphorylation primed MKL1 for its interaction with E2F1. Of interest, phospholipase d2 promoted MKL1 nuclear accumulation and liver regeneration by catalyzing production of phosphatidic acid (PA). PA administration stimulated hepatocyte proliferation and enhanced survival in a MKL1-dependent manner in a pre-clinical model of liver failure. Finally, PA levels was detected to be positively correlated with expression of pro-regenerative genes and inversely correlated with liver injury in liver failure patients. In conclusion, our data reveal a novel mechanism whereby MKL1 contributes to liver regeneration. Screening for small-molecule compounds boosting MKL1 activity may be considered as a reasonable approach to treat acute liver failure.

Recent advances in molecular targeted therapy of lung cancer: Possible application in translation medicine

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death among all cancer deaths. This cancer is classified into two different histological subtypes: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is the most common subtype, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which is the most aggressive subtype. Understanding the molecular characteristics of lung cancer has expanded our knowledge of the cellular origins and molecular pathways affected by each of these subtypes and has contributed to the development of new therapies. Traditional treatments for lung cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Advances in understanding the nature and specificity of lung cancer have led to the development of immunotherapy, which is the newest and most specialized treatment in the treatment of lung cancer. Each of these treatments has advantages and disadvantages and causes side effects. Today, combination therapy for lung cancer reduces side effects and increases the speed of recovery. Despite the significant progress that has been made in the treatment of lung cancer in the last decade, further research into new drugs and combination therapies is needed to extend the clinical benefits and improve outcomes in lung cancer. In this review article, we discussed common lung cancer treatments and their combinations from the most advanced to the newest.

The wonders of stem cells therapeutic application towards chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory condition characterized by its heterogeneous nature, progressive course, and significant impact on individuals' quality of life. It is a prevalent global health issue affecting a substantial number of individuals and can pose life-threatening complications if left unmanaged. The development and course of COPD can be influenced by a range of risk factors, including genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. Nevertheless, as researchers adopt a more comprehensive and expansive viewpoint of therapeutic techniques, the associated obstacles become more apparent. Indeed, a definitive medication for COPD that reliably leads to symptom alleviation has not yet been discovered. Therefore, the limitations of conventional therapy methods prompted researchers to focus on the advancement of novel procedures, potentially leading to significant outcomes. In contemporary times, the field of regenerative medicine and cell therapy has presented unprecedented opportunities for the exploration of innovative treatments for COPD, owing to the distinctive attributes exhibited by stem cells. Hence, it is imperative to provide due consideration to preclinical investigations and notable characteristics of stem cells as they serve as a means to comprehensively comprehend the fundamental mechanisms of COPD and uncover novel therapeutic strategies with enhanced efficacy for patients.

Current Status and Progress in Stem Cell Therapy for Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage is a highly prevalent and prognostically poor disease, imposing immeasurable harm on human life and health. However, the treatment options for intracerebral hemorrhage are severely limited, particularly in terms of improving the microenvironment of the lesion, promoting neuronal cell survival, and enhancing neural function. This review comprehensively discussed the application of stem cell therapy for intracerebral hemorrhage, providing a systematic summary of its developmental history, types of transplants, transplantation routes, and transplantation timing. Moreover, this review presented the latest research progress in enhancing the efficacy of stem cell transplantation, including pretransplantation preconditioning, genetic modification, combined therapy, and other diverse strategies. Furthermore, this review pioneeringly elaborated on the barriers to clinical translation for stem cell therapy. These discussions were of significant importance for promoting stem cell therapy for intracerebral hemorrhage, facilitating its clinical translation, and improving patient prognosis.

The effect of resistance training on PCSK9 levels in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation after coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized study

BACKGROUND

Resistance training is commonly recommended as part of secondary prevention for post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients in conjunction with aerobic exercise. Despite its potential benefits, there is currently a lack of studies investigating the impact of resistance training on proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9).

AIM

To evaluate the effect of intensive resistance training on proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) levels among post-CABG patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

METHODS

In this prospective, open-label, randomized trial, 87 post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients were randomly assigned into two groups: moderate to high intensity resistance training and aerobic training (n = 44) or aerobic training alone (n = 43) for a total of 12 sessions. Changes in PCSK9 levels was determined as a primary endpoint, while secondary endpoints included changes in the six-minute walk test (6-MWT) results, aerobic capacity, WHO-5 well-being index, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile. Both groups underwent intention-to-treat analysis.

RESULTS

Following completion of cardiac rehabilitation program, the intervention group demonstrated a significant decrease in mean PCSK9 levels when compared to the control group (β = -55 ng/ml, 95% CI -6.7 to -103.3, p = 0.026), as well as significant improvements in the 6-MWT result (β = 28.2 m, 95% CI 2.4-53.9, p = 0.033), aerobic capacity (β = 0.9 Mets, 95% CI 0.1-1.7, p = 0.021), and WHO-5 well-being index (β = 8.1, 95% CI 2.0-14.4, p = 0.011) in patients who received resistance and aerobic training. No statistically significant changes were observed in fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglyceride levels.

CONCLUSION

Resistance training in CR significantly reduced PCSK-9 levels and increases patient's functional capacity and quality of life. (NCT02674659 04/02/2016).

Unveiling the vulnerabilities of synthetic lethality in triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most invasive molecular subtype of breast cancer (BC), accounting for about nearly 15% of all BC cases reported annually. The absence of the three major BC hormone receptors, Estrogen (ER), Progesterone (PR), and Human Epidermal Growth Factor 2 (HER2) receptor, accounts for the characteristic "Triple negative" phraseology. The absence of these marked receptors makes this cancer insensitive to classical endocrine therapeutic approaches. Hence, the available treatment options remain solemnly limited to only conventional realms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Moreover, these therapeutic regimes are often accompanied by numerous treatment side-effects that account for early distant metastasis, relapse, and shorter overall survival in TNBC patients. The rigorous ongoing research in the field of clinical oncology has identified certain gene-based selective tumor-targeting susceptibilities, which are known to account for the molecular fallacies and mutation-based genetic alterations that develop the progression of TNBC. One such promising approach is synthetic lethality, which identifies novel drug targets of cancer, from undruggable oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes, which cannot be otherwise clasped by the conventional approaches of mutational analysis. Herein, a holistic scientific review is presented, to undermine the mechanisms of synthetic lethal (SL) interactions in TNBC, the epigenetic crosstalks encountered, the role of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) in inducing SL interactions, and the limitations faced by the lethal interactors. Thus, the future predicament of synthetic lethal interactions in the advancement of modern translational TNBC research is assessed with specific emphasis on patient-specific personalized medicine.

Small extracellular vesicles as potential theranostic tools in central nervous system disorders

Small extracellular vesicles(sEVs), a subset of extracellular vesicles with a bilateral membrane structure, contain biological cargoes, such as lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. sEVs are crucial mediators of intercellular communications in the physiological and pathological processes of the central nervous system. Because of the special structure and complex pathogenesis of the brain, central nervous system disorders are characterized by high mortality and morbidity. Increasing evidence has focused on the potential of sEVs in clinical application for central nervous system disorders. sEVs are emerging as a promising diagnostic and therapeutic tool with high sensitivity, low immunogenicity, superior safety profile, and high transfer efficiency. This review highlighted the development of sEVs in central nervous system disorder clinical application. We also outlined the role of sEVs in central nervous system disorders and discussed the limitations of sEVs in clinical translation.

Mass spectrometry quantifies target engagement for a KRASG12C inhibitor in FFPE tumor tissue

BACKGROUND

Quantification of drug-target binding is critical for confirming that drugs reach their intended protein targets, understanding the mechanism of action, and interpreting dose-response relationships. For covalent inhibitors, target engagement can be inferred by free target levels before and after treatment. Targeted mass spectrometry assays offer precise protein quantification in complex biological samples and have been routinely applied in pre-clinical studies to quantify target engagement in frozen tumor tissues for oncology drug development. However, frozen tissues are often not available from clinical trials so it is critical that assays are applicable to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues in order to extend mass spectrometry-based target engagement studies into clinical settings.

METHODS

Wild-type RAS and RASG12C was quantified in FFPE tissues by a highly optimized targeted mass spectrometry assay that couples high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) with internal standards. In a subset of samples, technical reproducibility was evaluated by analyzing consecutive tissue sections from the same tumor block and biological variation was accessed among adjacent tumor regions in the same tissue section.

RESULTS

Wild-type RAS protein was measured in 32 clinical non-small cell lung cancer tumors (622-2525 amol/µg) as measured by FAIMS-PRM mass spectrometry. Tumors with a known KRASG12C mutation (n = 17) expressed a wide range of RASG12C mutant protein (127-2012 amol/µg). The variation in wild-type RAS and RASG12C measurements ranged 0-18% CV across consecutive tissue sections and 5-20% CV among adjacent tissue regions. Quantitative target engagement was then demonstrated in FFPE tissues from 2 xenograft models (MIA PaCa-2 and NCI-H2122) treated with a RASG12C inhibitor (AZD4625).

CONCLUSIONS

This work illustrates the potential to expand mass spectrometry-based proteomics in preclinical and clinical oncology drug development through analysis of FFPE tumor biopsies.

What are the chances? Clinician scientist` career pathways in Germany

BACKGROUND

Germany faces a lack of clinician scientists. This problem is widely acknowledged, not just in Germany, as clinician scientists are crucial for medical translation and innovation: trained in medical practice and research they are capable of translating scientific problems into clinical application and vice versa, clinical problems into research. The implementation of nationwide clinician scientist programs (CSPs) in Germany is supposed to solve the lack of trained clinician scientists and, as consequence, to improve the translational relationship between biomedical research and clinical practice. Against the backdrop of an increasing number of CSPs, our study provides early insights into their effectiveness with a focus on what it means to become a clinician scientist and to establish a subsequent career path as a clinician scientist in Germany.

METHODS

During a research project that was conducted from 2020 to 2023 and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, we studied thirteen CSPs. We developed a qualitative questionnaire and interviewed 36 clinician scientists in training, their program supervisors, as well as policy stakeholders. The goal of the interviews was to identify the key obstacles in establishing a career path for clinician scientists in Germany.

RESULTS

We found three types of challenges for establishing and ensuring long term career paths for clinician scientists: First, local working conditions need to allow for clinician scientists to create and perform tasks that combine research, teaching, patient care and translation synergistically. Protection from the urgency of patient care and from metrics-based performance measures both in the clinic and in research seem key here. Second, a stable career path requires new target positions besides clinic management and senior residency. Third, there is a need for cultural change within university medicine that recognizes and rewards new translation-focused practices.

CONCLUSION

We find that CSPs improve working conditions for the duration of the program and provide protected time for doing research. After the programs, however, the career paths remain unstable, mainly due to a lack of target positions for clinician scientists. CSPs support the initial development of the clinician scientist' role, but not in a sustainable way, because the separation of research and patient care is stabilized on an institutional and systemic level. The tasks clinician scientists perform in research remain separate from patient care and teaching, thus, limiting their translational potential. In order to remain a clinician scientist within this differentiated system of university medicine, clinician scientists have to do a significant amount of extra work.

Potential angiogenic biomarkers in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and other vascular diseases

Biomarkers are new tools framed in precision and personalized medicine. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare genetic vascular disease with disturbances in the angiogenic pathways. Descriptive evidence supports that some angiogenesis-related molecules are differently detected in HHT patients compared to healthy subjects. These molecules are also related to diagnosis, prognosis, complications and therapy monitoring in other common vascular diseases. Despite the need for improving knowledge before applying them in daily clinical practice, there are good candidates to be considered as potential biomarkers in HHT and other vascular diseases. In the present review, the authors aim to summarize and discuss current evidence regarding the main putative angiogenic biomarkers by describing the biological role of each biomarker, the evidence related to HHT and their potential use in this and other common vascular diseases from a clinical point-of-view.

Clinical, genetic, and structural characterization of a novel TUBB4B tubulinopathy

Microtubules are cytoskeletal polymers of ⍺/β-tubulin heterodimers essential for a wide range of cellular processes. Pathogenic variations in microtubule-encoding genes (e.g., TUBB4B, which encodes the β-4B tubulin isotype) are responsible for a wide spectrum of cerebral malformations, collectively referred to as "tubulinopathies." The phenotypic manifestation of TUBB4B-associated tubulinopathy is Leber congenital amaurosis with early-onset deafness (LCAEOD), an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by photoreceptor and cochlear cell loss; all known patients have pathogenic variations in amino acid R391. We present the clinical and molecular genetics findings of a 16-year-old female with a de novo missense variant in exon 1 of TUBB4B, c.32 A > G (p.Gln11Arg; Q11R). In addition to hearing loss and hyperopia without retinal abnormalities, our proband presented with two phenotypes of unknown genetic etiology, i.e., renal tubular Fanconi Syndrome (FS) and hypophosphatemic rickets (HR). The Q11R variant expands the genetic basis of early sensory hearing loss; its consequences with respect to microtubule structure are described. A mechanistic explanation for the FS and rickets, involving microtubule-mediated translocation of transporter proteins to and from the apical membrane of renal proximal tubular cells, is proposed.

Engineering nanoparticle toolkits for mRNA delivery

The concept of using mRNA to produce its own medicine in situ in the body makes it an ideal drug candidate, holding great potential to revolutionize the way we approach medicine. The unique characteristics of mRNA, as well as its customizable biomedical functions, call for the rational design of delivery systems to protect and transport mRNA molecules. In this review, a nanoparticle toolkit is presented for the development of mRNA-based therapeutics from a drug delivery perspective. Nano-delivery systems derived from either natural systems or chemical synthesis, in the nature of organic or inorganic materials, are summarised. Delivery strategies in controlling the tissue targeting and mRNA release, as well as the role of nanoparticles in building and boosting the activity of mRNA drugs, have also been introduced. In the end, our insights into the clinical and translational development of mRNA nano-drugs are presented.

An arrhythmogenic metabolite in atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Long-chain acyl-carnitines (ACs) are potential arrhythmogenic metabolites. Their role in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains incompletely understood. Using a systems medicine approach, we assessed the contribution of C18:1AC to AF by analysing its in vitro effects on cardiac electrophysiology and metabolism, and translated our findings into the human setting.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Human iPSC-derived engineered heart tissue was exposed to C18:1AC. A biphasic effect on contractile force was observed: short exposure enhanced contractile force, but elicited spontaneous contractions and impaired Ca2+ handling. Continuous exposure provoked an impairment of contractile force. In human atrial mitochondria from AF individuals, C18:1AC inhibited respiration. In a population-based cohort as well as a cohort of patients, high C18:1AC serum concentrations were associated with the incidence and prevalence of AF.

CONCLUSION

Our data provide evidence for an arrhythmogenic potential of the metabolite C18:1AC. The metabolite interferes with mitochondrial metabolism, thereby contributing to contractile dysfunction and shows predictive potential as novel circulating biomarker for risk of AF.

MicroRNAs as promising therapeutic agents: A perspective from acupuncture

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are gaining recognition as potential therapeutic agents due to their small size, ability to target a wide range of genes, and significant role in disease progression. However, despite their promising potential, nearly half of the miRNA drugs developed for therapeutic purposes have been discontinued or put on hold, and none have advanced to phase III clinical trials. The development of miRNA therapeutics has faced obstacles such as difficulties in validating miRNA targets, conflicting evidence regarding competition and saturation effects, challenges in miRNA delivery, and determining appropriate dosages. These hurdles primarily arise from the intricate functional complexity of miRNAs. Acupuncture, a distinct, complementary therapy, offers a promising avenue to overcome these barriers, particularly by addressing the fundamental issue of preserving functional complexity through acupuncture regulatory networks. The acupuncture regulatory network consists of three main components: the acupoint network, the neuro-endocrine-immune (NEI) network, and the disease network. These networks represent the processes of information transformation, amplification, and conduction that occur during acupuncture. Notably, miRNAs serve as essential mediators and shared biological language within these interconnected networks. Harnessing the therapeutic potential of acupuncture-derived miRNAs can help reduce the time and economic resources required for miRNA drug development and alleviate the current developmental challenges miRNA therapeutics face. This review provides an interdisciplinary perspective by summarizing the interactions between miRNAs, their targets, and the three acupuncture regulatory networks mentioned earlier. The aim is to illuminate the challenges and opportunities in developing miRNA therapeutics. This review paper presents a comprehensive overview of miRNAs, their interactions with acupuncture regulatory networks, and their potential as therapeutic agents. By bridging the miRNA research and acupuncture fields, we aim to offer valuable insights into the obstacles and prospects of developing miRNA therapeutics.

AMG-510 and cisplatin combination increases antitumor effect in lung adenocarcinoma with mutation of KRAS G12C: a preclinical and translational research

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of monotherapy of AMG-510 is limited. This study explored whether the AMG-510 and cisplatin combination increases the anti-tumor effect in lung adenocarcinoma with the mutation of Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS) G12C.

METHODS

Patients' data were used to analyze the proportion of KRAS G12C mutation. Besides, the next-generation sequencing data was used to uncover information about co-mutations. The cell viability assay, the concentration inhibiting 50% of cell viability (IC50) determination, colony formation, and cell-derived xenografts were conducted to explore the anti-tumor effect of AMG-510, Cisplatin, and their combination in vivo. The bioinformatic analysis was conducted to reveal the potential mechanism of drug combination with improved anticancer effect.

RESULTS

The proportion of KRAS mutation was 2.2% (11/495). In this cohort with KRAS mutation, the proportion of G12D was higher than others. Besides, KRAS G12A mutated tumors had the likelihood of concurrent serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11) and kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) mutations. KRAS G12C and tumor protein p53 (TP53) mutations could appear at the same time. In addition, KRAS G12D mutations and C-Ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) rearrangement were likely to be present in one tumor simultaneously. When the two drugs were combined, the respective IC50 values were lower than when used alone. In addition, there was a minimum number of clones among all wells in the drug combination. In in vivo experiments, the tumor size reduction in the drug combination group was more than twice that of the single drug group (p < 0.05). The differential expression genes were enriched in the pathways of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteoglycans compared the combination group to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The anticancer effect of the drug combination was confirmed to be better than monotherapy in vitro and in vivo. The results of this study may provide some information for the plan of neoadjuvant therapy and the design of clinical trials for lung adenocarcinoma patients with KRAS G12C mutation.

Empirical Frequency Bound Derivation Reveals Prominent Mid-Frontal Alpha Associated with Neurosensory Dysfunction in Fragile X Syndrome

The FMR1 gene is inactive in Fragile X syndrome (FXS), resulting in low levels of FMRP and consequent neurochemical, synaptic, and local circuit neurophysiological alterations in the fmr1 KO mouse. In FXS patients, electrophysiological studies have demonstrated a marked reduction in global alpha activity and regional increases in gamma oscillations associated with intellectual disability and sensory hypersensitivity. Since alpha activity is associated with a thalamocortical function with widely distributed modulatory effects on neocortical excitability, insight into alpha physiology may provide insight into systems-level disease mechanisms. Herein, we took a data-driven approach to clarify the temporal and spatial properties of alpha and theta activity in participants with FXS. High-resolution resting-state EEG data were collected from participants affected by FXS (n = 65) and matched controls (n = 70). We used a multivariate technique to empirically classify neural oscillatory bands based on their coherent spatiotemporal patterns. Participants with FXS demonstrated: 1) redistribution of lower-frequency boundaries indicating a "slower" dominant alpha rhythm, 2) an anteriorization of alpha frequency activity, and 3) a correlation of increased individualized alpha power measurements with auditory neurosensory dysfunction. These findings suggest an important role for alterations in thalamocortical physiology for the well-established neocortical hyper-excitability in FXS and, thus, a role for neural systems level disruption to cortical hyperexcitability that has been studied primarily at the local circuit level in animal models.

Melatonin targeting non-coding RNAs in cancer: Focus on mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets

Despite, melatonin is mainly known as a regulatory factor for circadian rhythm, its notable role in other fundamental biological processes, such as redox homeostasis and programmed cell death, has been found. In this line, a growing body of evidence indicated that melatonin could apply an inhibitory effect on the tumorigenic processes. Hence, melatonin might be considered an efficient adjuvant agent for cancer treatment. Besides, the physiological and pathological functions of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in various disease, particularly cancers, have been expanded over the past two decades. It is well-established that ncRNAs can modulate the gene expression at various levels, thereby, ncRNAs. can regulate the numerous biological processes, including cell proliferation, cell metabolism, apoptosis, and cell cycle. Recently, targeting the ncRNAs expression provides a novel insight in the therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment. Moreover, accumulating investigations have revealed that melatonin could impact the expression of different ncRNAs in a multiple disorders, including cancer. Therefore, in the precent study, we discuss the potential roles of melatonin in modulating the expression of ncRNAs and the related molecular pathways in different types of cancer. Also, we highlighted its importance in therapeutic application and translational medicine in cancer treatment.

Removing the stumbling block of exosome applications in clinical and translational medicine: expand production and improve accuracy

Although the clinical application and transformation of exosomes are still in the exploration stage, the prospects are promising and have a profound impact on the future transformation medicine of exosomes. However, due to the limitation of production and poor targeting ability of exosomes, the extensive and rich biological functions of exosomes are restricted, and the potential of clinical transformation is limited. The current research is committed to solving the above problems and expanding the clinical application value, but it lacks an extensive, multi-angle, and comprehensive systematic summary and prospect. Therefore, we reviewed the current optimization strategies of exosomes in medical applications, including the exogenous treatment of parent cells and the improvement of extraction methods, and compared their advantages and disadvantages. Subsequently, the targeting ability was improved by carrying drugs and engineering the structure of exosomes to solve the problem of poor targeting ability in clinical transformation. In addition, we discussed other problems that may exist in the application of exosomes. Although the clinical application and transformation of exosomes are still in the exploratory stage, the prospects are promising and have a profound impact on drug delivery, clinical diagnosis and treatment, and regenerative medicine.

Ancestry component as a major predictor of lithium response in the treatment of bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Bipolar Disorder (BD) represents the seventh major cause of disability life-years-adjusted. Lithium remains as a first-line treatment, but clinical improvement occurs only in 30 % of treated patients. Studies suggest that genetics plays a major role in shaping the individual response of BD patients to lithium.

METHODS

We used machine-learning techniques (Advance Recursive Partitioned Analysis, ARPA) to build a personalized prediction framework of BD lithium response using biological, clinical, and demographical data. Using the Alda scale, we classified 172 BD I-II patients as responders or non-responders to lithium treatment. ARPA methods were used to build individual prediction frameworks and to define variable importance. Two predictive models were evaluated: 1) demographic and clinical data, and 2) demographic, clinical and ancestry data. Model performance was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

The predictive model including ancestry yield the best performance (sensibility = 84.6 %, specificity = 93.8 % and AUC = 89.2 %) compared to the model without ancestry (sensibility = 50 %, Specificity = 94.5 %, and AUC = 72.2 %). This ancestry component best predicted lithium individual response. Clinical variables such as disease duration, the number of depressive episodes, the total number of affective episodes, and the number of manic episodes were also important predictors.

CONCLUSION

Ancestry component is a major predictor and significantly improves the definition of individual Lithium response in BD patients. We provide classification trees with potential bench application in the clinical setting. While this prediction framework might be applied in specific populations, the used methodology might be of general use in precision and translational medicine.

Analysis: Flawed Datasets of Monkeypox Skin Images

The self-proclaimed first publicly available dataset of Monkeypox skin images consists of medically irrelevant images extracted from Google and photography repositories through a process denominated web-scrapping. Yet, this did not stop other researchers from employing it to build Machine Learning (ML) solutions aimed at computer-aided diagnosis of Monkeypox and other viral infections presenting skin lesions. Neither did it stop the reviewers or editors from publishing these subsequent works in peer-reviewed journals. Several of these works claimed extraordinary performance in the classification of Monkeypox, Chickenpox and Measles, employing ML and the aforementioned dataset. In this work, we analyse the initiator work that has catalysed the development of several ML solutions, and whose popularity is continuing to grow. Further, we provide a rebuttal experiment that showcases the risks of such methodologies, proving that the ML solutions do not necessarily obtain their performance from the features relevant to the diseases at issue.

Immunogenicity of decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds: a bottleneck in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Tissue-engineered decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds hold great potential to address the donor shortage as well as immunologic rejection attributed to cells in conventional tissue/organ transplantation. Decellularization, as the key process in manufacturing ECM scaffolds, removes immunogen cell materials and significantly alleviates the immunogenicity and biocompatibility of derived scaffolds. However, the application of these bioscaffolds still confronts major immunologic challenges. This review discusses the interplay between damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and antigens as the main inducers of innate and adaptive immunity to aid in manufacturing biocompatible grafts with desirable immunogenicity. It also appraises the impact of various decellularization methodologies (i.e., apoptosis-assisted techniques) on provoking immune responses that participate in rejecting allogenic and xenogeneic decellularized scaffolds. In addition, the key research findings regarding the contribution of ECM alterations, cytotoxicity issues, graft sourcing, and implantation site to the immunogenicity of decellularized tissues/organs are comprehensively considered. Finally, it discusses practical solutions to overcome immunogenicity, including antigen masking by crosslinking, sterilization optimization, and antigen removal techniques such as selective antigen removal and sequential antigen solubilization.

[Translational medicine research on literature theory of acupuncture and moxibustion]

The development of translational medicine is on the rise, and its advocated relationship between preclinical research and clinical application and two-way translational research mode inspire and promote us to think about solving the corresponding problems faced by acupuncture and moxibustion medicine. The theoretical research of basic research should be closely connected with the practice and application due to the characteristics of the subject, but seems to be seriously disjointed at pre-sent. Therefore, four aspects as "the relationship between acupuncture theory and clinical practice" "correctly interpreting the connotation of traditional theory of acupuncture and moxibustion" "distinguishing which is based on the practice and which is the influence of cultural concepts" and "distinguishing what are the ancient medical discoveries and inventions and what are the theoretical explanations of such discoveries and inventions" should be grasped. In addition, the importance of concept consciousness and two research levels (uncovering unrecognized or buried medical discoveries and techniques and expounding valuable medical ideas) in the transformation research should be emphasized, and the evaluation mechanism for the transformation of research achievements should be established.

[Current status and our consideration on clinical transformation of acupuncture research]

It has become one of the major strategic directions to develop translational medicine and realize the stride leap from basic research to clinical application in the national biomedical field. In recent years, both basic and clinical researches of acupuncture and moxibustion have made landmark progress. However, the transformation of acupuncture and moxibustion techniques still faced with many difficulties, such as low conversion rate and high difficulty of transformation. In this article, we mainly made a preliminary discussion on the current situations of acupuncture and moxibustion transformation from the aspects of basic research content, evidence-based medicine and clinical trials, evaluation criteria for the conclusion of scientific research projects and transformation mode, put forward some existing problems in the transformation process, and proposed some corresponding countermeasures to the problems.

[The translational medicine approach to acupuncture and moxibustion]

The idea of translational medicine from "laboratory to bedside" has become more and more popular. The main purpose of translational medicine is to promote basic research to solve practical clinical problems and improve the level of clinical treatment. It is thus a whole new medical paradigm. However, the principle of "bench to bedside" still has some obvious deficiencies in the "bench" ring, whereas the subject of acupuncture and moxibustion is carried out in the "bench" ring relatively more systematic, but also does not achieve bench to bedside regression well. Nevertheless, as a bridge between basic research and clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion, translational medicine has constructed a data fusion channel between them. Our basic researchers should cooperate closely with clinical experts, exchange ideas, collide sparks of wisdom, and promote the leap-forward development of acupuncture and moxibustion.

[The path of translational medicine for neuroimmunological anti-inflammation and its enlightenment to acupuncture]

Neuroimmunological anti-inflammation is one of the most successful areas of translational medicine in the past 50 years, leading directly to the success of anti-TNF biologics and vagal nerve stimulation therapy for anti-inflammation. The latter has many similarities with traditional acupuncture therapy and further research may reveal more intertwining and enlightenment to acupuncture. This paper briefly reviews the discovery and translational process of Cachectin/TNF, anti-TNF therapy, neural inflammatory reflex arc, vagus nerve stimulation therapy, and Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Condition (SPARC) project, and also summarizes the experience and lessons learned from the path of translational medicine in this field. The two key steps in the translational process are discussed in details. The purpose is to provide reference for the development of translational medicine in acupuncture. "Minimal injury with significant healing" should be considered as the principal hypothesis to further study the biological mechanism of acupuncture and it may result in more clinical translation in the future.

[Challenges and choices: translational acupuncture research spectrum-a proposal]

For more than half a century，the modern bioresearch in acupuncture has made remarkable advancements, proving scientific basis underlying the traditional, intuitive treatment, as well as leading to some new discoveries with the potential to enhance the effectiveness of acupuncture as we know it. Meanwhile, the clinical researches have started to shift its paradigm from traditional individual observation to modern evidence-based medicine. However, there is little interaction between basic and clinic researches, which are like two separate worlds, not benefiting each other. Also the education and training of acupuncture are still traditional style, little combining with modern studies. To bridging the large gap, we need translational science involving in. In this article, with a critical reviews of the limitations of the traditional methods of acupuncture, the challenges faced by clinic practices and placebo-control studies, and the advantages and disadvantages of basic research, we propose a methodological paradigm of the translational research, Translational Acupuncture Research Spectrum, that meets the current situation of acupuncture researches, hoping to give insights into this field and to promote modern acupuncture to move towards a new stage.

[Scientific evidence of the consequences of modernity]

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Mexico is 14.4%. This disease is characterized by a state of hyperglycemia and chronic inflammation secondary to inadequate insulin secretion and its resistance. Among its risk factors for metabolic diseases development, the interaction between obesity, sedentary lifestyle, hypercaloric diets and genetic variants play an important role. For decades, different basic and applied research groups have worked in an interdisciplinary way to provide scientific evidence that has helped to understand the mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of T2D in Mexicans. However, today the urgency of the advance and better proposals for prevention and management of patients with T2D makes it necessary to use translational medicine, which integrates scientific knowledge with the use of innovative technologies to provide comprehensive health care. In this sense, the present document concisely describes, with a translational approach, the implications of the interaction of environmental and genetic risk factors in the development of childhood obesity and T2D in Mexico.

A guide to multi-omics data collection and integration for translational medicine

The emerging high-throughput technologies have led to the shift in the design of translational medicine projects towards collecting multi-omics patient samples and, consequently, their integrated analysis. However, the complexity of integrating these datasets has triggered new questions regarding the appropriateness of the available computational methods. Currently, there is no clear consensus on the best combination of omics to include and the data integration methodologies required for their analysis. This article aims to guide the design of multi-omics studies in the field of translational medicine regarding the types of omics and the integration method to choose. We review articles that perform the integration of multiple omics measurements from patient samples. We identify five objectives in translational medicine applications: (i) detect disease-associated molecular patterns, (ii) subtype identification, (iii) diagnosis/prognosis, (iv) drug response prediction, and (v) understand regulatory processes. We describe common trends in the selection of omic types combined for different objectives and diseases. To guide the choice of data integration tools, we group them into the scientific objectives they aim to address. We describe the main computational methods adopted to achieve these objectives and present examples of tools. We compare tools based on how they deal with the computational challenges of data integration and comment on how they perform against predefined objective-specific evaluation criteria. Finally, we discuss examples of tools for downstream analysis and further extraction of novel insights from multi-omics datasets.

What 'translating science' can learn from 'translating languages'

One of the most important steps in drug discovery is the translation of preclinical data to humans. However, the term 'translation' has numerous connotations and, often, different stakeholders literally speak different languages. Learning from many years of experience and new concepts in language translation could increase the success rate in translating biomedical research. Beyond being bilingual, this includes applying the concept of functional equivalence, the main characteristic of a good translation. Given that function is defined by the source language text, starting with the patient has advantages over the classical bench-to-bedside approach. Good translators need transfer competence, including knowledge of the limitations of translation. As with languages, computer-assisted translation(-al research) could support increasing functional equivalence and, thus, translation success.

Dog-human translational genomics: state of the art and genomic resources

Innovative models for medical research are strongly required nowadays. Convincing evidence supports dog as the most suitable spontaneous model for several human genetic diseases. Decades of studies on dog genome allowed the identification of hundreds of mutations causing genetic disorders, many of which are proposed as counterparts responsible for human diseases. Traditionally, the murine model is the most extensively used in human translational research. However, this species shows large physiological differences from humans, and it is kept under a controlled artificial environment. Conversely, canine genetic disorders often show pathophysiological and clinical features highly resembling the human counterpart. In addition, dogs share the same environment with humans; therefore, they are naturally exposed to many risk factors. Thus, different branches of translational medicine aim to study spontaneously occurring diseases in dogs to provide a more reliable model for human disorders. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the knowledge and resources available today for all the researchers involved in the field of dog-human translational medicine. Some of the main successful examples from dog-human translational genomics are reported, such as the canine association studies which helped to identify the causal mutation in the human counterpart. We also illustrated the ongoing projects aiming to create public canine big datasets. Finally, specific online databases are discussed along with several information resources that can speed up clinical translational research.

Toward a translational epidemiology of religion: challenges and applications

This paper explores the concept of translational epidemiology in the context of epidemiologic studies of religious determinants of morbidity and mortality. Despite a research literature of, by now, thousands of published studies, many in top-tier medical and public health journals, some resistance remains to full acceptance of this work. A principal reason may be the failure of investigators to make the case for real-world applications of epidemiologic findings on religious risk or protection for subsequent personal or population health, in keeping with the definition of translational epidemiology. To remedy this, a case is made for a translational epidemiology of religion. Three types of translation are proposed. The first two recall the standard definition of translational medicine as "from bench to bedside," in this instance two types of bedside encounters, pastoral and clinical. The third application is to public health practice, involving multiple public health professions and specialties. As with other substantive topics within psychosocial epidemiology, research on population-health outcomes of religious exposures provides information that can be applied to development of health promotion and disease prevention programs and formulation of health policy. But this can happen only if investigators give more attention to enumerating potential uses of their findings.

Evaluating metallic artefact of biodegradable magnesium-based implants in magnetic resonance imaging

Magnesium (Mg) implants have shown to cause image artefacts or distortions in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Yet, there is a lack of information on how the degradation of Mg-based implants influences the image quality of MRI examinations. In this study, Mg-based implants are analysed in vitro, ex vivo, and in the clinical setting for various magnetic field strengths with the aim to quantify metallic artefact behaviour. In vitro corroded Mg-based screws and a titanium (Ti) equivalent were imaged according to the ASTM F2119. Mg-based and Ti pins were also implanted into rat femurs for different time points and scanned to provide insights on the influence of soft and hard tissue on metallic artefact. Additionally, MRI data of patients with scaphoid fractures treated with CE-approved Mg-based compression screws (MAGNEZIX®) were analysed at various time points post-surgery. The artefact production of the Mg-based material decreased as implant material degraded in all settings. The worst-case imaging scenario was determined to be when the imaging plane was selected to be perpendicular to the implant axis. Moreover, the Mg-based implant outperformed the Ti equivalent in all experiments by producing lower metallic artefact (p < 0.05). This investigation demonstrates that Mg-based implants generate significantly lower metallic distortion in MRI when compared to Ti. Our positive findings suggest and support further research into the application of Mg-based implants including post-operative care facilitated by MRI monitoring of degradation kinetics and bone/tissue healing processes.

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Mg-based implants produce lower metallic artefact than Ti in MRI.

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Metallic artefact production of Mg reduces as degradation increases.

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Mg implants provide sufficient visualisation in MRI for better postoperative care.

MicroRNA delivery systems in glioma therapy and perspectives: A systematic review

Gliomas are the deadliest of all primary brain tumors, and they constitute a serious global health problem. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are gene expression regulators associated with glioma pathogenesis. Thus, miRNAs represent potential therapeutic agents for treating gliomas. However, miRNAs have not been established as part of the regular clinical armamentarium. This systemic review evaluates current molecular and pre-clinical studies with the aim of defining the most appealing supramolecular platform for administering therapeutic miRNA to patients with gliomas. An integrated analysis suggested that cationic lipid nanoparticles, functionalized with octa-arginine peptides, represent a potentially specific, practical, non-invasive intervention for treating gliomas. This supramolecular platform allows loading both hydrophilic (miRNA) and hydrophobic (anti-tumor drugs, like temozolomide) molecules. This systemic review is the first to describe miRNA delivery systems targeted to gliomas that integrate several types of molecules as active ingredients. Further experimental validation is warranted to confirm the practical value of miRNA delivery systems.

Strengthening regulations, recent advances and remaining barriers in stem cell clinical translation in China: 2015-2021 in review

A new regulatory regime is being implemented under strict scrutiny for translation of stem cell medical practices since 2015 in China. The new mode of governance is strengthening to curb the marketing of unproven stem cell therapeutic products. This article begins with a brief historical overview of stem cell research and development and then focuses on the policies and country-level guidelines in the past years for stem cell translational research. This study reveals several key observations on the major progress made and the challenges associated with clinical translation of stem cells in China. Given that stem cells or stem cell-based therapeutic products are already considered as biological 'drugs', this study would be conducive to a better understanding of China's approach to stem cell translational research, marketisation and industrialization in progress.

A clinical trial of super-stable homogeneous lipiodol-nanoICG formulation-guided precise fluorescent laparoscopic hepatocellular carcinoma resection

Background

Applying traditional fluorescence navigation technologies in hepatocellular carcinoma is severely restricted by high false-positive rates, variable tumor differentiation, and unstable fluorescence performance.

Results

In this study, a green, economical and safe nanomedicine formulation technology was developed to construct carrier-free indocyanine green nanoparticles (nanoICG) with a small uniform size and better fluorescent properties without any molecular structure changes compared to the ICG molecule. Subsequently, nanoICG dispersed into lipiodol via a super-stable homogeneous intermixed formulation technology (SHIFT&nanoICG) for transhepatic arterial embolization combined with fluorescent laparoscopic hepatectomy to eliminate the existing shortcomings. A 52-year-old liver cancer patient was recruited for the clinical trial of SHIFT&nanoICG. We demonstrate that SHIFT&nanoICG could accurately identify and mark the lesion with excellent stability, embolism, optical imaging performance, and higher tumor-to-normal tissue ratio, especially in the detection of the microsatellite lesions (0.4 × 0.3 cm), which could not be detected by preoperative imaging, to realize a complete resection of hepatocellular carcinoma under fluorescence laparoscopy in a shorter period (within 2 h) and with less intraoperative blood loss (50 mL).

Conclusions

This simple and effective strategy integrates the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, and thus, it has great potential in various clinical applications.

Supplementary information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01467-w.

The Challenges and Opportunities of Translational Pathology

Translational pathology has not caught up with the quality and quantity of translational medicine. Thus, challenges and opportunities related to translational pathology are discussed here. Pathologists should actively participate in reverse translational research that seeks mechanistic insights to explain clinical findings and/or solve clinical problems. Challenges in translational pathology include ambiguity in defining translational pathology, pathologists' mindsets about translational research, lack of sufficient workforce and immature publication outlets. However, with collective wisdom and support of various stakeholders, we can expand the pool of pathologist scientists, build a translational pathology community and drive innovations in medicine through computational, molecular genetic/genomic and digital pathology approaches.

Utility of an experimental medicine model to evaluate efficacy, side-effects and mechanism of action of novel treatments for obesity and binge-eating disorder

Obesity and Binge Eating Disorder (BED) are prevalent conditions that are associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. There is evidence that the use of pharmacotherapy alongside behavioural treatments can improve quality of life and reduce disease risk for patients with these disorders. However, there are few approved drug therapies for obesity, and these are limited by poor efficacy and/or side effects and only one drug has been approved for the treatment of BED. There is considerable potential to use experimental medicine models to identify new drug treatments for obesity and BED, with greater efficacy and an improved side effect profile, at an early stage of development. Here, we present a model developed in our laboratory that incorporates both behavioural and neuroimaging measures which can be used to facilitate drug development for obesity and BED. The results from validation studies conducted to date using our model suggest that it is sensitive to the effects of agents with behavioural, neurophysiological and neuropharmacological mechanisms of action known to be associated with weight loss and reductions in binge eating. Future studies using the model will be valuable to evaluate the potential efficacy and side-effects of new candidate drugs at an early stage in the development pipeline for both obesity and BED.

Recommendations for addressing the translational gap between experimental and clinical research on amyloid diseases

This paper is a report of recommendations for addressing translational challenges in amyloid disease research. They were developed during and following an international online workshop organized by the LINXS Institute of Advanced Neutron and X-Ray Science in March 2021. Key suggestions include improving cross-cultural communication between basic science and clinical research, increasing the influence of scientific societies and journals (vis-à-vis funding agencies and pharmaceutical companies), improving the dissemination of negative results, and strengthening the ethos of science.

Multi-omics approaches for biomarker discovery in early ovarian cancer diagnosis

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a heterogeneous disease with the highest mortality rate and the poorest prognosis among gynecological malignancies. Because of the absence of specific early symptoms, most OC patients are often diagnosed at late stages. Thus, improved biomarkers of OC for use in research and clinical practice are urgently needed. The last decade has seen increasingly rapid advances in sequencing and biotechnological methodologies. Consequently, multiple omics technologies, including genomic/transcriptomic sequencings and proteomic/metabolomic mass spectra, have been widely applied to analyze tissue- and liquid-derived samples from OC patients. The integration of multi-omics data has increased our knowledge of the disease and identified valuable OC biomarkers. In this review, we summarize the recent advances and perspectives in the use of multi-omics technologies in OC research and highlight potential applications of multi-omics for identifying novel biomarkers and improving clinical assessments.