Crosstalk between lncRNAs and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in lung cancers: From cancer progression to therapeutic response

Lung cancer (LC) is considered to have the highest mortality rate around the world. Because there are no early diagnostic signs or efficient clinical alternatives, distal metastasis and increasing numbers of recurrences are a challenge in the clinical management of LC. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been recognized as a critical regulator involved in the progression and treatment response to LC. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been shown to influence LC occurrence and progress. Therefore, discovering connections between Wnt signaling pathway and lncRNAs may offer new therapeutic targets for improving LC treatment and management. In this review, the purpose of this article is to present possible therapeutic approaches by reviewing particular relationships, key processes, and molecules associated to the beginning and development of LC.

Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Decarboxylation of 5-Vinyloxazolidine-2,4-Diones Triggering the Dearomatization of Electron-Deficient Indoles for the Synthesis of Chiral Highly Functionalized Pyrroloindolines

A catalyst system consisting of a chiral phosphoramidite ligand and Pd2(dba)3·CHCl3 causes the decarboxylation of 5-vinyloxazolidine-2,4-diones to generate amide-containing aza-π-allylpalladium 1,3-dipole intermediates, which are capable of triggering the dearomatization of 3-nitroindoles for diastereo- and enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition, leading to the formation of a series of highly functionalized pyrroloindolines containing three contiguous stereogenic centers with excellent results (up to 99% yield, 88:12 dr, and 96% ee).

Case report: A case of anti-glycine receptor encephalomyelitis triggered by post-transplant or COVID-19 infection?

Even though long-term immunosuppressant drugs (ISD) are employed to inhibit immune system activity, enhancing graft functionality and patient survival in solid organ transplantation (SOT), these transplants often lead to immune complications, with post-transplant autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) being uncommon. Here, we detail the case of a 66-year-old woman who underwent a renal transplantation 8 months prior, who was admitted with subacute onset of encephalomyelitis, accompanied by headaches, paraplegia, weakness, vomiting, and abdominal pain, with a positive COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab test 1 month before admission. MRI scans of the brain revealed multiple lesions in the white matter of the bilateral deep frontal lobe, the left temporal lobe and insula lobe. Additionally, there were multiple short segment lesions in the spinal cord and subdural hematoma at T1, T6-T7 posterior. The serum revealed a positive result for GlyR-IgG. Following the administration of corticosteroid and intravenous immunoglobulin, there was a significant improvement in the patient's symptoms within 2 weeks, and her brain MRI showed a reduction in the lesion. Despite its rarity, we believe this to be the inaugural documentation of anti-GlyR encephalomyelitis occurring during renal transplantation. A full panel of antibodies for autoimmune encephalomyelitis is the key leading to the diagnosis.

Thiol-Triggered Tandem Dearomative Michael Addition/Intramolecular Henry Reaction of 2-Nitrobenzofurans: Access to Sulfur-Containing Polyheterocyclic Compounds

An efficient dearomative cyclization of 2-nitrobenzofurans via a thiol-triggered tandem Michael addition/intramolecular Henry reaction has been developed. A range of thiochromeno[3,2-b]benzofuran-11-ols and tetrahydrothieno[3,2-b]benzofuran-3-ols could be obtained in up to 99% yield and up to >20:1 dr. The valuable thiochromone fused benzofurans could be prepared with the reaction of 2-nitrobenzofurans and 2-mercaptobenzaldehyde via the tandem dearomative Michael addition/intramolecular Henry reaction/rearomatization/oxidative dehydrogenation process in a one-pot two-step operation. A mechanism for the reaction was tentatively proposed.

Physical exercise frequency and cognition: a multicenter cross-sectional cohort study

Background and aims

Dementia imposes a heavy burden on society and families, therefore, effective drug treatments, exploring and preventing factors associated with dementia, are paramount. To provide reference points for the best frequency of physical exercise (physical exercise), we investigated the association between frequency of PE and cognition in Chinese old adults.

Methods

16,181 Chinese participants aged 65 years or older were included in this study. Associations between PE and cognition were estimated multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses. Associations were further investigated across dementia subtypes (Alzheimer dementia, vascular dementia, and other types of dementia). Subgroup analyses were performed in different age groups, in populations with and without stroke, and those with and without hypertension.

Results

PE associated with dementia after adjusting for full covariates (OR: 0.5414, 95% CI: 0.4536-0.6491, p < 0.001). Exercise performed at ≥3 times/week associated with lower risk of dementia (OR: 0.4794-0.6619, all p value <0.001). PE was associated with improved cognition (β: 12851, p < 0.001), and any PE frequency contributed to cognitive improvement (p values for exercise performed ≥1 time/week were <0.001). Similar conclusions were identified when we repeated analyses in different dementia subtypes and age groups. Subgroup analyses suggested that the cognition of individuals without hypertension also benefitted from exercising 1-2 times/week (OR: 0.6168, 95% CI: 0.4379-0.8668, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

The best exercise frequency is exercising ≥3 times/week for individuals from different dementia subtypes and age groups. While for those without hypertension, PE at 1-2 times /week is also beneficial.

Synthesis of Benzofuro[3,2-b]indol-3-one Derivatives via Dearomative (3 + 2) Cycloaddition of 2-Nitrobenzofurans and para-Quinamines

An efficient dearomative (3 + 2) cycloaddition of para-quinamines and 2-nitrobenzofurans has been developed. This reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions and affords a series of benzofuro[3,2-b]indol-3-one derivatives in good to excellent yields (up to 98%) with perfect diastereoselectivities (all cases > 20:1 dr). The scale-up synthesis and versatile derivatizations demonstrate the potential synthetic application of the protocol. A plausible reaction mechanism is also proposed to account for the observed reaction process. This work represents the first instance of the N-triggered dearomative (3 + 2) cycloaddition of 2-nitrobenzofurans.

Cu-Catalyzed Direct Asymmetric Mannich Reaction of 2-Alkylazaarenes and Isatin-Derived Ketimines

The first direct catalytic asymmetric Mannich reaction of 2-alkylazaarenes and ketimines was realized with a chiral Cu-bis(oxazoline) complex as the catalyst. The asymmetric addition of 2-alkylpyridines to isatin-derived ketimines proceeded smoothly to afford α,β-functionalized 2-substituted pyridines bearing 3-amino-3,3-disubstituted oxindole motifs with excellent results (≤99% yield, 99:1 dr, and 98% ee). The catalytic system was also extended to 2-alkylbenzothiazoles as nucleophiles for the asymmetric Mannich reaction of ketimines.

Palladium-Catalyzed Ligand-Directed Divergent Decarboxylative Cycloadditions of Vinyloxazolidine-2,4-diones with 1,3,5-Triazinanes

This study demonstrates a highly efficient regiodivergent ligand-controlled palladium-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction of vinyloxazolidine-2,4-diones with 1,3,5-triazinanes. In the presence of a diphosphine ligand, the reaction proceeds via a (5+2) cycloaddition pathway to afford 1,3-diazepin-4-ones in excellent yields, while using a monophosphine ligand, the reaction proceeds smoothly via a (3+2) cycloaddition pathway to give imidazolidin-4-ones in good yields.

Preparation of amino-modified carbon quantum dots-ZnO/cellulose nanofiber multifunctional hydrogel: Enhanced adsorption synergistic photoreduction and reversible fluorescence response visual recognition of Cr(VI)

This work innovatively used cellulose nanofibers as a photocatalyst carrier, which could recycle nano-photocatalysts and minimize nanoparticle aggregation. The morphology, structures, chemical composition, optical-electronic properties and photocatalytic performance of amino-modified carbon quantum dots-ZnO/cellulose nanofiber (N-CQDs-ZnO/CNF: ZCH-2) hydrogel were characterized by SEM, TEM, BET, EDS, XRD, FTIR, UV-vis, XPS, PL and other techniques. The mechanism of Cr(VI) adsorption synergistic photoreduction by ZCH-2 was discussed in detail. The results showed that the prepared ZCH-2 had excellent removal performance for Cr(VI). After 120 min of adsorption and 40 min of photoreduction, the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) was 98.9 %. Compared with ZnO/CNF hydrogel, the adsorption performance of ZCH-2 increased by 268 % and the photoreduction performance increased by 116 %. The adsorption of Cr(VI) by ZCH-2 was controlled by electrostatic attraction and chemical adsorption. The photoreduction kinetic constant of ZCH-2 was 0.106 min-1, which was 8.9 times that of ZnO/CNF hydrogel. The N-CQDs in ZCH-2 could form N-CQDs-metal complexes with Cr(VI), resulting in fluorescence quenching, so Cr(VI) could be visually identified by fluorescence changes. This study provides a new idea for the design and optimization of a new multifunctional hydrogel with efficient adsorption-photoreduction-fluorescence recognition.

A New Reaction Mode of 3-Halooxindoles: Acting as C-C-O Three-Atom Components for (3+3) Cycloaddition to Access Indolenine-Fused 2H-1,4-Oxathiines

Herein, we report an unprecedented implementation of 3-halooxindoles as C-C-O three-atom components for (3+3) cycloaddition with pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates, affording structurally diverse indolenine-fused 2H-1,4-oxathiines in moderate to high yields. A combined experimental and computational mechanistic study suggests that the reaction proceeds through addition of a S conjugate to the o-azaxylylene intermediate, followed by O-Michael addition and a sequential retro-Michael addition/pyridine extrusion pathway.

Acute muscle wasting rate assessment and long-term mortality in critically ill trauma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the relationship between acute muscle wasting rate and long-term mortality in critically ill trauma.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

A single-center, retrospective study was conducted in critically ill trauma. Patients with Computed Tomography scans including the L3 vertebra within 24 hours and at 1 week after trauma were recruited. Acute muscle wasting rate was defined as the mean percent variation per day of skeletal muscle index in the first week after trauma. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed to determine whether acute muscle wasting rate could help predict hospital malnutrition and 1-year mortality.

RESULTS

Skeletal muscle index was 49.3±10.7 cm2/m2 at baseline and decreased to 45.1±9.6 cm2/m2 (p<0.001) at 1 week and 39.8±10.8cm2/m2 (p<0.001) at 1 month after trauma. A sustained decrease of skeletal muscle index was observed from baseline up to 6 months (33.7±8.4cm2/m2, p<0.001) post trauma, and lasted for 1 year (37.7±5.6cm2/m2, p=0.004). Logistic regression analysis showed that acute muscle wasting rate was an independent risk factor for hospital malnutrition and 1-year mortality. Every 1% absolute increase of acute muscle wasting rate was associated with 1.82-fold higher odds of 1-year mortality in critically ill trauma. The area under curve of acute muscle wasting rate was 0.813 for hospital malnutrition prediction and 0.715 for 1-year mortality prediction.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute muscle wasting rate was independently associated with higher 1-year mortality and hospital malnutrition in critically ill trauma.

CD26 CAR-T cells have attenuated mitochondrial and glycolytic metabolic profiling

BACKGROUND

Multiple targets of chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) are shared expressed by tumor cells and T cells, these self-antigens may stimulate CAR-T cells continuously during the expansion. Persistent exposure to antigens is considered to cause metabolic reprogramming of T cells and the metabolic profiling is critical in determining the cell fate and effector function of CAR-T cells. However, whether the stimulation of self-antigens during CAR-T cell generation could remodel the metabolic profiling is unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate the metabolic characteristics of CD26 CAR-T cells, which expressed CD26 antigens themselves.

METHODS

The mitochondrial biogenesis of CD26 and CD19 CAR-T cells during expansion was evaluated by the mitochondrial content, mitochondrial DNA copy numbers and genes involved in mitochondrial regulation. The metabolic profiling was investigated by the ATP production, mitochondrial quality and the expression of metabolism-related genes. Furthermore, we assessed the phenotypes of CAR-T cells through memory-related markers.

RESULTS

We reported that CD26 CAR-T cells had elevated mitochondrial biogenesis, ATP production and oxidative phosphorylation at early expansion stage. However, the mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial quality, oxidative phosphorylation and glycolytic activity were all weakened at later expansion stage. On the contrary, CD19 CAR-T cells did not exhibit such characteristics.

CONCLUSION

CD26 CAR-T cells showed distinctive metabolic profiling during expansion that was extremely unfavorable to cell persistence and function. These findings may provide new insights for the optimization of CD26 CAR-T cells in terms of metabolism.

Poly(arylene ether)s-Based Polymeric Membranes Applied for Water Purification in Harsh Environment Conditions: A Mini-Review

Confronting the pressing challenge of freshwater scarcity, polymeric membrane-based water treatment technology has emerged as an essential and effective approach. Poly(arylene ether)s (PAEs) polymers, a class of high-performance engineering thermoplastics, have garnered attention in recent decades as promising membrane materials for advanced water treatment approaches. The PAE-Based membranes are employed to resist the shortages of most common polymeric membranes, such as chemical instability, structural damage, membrane fouling, and shortened lifespan when deployed in harsh environments, owing to their excellent comprehensive performance. This article presents the advancements in the research of several typical PAEs, including poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK), polyethersulfone (PES), and poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN). Techniques for membrane formation, modification strategies, and applications in water treatment have been reviewed. The applications encompass processes for oil/water separation, desalination, and wastewater treatment, which involve the removal of heavy metal ions, dyes, oils, and other organic pollutants. The commendable performance of these membranes has been summarized in terms of corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance, anti-fouling properties, and durability in challenging environments. In addition, several recommendations for further research aimed at developing efficient and robust PAE-based membranes are proposed.

Flexo-/Piezoelectric Polarization Boosting Exciton Dissociation in Curved Two-Dimensional Carbon Nitride Photocatalyst

Two-dimensional (2D) carbon nitride (CN) materials have received tremendous attention as photocatalysts for clean energy and environmental treatment. However, the photocatalytic efficiency of CN is constrained by the high exciton binding energy and sluggish charge kinetics due to weak dielectric screening, impeding the overall process. Herein, localized flexo-/piezoelectric polarization is introduced via strain engineering, boosting exciton dissociation and promoting charge separation to enhance the multielectron photocatalytic process. Consequently, the exciton binding energy of polarized CN is reduced from 52 to 34 meV, and the hydrogen evolution yield increased by 2.9 times compared to that of the pristine CN. For other photocatalytic reactions (e.g., H2O2 production), the polarized CN also maintained a 2.1-fold increase compared to the pristine CN. This strategy of inducing localized polarization via strain engineering provides new insights for boosting photocatalytic reactions involving electrons.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Vicinally Bis(trifluoromethyl)-Substituted Molecules via Normal [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of N-2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl Benzothiophene Ketimines and β-Trifluoromethyl Enones

An organocatalytic asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition of β-trifluoromethyl enones with 3-(N-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) benzothiophene ketimines and 2-(N-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) benzothiophene ketimines was described for the first time. A wide spectrum of vicinally bis(trifluoromethyl)-substituted spiro pyrrolidine-benzothiophenones were obtained with excellent stereocontrol (all cases >20:1 dr and up to 99% ee). The highlight of this work is the extremely high efficiency in the construction of spirocyclic benzothiophenone derivatives possessing a vicinally bis(trifluoromethyl)-substituted pyrrolidine moiety with four contiguous stereocenters.

Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative α-allylation of thiazolidinones and azlactones with sulfonamido-substituted acyclic allylic carbonates

A palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative α-allylation of thiazolidinones and azlactones with aza-π-allylpalladium zwitterionic intermediates, in situ generated from sulfonamido-substituted allylic carbonates, is successfully developed. This method allows the formation of a series of structurally diverse 5-alkylated thiazolidinones and 2-piperidones under mild conditions in moderate to high yields (up to 99% yield).

Enhanced Thermal and Dielectric Properties of Polyarylene Ether Nitrile Nanocomposites Incorporated with BN/TiO2-Based Hybrids for Flexible Dielectrics

Outstanding high-temperature resistance, thermal stability, and dielectric properties are fundamental for dielectric materials used in harsh environments. Herein, TiO2 nanoparticles are decorated on the surface of BN nanosheets by internal crosslinking between polydopamine (PDA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI), forming three-dimensional novel nanohybrids with a rough surface. Then, an ether nitrile (PEN) matrix is introduced into the polyarylene to form polymer-based nanocomposite dielectric films. Meanwhile, the structure and micromorphology of the newly prepared nanohybrids, as well as the dielectric and thermal properties of PEN nanocomposites, are investigated in detail. The results indicate that TiO2 nanoparticles tightly attach to the surface of BN, creating a new nanohybrid that significantly enhances the comprehensive performance of PEN nanocomposites. Specifically, compared to pure PEN, the nanocomposite film with a nanofiller content of 40 wt% exhibited an 8 °C improvement in the glass transition temperature (Tg) and a 162% enhancement in the dielectric constant at 1 kHz. Moreover, the dielectric constant-temperature coefficient of the nanocomposite films remained below 5.1 × 10-4 °C-1 within the temperature range of 25-160 °C, demonstrating excellent thermal resistance. This work offers a method for preparing highly thermal-resistant dielectric nanocomposites suitable for application in elevated temperature environments.

Distinct Selectivity Control in Solar-Driven Bio-Based α-Hydroxyl Acid Conversion: A Comparison of Pt Nanoparticles and Atomically Dispersed Pt on CdS

Solar-driven photocatalytic lignocellulose conversion is a promising strategy for the sustainable production of high-value chemicals, but selectivity control remains a challenging goal in this field. Here, we report efficient and selective conversion of lignocellulose-derived α-hydroxyl acids to tartaric acid derivatives, α-keto acids, and H2 using Pt-modified CdS catalysts. Pt nanoparticles on CdS selectively produce tartaric acid derivatives via C-C coupling, while atomically dispersed Pt on CdS switches product selectivity to the oxidation reaction to produce α-keto acids. The atomically dispersed Pt species stabilized by Pt-S bonds promote the activation of the hydroxyl group and thus switch product selectivity from tartaric acid derivatives to α-keto acids. A broad range of lignocellulose-derived α-hydroxyl acids was applied for preparing the corresponding tartaric acid derivatives and α-keto acids over the two Pt-modified CdS catalysts. This work highlights the unique performance of metal sulfides in coupling reactions and demonstrates a strategy for rationally tuning product selectivity by engineering the interaction between metal sulfide and cocatalyst.

Theoretical Exploration of Properties of Iron-Silicon Interface Constructed by Depositing Fe on Si(111)-(7×7)

Exploring the properties of magnetic metal on the semiconductor surface is of great significance for the application of magnetic recording materials. Herein, DFT calculations are carried out to explore the properties of the iron-silicon interface structures (nFe/DASF) formed by depositing n Fe atoms on the reconstructed Si(111)-(7×7) surface (DASF). The stable nFe/DASF structures are studied in the cases of the adsorption and permeation of Fe atoms on the DASF. In both cases, Fe atoms are not very dispersed and prefer binding with Si atoms rather than the adsorbed Fe atoms, because the Fe-Si interaction is stronger than the Fe-Fe interaction. As the n value increases, the average binding energy (Eb_ave) of Fe generally firstly becomes more negative and then becomes less negative, with the presence of a 7Fe wheel as a stable geometry on the upmost surface. The presence of the 7Fe wheel is attributed to the enhanced Fe-Si interaction in this wheel compared to other geometries. CO adsorption occurs at the central Fe site of the 7Fe wheel which is greatly influenced by the surrounding Si atoms but is little influenced by the additional Fe atoms in the interlayer.

Caries Preventive Interventions and Oral Health Inequalities: A Scoping Review

INTRODUCTION

Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent but preventable diseases among children worldwide and especially affects children with a lower socioeconomic status or ethnic minority background. It is important that all groups of children are reached by preventive interventions to reduce oral health inequalities. So far, it is unknown whether children from different social and ethnic groups benefit equally from potentially effective oral health interventions.

OBJECTIVES

This scoping review aimed to identify European public health interventions that report their effect on dental caries across different social groups.

METHODS

Four databases were searched for studies evaluating the effect of oral health interventions on dental caries among children from 0 to 12 y, and studies were included when results were presented by children of different social groups separately.

RESULTS

A total of 14 studies were included, representing 4 different countries: 3 randomized and 11 nonrandomized studies. Most studies were performed at schools. Six studies showed results indicative of a reduction in oral health inequalities, 4 studies showed results that potentially widen oral health inequalities, and 5 studies showed results that were indicative of no impact on oral health inequalities. Interventions that contain early approaches, with a high frequency, approaching multiple levels of influence, and including at least the broader organizational or public policy level, may have the potential to reduce oral health inequalities among children from birth to young adolescence.

CONCLUSION

We recommend researchers to perform high-quality intervention studies and to evaluate the effectiveness of oral health intervention always in different socioeconomic or ethnic groups separately, to better understand their contribution toward oral health (in)equalities.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

This review offers insight in the differential effects that oral health interventions might have across different social groups. Its results can be used to develop interventions that might reduce oral health inequalities among children. Also, we recommend future researchers to always evaluate the effects of any preventive oral health measure in different social groups separately.

Automatic Treatment Planning for Multi-focal Dynamic Conformal Arc GRID Therapy for Late-Stage Lung Cancer: A Feasibility Study

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Palliative management of large, symptomatic pulmonary lesions, either as primary lung cancers or metastases, can be challenging due to need to balance effective radiation doses for cytoreduction with safety. Spatially Fractionated Radiation Therapy (SFRT), or GRID Therapy, is an emerging technique, which delivers ablative doses of radiotherapy to small, selected areas of tumor, while sparing organs-at-risk (OARs), and has been shown to debulk large lesions in preliminary studies. Conventionally, an alloy GRID block is manufactured to deliver GRID therapy. However, this delivery technique poses a challenge due to need for block, and dosimetrically when the tumor is deep-seated as excess dose may be delivered to OARs, such as skin and chest wall. This study aims to develop a fast, automatic planning solution using multi-focal dynamic conformal arcs (DCA) on modern Linear Accelerator.

MATERIALS/METHODS

One late-stage lung cancer patient with simulated sphere target grid was included in this study. The sphere targets are 1.5cm in diameter and 4.3cm spacing. Four co-planar full arcs were used for optimization. The problem is formalized as finding optimal multi-leaf collimator (MLC) sequencing to cover N targets with K control points (CPs) for each arc. The state of each target's MLC opening at each CP is binary. In order to solve this NP-hard problem, the optimal solution was approximated by eliminating projection collision at each CP. MLC motion continuity and maximum speed were included in the cost function to ensure deliverability. The optimization started with randomized initial CP apertures, followed by solving state-transition equations for following CPs. Two grid arrays (9 and 10 targets respectively) were tested for plan quality. For each grid of target, the arc collimator angle was planned with 0 and 30 degrees for comparison. Prescription was 20 Gy per fraction. Monte Carlo simulation dose engine from matRad toolkit was used for dose calculation. Key dosimetric endpoints including target mean dose, D5%(Gy) and D95%(Gy), were reported.

RESULTS

Average calculation time on the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 × 6-Core 3.7GHz CPU and 32GB RAM platform varied from 31 to 44 minutes. One zero-degree collimator and one thirty-degree collimator were generated for each target array. For nine-target array, mean target dose from both plans ranged from 23.41 to 26.55 Gy, while D5%(Gy) and D95%(Gy) ranged from 25.45 to 30.16 Gy, and 20.00 to 22.21 Gy, respectively. For ten-target array, the range of target mean, D5%(Gy) and D95%(Gy) were 23.82 to 28.74 Gy, 26.50 to 33.11 Gy, and 20.00 to 22.49 Gy.

CONCLUSION

A fast, automatic planning solution for multi-focal DCA GRID therapy was developed. It provides clinically feasible plans with high efficiency for small target arrays for the late-stage cancer patient. The implementation provides excellent coverage for deep-seated tumors where alloy grid solution could fail to meet coverage objectives. Additional patients are needed in the future to further refine the technique.

Promotion of adipose stem cell transplantation using GelMA hydrogel reinforced by PLCL/ADM short nanofibers

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) show poor survival after transplantation, limiting their clinical application. In this study, a series of poly(l-lactide-co-ϵ-caprolactone) (PLCL)/acellular dermal matrix (ADM) nanofiber scaffolds with different proportions were prepared by electrospinning. By studying their morphology, hydrophilicity, tensile mechanics, and biocompatibility, PLCL/ADM nanofiber scaffolds with the best composition ratio (PLCL:ADM = 7:3) were selected to prepare short nanofibers. And based on this, injectable gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel loaded with PLCL/ADM short nanofibers (GelMA-Fibers) was constructed as a transplantation vector of ADSCs. ADSCs and GelMA-Fibers were co-cultured, and the optimal loading concentration of PLCL/ADM nanofibers was investigated by cell proliferation assay, live/dead cell staining, and cytoskeleton stainingin vitro. In vivoinvestigations were also performed by H&E staining, Oil red O staining, and TUNEL staining, and the survival and apoptosis rates of ADSCs transplantedin vivowere analyzed. It was demonstrated that GelMA-Fibers could effectively promote the proliferation of ADSCsin vitro. Most importantly, GelMA-Fibers increased the survival rate of ADSCs transplantation and decreased their apoptosis rate within 14 d. In conclusion, the constructed GelMA-Fibers would provide new ideas and options for stem cell tissue engineering and stem cell-based clinical therapies.

Tumor necrosis factor-like cytokine 1A plays a role in inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis

The binding of tumor necrosis factor-like cytokine 1A (TL1A) to death receptor 3 (DR3) plays an important role in the interaction between dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells and contributes to intestinal inflammation development. However, the mechanism by which DCs expressing TL1A mediate helper T (Th) cell differentiation in the intestinal lamina propria (LP) during the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease remains unclear. In this study, we found that TL1A/DR3 promoted Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation in T-T and DC-T cell interaction-dependent manners. TL1A-deficient CD4+ T cells failed to polarize into Th1/Th17 cells and did not cause colonic inflammation in a T cell transfer colitis model. Notably, TL1A was located in the cytoplasm and nuclei of DCs, positively regulated the DC-specific ICAM-grabbing nonintegrin/RAF1/nuclear factor κB signaling pathway, enhanced the antigen uptake ability of DCs, and promoted TLR4-mediated DC activation, inducing naive CD4+ T cell differentiation into Th1 and Th17 cells. Our work reveals that TL1A plays a regulatory role in inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis.

Early autoimmunity and outcome in virus encephalitis: a retrospective study based on tissue-based assay

To explore the autoimmune response and outcome in the central nervous system (CNS) at the onset of viral infection and correlation between autoantibodies and viruses.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted in 121 patients (2016-2021) with a CNS viral infection confirmed via cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) next-generation sequencing (cohort A). Their clinical information was analysed and CSF samples were screened for autoantibodies against monkey cerebellum by tissue-based assay. In situ hybridisation was used to detect Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in brain tissue of 8 patients with glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP)-IgG and nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue of 2 patients with GFAP-IgG as control (cohort B).

RESULTS

Among cohort A (male:female=79:42; median age: 42 (14-78) years old), 61 (50.4%) participants had detectable autoantibodies in CSF. Compared with other viruses, EBV increased the odds of having GFAP-IgG (OR 18.22, 95% CI 6.54 to 50.77, p<0.001). In cohort B, EBV was found in the brain tissue from two of eight (25.0%) patients with GFAP-IgG. Autoantibody-positive patients had a higher CSF protein level (median: 1126.00 (281.00-5352.00) vs 700.00 (76.70-2899.00), p<0.001), lower CSF chloride level (mean: 119.80±6.24 vs 122.84±5.26, p=0.005), lower ratios of CSF-glucose/serum-glucose (median: 0.50[0.13-0.94] vs 0.60[0.26-1.23], p=0.003), more meningitis (26/61 (42.6%) vs 12/60 (20.0%), p=0.007) and higher follow-up modified Rankin Scale scores (1 (0-6) vs 0 (0-3), p=0.037) compared with antibody-negative patients. A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that autoantibody-positive patients experienced significantly worse outcomes (p=0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

Autoimmune responses are found at the onset of viral encephalitis. EBV in the CNS increases the risk for autoimmunity to GFAP.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for menopausal mood disorder: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on mood disorder symptoms for menopausal women.

METHODS

A total of 95 qualified Chinese participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 31 in the acupuncture combined with CHM group (combined group), 32 in the acupuncture combined with CHM placebo group (acupuncture group) and 32 in the CHM combined with sham acupuncture group (CHM group). The patients were treated for 8 weeks and followed up for 4 weeks. The data were collected using the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and safety index.

RESULTS

The three groups each showed significant decreases in the GCS, SDS and SAS after treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the effect on the GCS total score and the anxiety domain lasted until the follow-up period in the combined group (p < 0.05). Within the three groups, there was no difference in GCS and SAS between the three groups after treatment (p > 0.05). However, the combined group showed significant improvement in the SDS, compared with both the acupuncture group and the CHM group at 8 weeks and 12 weeks (p < 0.05). No obvious abnormal cases were found in any of the safety indexes.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that either acupuncture, or CHM or combined therapy offer safe improvement of mood disorder symptoms for menopausal women. However, the combination therapy was associated with more stable effects in the follow-up period and a superior effect on improving depression symptoms.

3-Nitroindoles Serving as N-Centered Nucleophiles for Aza-1,6-Michael Addition to para-Quinone Methides

An unprecedented N-alkylation of 3-nitroindoles with para-quinone methides was developed for the first time. Using potassium carbonate as the base, a wide range of structurally diverse N-diarylmethylindole derivatives were obtained with moderated to good yields via the protection group migration/aza-1,6-Michael addition sequences. The reaction process was also demonstrated by control experiments. Different from the previous advances where 3-nitrodoles served as electrophiles trapping by various nucleophiles, the reaction herein is featured that 3-nitrodoles is defined with latent N-centered nucleophiles to react with ortho-hydrophenyl p-QMs for construction of various N-diarylmethylindoles.

Diastereoselective Formal 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Trifluoroethyl Amine-Derived Ketimines Enables the Desymmetrization of Cyclopentenediones

In this research, a metal-free diastereoselective formal 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of N-2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines and cyclopentene-1,3-diones which can efficiently lead to the desymmetrization of cyclopentene-1,3-diones is developed. With the developed protocol, a series of tetracyclic spirooxindoles containing pyrrolidine and cyclopentane subunits can be smoothly obtained with good results (up to 99% yield and 91:9 dr). Furthermore, the methodology can be extended to trifluoromethyl-substituted iminomalonate, and the corresponding formal [3+2] cycloaddition reaction affords bicyclic heterocycles containing fused pyrrolidine and cyclopentane moieties in moderate yields with >20:1 dr. The synthetic potential of the methodology is demonstrated by the scale-up experiment and by versatile transformations of the products.

Association of longitudinal changes in skeletal muscle mass with prognosis and nutritional intake in acutely hospitalized patients with abdominal trauma: a retrospective observational study

Background

The objective of this study was to explore whether longitudinal changes in skeletal muscle mass, from hospital admission to 3  weeks post-trauma, are associated with poor prognosis and nutritional intake in acutely hospitalized patients with abdominal trauma.

Methods

A single-center retrospective observational review was conducted on 103 patients with abdominal trauma admitted to the Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University between January 2010 and April 2020. Skeletal muscle mass was assessed by abdominal computed tomography (CT) performed within 14 days before surgery and on post-trauma days 1-3 (week 0), 7-10 (week 1), 14-17 (week 2), and 21-24 (week 3). The skeletal muscle index (SMI) at L3, change in SMI per day (ΔSMI/day), and percent change in SMI per day (ΔSMI/day [%]) were calculated. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the discriminatory performance of ΔSMI/day (%) for mortality. Linear correlation analysis was used to evaluate the associations between ΔSMI/day (%) and daily caloric or protein intake.

Results

Among the included patients, there were 91 males and 12 females (mean age ± standard deviation 43.74 ± 15.53 years). ΔSMI_4-1/d (%) had a ROC-area under the curve of 0.747 (p = 0.048) and a cut-off value of -0.032 for overall mortality. There were significant positive correlations between ΔSMI_4-1/d (%) and daily caloric intake and protein intake (Y = 0.0007501*X - 1.397, R² = 0.282, R = 0.531, p < 0.001; Y = 0.008183*X - 0.9228, R² = 0.194, R = 0.440, p < 0.001). Δ SMI/day (%) was positively correlated with daily caloric intake ≥80% of resting energy expenditure in weeks 2, 3, and 1-3 post-trauma and with protein intake >1.2 g/kg/d in weeks 3 and 1-3 post-trauma.

Conclusion

Loss of skeletal muscle mass is associated with poor prognosis and nutritional intake in patients admitted to hospital with abdominal trauma.

Diverse Synthesis of Fused Polyheterocyclic Compounds via [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of In Situ-Generated Heteroaromatic N-Ylides and Electron-Deficient Olefins

[3 + 2] Cycloaddition reactions of heteroaromatic N-ylides with electron-deficient olefins have been developed. The heteroaromatic N-ylides, in situ generated from N-phenacylbenzothiazolium bromides, can smoothly react with maleimides under very mild conditions, affording fused polycyclic octahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrroles in good-to-excellent isolated yields. This reaction concept could also be extended to 3-trifluoroethylidene oxindoles and benzylidenemalononitriles as electron-deficient olefins for accessing highly functionalized polyheterocyclic compounds. A gram-scale experiment was also carried out to verify the practicability of the methodology.

Recent advances in copper-catalyzed decarboxylative reactions of propargylic cyclic carbonates/carbamates

Copper-catalyzed decarboxylative reactions of propargylic cyclic carbonates/carbamates enable the efficient construction of widely available skeletons such as allenes, ethynyl-containing heterocycles, and tetrasubstituted stereogenic carbon centers. As an emerging field, these strategies have gained great attention and shown significant progress due to the presence of multiple electrophilic and nucleophilic reaction sites of propargylic cyclic carbonates/carbamates, as well as the distinct advantages of copper catalysis such as higher selectivity, low cost, and mild reaction conditions. In this review, the achievements in copper-catalyzed decarboxylative reactions of propargylic cyclic carbonates/carbamates are addressed. Mechanistic insights, synthetic applications, and their limitations are discussed. The challenges and opportunities of this field are also outlined.

Strategies for Reducing Toxicity and Enhancing Efficacy of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy in Hematological Malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy in hematologic malignancies has made great progress, but there are still some problems. First, T cells from tumor patients show an exhaustion phenotype; thus, the persistence and function of the CAR-Ts are poor, and achieving a satisfactory curative effect is difficult. Second, some patients initially respond well but quickly develop antigen-negative tumor recurrence. Thirdly, CAR-T treatment is not effective in some patients and is accompanied by severe side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. The solution to these problems is to reduce the toxicity and enhance the efficacy of CAR-T therapy. In this paper, we describe various strategies for reducing the toxicity and enhancing the efficacy of CAR-T therapy in hematological malignancies. In the first section, strategies for modifying CAR-Ts using gene-editing technologies or combining them with other anti-tumor drugs to enhance the efficacy of CAR-T therapy are introduced. The second section describes some methods in which the design and construction of CAR-Ts differ from the conventional process. The aim of these methods is to enhance the anti-tumor activity of CAR-Ts and prevent tumor recurrence. The third section describes modifying the CAR structure or installing safety switches to radically reduce CAR-T toxicity or regulating inflammatory cytokines to control the symptoms of CAR-T-associated toxicity. Together, the knowledge summarized herein will aid in designing better-suited and safer CAR-T treatment strategies.

Mixed Seeds of Oat and Vetch Based on DEM-Fluent Coupling Motion Simulation in a Venturi Tube

The gas–solid flow of mixed seeds of oat and vetch in the air-blowing venturi tube was simulated numerically by means of a coupling approach of the discrete element method (DEM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In the gas–solid coupling model, EDEM software was used to depict the discrete particle phase, and ANSYS Fluent software was used to describe the continuous gas phase. The effects of the seed entry angle and inlet air velocity on the uniformity of mixed seed supply were studied and analyzed from the angle of airflow field variation and mixed seeds movement characteristics. The simulation results showed that the seeding angle has a great influence on the seed movement in the tube and affects the pressure and velocity gradient of the airflow field. If the seed insertion angle is too large, the number of collisions between the seed and the tube wall will increase, and the phenomenon of seeds retention and disordered jumping will occur. The inlet air velocity mainly affects the outlet air velocity and seed velocity and has little effect on the change in airfield. With the increase in inlet air velocity, the greater the velocity and force of the seeds, the closer the mixed seeds collide with the wall to the outlet pipe. At high inlet airflow velocity, there is a great disparity in the movement speed between the seeds, resulting in uneven spacing between the seeds. The results showed that under the conditions of 60° seed entry angle and 35~40 m/s inlet air velocity, the airflow field distribution in the tube was uniform and the seed movement was continuous and uniform.

Recent Progress in Heterocycle Synthesis: Cyclization Reaction with Pyridinium and Quinolinium 1,4-Zwitterions

Heteroarene 1, n-zwitterions are powerful and versatile building blocks in the construction of heterocycles and have received increasing attention in recent years. In particular, pyridinium and quinolinium 1,4-zwitterions have been widely studied and used in a variety of cyclization reactions due to their air stability, ease of use, and high efficiency. Sulfur- and nitrogen-based pyridinium and quinolinium 1,4-zwitterions, types of emerging heteroatom-containing synthons, have attracted much attention from chemists. These 1,4-zwitterions, which contain multiple reaction sites, have been successfully used in the synthesis of three- to eight-membered cyclic compounds over the last decade. In this review, we present the exciting progress made in the field of cyclization reactions of sulfur- and nitrogen-based pyridinium and quinolinium 1,4-zwitterions. Moreover, the mechanistic insights, the transition states, some synthetic applications, and the challenges and opportunities are also discussed. We hope to provide an overview for synthetic chemists who are interested in the heterocycle synthesis from cyclization reaction with pyridinium and quinolinium 1,4-zwitterions pyridinium and quinolinium 1,4-zwitterions.

Copper-Catalyzed Diastereo- and Enantioselective Decarboxylative [3 + 2] Cyclization of Alkyne-Substituted Cyclic Carbamates with Azlactones: Access to γ-Butyrolactams Bearing Two Vicinal Tetrasubstituted Carbon Stereocenters

A copper-catalyzed diastereo- and enantioselective decarboxylative [3 + 2] cyclization reaction of alkyne-substituted cyclic carbamates with azlactones has been established. A range of optically pure γ-butyrolactams bearing two vicinal tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters were obtained in high yields with good to excellent stereoselectivities (up to 99% yield, 99:1 dr, and 99% ee). This is the first example of asymmetric synthesis γ-butyrolactams containing sterically congested vicinal tetrasubstituted stereocenters via a decarboxylative cyclization pathway.

Diastereoselective synthesis of polycyclic indolines via dearomative [4 + 2] cycloaddition of 3-nitroindoles with ortho-aminophenyl p-quinone methides

A formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition of 3-nitroindoles with ortho-aminophenyl p-quinone methides via a dearomatization process was developed. This method provides a facile approach for preparing tetrahydro-5H-indolo[2,3-b]quinolones with good results. With the bifunctional Cinchona alkaloid-squaramide as the catalyst, the asymmetric version of the reaction successfully afforded the corresponding chiral products with moderate to good enantioselectivities. This work represents the first dearomative cycloaddition of electron-deficient heteroarenes triggered by aza-Michael addition from p-QMs.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy and tuberculous meningoencephalitis occurring in a patient with Legionella pneumonia: a case report

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy is a recently identified recurrent meningoencephalomyelitis with GFAP immunoglobulin G presence in the serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a specific biomarker. GFAP astrocytopathy is closely associated with the occurrence of some tumors and often coexists with other antibodies, such as the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and aquaporin-4 antibodies. However, GFAP astrocytopathy complicated by central nervous system infection is rare.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here, we present the case of a patient admitted to a local hospital due to a prominent fever and cough. The patient had a 1-month history of headaches before admission that were not considered serious at the time. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed a high sequence number of Legionella pneumophila and a few mycobacteria. His cough and fever improved significantly after antibiotic treatment. Still, a slight headache remained. Subsequently, his condition worsened, and he visited our hospital with a disturbance of consciousness. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected with mNGS of the CSF, while the CSF and serum were also positive for GFAP antibodies. Following anti-tuberculosis and steroid therapy, the patient's symptoms improved, and he tested negative for the GFAP antibody.

CONCLUSION

This is the first reported case of GFAP astrocytopathy complicated by tuberculous meningoencephalitis. Due to overlaps in the clinical manifestations of the two diseases, GFAP astrocytopathy is sometimes misdiagnosed as tuberculous meningoencephalitis. Therefore, in addition to ensuring careful identification of the two diseases, clinicians need to be aware of their possible co-existence.

Ruxolitinib on acute graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis after modified donor lymphocyte infusion

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of ruxolitinib on acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) prophylaxis and its impact on graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect in patients after modified donor lymphocyte infusion (mDLI).

METHODS

We retrospectively included patients with relapsed leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) who received ruxolitinib prophylaxis between October 2018 and April 2020. The incidence of aGVHD, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment safety were evaluated.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were followed up for a median time of 8 months (range: 1-26 months). The incidence of aGVHD on Day 30 after mDLI was 41.2% and ranged from Grade 1 to 4; ten of 17 patients (58.8%) achieved a complete response (CR), and two (11.8%) had a partial response (PR). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation rate was 23.5%, and the median time from mDLI to CMV reactivation was 48.5 days. The mean DFS and OS after mDLI were 1.0 (95% CI 0.0-3.5) and 9.0 (95% CI 1.2-16.8) months, respectively. The causes of death for 10 patients were leukemia relapse (n = 5), aGVHD and septic shock (n = 3), intracranial lesion (n = 1), and COVID-19 (n = 1).

CONCLUSIONS

We reported encouraging results of ruxolitinib monotherapy in the prevention of aGVHD and maintenance of GVL for post-transplantation relapsed patients, even though being at high risk with poor initial prognosis.

A novel full solar light spectrum responsive antimicrobial agent of WS2 quantum dots for photocatalytic wound healing therapy

Photocatalytic antimicrobial therapy (PCAT) is considered to be a potential therapeutic treatment for bacterial-infection diseases. However, the antibacterial efficiency is unsatisfactory due to the limited application scope of photocatalysis. In this work, full-spectrum responsive tungsten disulfide quantum dots (WS₂ QDs) are prepared for killing bacteria and enabling wound healing through photocatalytic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and glutathione (GSH) depletion. On the one hand, these ultrasmall WS₂ QDs exhibit an excellent full spectrum (UV-Vis-NIR)-responsive photocatalytic effect by hindering the recombination of electron-hole pairs, thereby achieving the full use of the energy spectrum. Furthermore, the full-spectrum photocatalytic property of the as-prepared WS₂ QDs can be effectively strengthened by redox reaction to deplete GSH for accelerated wound healing. In a word, the as-prepared nanoplatform exhibits the ability to act as an admirable antibacterial reagent with full-spectrum catalytic performance for photocatalytic wound healing therapy. Therefore, this work will not only provide an effective full-spectrum photocatalytic reagent for anti-bacteria therapy and wound healing, but also provide a rational idea for the development of other novel antibacterial agents for applications in the biomedical field.

Long-term memory and synapse-like dynamics in two-dimensional nanofluidic channels

Fine-tuned ion transport across nanoscale pores is key to many biological processes, including neurotransmission. Recent advances have enabled the confinement of water and ions to two dimensions, unveiling transport properties inaccessible at larger scales and triggering hopes of reproducing the ionic machinery of biological systems. Here we report experiments demonstrating the emergence of memory in the transport of aqueous electrolytes across (sub)nanoscale channels. We unveil two types of nanofluidic memristors depending on channel material and confinement, with memory ranging from minutes to hours. We explain how large time scales could emerge from interfacial processes such as ionic self-assembly or surface adsorption. Such behavior allowed us to implement Hebbian learning with nanofluidic systems. This result lays the foundation for biomimetic computations on aqueous electrolytic chips.

Demethylating therapy increases cytotoxicity of CD44v6 CAR-T cells against acute myeloid leukemia

Background

CD44v6 chimeric antigen receptor T (CD44v6 CAR-T) cells demonstrate strong anti-tumor ability and safety in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the expression of CD44v6 on T cells leads to transient fratricide and exhaustion of CD44v6 CAR-T cells, which affect the application of CD44v6 CAR-T. The exhaustion and function of T cells and CD44v6 expression of AML cells are associated with DNA methylation. Hypomethylating agents (HAMs) decitabine (Dec) and azacitidine (Aza) have been widely used to treat AML. Therefore, there may be synergy between CD44v6 CAR-T cells and HAMs in the treatment of AML.

Methods

CD44v6 CAR-T cells pretreated with Dec or Aza were co-cultured with CD44v6+ AML cells. Dec or aza pretreated AML cells were co-cultured with CD44v6 CAR-T cells. The cytotoxicity, exhaustion, differentiation and transduction efficiency of CAR-T cells, and CD44v6 expression and apoptosis in AML cells were detected by flow cytometry. The subcutaneous tumor models were used to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of CD44v6 CAR-T cells combined with Dec in vivo. The effects of Dec or Aza on gene expression profile of CD44v6 CAR-T cells were analyzed by RNA-seq.

Results

Our results revealed that Dec and Aza improved the function of CD44v6 CAR-T cells through increasing the absolute output of CAR+ cells and persistence, promoting activation and memory phenotype of CD44v6 CAR-T cells, and Dec had a more pronounced effect. Dec and Aza promoted the apoptosis of AML cells, particularly with DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) mutation. Dec and Aza also enhanced the CD44v6 CAR-T response to AML by upregulating CD44v6 expression of AML cells regardless of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) or DNMT3A mutations. The combination of Dec or Aza pretreated CD44v6 CAR-T with pretreated AML cells demonstrated the most potent anti-tumor ability against AML.

Conclusion

Dec or Aza in combination with CD44v6 CAR-T cells is a promising combination therapy for AML patients.

Analysis of causes for poor persistence of CAR-T cell therapy in vivo

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T-cell) therapy has been well researched to date because of its ability to target malignant tumor cells. The most common CAR-T cells are CD19 CAR-T cells, which play a large role in B-cell leukemia treatment. However, most CAR-T cells are associated with relapse after clinical treatment, so the quality and persistence of CAR-T cells need to be improved. With continuous optimization, there have been four generations of CARs and each generation of CARs has better quality and durability than the previous generation. In addition, it is important to increase the proportion of memory cells in CAR-T cells. Studies have shown that an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) can lead to dysfunction of CAR-T cells, resulting in decreased cell proliferation and poor persistence. Thus, overcoming the challenges of immunosuppressive molecules and targeting cytokines in the TME can also improve CAR-T cell persistence. In this paper, we explored how to improve the durability of CAR-T cell therapy by improving the structure of CARs, increasing the proportion of memory CAR-T cells and improving the TME.

Apelin-13 Improves Cognitive Impairment and Repairs Hippocampal Neuronal Damage by Activating PGC-1α/PPARγ Signaling

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease that is prevalent around the world. Both Apelin-13 and proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ)/PPARγ co-activator 1α (PGC-1α) are regarded as candidate targets for treating AD. The investigation examined whether Apelin-13 exerts neuroprotective effects via PGC-1α/PPARγ signaling. In this study, Apelin-13 improved cognitive deficits in AD mice, while SR-18,292 (a PGC-1α inhibitor) interfered with the therapeutic effects of Apelin-13. Mechanistically, Apelin-13, PGC-1α and PPARγ were decreased in AD mice and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced neuronal cells. Apelin-13 bound to PGC-1α and negatively regulated the expression of PGC-1α and PPARγ. In turn, PGC-1α accelerated the accumulation of Apelin-13 and PPARγ. Additionally, neuronal apoptosis was inhibited, and the abundance of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase 3) was induced. The content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) fluctuated. The level of inflammatory factors (interleukin-6, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α) was regulated. In short, Apelin-13 exerted anti-apoptosis, anti-oxidant stress and anti-inflammatory effects. Interestingly, PGC-1α silencing promoted neuronal apoptosis, oxidant stress and inflammation, and overexpression of PGC-1α exhibited the opposite. More importantly, inhibition of PGC-1α attenuated Apelin-13-enhanced cognitive impairment and neuronal damage. Therefore, our findings suggested that Apelin-13 exerted neuroprotective effects in part via the PGC-1α/PPARγ pathway.

Fabrication of High-Performance Colorimetric Membrane by Incorporation of Polydiacetylene into Polyarylene Ether Nitriles Electrospinning Nanofibrous Membranes

Polyarylene ether nitrile (PEN) is a novel high-performance engineering plastic with various applications, particularly in thermoresistance-required fields. In this study, a well-known stimuli-response polydiacetylene monomer, 10, 12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA), was encapsulated within electrospun PEN nanofibers to fabricate a colorimetric membrane with satisfactory thermal and corrosion resistance. To optimize the compatibility with PCDA, two PENswith distinct molecular chains were utilized: PEN−PPL and PEN−BPA. The chemical structure and elemental mapping analysis revealed that the PCDA component was successfully incorporated into the PEN fibrous. The PCDA bound significantly better to the PEN−PPL than to the PEN−BPA; due to the carboxyl groups present on the side chains of PEN−PPL, the surface was smooth and the color changed uniformly as the temperature rose. However, owing to its poor compatibility with PEN−BPA, the PCDA formed agglomerations on the fibers. The thermal analysis demonstrated that the membranes obtained after PCDA compounding maintained their excellent heat resistance. The 5% weight loss temperatures of composite nanofibrous membranes manufactured by PEN−PPL and PEN−BPA were 402 °C and 506 °C, respectively, and their glass transition temperatures were 219 °C and 169 °C, respectively, indicating that the blended membranes can withstand high temperatures. The evaluation of application performance revealed that the composite membranes exhibited good dimensional stability upon high thermal and corrosive situations. Specifically, the PEN−P−PCDA did not shrink at 170 °C. Both composite membranes were dimensionally stable when exposed to the alkali aqueous solution. However, PEN−P−PCDA is more sensitive to OH−, exhibiting color transition at pH > 8, whereas PEN−B−PCDA exhibited color transition at high OH− concentrations (pH ≥ 13), with enhanced alkali resistance stability owing to its nanofibrous architecture. This exploratory study reveals the feasibility of PEN nanofibers functionalized using PCDA as a desirable stimulus-response sensor even in high-temperature and corrosive harsh environments.

fMRI BOLD and MEG theta power reflect complementary aspects of activity during lexicosemantic decision in adolescents with ASD

Neuroimaging studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been predominantly unimodal. While many fMRI studies have reported atypical activity patterns for diverse tasks, the MEG literature in ASD remains comparatively small. Our group recently reported atypically increased event-related theta power in individuals with ASD during lexicosemantic processing. The current multimodal study examined the relationship between fMRI BOLD signal and anatomically-constrained MEG (aMEG) theta power. Thirty-three adolescents with ASD and 23 typically developing (TD) peers took part in both fMRI and MEG scans, during which they distinguished between standard words (SW), animal words (AW), and pseudowords (PW). Regions-of-interest (ROIs) were derived based on task effects detected in BOLD signal and aMEG theta power. BOLD signal and theta power were extracted for each ROI and word condition. Compared to TD participants, increased theta power in the ASD group was found across several time windows and regions including left fusiform and inferior frontal, as well as right angular and anterior cingulate gyri, whereas BOLD signal was significantly increased in the ASD group only in right anterior cingulate gyrus. No significant correlations were observed between BOLD signal and theta power. Findings suggest that the common interpretation of increases in BOLD signal and theta power as 'activation' require careful differentiation, as these reflect largely distinct aspects of regional brain activity. Some group differences in dynamic neural processing detected with aMEG that are likely relevant for lexical processing may be obscured by the hemodynamic signal source and low temporal resolution of fMRI.

Dihydromyricetin Attenuates Depressive-like Behaviors in Mice by Inhibiting the AGE-RAGE Signaling Pathway

Depression is a complex mental disorder, affecting approximately 280 million individuals globally. The pathobiology of depression is not fully understood, and the development of new treatments is urgently needed. Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a natural flavanone, mainly distributed in Ampelopsis grossedentata. DHM has demonstrated a protective role against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, liver disease, cancer, kidney injury and neurodegenerative disorders. In the present study, we examined the protective effect of DHM against depression in a chronic depression mouse model induced by corticosterone (CORT). Animals exposed to CORT displayed depressive-like behaviors; DHM treatment reversed these behaviors. Network pharmacology analyses showed that DHM's function against depression involved a wide range of targets and signaling pathways, among which the inflammation-linked targets and signaling pathways were critical. Western blotting showed that CORT-treated animals had significantly increased levels of the advanced glycation end product (AGE) and receptor of AGE (RAGE) in the hippocampus, implicating activation of the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected a marked increase in the production of proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) in the hippocampus of CORT-treated mice. DHM administration significantly counteracted these CORT-induced changes. These findings suggest that protection against depression by DHM is mediated by suppression of neuroinflammation, predominantly via the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway.