Comparison of psychological interventions for anxiety, depression, fatigue and quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors: A systematic review and network meta-analysis protocol

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have found that psychological interventions have a positive effect on improving physical and psychological problems in colorectal cancer survivors. However, there is still a lack of high-quality evidence reviews that summarize and compare the impact of different psychological interventions. The aim of this study was to synthesize existing psychological interventions and use network meta-analysis to explore whether psychological interventions improve anxiety, depression, fatigue and quality of life in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.

METHODS

We will extract relevant randomized controlled trials of psychological interventions for CRC survivors from eight electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycInFO, CNKI, and Wanfang database. Two reviewers will independently screen the literature and extract data. The risk of bias of the included studies will be assessed using the RoB2: Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. We will then conduct paired meta-analyses and network meta-analyses of the extracted data, using a frequency-based framework and random effects models.

DISCUSSION

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first proposed qualitative and quantitative integration of existing evidence using systematic evaluation and network meta-analysis. This study will inform health policy makers, healthcare providers' clinical intervention choices and guideline revisions, and will help to reduce depression and anxiety in CRC survivors, reduce fatigue, improve quality of life.

[Diagnostic value of identifying location and amount of free gas in the abdominal cavity by multidetector computed tomography in patients with acute gastrointestinal perforation]

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between the location and extent of diffusion of free intraperitoneal air by multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) and between the location and size of acute gastrointestinal perforation. Methods: This was a descriptive case series. We examined abdominal CT images of 33 patients who were treated for intraoperatively confirmed gastrointestinal perforation (excluding appendiceal perforation) in the Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital between January and September 2022. We identified five locations of intraperitoneal air: the subphrenic space, hepatic portal space, mid-abdominal wall, mesenteric space, and pelvic cavity. We allocated the 33 patients to an upper gastrointestinal perforation (n=23) and lower gastrointestinal perforation group (n=10) base on intraoperative findings and analyzed the relationships between the locations of free gas and of gastrointestinal perforation. Additionally, we established two models for analyzing the extent of diffusion of free gas in the abdominal cavity and constructed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to analyze the relationships between the two models and the size of the gastrointestinal perforation. Results: In the upper gastrointestinal perforation group, free gas was located around the hepatic portal area in 91.3% (21/23) of patients: this is a significantly greater proportion than that found in the lower gastrointestinal perforation group (5/10) (P=0.016). In contrast, free gas was located in the mesenteric interspace in 8/10 patients in the lower gastrointestinal perforation group; this is a significantly greater proportion than was found in the upper gastrointestinal perforation group (8.7%, 2/23) (P<0.010). The sensitivity of diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal perforation base on the presence of hepatic portal free gas was 84.8% and the specificity 71.4%. Further, the sensitivity of diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal perforation base on the presence of mesenteric interspace free gas was 80.0% and the specificity 91.3%. The rates of presence of free gas in the subdiaphragmatic area, mid-abdominal wall, and pelvic cavity did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P>0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that when free gas was present in four or more of the studied locations in the abdominal cavity, the optimal cutoff for perforation diameter was 2 cm, the corresponding sensitivity 66.7%, and the specificity 100%, suggesting that abdominal free gas diffuses extensively when the diameter of the perforation is >2 cm. Another model revealed that when free gas is present in three or more of the studied locations, the optimal cutoff for perforation diameter is 1 cm, corresponding to a sensitivity of 91.7% and specificity of 76.2%; suggesting that free gas is relatively confined in the abdominal cavity when the diameter of the perforation is <1 cm. Conclusion: Identifying which of five locations in the abdominal cavity contains free intraperitoneal air by examining MSCT images can be used to assist in the diagnosis of the location and size of acute gastrointestinal perforations.

[Analysis of transfusion effect of different platelet matching schemes in patients with platelet transfusion refractoriness]

Objective: To analyze the transfusion effect of different platelet matching schemes in patients with platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR). Methods: A total of 94 patients with PTR received by Taiyuan Blood Center from January to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 26 males and 68 females, aged 53(34,66) years. Platelet antibody screening was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For patients with positive human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class Ⅰ antibodies, Luminex platform liquid chip assay was used to identify the specificity of antibodies, and platelets with missing allelic expression antigen corresponding to their specific antibodies were found in the platelet donor gene database established in our laboratory. For patients with negative class HLA-Ⅰ antibody screening, medium and high-resolution HLA-A and B alleles were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction restriction sequence specific oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO), and the compatible platelets were searched from the platelet donor gene database by HLA cross-reactive group genotype matching scheme or directly selected by serological cross-matching. The PCI compliance rate and total transfusion effective rate of different mismatch site groups and different matching scheme groups were statistically analyzed. Results: Platelet antibody was detected in 39 of 94 PTR patients with a positive rate of 41.5%, and all of them were HLA-Ⅰ antibodies, and 1 case was accompanied by human platelet antigen (HPA) antibody. A total of 134 times of compatible platelets were supplied to 39 patients with HLA-Ⅰ antibody positive by using antibody avoidance matching method. And the total effective rate of transfusion was 97.8% (131/134); The PCI compliance rates of HLA-A antigen mismatch, HLA-B antigen mismatch and HLA-A and B antigen mismatch groups were 81.6% (31/38), 86.5% (32/37) and 78.6% (22/28), respectively. The total effective rate of transfusion was 97.4% (37/38), 94.6% (35/37) and 100% (28/28), respectively, with no statistical significance (all P>0.05). A total of 118 times of compatible platelets were provided by HLA antigen cross-reaction group genotype matching and serological cross-matching, 90 transfusion effects were collected during follow-up, and the total effective rate was 76.7% (69/90). Conclusion: The combination of different platelet matching schemes can improve the PCI compliance rate and the total effective rate of transfusion in PTR patients.

Silver-Enabled Cycloaddition of Bicyclobutanes with Isocyanides for the Synthesis of Polysubstituted 3-Azabicyclo[3.1.1]heptanes

Synthesis of bicyclic scaffolds has emerged as an important research topic in modern drug development because they can serve as saturated bioisosters to enhance the physicochemical properties and metabolic profiles of drug candidates. Here we report a remarkably simple silver-enabled strategy to access polysubstituted 3-azabicyclo[3.1.1]heptanes in a single operation from readily accessible bicyclobutanes (BCBs) and isocyanides. The process is proposed to involve a formal (3+3)/(3+2)/retro-(3+2) cycloaddition sequence. This novel protocol allows for rapid generation of molecular complexity from simple starting materials, and the products can be easily derivatized, further enriching the BCB cycloaddition chemistry and the growing set of valuable sp3-rich bicyclic building blocks.

The competitive mechanism of EZH1 and EZH2 in promoting oral squamous cell carcinoma

Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 1 (EZH1) and Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) are the key components of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2); however, the roles of these proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we aimed to determine the respective roles of these proteins in OSCC by investigating the expression levels of EZH1 and EZH2 in OSCC tissues (N = 63) by immunohistochemistry. In addition, we used lentiviruses to construct stable OSCC cell lines that overexpressed EZH1 and EZH2. Then, we investigated these cell lines for cell viability, colony formation capacity, stemness, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Binding competition between EZH1 and EZH2 with PRC2 was further evaluated using Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Compared with normal tissues, the expression levels of EZH2 in OSCC tissues was up-regulated, while the expression of EZH1 was down-regulated. EZH2 enhanced cell viability, colony formation capacity, stemness, and EMT, while EZH1 did not. Furthermore, analysis indicated that EZH1 and EZH2 bound competitively to PRC2 and influenced the methylation status of H3K27. In conclusion, our findings verified that EZH1 and EZH2 play opposing roles in OSCC and that EZH1 and EZH2 compete as the key component of PRC2, thus affecting the characteristics of OSCC via the methylation of H3K27.

Micro Trojan horses: Engineering extracellular vesicles crossing biological barriers for drug delivery

The biological barriers of the body, such as the blood-brain, placental, intestinal, skin, and air-blood, protect against invading viruses and bacteria while providing necessary physical support. However, these barriers also hinder the delivery of drugs to target tissues, reducing their therapeutic efficacy. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanostructures with a diameter ranging from 30 nm to 10 μm secreted by cells, offer a potential solution to this challenge. These natural vesicles can effectively pass through various biological barriers, facilitating intercellular communication. As a result, artificially engineered EVs that mimic or are superior to the natural ones have emerged as a promising drug delivery vehicle, capable of delivering drugs to almost any body part to treat various diseases. This review first provides an overview of the formation and cross-species uptake of natural EVs from different organisms, including animals, plants, and bacteria. Later, it explores the current clinical applications, perspectives, and challenges associated with using engineered EVs as a drug delivery platform. Finally, it aims to inspire further research to help bioengineered EVs effectively cross biological barriers to treat diseases.

Favorable effects of open surgery on patients with extensive skull base osteoradionecrosis through a personalized sequential approach: A case series

The present study aimed to investigate outcomes following open surgery for extensive skull base ORN. Open surgery through a personalized sequential approach was employed to deal with five cases of extensive skull base ORN. Two patients with mild cases underwent regional debridement and sequestrectomy, and three patients with severe cases underwent extensive resection with reconstruction using free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap. Biological glues and vascularized flaps were used for obturation of the skull base bony defect to prevent postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. The infections were controlled by antibiotic administrations which strictly followed the principles of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). As results, both regional debridement plus sequestrectomy and extensive resection achieved satisfied outcomes in all patients. No severe complications and delayed hospitalization occurred. During the follow-up period (8-19 months), all patients were alive, pain free, without crusting or purulent discharge, and no sequestration or CSF leakage occurred. In conclusion, a personalized sequential approach including open surgery, pedicled/vascularized free flap reconstruction and AMS was advocated for patients with extensive skull base ORN.

Effect of low-temperature degradation on the fatigue performance of dental strength-gradient multilayered zirconia restorations

OBJECTIVES

Fatigue and low-temperature degradation (LTD) are the main factors contributing to zirconia restoration failure. This study evaluated the effect of LTD on the fatigue performance of the novel "strength & shade-gradient" multilayered zirconia restorations.

METHODS

Discs (15 mm × 1.2 mm) of each yttria content layer from a newly developed strength-gradient multilayered zirconia were fabricated and under accelerated aging in an autoclave at 134℃ for 0 h, 32 h, and 64 h. Then, the phase transformation, microstructure, and mechanical properties after LTD were assessed. In addition, the crown samples, including the multi-Zir, 3Y-Zir, and 5Y-Zir were fabricated, and their monotonic and fatigue load before and after LTD, percentage of fatigue degradation (Sd) and the fracture morphology were investigated. Statistical analyses were performed using paired samples t-test (α' = α/3 = 0.017), one-way ANOVA and Weibull analysis.

RESULTS

After LTD, the phase transformation, surface roughness, depth of transformed zone, and residual stress were increased and inversely associated with the yttria content. The indentation elastic modulus and hardness after LTD decreased; however, there was no significant difference between the different yttria content layers. The monotonic and fatigue load of multi-Zir restorations decreased, but their Weibull modulus increased, and Sd decreased, similar to 3Y-Zir. The crack origin was associated with the cervical region.

CONCLUSION

These results show that although LTD reduces the absolute fatigue strength of strength-gradient multilayered zirconia restorations, it also reduces the effect of cyclic fatigue itself on the strength of zirconia (relative to monotonic strength), which might be due to the increase of residual stress.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The novel "strength & shade-gradient" multilayered zirconia restorations show a promising performance during in vitro LTD and fatigue test and their reliability to some extent is comparable to 3Y-Zir. Yet, further in vivo longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm their precise performance.

A Catalytic Three-Component Aminofluorination of Unactivated Alkenes with Electron-Rich Amino Sources

We present herein a copper-catalyzed three-component aminofluorination of unactivated alkenes with N-bromodialkylamines and readily available nucleophilic fluoride under the assistance of a bidentate auxiliary. This protocol exhibits excellent functional group tolerance toward a wide range of unactivated alkenes and N-bromodialkylamines to furnish the corresponding β-fluoroalkylamines in a highly regio- and diastereoselective manner. The appropriate choice of nucleophilic fluoro source is essential to make this reaction a reality. Further DFT calculations show that the exothermic ion exchange between external fluoride ion and Cu(II) intermediate provides additional driving force to the irreversible migratory insertion, which offsets the unfavorable reaction energetics associated with the subsequent C(sp3)-F reductive elimination. This finding offers a new avenue to catalytic intermolecular aminofluorination of unactivated alkenes with electron-rich amino sources via a remarkable reductive elimination of Cu(III) species to forge the C(sp3)-F bonds.

Phage Display Screening of Anchor Peptides for Red Blood Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly used for disease diagnosis and treatment. Among them, red blood cell-derived EVs (RBC-EVs) have attracted great attention due to their abundant sources and low risks of gene transfer (RBC-EVs lack nuclear and mitochondrial DNA). Here, we first revealed the high expression level of membrane protein solute carrier family 4 member 1 (SLC4A1) in RBC-EVs through proteomic analysis. We then identified several binding peptides with high affinity for the SLC4A1 extracellular domain (SLC4A1-EC) from phage display library screening. A high affinity of SLC4A1-EC and the three peptides (XRB2, XRE4, and XRH7) were assessed in vitro using surface plasmon resonance analysis and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The binding sites of SLC4A1-EC and polypeptides were further predicted by LigPlot + analysis, and the results showed that these three polypeptides could bind to part of the hydrophobic residues of SLC4A1-EC. The binding efficiency of the anchor peptides to the RBC-EVs was further verified by flow cytometry and fluorescence imaging. In conclusion, we successfully screened three specific RBC-EV-targeting peptides which could potentially be utilized for isolating RBC-derived EVs from serum samples. More importantly, this peptide could be coupled with targeting peptides to modify RBC-EVs for drug delivery. Our work will provide a viable method for optimizing the function of RBC-EVs.

Bone Targeting Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis (OP) affects millions of people worldwide, especially postmenopausal women and the elderly. Although current available anti-OP agents can show promise in slowing down bone resorption, most are not specifically delivered to the hard tissue, causing significant toxicity. A bone-targeted nanodrug delivery system can reduce side effects and precisely deliver drug candidates to the bone. This review focuses on the progress of bone-targeted nanoparticles in OP therapy. We enumerate the existing OP medications, types of bone-targeted nanoparticles and categorize pairs of the most common bone-targeting functional groups. Finally, we summarize the potential use of bone-targeted nanoparticles in OP treatment. Ongoing research into the development of targeted ligands and nanocarriers will continue to expand the possibilities of OP-targeted therapies into clinical application.

SPP1+ TAM subpopulations in tumor microenvironment promote intravasation and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Macrophages are heterogeneous cells that play multifaceted roles in cancer progression and metastasis. However, the phenotypic diversity of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in head and neck squamous carcinomas (HNSCC) remains poorly characterized. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the HNSCC single-cell transcriptomic dataset (GSE172577) and identified 5 subsets of myeloid-driven cells as TAMs using Seurat. Deciphering the lineage trajectory of TAMs, we revealed that FCN1+ TAMs could give rise to pro-angiogenesis SPP1+CCL18+ and SPP1+FOLR2+ populations through SPP1-CCL18+ and CXCL9+CXCL10+ TAMs. SPP1+CCL18+ and SPP1+FOLR2+ TAMs harbored pro-angiogenic and metastatic transcriptional programs and were correlated with poor survival of HNSCC patients. Our immunostaining examination revealed that infiltration of SPP1+ TAMs is associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with HNSCC. Cell-cell communication analysis implied that SPP1+ TAM populations may employ SPP1 signaling to activate metastasis-related ECs. In vitro and in vivo studies, we demonstrated that SPP1hi TAMs enhanced tumor intravasation and metastasis in HNSCC in a manner dependent on the secretion of SPP1, CCL18, and CXCL8. Taken together, our study characterized the cellular heterogeneity of TAM populations and identified two SPP1+ TAM populations that play key roles in HNSCC intravasation and metastasis and serve as predictive markers for patients with HNSCC.

Brain-derived extracellular vesicles: Potential diagnostic biomarkers for central nervous system diseases

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed nanovesicles secreted by cells into the extracellular space and contain functional biomolecules, e.g. signaling receptors, bioactive lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins, which can serve as biomarkers. Neurons and glial cells secrete EVs, contributing to various physiological and pathological aspects of brain diseases. EVs confer their role in the bidirectional crosstalk between the central nervous system (CNS) and the periphery owing to their distinctive ability to cross the unique blood-brain barrier (BBB). Thus, EVs in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine can be intriguing biomarkers, enabling the minimally invasive diagnosis of CNS diseases. Although there has been an enormous interest in evaluating EVs as promising biomarkers, the lack of ultra-sensitive approaches for isolating and detecting brain-derived EVs (BDEVs) has hindered the development of efficient biomarkers. This review presents the recent salient findings of exosomal biomarkers, focusing on brain disorders. We summarize highly sensitive sensors for EV detection and state-of-the-art methods for single EV detection. Finally, the prospect of developing advanced EV analysis approaches for the non-invasive diagnosis of brain diseases is presented.

Targeted immunotherapy: harnessing the immune system to battle multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable hematological malignancy disease characterized by the progressive dysfunction of the patient's immune system. In this context, immunotherapy for MM has emerged as a prominent area of research in recent years. Various targeted immunotherapy strategies, such as monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor T cells/natural killer (NK) cells, and checkpoint inhibitors have been developed for MM. This review aims to discuss promising experimental and clinical evidence as well as the mechanisms of action underlying these immunotherapies. Specifically, we will explore the design of exosome-based bispecific monoclonal antibodies that offer cell-free immunotherapy options. The treatment landscape for myeloma continues to evolve with the development of numerous emerging immunotherapies. Given their significant advantages in modulating the MM immune environment through immune-targeted therapy, these approaches provide novel perspectives in selecting cutting-edge treatments for MM.

Clinical application of a three-dimensional-printed model in the treatment of intracranial and extracranial communicating tumors: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Surgical management for intracranial and extracranial communicating tumors is difficult due to the complex anatomical structures. Therefore, assisting methods are urgently needed. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the utility of a three-dimensional (3D)-printed model in the treatment of intracranial and extracranial communicating tumors as well as its applicability in surgical planning and resident education.

METHODS

Individualized 3D-printed models were created for eight patients with intracranial and extracranial communicating tumors. Based on these 3D-printed models, a comprehensive surgical plan was made for each patient, after which the patients underwent surgery. The clinicopathological data of patients were collected and retrospectively analyzed to determine surgical outcomes. To examine the educational capability of the 3D-printed models, specialists and resident doctors were invited to review three of these cases and then rate the clinical utility of the models using a questionnaire.

RESULTS

The 3D-printed models accurately replicated anatomical structures, including the tumor, surrounding structures, and the skull. Based on these models, customized surgical approaches, including the orbitozygomatic approach and transcervical approach, were designed for the patients. Although parameters such as operation time and blood loss varied among the patients, satisfactory surgical outcomes were achieved, with only one patient developing a postoperative complication. Regarding the educational applicability of the 3D-printed model, the mean agreement for all eight questionnaire items was above six (seven being complete agreement). Moreover, no significant difference was noted in the agreement scores between specialists and residents.

CONCLUSION

The results revealed that 3D-printed models have good structural accuracy and are potentially beneficial in developing surgical approaches and educating residents. Further research is needed to test the true applicability of these models in the treatment of intracranial and extracranial communicating tumors.

Catalytic activation of percarbonate with synthesized carrollite for efficient decomposition of bisphenol S: Performance, degradation mechanism and toxicity assessment

This study demonstrates the novel application of carrollite (CuCo2S4) for the activation of sodium percarbonate (SPC) towards bisphenol S (BPS) degradation. The effect of several crucial factors like BPS concentration, CuCo2S4 dosage, SPC concentration, reaction temperature, water matrices, inorganic anions, and pH value were investigated. Experimental results demonstrated that BPS could be efficiently degraded by CuCo2S4-activated SPC system (88.52% at pH = 6.9). The mechanism of BPS degradation by CuCo2S4-activated SPC system was uncovered by quenching and electron spin resonance experiments, discovering that a multiple reactive oxygen species process was involved in BPS degradation by hydroxyl radical (•OH), superoxide radical (•O2-), singlet oxygen superoxide (1O2) and carbonate radical (•CO3-). Furthermore, the S(-II) species facilitated rapid redox cycles between Cu(I)/Cu(II) and Co(II)/Co(III). •CO3- was found to not only directly react with BPS molecules, but also act as a bridge to promote •O2- and 1O2 generation, thereby accelerating BPS degradation. Finally, the combination of UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS test with density functional theory (DFT) method was employed to detect major degradation intermediates and thereby elucidate possible reaction pathways of BPS degradation. This study provides a novel strategy by integrating transition metal sulfides with percarbonate for the elimination of organic pollutants in water.

Inhibitor screening for volume-sensitive LRRC8A chloride channel

Leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 8 A (LRRC8A) protein is a critical member of volume-regulated anion channels. It plays a critical roles in the regulation of cellular volume and involves in the development of diseases like osteoarthritis. Screening of lead compounds to modulate its function may provide potential therapeutics of related diseases. Here, we employ virtual screening techniques and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to screen potential inhibitors against LRRC8A. LRRC8A was regarded as the drug target to investigate potential compounds from the ZINC15 database via molecular docking. The final compound was selected among the top 10 Autodock Vina score (-8.8 Kcal/mol) with the ZINC ID ZINC000018195627 after druggability prediction. The docked complex from the virtual screening was subjected to MD simulation to analyze the stability of the LRRC8A protein-ligand complex, with parameters including root mean square deviation, root mean square fluctuation and radius of gyration. Molecular Mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM/PBSA) method was further employed to predict the binding free energies from MD simulation trajectory. Our study provides insightful analysis for the potential compound to modulate LRRC8A and lay the foundation of therapeutics development against osteoarthritis.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Injectable decellularized extracellular matrix hydrogel promotes salivary gland regeneration via endogenous stem cell recruitment and suppression of fibrogenesis

Saliva is key to the maintenance of oral homeostasis. However, several forms of salivary gland (SG) disorders, followed by hyposalivation, often result in dental caries, oral infection, and decreased taste, which dramatically affect the quality of patient's life. Functional biomaterials hold great potential for tissue regeneration in damaged or dysfunctional SGs and maintaining the good health of oral cavity. Herein, we prepared an injectable hydrogel derived from decellularized porcine submandibular glands (pDSG-gel), the material and biological properties of the hydrogel were systematically investigated. First, good biocompatibility and bioactivities of the pDSG-gel were validated in 2D and 3D cultures of primary submandibular gland mesenchymal stem cells (SGMSCs). Especially, the pDSG-gel effectively facilitated SGMSCs migration and recruitment through the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, suggested by transcriptomic analysis and immunoblotting. Furthermore, proteomic analysis of the pDSG revealed that many extracellular matrix components and secreted factors were preserved, which may contribute to stem cell homing. The recruitment of endogenous SG cells was confirmed in vivo, upon in situ injection of the pDSG-gel into the defective SGs in rats. Acinar and ductal-like structures were evident in the injury sites after pDSG-gel treatment, suggesting the reconstruction of functional SG units. Meanwhile, histological characterizations showed that the administration of the pDSG-gel also significantly suppressed fibrogenesis within the injured SG tissues. Taken together, this tissue-specific hydrogel provides a pro-regenerative microenvironment for endogenous SG regeneration and holds great promise as a powerful and bioactive material for future treatments of SG diseases. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) has been acknowledged as one of the most promising biomaterials that recapitalizes the microenvironment in native tissues. Hydrogel derived from the dECM allows in situ administration for tissue repair. Herein, a tissue-specific dECM hydrogel derived from porcine salivary glands (pDSG-gel) was successfully prepared and developed for functional reconstruction of defective salivary gland (SG) tissues. The pDSG-gel effectively accelerated endogenous SG stem cells migration and their recruitment for acinar- and ductal-like regeneration, which was attributed to the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, the introduction of the pDSG-gel resulted in highly suppressed fibrogenesis in the defective tissues. These outcomes indicated that the pDSG-gel holds great potential in clinical translation toward SG regeneration through cell-free treatments.

Programming assembly of biomimetic exosomes: An emerging theranostic nanomedicine platform

Exosomes have emerged as a promising cell-free therapeutic approach. However, challenges in large-scale production, quality control, and heterogeneity must be overcome before they can be used clinically. Biomimetic exosomes containing key components of natural exosomes have been assembled through extrusion, artificial synthesis, and liposome fusion to address these limitations. These exosome-mimetics (EMs) possess similar morphology and function but provide higher yields, faster large-scale production, and similar size compared to conventional exosomes. This article provides an overview of the chemical and biological properties of various synthetic exosome systems, including nanovesicles (NVs), EMs, and hybrid exosomes. We highlight recent advances in the production and applications of nanobiotechnology and discuss the advantages, limitations, and potential clinical applications of programming assembly of exosome mimetics.

[Retracted] MicroRNA‑124 acts as a tumor‑suppressive miRNA by inhibiting the expression of Snail2 in osteosarcoma

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.7994.].

Therapeutic potential of gene therapy for gastrointestinal diseases: Advancements and future perspectives

Advancements in understanding the pathogenesis mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal diseases, encompassing inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal cancer, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, have led to the identification of numerous novel therapeutic targets. These discoveries have opened up exciting possibilities for developing gene therapy strategies to treat gastrointestinal diseases. These strategies include gene replacement, gene enhancement, gene overexpression, gene function blocking, and transgenic somatic cell transplantation. In this review, we introduce the important gene therapy targets and targeted delivery systems within the field of gastroenterology. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent progress in gene therapy related to gastrointestinal disorders and shed light on the application of innovative gene-editing technologies in treating these conditions. These developments are fueling a revolution in the management of gastrointestinal diseases. Ultimately, we discuss the current challenges (particularly regarding safety, oral efficacy, and cost) and explore potential future directions for implementing gene therapy in the clinical settings for gastrointestinal diseases.

Targeted therapy using engineered extracellular vesicles: principles and strategies for membrane modification

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are 30-150 nm membrane-bound vesicles naturally secreted by cells and play important roles in intercellular communication by delivering regulatory molecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and metabolites to recipient cells. As natural nano-carriers, EVs possess desirable properties such as high biocompatibility, biological barrier permeability, low toxicity, and low immunogenicity, making them potential therapeutic delivery vehicles. EVs derived from specific cells have inherent targeting capacity towards specific cell types, which is yet not satisfactory enough for targeted therapy development and needs to be improved. Surface modifications endow EVs with targeting abilities, significantly improving their therapeutic efficiency. Herein, we first briefly introduce the biogenesis, composition, uptake and function of EVs, and review the cargo loading approaches for EVs. Then, we summarize the recent advances in surface engineering strategies of EVs, focusing on the applications of engineered EVs for targeted therapy. Altogether, EVs hold great promise for targeted delivery of various cargos, and targeted modifications show promising effects on multiple diseases.

Harnessing knee joint resident mesenchymal stem cells in cartilage tissue engineering

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread clinical disease characterized by cartilage degeneration in middle-aged and elderly people. Currently, there is no effective treatment for OA apart from total joint replacement in advanced stages. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of adult stem cell with diverse differentiation capabilities and immunomodulatory potentials. MSCs are known to effectively regulate the cartilage microenvironment, promote cartilage regeneration, and alleviate OA symptoms. As a result, they are promising sources of cells for OA therapy. Recent studies have revealed the presence of resident MSCs in synovial fluid, synovial membrane, and articular cartilage, which can be collected as knee joint-derived MSCs (KJD-MSC). Several preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that KJD-MSCs have great potential for OA treatment, whether applied alone, in combination with biomaterials, or as exocrine MSCs. In this article, we will review the characteristics of MSCs in the joints, including their cytological characteristics, such as proliferation, cartilage differentiation, and immunomodulatory abilities, as well as the biological function of MSC exosomes. We will also discuss the use of tissue engineering in OA treatment and introduce the concept of a new generation of stem cell-based tissue engineering therapy, including the use of engineering, gene therapy, and gene editing techniques to create KJD-MSCs or KJD-MSC derivative exosomes with improved functionality and targeted delivery. These advances aim to maximize the efficiency of cartilage tissue engineering and provide new strategies to overcome the bottleneck of OA therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This research will provide new insights into the medicinal benefit of Joint resident Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), specifically on its cartilage tissue engineering ability. Through this review, the community will further realize promoting joint resident mesenchymal stem cells, especially cartilage progenitor/MSC-like progenitor cells (CPSC), as a preventive measure against osteoarthritis and cartilage injury. People and medical institutions may also consider cartilage derived MSC as an alternative approach against cartilage degeneration. Moreover, the discussion presented in this study will convey valuable information for future research that will explore the medicinal benefits of cartilage derived MSC.

Risk of second primary cancer in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systemic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Second primary cancer is a common event in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, the incidence and relevant factors vary by studies. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to estimate the incidence and relevant risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed and Web of Science were searched for studies published between January 2000 and December 2020 that reported the incidence of SPC in HNSCC patients. Per 1000-person-year incidence and odds ratios were used to estimate the incidence and potential risk factors. Due to the high heterogeneity, random-effects models were used to estimate the incidence and 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

Seven thousand seven hundred thirteen articles were identified from the databases, in which 60 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled incidence of the total, synchronous, and metachronous SPC in patients with HNSCC were 29.116 per 1000-person-year, 6.960 per 1000-person-year, and 26.025 per 1000-person-year, respectively. The head and neck region was the most common area where SPC occurred, followed by the lung (7.472 per 1000-person-year) and upper digestive tract (2.696 per 1000-person-year). Smoking, alcohol consumption, betel quid chewing, primary cancer of T1-2, and N0 were risk factors, while HPV infection (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.30-0.72) was the protective factor.

CONCLUSIONS

SPC is frequently observed in HNSCC patients and had great impact on the prognosis. The findings could promote a more individualized follow-up strategy for SPC in HNSCC patients.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This systemic review and meta-analysis provide sufficient evidence for the establishment of the follow-up strategy for head and neck squamous cancer patients.

Design of stretchable and self-powered sensing device for portable and remote trace biomarkers detection

Timely and remote biomarker detection is highly desired in personalized medicine and health protection but presents great challenges in the devices reported so far. Here, we present a cost-effective, flexible and self-powered sensing device for H2S biomarker analysis in various application scenarios based on the structure of galvanic cells. The sensing mechanism is attributed to the change in electrode potential resulting from the chemical adsorption of gas molecules on the electrode surfaces. Intrinsically stretchable organohydrogels are used as solid-state electrolytes to enable stable and long-term operation of devices under stretching deformation or in various environments. The resulting open-circuit sensing device exhibits high sensitivity, low detection limit, and excellent selectivity for H2S. Its application in the non-invasive halitosis diagnosis and identification of meat spoilage is demonstrated, emerging great commercial value in portable medical electronics and food security. A wireless sensory system has also been developed for remote H2S monitoring with the participation of Bluetooth and cloud technologies. This work breaks through the shortcomings in the traditional chemiresistive sensors, offering a direction and theoretical foundation for designing wearable sensors catering to other stimulus detection requirements.

Catalytic Formal [2π+2σ] Cycloaddition of Aldehydes with Bicyclobutanes: Expedient Access to Polysubstituted 2-Oxabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes

Synthesis of bicyclic scaffolds has attracted tremendous attention because they are playing an important role as saturated bioisosteres of benzenoids in modern drug discovery. Here, we report a BF3 -catalyzed [2π+2σ] cycloaddition of aldehydes with bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (BCBs) to access polysubstituted 2-oxabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes. A new kind of BCB containing an acyl pyrazole group was invented, which not only significantly facilitates the reactions, but can also serve as a handle for diverse downstream transformations. Furthermore, aryl and vinyl epoxides can also be utilized as substrates which undergo cycloaddition with BCBs after in situ rearrangement to aldehydes. We anticipate that our results will promote access to challenging sp3 -rich bicyclic frameworks and the exploration of BCB-based cycloaddition chemistry.

The contralateral-based submental artery island flap: feasibility and oncological safety in oral cancer-related defect reconstruction

OBJECTIVES

Oncologic risk is a serious concern of submental artery island flaps. Here, we introduce the contralateral-based submental artery island flap (C-SAIF) and demonstrate its feasibility and long-term oncological safety in reconstructing oral cancer-related defects.

METHODS

An anatomical study was performed concentrating on the pedicle length in seven cadavers. Then, a retrospective study was carried out on C-SAIF patients operated on by a single team. The standard surgical technique of C-SAIF was conducted. Outcomes including operative time, length of hospital stay, volume of intraoperative blood loss, and scores of the Multidisciplinary Salivary Gland Society (MSGS) questionnaire were compared with a similar cohort reconstructed with anterolateral thigh free flap (ALTF). In addition, oncological outcomes were evaluated by the 5-year cumulative survival rate between C-SAIF and ALTF patients.

RESULTS

The pedicle length of C-SAIF was sufficient for the flap to be extended to the contralateral oral cavity. Fifty-two patients were included in the retrospective study, and nineteen of them underwent reconstruction with C-SAIF. The operative time of C-SAIF was shorter (p = 0.003), and the intraoperative blood loss was less (p = 0.004) than that of ALTF. There was no difference in MSGS scores. The results of survival analysis revealed comparable survival curves for the two groups in terms of overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival.

CONCLUSION

C-SAIF is a feasible and reliable flap for reconstructing oral cancer-related defects. Moreover, it is an effective island flap to preserve the perforator and pedicle without compromising oncological safety.

Application of Nanoparticles in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases: A Complete Future Perspective

The diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases currently relies primarily on invasive procedures like digestive endoscopy. However, these procedures can cause discomfort, respiratory issues, and bacterial infections in patients, both during and after the examination. In recent years, nanomedicine has emerged as a promising field, providing significant advancements in diagnostic techniques. Nanoprobes, in particular, offer distinct advantages, such as high specificity and sensitivity in detecting GI diseases. Integration of nanoprobes with advanced imaging techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, optical fluorescence imaging, tomography, and optical correlation tomography, has significantly enhanced the detection capabilities for GI tumors and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This synergy enables early diagnosis and precise staging of GI disorders. Among the nanoparticles investigated for clinical applications, superparamagnetic iron oxide, quantum dots, single carbon nanotubes, and nanocages have emerged as extensively studied and utilized agents. This review aimed to provide insights into the potential applications of nanoparticles in modern imaging techniques, with a specific focus on their role in facilitating early and specific diagnosis of a range of GI disorders, including IBD and colorectal cancer (CRC). Additionally, we discussed the challenges associated with the implementation of nanotechnology-based GI diagnostics and explored future prospects for translation in this promising field.

Cellular hierarchy framework based on single-cell/multi-patient sample sequencing reveals metabolic biomarker PYGL as a therapeutic target for HNSCC

BACKGROUND

A growing body of research has revealed the connection of metabolism reprogramming and tumor progression, yet how metabolism reprogramming affects inter-patient heterogeneity and prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) still requires further explorations.

METHODS

A cellular hierarchy framework based on metabolic properties discrepancy, METArisk, was introduced to re-analyze the cellular composition from bulk transcriptomes of 486 patients through deconvolution utilizing single-cell reference profiles from 25 primary and 8 metastatic HNSCC sample integration of previous studies. Machine learning methods were used to identify the correlations between metabolism-related biomarkers and prognosis. The functions of the genes screened out in tumor progression, metastasis and chemotherapy resistance were validated in vitro by cellular functional experiments and in vivo by xenograft tumor mouse model.

RESULTS

Incorporating the cellular hierarchy composition and clinical properties, the METArisk phenotype divided multi-patient cohort into two classes, wherein poor prognosis of METArisk-high subgroup was associated with a particular cluster of malignant cells with significant activity of metabolism reprogramming enriched in metastatic single-cell samples. Subsequent analysis targeted for phenotype differences between the METArisk subgroups identified PYGL as a key metabolism-related biomarker that enhances malignancy and chemotherapy resistance by GSH/ROS/p53 pathway, leading to poor prognosis of HNSCC.

CONCLUSION

PYGL was identified as a metabolism-related oncogenic biomarker that promotes HNSCC progression, metastasis and chemotherapy resistance though GSH/ROS/p53 pathway. Our study revealed the cellular hierarchy composition of HNSCC from the cell metabolism reprogramming perspective and may provide new inspirations and therapeutic targets for HNSCC in the future.

[Feasibility and safety of transseptal transcatheter mitral valve replacement for severe mitral regurgitation]

A prospective, single-center, single-arm, and open-design study was performed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of transseptal transcatheter mitral valve replacement in the treatment of severe mitral regurgitation. Patients with symptomatic moderate-severe or severe mitral regurgitation at high-surgical risk and anatomically appropriate for the HighLife transseptal mitral valve replacement (TSMVR) system in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from December 2021 to August 2022 were enrolled. Four patients (1 male and 3 females) with severe mitral regurgitation were included, with a median age of 68.5 (64.0-77.0) years and a median Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score of 8.1% (6.4%-8.9%). Technical success was achieved in all the patients. There was no residual mitral regurgitation, paravalvular leakage, or left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Three major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events occurred within 30 days after the procedure, including ventricular tachycardia, iatrogenic atrial septal defect closure, and heart failure readmission. The current study preliminarily demonstrates that transcatheter mitral valve replacement using the HighLife system via the transseptal approach for severe mitral regurgitation is feasible and relatively safe.

Cryo-EM structures of ClC-2 chloride channel reveal the blocking mechanism of its specific inhibitor AK-42

ClC-2 transports chloride ions across plasma membranes and plays critical roles in cellular homeostasis. Its dysfunction is involved in diseases including leukodystrophy and primary aldosteronism. AK-42 was recently reported as a specific inhibitor of ClC-2. However, experimental structures are still missing to decipher its inhibition mechanism. Here, we present cryo-EM structures of apo ClC-2 and its complex with AK-42, both at 3.5 Å resolution. Residues S162, E205 and Y553 are involved in chloride binding and contribute to the ion selectivity. The side-chain of the gating glutamate E205 occupies the putative central chloride-binding site, indicating that our structure represents a closed state. Structural analysis, molecular dynamics and electrophysiological recordings identify key residues to interact with AK-42. Several AK-42 interacting residues are present in ClC-2 but not in other ClCs, providing a possible explanation for AK-42 specificity. Taken together, our results experimentally reveal the potential inhibition mechanism of ClC-2 inhibitor AK-42.

CCR7 Mediated Mimetic Dendritic Cell Vaccine Homing in Lymph Node for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Therapy

Immunotherapy has been recognized as one of the most promising treatment strategies for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). As a pioneering trend of immunotherapy, dendritic cell (DC) vaccines have displayed the ability to prime an immune response, while the insufficient immunogenicity and low lymph node (LN) targeting efficiency, resulted in an unsubstantiated therapeutic efficacy in clinical trials. Herein, a hybrid nanovaccine (Hy-M-Exo) is developed via fusing tumor-derived exosome (TEX) and dendritic cell membrane vesicle (DCMV). The hybrid nanovaccine inherited the key protein for lymphatic homing, CCR7, from DCMV and demonstrated an enhanced efficiency of LN targeting. Meanwhile, the reserved tumor antigens and endogenous danger signals in the hybrid nanovaccine activated antigen presenting cells (APCs) elicited a robust T-cell response. Moreover, the nanovaccine Hy-M-Exo displayed good therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model of HNSCC. These results indicated that Hy-M-Exo is of high clinical value to serve as a feasible strategy for antitumor immunotherapy.

Osteoclast-targeted delivery of anti-miRNA oligonucleotides by red blood cell extracellular vesicles

Osteoporosis (OP) affects millions worldwide but currently cannot be cured. Suppressing the level of miR-214 in osteoclasts by the anti-miRNA oligonucleotide (AMO) anti-miR-214 reverses bone absorption and provides a potential treatment. Here we report a peptide-guided delivery strategy using red blood cell extracellular vesicles (RBCEVs) as the vehicle to realize osteoclast-targeted delivery of anti-miR-214. A bi-functional peptide, TBP-CP05, which binds to both the CD63 on RBCEVs and receptors on osteoclasts, acts as the guide. TBP-CP05 binds with RBCEVs through CP05, displays the TRAP-binding peptide (TBP) on the surface of EVs, and endows RBCEVs with osteoclast-targeting capability both in vitro and in vivo. Intravenous injection of the osteoclast-targeting RBCEVs (OT-RBCEVs) led to the enrichment of EVs in the bone skeleton, significant inhibition of the osteoclast activity, elevated osteoblast activity, and improved bone density in osteoporotic mice. Altogether, this work demonstrates efficient guidance of drug-loaded EVs to the targeted cells in vivo using bi-functional fusion peptides, and showcases that targeted delivery of anti-miR-214 by OT-RBCEVs may be a viable method for OP treatment. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT. Surface functionalization of EVs endows these nanovesicles cell-specific targeting property which guides the drug cargos to specific tissues and cells with higher accuracy, longer retention, and minimal off-target effects. Methods to functionalize EVs with minimal procedures are highly desired for clinical applications. Here we present a facile method using a bifunctional fusion peptide to guide RBCEVs to osteoclasts. A simple incubation of the bifunctional peptide and RBCEVs results in osteoclast-targeting RBCEVs (OT-RBCEVs) that effectively deliver anti-miR-214 to osteoclasts in vivo in a mouse model of osteoporosis, bringing a potential therapy to osteoporotic patients. This is, to our knowledge, the first report on peptide functionalization of RBCEVs and osteoclast-targeted delivery using RBCEVs.

Biomaterial-assisted targeted and controlled delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 for precise gene editing

RISPR-Cas9 has exhibited enormous potential in gene therapy. It can perform genome editing with single-nucleotide precision in various types of cell and tissue, providing a powerful breakthrough technology for genome editing in therapeutic development. But the limited delivery methods pose substantial challenges pertinent to safe and effective CRISPR/Cas9 delivery, thus hindering its application. These challenges should be tackled to develop next-generation genetic therapies. Biomaterial-based drug delivery systems can overcome these issues, for example using biomaterials as carriers for CRISPR/Cas9 targeted delivery, and conditional control of its function can improve precision, furnish on-demand and transient gene editing and reduce adverse consequences such as off-target events and immunogenicity, representing a promising direction for modern precision medicine. This review describes the application status and research progress of current CRISPR/Cas9 delivery approaches, including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, extracellular vesicles, inorganic nanoparticles and hydrogels. The unique properties of light-controlled and small-molecule drugs for spatially and temporally controlled genome editing are also illustrated. In addition, targetable delivery vehicles for the active delivery of CRISPR systems are also discussed. The perspectives to overcome the current limitations in the CRISPR/Cas9 delivery and their bench-to-bedside translation are also highlighted.

Bisphenol F induced hyperglycemia via activation of oxidative stress-responsive miR-200 family in the pancreas

Bisphenol F (BPF), BPS and BPAF are gaining popularity as main substitutes to BPA, but there is no clear evidence that these compounds disrupt glycemic homeostasis in the same way. In this study, four bisphenols were administered to C57BL/6 J mice, and showed that the serum insulin was elevated in the BPA and BPS exposed mice, whereas BPF exposed mice exhibited lower serum insulin and higher blood glucose. BPF decreased oxidized glutathione/reduced glutathione ratio (GSSG/GSH) and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) levels, which was responsible for pancreatic apoptosis in mice. Additionally, the downregulation of Nrf2 and the aberrant regulation of the p53-lncRNA H19 signaling pathway further increased miR-200 family in the BPF-exposed pancreas. The miR-200 family directly suppressed Mettl14 and Xiap by targeting their 3' UTR, leading to islet apoptosis. Antioxidant treatment not only elevated m6A levels and insulin contents but also suppressed the miR-200 family in the pancreas, ultimately improving BPF-induced hyperglycemia. Taken together, miR-200 family could serve as a potential oxidative stress-responsive regulator in the pancreas. And moreover, we demonstrated a novel toxicological mechanism in that BPF disrupted the Keap1-Nrf2 redox system to upregulate miR-141/200b/c which controlled pancreatic insulin production and apoptosis via Mettl14 and Xiap, respectively. As the major surrogates of BPA in various applications, BPF was also diabetogenic, which warrants attention in future research.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived Exosomes: Novel Therapeutic Approach for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

As double membrane-encapsulated nanovesicles (30-150 nm), exosomes (Exos) shuttle between different cells to mediate intercellular communication and transport active cargoes of paracrine factors. The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived Exos (MSC-Exos) provide a rationale for novel cell-free therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Growing evidence has shown that MSC-Exos can be a potential candidate for treating IBD. In the present review, we summarized the most critical advances in the properties of MSC-Exos, provided the research progress of MSC-Exos in treating IBD, and discussed the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. Collectively, MSC-Exos had great potential for cell-free therapy in IBD. However, further studies are required to understand the full dimensions of the complex Exo system and how to optimize its effects.

Speech disorders in patients with Tongue squamous cell carcinoma: A longitudinal observational study based on a questionnaire and acoustic analysis

BACKGROUND

Speech disorders are common dysfunctions in patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) that can diminish their quality of life. There are few studies with multidimensional and longitudinal assessments of speech function in TSCC patients.

METHODS

This longitudinal observational study was conducted at the Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, China, from January 2018 to March 2021. A cohort of 92 patients (53 males, age range: 24-77 years) diagnosed with TSCC participated in this study. Speech function was assessed from preoperatively to one year postoperatively using the Speech Handicap Index questionnaire and acoustic parameters. The risk factors for postoperative speech disorder were analyzed by a linear mixed-effects model. A t test or Mann‒Whitney U test was applied to analyze the differences in acoustic parameters under the influence of risk factors to determine the pathophysiological mechanisms of speech disorders in patients with TSCC.

RESULTS

The incidence of preoperative speech disorders was 58.7%, which increased up to 91.4% after surgery. Higher T stage (P＜0.001) and larger range of tongue resection (P = 0.002) were risk factors for postoperative speech disorders. Among the acoustic parameters, F2/i/decreased remarkably with higher T stage (P = 0.021) and larger range of tongue resection (P = 0.009), indicating restricted tongue movement in the anterior-posterior direction. The acoustic parameters analysis during the follow-up period showed that F1 and F2 were not significantly different of the patients with subtotal or total glossectomy over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Speech disorders in TSCC patients is common and persistent. Less residual tongue volume led to worse speech-related QoL, indicating that surgically restoring the length of the tongue and strengthening tongue extension postoperatively may be important.

Active Learning Accelerating to Screen Dual-Metal-Site Catalysts for Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction Reaction

Dual-metal-site catalysts (DMSCs) are increasingly important catalysts in the field of electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) in recent years. However, rapid screening of suitable metal combinations of DMSCs remains a huge challenge. Herein, we constructed an active learning (AL) framework to study CO₂RR to HCOOH. This AL framework turned out a success in the accurate prediction of 282 DMSCs for CO₂RR through interactive learning between users and machine learning (ML) models. Among the 42 DMSCs calculated in three iteration loops of AL, 29 DMSCs were obtained, where the screening success rate was as high as 70%. Furthermore, we found five experimentally unexplored DMSCs that exhibited better CO₂RR activity and selectivity than pure Bi. Low prediction errors on other DMSCs show that the AL model possessed outstanding universality. The results prove the excellent potential of the AL method and provide guidance on the design of high-performance electrocatalysts for CO₂RR.

CSF-GTNet: A novel multi-dimensional feature fusion network based on Convnext-GeLU-BiLSTM for EEG-signals-enabled fatigue driving detection

Electroencephalography(EEG) signal has been recognized as an effective fatigue detection method, which can intuitively reflect the drivers' mental state. However, the research on multi-dimensional features in existing work could be much better. The instability and complexity of EEG signals will increase the difficulty of extracting data features. More importantly, most current work only treats deep learning models as classifiers. They ignored the features of different subjects learned by the model. Aiming at the above problems, this paper proposes a novel multi-dimensional feature fusion network, CSF-GTNet, based on time and space-frequency domains for fatigue detection. Specifically, it comprises Gaussian Time Domain Network (GTNet) and Pure Convolutional Spatial Frequency Domain Network (CSFNet). The experimental results show that the proposed method effectively distinguishes between alert and fatigue states. The accuracy rates are 85.16% and 81.48% on the self-made and SEED-VIG datasets, respectively, which are higher than the state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, we analyze the contribution of each brain region for fatigue detection through the brain topology map. In addition, we explore the changing trend of each frequency band and the significance between different subjects in the alert state and fatigue state through the heat map. Our research can provide new ideas in brain fatigue research and play a specific role in promoting the development of this field. The code is available on https://github.com/liio123/EEG_Fatigue.

The first observation of 3,1-benzoxazine polymerization for developing high performance thermosets

1,3-benzoxazine has long been considered as the unique polymerizable benzoxazine species to fabricate high performance polymers. Herein, polymerization of 2H,4H-3,1-benzoxazine is observed for the first time and the thermal property...

The oral cancer microbiome contains tumor space-specific and clinicopathology-specific bacteria

The crosstalk between the oral microbiome and oral cancer has yet to be characterized. This study recruited 218 patients for clinicopathological data analysis. Multiple types of specimens were collected from 27 patients for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, including 26 saliva, 16 swabs from the surface of tumor tissues, 16 adjacent normal tissues, 22 tumor outer tissue, 22 tumor inner tissues, and 10 lymph nodes. Clinicopathological data showed that the pathogenic bacteria could be frequently detected in the oral cavity of oral cancer patients, which was positively related to diabetes, later T stage of the tumor, and the presence of cervical lymphatic metastasis. Sequencing data revealed that compared with adjacent normal tissues, the microbiome of outer tumor tissues had a greater alpha diversity, with a larger proportion of Fusobacterium, Prevotella, and Porphyromonas, while a smaller proportion of Streptococcus. The space-specific microbiome, comparing outer tumor tissues with inner tumor tissues, suggested minor differences in diversity. However, Fusobacterium, Neisseria, Porphyromonas, and Alloprevotella were more abundant in outer tumor tissues, while Prevotella, Selenomonas, and Parvimonas were enriched in inner tumor tissues. Clinicopathology-specific microbiome analysis found that the diversity was markedly different between negative and positive extranodal extensions, whereas the diversity between different T-stages and N-stages was slightly different. Gemella and Bacillales were enriched in T1/T2-stage patients and the non-lymphatic metastasis group, while Spirochaetae and Flavobacteriia were enriched in the extranodal extension negative group. Taken together, high-throughput DNA sequencing in combination with clinicopathological features facilitated us to characterize special patterns of oral tumor microbiome in different disease developmental stages.

Focusing on the hypoxia-inducible factor pathway: role, regulation, and therapy for osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic disabling disease that affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. The most important pathological feature is the rupture and loss of articular cartilage, and the characteristics of avascular joint tissues lead to limited repair ability. Currently, there is no effective treatment to prevent cartilage degeneration. Studies on the mechanism of cartilage metabolism revealed that hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are key regulatory genes that maintain the balance of cartilage catabolism-matrix anabolism and are considered to be the major OA regulator and promising OA treatment target. Although the exact mechanism of HIFs in OA needs to be further clarified, many drugs that directly or indirectly act on HIF signaling pathways have been confirmed by animal experiments and regarded as promising treatments for OA. Targeting HIFs will provide a promising strategy for the development of new OA drugs. This article reviews the regulation of HIFs on intra-articular cartilage homeostasis and its influence on the progression of osteoarthritis and summarizes the recent advances in OA therapies targeting the HIF system.

Tracking tools of extracellular vesicles for biomedical research

Imaging of extracellular vesicles (EVs) will facilitate a better understanding of their biological functions and their potential as therapeutics and drug delivery vehicles. In order to clarify EV-mediated cellular communication in vitro and to track the bio-distribution of EV in vivo, various strategies have been developed to label and image EVs. In this review, we summarized recent advances in the tracking of EVs, demonstrating the methods for labeling and imaging of EVs, in which the labeling methods include direct and indirect labeling and the imaging modalities include fluorescent imaging, bioluminescent imaging, nuclear imaging, and nanoparticle-assisted imaging. These techniques help us better understand the mechanism of uptake, the bio-distribution, and the function of EVs. More importantly, we can evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of EVs, which will help promote their further clinical application.

Modification of mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage-targeted therapy

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by the destruction of the articular cartilage, sclerosis of the subchondral bone, and joint dysfunction. Its pathogenesis is attributed to direct damage and mechanical destruction of joint tissues. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), suggested as a potential strategy for the treatment of OA, have shown therapeutic effects on OA. However, the specific fate of MSCs after intraarticular injection, including cell attachment, proliferation, differentiation, and death, is still unclear, and there is no guarantee that stem cells can be retained in the cartilage tissue to enact repair. Direct homing of MSCs is an important determinant of the efficacy of MSC-based cartilage repair. Recent studies have revealed that the unique homing capacity of MSCs and targeted modification can improve their ability to promote tissue regeneration. Here, we comprehensively review the homing effect of stem cells in joints and highlight progress toward the targeted modification of MSCs. In the future, developments of this targeting system that accelerate tissue regeneration will benefit targeted tissue repair.

Preliminary study on the molecular features of mutation in multiple primary oral cancer by whole exome sequencing

Multiple primary cancers (MPCs) refer to cancers that occur simultaneously or metachronously in the same individual. The incidence of MPC has increased recently, as the survival time of malignant tumor patients has been greatly prolonged. It is difficult to differentiate MPC from primary cancers (PCs) in the same anatomical region from the clinical manifestation alone. However, their biological behaviors appear to be distinct. In this study, we show that the prognosis of multiple primary oral cancers (MP-OCs) is worse than primary oral cancers (P-OCs). To better understand the molecular mechanisms of MP-OC, we used whole exome sequencing (WES) to analyze samples from 9 patients with MP-OC and 21 patients with P-OC. We found more somatic mutations in MP-OC than in P-OC. MP-OC had more complicated mutation signatures, which were associated with age-related and Apolipoprotein B mRNA Editing Catalytic Polypeptide-like (APOBEC) activity-related signatures. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) and mutant-allele tumor heterogeneity (MATH) of MP-OC trended higher compared to P-OC. KEGG and GO analysis showed the differential pathways of MP-OC versus P-OC. In addition, MP-OC took amplification, not loss, as the main pattern of copy number variation (CNV), while P-OC took both. Lastly, we did not find significantly different mutant germline genes, but MSH-6 mutation may be a potential MP-OC driver. In short, our preliminary results show that MP-OC and P-OC have different molecular characteristics.

Site-Selective Lysine Acetylation of Human Immunoglobulin G for Immunoliposomes and Bispecific Antibody Complexes

Site-selective acetylation of a single lysine residue in a protein that reaches a lysine acetyltransferase's accuracy, precision, and reliability is challenging. Here, we report a peptide-guided, proximity-driven group transfer reaction that acetylates a single lysine residue, Lys 248, of the fragment crystallizable region (Fc region) in the heavy chain of the human Immunoglobulin G (IgG). An Fc-interacting peptide bound with the Fc domain and positioned a phenolic ester close to Lys 248, which induced a nucleophilic reaction and resulted in the transfer of an acetyl group to Lys 248. The acetylation reaction proceeded to a decent yield under the physiological condition without the need for deglycosylation, unnatural amino acids, or catalysts. Along with acetylation, functional moieties such as azide, alkyne, fluorescent molecules, or biotin could also be site-selectively installed on Lys 248, allowing IgG's further derivatization. We then synthesized an antibody-lipid conjugate and constructed antibody-conjugated liposomes (immunoliposomes), targeting HER2-positive (HER2+) cancer cells. We also built a bispecific antibody complex (bsAbC) covalently linking an anti-HER2 antibody and an anti-CD3 antibody. The bsAbC showed in vitro effector-cell-mediated cytotoxicity at nanomolar concentrations. Compared with bispecific antibodies (bsAbs), bsAbCs are constructed based on native IgGs and contain two antigen-binding sites to each antigen, twice that of bsAbs. Altogether, this work reports a method of site-selective acetylation of native antibodies, highlights a facile way of site-selective IgG functionalization, and underscores the potential of bsAbCs in cancer immunotherapy.