Endogenous H2O2 Self-Replenishment and Sustainable Cascades Enhance the Efficacy of Sonodynamic Therapy.

Purpose: Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), with its high tissue penetration and noninvasive advantages, represents an emerging approach to eradicating solid tumors. However, the outcomes of SDT are typically hampered by the low oxygen content and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Accordingly, we constructed a cascade nanoplatform to regulate the TME and improve the anti-tumor efficiency of SDT. Methods: In this study, we rationally design cascade nanoplatform by incorporating immunostimulant hyaluronic acid (HA) and sonosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) on the polydopamine nanocarrier that is pre-doped with platinum nanozymes (designated Ce6/Pt@PDA-HA, PPCH). Results: The cascade reactions of PPCH are evidenced by the results that HA exhibits reversing immunosuppressive that converts M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages in situ, while producing H2O2, and then platinum nanozymes further catalyze the H2O2 to produce O2, and O2 produces abundant singlet oxygen (1O2) under the action of Ce6 and low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU), resulting in a domino effect and further amplifying the efficacy of SDT. Due to its pH responsiveness and mitochondrial targeting, PPCH effectively accumulates in tumor cells. Under LIFU irradiation, PPCH effectively reverses immunosuppression, alleviates hypoxia in the TME, enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and enhances SDT efficacy for eliminating tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. Meanwhile, an in vivo dual-modal imaging including fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging achieves precise tumor diagnosis. Conclusion: This cascade nanoplatform will provide a promising strategy for enhancing SDT eradication against tumors by modulating immunosuppression and relieving hypoxia.

Recent advances in sonodynamic immunotherapy.

Tumor immunotherapy has become an important means of tumor therapy by enhancing the immune response and triggering the activation of immune cells. However, currently, only a small number of patients respond to immunotherapy alone, and patients may experience immune-related adverse events (irAEs) during the course of treatment. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) can produce cytotoxic substances to tumor tissue, induce apoptosis and enhance immunity. SDT combined with immunotherapy is considered a promising strategy for cancer treatment. In this mini review, we summarize the role of SDT in immunotherapy in recent years, including the application of SDT-triggered immunotherapy and the combination of SDT and immunotherapy.

Ultrasonographic Diagnosis of Intussusception in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Ultrasonography offers a unique advantage in the clinical diagnosis of intussusception. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in pediatric intussusception. The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library databases, and African Journals Online database were searched for studies pertaining to ultrasonographic diagnosis of intussusception in children. Finally, 14 studies (combined n = 2367) were found eligible for inclusion. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.94 (95% confidence interval: 0.91-0.96) and 0.96 (95% confidence interval: 0.93-0.98), respectively. In conclusion, ultrasonography has high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of intussusception.

Two new combinations in Oreocharis (Gesneriaceae) based on morphological, molecular and cytological evidence.

The newly-circumscribed genus Oreocharis is recently enlarged by incorporating ten other genera with high floral diversity. In this study, our morphological, molecular and cytological evidence supports our adding two species from other two different genera (Boeica and Beccarinda) to Oreocharis. The special corolla shape (campanulate or flat-faced) and related short filament of these two new combinations, Oreocharis guileana and O. baolianis, further enrich the diversity of floral characters of the enlarged Oreocharis. Meanwhile, some supplementary and amended descriptions of these two species are made here. Our morphological, molecular and geographical data indicate that O. guileana is related to O. pilosopetiolata to a certain extent. For O. baolianis, however, our current dataset does not allow conclusions on the species relationship within Oreocharis.

Conventional Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Splenic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Accurate diagnosis of splenic diseases is important for timely and accurate treatment. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and conventional ultrasound (US) in detecting splenic lesions. A systematic literature search was undertaken, and 8 studies met the inclusion criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of the consolidated results of CEUS were 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92-0.97) and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.90-0.99), respectively (I2 = 27.4%; area under the curve [AUC] from a summary receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.97). The sensitivity and specificity of the consolidated results of conventional US were 0.70 (95% CI, 0.56-0.80) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.76-0.99; I2 = 83.4%; AUC = 0.84). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of CEUS were higher than those of conventional US in diagnosing splenic lesions. Contrast-enhanced US is a promising method for accurately diagnosing splenic lesions.

Diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for pancreatic neoplasms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is essential to optimize treatment strategies. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for benign and malignant pancreatic neoplasms. DATA SOURCES: Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Retrospective or prospective studies. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of benign and malignant pancreatic neoplasms. INTERVENTION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS: Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic risk ratio, and corresponding 95% confidence intervals; summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve; a Fagan nomogram. RESULTS: Ten studies involving 641 patients were included. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 91% (95% CI: 87%, 93%), 87% (95% CI: 78%, 93%), 7.2 (95% CI: 4.3, 12.3), and 0.11 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.15), respectively; and the odds ratio for diagnosis was 67 (95% CI: 34, 113). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound had good diagnostic ability and accuracy. Pre- and post-test probability of disease was 50% and 88%, respectively, when the positive likelihood ratio was 7. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be used for qualitative diagnosis of benign and malignant pancreatic neoplasms. IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS: CEUS should be considered as an important imaging tool for the characterization of pancreatic tumors. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42017070434 (PROSPERO).

Development of microsatellite markers for Sargentodoxa cuneata (Lardizabalaceae) using next-generation sequencing technology.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Microsatellite loci were developed for a woody deciduous liana, Sargentodoxa cuneata (Lardizabalaceae), to help infer the evolutionary histories of ancient monotypic genera in subtropical China. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using next-generation sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) technology, 21 polymorphic primer sets were identified in three wild populations. The number of alleles per locus ranged from one to seven. The expected and observed heterozygosities varied from 0 to 0.788 and 0 to 0.917, respectively. Transferability analyses were performed in Stauntonia chinensis, Akebia trifoliata, and A. quinata. Eighteen (85.7%), 18 (85.7%), and 17 (81.0%) markers were successfully amplified, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed markers will facilitate further studies on genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns throughout the distributional range of S. cuneata. This set of microsatellite primers represents the second report on molecular markers in Lardizabalaceae.

Assembly of cyanometalate-functionalized phosphotungstates with magnetic properties and bifunctional electrocatalytic activities.

Two cyanometalate-functionalized heteropolytungstates (C4H10ON)23[HN(CH2CH2OH)3]11H[Fe(III()CN)6(α2-P2W17O61Ni(II))4]·31H2O (1) and (C4H10ON)23[HN(CH2CH2OH)3]10H2[Fe(III)(CN)6(α2-P2W17O61Co(II))4]·27H2O (2) (C4H10ON = morpholine, HN(CH2CH2OH)3 = triethanol amine) have been successfully synthesized in aqueous solution under conventional reaction conditions, which demonstrated that it is a successful strategy to incorporate the cyanometalate fragment into lacunary heteropolytungstates. These polyanions were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectra, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, magnetic studies, and electrochemistry. Interestingly, the electrochemical studies have shown that the two complexes have bifunctional electrocatalytic activities towards not only the reduction of potassium iodate (KIO3) ascribed to the function of POM, but also the oxidation of the biological molecule ascorbic acid (AA) ascribed to the Fe-center in [M(II)4Fe(III)(CN)6](5+). Significantly, the magnetic investigations demonstrate the presence of ferromagnetic exchange interactions in 1 (Ni4Fe) and antiferromagnetic interactions in 2 (Co4Fe).

Neopterin concentrations in synovial fluid may reflect disease severity in patients with osteoarthritis.

We aimed to detect neopterin concentrations in serum and synovial fluid (SF) of knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients and to clarify their relationship with clinical severity of the disease. We cross-sectionally enrolled 176 knee OA patients and 63 age- and sex-matched controls. We measured neopterin concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and investigated the correlation between serum/SF neopterin concentrations and Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grades as well as Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scores in OA patients. Our results demonstrated that increased SF neopterin concentrations were independently correlated with greater symptomatic and radiographic severity in OA patients. These results suggested a crucial role of neopterin activation in the development and progression of knee OA. Assessment of neopterin levels in SF is a potential biomarker to evaluate disease severity in OA patients.