Abnormal sleep patterns are associated with depressive symptoms in Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Depression is an important public health issue among older adults, often associated with their sleep-related problems. We aimed to investigate the association between sleep-related problems and depressive symptoms among Chinese community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized self-reported data from 2896 participants (aged ≥60 years) from Shanghai, China. Nocturnal sleep duration and difficulty initiating sleep (DIS) symptoms were obtained through face-to-face questionnaires. Nocturnal sleep duration was categorized as 'short' (<7 h), 'normal' (7-8 h), and 'long' (>8 h). Subsequently, the 3 groups were further divided into 6 groups based on the presence of DIS, and the combined sleep behaviors were termed 'sleep patterns'. Logistic regression was conducted to assess the association of sleep variables and sleep patterns with the risk of depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Compared to the reference group, 'short sleep duration' and DIS symptoms were associated with depressive symptoms (with odds ratios (OR) of 1.50 and 1.79, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 1.14-1.97 and 1.39-2.31). When compared to 'normal sleep duration without DIS', both 'short sleep duration with DIS' (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.81-3.72) and 'normal sleep duration with DIS' (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.03-2.49) were statistically associated with depressive symptoms in adjusted regression models. CONCLUSION: Short sleep duration and DIS symptoms were found to be associated with depressive symptoms. Combining DIS symptoms with sleep duration, DIS was identified as a risk factor for elevated depressive symptoms in individuals with short and normal sleep durations. In managing depressive symptoms, it is imperative to thoroughly evaluate insomnia and nighttime sleep, which can provide valuable insights for nursing and medical policy.

Study on plasma metabolomics profiling of depression in Chinese community-dwelling older adults based on untargeted LC/GC‒MS.

Depression is a serious psychiatric illness that causes great inconvenience to the lives of elderly individuals. However, the diagnosis of depression is somewhat subjective. Nontargeted gas chromatography (GC)/liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) was used to study the plasma metabolic profile and identify objective markers for depression and metabolic pathway variation. We recruited 379 Chinese community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 65. Plasma samples were collected and detected by GC/LC‒MS. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis and a heatmap were utilized to distinguish the metabolites. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic value of these differential metabolites. Additionally, metabolic pathway enrichment was performed to reveal metabolic pathway variation. According to our standard, 49 people were included in the depression cohort (DC), and 49 people age- and sex-matched individuals were included in the non-depression cohort (NDC). 64 metabolites identified via GC‒MS and 73 metabolites identified via LC‒MS had significant contributions to the differentiation between the DC and NDC, with VIP values > 1 and p values < 0.05. Three substances were detected by both methods: hypoxanthine, phytosphingosine, and xanthine. Furthermore, 1-(sn-glycero-3-phospho)-1D-myo-inositol had the largest area under the curve (AUC) value (AUC = 0.842). The purine metabolic pathway is the most important change in metabolic pathways. These findings show that there were differences in plasma metabolites between the depression cohort and the non-depression cohort. These identified differential metabolites may be markers of depression and can be used to study the changes in depression metabolic pathways.

Substrate-Independent Superhydrophobic Coating Capable of Photothermal-Induced Repairability for Multiple Damages Fabricated via Simple Blade Coating.

Repairable superhydrophobic surfaces have promising application potential in many fields. However, so far, it is still a challenge to develop a superhydrophobic surface with repairability for multiple types of damage through a simple method. In this paper, a repairable superhydrophobic coating was obtained on various substrates by blade-coating mixtures of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified with dopamine (PDA) and octadecylamine (ODA). The obtained coating has a good liquid-repellent property with a water contact angle above 150° and a water sliding angle of ∼6° and possesses an excellent absorbance (∼97%) in the wavelength range of 250-2500 nm. Due to its high absorbance, the coating displays an outstanding photothermal effect with a temperature rise of ∼65 °C under irradiation by 1.0 kW/m2 of simulated sunlight. Furthermore, after being degraded by multiple stimuli, including plasma treatment, acid/alkali/oil immersion, sand impact, and the icing-thawing cycle, the coating can recover superhydrophobicity via sunlight irradiation, demonstrating the good photothermal-induced repairability of the coating. It can be expected that the good water-repellent property, photothermal effect, and repairability give this coating a promising prospect in practical applications.

Astaxanthin targets IL-6 and alleviates the LPS-induced adverse inflammatory response of macrophages.

Numerous natural compounds are recognized for their anti-inflammatory properties attributed to antioxidant effects and the modulation of key inflammatory factors. Among them, astaxanthin (AST), a potent carotenoid antioxidant, remains relatively underexplored regarding its anti-inflammatory mechanisms and specific molecular targets. In this study, human monocytic leukemia cell-derived macrophages (THP-1) were selected as experimental cells, and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) served as inflammatory stimuli. Upon LPS treatment, the oxidative stress was significantly increased, accompanied by remarkable cellular damage. Moreover, LPSs escalated the expression of inflammation-related molecules. Our results demonstrate that AST intervention could effectively alleviate LPS-induced oxidative stress, facilitate cellular repair, and significantly attenuate inflammation. Further exploration of the anti-inflammatory mechanism revealed AST could substantially inhibit NF-κB translocation and activation, and mitigate inflammatory factor production by hindering NF-κB through the antioxidant mechanism. We further confirmed that AST exhibited protective effects against cell damage and reduced the injury from inflammatory cytokines by activating p53 and inhibiting STAT3. In addition, utilizing network pharmacology and in silico calculations based on molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, we identified interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a prominent core target of AST anti-inflammation, which was further validated by the RNA interference experiment. This IL-6 binding capacity actually enabled AST to curb the positive feedback loop of inflammatory factors, averting the onset of possible inflammatory storms. Therefore, this study offers a new possibility for the application and development of astaxanthin as a popular dietary supplement of anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory function.

Association between weight-adjusted-waist index and depression in US adults: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence implicates a significant association between depression and obesity and related metabolic dysfunction. The weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) was recently identified as an ideal index that integrates total body fat, muscle mass, and bone mass. This study investigated the relationship between WWI and depressive symptoms in adults. METHODS: Participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2018) were enrolled. Depressive symptom severity was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and generalized additive models were used to determine the relationship between WWI and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 34,575 participants were included, with a mean WWI of 11.01; 2,979 participants were suspected of having depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10). A significant positive association was identified between WWI and depressive symptoms (odds ratio = 1.416, 95 % confidence interval: 1.303-1.539, P < 0.0001). Subgroup analyses suggested that the association between WWI and depressive symptoms was stronger in individuals who were female, overweight, divorced, middle-aged or older (over 40 years old), and had diabetes. Furthermore, the non-linear multivariable regression revealed an inflection point for the WWI at 11.438, and the association was only significant when the WWI was higher than this point. LIMITATIONS: This study was retrospective and only included participants from the United States; therefore, further validation is needed from studies in other countries, especially middle-to-low-income countries, using longitudinal cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a significant positive association between WWI and depressive symptoms.

Application of Aptamer-SERS Nanotags for Unveiling the PD-L1 Immunomarker Progression Correlated to the Cell Metabolic Bioprocess.

In recent years, the expression and progression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) as an immunomarker in the context of a cell metabolic environment has gained significant attention in cancer research. However, intercellular bioprocesses that control the dynamics of PD-L1 have been largely unexplored. This study aimed to explore the cell metabolic states and conditions that govern dynamic variations of PD-L1 within the cell metabolic environment using an aptamer-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) approach. The aptamer-SERS technique offers a sensitive, rapid, and powerful analytical tool for targeted and nondestructive detection of an immunomarker with high sensitivity and specificity. By combining aptamer-SERS with cell state profiling, we investigated the modulation in PD-L1 expression under different metabolic states, including glucose deprivation, metabolic coenzyme activity, and altered time/concentration-based cytokine availability. The most intriguing features in our findings include the cell-specific responses, cell differentiation by revealing distinct patterns, and dynamics of PD-L1 in different cell lines. Additionally, the time-dependent variations in PD-L1 expression, coupled with the dose-dependent relationship between glucose concentration and PD-L1 levels, underscore the complex interplay between immune checkpoint regulation and cellular metabolism. Therefore, this work demonstrates the advantages of using highly-sensitive and specific aptamer-SERS nanotags for investigating the immune checkpoint dynamics and related metabolic bioprocess.

The association between time-restricted eating and arterial stiffness status in community-dwelling elderly Chinese individuals.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Emerging studies indicate that time-restricted eating (TRE) may protect against cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, studies performed in elderly adults are limited. This study aimed to analyze the association of TRE with arterial stiffness (AS) in community-dwelling elderly Chinese individuals. METHODS AND RESULTS: This cross-sectional study recruited 3487 participants aged ≥60 y from Shanghai, China. TRE was determined by calculating the end time of the last meal minus the start time of the first meal of the average day. Participants were then categorized into those with a time-restricted window lasting ≤11 h (TRE) and >11 h (non-TRE). The mean age of the sample was 71.78 ± 5.75 y, and 41.2 % were men. Having a TRE pattern was 72.2 %. In the logistic analysis, TRE was associated with borderline arterial stiffness (OR = 1.419; 95 % CI = 1.077-1.869) and elevated arterial stiffness (OR = 1.699; 95 % CI = 1.276-2.263). In a subgroup analysis, the significance remained in the group at risk of malnutrition (with borderline arterial stiffness: OR = 2.270; 95 % CI = 1.229-4.190; with elevated arterial stiffness: OR = 2.459; 95 % CI = 1.287-4.700), while in well-nourished participants, the association only remained with elevated arterial stiffness (OR = 1.530; 95 % CI = 1.107-2.115) and not with borderline arterial stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: TRE is a risk factor for both borderline and elevated arterial stiffness in community-dwelling Chinese individuals and varies by nutritional status. (Protocol code 2019-WJWXM-04-310108196508064467.).

Silica nanoparticles conferring resistance to bacterial wilt in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

Peanut bacterial wilt (PBW) caused by the pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum severely affects the growth and yield potential of peanut crop. In this study, we synthesized silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs), a prospective efficient management approach to control PBW, and conducted a hydroponic experiment to investigate the effects of different SiO2 NPs treatments (i.e., 0, 100, and 500 mg L-1 as NP0, NP100, and NP500, respectively) on promoting plant growth and resistance to R. solanacearum. Results indicated that the disease indices of NP100 and NP500 decreased by 51.5 % and 55.4 % as compared with NP0 under R. solanacearum inoculation, respectively, while the fresh and dry weights and shoot length of NP100 and NP500 increased by 7.62-42.05 %, 9.45-32.06 %, and 2.37-17.83 %, respectively. Furthermore, SiO2 NPs induced an improvement in physio-biochemical enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and lipoxygenase) which eliminated the excess production of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anions, and malondialdehyde to alleviate PBW stress. Notably, the targeted metabolomic analysis indicated that SiO2 NPs enhanced salicylic acid (SA) contents, which involved the induction of systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Moreover, the transcriptomic analysis revealed that SiO2 NPs modulated the expression of multiple transcription factors (TFs) involved in the hormone pathway, such as AHLs, and the identification of hormone pathways related to plant defense responses, such as the SA pathway, which activated SA-dependent defense mechanisms. Meanwhile, the up-regulated expression of the SA-metabolism gene, salicylate carboxymethyltransferase (SAMT), initiated SAR to promote PBW resistance. Overall, our findings revealed that SiO2 NPs, functioning as a plant elicitor, could effectively modulate physiological enzyme activities and enhance SA contents through the regulation of SA-metabolism genes to confer the PBW resistance in peanuts, which highlighted the potential of SiO2 NPs for sustainable agricultural practices.

Dendritic Nanomedicine with Boronate Bonds for Augmented Chemo-Immunotherapy via Synergistic Modulation of Tumor Immune Microenvironment.

Unsatisfied tumor accumulation of chemotherapeutic drugs and a complicated immunosuppressive microenvironment diminish the immune response rate and the therapeutic effect. Surface modification of these drugs with target ligands can promote their cellular internalization, but the modified drugs may be subjected to unexpected immune recognition and clearance. Herein, a phenylboronic acid (PBA) group-shieldable dendritic nanomedicine that integrates an immunogenic cell death (ICD)-inducing agent (epirubicin, Epi) and an indoleamine 2,3-dioxgenase 1 (IDO1) inhibitor (NLG919) is reported for tumor chemo-immunotherapy. This NLG919-loaded Epi-conjugated PEGylated dendrimers bridged with boronate bonds (NLG919@Epi-DBP) maintains a stable nanostructure during circulation. Under a moderate acidic condition, the PBA group exposes to the sialic acid residue on the tumor cell membrane to enhance the internalization and penetration of NLG919@Epi-DBP. At pH 5.0, NLG919@Epi-DBP rapidly disassembles to release the incorporated Epi and NLG919. Epi triggers robust ICD of tumor cells that evokes strong immune response. In addition, inhibition of the IDO1 activity downregulates the metabolism of L-tryptophan to kynurenine, leading to a reduction in the recruitment of immunosuppressive cells and modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment. Collectively, this promising strategy has been demonstrated to evoke robust immune response as well as remodel the immunosuppressive microenvironment for an enhanced chemo-immunotherapeutic effect.

Lower heart rate variability is associated with loss of muscle mass and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) disorders may occur in skeletal muscle disease, but the link between them has not been fully established. Studying the relationship between them may yield insights into the mechanisms and treatment of disease. This study aimed to explore the association between heart rate variability (HRV), sarcopenia, and subscales of sarcopenia (muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical mobility). METHODS: 2514 community-dwelling older Chinese participants were included in this study. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia guidelines were used to define sarcopenia. HRV was measured by 90-s electrocardiogram RR interval data. All HRV parameters were transformed using natural logarithms. Multiple regression analysis and multivariate linear regression was performed using potential correlates. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 15.1 % (18.5 % in males and 12.6 % in females). In the logistic regression analysis model, there was a significant association between log-transformed standard deviation of RR interval (lnSDNN) (OR = 0.736, p = 0.019), log-transformed coefficient of variation of RR intervals (lnCVRR) (OR = 0.751, p = 0.020), log-transformed low-frequency power (lnLF) (OR = 0.861, p = 0.008), log-transformed high-frequency power (lnHF) (OR = 0.864, p = 0.003) and sarcopenia in the general population after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), daily activity levels, hypertension, heart disease and cardiac drugs. In addition, in multivariate linear regression, lnSDNN (ß = 0.146, p = 0.001), lnCVRR (ß = 0.120, p = 0.010), lnLF (ß = 0.066, p = 0.002) and lnHF (ß = 0.065, p < 0.001) remained significantly positively associated with muscle mass, but there were no significant differences in grip strength and walking speed. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia was independently associated with lower heart rate variability in a community-dwelling elderly Chinese population. In addition, muscle mass was positively associated with heart rate variability in the elderly.

A crosswalk on the genetic and conventional strategies for enhancing astaxanthin production in Haematococcus pluvialis.

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring xanthophyll with powerful: antioxidant, antitumor, and antibacterial properties that are widely employed in food, feed, medicinal and nutraceutical industries. Currently, chemical synthesis dominates the world's astaxanthin market, but the increasing demand for natural products is shifting the market for natural astaxanthin. Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) is the factory source of natural astaxanthin when grown in optimal conditions. Currently, various strategies for the production of astaxanthin have been proposed or are being developed in order to meet its market demand. This up-to-date review scrutinized the current approaches or strategies that aim to increase astaxanthin yield from H. pluvialis. We have emphasized the genetic and environmental parameters that increase astaxanthin yield. We also looked at the transcriptomic dynamics caused by environmental factors (phytohormones induction, light, salt, temperature, and nutrient starvation) on astaxanthin synthesizing genes and other metabolic changes. Genetic engineering and culture optimization (environmental factors) are effective approaches to producing more astaxanthin for commercial purposes. Genetic engineering, in particular, is accurate, specific, potent, and safer than conventional random mutagenesis approaches. New technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9 coupled with omics and emerging computational tools, may be the principal strategies in the future to attain strains that can produce more astaxanthin. This review provides accessible data on the strategies to increase astaxanthin accumulation natively. Also, this review can be a starting point for new scholars interested in H. pluvialis research.

Association between weight-adjusted-waist index with hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis: a nationally representative cross-sectional study from NHANES 2017 to 2020.

Background: The negative effects of obesity on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis have received considerable attention in recent years. The weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) reflects weight-independent centripetal obesity. Herein, we provide the first investigation of a link between WWI, hepatic steatosis, and liver fibrosis. Methods: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2020 to conduct a cross-sectional study. The linear relationship between WWI, controlled attenuation parameters, and liver stiffness measurements (LSM) was investigated using multivariate linear regression models. The nonlinear relationship was described using fitted smoothed curves and threshold effect analyses. Subgroup analyses were performed based on gender, age, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, drinking, and smoking. Results: This population-based study included 7,594 people, 50.74% of whom were men and 49.26% of whom were women. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between WWI and hepatic steatosis [CAP, ß=7.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) (4.42, 10.78), P<0.0001]. This positive association was stronger when excessive alcohol intake was present compared to when it was absent (P for interaction = 0.031), and when hypertension was present compared to when it was not (P for interaction = 0.014). The linear relationship between WWI and liver fibrosis was not statistically significant on multiple regression analysis [LSM, ß=0.03, 95% CI (-0.26, 0.32), P=0.84]. However, a U-shaped association was seen between WWI and LSM, with a negative correlation when WWI< 10.92 and a positive correlation when WWI > 10.92. Conclusion: We report a strong association between WWI and hepatic steatosis, and suggest that it may potentially be used as a simple anthropometric index to predict hepatic steatosis.

Investigating Urine Biomarkers in Detrusor Underactivity and Detrusor Overactivity with Detrusor Underactivity Patients.

Bladder inflammation and tissue hypoxia were considered important pathognomonic bladder features in detrusor underactivity (DU) and detrusor overactivity (DO) patients. This study investigated urine inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarker levels in DU and DO with DU (DO-DU) patients. Urine samples were collected from 50 DU and 18 DO-DU patients, as well as 20 controls. The targeted analytes included three oxidative stress biomarkers (8-OHdG, 8-isoprostane, and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]) and 33 cytokines. DU and DO-DU patients had different urine biomarker profiles from controls, including 8-OHdG, PGE2, EGF, TNFα, IL-1ß, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, and CXCL10. Controlling for age and sex, multivariate logistic-regression models revealed that 8-OHdG, PGE2, EGF, IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, and TAC were significant biomarkers for diagnosing DU. In DU patients, urine TAC and PGE2 levels were positively correlated with detrusor voiding pressure. In DO-DU patients, urine 8-OHdG, PGE2, IL-6, IL-10, and MIP-1α levels were positively correlated with maximal urinary flow rate, while urine IL-5, IL-10, and MIP-1α were negatively correlated with the first sensation of bladder filling. Urine inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarker analysis provides a non-invasive and convenient approach for important clinical information in DU and DO-DU patients.

Synergy of Cu/C3 N4 Interface and Cu Nanoparticles Dual Catalytic Regions in Electrolysis of CO to Acetic Acid.

Electrochemical reduction reaction of carbon monoxide (CORR) offers a promising way to manufacture acetic acid directly from gaseous CO and water at mild condition. Herein, we discovered that the graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3 N4 ) supported Cu nanoparticles (Cu-CN) with the appropriate size showed a high acetate faradaic efficiency of 62.8 % with a partial current density of 188 mA cm-2 in CORR. In situ experimental and density functional theory calculation studies revealed that the Cu/C3 N4 interface and metallic Cu surface synergistically promoted CORR into acetic acid. The generation of pivotal intermediate -*CHO is advantage around the Cu/C3 N4 interface and migrated *CHO facilitates acetic acid generation on metallic Cu surface with promoted *CHO coverage. Moreover, continuous production of acetic acid aqueous solution was achieved in a porous solid electrolyte reactor, indicating the great potential of Cu-CN catalyst in the industrial application.

High-affinity decoy protein, nFD164, with an inactive Fc region as a potential therapeutic drug targeting CD47.

CD47, as an innate immune checkpoint molecule, is an important target of cancer immunotherapy. We previously reported that a high-affinity SIRPα variant FD164 fused with IgG1 subtype Fc showed a better antitumor effect than wild-type SIRPα in an immunodeficient tumor-bearing model. However, CD47 is widely expressed in blood cells, and the drugs targeting CD47 may cause potential hematological toxicity. Herein, we modified the FD164 molecule by Fc mutation (N297A) to inactivate the Fc-related effector function and named it nFD164. Moreover, we further studied the potential of nFD164 as a candidate drug targeting CD47, including the stability, in vitro activity, antitumor activity of single or combined drugs in vivo, and hematological toxicity in humanized CD47/SIRPα transgenic mouse model. The results show that nFD164 maintains strong binding activity to CD47 on tumor cells, but has weak binding activity with red blood cells or white blood cells, and nFD164 has good drug stability under accelerated conditions (high temperature, bright light and freeze-thaw cycles). More importantly, in the immunodeficient or humanized CD47/SIRPα transgenic mice bearing tumor model, the combination of nFD164 and anti-CD20 antibody or anti-mPD-1 antibody had a synergistic antitumor effect. Especially in transgenic mouse models, nFD164 combined with anti-mPD-1 significantly enhanced tumor suppressive activity compared with anti-mPD-1 (P < 0.01) or nFD164 (P < 0.01) as a single drug and had fewer hematology-related side effects than FD164 or Hu5F9-G4. When these factors are taken together, nFD164 is a promising high-affinity CD47-targeting drug candidate with better stability, potential antitumor activity, and improved safety profile.

The application of Interleukin-2 family cytokines in tumor immunotherapy research.

The Interleukin-2 Family contains six kinds of cytokines, namely IL-2, IL-15, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-21, all of which share a common γ chain. Many cytokines of the IL-2 family have been reported to be a driving force in immune cells activation. Therefore, researchers have tried various methods to study the anti-tumor effect of cytokines for a long time. However, due to the short half-life, poor stability, easy to lead to inflammatory storms and narrow safety treatment window of cytokines, this field has been tepid. In recent years, with the rapid development of protein engineering technology, some engineered cytokines have a significant effect in tumor immunotherapy, showing an irresistible trend of development. In this review, we will discuss the current researches of the IL-2 family and mainly focus on the application and achievements of engineered cytokines in tumor immunotherapy.

Therapeutic potential and nutritional significance of Ganoderma lucidum - a comprehensive review from 2010 to 2022.

With a long history in traditional Asian medicine, Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) is a mushroom species suggested to improve health and extend life. Its medicinal reputation has merited it with numerous attributes and titles, and it is evidenced to be effective in the prevention and treatment of various metabolic disorders owing to its unique source of bioactive metabolites, primarily polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and polyphenols, attributed with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic activities, etc. These unique potential pharmaceutical properties have led to its demand as an important resource of nutrient supplements in the food industry. It is reported that the variety of therapeutic/pharmacological properties was mainly due to its extensive prebiotic and immunomodulatory functions. All literature summarized in this study was collated based on a systematic review of electronic libraries (PubMed, Scopus databases, Web of Science Core Collection, and Google Scholar) from 2010-2022. This review presents an updated and comprehensive summary of the studies on the immunomodulatory therapies and nutritional significance of G. lucidum, with the focus on recent advances in defining its immunobiological mechanisms and the possible applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries for the prevention and management of chronic diseases. In addition, toxicological evidence and the adoption of standard pharmaceutical methods for the safety assessment, quality assurance, and efficacy testing of G. lucidum-derived compounds will be the gateway to bringing them into health establishments.

Homologous cancer cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles target drug delivery and enhance the chemotherapy efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common digestive tract malignancy that seriously threatens human life and health. Early HCC may be treated by intervention, surgery, and internal radiotherapy, while the choice for late HCC is primarily chemotherapy to prolong patient survival. Lenvatinib (LT) is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved frontline drug for the treatment of advanced liver cancer and has achieved excellent clinical efficacy. However, its poor solubility and severe side effects cannot be ignored. In this study, a bionic nanodrug delivery platform was successfully constructed. The platform consists of a core of Lenvatinib wrapped with a pH-sensitive polymer, namely, poly(ß-amino ester)-polyethylene glycol-amine (PAE-PEG-NH2), and a shell formed by a cancer cell membrane (CCM). The prepared nanodrugs have high drug loading capacity, long-term stability, good biocompatibility, and a long retention time. In addition, the targeting effect of tumor cell membranes and the pH-responsive characteristics of the polymer materials enable them to precisely target tumor cells and achieve responsive release in the tumor microenvironment, which makes them suitable for effective drug delivery. In vivo experiments revealed that the nanodrug showed superior tumor accumulation and therapeutic effects in subcutaneous tumor mice model and could effectively eliminate tumors within 21 days. As a result, it opens up a new way to reduce side effects and improve the specific therapeutic effect of first-line clinical medications to treat tumors.

Oxidation of metallic Cu by supercritical CO2 and control synthesis of amorphous nano-metal catalysts for CO2 electroreduction.

Amorphous nano-metal catalysts often exhibit appealing catalytic properties, because the intrinsic linear scaling relationship can be broken. However, accurate control synthesis of amorphous nano-metal catalysts with desired size and morphology is a challenge. In this work, we discover that Cu(0) could be oxidized to amorphous CuxO species by supercritical CO2. The formation process of the amorphous CuxO is elucidated with the aid of machine learning. Based on this finding, a method to prepare Cu nanoparticles with an amorphous shell is proposed by supercritical CO2 treatment followed by electroreduction. The unique feature of this method is that the size of the particles with amorphous shell can be easily controlled because their size depends on that of the original crystal Cu nanoparticles. Moreover, the thickness of the amorphous shell can be easily controlled by CO2 pressure and/or treatment time. The obtained amorphous Cu shell exhibits high selectivity for C2+ products with the Faradaic efficiency of 84% and current density of 320 mA cm-2. Especially, the FE of C2+ oxygenates can reach up to 65.3 %, which is different obviously from the crystalline Cu catalysts.

Anti-Claudin18.2-IL-21 fusion protein bifunctional molecule has more powerful anti-tumor effect and better safety.

Antibody or antibody-like protein drugs related to tumor immunotherapy are now widely used. Here, we describe an antibody-fusion protein drug IMAB362-mIL-21 with mouse IL-21 (mIL-21) fused into the C-terminal domain of IMAB362 (a clinical antibody drug against Claudin18.2), that we expect can achieve tumor targeting and activate local anti-tumor immune response more effectively, while reducing the systemic side effects of individual cytokines. In vitro assays comparing the fusion protein IMAB362-mIL-21 to IMAB362 and mIL-21, IMAB362-mIL-21 was able to recognize its cognate antigen Claudin18.2 and natural receptor mIL-21R with similar binding affinities, mediate equivalent ADCC activity and activate IL-21R-mediated downstream signal pathway. In in vivo assays, IMAB362-mIL-21 produced stronger anti-tumor effects compared with IMAB362 or mIL-21 or their combination at equimolar concentrations. Moreover, according to routine blood indicators, mIL-21-Fc and the combined treatment group had significant decreases (P < 0.01) in red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HCT), while the IMAB362-mIL-21 group did not. The above results have shown that IMAB362-mIL-21 can produce better anti-tumor effects without obvious hematological toxicity, which is sufficient to show that this kind of antibody-cytokine protein has better application value than IMAB362 or IL-21 as single drugs or in combination. Therefore, this bifunctional molecule combined tumor-targeting and immune activation effectively and has good application prospects.