Fabrication of Uniform Melatonin Microparticles Potentially for Nasal Delivery: A Comparison of Spray Drying and Spray Freeze Drying.

PURPOSE: Insomnia is a major health concern, and melatonin (MLT) is key for initiating sleep. Delivering MLT nasally can enhance brain bioavailability by targeting the olfactory region. This study aimed to fabricate MLT embedded microparticles for nasal delivery. METHODS: MLT-cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives complex microparticles (MCCMPs) were fabricated by spray drying and spray freeze drying MLT and CD derivative solutions. Phase solubility and 1H-1H ROSEY NMR analysis assessed MLT-CD assembly. The effects of formulation compositions and process parameters on microparticle structural attributes were investigated. The in vitro nasal release and deposition performances were evaluated by a modified paddle-over-disk apparatus and 3D-printed nasal cavity cast, respectively. RESULTS: Sodium sulphobutylether-ß-cyclodextrin (SBE-ß-CD) exhibited the best complexation ability with MLT, with the indole structure of MLT included in its cavity. Spray dried MCCMPs showed dense structure with high density, while the spray freeze dried counterpart showed the brittle and porous structure with low density. Despite the porous structure may promote the release rate of spray freeze dried samples, the high hydrophilicity of the CD derivative overshadows this advantage. Samples prepared by spray drying not only exhibited rapid release rates but also could deposit more effectively in the olfactory region, as they avoid breakage due to their higher mechanical strength. The optimal sample showed ~ 86.70% of the MLT released at 20 min and ~ 10.57% of the deposition fraction in the olfactory region. CONCLUSIONS: This work compares MCCMPs fabricated by spray drying and spray freeze drying, providing the optimal formulation and process combinations.

Establishment of an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation System for Hirsutella sinensis.

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) is a complex is formed by Hepialidae larvae and Hirsutella sinensis. Infestation by H. sinensis, interaction with host larvae, and fruiting body development are three crucial processes affecting the formation of O. sinensis. However, research on the molecular mechanism of O. sinensis formation has been hindered by the lack of effective genetic transformation protocols. Therefore, Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) was adopted to genetically transform two H. sinensis strains and optimize the transformation conditions. The results revealed that the most suitable Agrobacterium strain for H. sinensis transformation was AGL1, and that the surfactant Triton X-100 could also induce ATMT, although less effectively than acetosyringone (AS). In addition, the endogenous promoters of H. sinensis genes had a stronger ability to drive the expression of the target gene than did the exogenous promoter. The optimal transformation conditions were as follows: AS and hygromycin B concentrations of 100 µM and 50 µg/mL, respectively; A. tumefaciens OD600 of 0.4; cocultivation at 18 °C for 24 h; and H. sinensis used within three passages. The results lay a foundation for the functional study of key regulatory genes involved in the formation of O. sinensis.

Metabolomics Dysfunction in Replicative Senescence of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Regulated by AMPK Signaling Pathway.

Periodontal ligament mesenchymal stem cells (PDLSCs) are a promising cell resource for stem cell-based regenerative medicine in dentistry, but they inevitably acquire a senescent phenotype after prolonged in vitro expansion. The key regulators of PDLSCs during replicative senescence remain unclear. Here, we sought to elucidate the role of metabolomic changes in determining the cellular senescence of PDLSCs. PDLSCs were cultured to passages 4, 10, and 20. The senescent phenotypes of PDLSCs were detected, and metabolomics analysis was performed. We found that PDLSCs manifested senescence phenotype during passaging. Metabolomics analysis showed that the metabolism of replicative senescence in PDLSCs varied significantly. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway was closely related to adenosine monophosphate (AMP) levels. The AMP:ATP ratio increased in senescent PDLSCs; however, the levels of p-AMPK, FOXO1 and FOXO3a decreased with senescence. We treated PDLSCs with an activator of the AMPK pathway (AICAR) and observed that the phosphorylated AMPK level at P20 PDLSCs was partially restored. These data delineate that the metabolic process of PDLSCs is active in the early stage of senescence and attenuated in the later stages of senescence; however, the sensitivity of AMPK phosphorylation sites is impaired, causing senescent PDLSCs to fail to respond to changes in energy metabolism.

AtML: An Arabidopsis thaliana root cell identity recognition tool for medicinal ingredient accumulation.

Arabidopsis thaliana synthesizes various medicinal compounds, and serves as a model plant for medicinal plant research. Single-cell transcriptomics technologies are essential for understanding the developmental trajectory of plant roots, facilitating the analysis of synthesis and accumulation patterns of medicinal compounds in different cell subpopulations. Although methods for interpreting single-cell transcriptomics data are rapidly advancing in Arabidopsis, challenges remain in precisely annotating cell identity due to the lack of marker genes for certain cell types. In this work, we trained a machine learning system, AtML, using sequencing datasets from six cell subpopulations, comprising a total of 6000 cells, to predict Arabidopsis root cell stages and identify biomarkers through complete model interpretability. Performance testing using an external dataset revealed that AtML achieved 96.50% accuracy and 96.51% recall. Through the interpretability provided by AtML, our model identified 160 important marker genes, contributing to the understanding of cell type annotations. In conclusion, we trained AtML to efficiently identify Arabidopsis root cell stages, providing a new tool for elucidating the mechanisms of medicinal compound accumulation in Arabidopsis roots.

Adding-on nivolumab to chemotherapy-stabilized patients is associated with improved survival in advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are rarely used to treat advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) due to marginal efficacy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 92 consecutive patients diagnosed with advanced or recurrent PDAC who received nivolumab-based treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify prognostic factors. A control group of 301 patients with PDAC who achieved disease control with palliative chemotherapy but without ICIs was selected for comparison using propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: The median overall survival (OS) since nivolumab treatment was 15.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.5-19.0), 2.4 (95% CI 1.2-3.6), and 1.1 (95% CI 1.0-1.2) months in patients who received add-on nivolumab after achieving disease control with chemotherapy, in those who received concomitant nivolumab and chemotherapy without prerequisite confirmation of disease control, and in those who received nivolumab without concomitant chemotherapy, respectively (P < 0.001). After PSM, the median overall survival (OS) since initiation of the concomitant chemotherapy that achieved disease control was significantly longer (P = 0.026) in patients who received add-on nivolumab (19.8 months; 95% CI 14.5-25.1) than in those who received chemotherapy alone (13.8 months; 95% CI 10.8-16.9). The immune profiling of the tumors in resected patients revealed higher scores of CD8+ T cells to Tregs in patients with add-on nivolumab comparing to those who received chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSION: Adding-on nivolumab was associated with improved OS in patients with advanced PDAC who achieved disease control following chemotherapy.

Dandelion inspired microparticles with highly efficient drug delivery to deep lung.

Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) embedded dry powder for inhalation (AeDPI) shows higher drug loading and delivery dose for directly treating various lung infections. Inspired by the dandelion, we propose a novel kind of AeDPI microparticle structure fabricated by spray freeze drying technology, which would potentially enhance the alveoli deposition efficiency. When inhaling, such microparticles are expected to be easily broken-up into fragments containing API that acts as 'seed' and could be delivered to alveoli aided by the low density 'pappus' composed of excipient. Herein, itraconazole (ITZ), a first-line drug for treating pulmonary aspergillosis, was selected as model API. TPGS, an amphiphilic surfactant, was used to achieve stable primary ITZ nanocrystal (INc) suspensions for spray freeze drying. A series of microparticles were prepared, and the dandelion-like structure was successfully achieved. The effects of feed liquid compositions and freezing parameters on the microparticle size, morphology, surface energy, crystal properties and in vitro aerosol performance were systematically investigated. The optimal sample (SF(-50)D-INc7Leu3-2) in one-way experiment showed the highest fine particle fraction of ∼ 68.96 % and extra fine particle fraction of ∼ 36.87 %, equivalently ∼ 4.60 mg and ∼ 2.46 mg could reach the lung and alveoli, respectively, when inhaling 10 mg dry powders. The response surface methodology (RSM) analysis provided the optimized design space for fabricating microparticles with higher deep lung deposition performance. This study demonstrates the advantages of AeDPI microparticle with dandelion-like structure on promoting the delivery efficiency of high-dose drug to the deep lung.

Ultrasensitive Method Enables Liquid Biopsy for the Precise Detection of Circulating MicroRNAs.

Due to invasive and serial examinations of bioactive molecules, liquid biopsy (LB) has emerged as a rapid and reliable solution for early disease detection and monitoring. Developing portable devices with high specificity and sensitivity for LB is highly valuable. To realize a generalized approach to increase the sensitivity of LB, we developed an ultrasensitive diagnostic biochip based on the amplification of miRNA by recombinase polymerase amplification and the significant enhancement of fluorescence signals by photonic crystal (PC) materials. The PCs-RPA biochip has a detection limit as low as 0.24 aM, a wide linear range of 8 orders of magnitude, and excellent specificity. Such advantages realize the accurate detection of circulating miRNAs with very low content in clinical serum samples for the precise diagnosis of nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Learning curve stratified outcomes after robotic pancreatoduodenectomy: International multicenter experience.

BACKGROUND: Robotic pancreatoduodenectomy is increasingly being implemented worldwide, with good results reported from individual expert centers. However, it is unclear to what extent outcomes will continue to improve during the learning curve, as large international studies are lacking. METHODS: An international retrospective multicenter case series, including consecutive patients after robotic pancreatoduodenectomy from 18 centers in 8 countries in Europe, Asia, and South America until December 31, 2019, was conducted. A cumulative sum analysis was performed to determine the inflection points for the feasibility (operative time and blood loss) and proficiency (postoperative pancreatic fistula grade B/C and major morbidity) learning curves. Outcomes were compared in 3 groups on the basis of the learning curve inflection points. RESULTS: Overall, 2,186 patients after robotic pancreatoduodenectomy were included. The feasibility learning curve was reached after 30-45 robotic pancreatoduodenectomy procedures and the proficiency learning curve after 90 robotic pancreatoduodenectomy procedures. These inflection points created 3 phases, which were associated with major morbidity (24.7%, 23.4%, and 12.3%, P < .001) but not 30-day mortality (2.1%, 2.0%, and 1.5%, P = .670). Other outcomes mostly continued to improve, including median operative time 432, 390, and 300 minutes (P < .0001), conversion 6.0%, 4.7%, and 2.7% (P = .002), bile leakage 7.2%, 4.1%, and 2.4% (P < .001), postpancreatectomy hemorrhage 6.5%, 6.1%, and 1.8% (n = 21) but not R0 resection (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma only) 78.5%, 73.9%, and 82.8% (P = .35), and 90-day mortality rate 3.1%, 3.5%, and 2.1% (P = .191). Centers performing >20 robotic pancreatoduodenectomies annually had lower rates of conversion, reoperation, and shorter median operative time as compared with centers performing 10-20 robotic pancreatoduodenectomies annually. CONCLUSION: This international multicenter study demonstrates that most outcomes of robotic pancreatoduodenectomy continued to improve during 3 learning curve phases without a negative effect on 90-day mortality. Randomized studies are needed in high-volume centers that have surpassed the first learning curves, to compare these outcomes with the open approach.

Survival of advanced/recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumors treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in Taiwan: a nationwide registry study.

BACKGROUND: Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) harbor c-KIT or PDGFRA mutations. Administration of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has significantly improved the survival of patients with GISTs. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of advanced or recurrent GIST patients in Taiwan. METHODS: Patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2020 were enrolled. The collected data included baseline characteristics, treatment pattern, treatment outcome, genetic aberrations and survival status. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed and plotted with the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the prognostic factors of survival. RESULTS: A total of 224 patients with advanced or recurrent GISTs treated with TKIs were enrolled. All patients received imatinib treatment. Ninety-three and 42 patients received sunitinib and regorafenib treatment, respectively. The 48-month PFS and OS rates for patients treated with imatinib were 50.5% and 79.5%, respectively. c-KIT exon 9 and PDGFRA mutations were prognostic factors for a poor PFS and PDGFRA mutation was a prognostic factor for a poor OS in patients treated with imatinib in multivariate Cox regression analysis. The median PFS of patients who received sunitinib treatment was 12.76 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 11.01-14.52). Patients with c-KIT exon 9 mutations had a longer PFS than those with other genetic aberrations. The median PFS of patients treated with regorafenib was 7.14 months (95% CI, 3.39-10.89). CONCLUSIONS: We present real-world clinical outcomes for advanced GIST patients treated with TKIs and identify mutational status as an independent prognostic factor for patient survival.

How substituents tune quantum interference in meta-OPE3 molecular junctions to control thermoelectric transport.

Quantum interference (QI) can strongly affect electric and thermoelectric properties of molecular junctions (MJs). So far, however, a limited number of experimental studies have explored the influence of QI on thermoelectric transport in MJs. To address this open point, we synthesized derivatives of meta-OPE3 with an electron-withdrawing nitro (-NO2) substituent or an electron-donating N,N-dimethyl amine (-NMe2) substituent, attached at two different positions of the central phenylene ring, and systematically studied the electrical conductance and thermopower of the corresponding gold-molecule-gold junctions. We show that (i) the electrical conductance of MJs depends weakly on the polarity of the substituents but strongly on the substitution position and (ii) MJs with the N,N-dimethyl amine group feature a higher thermopower than MJs with the nitro group. We also present calculations based on first principles, which explain these trends and show that the transport properties are highly sensitive to microscopic details in junctions, exhibiting destructive QI features.

Comparing survival after proximal gastrectomy vs. total gastrectomy in advanced gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta­analysis.

The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare long-term survival after proximal gastrectomy (PG) and total gastrectomy (TG) for locally advanced proximal gastric cancer (GC). The PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched from their inception to May 2023. Only published two-arm prospective or retrospective studies were included. The selected studies included patients with locally advanced GC who underwent PG or TG and reported quantitative survival outcomes. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) after gastrectomy. Three studies involving a total of 4,815 patients met the inclusion criteria. The age of the patients ranged from 57.03-64.46 years and 78.80% were male. The estimated 5-year OS probability after TG varied from 30.14 to 72.0%, and from 42.06 to 74.9% after PG. Results of the meta-analyses revealed a significant association between PG and improved OS compared with that of TG, with a pooled hazard ratio of 1.15 (95% CI, 1.05-1.25). No heterogeneity was observed in the included studies (I2=0%). Overall, in managing locally advanced GC, PG demonstrated comparable or marginally improved OS compared with TG during postoperative follow-up; however, further meta-analyses are required to provide stronger evidence.

Blocking M2-Like Macrophage Polarization Using Decoy Oligodeoxynucleotide-Based Gene Therapy Prevents Immune Evasion for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment.

M2-like macrophages exhibit immunosuppressive activity and promote pancreatic cancer progression. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) affect macrophage polarization; however, the mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the underlying molecular basis and design a gene therapy to inhibit M2-like polarization. Microarray analysis and immunofluorescence staining were performed in M1-like and M2-like macrophages to ascertain the expression of CYBB, a major intracellular ROS source. Coculture assay and syngeneic orthotopic pancreatic cancer mice models were used to study the mechanism of M2-like skewing. Decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) were designed to manipulate CYBB transcription to inhibit M2-like polarization and control tumor growth. Lipopolysaccharide treatment polarized U937 cells to M1-like macrophages in which CYBB expression was increased. In contrast, coculture with PANC-1 cells induced M2-like polarization in U937 cells with CYBB downregulation. High CD204 M2-like expression in combination with low CYBB expression was associated with the worst prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer. STAT6 and HDAC2 in U937 cells were activated by cancer cell-derived IL4 after coculture and then bound to the CYBB promoter to repress CYBB expression, resulting in M2-like polarization. Diphenyleneiodonium, 8λ³-iodatricyclo[7.4.0.02,7]trideca-1(13),2,4,6,9,11-hexaen-8-ylium chloride that inhibits ROS production could block this action. Knockdown of STAT6 and HDAC2 also inhibited M2-like polarization and maintained the M1-like phenotype of U937 cells after coculture. Decoy ODNs interrupting the binding of STAT6 to the CYBB promoter counteracted M2-like polarization and tumor growth and triggered antitumor immunity in vivo. Gene therapy using STAT6-CYBB decoy ODNs can inhibit M2-like polarization, representing a potential therapeutic tool for pancreatic cancer.

A phase 1 study of biweekly nab-paclitaxel/oxaliplatin/S-1/LV for advanced upper gastrointestinal cancers: TCOG T1216 study.

BACKGROUND: Oxaliplatin- and fluoropyrimidine-based triplet regimens have demonstrated feasibility and efficacy in the treatment of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancers. Herein, we evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of biweekly nab-paclitaxel plus oxaliplatin and S-1/leucovorin (SOLAR) in chemonaïve UGI cancers. METHODS: A 3 + 3 phase 1 study was conducted to determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of oxaliplatin in SOLAR (nab-paclitaxel [150 mg/m2 in D1], oxaliplatin [60, 75, or 85 mg/m2 in D1], and oral S-1/leucovorin [35 mg/m2 and 30 mg bid from D1 to D7]). The secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. RESULTS: Thirteen and 6 accruals were in the dose-escalation and MTD expansion cohorts, respectively. One of 6 patients at level III experienced dose-limiting toxicity (grade 3 diarrhea), which revealed that the MTD of oxaliplatin was 85 mg/m2. After a mean of 15.9 cycles of treatment, the most common treatment-related grade 3/4 toxicities were neutropenia (57.9%) and diarrhea (21.1%). The ORR was 63.2%. The median PFS and OS were 12.5 and 24.7 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: The current study revealed the MTD of oxaliplatin and demonstrated the preliminary efficacy of SOLAR in UGI cancers, which deserves further investigation. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT03162510.

Loss of Sigma-2 Receptor/TMEM97 Is Associated with Neuropathic Injury-Induced Depression-Like Behaviors in Female Mice.

Previous studies have shown that ligands that bind to sigma-2 receptor/TMEM97 (s2R/TMEM97), a transmembrane protein, have anxiolytic/antidepressant-like properties and relieve neuropathic pain-like effects in rodents. Despite medical interest in s2R/TMEM97, little affective and pain behavioral characterization has been done using transgenic mice, which limits the development of s2R/TMEM97 as a viable therapeutic target. Using wild-type (WT) and global Tmem97 knock-out (KO) mice, we sought to identify the contribution of Tmem97 in modulating affective and pain-like behaviors using a battery of affective and pain assays, including open field, light/dark preference, elevated plus maze, forced swim test, tail suspension test, and the mechanical sensitivity tests. Our results demonstrate that female Tmem97 KO mice show less anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors in light/dark preference and tail suspension tests but not in an open field, elevated plus maze, and forced swim tests at baseline. We next performed spared nerve injury in WT and Tmem97 KO mice to assess the role of Tmem97 in neuropathic pain-induced anxiety and depression. WT mice, but not Tmem97 KO mice, developed a prolonged neuropathic pain-induced depressive-like phenotype when tested 10 weeks after nerve injury in females. Our results show that Tmem97 plays a role in modulating anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors in naive animals with a significant change in the presence of nerve injury in female mice. Overall, these data demonstrate that Tmem97 could be a target to alleviate affective comorbidities of pain disorders.

Causal inference and mechanism for unraveling the removal of four pesticides from lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) via ultrasonic processing and various immersion solutions.

This study explores the reduction of carbamates (CAs) and pyrethroids (PYs) - commonly used pesticides - in lettuce using various immersion solutions and ultrasonic processing. It also examines the role of machine learning and molecular docking in understanding the mechanisms of pesticide reduction. The results revealed that the highest reduction of both CAs and PYs exceeded 80 % on lettuce leaves. In most samples, the reduction increased with the power of ultrasonic processing and processing time. The results of machine learning models (XGBoost and SHAP) showed that during the immersion cleaning of CAs and PYs, as well as during both immersion cleaning and ultrasonic processing of CAs + PYs, the reduction was most influenced by the initial pesticide levels and immersion time. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of lettuce's wax layer identified 24 compounds, including fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, and triterpenoids. Despite the absence of active sites, the lipophilic nature of long-chain aliphatic compounds aids in pesticide binding, while triterpenoids form strong hydrogen bonds with pesticides, indicating a robust adsorption on the lettuce surface. This study aims to offer insights into the efficient removal of chemical pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables, addressing critical concerns for food safety and human health.

Progress in Rice Breeding Based on Genomic Research.

The role of rice genomics in breeding progress is becoming increasingly important. Deeper research into the rice genome will contribute to the identification and utilization of outstanding functional genes, enriching the diversity and genetic basis of breeding materials and meeting the diverse demands for various improvements. Here, we review the significant contributions of rice genomics research to breeding progress over the last 25 years, discussing the profound impact of genomics on rice genome sequencing, functional gene exploration, and novel breeding methods, and we provide valuable insights for future research and breeding practices.

PlantMine: A Machine-Learning Framework to Detect Core SNPs in Rice Genomics.

As a fundamental global staple crop, rice plays a pivotal role in human nutrition and agricultural production systems. However, its complex genetic architecture and extensive trait variability pose challenges for breeders and researchers in optimizing yield and quality. Particularly to expedite breeding methods like genomic selection, isolating core SNPs related to target traits from genome-wide data reduces irrelevant mutation noise, enhancing computational precision and efficiency. Thus, exploring efficient computational approaches to mine core SNPs is of great importance. This study introduces PlantMine, an innovative computational framework that integrates feature selection and machine learning techniques to effectively identify core SNPs critical for the improvement of rice traits. Utilizing the dataset from the 3000 Rice Genomes Project, we applied different algorithms for analysis. The findings underscore the effectiveness of combining feature selection with machine learning in accurately identifying core SNPs, offering a promising avenue to expedite rice breeding efforts and improve crop productivity and resilience to stress.

Fully human chitinase-3 like-1 monoclonal antibody inhibits tumor growth, fibrosis, angiogenesis, and immune cell remodeling in lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers.

Considering the limited efficacy of current therapies in lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, innovative combination treatments with diverse mechanisms of action are needed to improve patients' outcomes. Chitinase-3 like-1 protein (CHI3L1) emerges as a versatile factor with significant implications in various diseases, particularly cancers, fostering an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment for cancer progression. Therefore, pre-clinical validation is imperative to fully realize its potential in cancer treatment. We developed phage display-derived fully human monoclonal CHI3L1 neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and verified the nAbs-antigen binding affinity and specificity in lung, pancreatic and colorectal cancer cell lines. Tumor growth signals, proliferation and migration ability were all reduced by CHI3L1 nAbs in vitro. Orthotopic or subcutaneous tumor mice model and humanized mouse model were established for characterizing the anti-tumor properties of two CHI3L1 nAb leads. Importantly, CHI3L1 nAbs not only inhibited tumor growth but also mitigated fibrosis, angiogenesis, and restored immunostimulatory functions of immune cells in pancreatic, lung, and colorectal tumor mice models. Mechanistically, CHI3L1 nAbs directly suppressed the activation of pancreatic stellate cells and the transformation of macrophages into myofibroblasts, thereby attenuating fibrosis. These findings strongly support the therapeutic potential of CHI3L1 nAbs in overcoming clinical challenges, including the failure of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer.

The Metal-Insulator Transition in Vanadium Oxide Nanofilms Enables Microkelvin-Resolution Thermometry.

High-resolution thermometry is critical for probing nanoscale energy transport. Here, we demonstrate how high-resolution thermometry can be accomplished using vanadium oxide (VOx), which features a sizable temperature-dependence of its resistance at room temperature and an even stronger dependence at its metal-insulator-transition (MIT) temperature. We microfabricate VOx nanofilm-based electrical resistance thermometers that undergo a metal-insulator-transition at ∼337 K and systematically quantify their temperature-dependent resistance, noise characteristics, and temperature resolution. We show that VOx sensors can achieve, in a bandwidth of ∼16 mHz, a temperature resolution of ∼5 µK at room temperature (∼300 K) and a temperature resolution of ∼1 µK at the MIT (∼337 K) when the amplitude of temperature perturbations is in the microkelvin range, which, in contrast to larger perturbations, is found to avoid hysteric resistance responses. These results demonstrate that VOx-based thermometers offer a ∼10-50-fold improvement in resolution over widely used Pt-based thermometers.