Exploring the role of ITGB6: fibrosis, cancer, and other diseases.

Integrin ß6 (ITGB6), a member of the integrin family of proteins, is only present in epithelial tissues and frequently associates with integrin subunit αv to form transmembrane heterodimers named integrin αvß6. Importantly, ITGB6 determines αvß6 expression and availability. In addition to being engaged in organ fibrosis, ITGB6 is also directly linked to the emergence of cancer, periodontitis, and several potential genetic diseases. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the molecular-biological mechanism of ITGB6, which could provide novel insights for future clinical diagnosis and therapy. This review introduces the structure, distribution, and biological function of ITGB6. This review also expounds on ITGB6-related diseases, detailing the known biological effects of ITGB6.

Swift Covalent Gelation Coupled with Robust Wet Adhesive Powder: A Novel Approach for Acute Massive Hemorrhage Control in Dynamic and High-Pressure Wound Environments.

The quest for efficient hemostatic agents in emergency medicine is critical, particularly for managing massive hemorrhages in dynamic and high-pressure wound environments. Traditional self-gelling powders, while beneficial due to their ease of application and rapid action, fall short in such challenging conditions. To bridge this gap, the research introduces a novel self-gelling powder that combines ultrafast covalent gelation and robust wet adhesion, presenting a significant advancement in acute hemorrhage control. This ternary system comprises ε-polylysine (ε-PLL) and 4-arm polyethylene glycol succinyl succinate (4-arm-PEG-NHS) forming the hydrogel framework. Na2HPO4 functions as the "H+ sucker" to expedite the amidation reaction, slashing gelation time to under 10 s, crucial for immediate blood loss restriction. Moreover, PEG chains' hydrophilicity facilitates efficient absorption of interfacial blood, increasing the generated hydrogel's cross-linking density and strengthens its tissue bonding, thereby resulting in excellent mechanical and wet adhesion properties. In vitro experiments reveal the optimized formulation's exceptional tissue compliance, procoagulant activity, biocompatibility and antibacterial efficacy. In porcine models of heart injuries and arterial punctures, it outperforms commercial hemostatic agent Celox, confirming its rapid and effective hemostasis. Conclusively, this study presents a transformative approach to hemostasis, offering a reliable and potent solution for the emergency management of massive hemorrhage.

Development and validation of prognostic signatures of NAD+ metabolism and immune-related genes in colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent cause of death from malignant tumors. This study aimed to develop a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) metabolism and immune-related prognostic signature, providing a theoretical foundation for prognosis and therapy in CRC patients. Methods: NAD + metabolism-related and immune-related subtypes of CRC patients were identified by consistent clustering. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two subtypes of CRC were identified by overlapping. A risk signature was constructed using univariate Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses. Independent prognostic predictors were authenticated by Cox analysis. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) were applied to investigate the connection between the prognostic signature and the immune microenvironment. Chemotherapy drug sensitivity and immunotherapy responsiveness were projected using the 'pRRophetic' package and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) website. The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database was used to assess the protein expression of prognostic genes in CRC and normal tissues. Results: Using bioinformatics methods, three prognostic genes related to immune-related NAD + metabolism were identified, and the results were used to establish and verify a prognostic signature related to immune-related NAD + metabolism in CRC patients. Cox regression analysis confirmed that the risk score was a reliable independent prognostic predictor. GSVA and ssGSEA indicated that the prognostic signature was associated with the immune microenvironment. TIDE analysis suggested that the signature might act as an immunotherapy predictor. Chemotherapy sensitivity analysis revealed that COMP was correlated with chemotherapy sensitivity in CRC patients and might be a potential therapeutic target. Conclusion: This study identified NAD + metabolism-immune-related prognostic genes (MOGAT2, COMP, and DNASE1L3) and developed a prognostic signature for CRC prognosis, which is significant for clinical prognosis prediction and treatment strategy decisions for CRC patients.

Advancing homogeneous networking principles for the development of fatigue-resistant, low-swelling and sprayable hydrogels for sealing wet, dynamic and concealed wounds in vivo.

Effective sealing of wet, dynamic and concealed wounds remains a formidable challenge in clinical practice. Sprayable hydrogel sealants are promising due to their ability to cover a wide area rapidly, but they face limitations in dynamic and moist environments. To address this issue, we have employed the principle of a homogeneous network to design a sprayable hydrogel sealant with enhanced fatigue resistance and reduced swelling. This network is formed by combining the spherical structure of lysozyme (LZM) with the orthotetrahedral structure of 4-arm-polyethylene glycol (4-arm-PEG). We have achieved exceptional sprayability by controlling the pH of the precursor solution. The homogeneous network, constructed through uniform cross-linking of amino groups in protein and 4-arm-PEG-NHS, provides the hydrogel with outstanding fatigue resistance, low swelling and sustained adhesion. In vitro testing demonstrated that it could endure 2000 cycles of underwater shearing, while in vivo experiments showed adhesion maintenance exceeding 24 h. Furthermore, the hydrogel excelled in sealing leaks and promoting ulcer healing in models including porcine cardiac hemorrhage, lung air leakage and rat oral ulcers, surpassing commonly used clinical materials. Therefore, our research presents an advanced biomaterial strategy with the potential to advance the clinical management of wet, dynamic and concealed wounds.