Dynamic changes of endothelial and stromal cilia are required for the maintenance of corneal homeostasis.

Primary cilia are distributed extensively within the corneal epithelium and endothelium. However, the presence of cilia in the corneal stroma and the dynamic changes and roles of endothelial and stromal cilia in corneal homeostasis remain largely unknown. Here, we present compelling evidence for the presence of primary cilia in the corneal stroma, both in vivo and in vitro. We also demonstrate dynamic changes of both endothelial and stromal cilia during corneal development. In addition, our data show that cryoinjury triggers dramatic cilium formation in the corneal endothelium and stroma. Furthermore, depletion of cilia in mutant mice lacking intraflagellar transport protein 88 compromises the corneal endothelial capacity to establish the effective tissue barrier, leading to an upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin within the corneal stroma in response to cryoinjury. These observations underscore the essential involvement of corneal endothelial and stromal cilia in maintaining corneal homeostasis and provide an innovative strategy for the treatment of corneal injuries and diseases.

Exploration of the potential association between GLP-1 receptor agonists and suicidal or self-injurious behaviors: a pharmacovigilance study based on the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database.

BACKGROUND: Establishing whether there is a potential relationship between glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and suicidal or self-injurious behaviors (SSIBs) is crucial for public safety. This study investigated the potential association between GLP-1RAs and SSIBs by exploring the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. METHODS: A disproportionality analysis was conducted using post-marketing data from the FAERS repository (2018 Q1 to 2022 Q4). SSIB cases associated with GLP-1RAs were identified and analyzed through disproportionality analysis using the information component. The parametric distribution with a goodness-of-fit test was employed to analyze the time-to-onset, and the Ω shrinkage was used to evaluate the potential effect of co-medication on the occurrence of SSIBs. RESULTS: In total, 204 cases of SSIBs associated with GLP-1RAs, including semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, and albiglutide, were identified in the FAERS database. Time-of-onset analysis revealed no consistent mechanism for the latency of SSIBs in patients receiving GLP-1RAs. The disproportionality analysis did not indicate an association between GLP-1RAs and SSIBs. Co-medication analysis revealed 81 cases with antidepressants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines, which may be proxies of mental health comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: We found no signal of disproportionate reporting of an association between GLP-1RA use and SSIBs. Clinicians need to maintain heightened vigilance on patients premedicated with neuropsychotropic drugs. This contributes to the greater acceptance of GLP-1RAs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus or obesity.

Management of a complicated colonexposed sacrococcygeal wound after pelvic exenteration: a case report.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST: This work was supported by the Naval Medical University and the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology Joint Projects (2020-RZ04), the Innovative Clinical Research Program of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital (2020YLCYJ-Y16), and the academic project of Naval Medical University (2022QN073). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Reconstruction for extensive sacrococcygeal defects in complex tumor patients with personalized customized gluteus maximus myocutaneous flaps.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical effects of personalized customized gluteus maximus myocutaneous flaps (GMMF) for reconstruction of extensive sacrococcygeal soft tissue defects in complex tumor patients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 8 patients who underwent personalized customized GMMF reconstruction for large sacrococcygeal defect from December 2021 to August 2023. The personalized customized GMMF were designed based on the variations of tissue defect in location, shape and volume of different dead spaces. The principle of the personalized GMMF is to ensure that the rotation point of the flap can reach the farthest end of the defect. Patient demographics, operative characteristics, and perioperative risk factors were analyzed. Clinical outcomes were assessed, focusing on complications such as flap necrosis, wound dehiscence, infection, seroma, and hematoma. RESULTS: Six patients with rectal cancer and two with sacral tumors underwent personalized customized GMMF reconstruction for extensive sacrococcygeal defects. The average volume of the wound cavity was 104 mL, with a mean vertical depth was 10.8 cm. Six patients had low serum albumin (<35 g/L). After a mean follow-up of 15.5 months, no major complications occurred, except for one seroma that resolved within 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: The personalized customized GMMF described in this study is an effective method for reconstructing large sacrococcygeal wounds with significant depth in complex tumor patients. It allows for greater rotation of the muscle flap into the sacrococcygeal wound defect and provides adequate blood supply by utilizing the bulk of muscle tissue to obliterate dead space.

Impact of Mandibular Angle Osteotomy Using a Geometric Mathematical Design on the Aesthetic Osteotomy Line: A Retrospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Mandibular angle osteotomy (MAO) is a frequently described technique in Eastern females. The success hinges on the precise positioning of the osteotomy line. The geometric mathematical method is viable. Therefore, we explored the impact of mandibular angle osteotomy using aesthetic standards and printed digital osteotomy templates (DOTs) on the aesthetic osteotomy line. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included female patients with prominent mandibular angle (PMA) who underwent MAO at our hospital between January 2020 and March 2021. Thirty-three female patients were included, 22 in the DOTs group using new DOTs, and 11 in the traditional group using traditional free-hand techniques. RESULTS: Regarding the width of the excised bone, the postoperative deviation from the preoperative plan was not significant in the DOTs group (0.5 ± 0.3 mm, P > 0.05), while the deviation was significant for the traditional group (2.5 ± 1.2 mm, P<0.05). The preparation time was longer in the DOTs group than in the traditional group (82 ± 11 vs. 53±4 min, P < 0.001). The osteotomy time and the operation time were shorter in the DOTs group than in the traditional group (osteotomy: 54 ± 5 vs. 73 ± 6 min; preparation: 124 ± 10 vs. 169 ± 13 min; both P < 0.001). The Likert (4.0 ± 0.5 vs. 1.0 ± 0.6, P = 0.006) and FACE-Q scores (17.5 ± 1.7 vs. 15.6 ± 1.3, P = 0.029) were higher in the DOTs group. CONCLUSIONS: The new method of positioning the new aesthetic osteotomy line based on geometric analysis might provide a possible osteotomy method that strongly suggests effectiveness, safety, individualization, and accuracy, with a shorter operation and higher patient satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Effects of miR126 Expressing Adipose-Derived Stem Cells on Fat Graft Survival and Angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Fat transplantation supported by supplementation with ASCs has become a reliable procedure for treating soft tissue defects. However, the unpredictable survival rates for grafted fat remains a challenge with post-transplantation ischemia causing tissue loss. MiR126, which regulates VEGF signaling, is an endothelial cell-specific miRNA known to play an essential role in angiogenesis. We hypothesized that increased miR126 expression in grafted ASCs may promote fat survival within an autologous fat transfer model. METHODS: Rat adipose-derived stem cells were isolated, expanded ex vivo for three passages and then transduced with miR126. We used PCR to verify lentiviral transduction and ELISA to confirm VEGF expression. We then mixed autologous fat tissues from our rat model with transduced ASCs, augmented with a nonsense control or miR126 expression vector. These mixtures were used in the fat grafting procedure, completed via subcutaneous injection at three paravertebral points in each rat. Fat grafts were then harvested on days 4, 7, 14, and 28 post-transplant and evaluated for survival, neovascularization, and protein expression via western blot. RESULTS: VEGF expression levels in ASCs, Con-ASCs, and miR126-ASCs were not significantly different. However, miR126-ASCs experienced significantly improved survival on days 7, 14, and 28 when compared with the other groups. These ASCs also presented with the greatest capillary density on days 7, 14, and 28 post-transplantation as well as increased p-ERK and p-AKT expression when compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: This data suggests that miR126 augmentation of ASCs may help to enhance the survival and angiogenic capacity of transplanted fat tissues, and that this augmentation was not dependent on VEGF but rather the activation of the ERK/AKT pathway. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Global Research Trends and Perspectives of Blepharoplasty: A 20-Year Bibliometric Analysis Based on Web of Science.

BACKGROUND: The number of publications on blepharoplasty is increasing rapidly. Bibliometric analysis can help surgeons quickly and systematically understand the current state of development. To our knowledge, there are no bibliometric studies on blepharoplasty, and therefore, we conducted this study to reveal research trends and perspectives of blepharoplasty. METHODS: Relevant publications from 2002 to 2021 were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database. After manual screening, VOSviewer software and CiteSpace software were used to collect and analyze the acquired data. RESULTS: A total of 1125 publications were included and the publications per year increased annually. Contributions from the USA led both quantity and quality. The University of California System was one of the most influential academic institutions. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery had the most publications, and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was the most frequently cited or co-cited journal. Massry GG and Hamra ST were the most prolific and co-cited authors, respectively. Additionally, Rohrich RJ had the highest number of citations per publication. References co-cited analysis identified that lower eyelid research was a hotspot. Keywords were mainly divided into 6 clusters, namely "lower lid blepharoplasty," "complications," "facial rejuvenation," "blepharoptosis," "upper blepharoplasty," and "Asian blepharoplasty and epicanthoplasty." CONCLUSIONS: Blepharoplasty research is flourishing, and three clusters may be the hotspots: "Lower blepharoplasty and mid-face rejuvenation," "overall facial outcome and quality-of-life," and "Asian blepharoplasty and epicanthoplasty." LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Effect of posaconazole on the concentration of intravenous and oral cyclosporine in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the interactions between posaconazole (POS) and intravenously/orally administered cyclosporine A (CsA) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. METHODS: We included 118 allogeneic HSCT patients who received CsA and POS simultaneously between January 2017 and June 2020 in this study. The ratio of CsA blood concentration (ng/mL) to dosage (mg/day) (C/D) before and after POS initiation was compared. RESULTS: After the initiation of POS, the level of CsA increased 1 to 2 times in 66% (78/118) of patients compared to those without POS. However, the CsA C/D ratio increased by more than threefold in 6% (7/118) of patients after POS initiation, with an increase of more than fourfold in two patients. The median C/D ratio of CsA increased from 0.89 to 1.23 (P < 0.001) and 0.78 to 1.22 (P < 0.001) after POS initiation when CsA was administered intravenously and orally, respectively. In patients who received POS at the time of transition from intravenous to oral CsA, the value increased from 1.01 to 1.38 (P = 0.001). The route of administration had no significant effect on the change in the CsA C/D ratio (P = 0.615). Additionally, we observed the time required for the C/D ratio to reach a plateau after POS initiation was similar on days 13, 8, and 15 under various scenarios. CONCLUSION: POS treatment increased blood CsA levels. A large variability was found in the fold-change in the CsA C/D ratio. Therefore, CsA doses should be adjusted by closely monitoring the blood levels of CsA after POS initiation.

Reduced capsular contracture with smooth and textured breast implants following submuscular mammoplasty: systematic literature review.

Background: Capsular contracture is common in breast augmentation and reconstruction surgery. The present systematic review discusses the safety of textured and smooth implants in the submuscular position. Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed and EMBASE from inception until June 2020. The primary outcome was reduction of capsular contracture (Baker grade); others included time of capsular contracture onset, implant position/rupture rate/surface, hematoma/seroma risk, surgeon assessment and patient satisfaction. A total of 7731 patients were included from six publications. Results: The overall risk rate for capsular contracture increased from 7.6 to 25% in 10 years. The capsular contracture rates in textured and smooth implants were 3-14% and 6-20%, respectively, and no significant difference between implants was observed when the implants were placed submuscularly. Submuscular placement and textured implants also reduced the incidence of other complications. Conclusion: This systematic review suggests that appropriate placement reduces capsular contracture rate, irrespective of implant surface.

Lay abstract Breast reconstruction using breast implants is accompanied by complications that occur following surgery and which can lead to repeated surgeries and, ultimately, patient dissatisfaction. A search of published research was conducted on two major databases, and research published before June 2020 was included in our analysis. The primary outcome was the reduction of capsular contracture, a particular postoperative complication. Six articles (including one randomized controlled trial) were identified, with a total of 7731 patients. The overall risk for developing capsular contracture in breast reconstruction and augmentation patients increased from 7.6 to 25% over a period of 10 years. This systematic review suggests that with appropriate placement of the implant, the rate of capsular contracture and other complications can be reduced in women undergoing surgery, irrespective of implant surface type.

Circular polarization analyzer based on an Archimedean nano-pinholes array.

A relative broadband circular polarization analyzer based on a single-turn Archimedean nano-pinholes array has been proposed and investigated systematically from visible spectrum to near infrared region. The spiral arrangement of circular nano-pinholes can implement spatially separated fields according to the relationship between the spiral direction of Archimedean structure and chirality of circularly polarized light (CPL). The enhanced-characteristics mechanisms of the single-turn spirally arranged Archimedean pinholes array have been deduced and investigated by the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation in detail. Different from the single operating wavelength of the spiral slit structure, this novel design also shows a relative wide range of the operating wavelengths in the focusing and defocusing effects. The new proposed circular polarization analyzer could find more extensive applications, such as analyzing the physiological properties of chiral molecules based on circular polarizations, full Stokes-parameter polarimetric imaging applications and so on.

Is vaginal mucosal graft the excellent substitute material for urethral reconstruction in female-to-male transsexuals?

PURPOSE: Construction of a neourethra is always considered to be a difficult part in phalloplasty, especially for the female-to-male (FTM) transsexual patients. We report our experience with prefabricated pars pendulans urethrae using vaginal mucosal graft for phalloplasty in FTM transsexuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed notes on the 22 FTM patients treated with pedicled-flap phalloplasty with prefabricated pars pendulans urethrae using vaginal mucosal graft between January 2008 and December 2012. Surgical outcome, urological function, and complications were recorded. Histological difference between normal mucosa and skin, and pathological changes of vaginal mucosal graft were also observed. RESULTS: All the reconstructive penis survived, and patients could void in a standing position finally at a median follow-up of 25.4 ± 6.0 months. Urethral fistula and urethral stricture rates were 31.8 % (7/22 patients) and 4.5 % (1/22 patients), respectively. The occurrence of the urethral stricture was remarkably low compared with previous reports. Our histological results also showed a pronounced similarity between vaginal and buccal mucosa. Morphologically, they resembled urethral epithelium more closely than the forearm skin. Following the free transfer, the vaginal mucosal graft also showed a good revascularization and the inflammatory reaction and the extent of fibrosis of the mucosa decreased to the normal level after a 6-month prefabrication. CONCLUSION: With prefabrication of vaginal mucosal graft, we reconstruct a competent phallic neourethra in these FTM transsexuals. According to its histological similarities and source character, the vaginal mucosa is the excellent substitute material for promising urethral reconstruction in FTM transsexuals.

Architectural properties of the neuromuscular compartments in selected forearm skeletal muscles.

The purposes f this study were to (i) explore the possibility of splitting the selected forearm muscles into separate compartments in human subjects; (ii) quantify the architectural properties of each neuromuscular compartment; and (iii) discuss the implication of these properties in split tendon transfer procedures. Twenty upper limbs from 10 fresh human cadavers were used in this study. Ten limbs of five cadavers were used for intramuscular nerve study by modified Sihler's staining technique, which confirmed the neuromuscular compartments. The other 10 limbs were included for architectural analysis of neuromuscular compartments. The architectural features of the compartments including muscle weight, muscle length, fiber length, pennation angle, and sarcomere length were determined. Physiological cross-sectional area and fiber length/muscle length ratio were calculated. Five of the selected forearm muscles were ideal candidates for splitting, including flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi radials, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi ulnaris and pronator teres. The humeral head of pronator teres contained the longest fiber length (6.23 ± 0.31 cm), and the radial compartment of extensor carpi ulnaris contained the shortest (2.90 ± 0.28 cm). The ulnar compartment of flexor carpi ulnaris had the largest physiological cross-sectional area (5.17 ± 0.59 cm(2)), and the ulnar head of pronator teres had the smallest (0.67 ± 0.06 cm(2)). Fiber length/muscle length ratios of the neuromuscular compartments were relatively low (average 0.27 ± 0.09, range 0.18-0.39) except for the ulnar head of pronator teres, which had the highest one (0.72 ± 0.05). Using modified Sihler's technique, this research demonstrated that each compartment of these selected forearm muscles has its own neurovascular supply after being split along its central tendon. Data of the architectural properties of each neuromuscular compartment provide insight into the 'design' of their functional capability. In addition to improving our understanding of muscle anatomy and function, elucidation of forearm neuromuscular compartments architecture may ultimately provide information useful for selection of muscle subdivisions used in tendon transfer.

Peptide inhibitors targeting Ras and Ras-associated protein-protein interactions.

Peptides represent attractive molecules for targeting protein-protein interactions, and peptide drug development has made great progress during the last decades. Ras protein, the most promising target in cancer therapy, is one of the major growth drivers in various cancers. Although many small molecule inhibitors have been reported to effectively target Ras protein and some inhibitors (such as MRTX849 and AMG 510) have been translated into clinical application, just a few peptide inhibitors have been reported. Here we summarize different types of peptide inhibitors, including monocyclic peptides, bicyclic peptides, stapled peptides, and proteomimetic inhibitors, developed in recent years; emphasize the limits and achievements; and discuss the outlook and challenges associated with future research in peptide inhibitors. This review aims to provide a reference for the discovery of Ras peptide inhibitors.

Extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells: the wine in Hebe's hands to treat skin aging.

Owing to its constant exposure to the external environment and various stimuli, skin ranks among the organs most vulnerable to manifestations of aging. Preventing and delaying skin aging has become one of the prominent research subjects in recent years. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells derived from mesoderm with high self-renewal ability and multilineage differentiation potential. MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) are nanoscale biological vesicles that facilitate intercellular communication and regulate biological behavior. Recent studies have shown that MSC-EVs have potential applications in anti-aging therapy due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and wound healing promoting abilities. This review presents the latest progress of MSC-EVs in delaying skin aging. It mainly includes the MSC-EVs promoting the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, reducing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, resisting oxidative stress, and regulating inflammation. We then briefly discuss the recently discovered treatment methods of MSC-EVs in the field of skin anti-aging. Moreover, the advantages and limitations of EV-based treatments are also presented.

Biomimetic Structure Hydrogel Loaded with Long-Term Storage Platelet-Rich Plasma in Diabetic Wound Repair.

Exploring the preparation of multifunctional hydrogels from a bionic perspective is an appealing strategy. Here, a multifunctional hydrogel dressing inspired by the characteristics of porous extracellular matrix produced during Acomys wound healing is prepared. These dressings are printed by digital light processing printing of hydrogels composed of gelatin methacrylate, hyaluronic acid methacrylate, and pretreated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to shape out triply periodic minimal surface structures, which are freeze-dried for long-term storage. These dressings mimic the porous extracellular matrix of Acomys, while the freeze-drying technique effectively extends the storage duration of PRP viability. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, the biomimetic dressings developed in this study modulate cell behavior and facilitate wound healing. Consequently, this research offers a novel approach for the advancement of regenerative wound dressings.

Optimal Strategies for Autologous Fat Grafting in Breast Augmentation and Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Currently, cell-assisted lipotransfer (CAL) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) -assisted lipotransfer have been used to overcome the low survival rate of conventional lipotransfer. However, there is still insufficient evidence to determine which technique is the best strategy for autologous fat grafting in breast cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of traditional fat transplantation, CAL, and PRP-assisted lipotransfer. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in several databases including PUBMED, Web of Science, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov, and EMBASE from January 21, 2024, to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. Twelve studies were included after a rigorous selection process based on predefined criteria. Statistical analyses were conducted using R Ver. 4.0.5 with the netmeta and dmetar packages, employing a frequentist approach with a random-effects model. A network meta-analysis was performed to compare different fat graft procedures regarding fat survival rate and complication events. The review protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024501780). RESULTS: The results indicate that CAL and PRP-assisted lipotransfer are better than traditional fat grafts in terms of fat survival rate. And there is no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the CAL group, PRP group, and traditional group. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of network meta-analysis, it appears that both CAL and PRP-assisted lipotransfer have a higher fat survival rate for autologous fat grafting in breast augmentation and reconstruction. However, the transplantation strategy still needs to be analyzed based on actual conditions in clinical applications.

High-Frequency Ultrasound-Guided Temporal Fat Transplantation: A Safe and Visualized Approach.

SUMMARY: Autologous fat injection is one of the most popular methods for the treatment of temporal depression; however, accurate puncture into the target layer without vascular compromise is hard to achieve. With the aid of high-frequency ultrasonography, the authors performed autologous fat transplantation after visualization in five cases, with satisfactory results. The authors observed the course of superficial temporal vessels, the orbitozygomatic artery, and sentinel veins preoperatively, and used high-frequency ultrasonography to guide lipotransfer into the desired layer intraoperatively, to avoid intravascular injection. With the aid of high-frequency ultrasonography, the authors can easily prevent vascular complications and personalize surgical procedures, as anatomical variations of vasculature can also be detected by means of this method.

Nano-seq analysis reveals different functional tendency between exosomes and microvesicles derived from hUMSC.

BACKGROUND: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUMSCs) are widely considered to be the best mediators for cell-free therapy. An understanding of their composition, especially RNA, is particularly important for the safe and precise application of EVs. Up to date, the knowledge of their RNA components is limited to NGS sequencing and cannot provide a comprehensive transcriptomic landscape, especially the long and full-length transcripts. Our study first focused on the transcriptomic profile of hUMSC-EVs based on nanopore sequencing. METHODS: In this study, different EV subtypes (exosomes and microvesicles) derived from hUMSCs were isolated and identified by density gradient centrifugation. Subsequently, the realistic long transcriptomic profile in different subtypes of hUMSC-EVs was systematically compared by nanopore sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS: Abundant transcript variants were identified in EVs by nanopore sequencing, 69.34% of which transcripts were fragmented. A series of full-length and long transcripts was also observed and showed a significantly higher proportion of intact or near-complete transcripts in exosomes than that in microvesicles derived from hUMSCs. Although the composition of RNA biotypes transported by different EV subtypes was similar, the distribution of transcripts and genes revealed the inter-heterogeneity and intra-stability between exosomes and microvesicles. Further, 85 different expressed transcripts (56 genes) and 7 fusion genes were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that upregulated-expressed genes in microvesicles were mainly enriched in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, while upregulated-expressed genes in exosomes were mainly enriched in neutrophil extracellular trap formation, suggesting different functional tendencies of EV subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a novel understanding of different types of hUMSC-EVs, which not only suggests different transcriptome sorting mechanisms between exosomes and microvesicles, but also shows that different EV subtypes from the same source have different physiological functions, suggesting distinct clinical application prospects.

Microglia/monocytes with NG2 expression have no phagocytic function in the cortex after LPS focal injection into the rat brain.

While OX42(+) microglia/macrophages have been considered as a scavenger in the brain, NG2(+) cells are generally considered as oligodendrocyte progenitor cells or function-unknown glial cells. Recent evidence showed that under some pathological conditions, certain cells have become positive for both anti-NG2 and anti-OX42 antibodies. Our results suggested that some OX42(+) microglia or macrophages were induced to express NG2 proteins 3 and 5 days later after focal injection of lipopolysaccharide into the brain cortex of Sprague-Dawley rats. In consideration of the induction of NG2 expression may associate with gaining or losing functions of microglia/macrophages, we further showed that, while OX42(+) or ED1(+) microglia/macrophages presented active phagocytic function, NG2(+) /OX42(+) cells failed to engulf latex beads. The induced expression of NG2 protein may possibly indicate the functional diversity of activated microglia/macrophages in the brain.

ERCC1 polymorphisms and risk of adult glioma in a Chinese population: a hospital-based case-control study.

To examine the associations of two polymorphisms in excision repair cross-complementing rodent repair deficiency complementation group 1 (ERCC1) gene, C8092A (rs3212986) and T19007C (rs11615), with the risk of adult glioma, we performed a hospital-based case-control study with 257 new cases of glioma and 278 controls in Wenzhou, China. Results showed that polymorphisms C8092A and T19007C in ERCC1 gene were not associated with the risk of glioma in a Chinese population. Further studies in Chinese populations with larger sample sizes are still warranted.