Tricyano-Methylene-Pyridine Based High-Performance Aggregation-Induced Emission Photosensitizer for Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy.

Photosensitizers equipped with high reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capability and bright emission are essential for accurate tumor imaging and precise photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, traditional aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) photosensitizers cannot simultaneously produce desirable ROS and bright fluorescence, resulting in poor image-guided therapy effect. Herein, we report an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer TCM-Ph with a strong donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) structure, which greatly separates the HOMO-LUMO distribution and reduces the ΔEST, thereby increasing the number of triplet excitons and producing more ROS. The AIE photosensitizer TCM-Ph has bright near-infrared emission, as well as a higher ROS generation capacity than the commercial photosensitizers Bengal Rose (RB) and Chlorine e6 (Ce6), and can effectively eliminate cancer cells under image guidance. Therefore, the AIE photosensitizer TCM-Ph has great potential to replace the commercial photosensitizers.

Association between migraine and venous thromboembolism: a Mendelian randomization and genetic correlation study.

Objective: Previous observational studies have reported an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among individuals with migraine. This study aimed to investigate the causal effect of migraine on the development of VTE, as well as explore the genetic correlation between them. Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study using publicly available summary statistics from large-scale genome-wide association studies for migraine and VTE. Linkage disequilibrium score regression analysis was performed to estimate the genetic correlation between migraine and VTE. Results: There were several shared risk variants (p-value < 5 × 10-8) between migraine and VTE. Linkage disequilibrium score regression analysis found a significant positive genetic correlation between migraine and VTE. The genetic correlations based on two migraine datasets were 0.208 (se = 0.031, p-value = 2.91 × 10-11) and 0.264 (se = 0.040, p-value = 4.82 × 10-11), respectively. Although main MR analysis showed that migraine was associated with an increased risk of VTE (odds ratio = 1.069, 95% confidence interval = 1.022-1.118, p-value = 0.004), the association attenuated to non-significance when using several other MR methods and using another set of genetic instruments. In addition, evidence of heterogeneity was found. Reverse MR analysis showed VTE was associated with increased risk of migraine with aura (odds ratio = 1.137, 95% confidence interval = 1.062-1.218, p-value = 2.47 × 10-4) with no evidence of pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Conclusion: We showed suggestive evidence indicating an association between migraine and increased risk of VTE. Additionally, we found robust evidence suggesting that VTE is associated with an increased risk of migraine. The positive genetic correlation indicates that migraine and VTE has shared genetic basis. Further investigations will be necessary to address potential sex-specific effects in the analysis.

Nomogram to predict prognosis in patients with posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke after mechanical thrombectomy.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of prognosis and hemorrhagic transformation after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke (PC-AIS) caused by large vessel occlusion. We sought to develop a nomogram for predicting the risk of poor prognosis and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) in patients with PC-AIS. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 81 patients with PC-AIS who underwent MT treatment. We collected clinical information from the patients to assessed sICH and prognosis based on CT results and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. Subsequently, they were followed up for 3 months, and their prognosis was assessed using the Modified Rankin Scale. We used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate logistic regression to determine the factors affecting prognosis to construct a nomogram. The nomogram's performance was assessed through receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, decision curve analysis, and clinical impact curves. Results: Among the 81 patients with PC-AIS, 33 had a good prognosis, 48 had a poor prognosis, 19 presented with sICH, and 62 did not present with sICH. The results of the LASSO regression indicated that variables, including HPT, baseline NIHSS score, peak SBP, SBP CV, SBP SD, peak SBP, DBP CV, HbA1c, and BG SD, were predictors of patient prognosis. Variables such as AF, peak SBP, and peak DBP predicted the risk of sICH. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that baseline NIHSS score (OR = 1.115, 95% CI 1.002-1.184), peak SBP (OR = 1.060, 95% CI 1.012-1.111), SBP CV (OR = 1.296, 95% CI 1.036-1.621) and HbA1c (OR = 3.139, 95% CI 1.491-6.609) were independent risk factors for prognosis. AF (OR = 6.823, 95% CI 1.606-28.993), peak SBP (OR = 1.058, 95% CI 1.013-1.105), and peak DBP (OR = 1.160, 95% CI 1.036-1.298) were associated with the risk of sICH. In the following step, nomograms were developed, demonstrating good discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability. Conclusion: We constructed nomograms to predict poor prognosis and risk of sICH in patients with PC-AIS undergoing MT. The model exhibited good discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability.

Association between secondhand smoke exposure and rheumatoid arthritis in US never-smoking adults: a cross-sectional study from NHANES.

While smoking is widely acknowledged as a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the connection between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and RA in never-smoking adults remains limited and inconsistent. This study aims to explore and quantify this association using serum cotinine levels. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 14,940 adults who self-report as never smokers, using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 1999 to 2018. Based on previous literature, SHS exposure was categorized into four groups according to serum cotinine levels. Compared to individuals in the unexposed group (serum cotinine < 0.05 ng/mL), the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for RA was 1.37 (95% CI 1.14-1.64, p = 0.001) in the low exposure group (serum cotinine at 0.05 to 0.99 ng/mL) after adjusting for covariates. However, no significant association was found in the moderate exposure group (serum cotinine at 1 to 10 ng/mL) or the heavy exposure group (serum cotinine ≥ 10 ng/mL). Furthermore, we detected a non-linear, positively saturated correlation between the cotinine levels after log2 transformation and RA, with a turning point at approximately - 2.756 ng/mL (OR = 1.163, 95% CI 1.073-1.261, p = 0.0002). The stability of the results was confirmed by subgroup analysis.

Vitamin A Promotes Leydig Cell Differentiation via Alcohol Dehydrogenase 1.

Vitamin A (retinol) is important for multiple functions in mammals. In testis, the role of vitamin A in the regulation of testicular functions is clearly involved in rodents. It is essential for sperm production. Vitamin A deficiency adversely affects testosterone secretion. Adult Leydig cells are responsible for testosterone production in male. The role of vitamin A in regulating the differentiation of Leydig cells is still unknown. In this study, we explored the roles and underlying mechanisms of vitamin A in Leydig cell differentiation. We found that vitamin A could regulate the Leydig cells differentiation. Leydig cell differentiation is adversely affected in mice maintained on a vitamin A-free diet. This effect is mediated by alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (ADH1). ADH1 could increase retinoic acid (RA) synthesis, then RA facilitates Leydig cell differentiation by activating the steroidogenic factor 1 gene (Nr5a1) promoter activity, which consequently promotes Leydig cell specific gene expression, resulting in progenitor Leydig cells differentiation into functional Leydig cells. This is the first study connecting a metabolic enzyme of retinol (ADH1) to the the regulation of Leydig cell differentiation, which will provide experimental evidence for the development of therapeutics to promote Leydig regeneration through the administration of a RA signaling regulator or a vitamin A supplement.

Direct Reprogramming of Mouse Fibroblasts toward Leydig-like Cells by Defined Factors.

Leydig cells (LCs) play crucial roles in producing testosterone, and their dysfunction leads to male hypogonadism. LC transplantation is a promising alternative therapy for male hypogonadism. However, the source of LCs limits this strategy for clinical applications. Here, we report our success in reprogramming mice fibroblasts into LCs by expressing three transcriptional factors, Dmrt1, Gata4, and Nr5a1. The induced Leydig-like cells (iLCs) expressed steroidogenic genes, had a global gene expression profile similar to that of adult LCs, and acquired androgen synthesis capabilities. When iLCs were transplanted into rats or mice testes that were selectively depleted of endogenous LCs, the transplanted cells could survive and function in the interstitium of testis, resulting in the restoration of normal levels of serum testosterone. These findings demonstrate that the fibroblasts were able to be directly converted into iLCs by few defined factors, which may facilitate future applications in regenerative medicine.