Nano-Emulsified Perfluorooctyl Bromide Can Infiltrate Gram-Negative Bacteria and Sensitize Them to Ultrasound.

Gram-negative (G-) bacterial infections remain one of the most urgent global health threats, because the distinctive envelope structure hinders the penetration of therapeutics. Here, we showed that a perfluorooctyl bromide nanoemulsion (PFOB NE) uniquely interacts with G- bacteria. After cell envelope attachment, the PFOB can infiltrate the cell and was diffused throughout. In this process, it impaired the membranes by disintegrating phospholipid molecules, enhancing the consequent ultrasonic cavitation to break the envelope. We identified through ultrasound that the NE had remarkable bactericidal effects against various antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Using in situ sterilization, this approach accelerated the recovery of bacteria-infected murine skin wounds. Thus, combining PFOB and ultrasound might be an alternative tool for conquering the growing threat of G- pathogens.

The Synergy between Antibiotics and the Nanoparticle-Based Photodynamic Effect.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern, necessitating innovative strategies beyond the development of new antibiotics. Here, we employed NdYVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles, which can persistently produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) after stopping the light, as a model of photodynamic nanoparticles and demonstrated that the photodynamic effect can serve as an adjuvant with antibiotics to effectively reduce their minimum inhibitory concentration. These preirradiated nanoparticles could penetrate the bacterial cell membrane, significantly enhancing the potency of antibiotics. We showed that the synergy effect could be attributed to disrupting crucial cellular processes by ROS, including damaging cell membrane proteins, interfering with energy supply, and inhibiting antibiotic metabolism. Our findings suggested that complementing the photodynamic effect might be a robust strategy to enhance antibiotic potency, providing an alternative antibacterial treatment paradigm.

A rat model of cerebral small vascular disease induced by ultrasound and protoporphyrin.

Cerebral small vascular disease (CSVD) has a high incidence worldwide, but its pathological mechanisms remain poorly understood due to the lack of proper animal models. The current animal models of CSVD have several limitations such as high mortality rates and large-sized lesions, and thus it is urgent to develop new animal models of CSVD. Ultrasound can activate protoporphyrin to produce reactive oxygen species in a liquid environment. Here we delivered protoporphyrin into cerebral small vessels of rat brain through polystyrene microspheres with a diameter of 15 µm, and then performed transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) on the model rats. We found that TUS did not affect the large vessels or cause large infarctions in the brain of model rats. The mortality rates were also comparable between the sham and model rats. Strikingly, TUS induced several CSVD-like phenotypes such as cerebral microinfarction, white matter injuries and impaired integrity of endothelial cells in the model rats. Additionally, these effects could be alleviated by antioxidant treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC). As control experiments, TUS did not lead to cerebral microinfarction in the rat brain when injected with the polystyrene microspheres not conjugated with protoporphyrin. In sum, we generated a rat model of CSVD that may be useful for the mechanistic study and drug development for CSVD.

Diagnosis and treatment of diabetic foot ulcer complicated with lower extremity vasculopathy: Consensus recommendation from the Chinese Medical Association (CMA), Chinese Medical Doctor Association (CMDA).

Diabetic foot ulcer complicated with lower extremity vasculopathy is highly prevalent, slow healing and have a poor prognosis. The final progression leads to amputation, or may even be life-threatening, seriously affecting patients' quality of life. The treatment of lower extremity vasculopathy is the focus of clinical practice and is vital to improving the healing process of diabetic foot ulcers. Recently, a number of clinical trials on diabetic foot ulcers with lower extremity vasculopathy have been reported. A joint group of Chinese Medical Association (CMA) and Chinese Medical Doctor Association (CMDA) expert representatives reviewed and reached a consensus on the guidelines for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this kind of disease. These guidelines are based on evidence from the literature and cover the pathogenesis of diabetic foot ulcers complicated with lower extremity vasculopathy and the application of new treatment approaches. These guidelines have been put forward to guide practitioners on the best approaches for screening, diagnosing and treating diabetic foot ulcers with lower extremity vasculopathy, with the aim of providing optimal, evidence-based management for medical personnel working with diabetic foot wound repair and treatment.

Modified peroral endoscopic myotomy technique with retrograde on-demand myotomy for achalasia: a retrospective cohort study (with video).

BACKGROUND: Although myotomy is crucial in peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) surgeries, its optimum length remains controversial. Herein, we propose a modified POEM with new method of tailoring myotomy length aim to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and clinical outcomes of this modified POEM compared with standard POEM in type I or II achalasia. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with type I or II achalasia who underwent POEM at the First Hospital of Jilin University between January 2018 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the myotomy approach, these patients were divided into the retrograde on-demand myotomy (RDM, n = 34), with myotomy beginning on gastric side and length tailored by determining the degree of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) distention, and standard myotomy (SM, n = 41) groups. The baseline data, myotomy length, operation time, clinical success rate, adverse event rate, and reflux-related adverse events were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The median myotomy length in the RDM group was significantly shorter than that in the SM group (6 vs. 8 cm, respectively; p < 0.001). Moreover, the median myotomy time in the RDM group was significantly shorter than that in the SM group (10 vs. 16 min, respectively; p < 0.001). POEM was successfully performed in all the patients. At the 2-year follow-up, high clinical success rates were observed in both the RDM and SM groups (92.0% vs. 93.3%, respectively; p = 1.000). The incidence of intraoperative adverse events and postoperative reflux-related adverse events was low and comparable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: RDM POEM is a safe and effective method for patients with type I or II achalasia. Furthermore, it has a shorter myotomy length and operation time than standard POEM technique.

Nanoparticles that Transcytosed through Cancer Cells Can Elicit Immune Response.

Transcytosis is a crucial process that nanomedicines can experience in various delivery stages. However, little was known about whether it endows biofunctions to the nanomedicines. Here, we reported that transporting photodynamic nanoparticles across cancer cells via the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi pathway formulated them with abundant neoantigens and damage-associated molecular patterns. The resultant nanoparticles (Tran-NPs) were potent in dendritic cell maturation and T cell activation. Meanwhile, the photodynamic Tran-NPs maintained their primary function of repolarizing immunosuppressive cells. The immune responses were observed in melanoma B16F10 tumor models. Our work suggested that the transcytosis process reprogrammed the nanoparticles with immunological properties, which might shed light on the design of nanomedicines.

A Planar-Structured Dinuclear Cobalt(II) Complex with Indirect Synergy for Photocatalytic CO2-to-CO Conversion.

Dinuclear metal synergistic catalysis (DMSC) has been proved an effective approach to enhance catalytic efficiency in photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction, while it remains challenge to design dinuclear metal complexes that can show DMSC effect. The main reason is that the influence of the microenvironment around dinuclear metal centres on catalytic activity has not been well recognized and revealed. Herein, we report a dinuclear cobalt complex featuring a planar structure, which displays outstanding catalytic efficiency for photochemical CO2-to-CO conversion. The turnover number (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF) values reach as high as 14457 and 0.40 s-1 respectively, 8.6 times higher than those of the corresponding mononuclear cobalt complex. Control experiments and theoretical calculations revealed that the enhanced catalytic efficiency of the dinuclear cobalt complex is due to the indirect DMSC effect between two CoII ions, energetically feasible one step two-electron transfer process by Co2 I,I intermediate to afford Co2 II,II(CO2 2-) intermediate and fast mass transfer closely related with the planar structure.

Gastric defect closure after endoscopic full-thickness resection: the closing while dissecting technique.

BACKGROUND: Complete closure of gastric wall defects is critical following endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and clinical outcome of a new endoscopic method: closing while dissecting. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients who underwent EFTR were retrospectively analyzed between January 2020 and March 2021. Gastric defects resulting from EFTR were closed using the "interrupted-close during dissection" technique with endoclips. Tumor characteristics, en bloc resection rates, and postoperative adverse events were evaluated. RESULTS: All submucosal tumors were successfully resected and complete resection was histologically confirmed. The mean maximal tumor diameter was 1.3 cm (ranging from 0.8 to 3.0 cm). The majority of these tumors were gastrointestinal stromal tumors (n = 20), Leiomyoma (n = 3), schwannomas (n = 2), others included fibroma (n = 1) and neurogenic tumor (n = 1). There were no cases of hemorrhage, peritonitis, or delayed perforation. Four patients complained of slight abdominal pain, but no hyperpyrexia or serious elevated white blood cell count was detected in the first 24 h after treatment. All wounds were healed on follow-up endoscopy 3 months after the procedure. The mean follow-up duration was 8.5 months (ranging from 3 to 17) and no tumor recurrences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility and safety of this interrupted-close during dissection approach allows for clinical applications in EFTR of gastric submucosal tumors.

FGF21 promotes angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially fatal vascular disorder with a high mortality rate. It was previously reported that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) was highly expressed in AAA patients. Nonetheless, its underlying mechanism in AAA progression is unclarified. METHODS: Angiotensin II (Ang-II) was used to induce AAA in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) and mouse models. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were utilized for measuring protein and RNA levels. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized for detecting LC3B expression in HASMCs. Elastica van Gieson staining was conducted for histological analysis of the abdominal aortas of mice. RESULTS: FGF21 displayed a high level in Ang-II-stimulated HASMCs and AAA mice. FGF21 depletion ameliorated abdominal aorta dilation and Ang-II-triggered pathological changes in mice. FGF21 silencing hindered autophagy and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. CONCLUSIONS: FGF21 contributes to AAA progression by enhancing autophagy and activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Endoscopic fenestration combined with catheterization in the treatment of a giant colonic fecalith causing bowel obstruction: a case report.

Obstruction of the colon caused by a fecalith is not a rare condition, but endoscopic attempts at removal of the fecalith are often unsuccessful because of the size of the fecalith and its extremely hard stone-like consistency. We report a case of bowel obstruction of over two weeks' duration caused by a giant colonic fecalith. Conservative treatments including insertion of a gastric tube and enemas failed to resolve the obstruction. After an initial unsuccessful attempt at fecalith removal by colonoscopy using a snare, we successfully resolved the bowel obstruction over the course of subsequent colonoscopies with endoscopic fenestration of the fecalith and placement of a transrectal gastric tube for directed instillation of the enema fluid, and we were able to avoid surgical intervention in this case.

Near-Infrared Light-Excited Reactive Oxygen Species Generation by Thulium Oxide Nanoparticles.

Exploring materials that can absorb near-infrared (NIR) light to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) is necessary for many fields. Herein we show that thulium oxide nanoparticles are viable for NIR-stimulated ROS generation. This property may be related to the unique energy levels, large absorption cross section, low fluorescence emission, and ∼10-3 s lifetime of the 3H4 state of Tm ions. We further demonstrate the impact of these nanoparticles on photodynamic therapy (PDT), in which impressive tumor inhibition was recorded after exposure to either a broadband halogen lamp or an 808 nm laser. Our results may provide insight into the areas of photocatalysis, pollution treatment, and fine chemical synthesis.

Building 2D/2D CdS/MOLs Heterojunctions for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

2D lamellar materials can offer high surface area and abundant reactive sites, thus showing an appealing prospect in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. However, it is still difficult to build cost-efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution systems based on 2D materials. Herein, an in situ growth method is employed to build 2D/2D heterojunctions, with which 2D Ni-based metal-organic layers (Ni-MOLs) are closely grown on 2D porous CdS (P-CdS) nanosheets, affording traditional P-CdS/Ni-MOL heterojunction materials. Impressively, the optimized P-CdS/Ni-MOL catalyst exhibits superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance, with an H2 yield of 29.81 mmol g-1 h-1 . This value is 7 and 2981 times higher than that of P-CdS and Ni-MOLs, respectively, and comparable to those of reported state of the art catalysts. Photocatalytic mechanism studies reveal that the enhanced photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the 2D/2D intimate interface between P-CdS and Ni-MOLs, which facilitates the fast charge carriers' separation and transfer. This work provides a strategy to develop 2D MOL-based photocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion.

Neochamaejasmin B extracted from Stellera chamaejasme L. induces apoptosis through caspase-10-dependent way in insect neuronal cells.

To explore the toxicity mechanisms of neochamaejasmin B (NCB) extracted from Stellera chamaejasme L., we first evaluated its cytotoxicity in neuronal cells of Helicoverpa zea (AW1 cells). NCB inhibited cell growth and was cytotoxic to AW1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Further, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to analyze the microstructure, and typical apoptotic characteristics were observed in AW1 cells treated with NCB. Moreover, the NCB-induced apoptosis was dose dependent. Subsequently, we explored the mechanism of apoptosis. A decline in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was found. Also, the levels of Bax were increased with increases in drug concentration, but there was no statistical difference in Bcl-2 levels at different NCB doses. Caspase-3 and caspase-10 activity was increased. These findings confirmed that NCB induced apoptosis in AW1 cells through a caspase-10-dependent mechanism. The results provide the basic information needed for understanding the toxicity and mechanisms of action of NCB, which could potentially be used to develop NCB as a new insecticide.

A Composite of Hepatocyte Growth Factor- and 5α-Dihydrotestosterone-Gelatin Microspheres with Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Enhances Wound Healing.

INTRODUCTION: Reconstructing sebaceous glands is one goal of functionally healing patients who have suffered severe burns, instead of the simple pursuit of wound closure. Effective regeneration of skin appendages remains a challenge in skin wound management and research. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) into sebaceous glands and clarified the involvement of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) in this process. METHODS: This study used HGF- and 5α-DHT-gelatin microspheres to treat human ADSCs and investigated the reconstruction of sebaceous glands. HGF- and 5α-DHT-gelatin microspheres were constructed using microcapsule slow-release technology. A mice full-thickness skin-wound model was established to evaluate wound healing, and hematoxylin-eosin staining was utilized to determine the skin structure. RESULTS: In vitro analyses found that HGF- and 5α-DHT-gelatin microspheres promoted migration of and tube formation by ADSCs. Furthermore, AKT/ERK signaling, which is related to sebocyte and sweat gland epithelial-cell growth, was activated after HGF and 5α-DHT treatment. An in vivo wound healing model demonstrated that ADSCs primed with amnion-loaded HGF- and 5α-DHT-gelatin microspheres promoted wound healing and increased sebaceous gland formation compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the efficacy of ADSCs treated with amnion and HGF- and 5α-DHT-gelatin microspheres in accelerating wound healing and effectively restoring sebaceous glands. This engineered tissue provides insight into and a novel therapeutic material for burns and full-thickness skin wounds.

Determination of catechin and glutathione using copper aspartate nanofibers with multiple enzyme-like activities.

Copper aspartate nanofibers were facilely prepared based on aspartic acid and copper (CuAsp nanofibers). It is found that the prepared CuAsp nanofibers have catalytic activities of five enzymes, including peroxidase, laccase, catalase, ascorbate oxidase, and superoxide dismutase mimetic activities. The kinetic and catalytic properties of CuAsp nanofibers were systematically investigated, showing their high catalytic activity, excellent stability, and reusability. The laccase mimetic activity of nanofibers could be used to detect catechin in the range 20-1200 µM with a detection limit of 5.88 µM. In addition, a sensing platform for glutathione with a detection limit of 0.25 µM and a detection range of 1-50 µM was established based on CuAsp nanofibers which have the peroxidase-mimicking activity. The sensor had good selectivity and could detect glutathione in actual samples of human serum. Therefore, CuAsp nanofibers with multi-enzyme activity have broad application prospects such as biosensing, environmental management, and disease diagnosis.

Circumventing Drug Resistance Pathways with a Nanoparticle-Based Photodynamic Method.

Drug resistance remains the dominant impediment for cancer therapy, not only because compensatory drug resistance pathways are always activated, but also because of the cross-resistance of cancer cells to unrelated therapeutics. Herein, chemodrug-sensitive cancer cells, intrinsic drug-resistant cells, and acquired resistant cells were employed to uncover their biological response to a nanoparticle-based photodynamic method in tumoral, cellular, and molecular levels. We observed that nanoparticle-based photodynamic process with high therapeutic efficiency, intracellular delivery, and tumor penetration effect resulted in the indiscriminate and significant therapeutic outcome, in contrast to the diversiform effect of first-line chemo-drug, Temozolomide (TMZ). By real-time quantitative PCR array technique, we revealed that signals in classical resistance pathways were unaffected or downregulated, and photodynamic effect initiates cell apoptosis via downstream genes. The discovery that nanoparticulate photodynamic therapy bypasses the signals in multiple resistant pathways may imply an alternative route for combating drug resistance of cancer.

Activating transcription factor 4 aggravates angiotensin II-induced cell dysfunction in human vascular aortic smooth muscle cells via transcriptionally activating fibroblast growth factor 21.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening disorder worldwide. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) was shown to display a high level in the plasma of patients with AAA; however, its detailed functions underlying AAA pathogenesis are unclear. An in vitro AAA model was established in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) by angiotensin II (Ang-II) stimulation. Cell counting kit-8, wound healing, and Transwell assays were utilized for measuring cell proliferation and migration. RT-qPCR was used for detecting mRNA expression of FGF21 and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Western blotting was utilized for assessing protein levels of FGF21, ATF4, and markers for the contractile phenotype of HASMCs. ChIP and luciferase reporter assays were implemented for identifying the binding relation between AFT4 and FGF21 promoters. FGF21 and ATF4 were both upregulated in Ang-II-treated HASMCs. Knocking down FGF21 attenuated Ang-II-induced proliferation, migration, and phenotype switch of HASMCs. ATF4 activated FGF21 transcription by binding to its promoter. FGF21 overexpression reversed AFT4 silencing-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and phenotype switch. ATF4 transcriptionally upregulates FGF21 to promote the proliferation, migration, and phenotype switch of Ang-II-treated HASMCs.

Bleeding after endoscopic resection between direct oral anticoagulants or warfarin: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Oral anticoagulants are risk factors for post-endoscopic resection bleeding. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis for the risks of post-procedural bleeding (PPB) for direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and warfarin following endoscopic resection. METHODS: Two independent reviewers searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score was used to assess the quality of the studies, the pooled odds ratio (OR) to present PPB results, and the funnel plots to assess publication bias. The Higgins I2 statistic was employed to determine the variation across studies due to heterogeneity. RESULTS: We reviewed 30 articles. PPB occurred in 586 patients on DOACs and 1782 on warfarin. The patients on DOACs had a significantly lower overall risk of PPB compared with those on warfarin (OR, 0.867, 95% confidence interval, 0.771-0.975; P = 0.017, I2  = 1.6%). Cumulative meta-analysis showed that the PPB rate of DOACs has the trend to be lower than that of warfarin with publication year and sample size. For the subgroup of endoscopic submucosal dissection, the PPB of DOACs was significantly lower than that of warfarin (OR, 0.786; 95% confidence interval, 0.633-0.976; P = 0.029, I2  = 0%). No significant difference was observed between DOACs and warfarin for anticoagulant strategies, endoscopic procedures, and lesion location. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with warfarin, DOACs have the possibility to significantly decrease the risk of PPB following endoscopic resection, especially for endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Mucosal microbial microenvironment in early gastric neoplasia and non-neoplastic gastric disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The biological characterization of microbial environment in early gastric cancer (EGC), other than Helicobacter pylori, is limited. This study aimed to explore the microbial microenvironment in chronic gastritis (CG), fundic gland polyps (FGPs), low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), and EGC. METHODS: 16S-rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were performed on 63 individuals with 252 mucosal biopsies or endoscopic submucosal dissection margin samples from endoscopy. RESULTS: The microbiota in gastric LGIN functions analogously to EGC in terms of functional prediction. Neoplastic lesions showed a significant difference to CG or FGPs in beta diversity of the microbiota. Bacteria genera including Paracoccus, Blautia, Barnesiella, Lactobacillus, Thauera, Collinsella were significantly enriched in gastric neoplastic mucosa (LGIN and EGC) compared with non-neoplastic tissues (CG and FGPs). While Pseudomonas and Kingella were depleted in neoplastic tissues. FGPs showed a distinctive microbial network system that negatively interacted with Helicobacter. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of the mucosal microbial microenvironment, gastric LGIN and EGC showed no significant difference as early neoplastic lesions. We observed a coordinated microbial microenvironment that correlated negatively with Helicobacter.

ß-estradiol promotes the growth of primary human fetal spermatogonial stem cells via the induction of stem cell factor in Sertoli cells.

BACKGROUND: Mammalian spermatogenesis is responsible for male fertility and is supported by the self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Sertoli cells provide a supportive microenvironment for SSCs, in part by the production of stem cell factor (SCF), which is a potent regulator of spermatogonia proliferation and survival. METHODS: We investigated the novel role of ß-estradiol in modulating the proliferation and apoptosis of fetal SSCs via the regulation of SCF secretion in Sertoli cells isolated from human fetal testes. The proliferation of SSCs in the co-culture system was determined by colony formation and BrdU incorporation assays. TUNEL assay was used to measure SSC apoptosis in co-culture in response to treatment with control, ß-estradiol, or the combination of ß-estradiol and the estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI 182780. RESULTS: In the system with purified human fetal Sertoli cells (MIS+/c-Kit-/AP-), ß-estradiol upregulated the production of SCF in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In the co-culture system of primary human fetal SSCs (c-Kit+/SSEA-4+/Oct-4+/AP+) and Sertoli cells (MIS+), ß-estradiol markedly increased the proliferation of SSCs. Moreover, SSC apoptosis was significantly inhibited by ß-estradiol and was completely reversed by the combination of ß-estradiol and ICI 182780. CONCLUSION: Here we report, for the first time, that ß-estradiol can induce the increase of SCF expression in human fetal Sertoli cells and regulates the growth and survival of human fetal SSCs. These novel findings provide new perspectives on the current understanding of the role of estrogen in human spermatogenesis.