Advanced Cardiac Patches for the Treatment of Myocardial Infarction.

Myocardial infarction is a cardiovascular disease characterized by a high incidence rate and mortality. It leads to various cardiac pathophysiological changes, including ischemia/reperfusion injury, inflammation, fibrosis, and ventricular remodeling, which ultimately result in heart failure and pose a significant threat to global health. Although clinical reperfusion therapies and conventional pharmacological interventions improve emergency survival rates and short-term prognoses, they are still limited in providing long-lasting improvements in cardiac function or reversing pathological progression. Recently, cardiac patches have gained considerable attention as a promising therapy for myocardial infarction. These patches consist of scaffolds or loaded therapeutic agents that provide mechanical reinforcement, synchronous electrical conduction, and localized delivery within the infarct zone to promote cardiac restoration. This review elucidates the pathophysiological progression from myocardial infarction to heart failure, highlighting therapeutic targets and various cardiac patches. The review considers the primary scaffold materials, including synthetic, natural, and conductive materials, and the prevalent fabrication techniques and optimal properties of the patch, as well as advanced delivery strategies. Last, the current limitations and prospects of cardiac patch research are considered, with the goal of shedding light on innovative products poised for clinical application.

Prussian Blue Analogues for Sodium-Ion Battery Cathodes: A Review of Mechanistic Insights, Current Challenges, and Future Pathways.

Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) have emerged as highly promising cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their affordability, facile synthesis, porous framework, and high theoretical capacity. Despite their considerable potential, practical applications of PBAs face significant challenges that limit their performance. This review offers a comprehensive retrospective analysis of PBAs' development history as cathode materials, delving into their reaction mechanisms, including charge compensation and ion diffusion mechanisms. Furthermore, to overcome these challenges, a range of improvement strategies are proposed, encompassing modifications in synthesis techniques and enhancements in structural stability. Finally, the commercial viability of PBAs is examined, alongside discussions on advanced synthesis methods and existing concerns regarding cost and safety, aiming to foster ongoing advancements of PBAs for practical SIBs.

Magnetically empowered bone marrow cells as a micro-living motor can improve early hematopoietic reconstitution.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cell transplantation/hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (HSCT/HPCT) is widely used and one of the most useful treatments in clinical practice. However, the homing rate of hematopoietic stem cells/hematopoietic progenitor cells (HSCs/HPCs) by routine cell transfusion is quite low, influencing hematopoietic reconstitution after HSCT/HPCT. METHODS: The authors developed a micro-living motor (MLM) strategy to increase the number of magnetically empowered bone marrow cells (ME-BMCs) homing to the bone marrow of recipient mice. RESULTS: In the in vitro study, migration and retention of ME-BMCs were greatly improved in comparison with non-magnetized bone marrow cells, and the biological characteristics of ME-BMCs were well maintained. Differentially expressed gene analysis indicated that ME-BMCs might function through gene regulation. In the in vivo study, faster hematopoietic reconstitution was observed in ME-BMC mice, which demonstrated a better survival rate and milder symptoms of acute graft-versus-host disease after transplantation of allogeneic ME-BMCs. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that ME-BMCs serving as MLMs facilitated the homing of HSCs/HPCs and eventually contributed to earlier hematopoietic reconstitution in recipients. These data might provide useful information for other kinds of cell therapies.

Radiomics Nomogram Based on Dual-Sequence MRI for Assessing Ki-67 Expression in Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Radiomics has been extensively applied in predicting Ki-67 in breast cancer (BC). However, this is often confined to the exploration of a single sequence, without considering the varying sensitivity and specificity among different sequences. PURPOSE: To develop a nomogram based on dual-sequence MRI derived radiomic features combined with clinical characteristics for assessing Ki-67 expression in BC. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: 227 females (average age, 51 years) with 233 lesions and pathologically confirmed BC, which were divided into the training set (n = 163) and test set (n = 70). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0-T, T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps from diffusion-weighted MRI (EPI sequence). ASSESSMENT: The regions of interest were manually delineated on ADC and DCE-MRI sequences. Three radiomics models of ADC, DCE-MRI, and dsMRI (combined ADC and DCE-MRI sequences) were constructed by logistic regression and the radiomics score (Radscore) of the best model was calculated. The correlation between Ki-67 expression and clinical characteristics such as receptor status, axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis status, ADC value, and time signal intensity curve was analyzed, and the clinical model was established. The Radscore was combined with clinical predictors to construct a nomogram. STATISTICAL TESTS: The independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-squared test, Interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), single factor analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), logistic regression, receiver operating characteristics, Delong test, Hosmer_Lemeshow test, calibration curve, decision curve. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In the test set, the prediction efficiency of the dsMRI model (AUC = 0.862) was higher than ADC model (AUC = 0.797) and DCE-MRI model (AUC = 0.755). With the inclusion of estrogen receptor (ER) and ALN metastasis, the nomogram displayed quality improvement (AUC = 0.876), which was superior to the clinical model (AUC = 0.787) and radiomics model. DATA CONCLUSION: The nomogram based on dsMRI radiomic features and clinical characteristics may be able to assess Ki-67 expression in BC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

Targeting lymph node delivery with nanovaccines for cancer immunotherapy: recent advances and future directions.

Although cancer immunotherapy is a compelling approach against cancer, its effectiveness is hindered by the challenge of generating a robust and durable immune response against metastatic cancer cells. Nanovaccines, specifically engineered to transport cancer antigens and immune-stimulating agents to the lymph nodes, hold promise in overcoming these limitations and eliciting a potent and sustained immune response against metastatic cancer cells. This manuscript provides an in-depth exploration of the lymphatic system's background, emphasizing its role in immune surveillance and tumor metastasis. Furthermore, it delves into the design principles of nanovaccines and their unique capability to target lymph node metastasis. The primary objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current advancements in nanovaccine design for targeting lymph node metastasis, while also discussing their potential to enhance cancer immunotherapy. By summarizing the state-of-the-art in nanovaccine development, this review aims to shed light on the promising prospects of harnessing nanotechnology to potentiate cancer immunotherapy and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Time Course of Metabolic Alterations Associated with the Progression of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in MRL/lpr Mice Based on GC/MS.

Exploring the dynamic changes of metabolites and metabolic pathways during the development of the disease can help to further understand the etiology and pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, serum metabolomics based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was employed to investigate the metabolic alterations at different stages of SLE using lupus-prone mice (MRL/lpr) of 9, 11, and 13 weeks of age. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed to view the alterations of metabolic profiles between MRL/lpr mice and age-matched C57BL/6 mice, and t-test and fold change criteria were used to identify differential metabolites at each stage. 11 changed metabolites were found in MRL/lpr mice at 9 weeks of age, which were mainly involved in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, glycolysis, and butanoate metabolism; with the increase of week age, the TCA cycle was still disturbed, and the biosynthesis of fatty acids was significantly upregulated since 11 weeks of age; in addition, urea, urate, and indole-3-lactate were increased at 13 weeks of age. We found a time course of metabolic alterations in MRL/lpr mice, which may be related to the progression of SLE. These findings could provide a reference for studying the mechanism of SLE and judging the pathological stage and severity of the disease. The MS data have been deposited in Mendeley (https://www.mendeley.com/).

Conservative treatment of congenital radial head subluxation and non-traumatic elbow locking: A case report.

Congenital radial head subluxation is relatively rare and may be overlooked due to mild symptoms. The diagnosis mainly relies on imaging and history. Observation is an option for those with insignificant symptoms, while surgical intervention, such as ulnar osteotomy or arthroscopy, is often required when dysfunction exists. A 30-year-old man was admitted with congenital radial head dislocation, which was treated with manipulative repositioning. During follow-up, the patient regained the original mobility of the elbow joint and had no recurrence of dislocation. In conclusion, in adults with congenital dislocation of the radial head, we recommend conservative treatment as a first step.

Associations between fundamental movement skills and accelerometer-measured physical activity in Chinese children: the mediating role of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Background and purpose: The associations of fundamental motor skills (FMS), health-related physical fitness (e.g., cardiorespiratory fitness, CRF), and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) have been demonstrated in Western children, but these associations have not yet been validated in a sample of Chinese children. The aims of this study, therefore, were to examine the association between FMS subdomains and MVPA in a sample of Chinese children and to evaluate whether this association is mediated by CRF. Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of 311 children aged 8-12 years (49.2% girls; mean age = 9.9 years) from Shanghai was conducted. FMS, CRF and MVPA were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3rd Edition, Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run and ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers. Preacher & Hayes's bootstrap method was used to test the mediating effects of CRF on the association between FMS and MVPA. Results: CRF fully mediated the association between total FMS and MVPA in girls (indirect effects, b = 0.21, 95% CI [0.07-0.37]), while the mediation was only partial in boys (indirect effects, b = 0.12, 95% CI [0.01-0.26]). CRF fully mediated the association between locomotor skills and MVPA in girls (indirect effects, b = 0.27, 95% CI [0.09- 0.51]), whereas CRF partially mediated the association between object control skills and MVPA in boys (indirect effects, b = 0.15, 95% CI [0.18-0.35]). Conclusion: In order to better design and implement sex-specific interventions aiming to increase MVPA, it is essential to consider FMS subdomains and CRF alongside the sex differences in the association between them.

Study on the bioactive ingredients and mechanism of Huangqi against diabetic retinopathy based on network pharmacology and experimental verification.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most well-known microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Huangqi (HQ), has been used for treating DR for a long time. However, its anti-DR active ingredients and mechanism are still unknown. Therefore, we designed this study to explore the active components and mechanism of HQ against DR via network pharmacology analysis. METHODS: The ingredients of HQ, potential targets of HQ and DR were obtained from public databases. We employed the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis to identify core targets and pathways of HQ against DR. Finally, molecular docking and vitro experiments were applied to validate our results. RESULTS: A total of 34 potential targets of HQ against DR were obtained. Based on PPI network, VEGFA, PTGS2, IL6 and CCL2 were considered as core targets. GO analysis involved 692 biological processes, 21 cellular components and 35 molecular functions. KEGG enrichment analysis manifested that the anti-DR effect of HQ was mainly mediated via the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. The molecular docking results indicated that kaempferol had higher affinity with CCL2, IL-6, VEGFA and PTGS2. The vitro experiments showed that the mRNA expressions of CCL2, IL-6, VEGFA and PTGS2 in ARPE-19 cell were differentially decreased after kaempferol treatment. CONCLUSION: This study preliminarily unveiled that the therapeutic efficacy of HQ against DR might be attributed to the reduced expression of CCL2, IL-6, VEGFA and PTGS2.

Development of a precision tumor bone metastasis model by a magnetic micro-living-motor system.

An ideal bone metastasis animal model is critical and fundamental for mechanistic research and following development of new drug and treatment. Caudal artery (CA) injection allows bone metastasis in the hindlimb, while in-depth targeted and quantitative studies of bone metastasis require a new model to overcome its limitations. Here, we developed a targeted, quantitative, and highly consistent method for the modeling of bone metastasis with cell-based magnetic micro-living-motor (MLM) system created by effectively combining Fe3O4-PDA-Au with biosafety. The MLM system can achieve efficient migration, target site colonization and control tumorigenesis in bone precisely with the application of a magnetic field. In vivo, day 3 post cell injection, tumor bone metastasis signals were observed locally in the injected femur among 82.76% mice of the MLM group as compared to the 56.82% in the CA group, and the signal intensity was 45.1 and 95.9 times stronger than that in the left and right lower limbs of the CA group, respectively. Post-injection day 28, metastasis in vital organs was reduced by approximately 90% in the MLM group compared to the CA group. Our innovative use of the MLM system in the field of tumor modeling opens a new avenue for exploring the mechanisms of tumor bone metastasis, recurrence and drug resistance.

Protocol for electrocatalytic hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using H and flow cells.

Recently, there has been a growing interest in using sustainable energy to decrease lignin monomers to generate high-value-added products. Here, we present a protocol for electrocatalytic hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. We describe steps for catalyst preparation, performing electrocatalytic experiments, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, and in situ infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy testing. The synthesized catalyst used in this reaction exhibits enhanced selectivity and Faradaic efficiency in NaClO4 solution. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Zhang et al.1.

Progress in the Synthesis and Application of Transparent Conducting Film of AZO (ZnO:Al).

Due to the excellent performance and low cost of the new aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) film, it is expected to replace the mature indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) film. The research status and progress of AZO transparent conductive films are summarized in this review. Moreover, the structure, optoelectronic properties, and conductive mechanism of AZO thin films are also detailed. The thin films' main preparation processes and the advantages and disadvantages of each process method are mainly discussed, and their application fields are expounded. AZO thin films with multicomponent composite structures are one of the promising development directions in transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin films. The development of various preparation processes has promoted the production and application of thin films on a broad scale. Finally, some improvement schemes have been proposed to improve the comprehensive performance of the film. The industrialization prospects of the AZO film, as well as its great development potential in the digital world, are discussed.

Balancing Feature Alignment and Uniformity for Few-Shot Classification.

In Few-Shot Learning (FSL), the objective is to correctly recognize new samples from novel classes with only a few available samples per class. Existing methods in FSL primarily focus on learning transferable knowledge from base classes by maximizing the information between feature representations and their corresponding labels. However, this approach may suffer from the "supervision collapse" issue, which arises due to a bias towards the base classes. In this paper, we propose a solution to address this issue by preserving the intrinsic structure of the data and enabling the learning of a generalized model for the novel classes. Following the InfoMax principle, our approach maximizes two types of mutual information (MI): between the samples and their feature representations, and between the feature representations and their class labels. This allows us to strike a balance between discrimination (capturing class-specific information) and generalization (capturing common characteristics across different classes) in the feature representations. To achieve this, we adopt a unified framework that perturbs the feature embedding space using two low-bias estimators. The first estimator maximizes the MI between a pair of intra-class samples, while the second estimator maximizes the MI between a sample and its augmented views. This framework effectively combines knowledge distillation between class-wise pairs and enlarges the diversity in feature representations. By conducting extensive experiments on popular FSL benchmarks, our proposed approach achieves comparable performances with state-of-the-art competitors. For example, we achieved an accuracy of 69.53% on the miniImageNet dataset and 77.06% on the CIFAR-FS dataset for the 5-way 1-shot task.

Portable ATP bioluminescence sensor with high specificity for live Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain synergistically enhanced by orientated phage-modified stir bar extraction and bio-proliferation.

Live foodborne pathogens proliferate rapidly and do great harm to human health, which requires appropriate methods to supervise. In this work, a portable adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence sensor with high specificity for live E. coli O157:H7 strain synergistically enhanced by orientated phage-modified stir bar extraction and bio-proliferation was developed. In brief, the selected phages were directionally immobilized on the poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-modified gold stir bar as the bioreceptor. Following the simple stir bar absorptive extraction and bio-proliferation in the Luria-Bertani medium, the number of captured E. coli O157:H7 exploded. Finally, it was quantified by a portable ATP bioluminescence sensor. Benefitting from the high specificity of phage and simple signal dual-amplification strategy, the proposed biosensor achieved the recognition of live bacteria at strain level with superior sensitivity. Also, the portable signal readout made it suitable for on-site detection. Under optimal conditions, this bioassay provided a detectable range of 102-107 CFU mL-1 with a low detection limit of 30 CFU mL-1 within 30 min. The detection results for real samples demonstrated that there were no differences between the assay and the plate counting method, while the detection time was largely shortened. Furthermore, the assay gives a novel path for the point-of-care test (POCT) of live E. coli strain, which is promising to be extended to other virulent strains measurement with corresponding phages.

Selective electrocatalytic hydrogenation of lignocellulose-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural with superior productivities.

Recently, valorization of biomass to value-added chemicals has drawn increasing attention due to carbon neutrality and sustainability. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural is an important lignocellulose-derived biomass molecule. Herein, we have demonstrated the efficient electrocatalytic hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to value-added 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan. An optimized electrolyzer with a highly electrolyte-permeable Pd cathode well balanced the selectivity, faradaic efficiency, and productivity. We have achieved high selectivity (97%) and faradaic efficiency (72%) at 50 mA cm-2 current density, and a record high productivity of 0.923 mmol cm-2·h-1 at 100 mA cm-2 current density, ∼2 times advanced compared with the best productivity in prior reports. We applied in situ infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy to investigate the electrode-potential-dependent reaction pathways and mechanism, confirming that the highly selective hydrogenation of HMF is due to the tilted adsorption geometry through carbonyl group bonding to the surface of electrode. This work offers an opportunity for the sustainable electrocatalytic valorization of renewable lignocellulose-derived biomass with superior productivities approaching industrial level.

Morphology Control of Electrospun Brominated Butyl Rubber Microfibrous Membrane.

Brominated butyl rubber (BIIR) is a derivative of butyl rubber, with the advantage of high physical strength, good vibration damping performance, low permeability, aging resistance, weather resistance, etc. However, it is hard to avoid BIIR fiber sticking together due to serious swelling or merging, resulting in few studies on BIIR electrospinning. In this work, brominated butyl rubber membrane (mat) with BIIR microfiber has been prepared by electrospinning. The spinnability of elastomer BIIR has been explored. The factors influencing the morphology of BIIR microfiber membranes have been studied, including solvent, electrospinning parameters, concentration, and the rheological property of electrospinning solution. The optimal parameters for electrospinning BIIR have been obtained. A BIIR membrane with the ideal microfiber morphology has been obtained, which can be peeled from aluminum foil on a collector easily without being broken. Anti-bacterial property, the electrical conductivity of these membranes, and the mechanical properties of these samples were studied. The optimized BIIR electrospinning solution is Bingham fluid. The results of these experiments show that a BIIR membrane can be used in the field of medical prevention, wearable electronics, electronic skin, and in other fields that require antibacterial functional polymer materials.

Programming lipopeptide nanotherapeutics for tandem treatment of postsurgical infection and melanoma recurrence.

Tumor recurrence and chronic bacterial infection constitute two major criteria in postsurgical intervention for malignant melanoma. One plausible strategy is the equipment of consolidation therapy after surgery, which relies on adjuvants to eliminate the residual tumor cells and inhibit bacterial growth. Until now, a number of proof-of-concept hybrid nanoadjuvants have been proposed to combat tumor recurrence and postsurgical bacterial infection, which may suffer from the potential bio-unsafety or involve complex design and synthesis. The batch-to-batch inconsistencies in drug composition further delay the clinical trials. To circumvent these issues, herein we develop a programmable strategy to generate lipopeptide nanotherapeutics with identical constitution for tandem intervention of postsurgical bacterial infection and cancer recurrence of melanoma. Increasing the number of hydrophobic linoleic acid within lipopeptides has been found to be a simple and practical strategy to improve the therapeutic outcomes for both tumor cells and bacteria. Self-assembled lipopeptide nanotherapeutics with two linoleic acid molecules possesses excellent antitumor activity and antimicrobial function toward both susceptible strains and drug-resistant bacteria. Arising from the incorporation of unsaturated linoleic acid, the unavoidable hemolysis of cationic peptide drugs was effectively alleviated. In vivo therapeutic abilities of postsurgical infection and tumor recurrence were investigated in BALB/c nude mice bearing a B16-F10 tumor model, with an incomplete surgical resection and in situ infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Self-assembled lipopeptide nanotherapeutics could effectively inhibit cancer cell growth and bacterial infection, as well as promote wound healing. The easily scalable large-scale production, broad-spectrum antitumor and antibacterial bioactivities as well as fixed component endows lipopeptide nanotherapeutics as promising adjuvants for clinically postsurgical therapy of melanoma.

Mendelian randomization study reveals a causal relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and risk for pre-eclampsia.

Background: Epidemiological observational studies have investigated the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and pre-eclampsia, but no consistent conclusions were obtained due to various limitations. Hence, we conducted a two-sample mendelian randomization analysis to evaluate the potential causal effect of RA on pre-eclampsia. Methods: Summary-level statistics for RA were derived from a large-scale meta-analysis of datasets of genome-wide association studies(GWAS) which involved 14,361 cases and 43,923 controls. Moreover, summary statistics for pre-eclampsia or eclampsia were sourced from the Finn biobank which contained 3,903 cases and 114,735 controls. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) as well as other four effective methods including MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and simple mode were applied to deduce the potential causal relationships between RA and pre-eclampsia comprehensively. Results: The two-sample MR analysis suggested a strong causal relationship between RA and pre-eclampsia[OR,1.05;95%CI, 1.01-1.09;p<0.05]. The OR estimates obtained from the weighted mode[OR,1.09;95%CI,1.03-1.15;p<0.01] and weighted median[OR,1.07;95%CI, 1.01-1.14;p<0.05] were similar to those from the IVW method, but there was no significant association observed in MR Egger and simple mode analysis. Conclusion: This MR analysis provides evidence of a positive causal association between RA and pre-eclampsia genetically. Our findings highlight the importance of more intensive prenatal care and early intervention among pregnant women with RA to prevent potential adverse obstetric outcomes. Moreover, our study provides clues for risk factor identification and early prediction of pre-eclampsia.

Cytokine Storm in COVID-19: The Current Evidence and Treatment Strategies.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) is the pathogen that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As of 25 May 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 has caused 347,192 deaths around the world. The current evidence showed that severely ill patients tend to have a high concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, compared to those who are moderately ill. The high level of cytokines also indicates a poor prognosis in COVID-19. Besides, excessive infiltration of pro-inflammatory cells, mainly involving macrophages and T-helper 17 cells, has been found in lung tissues of patients with COVID-19 by postmortem examination. Recently, increasing studies indicate that the "cytokine storm" may contribute to the mortality of COVID-19. Here, we summarize the clinical and pathologic features of the cytokine storm in COVID-19. Our review shows that SARS-Cov-2 selectively induces a high level of IL-6 and results in the exhaustion of lymphocytes. The current evidence indicates that tocilizumab, an IL-6 inhibitor, is relatively effective and safe. Besides, corticosteroids, programmed cell death protein (PD)-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibition, cytokine-adsorption devices, intravenous immunoglobulin, and antimalarial agents could be potentially useful and reliable approaches to counteract cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients.

Metabolic Profiling Reveals an Abnormal Pattern of Serum Fatty Acids in MRL/lpr Mice Under Treatment With Prednisone.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Unfortunately, excessive GCs can induce many side effects associated with disordered fatty acid (FA) metabolism. Although an increased level of total FA has been found after GCs treatment, it is not clear whether all FA species increased or only certain FA species were altered. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based FA profiling approach was performed to reveal the alterations of FA species in SLE model mice (MRL/lpr) after treatment with 5 mg/kg of prednisone. The study showed a distinct FA profile in MRL/lpr mice compared to the controls, mainly manifested by elevated polyunsaturated FAs (arachidonate, docosahexaenoate, etc.), which are related to the inflammatory state; and altered (product FA/precursor FA) ratios representing the estimated activities of FA desaturase and elongase (higher activities of multiple elongases, △4 desaturase, △5 desaturase, △6 desaturase, and lower activity of △8 desaturase). Treatment with 5 mg/kg of prednisone decreased the total level of n-6 polyunsaturated FA in MRL/lpr mice; in particular, the level of arachidonate and estimated activity of △5 desaturase were reduced to the control level. Moreover, prednisone induced additional perturbations in FAs, including not only saturated FAs, but also monounsaturated FAs and n-3 polyunsaturated FAs, indicating that there was a strong effect of prednisone on FA metabolism. These results may be valuable for further studies of the side effects of GCs treatment.