Prognosis evaluation and efficacy analysis of different treatment options for patients with visceral pleural invasion in stage IIA-IIB lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Controversy surrounds the treatment of visceral pleural invasion in lung cancer, and no studies have compared the efficacy of its four main treatment options (i.e., surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy). This study aims to compare and analyze surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy outcomes and explore the optimal treatment of visceral pleural invasion in lung cancer. METHODS: We searched electronic databases (i.e., Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database Search) for relevant studies of treatment options for patients with visceral pleural invasion in stage IIA-IIB lung cancer. Searches times were limited to studies published between January 1, 2000 and February 20, 2021. Meta analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software We also downloaded original RNA transcription data about lung cancer invasion in the GEO and TCGA tumor databases, and used R 4.0.3 software to perform differential expression and co-expression gene network analyses. RESULTS: We included a total of 25 high-quality (i.e., Jadad score 4-7) studies. Meta-analysis found that surgical treatment was associated with a 3-year survival rate OR = 3.80 (95% CI 3.53, 4.09; P < 0.0001), 5-year survival rate OR = 4.10 (95% CI 3.72, 4.53; P < 0.0001), and median survival time OR = 2.71 (95% CI 2.53, 2.89; P < 0.0001). Chemotherapy was associated with a 3-year survival rate OR = 2.08 (95% CI 1.93, 2.25; P < 0.0001), 5-year survival rate OR = 1.68 (95% CI 1.49, 1.89; P < 0.0001), and median survival time OR = 1.84 (95% CI 1.66, 2.04; P < 0.0001). Targeted therapy was associated with a 3-year survival rate OR = 2.91 (95% CI 2.65, 3.19; P < 0.0001), 5-year survival rate OR = 1.83 (95% CI 1.39, 2.33; P < 0.0001), and median survival time OR = 1.76 (95% CI 1.59, 1.94; P < 0.0001). Finally, immunotherapy was associated with a 3-year survival rate OR = 1.89 (95% CI 1.73, 2.07; P < 0.0001), 5-year survival rate OR = 1.66 (95% CI 1.46, 1.88; P < 0.0001), and median survival time OR = 2.53 (95% CI 2.27, 2.82; P < 0.0001). After screening differential genes and co-expressed genes in tumor gene databases, we found that AC245595.1, ITGB1-DT and AL606489.1 may be involved in the process of lung cancer invasion, and macrophages M1 and M2, CD4+-Th1, CD8+-Th1 may participate in immune infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with visceral pleural invasion of stage IIA-IIB lung cancer, chemotherapy has shown a significant effect on improving prognosis and enhancing efficacy. However, surgical treatment did not significantly improve the overall prognosis. Therefore, the individual situation of the patient and the comprehensive benefits of the treatment program should be fully considered when developing the treatment program.

A novel model based on protein post-translational modifications comprising the immune landscape and prediction of colorectal cancer prognosis.

Background: Phosphorylation is a critical post-translational modification (PTM) type contributing to colorectal cancer (CRC). The study aimed to construct a nomogram model to predict colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) prognosis based on PTM signatures. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database has been indexed for COAD patients' RNA sequencing, proteomic data, and clinical details. To find potential PTM prognostic signatures, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was deployed. Model validation procedures included the use of the Kaplan-Meier (K-M) method, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the area under the curve (AUC), and the decision curve analysis (DCA). Additionally, biological enrichment, tumor immune microenvironment, and chemotherapy were also assessed. To validate the model, CRC cells were used in in vitro experiments using western blotting, proliferation assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry. Results: The LASSO regression analysis identified 8 PTM sites. Based on the median PTM score, patients were classified into low- and high-risk groups. K-M results showed that high-risk patients had worse prognoses (P<0.001). Our model demonstrated powerful effectiveness and predictive value (TCGA whole group: 1-year AUC =0.611, 2-year AUC =0.574, 3-year AUC =0.627). Additionally, high-risk CRC patients were enriched in KRAS signaling pathways (P=0.01), possessed more robust immune escape capacity (P=0.001, and induced cell-cycle arrest of CRC cells (P<0.01). Conclusions: We established and validated a novel nomogram model related to PTM that can predict prognosis and guide the treatment of COAD.

Multitask machine learning-based tumor-associated collagen signatures predict peritoneal recurrence and disease-free survival in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Accurate prediction of peritoneal recurrence for gastric cancer (GC) is crucial in clinic. The collagen alterations in tumor microenvironment affect the migration and treatment response of cancer cells. Herein, we proposed multitask machine learning-based tumor-associated collagen signatures (TACS), which are composed of quantitative collagen features derived from multiphoton imaging, to simultaneously predict peritoneal recurrence (TACSPR) and disease-free survival (TACSDFS). METHODS: Among 713 consecutive patients, with 275 in training cohort, 222 patients in internal validation cohort, and 216 patients in external validation cohort, we developed and validated a multitask machine learning model for simultaneously predicting peritoneal recurrence (TACSPR) and disease-free survival (TACSDFS). The accuracy of the model for prediction of peritoneal recurrence and prognosis as well as its association with adjuvant chemotherapy were evaluated. RESULTS: The TACSPR and TACSDFS were independently associated with peritoneal recurrence and disease-free survival in three cohorts, respectively (all P < 0.001). The TACSPR demonstrated a favorable performance for peritoneal recurrence in all three cohorts. In addition, the TACSDFS also showed a satisfactory accuracy for disease-free survival among included patients. For stage II and III diseases, adjuvant chemotherapy improved the survival of patients with low TACSPR and low TACSDFS, or high TACSPR and low TACSDFS, or low TACSPR and high TACSDFS, but had no impact on patients with high TACSPR and high TACSDFS. CONCLUSIONS: The multitask machine learning model allows accurate prediction of peritoneal recurrence and survival for GC and could distinguish patients who might benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Dynamic cerebellar and sensorimotor network compensation in tremor-dominated Parkinson's disease.

AIM: Parkinson's disease (PD) tremor is associated with dysfunction in the basal ganglia (BG), cerebellum (CB), and sensorimotor networks (SMN). We investigated tremor-related static functional network connectivity (SFNC) and dynamic functional network connectivity (DFNC) in PD patients. METHODS: We analyzed the resting-state functional MRI data of 21 tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease (TDPD) patients and 29 healthy controls. We compared DFNC and SFNC between the three networks and assessed their associations with tremor severity. RESULTS: TDPD patients exhibited increased SFNC between the SMN and BG networks. In addition, they spent more mean dwell time (MDT) in state 2, characterized by sparse connections, and less MDT in state 4, indicating stronger connections. Furthermore, enhanced DFNC between the CB and SMN was observed in state 2. Notably, the MDT of state 2 was positively associated with tremor scores. CONCLUSION: The enhanced dynamic connectivity between the CB and SMN in TDPD patients suggests a potential compensatory mechanism. However, the tendency to remain in a state of sparse connectivity may contribute to the severity of tremor symptoms.

Identification of mitochondria-related genes as diagnostic biomarkers for diabetic nephropathy and their correlation with immune infiltration: New insights from bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common and severe microvascular complication of diabetes. Mitochondrial dysfunction and immune inflammation are important factors in the pathogenesis of DN. However, the specific mechanisms and their intricate interactions in DN remain unclear. Besides, there are no effective specific predictive or diagnostic biomarkers for DN so far. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the role of mitochondrial-related genes and their possibility as predictive or diagnostic biomarkers, as well as their crosstalk with immune infiltration in the progression of DN. METHODS: Based on the GEO database and limma R package, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of DN were identified. Mitochondrial-related DEGs (MitoDEGs) were then obtained by intersecting these DEGs with mitochondria-related genes from the MitoCarta 3.0 database. Subsequently, the candidate hub genes were further screened by gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and verified mRNA levels of these genes by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) in high-glucose-treated human proximal tubular (HK-2) cells. The verified hub genes were utilized to construct a combined diagnostic model for DN, with its diagnostic efficacy assessed across the GSE30122 and GSE96804 datasets. Additionally, the immune infiltration pattern in DN was assessed with the CIBERSORT algorithm, and the Nephroseq v5 database was used to analyze the correlation between hub genes and clinical features of DN. RESULTS: Seven mitochondria-related candidate hub genes were screened from 56 MitoDEGs. Subsequently, the expression levels of six of them, namely EFHD1, CASP3, AASS, MPC1, NT5DC2, and BCL2A1, exhibited significant inter-group differences in the HK-2 cell model. The diagnostic model based on the six genes demonstrated good diagnostic efficacy in both training and validation sets. Furthermore, correlation analysis indicated that EFHD1 and AASS, downregulated in DN, are positively correlated with eGFR and negatively with serum creatinine. Conversely, CASP3, NT5DC2, and BCL2A1, upregulated in DN, show opposite correlations. In addition, spearman analysis revealed that the six hub genes were significantly associated with the infiltration of immune cells, including M1 and M2 macrophages, mast cells, resting NK cells, gamma delta T cells, and follicular helper T cells. CONCLUSION: This study elucidated the characteristics of mitochondria-related genes and their correlation with immune cell infiltration in DN, providing new insights for exploring the pathogenesis of DN and facilitating the identification of new potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Effect of sarcopenia on liver cirrhosis with complicating oesophageal and gastric varices after endoscopic therapy.

Several investigators have reported that sarcopenia is common in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, few studies have probed the association between sarcopenia and liver cirrhosis complicated with oesophageal and gastric variceal bleeding (LC-EGVB). We aimed to investigate the impact of sarcopenia on rebleeding after endoscopic therapy in patients with LC-EGVB. Computed tomography (CT) radiographs from the third lumbar vertebra were selected to analyse body composition, including skeletal muscle tissue, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue using SliceOmatic software. Sarcopenia was defined using validated cutoff values for patients with liver cirrhosis: 44.77 cm2/m2 for men and 32.50 cm2/m2 for women. A total of 187 patients with LC-EGVB and 309 controls were included in this study. The rate of sarcopenia in controls (17.4%) was significantly lower than that in patients with LC-EGVB (41.2%). Patients with LC-EGVB exhibiting sarcopenia showed a high prevalence of portal vein thrombosis and rebleeding rate at 1 year. The rate of sarcopenia in the rebleeding group was significantly higher than that in the non-rebleeding group. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for rebleeding within 1 year in patients with LC-EGVB. Patients with LC-EGVB displayed a high prevalence of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was observed to be an independent risk factor for rebleeding within 1 year.

Complete mitochondrial genomes of Dactylogyrus crucifer and Dactylogyrus zandti reveal distinct patterns of codon usage within Dactylogyrus.

Monogeneans of the genus Dactylogyrus Diesing, 1850, the largest genus in the family Dactylogyridae, mostly parasitize the gills of cyprinoid hosts; however, only 3 Dactylogyrus' mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) are studied so far. The aim of this research is to extend our understanding of the mitogenomes of Dactylogyrus. We sequenced the mitogenomes of D. crucifer and D. zandti isolated from Rutilus rutilus and Abramis brama orientalis in northwest China, and then we compared these mitogenomes with other monogeneans. We used Illumina NovaSeq to sequence the entire mitochondrial genomes of D. crucifer and D. zandti and characterized the mitogenomes to understand the gene structure, gene identity, the secondary structures of the 22 tRNA genes, and relative synonymous codon usage. We used the analytic Bayesian Information and Maximum Likelihood methods to determine their associated phylogenetic trees. The mitogenomes of D. crucifer and D. zandti were 14,403 and 18,584 bp, respectively. Organization and positioning of these genes were in accordance with Dactylogyrus lamellatus and Dactylogyrus tuba. The nucleotide composition of Dactylogyridae was different from other families of Monogenea, and the A+T count of genus Dactylogyrus (54 - 58.4 %) was lower than other genus species of the family Dactylogyridea (63.9 - 78.4 %) in protein-coding genes. Dactylogyrus members displayed a codon usage bias. The relative synonymous codon used by Dactylogyrus was not conserved and was lower than other monogeneans. The codon use patterns of closely-related species isolated from closely-related hosts were identical. Phylogenetic analyses using mitogenomic dataset produced Dactylogyrus isolated from host subfamily Leuciscinae formed a sister-group. Our results contributed significantly to an increased database of mitogenomes, more than 50 %, for Dactylogyrus that may help future studies of mitochondrial genes and codon uses for the analysis of monogenean phylogenetics.

Diterpenoids with Potent Anti-Psoriasis Activity from Euphorbia helioscopia L.

Psoriasis, an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disorder, seriously affects the quality of life of nearly four percent of the world population. Euphorbia helioscopia L. is the monarch constituent of Chinese ZeQi powder preparation for psoriasis, so it is necessary to illustrate its active ingredients. Thus, twenty-three diterpenoids, including seven new ones, were isolated from the whole herb of E. helioscopia L. Compounds 1 and 2, each featuring a 2,3-dicarboxylic functionality, are the first examples in the ent-2,3-sceo-atisane or the ent-2,3-sceo-abietane family. Extensive spectroscopic analysis (1D, 2D NMR, and HRMS data) and computational methods were used to confirm their structures and absolute configurations. According to the previous study and NMR data from the jatropha diterpenes obtained in this study, some efficient 1H NMR spectroscopic rules for assigning the relative configurations of 3α-benzyloxy-jatroph-11E-ene and 7,8-seco-3α-benzyloxy-jatropha-11E-ene were summarized. Moreover, the hyperproliferation of T cells and keratinocytes is considered a key pathophysiology of psoriasis. Anti-proliferative activities against induced T/B lymphocytes and HaCaT cells were tested, and IC50 values of some compounds ranged from 6.7 to 31.5 µM. Compounds 7 and 11 reduced the secretions of IFN-γ and IL-2 significantly. Further immunofluorescence experiments and a docking study with NF-κB P65 showed that compound 13 interfered with the proliferation of HaCaT cells by inhibiting the NF-κB P65 phosphorylation at the protein level.

Ultrahigh Pyridinic/Pyrrolic N Enabling N/S Co-Doped Holey Graphene with Accelerated Kinetics for Alkali-Ion Batteries.

Carbonaceous materials hold great promise for K-ion batteries due to their low cost, adjustable interlayer spacing, and high electronic conductivity. Nevertheless, the narrow interlayer spacing significantly restricts their potassium storage ability. Herein, hierarchical N, S co-doped exfoliated holey graphene (NSEHG) with ultrahigh pyridinic/pyrrolic N (90.6 at.%) and large interlayer spacing (0.423 nm) is prepared through micro-explosion assisted thermal exfoliation of graphene oxide (GO). The underlying mechanism of the micro-explosive exfoliation of GO is revealed. The NSEHG electrode delivers a remarkable reversible capacity (621 mAh g-1 at 0.05 A g-1), outstanding rate capability (155 mAh g-1 at 10 A g-1), and robust cyclic stability (0.005% decay per cycle after 4400 cycles at 5 A g-1), exceeding most of the previously reported graphene anodes in K-ion batteries. In addition, the NSEHG electrode exhibits encouraging performances as anodes for Li-/Na-ion batteries. Furthermore, the assembled activated carbon||NSEHG potassium-ion hybrid capacitor can deliver an impressive energy density of 141 Wh kg-1 and stable cycling performance with 96.1% capacitance retention after 4000 cycles at 1 A g-1. This work can offer helpful fundamental insights into design and scalable fabrication of high-performance graphene anodes for alkali metal ion batteries.

A case report of human infection with avian influenza H10N3 with a complex respiratory disease history.

BACKGROUND: On March 16th 2024, the first case of Human infection with avian influenza H10N3 since the end of the global COVID-19 Pandemic was reported in Kunming, China. To enhance comprehension of the source of infection and risk factors of the H10N3 virus infection, this case report summarizes the clinical features, epidemiological investigation, and laboratory test results. Provides recommendations for the prevention and control of Human infection with avian influenza H10N3. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old male with a history of COVID-19 infection and a smoking habit of 30 years, worked in livestock breeding and was exposed to sick and dead poultry before falling ill with fever and chills on 28th February 2024. A week later, he was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, influenza, and respiratory failure by the Third People's Hospital of Kunming(KM-TPH). He was discharged on 17th April and none of his 6 close contacts showed any symptoms of illness. Environmental samples taken from the epidemic spot revealed that peacock feces tested positive for avian influenza sub-type H9 and waterfowl specimens showed positive results for avian influenza sub-type H5. Gene sequencing conducted on positive specimens from the patient's respiratory tract by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) showed a high degree of similarity (98.6-99.5%) with the strain responsible for the second global case of human infected with H10N3 (reported from Zhejiang, China 2022). CONCLUSIONS: According to the available epidemiological information, there is limited evidence to suggest that H10N3 viruses are excessively lethal. However, adaptive site mutations have been observed in the H10N3 isoform of mammals. While it is unlikely that the H10N3 virus will spread among humans, the possibility of additional cases cannot be entirely ruled out. Symptoms of human infection with H10N3 avian influenza are similar to those of common respiratory infections, which may result in them being overlooked during initial clinical consultations. Therefore, it is essential to improve surveillance of the H10 sub-type of avian influenza and to increase the awareness of hospital-related workers of cases of pneumonia of unknown origin.

Polymyxins retain in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy against "resistant" Acinetobacter baumannii strains when tested in physiological conditions.

The emergence of plasmid-mediated resistance threatens the efficacy of polymyxins as the last line of defense against pan-drug-resistant infections. However, we have found that using Mueller-Hinton II (MHII), the standard minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) medium, results in MIC data that are disconnected from in vivo treatment outcomes. We found that culturing putative colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates, as defined by MICs of >2 mg/L in standard MHII testing conditions, in bicarbonate-containing media reduced MICs to the susceptible range by preventing colistin resistance-conferring lipopolysaccharide modifications from occurring. Furthermore, the lower MICs in bicarbonate-containing media accurately predicted in vivo efficacy of a human-simulated dosing strategy of colistin and polymyxin B in a lethal murine infection model for some polymyxin-resistant A. baumannii strains. Thus, current polymyxin susceptibility testing methods overestimate the contribution of polymyxin resistance-conferring mutations and incorrectly predict antibiotic activity in vivo. Polymyxins may remain a viable therapeutic option against Acinetobacter baumannii strains heretofore determined to be "pan-resistant."

Unraveling the role of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 5 (UBC5) in disease pathogenesis: A comprehensive review.

While certain members of ubiquitin-coupled enzymes (E2s) have garnered attention as potential therapeutic targets across diverse diseases, research progress on Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme 5 (UBC5)-a pivotal member of the E2s family involved in crucial cellular processes such as apoptosis, DNA repair, and signal transduction-has been relatively sluggish. Previous findings suggest that UBC5 plays a vital role in the ubiquitination of various target proteins implicated in diseases and homeostasis, particularly in various cancer types. This review comprehensively introduces the structure and biological functions of UBC5, with a specific focus on its contributions to the onset and advancement of diverse diseases. It suggests that targeting UBC5 holds promise as a therapeutic approach for disease therapy. Recent discoveries highlighting the high homology between UBC5, UBC1, and UBC4 have provided insight into the mechanism of UBC5 in protein degradation and the regulation of cellular functions. As our comprehension of the structural distinctions among UBC5 and its homologues, namely UBC1 and UBC4, advances, our understanding of UBC5's functional significance also expands.

[Construction effect of fertile cultivated layer in albic soil â Effects of inversion tillage with organic mate-rials on the redistribution of organic matter in surface layer of albic soil]. / 白浆土肥沃耕层构建效应â .不同有机物料深混对白浆土有机质在表层土壤中再分布的影响.

Soil organic matter serves as a crucial indicator for soil quality. Albic soil, characterized by a barrier layer, exhibits limitations in organic matter content, which can adversely affect crop growth and development. To elucidate the impact of deep mixing of various organic materials on the redistribution of organic matter in the surface soil of albic soil could provide theoretical and technical insights for establishing suitable plough layers for albic soil in Northeast China. We conducted a two-year positioning experiment in Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang Province with five treatments, conventional shallow tillage (0-15 cm, CK), inversion tillage (0-35 cm) without or with straw return (T35 and T35+S), inversion tillage with cattle manure (T35+M) and cattle manure plus maize straw (T35+S+M). The results showed that soil fertilization via deep mixing of organic materials to a depth of 35 cm significantly increased maize yield in albic soil, with the T35+S+M treatment demonstrating the most pronounced effect, yielding an average production of 2934.76 kg·hm-2. Compared to CK, the T35 treatment resulted in a significant 8.4% decrease in organic matter content in the tillage layer, a significant 7.6% increase in organic matter in the sub-tillage layer, and a relative richness degree of soil organic matter in the sub-tillage layer increased by 17.5%. Deep mixed return of organic materials following deep ploughing markedly increased organic matter content of the plough layer, with organic matter conversion ranging from 16.3% to 31.0%. In comparison to the T35 treatment, there was no significant increase in soil organic matter content in the T35+S tillage layer and sub-tillage layer. Conversely, soil organic matter content increased by 4.6% and 6.9% in the T35+M and T35+S+M treatments, with corresponding increase of 11.2% and 15.4% in sub-tillage layer, respectively. Additionally, the soil organic matter richness index in sub-tillage layer increased by 2.5% and 5.1%, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between organic matter content in the entire plough layer and maize yield, with a contribution rate of 17.5%. Therefore, the utilization of organic fertilizer or a combination of organic fertilizer and straw deep mixing can quickly fertilize albic soil by increasing soil organic matter content in both the whole tillage layer (0-35 cm) and the sub-tillage layer (15-35 cm).

Response of soil enzymatic activity to pore structure under inversion tillage with organic materials incorporation in a Haplic Chernozem.

Soil pore structure affects microbial survival environmental conditions and thus enzyme activity. The mechanisms underlying returning organic materials on soil pore structure and enzymatic activity, however, remain unclear. We therefore conducted a field experiment in the fall of 2018 in northeastern China with a chernozem soil and four treatments: CT, conventional tillage; SCT, returning maize straw incorporation with conventional tillage; SIT, returning maize straw incorporation with inversion tillage; SMIT, returning maize straw and organic manure with inversion tillage. Soil samples were collected from the 0-15 cm and 15-35 cm layers in the fall of 2021. We used X-ray computed tomography to analyze the characteristics of pore structure and extracellular enzymatic stoichiometry to evaluate the limiting factors for soil microorganisms. Inversion tillage and organic materials incorporation can alter the micromorphological structure of entire soil layer, leading to the rearrangement of soil particles and nutrients, thereby augmenting the physicochemical properties in subsoil layer. SMIT exhibited a substantial increase in the number of macropores, porosity and fractal dimension, compared to SCT and SIT. This led to a significantly increased in soil enzyme activities of carbon and nitrogen-limited in SMIT, with increases ranging from 11.67% to 40.16% and from 8.81% to 21.43%, respectively (P < 0.05). Analysis using structural equation modeling revealed that returning organic material was conducive to the development of soil pore structure, characterized by an increase in macropores and fractal dimension and a decrease in the Euler number, had a positive correlation with soil enzyme activity. This, in turn, led to an alleviation in microbial nitrogen limitation. These results indicate that SMIT could serve as a viable choice in enhancing soil structure and fostering a favorable environment for microbial survival. Moreover, they offer essential insights into the microbial strategies responsible for the breakdown of organic matters in Hapli-Udic Cambisol.

Physical effects of 3D microenvironments on confined cell behaviors.

Cell migration is a fundamental and functional cellular process, influenced by complex microenvironment consisting of different cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). Recent research has highlighted that, besides biochemical cues from the microenvironment, physical cues can also greatly alter cellular behavior. However, due to the complexity of the microenvironment, little is known about how the physical interactions between migrating cells and surrounding microenvironment instruct cell movement. Here, we explore various examples of 3D microenvironment reconstruction models in vitro and describe how the physical interplay between migrating cells and the neighboring microenvironment controls cell behavior. Understanding this mechanical cooperation will provide key insights into organ development, regeneration, and tumor metastasis.

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells enhance acellular nerve allografts to promote peripheral nerve regeneration by facilitating angiogenesis.

Previous research has demonstrated the feasibility of repairing nerve defects through acellular allogeneic nerve grafting with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. However, adult tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells encounter various obstacles, including limited tissue sources, invasive acquisition methods, cellular heterogeneity, purification challenges, cellular senescence, and diminished pluripotency and proliferation over successive passages. In this study, we used induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells, known for their self-renewal capacity, multilineage differentiation potential, and immunomodulatory characteristics. We used induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells in conjunction with acellular nerve allografts to address a 10 mm-long defect in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury. Our findings reveal that induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells exhibit survival for up to 17 days in a rat model of peripheral nerve injury with acellular nerve allograft transplantation. Furthermore, the combination of acellular nerve allograft and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells significantly accelerates the regeneration of injured axons and improves behavioral function recovery in rats. Additionally, our in vivo and in vitro experiments indicate that induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells play a pivotal role in promoting neovascularization. Collectively, our results suggest the potential of acellular nerve allografts with induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells to augment nerve regeneration in rats, offering promising therapeutic strategies for clinical translation.

Strong, tough and environment-tolerant organohydrogels for flaw-insensitive strain sensing.

Conductive organohydrogels are promising for strain sensing, while their weak mechanical properties, poor crack propagation resistance and unstable sensing signals during long-term use have seriously limited their applications as high-performance strain sensors. Here, we propose a facile method, i.e., solvent exchange assisted hot-pressing, to prepare strong yet tough, transparent and anti-fatigue ionically conductive organohydrogels (ICOHs). The densified polymeric network and improved crystallinity endow ICOHs with excellent mechanical properties. The tensile strength, toughness, fracture energy and fatigue threshold of ICOHs can reach 36.12 ± 4.15 MPa, 54.57 ± 2.89 MJ m-3, 43.44 ± 8.54 kJ m-2 and 1212.86 ± 57.20 J m-2, respectively, with a satisfactory fracture strain of 266 ± 33%. In addition, ICOH strain sensors with freezing and drying resistance exhibit excellent cycling stability (10 000 cycles). More importantly, the fatigue resistance allows the notched strain sensor to work normally with no crack propagation and output stable and reliable sensing signals. Overall, the unique flaw-insensitive strain sensing makes ICOHs promising in the field of wearable and durable electronics.

Spatial Confinement Engineered Gel Composite Evaporators for Efficient Solar Steam Generation.

Recently, solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) has been developed quickly for low-cost and sustainable seawater desalination, but addressing the conflict between a high evaporation rate and salt rejection during SDIE is still challenging. Here, a spatial confinement strategy is proposed to prepare the gel composite solar evaporator (SCE) by loading one thin hydrogel layer onto the skeleton of a carbon aerogel. The SCE retains the hierarchically porous structure of carbon aerogels with an optimized water supply induced by dual-driven forces (capillary effects and osmotic pressure) and takes advantage of both aerogels and hydrogels, which can gain energy from air and reduce water enthalpy. The SCE has a high evaporation rate (up to 4.23 kg m-2 h-1 under one sun) and excellent salt rejection performance and can maintain structural integrity after long-term evaporation even at high salinities. The SDIE behavior, including heat distribution, water transport, and salt ion distribution, is investigated by combining theoretical simulations and experimental results. This work provides new inspiration and a theoretical basis for the development of high-performance interfacial evaporators.

Personality profiles and physical activity across adolescent: Based on latent profile analysis.

PURPOSE: Adolescent behavior is closely linked to personality, a key predictor of physical activity. Due to inconsistent findings on how personality dimensions influence physical activity, focusing on combinations of personality traits is more valuable for theoretical and practical guidance. This study aims to examine potential categories of adolescent personality and their relationship with physical activity. METHODS: Using data from the 2014-2015 China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), 9212 adolescents reported their "Big Five" personality and physical activity levels after excluding samples with missing core values. Latent profile analysis with Mplus 8.3 determined the optimal model by comparing model fits to categorize personality types. Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars (BHC) analysis was used to compared physical activity across personality profiles based on the resulting class differences and its significance. RESULTS: Latent profile analysis identified five personality trait types among adolescents based on fit indices such as AIC, BIC, aBIC, and Entropy: Low-control conservative group (5.0 %), Balanced development group (45.1 %), Optimistic action group (40.4 %), Independent avoidant group (4.5 %), and Introverted vulnerable group 5.0 %). Significant differences in physical activity were found among these profiles (p < 0.001), with individuals in the Optimistic action group tending to be more physically active and those in the Independent avoidance group being less physically active. CONCLUSION: Adolescent personality can be classified into five categories, and different combinations of personality traits can predict physical activity. The findings help identify adolescents who lack physical activity based on their personality profiles, allowing for the design of targeted psychological interventions to promote exercise motivation and foster healthy exercise habits. However, the study has limitations include a narrow age range and a single evaluation method. Future research could incorporate diverse evaluation methods and long-term tracking.

A multicenter, prospective, non-interventional real-world study to assess the effectiveness of mecapegfilgrastim in preventing neutropenia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Mecapegfilgrastim, a long-acting granulocyte-colony stimulating factor has been approved for reducing the incidence of infection, particularly febrile neutropenia (FN), in China. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a multicenter prospective observational study to examine the safety and effectiveness of mecapegfilgrastim in preventing neutropenia in gastrointestinal patients receiving the chemotherapy, including S-1/capecitabine-based regimens or the fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI)/fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX)/fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRINOX) regimens. METHOD: Five hundred and sixty-one gastrointestinal patients from 40 sites across China, between May 2019 and November 2021, were included. The administration of mecapegfilgrastim was prescribed at the discretion of local physicians. RESULTS: The most common adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of any grade for all patients was increased white blood cells (2.9%). Grade 3/4 ADRs were observed for anemia (0.2%), decreased white blood cells (0.2%), and decreased neutrophil count (0.2%). Among the 116 patients who received S-1/capecitabine-based chemotherapy throughout all cycles, ADRs of any grade included anemia (1.7%), myalgia (0.9%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (0.9%). No grade 3/4 ADRs were observed. In 414 cycles of patients who underwent S-1/capecitabine-based regimens, only one (0.2%) cycle experienced grade 4 neutropenia. In the FOLFIRINOX, FOLFOXIRI, and FOLFOX chemotherapy regimens, grade 4 neutropenia occurred in one (2.7%) of 37 cycles, four (4.7%) of 85 cycles, and two (1.2%) of 167 cycles, respectively. CONCLUSION: In a real-world setting, mecapegfilgrastim has proven effective in preventing severe neutropenia in gastrointestinal patients following chemotherapy. This includes commonly used moderate or high-risk FN regimens or regimens containing S1/capecitabine, all of which have demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety profiles.