Scalable Synthesis of Si Nanosheets as Stable Anodes for Practical Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Silicon (Si) is regarded as a promising anode material because of its outstanding theoretical capacity, abundant existence, and mature infrastructure, but it suffers from an inherent volume expansion problem. Herein, a facile, scalable, and cost-effective route to produce Si nanosheets (Si NSs) using a low-cost silica fume as the start materials is proposed. After coated with carbon, the as-prepared Si-NSs@C material delivers ultrahigh capability (2770 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C), high initial Coulombic efficiency (87.9%), and long cycling lifespan (100 cycles at 0.5 C with a capacity decay rate of 0.3% per cycle). Beyond proof of concept, this work demonstrates a Si-NSs based pouch cell with an impressive capacity retention of 70.9% after 400 cycles, making it more promising for practical application. Revealed by the theoretical simulation, kinetics analysis, and in situ thickness/pressure detection, it is found that the superior performance of Si-NSs is attributed to the improved diffusivity and reversibility of Li+ ions and low expansion.

Implanting Colloidal Nanoparticles into Single-Crystalline Zeolites for Catalytic Dehydration.

The encapsulation of functional colloidal nanoparticles (100 nm) into single-crystalline ZSM-5 zeolites, aiming to create uniform core-shell structures, is a highly sought-after yet formidable objective due to significant lattice mismatch and distinct crystallization properties. In this study, we demonstrate the fabrication of a core-shell structured single-crystal zeolite encompassing an Fe3O4 colloidal core via a novel confinement stepwise crystallization methodology. By engineering a confined nanocavity, anchoring nucleation sites, and executing stepwise crystallization, we have successfully encapsulated colloidal nanoparticles (CN) within single-crystal zeolites. These grafted sites, alongside the controlled crystallization process, compel the zeolite seed to nucleate and expand along the Fe3O4 colloidal nanoparticle surface, within a meticulously defined volume (1.5×107≤V≤1.3×108 nm3). Our strategy exhibits versatility and adaptability to an array of zeolites, including but not restricted to ZSM-5, NaA, ZSM-11, and TS-1 with polycrystalline zeolite shell. We highlight the uniformly structured magnetic-nucleus single-crystalline zeolite, which displays pronounced superparamagnetism (14 emu/g) and robust acidity (~0.83 mmol/g). This innovative material has been effectively utilized in a magnetically stabilized bed (MSB) reactor for the dehydration of ethanol, delivering an exceptional conversion rate (98 %), supreme ethylene selectivity (98 %), and superior catalytic endurance (in excess of 100 hours).

Micelle-directed self-assembly of single-crystal-like mesoporous stoichiometric oxides for high-performance lithium storage.

Due to their uncontrollable assembly and crystallization process, the synthesis of mesoporous metal oxide single crystals remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we report the synthesis of single-crystal-like mesoporous Li2TiSiO5 by using soft micelles as templates. The key lies in the atomic-scale self-assembly and step-crystallization processes, which ensure the formation of single-crystal-like mesoporous Li2TiSiO5 microparticles via an oriented attachment growth mechanism under the confinement of an in-situ formed carbon matrix. The mesoporous Li2TiSiO5 anode achieves a superior rate capability (148 mAh g-1 at 5.0 A g-1) and outstanding long-term cycling stability (138 mAh g-1 after 3000 cycles at 2.0 A g-1) for lithium storage as a result of the ultrafast Li+ diffusion caused by penetrating mesochannels and nanosized crystal frameworks (5-10 nm). In comparison, bulk Li2TiSiO5 exhibits poor rate capability and cycle performance due to micron-scale diffusion lengths. This method is very simple and reproducible, heralding a new way of designing and synthesizing mesoporous single crystals with controllable frameworks and chemical functionalities.

Apparent diffusion coefficient measurements of bone marrow infiltration patterns in multiple myeloma for the assessment of tumor burden - a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to explore and compare the tumor burden of different bone marrow infiltration patterns and evaluate the feasibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value to identify patterns in multiple myeloma (MM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-three patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and 23 controls had undergone routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) from January 2019 to November 2020. Five bone marrow (BM) infiltration patterns were allocated according to routine MRI. The laboratory data and ADC values of patterns were analyzed and compared. ROC analysis was used to establish the best diagnostic ADC threshold value for identifying these patterns and distinguishing normal pattern from controls. Besides, the correlation between the ADC values of diffuse pattern and the plasma cells ratio was assessed. RESULTS: The values of hemoglobin, beta-2 microglobulin (ß2-MG), plasma cell, M protein, the percentages of stage, high-risk fluorescence in situ hybridization, and ADC values showed significant difference among patterns. ADCmean at a specific value (368.5×10-6 mm2/s) yielded a maximum specificity (95.5%) and sensitivity (92.0%) in diagnosing MM. A specific value (335.5×10-6mm2/s) yielded a maximum specificity (84.7%) and sensitivity (88.0%) in discriminating visually normal pattern in MM from controls. There was a moderate positive correlation between the plasma cells ratio and ADCs of diffuse infiltration patterns (r = 0.648, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The bone marrow infiltration patterns in MM patients can indicate the tumor burden and ADC value has the ability to discriminate these patterns objectively.

Stepwise Monomicelle Assembly for Highly Ordered Mesoporous TiO2 Membranes with Precisely Tailored Mesophase and Porosity.

Mesoporous materials with crystalline frameworks have been acknowledged as very attractive materials in various applications. Nevertheless, due to the cracking issue during crystallization and incompatible hydrolysis and assembly, the precise control for crystalline mesoscale membranes is quite infertile. Herein, we presented an ingenious stepwise monomicelle assembly route for the syntheses of highly ordered mesoporous crystalline TiO2 membranes with delicately controlled mesophase, mesoporosity, and thickness. Such a process involves the preparation of monomicelle hydrogels and follows self-assembly by stepwise solvent evaporation, which enables the sensitive hydrolysis of TiO2 oligomers and dilatory micelle assembly to be united. In consequence, the fabricated mesoporous TiO2 membranes exhibit a broad flexibility, including tunable ordered mesophases (worm-like, hexagonal p6mm to body-centered cubic Im3̅m), controlled mesopore sizes (3.0-8.0 nm), and anatase grain sizes (2.3-8.4 nm). Besides, such mesostructured crystalline TiO2 membranes can be extended to diverse substrates (Ti, Ag, Si, FTO) with tailored thickness. The great mesoporosity of the in situ fabricated mesoscopic membranes also affords excellent pseudocapacitive behavior for sodium ion storage. This study underscores a novel pathway for balancing the interaction of precursors and micelles, which could have implications for synthesizing crystalline mesostructures in higher controllability.

Remodeling nanodroplets into hierarchical mesoporous silica nanoreactors with multiple chambers.

Multi-chambered architectures have attracted much attention due to the ability to establish multifunctional partitions in different chambers, but manipulating the chamber numbers and coupling multi-functionality within the multi-chambered mesoporous nanoparticle remains a challenge. Herein, we propose a nanodroplet remodeling strategy for the synthesis of hierarchical multi-chambered mesoporous silica nanoparticles with tunable architectures. Typically, the dual-chambered nanoparticles with a high surface area of ~469 m2 g-1 present two interconnected cavities like a calabash. Furthermore, based on this nanodroplet remodeling strategy, multiple species (magnetic, catalytic, optic, etc.) can be separately anchored in different chamber without obvious mutual-crosstalk. We design a dual-chambered mesoporous nanoreactors with spatial isolation of Au and Pd active-sites for the cascade synthesis of 2-phenylindole from 1-nitro-2-(phenylethynyl)benzene. Due to the efficient mass transfer of reactants and intermediates in the dual-chambered structure, the selectivity of the target product reaches to ~76.5%, far exceeding that of single-chambered nanoreactors (~41.3%).

Synthesis of Fully Exposed Single-Atom-Layer Metal Clusters on 2D Ordered Mesoporous TiO2 Nanosheets.

A sulfhydryl monomicelles interfacial assembly strategy is presented for the synthesis of fully exposed single-atom-layer Pt clusters on 2D mesoporous TiO2 (SAL-Pt@mTiO2 ) nanosheets. This synthesis features the introduction of the sulfhydryl group in monomicelles to finely realize the controllable co-assembly process of Pt precursors within ordered mesostructures. The resultant SAL-Pt@mTiO2 shows uniform SAL Pt clusters (≈1.2 nm) anchored in ultrathin 2D nanosheets (≈7 nm) with a high surface area (139 m2 g-1 ), a large pore size (≈25 nm) and a high dispersion (≈99 %). Moreover, this strategy is universal for the synthesis of other SAL metal clusters (Pd and Au) on 2D mTiO2 with high exposure and accessibility. When used as a catalyst for hydrogenation of 4-nitrostyrene, the SAL-Pt@mTiO2 shows a high catalytic activity (TOF up to 2424 h-1 ), 100 % selectivity for 4-aminostyrene, good stability, and anti-resistance to thiourea poisoning under relatively mild conditions (25 °C, 10 bar).

Disordered Gut Microbiota in Colorectal Tumor-Bearing Mice Altered Serum Metabolome Related to Fufangchangtai.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota (GM) and serum metabolism using antineoplastic Fufangchangtai (FFCT) as the model prescription in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Tumor-bearing mice and normal mice were administered different doses of FFCT. The tumor volume of tumor-bearing mice was observed. The levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the blood, spleen, and tumor of mice were determined using a flow cytometer. The bacterial microbiota in stool samples from mice and the serum metabolomics of FFCT-treated mice and fecal microbiota transplantation mice were detected using 16s RNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS), respectively. Results: The tumor volume of mice showed no significant decrease after FFCT intervention. The levels of CD4+ and CD8+T lymphocytes showed a significant increase under the intervention of FFCT. GM of colorectal tumor-bearing mice and healthy mice were determined, and the diversity and abundance of Firmicutes, Deferribacteres, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore, we found that the levels of matrine, isogingerenone B, and armillaripin were significantly decreased in tumor-bearing mice after FFCT intervention, indicating that the tumor-induced dysbiosis of gut bacteria may affect the absorption and metabolism of FFCT. Under the intervention of FFCT, serum metabolism of mice transplanted with feces from CRC patients showed less metabolites related to FFCT than that from healthy people, indicating that GM could be a single factor affecting the metabolism of FFCT. Furthermore, we found that different doses of FFCT-treated mice had higher abundance of Roseburia, Turicibacter, and Flexispira than that in the non-intervention control group. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in FFCT-treated groups showed a similar trend compared to the healthy group, indicating that FFCT might correct the intestinal microenvironment by modulating gut microbiota in colorectal tumor-bearing mice. Conclusion: The dysbiosis of GM in tumor-bearing mice reduced the serum metabolites related to FFCT, and FFCT could correct the disordered GM of colorectal tumor-bearing mice to exert efficacy.

Modular super-assembly of hierarchical superstructures from monomicelle building blocks.

Manipulating the super-assembly of polymeric building blocks still remains a great challenge due to their thermodynamic instability. Here, we report on a type of three-dimensional hierarchical core-satellite SiO2@monomicelle spherical superstructures via a previously unexplored monomicelle interfacial super-assembly route. Notably, in this superstructure, an ultrathin single layer of monomicelle subunits (~18 nm) appears in a typically hexagon-like regular discontinuous distribution (adjacent micelle distance of ~30 nm) on solid spherical interfaces (SiO2), which is difficult to achieve by conventional super-assembled methods. Besides, the number of the monomicelles on colloidal SiO2 interfaces can be quantitatively controlled (from 76 to 180). This quantitative control can be precisely manipulated by tuning the interparticle electrostatic interactions (the intermicellar electrostatic repulsion and electrostatic attractions between the monomicelle units and the SiO2 substrate). This monomicelle interfacial super-assembly strategy will enable a controllable way for building multiscale hierarchical regular micro- and/or macroscale materials and devices.

Enzyme-Based Mesoporous Nanomotors with Near-Infrared Optical Brakes.

As one of the most important parameters of the nanomotors' motion, precise speed control of enzyme-based nanomotors is highly desirable in many bioapplications. However, owing to the stable physiological environment, it is still very difficult to in situ manipulate the motion of the enzyme-based nanomotors. Herein, inspired by the brakes on vehicles, the near-infrared (NIR) "optical brakes" are introduced in the glucose-driven enzyme-based mesoporous nanomotors to realize remote speed regulation for the first time. The novel nanomotors are rationally designed and fabricated based on the Janus mesoporous nanostructure, which consists of the SiO2@Au core@shell nanospheres and the enzymes-modified periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs). The nanomotor can be driven by the biofuel of glucose under the catalysis of enzymes (glucose oxidase/catalase) on the PMO domain. Meanwhile, the Au nanoshell at the SiO2@Au domain enables the generation of the local thermal gradient under the NIR light irradiation, driving the nanomotor by thermophoresis. Taking advantage of the unique Janus nanostructure, the directions of the driving force induced by enzyme catalysis and the thermophoretic force induced by NIR photothermal effect are opposite. Therefore, with the NIR optical speed regulators, the glucose-driven nanomotors can achieve remote speed manipulation from 3.46 to 6.49 µm/s (9.9-18.5 body-length/s) at the fixed glucose concentration, even after covering with a biological tissue. As a proof of concept, the cellar uptake of the such mesoporous nanomotors can be remotely regulated (57.5-109 µg/mg), which offers great potential for designing smart active drug delivery systems based on the mesoporous frameworks of this novel nanomotor.

Streamlined Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles with Tunable Curvature from Interfacial Dynamic-Migration Strategy for Nanomotors.

Streamlined architectures with a low fluid-resistance coefficient have been receiving great attention in various fields. However, it is still a great challenge to synthesize streamlined architecture with tunable surface curvature at the nanoscale. Herein, we report a facile interfacial dynamic migration strategy for the synthesis of streamlined mesoporous nanotadpoles with varied architectures. These tadpole-like nanoparticles possess a big streamlined head and a slender tail, which exhibit large inner cavities (75-170 nm), high surface areas (424-488 m2 g-1), and uniform mesopore sizes (2.4-3.2 nm). The head curvature of the streamlined mesoporous nanoparticles can be well-tuned from ∼2.96 × 10-2 to ∼5.56 × 10-2 nm-1, and the tail length can also be regulated from ∼30 to ∼650 nm. By selectively loading the Fe3O4 catalyst in the cavity of the streamlined silica nanotadpoles, the H2O2-driven mesoporous nanomotors were designed. The mesoporous nanomotors with optimized structural parameters exhibit outstanding directionality and a diffusion coefficient of 8.15 µm2 s-1.

A Prognostic Model Based on the Immune-Related lncRNAs in Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with a poor prognosis. At present, the pathogenesis is not completely clear. Therefore, finding reliable prognostic indicators for CRC is of important clinical significance. In this study, bioinformatics methods were used to screen the prognostic immune-related lncRNAs of CRC, and a prognostic risk scoring model based on immune-related lncRNAs signatures were constructed to provide a basis for prognostic evaluation and immunotherapy of CRC patients. METHODS: The clinical information and RNA-seq data of CRC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The information of immune-related lncRNA was downloaded from the immunology database and analysis portal. The differentially expressed immune-related lncRNAs (IRLs) were screened by the edgeR package of R software. The prognostic value of IRLs was studied. Based on Cox regression analysis, a prognostic index (IRLPI) based on IRLs was established, and the relationship between the risk score and the clinicopathological characteristics of CRC was analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the risk score model as an independent prognostic factor. RESULTS: A total of 240 differentially expressed IRLs were identified between normal colorectal cancer tissues and normal colorectal cancer tissues, in which 8 were significantly associated with the survival of CRC patients (P < 0.05), including LINC00461, LINC01055, ELFN1-AS1, LMO7-AS1, CYP4A22-AS1, AC079612.1, LINC01351, and MIR31HG. And most of the lncRNAs related to survival were risk factors for the prognosis of CRC. The index established based on the 7 survival-related IRLs found to be highly accurate in monitoring CRC prognosis. Besides, IRLPI was significantly correlated with a variety of pathological factors and immune cell infiltration. CONCLUSION: Eight immune-related lncRNAs closely related to the prognosis of CRC patients were identified from the TCGA database. At the same time, an independent IRLPI was constructed, which may be helpful for clinicians to assess the prognosis of patients with CRC and to formulate individualized treatment plans.

Exploring the Possible Mechanism and Drug Targets of Huang-Qi-Gui-Zhi-Wu-Wu Decoction for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy on Network Pharmacology.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common side effect of anticancer treatment, which may influence its successful completion. The Huang-Qi-Gui-Zhi-Wu-Wu decoction (HQGZWWD) has been widely used to treat CIPN in China although the pharmacological mechanisms involved have not been clarified. Using the network pharmacology approach, this study investigated the potential pathogenesis of CIPN and the therapeutic mechanisms exerted by the HQGZWWD herbal formula in CIPN. The targets of HQGZWWD were identified using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) databases (TCMSP and ETCM) and prediction platforms (PharmMapper and TargetNet), and the genes of CIPN were collected by DisGeNET, GeneCards, and literature search. The common target interaction network between herbal formula and diseases was constructed by using Cytoscape. Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were used to reveal the mechanism and efficacy of HQGZWWD in the treatment of CIPN. A total of 153 CIPN-related genes were screened, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network with 96 nodes and 424 edges was constructed. Sixty-three active components were retrieved from HQGZWWD, with a herb-composite compound-target network including 748 nodes and 5448 edges. Forty-one targets belong to the above two networks. The analysis of network results and literature review shows that the main pathological processes of CIPN may be the inflammatory response and nerve injury, and HQGZWWD plays a therapeutic role in CIPN by regulating inflammatory response and repairing nerve injury, thus verifying the reliable efficacy of this herbal formula. In addition, we found two new potential therapeutic targets (CDK7 and GSTM2) warranting further investigation. This study fully illustrates that TCM has the characteristics of a multicompound, multitarget, and multipathway treatment, which is of great significance to study the curative effect of herbal formulations.

Identification and Verification of Core Genes in Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer, a malignant neoplasm that occurs in the colorectal mucosa, is one of the most common types of gastrointestinal cancer. Colorectal cancer has been studied extensively, but the molecular mechanisms of this malignancy have not been characterized. This study identified and verified core genes associated with colorectal cancer using integrated bioinformatics analysis. Three gene expression profiles (GSE15781, GSE110223, and GSE110224) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. A total of 87 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among GSE15781, GSE110223, and GSE110224 were identified, including 19 upregulated genes and 68 downregulated genes. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis was performed for common DEGs using clusterProfiler. These common DEGs were significantly involved in cancer-associated functions and signaling pathways. Then, we constructed protein-protein interaction networks of these common DEGs using Cytoscape software, which resulted in the identification of the following 10 core genes: SST, PYY, CXCL1, CXCL8, CXCL3, ZG16, AQP8, CLCA4, MS4A12, and GUCA2A. Analysis using qRT-PCR has shown that SST, CXCL8, and MS4A12 were significant differentially expressed between colorectal cancer tissues and normal colorectal tissues (P < 0.05). Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) overall survival (OS) has shown that low expressions of AQP8, ZG16, CXCL3, and CXCL8 may predict poor survival outcome in colorectal cancer. In conclusion, the core genes identified in this study contributed to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in colorectal cancer development and may be targets for early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of colorectal cancer.

The Identification and Verification of Key Long Noncoding RNAs in Ischemic Stroke.

Stroke is a neurological disease with high rates of mortality and disability. The pathogenesis of stroke is acute focal injury of the central nervous system, leading to impaired neural function. Ischemic stroke accounts for the majority of cases. At present, the exact molecular mechanism of ischemic stroke remains unclear. Studies have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have an important regulatory role in biological processes, participating in the regulation of transcription and affecting the processing and splicing of mRNAs. Abnormal lncRNA expression is associated with various diseases, including diseases of the nervous system. To identify and verify the key lncRNAs in ischemic stroke, we downloaded gene expression data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus (NCBI GEO) and obtain differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs by bioinformatics analysis. Cytoscape was used to reconstruct a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network on the basis of the competitive endogenous RNA theory. We performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses of the mRNAs regulated by lncRNAs in the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. The resulting lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was composed of 91 lncRNA nodes, 70 mRNA nodes, 21 miRNA nodes, and 288 edges. GO analysis and KEGG pathway analysis have shown that 191 GO terms and 23 KEGG pathways were enriched. Finally, we found that four key lncRNAs were highly correlated with ischemic stroke and could be used as potential new targets for treatment.

Exosomal Transfer Of Cisplatin-Induced miR-425-3p Confers Cisplatin Resistance In NSCLC Through Activating Autophagy.

INTRODUCTION: Exosomes are important mediators of intercellular communication. Previously, we characterized circulating exosomal miR-425-3p as a non-invasive prognostic marker for predicting clinical response to platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Circulating exosomal miR-425-3p was validated by qRT-PCR in paired serum samples from NSCLC patients during the course of platinum-based chemotherapy. Cell coculture was performed to examine the effects of exosomal miR-425-3p on the sensitivity of recipient A549 cells to cisplatin. Using bioinformatics, ChIP and luciferase reporter assays, the transcription factor essential for miR-425-3p expression was identified. Autophagic activity in the recipient cells was determined by Western blot and fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: Higher levels of exosomal miR-425-3p were found in serum samples from the patients in tolerance versus those at baseline. An upward trend in the expression of circulating exosomal miR-425-3p was revealed during chemotherapy. Furthermore, the expression of exosomal miR-425-3p could be induced by cisplatin in NSCLC cells. Exosomes isolated from either cisplatin-treated or cisplatin-resistant NSCLC cells conferred chemoresistance to sensitive A549 cells in a miR-425-3p-dependent manner. Cisplatin-induced c-Myc was found to directly bind the miR-425-3p promoter and transactivated its expression. Exosomal miR-425-3p facilitated autophagic activation in the recipient cells by targeting AKT1, eventually leading to chemoresistance. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that apart from a prognostic marker of treatment response, exosomal miR-425-3p might be a potential dynamic biomarker to tailor cisplatin resistance in NSCLC patients during the treatment and represent a promising therapeutic target for therapy-resistant NSCLC.

Effects of applying Lactobacillus helveticus H9 as adjunct starter culture in yogurt fermentation and storage.

Lactobacillus helveticus H9 is a probiotic bacterium originating from traditional Tibetan kurut. It has high angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitory (ACEI) and antihypertensive activities. We aimed to evaluate the effects of L. helveticus H9 supplementation in yogurt fermentation and storage. We monitored changes of multiple parameters over 28 d of storage at 4°C; namely, pH, titratable acidity, free amino groups, ACEI activity, physical properties, volatile flavor compounds, and sensory quality. Supplementation of L. helveticus H9 enhanced fermented milk acidification and proteolysis, resulting in a shorter fermentation time. The H9 treatment significantly increased the ACEI activity of the fermented milks. Fifteen key volatile flavors were detected by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry across all samples. More alcohols, aldehydes, and nitrogenous compounds, especially acetoin and benzaldehyde, were detected in the H9-supplemented fermented milks. The human sensory scores for flavor and texture, but not appearance, were lower for the H9-supplemented fermented milks, particularly beyond 2 wk of cold storage. Our results will be of interest to the dairy industry for developing novel functional dairy products.

Prognostic Role of Circulating Exosomal miR-425-3p for the Response of NSCLC to Platinum-Based Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Platinum-based doublets with a third-generation agent are the recommended option for many patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with no contraindications to platinum compounds. Unfortunately, the clinical effectiveness of such chemotherapy is limited by intrinsic or acquired resistance. METHODS: Circulating exosomal miRNAs were isolated and used to perform HiSeq deep-sequencing analyses on serum pool samples from platinum-resistant or platinum-sensitive patients, and six exosomal miRNAs were further validated for their predictive utility by qRT-PCR in 170 serum samples of patients with advanced NSCLC. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments clarified the responsiveness regulating role of the clinically relevant miRNA. IHC analyses were performed to evaluate the association between basal autophagy in lung cancer tissues and responsiveness in 203 patients with NSCLC receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. RESULTS: Six circulating exosomal miRNAs (miR-425-3p, miR-1273h, miR-4755-5p, miR-9-5p, miR-146a-5p, and miR-215-5p) were found to be differentially expressed with the largest fold change in platinum-resistant patients compared with platinum-sensitive patients. High miR-425-3p proved to be a potent predictive biomarker for low responsiveness and poor progression-free survival (PFS). Mechanistically, miR-425-3p upregulated the autophagic levels via targeting AKT1, leading to the decrease in therapeutic response. Concordantly, high levels of basal autophagy in lung cancer tissues correlate with low responsiveness in patients with NSCLC within the early and advanced disease stages. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights circulating exosomal miR-425-3p as a potential biomarker for improved predictions of the clinical response to platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC. IMPACT: This study provides the first evidence that miR-425-3p in NSCLC patient-derived exosomes can be a marker for predicating the clinical response to platinum-based chemotherapy.

Screening for Lactobacillus plantarum Strains That Possess Organophosphorus Pesticide-Degrading Activity and Metabolomic Analysis of Phorate Degradation.

This work performed a large scale assessment for organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) degradation activity of 121 Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum strains. Six L. plantarum strains (P9, IMAU80110, IMAU40100, IMAU10585, IMAU10209, and IMAU80070) were found to possess high capacity of degrading three commonly used OPPs, namely dimethoate, phorate, and omethoate; and they were selected for more detailed characterization. Moreover, the three OPPs were mainly detected in the culture supernatants but not in the cell extracts, further confirming that the OPPs were degraded rather than absorbed by the cells. Among the six selected strains, P9 was most tolerant to gastrointestinal juices and bile. We thus used ultra-high performance liquid chromatography electron spray ionization coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-Q-TOF/MS) to generate the metabolomic profiles of the strain P9 growing in MRS medium with and without containing phorate. By using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, we identified some potential phorate-derived degradative products. This work has identified novel lactic acid bacteria resources for application in pesticide degradation. Our results also shed light on the phorate degradation mechanism by L. plantarum P9.