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This corrects the article on p. 306 in vol. 53, PMID: 37524378.
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In this manuscript, we develop a multi-party framework tailored for multiple data contributors seeking machine learning insights from combined data sources. Grounded in statistical learning principles, we introduce the Multi-Key Homomorphic Encryption Logistic Regression (MK-HELR) algorithm, designed to execute logistic regression on encrypted multi-party data. Given that models built on aggregated datasets often demonstrate superior generalization capabilities, our approach offers data contributors the collective strength of shared data while ensuring their original data remains private due to encryption. Apart from facilitating logistic regression on combined encrypted data from diverse sources, this algorithm creates a collaborative learning environment with dynamic membership. Notably, it can seamlessly incorporate new participants during the learning process, addressing the key limitation of prior methods that demanded a predetermined number of contributors to be set before the learning process begins. This flexibility is crucial in real-world scenarios, accommodating varying data contribution timelines and unanticipated fluctuations in participant numbers, due to additions and departures. Using the AI4I public predictive maintenance dataset, we demonstrate the MK-HELR algorithm, setting the stage for further research in secure, dynamic, and collaborative multi-party learning scenarios.
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Aspergillus fumigatus is commonly found in the airway and is associated with airway inflammatory diseases. Zinc oxide (ZO) is known to be an essential microelement that facilitates fungal survival, growth, and proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the impact of ZO on A. fumigatus-induced fungal sinusitis in rabbits. Twenty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four groups for this study. Group 1 (6 sides) was treated with intramaxillary phosphate buffer saline (PBS) served as the negative control, Group 2 (6 sides) received intramaxillary PBS and ZO, Group 3 (8 sides) was treated with intramaxillary A. fumigatus alone, and Group 4 (8 sides) treated with intramaxillary A. fumigatus with ZO. After 4 and 12 weeks, sinus mucosal cytokine and transcription factor expressions were determined. A histological analysis was performed to determine inflammatory cell infiltration, number of secretory cells, and mucosal thickness. Fungal biofilm formation was determined using confocal laser microscopy. The intramaxillary instillation of A. fumigatus conidia led to an increase in protein and mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-8 in the maxillary sinus mucosa. They were associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase and activator protein-1. Furthermore, intramaxillary instillation of fungal conidia resulted in significant enhancement of inflammatory cell infiltration, epithelial thickening, and fungal biofilm formation. However, intramaxillary ZO did not have a significant impact on A. fumigatus-induced cytokine protein and mRNA expression, and inflammatory cell infiltration and epithelial thickness in sinonasal mucosa. While intramaxillary instillation of A. fumigatus increased mucosal inflammation, cytokine production, and biofilm formation, the intramaxillary application of ZO did not have a significant influence on inflammation in the maxillary sinus mucosa.
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Allergic asthma is a type 2 immune-response-mediated chronic respiratory disease. Mast cell activation influences the pathogenesis and exacerbation of allergic asthma. Therefore, the development of mast cell-targeting pharmacotherapy is important for managing allergic airway inflammation. We investigated the efficacy of hispidulin (HPD), natural flavone, in a mast-cell-mediated ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway inflammation model. HPD alleviated symptoms of allergic asthma and decreased the levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) E, type 2 inflammation, immune cell infiltration, and mast cell activation in the lung. Furthermore, in vivo analysis confirmed the efficacy of HPD through the evaluation of IgE-mediated allergic responses in a mast cell line. HPD treatment inhibited mast cell degranulation through inhibition of the FcεR1 signaling pathway and suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-13) through suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway. The antioxidant effects of HPD in activated mast cells were identified through modulation of antioxidant enzymes and the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. In conclusion, HPD may be a potential therapeutic candidate for allergic airway inflammation of asthma and acts by suppressing mast cell activation and oxidative stress.
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Hydrogels hold significant promise as drug delivery systems due to their distinct advantage of sustained localized drug release. However, the challenge of regulating the initial burst release while achieving precise control over degradation and drug-release kinetics persists. Herein, we present an ABA-type triblock copolymer-based hydrogel system with precisely programmable degradation and release kinetics. The resulting hydrogels were designed with a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) midblock and a hydrophobic end-block composed of polyethers with varying ratios of ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether and tetrahydropyranyl glycidyl ether acetal pendant possessing different hydrolysis kinetics. This unique side-chain strategy enabled us to achieve a broad spectrum of precise degradation and drug-release profiles under mildly acidic conditions while maintaining the cross-linking density and viscoelastic modulus, which is unlike the conventional polyester-based backbone degradation system. Furthermore, programmable degradation of the hydrogels and release of active therapeutic agent paclitaxel loaded therein are demonstrated in an in vivo mouse model by suppressing tumor recurrence following surgical resection. Tuning of the fraction of two acetal pendants in the end-block provided delicate tailoring of hydrogel degradation and the drug release capability to achieve the desired therapeutic efficacy. This study not only affords a facile means to design hydrogels with precisely programmable degradation and release profiles but also highlights the critical importance of aligning the drug release profile with the target disease.
Subject(s)
Drug Liberation , Hydrogels , Hydrogels/chemistry , Hydrogels/chemical synthesis , Animals , Mice , Acetals/chemistry , Paclitaxel/chemistry , Paclitaxel/pharmacokinetics , Ethers/chemistry , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Polymers/chemistry , Polymers/chemical synthesis , Drug Carriers/chemistryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Inter-individual variation in blood pressure (BP) arises in part from sequence variants within enhancers modulating the expression of causal genes. We propose that these genes, active in tissues relevant to BP physiology, can be identified from tissue-level epigenomic data and genotypes of BP-phenotyped individuals. METHODS: We used chromatin accessibility data from the heart, adrenal, kidney, and artery to identify cis-regulatory elements (CREs) in these tissues and estimate the impact of common human single-nucleotide variants within these CREs on gene expression, using machine learning methods. To identify causal genes, we performed a gene-wise association test. We conducted analyses in 2 separate large-scale cohorts: 77â 822 individuals from the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging and 315â 270 individuals from the UK Biobank. RESULTS: We identified 309, 259, 331, and 367 genes (false discovery rate <0.05) for diastolic BP and 191, 184, 204, and 204 genes for systolic BP in the artery, kidney, heart, and adrenal, respectively, in Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging; 50% to 70% of these genes were replicated in the UK Biobank, significantly higher than the 12% to 15% expected by chance (P<0.0001). These results enabled tissue expression prediction of these 988 to 2875 putative BP genes in individuals of both cohorts to construct an expression polygenic score. This score explained ≈27% of the reported single-nucleotide variant heritability, substantially higher than expected from prior studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our work demonstrates the power of tissue-restricted comprehensive CRE analysis, followed by CRE-based expression prediction, for understanding BP regulation in relevant tissues and provides dual-modality supporting evidence, CRE and expression, for the causality genes.
Subject(s)
Blood Pressure , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Humans , Blood Pressure/genetics , Blood Pressure/physiology , Male , Female , Enhancer Elements, Genetic/genetics , Middle Aged , Gene Expression Regulation , Hypertension/genetics , Hypertension/physiopathology , Aged , Kidney/metabolism , Adult , Adrenal Glands/metabolism , Genome-Wide Association Study/methodsABSTRACT
Thrombosis can cause life-threatening disorders. Unfortunately, current therapeutic methods for thrombosis using injecting thrombolytic medicines systemically resulted in unexpected bleeding complications. Moreover, the absence of practical imaging tools for thrombi raised dangers of undertreatment and overtreatment. This study develops a theranostic drug carrier, Pkr(IR-Ca/Pda-uPA)-cRGD, that enables real-time monitoring of the targeted thrombolytic process of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Pkr(IR-Ca/Pda-uPA)-cRGD, which is prepared from a Pickering-emulsion-like system, encapsulates both near-infrared-II (NIR-II) contrast agent (IR-1048 dye, loading capacity: 28%) and urokinase plasminogen activators (uPAs, encapsulation efficiency: 89%), pioneering the loading of multiple drugs with contrasting hydrophilicity into one single-drug carrier. Upon intravenous injection, Pkr(IR-Ca/Pda-uPA)-cRGD considerably targets to thrombi selectively (targeting rate: 91%) and disintegrates in response to acidic thrombi to release IR-1048 dye and uPA for imaging and thrombolysis, respectively. Investigations indicate that Pkr(IR-Ca/Pda-uPA)-cRGD enabled real-time visualization of targeted thrombolysis using NIR-II imaging in DVT models, in which thrombi were eliminated (120 min after drug injection) without bleeding complications. This may be the first study using convenient NIR-II imaging for real-time visualization of targeted thrombolysis. It represents the precision medicine that enables rapid response to acquire instantaneous medical images and make necessary real-time adjustments to diagnostic and therapeutic protocols during treatment.
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Purpose: Peripheral nerve damage lacks an appropriate diagnosis consistent with the patient's symptoms, despite expensive magnetic resonance imaging or electrodiagnostic assessments, which cause discomfort. Ultrasonography is valuable for diagnosing and treating nerve lesions; however, it is unsuitable for detecting small lesions. Poly(vanillin-oxalate) (PVO) nanoparticles are prepared from vanillin, a phytochemical with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Previously, PVO nanoparticles were cleaved by H2O2 to release vanillin, exert therapeutic efficacy, and generate CO2 to increase ultrasound contrast. However, the role of PVO nanoparticles in peripheral nerve lesion models is still unknown. Herein, we aimed to determine whether PVO nanoparticles can function as contrast and therapeutic agents for nerve lesions. Methods: To induce sciatic neuritis, rats were administered a perineural injection of carrageenan using a nerve stimulator under ultrasonographic guidance, and PVO nanoparticles were injected perineurally to evaluate ultrasonographic contrast and therapeutic effects. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was performed to detect mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, ie, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and cyclooxygenase-2. Results: In the rat model of sciatic neuritis, PVO nanoparticles generated CO2 bubbles to increase ultrasonographic contrast, and a single perineural injection of PVO nanoparticles suppressed the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and cyclooxygenase-2, reduced the expression of F4/80, and increased the expression of GAP43. Conclusion: The results of the current study suggest that PVO nanoparticles could be developed as ultrasonographic contrast agents and therapeutic agents for nerve lesions.
Subject(s)
Benzaldehydes , Nanoparticles , Sciatic Neuropathy , Rats , Humans , Animals , Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Carbon Dioxide , Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism , Sciatic Neuropathy/metabolism , Sciatic Neuropathy/pathology , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Sciatic Nerve/diagnostic imaging , Sciatic Nerve/metabolismABSTRACT
We propose an integrated methodology for the design and fabrication of 3D micromodels that are suitable for the pore-scale study of transport processes in macroporous materials. The micromodels, that bear the pore-scale characteristics of sandstone, such as porosity, mean pore size, etc, are designed following a stochastic reconstruction algorithm that allows for fine-tuning the porosity and the correlation length of the spatial distribution of the solid material. We then construct a series of 3D micromodels at very fine resolution (i.e. 16 µ m) using a state-of-the-art 3D printing infrastructure, specifically a ProJet MJP3600 3D printer, that utilizes the Material Jetting technology. Within the technical constraints of the 3D printer resolution, the fabricated micromodels represent scaled-up replicas of natural sandstones, that are suitable for the study of the scaling between the permeability, the porosity and the mean pore size. The REV- and pore-scale characteristics of the resulting physical micromodels are recovered using a combination of X-ray micro-CT and microfluidic studies. The experimental results are then compared with single-phase flow simulations at pore-scale and geostatistic models in order to determine the effects of the design parameters on the intrinsic permeability and the spatial correlation of the velocity profile. Our numerical and experimental measurements reveal an excellent match between the properties of the designed and fabricated 3D domains, thus demonstrating the robustness of the proposed methodology for the construction of 3D micromodels with fine-tuned and well-controlled pore-scale characteristics. Furthermore, a pore-scale numerical study over a wider range of 3D digital domain realizations reveals a very good match of the measured permeabilities with the predictions of the Kozeny-Carman formulation based on a single control parameter, k 0 , that is found to have a practically constant value for porosities Ï ≥ 0.2 . This, in turn, enables us to customize the sample size to meet REV constraints, including enlarging pore morphology while considering the Reynolds number. It is also found that at lower porosities there is a significant increase in the fraction of the non-percolating pores, thus leading to different k 0 , as the porosity approaches a numerically determined critical porosity value, Ï c , where the domain is no longer percolating.
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OBJECTIVE: In this study, we examine how impairments in vision, hearing, touch, and olfaction relate to depression in older adults, considering both individual and multisensory impairments (MSIs). STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of cross-sectional data from a longitudinal investigation involving black and white older adults aged 70 to 79 at enrollment. SETTING: We studied 1640 black and white participants in the Health ABC study using complete sensory evaluation data from years 3 to 5. METHODS: Our MSI assessment utilized data obtained for visual acuity, hearing perception, olfactory performance, and tactile function. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine the associations between the presence of individual and MSIs and depression which was defined as the presence of antidepressants prescribed for depression, or a Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale score of greater than 10. RESULTS: We observed a possible dose-response relationship between the number of sensory impairments and depression. In adjusted models, when compared to no impairments, vision (odds ratio [OR] = 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.93) and hearing impairments (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.11-1.99) were significantly associated with depression, whereas olfaction (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.83-1.47) and tactile impairments (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 0.96-1.70) were not. Participants with 3 sensory impairments had a higher rate of depression (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.22-3.54) compared to those without impairments, and this risk increased further for those with 4 sensory impairments (OR = 2.95, 95% CI: 1.48-5.88). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that individuals with MSI represent a high-risk population for depression, warranting close monitoring to screen for depression. The study emphasizes the importance of considering multiple sensory impairments in the context of mental health and supports the early identification and monitoring of depression in this population.
Subject(s)
Depression , Humans , Aged , Male , Female , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depression/epidemiology , Sensation Disorders/epidemiology , Vision Disorders/epidemiology , Vision Disorders/psychology , Longitudinal Studies , Olfaction Disorders/epidemiology , Olfaction Disorders/psychologyABSTRACT
Polymeric prodrug nanoparticles have gained increasing attention in the field of anticancer drug delivery because of their dual functions as a drug carrier and a therapeutic agent. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent for various cancers but causes cardiotoxicity. In this work, we developed polymeric prodrug (pHU) nanoparticles that serve as both a drug carrier of DOX and a therapeutic agent. The composition of pHU includes antiangiogenic hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), covalently incorporated through hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-responsive peroxalate. To enhance cancer cell specificity, pHU nanoparticles were surface decorated with taurodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) to facilitate p-selectin-mediated cancer targeting. TUDCA-coated and DOX-loaded pHU nanoparticles (t-pHUDs) exhibited controlled release of DOX triggered by H2O2, characteristic of the tumor microenvironment. t-pHUDs also effectively suppressed cancer cell migration and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in response to H2O2. In animal studies, t-pHUDs exhibited highly potent anticancer activity. Notably, t-pHUDs, with their ability to accumulate preferentially in tumors due to the p-selectin targeting, surpassed the therapeutic efficacy of equivalent DOX and pHU nanoparticles alone. What is more, t-pHUDs significantly suppressed VEGF expression in tumors and mitigated hepato- and cardiotoxicity of DOX. Given their cancer targeting ability, enhanced therapeutic efficacy and minimized off-target toxicity, t-pHUDs present an innovative and targeted approach with great translational potential as an anticancer therapeutic agent.
Subject(s)
Doxorubicin , Nanoparticles , Prodrugs , Doxorubicin/administration & dosage , Doxorubicin/pharmacology , Prodrugs/administration & dosage , Prodrugs/chemistry , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Animals , Humans , Cell Line, Tumor , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Neoplasms/pathology , Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/administration & dosage , Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacokinetics , Hydrogen Peroxide , Drug Carriers/chemistry , Ursodeoxycholic Acid/administration & dosage , Ursodeoxycholic Acid/chemistry , Drug Liberation , Mice, Nude , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Polymers/chemistry , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism , Mice , Female , Drug Delivery Systems , Cell Movement/drug effects , Benzyl Alcohols/administration & dosage , Benzyl Alcohols/chemistryABSTRACT
An increasing number of pathogenic variants in presynaptic proteins involved in the synaptic vesicle cycle are being discovered in neurodevelopmental disorders. The clinical features of these synaptic vesicle cycle disorders are diverse, but the most prevalent phenotypes include intellectual disability, epilepsy, movement disorders, cerebral visual impairment, and psychiatric symptoms ( Verhage and Sørensen, 2020; Bonnycastle et al., 2021; John et al., 2021; Melland et al., 2021). Among this growing list of synaptic vesicle cycle disorders, the most frequent is STXBP1 encephalopathy caused by de novo heterozygous pathogenic variants in syntaxin-binding protein 1 (STXBP1, also known as MUNC18-1; Verhage and Sørensen, 2020; John et al., 2021). STXBP1 is an essential protein for presynaptic neurotransmitter release. Its haploinsufficiency is the main disease mechanism and impairs both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter release. However, the disease pathogenesis and cellular origins of the broad spectrum of neurological phenotypes are poorly understood. Here we generate cell type-specific Stxbp1 haploinsufficient male and female mice and show that Stxbp1 haploinsufficiency in GABAergic/glycinergic neurons causes developmental delay, epilepsy, and motor, cognitive, and psychiatric deficits, recapitulating majority of the phenotypes observed in the constitutive Stxbp1 haploinsufficient mice and STXBP1 encephalopathy. In contrast, Stxbp1 haploinsufficiency in glutamatergic neurons results in a small subset of cognitive and seizure phenotypes distinct from those caused by Stxbp1 haploinsufficiency in GABAergic/glycinergic neurons. Thus, the contrasting roles of excitatory and inhibitory signaling reveal GABAergic/glycinergic dysfunction as a key disease mechanism of STXBP1 encephalopathy and suggest the possibility to selectively modulate disease phenotypes by targeting specific neurotransmitter systems.
Subject(s)
Brain Diseases , Epilepsy , Neurodevelopmental Disorders , Animals , Female , Male , Mice , Brain Diseases/genetics , Epilepsy/genetics , GABAergic Neurons/metabolism , Munc18 Proteins/genetics , Munc18 Proteins/metabolism , Neurodevelopmental Disorders/genetics , Neurotransmitter AgentsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Oxaliplatin is a platinum-based anti-cancer drug widely used in colorectal cancer patients, but it may cause peripheral neuropathy. As one of the main causes of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OPN) is oxidative stress, which is also a key factor causing diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), the aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and epalrestat (EP), which are used for the treatment of DPN, in an OPN zebrafish model. METHODS: Tg(nbt:dsred) transgenic zebrafish, with sensory nerves in the peripheral lateral line, were treated with oxaliplatin, oxaliplatin/EP, and oxaliplatin/ALA for 4 days. A confocal microscope was used to visualize and quantify the number of axon bifurcations in the distal nerve ending. To analyze the formation of synapses on sensory nerve terminals, quantification of membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) puncta was performed using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The number of axon bifurcations and intensity of MAGUK puncta were significantly reduced in the oxaliplatin-treated group compared with those in the embryo medium-treated group. In both the oxaliplatin/EP and oxaliplatin/ALA-treated groups, the number of axon bifurcations and intensity of MAGUK puncta were greater than those in the oxaliplatin-treated group (p < .0001), and no significant difference was observed between larvae treated with oxaliplatin/ALA 1 µM and oxaliplatin/EP 1 µM (p = .4292). DISCUSSION: ALA and EP have protective effects against OPN in zebrafish. Our findings show that ALA and EP can facilitate more beneficial treatment for OPN.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases , Rhodanine/analogs & derivatives , Thiazolidines , Thioctic Acid , Animals , Humans , Thioctic Acid/pharmacology , Thioctic Acid/therapeutic use , Zebrafish , Oxaliplatin/toxicity , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/chemically induced , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/prevention & control , Antineoplastic Agents/toxicityABSTRACT
Understanding geochemical dissolution in porous materials is crucial, especially in applications such as geological CO2 storage. Accurate estimation of reaction rates enhances predictive modeling in geochemical-flow simulations. Fractured porous media, with distinct transport time scales in fractures and the matrix, raise questions about fracture-matrix interface dissolution rates compared to bulk dissolution rate and the scale-dependency of reaction rate averaging. Our investigation delves into these factors, studying the impact of flow rate and mineralogy on interface dissolution patterns. By injecting carbonated water into carbonate rock samples containing a central channel (mimicking fracture hydrodynamics), our study utilized µCT X-ray imaging at 3.3 µm spatial resolution to estimate the reaction rate and capture the change in pore morphology. Results revealed dissolution rates significantly lower (up to 4 orders of magnitude) than batch experiments. Flow rate notably influenced fracture profiles, causing uneven enlargement at low rates and uniform widening at higher ones. Ankerite presence led to a dissolution-altered layer on the fracture surface, showing high permeability and porosity without greatly affecting the dissolution rate, unlike clay-rich carbonates. This research sheds light on controlling factors influencing dissolution in subsurface environments, critical for accurate modeling in diverse applications.
Subject(s)
Carbon Dioxide , Carbonates , X-Ray MicrotomographyABSTRACT
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is an inevitable clinical problem in chemotherapy due to the activation of abundant P-glycoprotein (P-gp) that can efflux drugs. Limitations of current cancer therapy highlight the need for the development of a comprehensive cancer treatment strategy, including drug-resistant cancers. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) possess significant potential in surmounting drug resistance as they can effectively evade the efflux mechanism and transport small molecules directly to MDR cancer cells. One mechanism mediating MDR in cancer cells is sustaining increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintenance of the redox balance with antioxidants, including glutathione (GSH). Herein, we developed GSH-depleting benzoyloxy dibenzyl carbonate (B2C)-encapsulated sEVs (BsEVs), which overcome the efflux system to exert highly potent anticancer activity against human MDR ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-8/MDR) by depleting GSH to induce oxidative stress and, in turn, apoptotic cell death in both OVCAR-8/MDR and OVCAR-8 cancer cells. BsEVs restore drug responsiveness by inhibiting ATP production through the oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide with hydrogen (NADH) and inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to the dysfunction of efflux pumps responsible for drug resistance. In vivo studies showed that BsEV treatment significantly inhibited the growth of OVCAR-8/MDR and OVCAR-8 tumors. Additionally, OVCAR-8/MDR tumors showed a trend towards a greater sensitivity to BsEVs compared to OVCAR tumors. In summary, this study demonstrates that BsEVs hold tremendous potential for cancer treatment, especially against MDR cancer cells.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents , Neoplasms , Humans , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Pharmaceutical Preparations , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm , Cell Line, Tumor , Neoplasms/drug therapyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Implant-based breast reconstruction has evolved over time. However, the effects of prepectoral breast reconstruction (PBR) compared with those of subpectoral breast reconstruction (SBR) have not been clearly defined. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the occurrence of surgical complications between PBR and SBR to determine the procedure that is effective and relatively safe. METHODS: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases were searched for studies published until April of 2021 comparing PBR and SBR following mastectomy. Two authors independently assessed the risk of bias. General information on the studies and surgical outcomes were extracted. Among 857 studies, 34 and 29 were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, respectively. Subgroup analysis was performed to clearly compare the results of patients who underwent postmastectomy radiation therapy. RESULTS: Pooled results showed that prevention of capsular contracture (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.79) and infection control (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.92) were better with PBR than with SBR. Rates of hematoma, implant loss, seroma, skin-flap necrosis, and wound dehiscence were not significantly different between PBR and SBR. PBR considerably improved postoperative pain, BREAST-Q score, and upper arm function compared with SBR. Among postmastectomy radiation therapy patients, the incidence rates of capsular contracture were significantly lower in the PBR group than in the SBR group (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that PBR had fewer postoperative complications than SBR. The authors' meta-analysis suggests that PBR could be used as an alternative technique for breast reconstruction in appropriate patients.
Subject(s)
Breast Implantation , Breast Implants , Breast Neoplasms , Contracture , Mammaplasty , Humans , Female , Breast Neoplasms/etiology , Mastectomy/adverse effects , Mastectomy/methods , Breast Implantation/adverse effects , Breast Implantation/methods , Mammaplasty/adverse effects , Mammaplasty/methods , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Postoperative Complications/prevention & control , Contracture/etiology , Breast Implants/adverse effectsABSTRACT
This article presents a fully-integrated dielectrophoresis (DEP)-assisted multi-functional CMOS biosensor array chip with 4096 working electrodes (WEs), 12288 photodiodes (PDs), reference electrodes (REs), and counter electrodes (CEs), while each WE and photodiode can be reconfigured to support on-chip DEP actuation, electrochemical potentiostat, optical shadow imaging, and complex impedance sensing. The proposed CMOS biosensor is an example of an actuation-assisted label-free biosensor for the rapid sensing of low-concentration analytes. The DEP actuator of the proposed CMOS biosensor does not require any external electrode. Instead, on-chip WE pairs can be re-used for DEP actuation to simplify the sensor array design. The CMOS biosensor is implemented in a standard 130-nm BiCMOS process. Theoretical analyses and finite element method (FEM) simulations of the on-chip DEP operations are conducted as proof of concept. Biological assay measurements (DEP actuation/electrochemical potentiostat/impedance sensing) with E.coli bacteria and microbeads (optical shadow imaging) demonstrate rapid detection of low-concentration analytes and simultaneous manipulation and detection of large particles. The on-chip DEP operations draw the analytes closer to the sensor electrode surface, which overcomes the diffusion limit and accelerates low-concentration analyte sensing. Moreover, the DEP-based movement of large particles can be readily detected by on-chip photodiode arrays to achieve close-loop manipulation and sensing of particles and droplets. These show the unique advantages of the DEP-assisted multi-functional biosensor.
Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques , ElectrodesABSTRACT
An existing open and modular designed micro X-Ray Computed Tomography (µXRCT) system is extended by a test rig in order to combine mechanical and hydro-mechanical experiments with µXRCT characterization. The aim of the system is to cover the complete resolution range of the underlying µXRCT system in combination with a broad load capacity range. A characteristic feature of the developed setup is that it consists mainly of standard components. This makes the shown test rig potentially interesting for other researchers considering extending an existing µXRCT system with an apparatus for mechanical and hydro-mechanical in situ testing. For the load frame, an uniaxial 10 kN universal testing machine with a digital control system was employed, which was extended by two aligned rotational stages. The uniaxial load capacity is ±3.1 kN and can be combined with torque moments of up to ±15 N m both limited by the used rotational stages. The setup is designed in such a way that different x-ray transparent cells (flow cells, oedometer cells, triaxial cells, etc.) can be integrated to generate three-dimensional stress/strain states as required for porous media research. Three applications demonstrate the possible versatile use of the system. As part of these examples, we show how corresponding x-ray transparent cells are designed and implemented. Finally, we discuss the presented approach's technical advantages and disadvantages and suggest improvements.
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Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration in the sinonasal mucosa. Eosinophil and neutrophil extracellular traps (EETs and NETs, respectively) are prominently found in CRS. This study aimed to investigate the effect of airborne fungi, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus fumigatus, on EET and NET formation. Nasal epithelial cells, eosinophils, and neutrophils were isolated from eosinophilic CRS (ECRS), non-ECRS (NECRS), and healthy control. We determined eosinophil and neutrophil transepithelial migration after fungal treatment. We then determined the release of EETs and NETs by fungi using Sytox Green staining and determined the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using ROS inhibitors. We identified more abundant EETs and NETs in ECRS than in NECRS. A. alternata and A. fumigatus enhanced eosinophil and neutrophil transepithelial migration. A. fumigatus strongly induced EET and NET formation in CRS and, simultaneously, suppressed fungal metabolic activity. EET formation in CRS is associated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-oxidase and NET formation with NADPH-oxidase and mitochondrial ROS. A. fumigatus, but not A. alternata, induced EET and NET formation, and peripheral blood eosinophils and neutrophils exhibited different immune responses against A. fumigatus following the inflammatory status of the host. Aspergillus-fumigatus-induced EET and NET formation plays a crucial role in CRS pathogenesis.
Subject(s)
Extracellular Traps , Rhinosinusitis , Sinusitis , Humans , Neutrophils/metabolism , Extracellular Traps/metabolism , Eosinophils , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , NADP/metabolism , Chronic Disease , Sinusitis/metabolism , Aspergillus , Aspergillus fumigatus , NADPH Oxidases/metabolismABSTRACT
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified numerous variants associated with polygenic traits and diseases. However, with few exceptions, a mechanistic understanding of which variants affect which genes in which tissues to modulate trait variation is lacking. Here, we present genomic analyses to explain trait heritability of blood pressure (BP) through the genetics of transcriptional regulation using GWASs, multiomics data from different tissues, and machine learning approaches. Approximately 500,000 predicted regulatory variants across four tissues explain 33.4% of variant heritability: 2.5%, 5.3%, 7.7%, and 11.8% for kidney-, adrenal-, heart-, and artery-specific variants, respectively. Variation in the enhancers involved shows greater tissue specificity than in the genes they regulate, suggesting that gene regulatory networks perturbed by enhancer variants in a tissue relevant to a phenotype are the major source of interindividual variation in BP. Thus, our study provides an approach to scan human tissue and cell types for their physiological contribution to any trait.