Alterations in white matter fiber tracts and their correlation with flying cadet behavior.

An increasing number of studies have shown that flight training alters the human brain structure; however, most studies have focused on gray matter, and the exploration of white matter structure has been largely neglected. This study aimed to investigate the changes in white matter structure induced by flight training and estimate the correlation between such changes and psychomotor and flight performance. Diffusion tensor imaging data were obtained from 25 flying cadets and 24 general college students. Data were collected in 2019 and 2022 and analyzed using automated fiber quantification. This study found no significant changes in the flight group in 2019. However, in 2022, the flight group exhibited significant alterations in the diffusion tensor imaging of the right anterior thalamic radiation, left cingulum cingulate, bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus, and left arcuate fasciculus. These changes occurred within local nodes of the fiber tracts. In addition, we found that changes in fiber tracts in the 2022 flight group were correlated with the reaction time of the psychomotor test task and flight duration. These findings may help improve flight training programs and provide new ideas for the selection of excellent pilots.

Design and construction of chemical-biological module clusters for degradation and assimilation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste.

The rising accumulation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste presents an urgent ecological challenge, necessitating an efficient and economical treatment technology. Here, we developed chemical-biological module clusters that perform chemical pretreatment, enzymatic degradation, and microbial assimilation for the large-scale treatment of PET waste. This module cluster included (i) a chemical pretreatment that involves incorporating polycaprolactone (PCL) at a weight ratio of 2% (PET:PCL = 98:2) into PET via mechanical blending, which effectively reduces the crystallinity and enhances degradation; (ii) enzymatic degradation using Thermobifida fusca cutinase variant (4Mz), that achieves complete degradation of pretreated PET at 300 g/L PET, with an enzymatic loading of 1 mg protein per gram of PET; and (iii) microbial assimilation, where Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 metabolizes the degradation products, assimilating each monomer at a rate above 90%. A comparative life cycle assessment demonstrated that the carbon emissions from our module clusters (0.25 kg CO2-eq/kg PET) are lower than those from other established approaches. This study pioneers a closed-loop system that seamlessly incorporates pretreatment, degradation, and assimilation processes, thus mitigating the environmental impacts of PET waste and propelling the development of a circular PET economy.

Suppression of LPS-activated inflammatory responses and chromosomal histone modifications in macrophages by micropattern-induced nuclear deformation.

Macrophages are important immune effector cells which participate various physiological and pathological conditions. Numerous studies have demonstrated the regulation of macrophage phenotype by micropatterns. It is well accepted that micropatterns affect cellular behaviors through changing cell shape and modulating the associated mechanical sensors on the plasma membrane and cytoskeleton. However, the role of nucleus, which serves as a critical physical sensing device, is often ignored. Herein, we found the nuclear deformation and the subsequently increased chromosomal histone methylation (H3K36me2) may contribute to the micropattern-induced suppression of macrophage inflammatory responses. Specifically, macrophages on micropatterned surfaces expressed lower levels of key inflammatory genes, compared with those on flat surfaces. Further investigation on macrophage nuclei showed that micropatterned surfaces cause shrinkage of nucleus volume and compaction of chromatin. Moreover, micropatterned surfaces elevated the methylation level of H3K36me2 in macrophages, while decreased the methylation level of H3K4me3. Our study provides new mechanistic insight into how micropatterns affect macrophage phenotype and highlights the importance of nuclear shape and chromatin histone modification in mediating micropattern-induced change in cell behaviors.

Exploring the Application of Large-Scale Pre-Trained Models on Adverse Weather Removal.

Image restoration under adverse weather conditions (e.g., rain, snow, and haze) is a fundamental computer vision problem that has important implications for various downstream applications. Distinct from early methods that are specially designed for specific types of weather, recent works tend to simultaneously remove various adverse weather effects based on either spatial feature representation learning or semantic information embedding. Inspired by various successful applications incorporating large-scale pre-trained models (e.g., CLIP), in this paper, we explore their potential benefits for leveraging large-scale pre-trained models in this task based on both spatial feature representation learning and semantic information embedding aspects: 1) spatial feature representation learning, we design a Spatially Adaptive Residual (SAR) encoder to adaptively extract degraded areas. To facilitate training of this model, we propose a Soft Residual Distillation (CLIP-SRD) strategy to transfer spatial knowledge from CLIP between clean and adverse weather images; 2) semantic information embedding, we propose a CLIP Weather Prior (CWP) embedding module to enable the network to adaptively respond to different weather conditions. This module integrates the sample-specific weather priors extracted by the CLIP image encoder with the distribution-specific information (as learned by a set of parameters) and embeds these elements using a cross-attention mechanism. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our proposed method can achieve state-of-the-art performance under various and severe adverse weather conditions. The code will be made available.

Transformer based Pluralistic Image Completion with Reduced Information Loss.

Transformer based methods have achieved great success in image inpainting recently. However, we find that these solutions regard each pixel as a token, thus suffering from an information loss issue from two aspects: 1) They downsample the input image into much lower resolutions for efficiency consideration. 2) They quantize 2563 RGB values to a small number (such as 512) of quantized color values. The indices of quantized pixels are used as tokens for the inputs and prediction targets of the transformer. To mitigate these issues, we propose a new transformer based framework called "PUT". Specifically, to avoid input downsampling while maintaining computation efficiency, we design a patch-based auto-encoder P-VQVAE. The encoder converts the masked image into non-overlapped patch tokens and the decoder recovers the masked regions from the inpainted tokens while keeping the unmasked regions unchanged. To eliminate the information loss caused by input quantization, an Un-quantized Transformer is applied. It directly takes features from the P-VQVAE encoder as input without any quantization and only regards the quantized tokens as prediction targets.Furthermore, to make the inpainting process more controllable, we introduce semantic and structural conditions as extra guidance. Extensive experiments show that our method greatly outperforms existing transformer based methods on image fidelity and achieves much higher diversity and better fidelity than state-of-the-art pluralistic inpainting methods on complex large-scale datasets (e.g., ImageNet). Codes are available at https://github.com/liuqk3/PUT.

Effects of flaxseed oil supplementation on metaphase II oocyte rates in IVF cycles with decreased ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study was designed to explore the effects of flaxseed oil on the metaphase II (MII) oocyte rates in women with decreased ovarian reserve (DOR). Methods: The women with DOR were divided into a study group (n = 108, flaxseed oil treatment) and a control group (n = 110, no treatment). All patients were treated with assisted reproductive technology (ART). Subsequently, the ART stimulation cycle parameters, embryo transfer (ET) results, and clinical reproductive outcomes were recorded. The influencing factors affecting the MII oocyte rate were analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. Results: Flaxseed oil reduced the recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) dosage and stimulation time and increased the peak estradiol (E2) concentration in DOR women during ART treatment. The MII oocyte rate, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, high-quality embryo rate, and blastocyst formation rate were increased after flaxseed oil intervention. The embryo implantation rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group (p = 0.05). Additionally, the female age [odds ratio (OR): 0.609, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52-0.72, p < 0.01] was the hindering factor of MII oocyte rate, while anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH; OR: 100, 95% CI: 20.31-495, p < 0.01), peak E2 concentration (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00-1.00, p = 0.01), and the intake of flaxseed oil (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.06-5.93, p = 0.04) were the promoting factors for MII oocyte rate. Conclusion: Flaxseed oil improved ovarian response and the quality of oocytes and embryos, thereby increasing the fertilization rate and high-quality embryo rate in DOR patients. The use of flaxseed oil was positively correlated with MII oocyte rate in women with DOR. Clinical trial number: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2300073785.

A Single-Cell Landscape of Spermioteleosis in Mice and Pigs.

(1) Background: Spermatozoa acquired motility and matured in epididymis after production in the testis. However, there is still limited understanding of the specific characteristics of sperm development across different species. In this study, we employed a comprehensive approach to analyze cell compositions in both testicular and epididymal tissues, providing valuable insights into the changes occurring during meiosis and spermiogenesis in mouse and pig models. Additionally, we identified distinct gene expression signatures associated with various spermatogenic cell types. (2) Methods: To investigate the differences in spermatogenesis between mice and pigs, we constructed a single-cell RNA dataset. (3) Results: Our findings revealed notable differences in testicular cell clusters between these two species. Furthermore, distinct gene expression patterns were observed among epithelial cells from different regions of the epididymis. Interestingly, regional gene expression patterns were also identified within principal cell clusters of the mouse epididymis. Moreover, through analysing differentially expressed genes related to the epididymis in both mouse and pig models, we successfully identified potential marker genes associated with sperm development and maturation for each species studied. (4) Conclusions: This research presented a comprehensive single-cell landscape analysis of both testicular and epididymal tissues, shedding light on the intricate processes involved in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, specifically within mouse and pig models.

Rationally Engineered Novel Glycosyltransferase UGT74DD1 from Siraitia grosvenorii Catalyzes the Generation of the Sweetener Mogroside III.

Mogrosides are natural compounds highly valued in the food sector for their exceptional sweetness. Here, we report a novel O-glycosyltransferase (UGT74DD1) from Siraitia grosvenorii that catalyzes the conversion of mogrol to mogroside IIE. Site-directed mutagenesis yielded the UGT74DD1-W351A mutant, which exhibited the new capability to transform mogroside IIE into the valuable sweetener mogroside III, but with low catalytic activity. Subsequently, using structure-guided directed evolution with combinatorial active-site saturation testing, the superior mutant M6 (W351A/Q373 K/E49H/Q335W/S278C/D17F) were obtained, which showed a 46.1-fold increase in catalytic activity compared to UGT74DD1-W351A. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the enhanced activity and extended substrate profiles of M6 are due to its enlarged substrate-binding pocket and strengthened enzyme-substrate hydrogen bonding interactions. Overall, we redesigned UGT74DD1, yielding mutants that catalyze the conversion of mogrol into mogroside III. This study thus broadens the toolbox of UGTs capable of catalyzing the formation of valuable polyglycoside compounds.

Acetylation-dependent regulation of core spliceosome modulates hepatocellular carcinoma cassette exons and sensitivity to PARP inhibitors.

Despite the importance of spliceosome core components in cellular processes, their roles in cancer development, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remain poorly understood. In this study, we uncover a critical role for SmD2, a core component of the spliceosome machinery, in modulating DNA damage in HCC through its impact on BRCA1/FANC cassette exons and expression. Our findings reveal that SmD2 depletion sensitizes HCC cells to PARP inhibitors, expanding the potential therapeutic targets. We also demonstrate that SmD2 acetylation by p300 leads to its degradation, while HDAC2-mediated deacetylation stabilizes SmD2. Importantly, we show that the combination of Romidepsin and Olaparib exhibits significant therapeutic potential in multiple HCC models, highlighting the promise of targeting SmD2 acetylation and HDAC2 inhibition alongside PARP inhibitors for HCC treatment.

Study on the photosynthetic growth characters in Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim under different supplemental light environments.

Cimicifuga dahurica (C. dahurica) is an important medicinal plant in the northern region of China. The best supplemental light environment helps plant growth, development, and metabolism. In this study, we used two-year-old seedlings as experimental materials. The white light as the control (CK). The different ratios of red (R) and blue (B) combined light were supplemented (T1, 2R: 1B, 255.37 µmol m-2·s-1; T2, 3R: 1B, 279.69 µmol m-2·s-1; T3, 7R: 1B, 211.16 µmol m-2·s-1). The growth characteristics, photosynthetic pigment content, photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and primary metabolite content were studied in seedlings. The results showed that: 1) The fresh weight from shoot, root, and total fresh weight were significantly (P < 0.05) increased under T2 and T3 treatment. 2) The contents of chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), and total chlorophyll (Chl) were significantly (P < 0.05) increased under T2 treatment, and carotenoid (car) content was reduced. 3) The photochemical quenching (qP), the actual photosynthetic efficiency of PSII (Y(II)), and the photosynthetic electron transfer rate (ETR) from leaves were significantly (P < 0.05) increased under T1 treatment. The Net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and transpiration rate (Tr) were significantly (P < 0.05) increased under T2 and T3 treatments. 4) A total of 52 primary metabolites were detected in C. dahurica leaves. Compared with CK, 14, 15, and 18 differential metabolites were screened under T1, T2, and T3 treatments. In addition, D-xylose, D-glucose, glycerol, glycolic acid, and succinic acid were significantly (P < 0.05) accumulated under the T2 treatment, which could regulate the TCA cycle metabolism pathway. The correlation analysis suggested that plant growth was promoted by regulating the change of D-mannose content in galactinol metabolism and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. In summary, the growth of C. dahurica was improved under T2 treatment.

Complete degradation of PET waste using a thermophilic microbe-enzyme system.

Enzymatic degradation has been proposed as a suitable solution for addressing PET pollution, but approximately 10 % of PET is left as nonbiodegradable. Microbes can completely degrade PET at the gram level per year. Based on the complementary benefits of microbes and enzymes, a microbe-enzyme system was created to completely degrade PET. Here, a thermophilic microbe-enzyme (TME) system composed of Bacillus thermoamylovorans JQ3 and leaf-branch compost cutinase variant (ICCG) was used to demonstrate the synergistic degradation of PET, enabling 100 % degradation of PET waste at a high PET loading level (360 g/L). Six endogenous PET hydrolases of strain JQ3 were discovered by employing an ester bond hydrolysis function-first genome mining (EGM) strategy and first successfully expressed in E. coli. These hydrolases could release TPA as the final product from PET and preferentially degraded BHET instead of MHET. Of these, carboxylesterase 39_5 and ICCG could degrade PET in a synergistic manner to generate 50 µM of TPA, which was greater than the sum of the individual treatments. Finally, the degradation pathway of the TME system was speculated to include biofilm formation, PET degradation and utilization. The successful implementation of this study rendered a scale-up degradation feasible of PET at a lower cost.

Simultaneous production of biosurfactant and extracellular unspecific peroxygenases by Moesziomyces aphidis XM01 enables an efficient strategy for crude oil degradation.

Crude oil is a hazardous pollutant that poses significant and lasting harm to human health and ecosystems. In this study, Moesziomyces aphidis XM01, a biosurfactant mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs)-producing yeast, was utilized for crude oil degradation. Unlike most microorganisms relying on cytochrome P450, XM01 employed two extracellular unspecific peroxygenases, MaUPO.1 and MaUPO.2, with preference for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes respectively, thus facilitating efficient crude oil degradation. The MELs produced by XM01 exhibited a significant emulsification activity of 65.9% for crude oil and were consequently supplemented in an "exogenous MELs addition" strategy to boost crude oil degradation, resulting in an optimal degradation ratio of 72.3%. Furthermore, a new and simple "pre-MELs production" strategy was implemented, achieving a maximum degradation ratio of 95.9%. During this process, the synergistic up-regulation of MaUPO.1, MaUPO.1 and the key MELs synthesis genes contributed to the efficient degradation of crude oil. Additionally, the phylogenetic and geographic distribution analysis of MaUPO.1 and MaUPO.1 revealed their wide occurrence among fungi in Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, with high transcription levels across global ocean, highlighting their important role in biodegradation of crude oil. In conclusion, M. aphidis XM01 emerges as a novel yeast for efficient and eco-friendly crude oil degradation.

Standardized diagnosis results of suspected local anesthetics allergy / 中华预防医学杂志

To review and investigate the diagnosis results of local anesthetics (LA) allergy and improve the understanding of LA allergy in clinician. From March 2017 to February 2022, a total of 24 patients were investigated in Allergy Center of West China Hospital,Sichuan University on suspicion of LA allergy. Clinical data and results of skin tests and drug provocation tests (DPT) with the suspected drugs were retrospectively evaluated. The value of standardized diagnostic protocol in the LA allergy were analyzed. The results showed that 24 patients (3 men/21 women) were included with age range from 20 to 74 years. Three cases (12.5%) were positive in previous LA skin tests and proved to be tolerated through standardized tests. Twenty-one patients were initially diagnosed as "LA allergy" because of adverse reactions after previous use of LA, including 20 cases of immediate-type reaction and 1 case of delayed-type reaction. Three cases were considered LA allergy through standardized diagnosis approaches, including skin tests and DPT. One patient was diagnosed with anaphylaxis caused by chlorhexidine. Of the remaining 17 patients, 7 were considered as psychosomatic reactions (29.1%), 3 of sympathetic nervous system conditions (12.5%), 1 of spontaneous urticaria (4.2%), 2 of vasovagal syncope (8.3%), drug side effects (8.3%), skin irritation (8.3%), respectively. In conclusion, true allergic reactions to LA are rare. Through standardized skin tests and DPT, allergy can be ruled out in the vast majority of patients who complain of "LA allergy". For patients who are highly suspected of LA inducing anaphylaxis, other local anesthetics that can be used as safe alternatives should be determined by diagnostic tests according to future needs.

Standardized diagnosis results of suspected local anesthetics allergy / 中华预防医学杂志

To review and investigate the diagnosis results of local anesthetics (LA) allergy and improve the understanding of LA allergy in clinician. From March 2017 to February 2022, a total of 24 patients were investigated in Allergy Center of West China Hospital,Sichuan University on suspicion of LA allergy. Clinical data and results of skin tests and drug provocation tests (DPT) with the suspected drugs were retrospectively evaluated. The value of standardized diagnostic protocol in the LA allergy were analyzed. The results showed that 24 patients (3 men/21 women) were included with age range from 20 to 74 years. Three cases (12.5%) were positive in previous LA skin tests and proved to be tolerated through standardized tests. Twenty-one patients were initially diagnosed as "LA allergy" because of adverse reactions after previous use of LA, including 20 cases of immediate-type reaction and 1 case of delayed-type reaction. Three cases were considered LA allergy through standardized diagnosis approaches, including skin tests and DPT. One patient was diagnosed with anaphylaxis caused by chlorhexidine. Of the remaining 17 patients, 7 were considered as psychosomatic reactions (29.1%), 3 of sympathetic nervous system conditions (12.5%), 1 of spontaneous urticaria (4.2%), 2 of vasovagal syncope (8.3%), drug side effects (8.3%), skin irritation (8.3%), respectively. In conclusion, true allergic reactions to LA are rare. Through standardized skin tests and DPT, allergy can be ruled out in the vast majority of patients who complain of "LA allergy". For patients who are highly suspected of LA inducing anaphylaxis, other local anesthetics that can be used as safe alternatives should be determined by diagnostic tests according to future needs.

The expression of Plakoglobin in residual cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and its prognostic impact on patients / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression levels of Plakoglobin protein in residual lesions after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Methods: Clinical and pathological data from 174 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery after receiving NAC at the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2009 to December 2017 were collected. The expression level of Plakoglobin in residual cancer lesions was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between Plakoglobin expression level and clinicopathological features was analyzed. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used for factor analysis. Results: Among the 174 patients, 140 had low expression of Plakoglobin, and 34 had high expression. The median disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in the Plakoglobin low expression group were 59.46 and 71.68 months, respectively, both of which were higher than those in the high expression group (36.58 and 47.26 months, respectively, both P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that Plakoglobin expression, pathological N stage, lymphovascular invasion status, histological grade, Ki-67, and molecular subtypes were associated with OS (all P<0.05), while pathological N stage, histological grade, and Ki-67 were associated with DFS (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that Plakoglobin expression (HR=2.438, 95% CI: 1.256-4.735, P=0.008) was an independent predictor for OS, and Ki-67 (HR=2.228, 95% CI: 1.316-3.773, P=0.003) was an independent predictor for DFS. Conclusion: In breast cancer patients with residual lesions after NAC, those with low Plakoglobin expression have relatively longer OS and Plakoglobin is an independent prognostic factor for OS.

The expression of Plakoglobin in residual cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and its prognostic impact on patients / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression levels of Plakoglobin protein in residual lesions after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Methods: Clinical and pathological data from 174 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery after receiving NAC at the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2009 to December 2017 were collected. The expression level of Plakoglobin in residual cancer lesions was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between Plakoglobin expression level and clinicopathological features was analyzed. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used for factor analysis. Results: Among the 174 patients, 140 had low expression of Plakoglobin, and 34 had high expression. The median disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in the Plakoglobin low expression group were 59.46 and 71.68 months, respectively, both of which were higher than those in the high expression group (36.58 and 47.26 months, respectively, both P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that Plakoglobin expression, pathological N stage, lymphovascular invasion status, histological grade, Ki-67, and molecular subtypes were associated with OS (all P<0.05), while pathological N stage, histological grade, and Ki-67 were associated with DFS (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that Plakoglobin expression (HR=2.438, 95% CI: 1.256-4.735, P=0.008) was an independent predictor for OS, and Ki-67 (HR=2.228, 95% CI: 1.316-3.773, P=0.003) was an independent predictor for DFS. Conclusion: In breast cancer patients with residual lesions after NAC, those with low Plakoglobin expression have relatively longer OS and Plakoglobin is an independent prognostic factor for OS.

Comparison of the predictive value of anthropometric indicators for the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia in southern China / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

This study aimed to compare the predictive value of six selected anthropometric indicators for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Males over 50 years of age who underwent health examinations at the Health Management Center of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University (Changsha, China) from June to December 2020 were enrolled in this study. The characteristic data were collected, including basic anthropometric indices, lipid parameters, six anthropometric indicators, prostate-specific antigen, and total prostate volume. The odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for all anthropometric parameters and BPH were calculated using binary logistic regression. To assess the diagnostic capability of each indicator for BPH and identify the appropriate cutoff values, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the related areas under the curves (AUCs) were utilized. All six indicators had diagnostic value for BPH (all P ≤ 0.001). The visceral adiposity index (VAI; AUC: 0.797, 95% CI: 0.759-0.834) had the highest AUC and therefore the highest diagnostic value. This was followed by the cardiometabolic index (CMI; AUC: 0.792, 95% CI: 0.753-0.831), lipid accumulation product (LAP; AUC: 0.766, 95% CI: 0.723-0.809), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR; AUC: 0.660, 95% CI: 0.609-0.712), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR; AUC: 0.639, 95% CI: 0.587-0.691), and body mass index (BMI; AUC: 0.592, 95% CI: 0.540-0.643). The sensitivity of CMI was the highest (92.1%), and WHtR had the highest specificity of 94.1%. CMI consistently showed the highest OR in the binary logistic regression analysis. BMI, WHtR, WHR, VAI, CMI, and LAP all influence the occurrence of BPH in middle-aged and older men (all P ≤ 0.001), and CMI is the best predictor of BPH.

Research progress of therapeutic exosomes / 药学学报

Exosomes are a kind of endosomal vesicles that are secreted by most if not all living cells. Due to their capability of delivering a variety of cargos, such as tissue- or cell-specific proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, and their broad biological activities, exosomes have gained substantial attention as emerging therapeutics. Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and dendritic cells (DCs) are two types of exosomes that are widely studied. Many preclinical and clinical studies have shown that they have a satisfactory treatment effect in lung diseases, liver diseases, nervous system diseases, tumors, and other diseases. In addition, exosomes from macrophages, tumor cells, plant cells, and many other cells are getting more attention due to their therapeutic potential. Besides natural exosomes, research on engineered exosomes has also made plenty of progress. There have been several engineering methods of exosomes, such as targeting modification and loading of active ingredients. In this review, we summarize the research progress of therapeutic exosomes from different sources, and further discusses the application prospects of exosomes and possible challenges in the future.

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of Tripterygium hypoglaucum in Yinning Tablets, a compound traditional Chinese herbal preparation / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To conduct qualitative and quantitative analyses of Tripterygium hypoglaucum in Yinning Tablets, a compound preparation of traditional Chinese herbal medicine.@*METHODS@#Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was used for qualitative analysis of Tripterygium hypoglaucum in Yining Tablets and the analytical protocols were optimized. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantitatively analyze the content of triptolide (the main active ingredient of Tripterygium hypoglaucum) in Yinning Tablets.@*RESULTS@#The results of TLC analysis showed that the test sample of Yinning Tablets and the positive control samples both produced clear, well separated spots without obvious interference in the blank samples. Assessment of the influences of the thin-layer plates from different manufacturers, temperature and humidity on the test results demonstrated good durability of the test. HPLC analysis of triptolide showed a good linear relationship within the concentration range of 1-100 μg/mL (regression equation: A=22.219C-19.165, r=0.9999); the contents of triptolide in 3 batches of Yinning tablets were 0.34, 0.34, and 0.28 μg per tablet, all within the range of 0.28-0.34 μg per tablet. It was finally determined that each Yinning tablet should not contain more than 0.6 μg of triptolide.@*CONCLUSION@#TLC and HPLC are simple, accurate, durable and specific for qualitative and quantitative analyses of Tripterygium hypoglaucum in Yinning Tablets.

Immunomagnetic Nanosphere-based Strategy for Rapid, Efficient and Accurate Detection of Lymphnode Metastatic Carcinoma Cells / 分析化学

A strategy based on immunomagnetic nanospheres ( IMNs ) for rapid, efficient and accurate detection of lymphnode metastasis carcinoma cells ( LNMCCs ) was developed in this study. First, IMNs processing magnetism and biological targeting were fabricated by the approach developed by our group previously. Then, LNMCCs in lymph node fine needle aspiration ( LNFNA) specimens were separated and enriched by the immunomagnetic isolation using IMNs. At last, the captured cells were identified with Wright's staining and immunocytochemistry ( ICC) . The separation and enrichment of LNMCCs with immunomagnetic isolation could reduce the background interference of LNFNA specimens effectively; the identification with Wright ' s staining and ICC offered more reliable information for accurate diagnosis, so the sensitivity, specificity and overall diagnostic accuracy had an obvious improvement compared with the conventional cytologic diagnosis. Besides, the simple and rapid incubation of LNFNA specimens with IMNs needed just 5 min, so the cytomorphology of captured LNMCCs could be intactly retained, which enabled to provide important basis for classifying lymphnode metastasis carcinoma ( LNMC ) and the subsequent pathological study. Moreover, the specific capture of epithelial carcinoma cells in LNFNA specimens with IMNs could make a definite diagnosis of the captured cells as LNMCCs, thus realizing the differentiated diagnosis of LNMC and malignant lymphoma. Additionally, this strategy exhibited successful LNMCCs detection in LNFNA specimens from 110 patients and had higher sensitivity ( 98 . 0%) , specificity ( 100 . 0%) , and overall diagnostic accuracy (98. 2%) than the conventional cytologic diagnosis. Therefore, it was a new attempt to use IMNs for detection of LNMCCs in LNFNA specimens from LNMC patients, and offered new ideas for LNMC diagnosis and study.