The delivery of NO at a high spatiotemporal precision is important but still challenging for existing NO-releasing platforms due to the lack of precise motion control and limited biomedical functions. In this work, we propose an alternative strategy for developing the light-armed nitric oxide-releasing micromotor (LaNorM), in which a main light beam was employed to navigate the microparticle and stimulate NO release and an auxiliary light beam was used to cooperate with the released NO to act as a remotely controlled scalpel for cell separation. Benefiting from the advantages of fully controlled locomotion, photostimulated NO release, and microsurgery ability at the single-cell level, the proposed LaNorM could enable a series of biomedical applications , including the separation of flowing emboli, selective removal of a specific thrombus, and inhibition of thrombus growth, which may provide new insight into the precise delivery of NO and the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe miniaturization of biomedical microrobots is crucial for their applications. However, it is challenging to reduce their size while maintaining their biomedical functions. To resolve this contradiction, we propose a semiphysical design concept for developing miniaturized microrobots, in which invisible components such as light beams are utilized to replace most of the physical parts of a microrobot, thus minimizing its physical size without sacrificing its biomedical functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: He long noncoding RNA small nucleolar host RNA 5 (SNHG5) is highly expressed in many cancers, and there is a notable correlation between the elevated expression of SNHG5 and survival outcome in cancer patients. The objective of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the correlation between SNHG5 expression and the clinical outcome of cancer patients.
Methods: Six relevant electronic databases were exhaustively searched, and, depending on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, appropriate literature was obtained.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) has become an increasing concern for patients due to the widespread clinical use of nephrotoxic drugs. Currently, the early diagnosis of AKI is still challenging and the available therapeutic drugs cannot meet the clinical demand. Herein, this work has investigated the key redox couple involved in AKI and develops a tailored photoacoustic (PA) imaging probe (AB-DiOH) which can reversibly respond to hypochlorite (ClO-)/glutathione (GSH) with high specificity and sensitivity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe active delivery of nanodrugs has been a bottleneck problem in nanomedicine. While modification of nanodrugs with targeting agents can enhance their retention at the lesion location, the transportation of nanodrugs in the circulation system is still a passive process. The navigation of nanodrugs with external forces such as magnetic field has been shown to be effective for active delivery, but the existing techniques are limited to specific materials like magnetic nanoparticles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
September 2023
The mechanical properties of calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) gels in cementitious materials are mainly realized by nanoindentation experiments. There is limited research on the dynamic response of the molecular structure of C-S-H under nanoindentation conditions. This study simulated the nanoindentation on the C-S-H gel samples by the molecular dynamics method considering the essential factors of modeling and loading process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Frailty is considered a characteristic manifestation of physiological decline in multiple organ systems, which significantly increases the vulnerability of elderly individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) and is associated with a poor prognosis. While studies have demonstrated that the 11-factor Modified Frailty Index (mFI-11) can effectively predict adverse outcomes following radical resection of CRC, there is a lack of research on the applicability of the 5-factor Modified Frailty Index (mFI-5) within this patient population.
Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we examined a cohort of CRC patients aged 65 years and above who had undergone radical resection.
With high reconfigurability and swarming intelligence, programmable medical micromachines (PMMs) represent a revolution in microrobots for executing complex coordinated tasks, especially for dynamic routing of various targets along their respective routes. However, it is difficult to achieve a biocompatible implantation into the body due to their exogenous building blocks. Herein, a living microrouter based on an organic integration of endogenous red blood cells (RBCs), programmable scanning optical tweezers and flexible optofluidic strategy is reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting programmed cell death 1, programmed cell death ligand 1, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 have shown significantly durable clinical benefits and tolerable toxicities and have improved the survival of patients with various types of cancer. Since 2018, the National Medical Products Administration of China has approved 17 ICIs as the standard treatment for certain advanced or metastatic solid tumors. As ICIs represent a broad-spectrum antitumor strategy, the populations eligible for cancer immunotherapy are rapidly expanding.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To dynamically monitor the changes of genomic characteristics during lorlatinib treatment and analyze the resistance profile of lorlatinib in ALK-positive advanced Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with first- and second-generation ALK inhibitor resistance.
Methods: Ten eligible patients who were from a phase 2 study in China and admitted to the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital were analyzed. Blood samples were collected for next-generation sequencing (NGS) to characterize genetic variation at baseline, during treatment, and after disease progression.
Thymomas and thymic carcinomas are rare and primary tumors of the mediastinum which is derived from the thymic epithelium. Thymomas are the most common primary anterior mediastinal tumor, while ectopic thymomas are rarer. Mutational profiles of ectopic thymomas may help expand our understanding of the occurrence and treatment options of these tumors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Accumulating evidence indicates that the occurrence and development of tumors are related to the activation of oncogenes and the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes caused by epigenetic mechanisms. However, the function of serine protease 2 (PRSS2) in gastric cancer (GC) is still unknown. Our study aimed to find a regulation network involved in GC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe identification of receptor-tyrosine kinase gene (RET) fusions in lung cancer has become crucial owing to actionable events that predict responsiveness to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, RET fusions with distinct partner genes respond differently to TKIs. In this case, a 60-year-old man was diagnosed with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurrent technologies for the real-time analysis of biomarkers in vivo, such as needle-type microelectrodes and molecular imaging methods based on exogenous contrast agents, are still facing great challenges in either invasive detection or lack of active control of the imaging probes. In this study, by combining the design concepts of needle-type microelectrodes and the fluorescence imaging method, a new technique is developed for detecting biomarkers in vivo, named as "optically controlled virtual microsensor" (OCViM). OCViM is established by the organic integration of a specially shaped laser beam and fluorescent nanoprobe, which serve as the virtual handle and sensor tip, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) in patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO-ME).
Methods: Twenty-eight eyes from twenty-eight treatment-naïve patients (14 males and 14 females) with RVO-ME were included in this retrospective study. The retinal vein occlusion (RVO) was comprised of both central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO, =14) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO, =14).
As the first line of host defense against invading pathogens, neutrophils have an inherent phagocytosis capability for the elimination of foreign agents and target loading upon activation, as well as the ability to transmigrate across blood vessels to the infected tissue, making them natural candidates to execute various medical tasks . However, most of the existing neutrophil-based strategies rely on their spontaneous chemotactic motion, lacking in effective activation, rapid migration, and high navigation precision. Here, we report an optically manipulated neutrophil microcraft through the organic integration of endogenous neutrophils and scanning optical tweezers, functioning as a native biological material and wireless remote controller, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to investigate the quality of life and mental health status and further to identify relevant risk factors among advanced cancer patients with spine metastases. This study prospectively included and analyzed 103 advanced cancer patients with spine metastases. Patient's basic information, lifestyles, comorbidities, tumor characteristics, therapeutic strategies, economic conditions, quality of life, anxiety, and depression were collected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) relapse within months after completing previous therapies. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib as third- or further-line therapy in patients with short-term relapsed SCLC from ALTER1202. Patients with short-term relapsed SCLC (disease progression within 3 months after completing ⩾ two lines of chemotherapy) in the anlotinib (n = 67) and placebo (n = 34) groups were analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Malnutrition in cancer patients is a common but under-diagnosed condition that has negative effects on clinical outcomes. The development of an easy and reliable malnutrition assessment tool is thus critical for identification and nutritional support. We aimed to develop a phase angle (PA)-based prediction model of malnutrition and evaluate it in patient prognosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The efficacy difference between the second- and third-generation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs) after crizotinib failure in advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been clarified. This study evaluates the efficacy of different sequential patterns after crizotinib progression.
Methods: Data of patients who met the study criteria were retrospectively analyzed.
The aim of the present study was to observe the effects and mechianisms of melatonin on the proliferation and apoptosis of lung cancer (LC) cells. A549 cells were treated with a concentration gradient (0-100 μM) of melatonin for 24 hours, and cell viability was detected by XTT ((2,3-Bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl) -2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide)) colorimetry. Melatonin with a concentration of 50 μM was selected to interact with the LC cells for ten days, and then a colony formation assay was used to detect the proliferation of the LC cells.
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