Stem cell therapy: A promising therapeutic approach for skeletal muscle atrophy.

Skeletal muscle atrophy results from disruptions in the growth and metabolism of striated muscle, leading to a reduction or loss of muscle fibers. This condition not only significantly impacts patients' quality of life but also imposes substantial socioeconomic burdens. The complex molecular mechanisms driving skeletal muscle atrophy contribute to the absence of effective treatment options.

Circulating inflammatory cytokines and risk of aortic stenosis: A Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Observational studies have consistently reported positive associations between inflammatory biomarkers and the risk of developing aortic stenosis (AS). However, it is crucial to acknowledge that conventional observational studies are prone to various forms of bias, including reverse causation and residual confounding. To delve deeper into unraveling the potential causal relationship between inflammatory biomarkers and aortic stenosis, we conducted a comprehensive two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Lithospermic acid targeting heat shock protein 90 attenuates LPS-induced inflammatory response via NF-кB signalling pathway in BV2 microglial cells.

Microglia function as a vital constituent in the maintenance of brain homeostasis. Aberrant microglial activation, however, may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. Lithospermic acid (LA) is a plant-derived polycyclic phenolic carboxylic acid isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Texture-Based Classification of Fetal Growth Restriction From Intrauterine Neurosonographic Image.

Objective: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a condition where fetuses fail to reach their genetic potential for growth, posing a significant health challenge for newborns. The aim of this research was to explore the efficacy of texture-based analysis of neurosonographic images in identifying FGR in fetuses, which may provide a promising tool for early assessment of FGR.

Methods: A retrospective analysis collected 100 intrauterine neurosonographic images from 50 FGR and 50 gestational age-appropriate fetuses.

An Optimized Decellularized Extracellular Matrix from Dental Pulp Stem Cell Sheets Promotes Axonal Regeneration by Multiple Modes in Spinal Cord Injury Rats.

In the field of tissue engineering, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is considered an important element for promoting neural regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI). Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), mesenchymal stem cells that originate from the neural crest, are easy to harvest and culture in vitro, express a variety of neurotrophic factors (NTFs) and deposit a large amount of ECM, making them a good choice for stem cell- or ECM-based treatment of SCI. In the present study, decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) derived from DPSC sheets is used for the treatment of SCI.

Single-cell atlas of human gingiva unveils a NETs-related neutrophil subpopulation regulating periodontal immunity.

Introduction: Exaggerated neutrophil recruitment and activation are the major features of pathological alterations in periodontitis, in which neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are considered to be responsible for inflammatory periodontal lesions. Despite the critical role of NETs in the development and progression of periodontitis, their specific functions and mechanisms remain unclear.

Objectives: To demonstrate the important functions and specific mechanisms of NETs involved in periodontal immunopathology.

Mazabraud's syndrome in female patients: Two case reports.

Background: Mazabraud's syndrome (MS) is a rare and slowly progressive benign disease characterized by the concurrent presence of fibrous dysplasia of bone and intramuscular myxoma, and is thought to be associated with mutations of the gene. To date, only about 100 cases of MS have been reported in the literature, but its standard treatment strategy remains unclear.

Case Summary: We report two cases of MS in young women who underwent different treatments based on their symptoms and disease manifestations.

Novel positioning guiders accurately assist in situ acetabular reconstruction for patients undergoing pelvic bone tumor resection.

Purpose: Acetabular reconstruction in situ after extensive pelvic resection is technically challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of positioning guiders for acetabular reconstruction following pelvic tumor resection and the clinical benefit brought by the approach.

Methods: The study included patients who underwent acetabular reconstruction following periacetabular tumor resection using a modular hemipelvic prosthesis.

FAT10 mediates the sorafenib-resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by stabilizing E3 ligase NEDD4 to enhance PTEN/AKT pathway-induced autophagy.

Although sorafenib is the first-line therapeutic agent for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the development of drug resistance in HCC cells limits its clinical efficacy. However, the key factors involved in mediating the sorafenib resistance of HCC cells and the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. In this study, we generated sorafenib-resistant HCC cell lines, and our data demonstrate that HLA-F locus-adjacent transcript 10 (FAT10), a ubiquitin-like protein, is markedly upregulated in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells and that reducing the expression of FAT10 in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells increases sensitivity to sorafenib.

Effect of radiotherapy on local control and overall survival in spinal metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancer after surgery and systemic therapy.

Aims: Radiotherapy is a well-known local treatment for spinal metastases. However, in the presence of postoperative systemic therapy, the efficacy of radiotherapy on local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) in patients with spinal metastases remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of post-surgical radiotherapy for spinal metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and to identify factors correlated with LC and OS.

Cuproptosis-related molecular classification and gene signature of hepatocellular carcinoma and experimental verification.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy with poor overall prognosis. Cuproptosis, a recently proposed mode of copper-dependent cell death, plays a critical role in the malignant progression of various tumors; however, the expression and prognostic value of cuproptosis-related regulatory genes in HCC remain unclear.

Methods: Genomic, genetic, and expression profiles of ten key cuproptosis-related regulatory genes were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) dataset and protein expression data from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database.

ZIF-8-Encapsulated Pexidartinib Delivery via Targeted Peptide-Modified M1 Macrophages Attenuates MDSC-Mediated Immunosuppression in Osteosarcoma.

Adoptive cellular therapy is a promising strategy for cancer treatment. However, the effectiveness of this therapy is limited by its intricate and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In this study, a targeted therapeutic strategy for macrophage loading of drugs is presented to enhance anti-tumor efficacy of macrophages.

Circ_0008657 regulates lung DNA damage induced by hexavalent chromium through the miR-203a-3p/ATM axis.

Hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] is an important environmental pollutant and may cause lung injury when inhaled into the human body. Cr (VI) is genotoxic and can cause DNA damage, although the underlying epigenetic mechanisms remain unclear. To simulate the real-life workplace exposure to Cr (VI), we used a novel exposure dose calculation method.

Carbon black nanoparticles and cadmium co-exposure aggravates bronchial epithelial cells inflammation via autophagy-lysosome pathway.

Carbon black nanoparticles (CBNPs) and cadmium (Cd) are major components of various air pollutants and cigarette smoke. Autophagy and inflammation both play critical roles in understanding the toxicity of particles and their components, as well as maintaining body homeostasis. However, the effects and mechanisms of CBNPs and Cd (CBNPs-Cd) co-exposure on the human respiratory system remain unclear.

Altered m6A RNA methylation governs denervation-induced muscle atrophy by regulating ubiquitin proteasome pathway.

Background: Denervation-induced muscle atrophy is complex disease involving multiple biological processes with unknown mechanisms. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) participates in skeletal muscle physiology by regulating multiple levels of RNA metabolism, but its impact on denervation-induced muscle atrophy is still unclear. Here, we aimed to explore the changes, functions, and molecular mechanisms of m6A RNA methylation during denervation-induced muscle atrophy.

Superoxide dismutase 2 scavenges ROS to promote osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells by regulating Smad3 in alveolar bone-defective rats.

Background: Osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) is an essential event in alveolar bone regeneration. Oxidative stress may be the main inhibiting factor of hPDLSC osteogenesis. Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) is a key antioxidant enzyme, but its effect on hPDLSC osteogenic differentiation is unclear.

Benzo[a]pyrene-induced up-regulation of circ_0003552 via ALKBH5-mediated mA modification promotes DNA damage in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Benzo [a]pyrene (B [a]P) is a widespread environmental chemical pollutant that has been linked to the development of various diseases. However, the specific mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, human bronchial epithelial 16HBE and BEAS-2B cells were exposed to B [a]P at 0-32 μM to assess the DNA-damaging effects.

Seamlessly Adhesive Bionic Periosteum Patches Via Filling Microcracks for Defective Bone Healing.

Current artificial designs of the periosteum focus on osteogenic or angiogenic properties, while ignoring the filling and integration with bone microcracks, which trigger a prolonged excessive inflammatory reaction and lead to failure of bone regeneration. In this study, seamless adhesive biomimetic periosteum patches (HABP/Sr-PLA) were prepared to fill microcracks in defective bone via interfacial self-assembly induced by Sr ions mediated metal-ligand interactions among pamidronate disodium-modified hyaluronic acid (HAPD), black phosphorus (BP), and hydrophilic polylactic acid (PLA). In vitro, HABP/Sr-PLA exhibited excellent self-healing properties, seamlessly filled bone microcracks, and significantly enhanced osteogenesis and angiogenesis.

Mechanical Signal-Tailored Hydrogel Microspheres Recruit and Train Stem Cells for Precise Differentiation.

The aberrant mechanical microenvironment in degenerated tissues induces misdirection of cell fate, making it challenging to achieve efficient endogenous regeneration. Herein, a hydrogel microsphere-based synthetic niche with integrated cell recruitment and targeted cell differentiation properties via mechanotransduction is constructed . Through the incorporation of microfluidics and photo-polymerization strategies, fibronectin (Fn) modified methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) microspheres are prepared with the independently tunable elastic modulus (1-10Kpa) and ligand density (2 and 10 µg mL ), allowing a wide range of cytoskeleton modulation to trigger the corresponding mechanobiological signaling.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation would be an alternative to implantable cervical vagus nerve stimulation in some situation.

Implantable cervical vagus nerve stimulation (iVNS) is a representative and promising neuromodulation. However, the invasive nature restricts its application. Traditional auricular acupuncture treatment has a long history.

The adiponectin receptor agonist AdipoAI attenuates periodontitis in diabetic rats by inhibiting gingival fibroblast-induced macrophage migration.

Background And Purpose: Low-grade inflammation, a common feature of both diabetes and periodontitis, partly accounts for the complexity and refractoriness of diabetes-associated periodontitis. Adiponectin (APN), the most abundant adipokine in human blood, has been widely reported to have anti-inflammatory functions. Herein, we investigated the ability of an APN receptor agonist, AdipoAI, to alleviate diabetes-associated periodontitis.