Macrophage MST1 protects against schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis by promoting the PPARγ-CD36 pathway and suppressing NF-κB signaling.

Schistosomiasis is characterized by egg-induced hepatic granulomas and subsequent fibrosis. Monocyte-derived macrophages play critical and plastic roles in the progression and regression of liver fibrosis, adopting different polarization phenotypes. Mammalian STE20-like protein kinase 1 (MST1), a serine/threonine kinase, has been established to act as a negative regulator of macrophage-associated inflammation.

Robust, transparent, self-healable, recyclable all-starch-based gel with thermoelectric capability for wearable sensor.

Conventional all-starch-based (ASB) gels are weak and lack ductility. The preparation of a robust ASB gel with multi-functionalities e.g.

Functional Semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Networks.

Semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (SIPNs) have garnered significant interest due to their potential applications in self-healing materials, drug delivery systems, electrolytes, functional membranes, smart gels and, toughing. SIPNs combine the characteristics of physical cross-linking with advantageous chemical properties, offering broad application prospects in materials science and engineering. This perspective introduces the history of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks and their diverse applications.

The experimental study of mir-99a-5p negative regulation of TLR8 receptor mediated-mediated innate immune response in rabbit knee cartilage injury.

Background: Traumatic cartilage injury is an important cause of osteoarthritis (OA) and limb disability, and toll-like receptors (TLRs) mediated innate immune response has been confirmed to play a crucial role in cartilage injury. In the previous study, we found that the activation of TLR8 molecules in injured articular cartilage was more obvious than other TLRs by establishing an animal model of knee impact injury in rabbits, and the changes of TLR8 molecules could significantly affect the process of articular cartilage injury and repair.

Objective: To verify how mir-99a-5p regulates TLR8 receptor mediated innate immune response to treat traumatic cartilage injury.

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Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels have gained significant traction in diverse tissue engineering applications through the utilization of 3D printing technology. As an artificial hydrogel possessing remarkable processability, GelMA has emerged as a pioneering material in the advancement of tissue engineering due to its exceptional biocompatibility and degradability. The integration of 3D printing technology facilitates the precise arrangement of cells and hydrogel materials, thereby enabling the creation of in vitro models that simulate artificial tissues suitable for transplantation.

Current knowledge on the role of extracellular vesicles in endometrial receptivity.

Endometrial receptivity has been widely understood as the capacity of the endometrium to receive implantable embryos. The establishment of endometrial receptivity involves multiple biological processes including decidualization, tissue remodeling, angiogenesis, immune regulation, and oxidative metabolism. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-bilayer-membrane nanosized vesicles mediating cell-to-cell communication.

Triggered metabolism of adenosine triphosphate as an explanation for the chemical heterogeneity of heterotopic ossification.

Heterotopic ossification (HO), the pathological formation of bone in soft tissues, is a debilitating condition, as well as one of the few instances of de novo bone formation in adults. Chemical mapping of HO tissue showed distinct islands of calcium phosphate within phosphate-deficient, calcium-rich regions, suggesting a transition to apatitic bone mineral from a non-phosphatic precursor. The transition of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), a generally suggested bone-mineral precursor, in physiological conditions was thus investigated.

Impact of short-term exposure to ambient air pollution on osteoarthritis: a multi-city time-series analysis in Central-Eastern China.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a threat to public health issue with high morbidity and disability worldwide. However, unequivocal evidence on the link between air pollution and OA remains little, especially in multi-study sites. This study aimed to explore the relationship between short-term exposure to main air pollutants and the risk of OA outpatient visits in multi-study sites.

Novel insight into the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis gained by a cross-tissue transcriptome-wide association study.

Background: Although genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified more than 100 loci associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility, the causal genes and biological mechanisms remain largely unknown.

Methods: A cross-tissue transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) using the unified test for molecular signaturestool was performed to integrate GWAS summary statistics from 58 284 individuals (14 361 RA cases and 43 923 controls) with gene-expression matrix in the Genotype-Tissue Expression project. Subsequently, a single tissue by using FUSION software was conducted to validate the significant associations.

Oviductal extracellular vesicles from women with endometriosis impair embryo development.

Objective: To investigate the influence of oviductal extracellular vesicles from patients with endometriosis on early embryo development.

Design: experimental study.

Setting: University-affiliated hospital.

A shared genetic contribution to osteoarthritis and COVID-19 outcomes: a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis.

Background: Patients with osteoarthritis (OA) are exposed to an increased risk of adverse outcomes of COVID-19, and they tend to experience disruption in access to healthcare services and exercise facilities. However, a deep understanding of this comorbidity phenomenon and the underlying genetic architecture of the two diseases is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to untangle the relationship between OA and COVID-19 outcomes by conducting a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis.

Nomogram for predicting the risk of preterm delivery after IVF/ICSI treatment: an analysis of 11513 singleton births.

Background: There is a higher risk of preterm delivery (PTD) in singleton live births conceived after fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) compared with spontaneously conceived pregnancies. The objective of our study was to build a predictive nomogram model to suggest the possibility of PTD in singleton pregnancies after IVF/ICSI treatment.

Method: 11513 IVF/ICSI cycles with singleton live births were enrolled retrospectively.

Extracellular vesicles from human Fallopian tubal fluid benefit embryo development .

Study Question: Do extracellular vesicles (EVs) from human Fallopian tubes exert an influence on early embryo development ?

Summary Answer: Human Fallopian tube EVs carrying miRNAs increase murine embryo viability .

What Is Known Already: Oviductal EVs (oEVs) are recently identified key players in embryo-oviduct interactions that contribute to successful pregnancy . Their absence in current systems may partly explain the suboptimal embryo development observed; therefore, further knowledge is needed about their impact on early embryos.

Inhibition of Oocyte Maturation by Follicular Extracellular Vesicles of Nonhyperandrogenic PCOS Patients Requiring IVF.

Context: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common diseases that contribute to subfertility. Recent evidence showed that oocytes of women with PCOS matured in vitro away from the follicular fluid presented better potentials, whereas the reason remained unclear.

Objective: This work aimed to investigate whether follicular extracellular vesicles (EVs) of PCOS patients interfere with the quality of oocytes.

Using genetic instruments to estimate the causal effect of hormonal reproductive factors on osteoarthritis.

Objectives: Hormonal reproductive factors have been considered to play an important role in the etiology of osteoarthritis (OA). We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) to examine whether a causal effect existed between them.

Methods: MR was performed by using publicly released genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics to estimate the causal associations of three relevant exposures, including age at menarche (AAM), age at natural menopause (ANM) and age at first birth (AFB), with the risk of OA.

Arthritis and incident pulmonary diseases in middle-aged and elderly Chinese: a longitudinal population-based study.

Background: The coexistence of arthritis and pulmonary abnormalities has long been observed, but the causal inter-relationships among them are still uncertain especially in elderly adults.

Methods: We extracted data from The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). A total of 7534 participants without chronic lung diseases or/and asthma at the baseline and have complete follow-up information were included.

Single-Cell Transcriptomics of Proliferative Phase Endometrium: Systems Analysis of Cell-Cell Communication Network Using CellChat.

The endometrium thickness increases by which endometrial angiogenesis occurs in parallel with the rapid growth of endometrium during the proliferative phase, which is orchestrated by complex cell-cell interactions and cytokine networks. However, the intercellular communication has not been fully delineated. In the present work, we studied the cell-cell interactome among cells of human proliferative phase endometrium using single-cell transcriptomics.

Rutin Inhibits the Progression of Osteoarthritis Through -Mediated Signaling.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease characterized by the deterioration of cartilage and subchondral bone in the joints. Currently, there is no complete cure for OA, only treatments designed to temporarily relieve pain and improve function. Compared with the high cost of surgical treatment, medical treatment of OA is more acceptable and cost-effective.

Does smoking protect against developing osteoarthritis? Evidence from a genetically informed perspective.

Objective: Cumulative evidence from observational studies showed an inverse association between smoking and osteoarthritis (OA), but this association could be confounded by obesity. This study aimed to decipher the causal effect of smoking on osteoarthritis risk from a genetically informed perspective.

Methods: We performed a two-sample univariable and multivariable MR to evaluate the independent effect of smoking on OA risk.

Culture medium is associated with the risks of placenta previa and macrosomia in pregnancies after in vitro fertilization.

Purpose: The culture medium plays an important role in embryonic development and subsequent pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. The sequential culture media of Vitrolife and Cook are the two most commonly used reagents in China. This study aimed to assess their effects on IVF success rates, obstetric outcomes and neonatal outcomes.

The Effect of Endometrial Thickness on Pregnancy, Maternal, and Perinatal Outcomes of Women in Fresh Cycles After IVF/ICSI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Thin endometrium on ovulation triggering day is associated with impaired pregnancy outcomes in women after fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI), but the role of thick endometrium on pregnancy outcomes remains controversial. Moreover, there has been insufficient evidence currently to analyze the influence of endometrial thickness (EMT) on obstetric complications and perinatal outcomes. Thus, we performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of EMT on pregnancy, maternal, and perinatal outcomes in an enlarged sample size.

Hybrid reflection retrieval method for terahertz dielectric imaging of human bone.

Terahertz imaging is becoming a biological imaging modality in its own right, alongside the more mature infrared and X-ray techniques. Nevertheless, extraction of hyperspectral, biometric information of samples is limited by experimental challenges. Terahertz time domain spectroscopy reflection measurements demand highly precise alignment and suffer from limitations of the sample thickness.

Therapeutic Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Female Reproductive Diseases.

Reproductive disorders, including intrauterine adhesion (IUA), premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), are great threats to female reproduction. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells derived-extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) have presented their potentials to cure these diseases, not only for the propensity ability they stemmed from the parent cells, but also for the higher biology stability and lower immunogenicity, compared to MSCs. EVs are lipid bilayer complexes, functional as mediators by transferring multiple molecules to recipient cells, such as proteins, microRNAs, lipids, and cytokines.