Positive association between advanced lung cancer inflammation index and gallstones, with greater impact on women: a cross-sectional study of the NHANES database.

Background: Previous studies have shown that inflammation is crucial in gallstone formation. The Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index (ALI) is a comprehensive measure that reflects inflammation and nutritional condition. However, there are no studies examining the relationship between ALI and gallstones.

Three-chamber electrochemical reactor for selective lithium extraction from brine.

Efficient lithium recovery from geothermal brines is crucial for the battery industry. Current electrochemical separation methods struggle with the simultaneous presence of Na, K, Mg, and Ca because these cations are similar to Li, making it challenging to separate effectively. We address these challenges with a three-chamber reactor featuring a polymer porous solid electrolyte in the middle layer.

Anti-TNFR2 Antibody-Conjugated PLGA Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of Adriamycin in Mouse Colon Cancer.

High levels of tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (TNFR2) are preferentially expressed by immunosuppressive CD4Foxp3 regulatory T cells (T), especially those present in the tumor microenvironment, as initially reported by us. There is compelling evidence that targeting TNFR2 markedly enhances antitumor immune responses. Furthermore, a broad spectrum of human cancers also expresses TNFR2, while its expression by normal tissue is very limited.

ARHGAP17 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Inactivation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

As a member of Rho GAPs family, Rho GTPase-Activating Protein 17 (ARHGAP17) regulates cytoskeletal recombination, cell polarity, cell proliferation and cell migration. ARHGAP17 is identified as a tumor suppressor in numerous cancer types. Current study intends to examine ARHGAP17 expression and its possible influence on the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Screening and Identification of ESR1 as a Target of Icaritin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Evidence from Bibliometrics and Bioinformatic Analysis.

Background: In 2022, icaritin a Traditional Chinese Medicine with estrogen-like activities was recommended by the CSCO guidelines as a systematic treatment for patients with advanced HCC due to its clinical safety and efficacy. However the mechanism and targets of icaritin are unclear. In this study we aimed to reveal the target of icaritin in HCC.

Continuous carbon capture in an electrochemical solid-electrolyte reactor.

Electrochemical carbon-capture technologies, with renewable electricity as the energy input, are promising for carbon management but still suffer from low capture rates, oxygen sensitivity or system complexity. Here we demonstrate a continuous electrochemical carbon-capture design by coupling oxygen/water (O/HO) redox couple with a modular solid-electrolyte reactor. By performing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) redox electrolysis, our device can efficiently absorb dilute carbon dioxide (CO) molecules at the high-alkaline cathode-membrane interface to form carbonate ions, followed by a neutralization process through the proton flux from the anode to continuously output a high-purity (>99%) CO stream from the middle solid-electrolyte layer.

Rubiginosin B selectively inhibits Treg cell differentiation and enhances anti-tumor immune responses by targeting calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway.

Background: The accumulation of CD4Foxp3 regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) dampens anti-tumor immune responses and promotes tumor progression. Therefore, the elimination of Tregs has become a strategy to enhance the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy, although it is still a daunting challenge. Rhododendron brachypodum (R.

TNFR2 deficiency impairs the growth of mouse colon cancer.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor type II (TNFR2) is expressed by a wide spectrum of tumor cells including colon cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, renal carcinoma and ovarian cancer, and its exact role remains to be fully understood. In this study, we examined the effect of genetic ablation of TNFR2 on and growth of mouse MC38 and CT26 colon cancer cells. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to knockout TNFR2 on mouse MC38 and CT26 colon cancer cells.

MiR-125b-5p modulates the function of regulatory T cells in tumor microenvironment by targeting TNFR2.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor receptor type 2 (TNFR2) is primarily expressed by CD4FoxP3 regulatory T cells (Tregs), especially those present in tumor microenvironment. There is compelling evidence that TNFR2 plays a crucial role in the activation, expansion, and phenotypic stability of Tregs and promotes tumor immune evasion. Understanding of epigenetic regulation of TNFR2 expression in Tregs may help device a novel strategy in cancer immunotherapy.

Distepharinamide, a novel dimeric proaporphine alkaloid from Diploclisia glaucescens, inhibits the differentiation and proliferative expansion of CD4Foxp3 regulatory T cells.

Background: CD4Foxp3 regulatory T cells (Tregs) represent the primary cellular mechanism of tumor immune evasion. Elimination of Treg activity by the pharmacological agent may enhance anti-tumor immune responses. However, Treg-eliminating agents, especially those with small molecules, are rarely reported.

Factors associated with neutralizing antibody levels induced by two inactivated COVID-19 vaccines for 12 months after primary series vaccination.

Background: BBIBP-CorV and CoronaVac inactivated COVID-19 vaccines are widely-used, World Health Organization-emergency-listed vaccines. Understanding antibody level changes over time after vaccination is important for booster dose policies. We evaluated neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers and associated factors for the first 12 months after primary-series vaccination with BBIBP-CorV and CoronaVac.

A novel dibenzofuran from endophytic fungus Mycosphaerella nawae preferentially inhibits CD4 T cell activation and proliferation.

Aim: To obtain promising immunosuppressants from endophytic fungus.

Methods And Results: The endophytic fungus Mycosphaerella nawae (ZJLQ129) was isolated from the plant Smilax china L. and its secondary metabolites extracted and fractionated through column chromatography.

Toosendanin inhibits colorectal cancer cell growth through the Hedgehog pathway by targeting Shh.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common gastrointestinal cancers worldwide. This complex and often fatal disease has a high mortality rate. The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is crucial in CRC.

Efficient conversion of low-concentration nitrate sources into ammonia on a Ru-dispersed Cu nanowire electrocatalyst.

Electrochemically converting nitrate ions, a widely distributed nitrogen source in industrial wastewater and polluted groundwater, into ammonia represents a sustainable route for both wastewater treatment and ammonia generation. However, it is currently hindered by low catalytic activities, especially under low nitrate concentrations. Here we report a high-performance Ru-dispersed Cu nanowire catalyst that delivers an industrial-relevant nitrate reduction current of 1 A cm while maintaining a high NH Faradaic efficiency of 93%.

A TNFR2 antibody by countering immunosuppression cooperates with HMGN1 and R848 immune stimulants to inhibit murine colon cancer.

Immunosuppressive CD4Foxp3 regulatory T cells (Tregs) promote tumor immune evasion and thus targeting of Tregs has become an strategy in cancer immunotherapy. Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) is highly expressed and important for the immunosuppressive function of Tregs in humans and mice. Thus, the benefit of targeting TNFR2 in cancer immunotherapy merits more investigation.

Cyclophosphamide abrogates the expansion of CD4Foxp3 regulatory T cells and enhances the efficacy of bleomycin in the treatment of mouse B16-F10 melanomas.

Objective: Promotion of the proliferative expansion of CD4Foxp3 regulatory T cells (Tregs) is one of the side effects that limits the use of bleomycin (BLM) in the treatment of tumors. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that cyclophosphamide (CY), a chemotherapeutic agent with the capacity to eliminate tumor infiltrating Tregs, abrogated BLM-induced expansion of Tregs and consequently resulted in a better anti-tumor effect.

Methods: The effects of BLM, with or without mafosfamide (MAF, the active metabolite of CY), on both TGF-β-induced differentiation of Tregs (iTregs), and TNF-induced expansion of naturally occurring Tregs (nTregs) were assessed.

Electrochemical ammonia synthesis via nitrate reduction on Fe single atom catalyst.

Electrochemically converting nitrate, a widespread water pollutant, back to valuable ammonia is a green and delocalized route for ammonia synthesis, and can be an appealing and supplementary alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. However, as there are other nitrate reduction pathways present, selectively guiding the reaction pathway towards ammonia is currently challenged by the lack of efficient catalysts. Here we report a selective and active nitrate reduction to ammonia on Fe single atom catalyst, with a maximal ammonia Faradaic efficiency of ~ 75% and a yield rate of up to ~ 20,000 μg h mg (0.

Synergistic effect of all-trans-retinal and triptolide encapsulated in an inflammation-targeted nanoparticle on collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

Targeted delivery of nano-encapsulated anti-inflammatory agent represents a promising while challenging strategy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Pro-inflammatory macrophages play a major role in the pathogenesis of RA. In this study, we investigated the effect of a macrophage-targeted pH-sensitive nanoparticle on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice.

A novel polysaccharide from Dendrobium devonianum serves as a TLR4 agonist for activating macrophages.

Dendrobium devonianum has been used as herbal medicines and nutraceutical products since ancient time in China. However, its chemical composition and pharmacological mechanisms are not fully known. In present studies, by chemical purification and characteristic identification, we discovered a novel polysaccharide from D.

Cynanbungeigenin C and D, a pair of novel epimers from Cynanchum bungei, suppress hedgehog pathway-dependent medulloblastoma by blocking signaling at the level of Gli.

Uncontrolled excessive activation of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is linked to a number of human malignant tumorigenesis. To obtain valuable Hh pathway inhibitors from natural product, in present study, a pair of novel epimers, Cynanbungeigenin C (CBC) and D (CBD) from the plant Cynanchum bungei Decne were chemically characterized by multiple spectroscopic data and chemical derivatization, and evaluated for their inhibition on Hh pathway. Mechanistically, CBC and CBD block Hh pathway signaling not through targeting Smo and Sufu, but at the level of Gli.

A Novel Derivative of (-)mycousnine Produced by the Endophytic Fungus , Exhibits High and Selective Immunosuppressive Activity on T Cells.

An endophytic fungus, ZJLQ129, was isolated from the leaves of the traditional Chinese medicine Smilax china. From the fermentation broth and mycelium, a dibenzofurane compound (-)mycousnine (1) was isolated. Chemical modification of it to the amide derivative (-)mycousnine enamine (2), which is new to science, was found to have high and selective immunosuppressive activity: similar to cyclosporin A, (-)mycousnine enamine (2) selectively inhibited T cell proliferation, suppressed the expression of the surface activation antigens CD25 and CD69 and the formation and expression of the cytokines interleukin-2 as well as interferon γ in activated T cells, but did not show any effect on the proliferation of B cells and cancer cells (PANC-1 and A549) and the activation of macrophages.

Two New 8, 14-seco-pregnane Steroidal Aglycones froni Roots of Cynanchum bungei.

Two new 8, 14-seco skeleton C(21) steroidal aglycones, cynanbungeigenin A (1) and cynanbungeigenin B (2), were isolated from the hydrolyzed extract of the EtOAc soluble extract of the roots of Cynanchum bungei. Their structures were determined on the basis of chemical evidence and extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.

The Loss of a Sugar Chain at C(3) Position Enhances Stemucronatoside K-Induced Apoptosis, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Hedgehog Pathway Inhibition in HT-29 Cells.

Stemucronatoside K (SMK) and its aglycone stephanthraniline A (STA) are the most representative of a series of novel C steriodal compounds that we have previously isolated from Asclepiadaceae plants. The objectives of this study were to investigate the antitumor activity of SMK and STA, and clarify the effect of the sugar chain at the C(3) position. Our results showed that both SMK and STA decreased the growth of HT-29 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner.