Prevalence and risk factors of persistent cough in patients diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Cough occurring in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was first described in 1935 and is a frequently discussed symptom on patient forums. We aimed to systematically review the available evidence to explore the prevalence and risk factors for persistent cough in patients diagnosed with RCC to establish whether cough could be a presenting symptom of RCC.

Design: This epidemiological systematic review used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement 2020.

In situ formed reactive oxygen species-responsive dipyridamole prodrug hydrogel: Spatiotemporal drug delivery for chemoimmunotherapy.

In the realm of combined cancer immunotherapy, the strategic combination of therapeutics targeting both cancer cells and macrophages holds immense potential. However, the major challenges remain on how to achieve facile spatiotemporal delivery of these therapies, allowing ease of manipulation and ensuring differential drug release for enhanced synergistic therapeutic effects. In the present study, we introduced a tumor microenvironment (TME)-adapted hydrogel with the phenylboronic acid-modified dipyridamole prodrug (DIPP) as a crosslinker.

An in vitro 3-dimensional Collagen-based Corneal Construct with Innervation Using Human Corneal Cell Lines.

Purpose: To develop a 3-dimensional corneal construct suitable for in vitro studies of disease conditions and therapies.

Design: In vitro human corneal constructs were created using chemically crosslinked collagen and chondroitin sulfate extracellular matrix and seeded with 3 human corneal cell types (epithelial, stromal, and endothelial) together with neural cells. The neural cells were derived from hybrid neuroblastoma cells and the other cells used from immortalized human corneal cell lines.

A Fluorinated BODIPY-Based Zirconium Metal-Organic Framework for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), an emergent noninvasive cancer treatment, is largely dependent on the presence of efficient photosensitizers (PSs) and a sufficient oxygen supply. However, the therapeutic efficacy of PSs is greatly compromised by poor solubility, aggregation tendency, and oxygen depletion within solid tumors during PDT in hypoxic microenvironments. Despite the potential of PS-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), addressing hypoxia remains challenging.

Self-Reporting Theranostic: Nano Tool for Arterial Thrombosis.

Arterial thrombosis (AT) originates through platelet-mediated thrombus formation in the blood vessel and can lead to heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular diseases. Restricting the thrombus growth and its simultaneous monitoring by visualisation is an unmet clinical need for a better AT prognosis. As a proof-of-concept, we have engineered a nanoparticle-based theranostic (combined therapy and monitoring) platform that has the potential to monitor and restrain the growth of a thrombus concurrently.

Rational design of peptide-based implants for corneal bioengineering.

Regeneration of damaged cornea can save vision for millions of patients. Most of these patients are waiting for transplantation of a donor cornea or suitable substitute to restore vision. Although donor cornea transplantation is the most clinically accepted treatment, shortage of donor cornea results in almost 69 out of every 70 patients untreated with the waiting list for transplantation drastically increasing every year according to a prepandemic estimation.

Feasibility of Coacervate-Like Nanostructure for Instant Drug Nanoformulation.

Despite the enormous advancements in nanomedicine research, a limited number of nanoformulations are available on the market, and few have been translated to clinics. An easily scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective manufacturing strategy and long-term stability for storage are crucial for successful translation. Here, we report a system and method to instantly formulate NF achieved with a nanoscale polyelectrolyte coacervate-like system, consisting of anionic pseudopeptide poly(l-lysine isophthalamide) derivatives, polyethylenimine, and doxorubicin (Dox) via simple "mix-and-go" addition of precursor solutions in seconds.

Nanomedicine: controlling nanoparticle clearance for translational success.

Achieving complete nanoparticle (NP) clearance is a key consideration in the design of safe and translatable nanomedicines. Renal-clearable nano formulations must encompass the beneficial nanoscale functionalities whilst exhibiting clearance profiles like those of small-molecule therapeutics. Recent developments in the field have enabled the growth of novel renal-clearable NPs with transformable sizes that take advantage of alternative clearance mechanisms to achieve controlled and efficient renal excretion to improve potential clinical translation.

Crosslinker-free collagen gelation for corneal regeneration.

Development of an artificial cornea can potentially fulfil the demand of donor corneas for transplantation as the number of donors is far less than needed to treat corneal blindness. Collagen-based artificial corneas stand out as a regenerative option, having promising clinical outcomes. Collagen crosslinked with chemical crosslinkers which modify the parent functional groups of collagen.

Nano toolbox in immune modulation and nanovaccines.

Despite the great success of vaccines over two centuries, the conventional strategy is based on attenuated/altered microorganisms. However, this is not effective for all microbes and often fails to elicit a protective immune response, and sometimes poses unexpected safety risks. The expanding nano toolbox may overcome some of the roadblocks in vaccine development given the plethora of unique nanoparticle (NP)-based platforms that can successfully induce specific immune responses leading to exciting and novel solutions.

Variations in the SDN Loop of Class A Beta-Lactamases: A Study of the Molecular Mechanism of BlaC () to Alter the Stability and Catalytic Activity Towards Antibiotic Resistance of MBIs.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis calls for an immediate search for novel treatment strategies. Recently, BlaC, the principal beta-lactamase of , was recognized as a potential therapeutic target. BlaC belongs to Ambler class A, which is generally susceptible to the beta-lactamase inhibitors currently used in clinics: tazobactam, sulbactam, and clavulanate.

Optimization of Collagen Chemical Crosslinking to Restore Biocompatibility of Tissue-Engineered Scaffolds.

Collagen scaffolds, one of the most used biomaterials in corneal tissue engineering, are frequently crosslinked to improve mechanical properties, enzyme tolerance, and thermal stability. Crosslinkers such as 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) are compatible with tissues but provide low crosslinking density and reduced mechanical properties. Conversely, crosslinkers such as glutaraldehyde (GTA) can generate mechanically more robust scaffolds; however, they can also induce greater toxicity.

Plausible blockers of Spike RBD in SARS-CoV2-molecular design and underlying interaction dynamics from high-level structural descriptors.

COVID-19 is characterized by an unprecedented abrupt increase in the viral transmission rate (SARS-CoV-2) relative to its pandemic evolutionary ancestor, SARS-CoV (2003). The complex molecular cascade of events related to the viral pathogenicity is triggered by the Spike protein upon interacting with the ACE2 receptor on human lung cells through its receptor binding domain (RBD). One potential therapeutic strategy to combat COVID-19 could thus be limiting the infection by blocking this key interaction.

Innate Immune Invisible Ultrasmall Gold Nanoparticles-Framework for Synthesis and Evaluation.

Nanomedicine is seen as a potential central player in the delivery of personalized medicine. Biocompatibility issues of nanoparticles have largely been resolved over the past decade. Despite their tremendous progress, less than 1% of applied nanosystems can hit their intended target location, such as a solid tumor, and this remains an obstacle to their full ability and potential with a high translational value.

Electron Beam Sterilization of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)-Physicochemical and Biological Aspects.

Electron beam (E-beam) irradiation is an attractive and efficient method for sterilizing clinically implantable medical devices made of natural and/or synthetic materials such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). As ionizing irradiation can affect the physicochemical properties of PMMA, understanding the consequences of E-beam sterilization on the intrinsic properties of PMMA is vital for clinical implementation. A detailed assessment of the chemical, optical, mechanical, morphological, and biological properties of medical-grade PMMA after E-beam sterilization at 25 and 50 kiloGray (kGy) is reported.

Progress and perspective of microneedle system for anti-cancer drug delivery.

Transdermal drug delivery exhibited encouraging prospects, especially through superficial drug administration routes. However, only a few limited lipophilic drug molecules could cross the skin barrier, those are with low molecular weight and rational Log P value. Microneedles (MNs) can overcome these limitations to deliver numerous drugs into the dermal layer by piercing the outermost skin layer of the body.

On/off switchable epicatechin-based ultra-sensitive MRI-visible nanotheranostics - see it and treat it.

Nanotechnology has a remarkable impact on the preclinical development of future medicines. However, the complicated preparation and systemic toxicity to living systems prevent them from translation to clinical applications. In the present report, we developed a polyepicatechin-based on/off switchable ultra-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visible theranostic nanoparticle (PEMN) for image-guided photothermal therapy (PTT) using our strategy of integrating polymerization and biomineralization into the protein template.

Single-step formulation of levodopa-based nanotheranostics - strategy for ultra-sensitive high longitudinal relaxivity MRI guided switchable therapeutics.

Nanotheranostics (combined diagnosis and therapy) is emerging as an integral part of future therapeutic strategies. However, the development and fabrication of a nanotheranostic module involves multistep processes and always faces formulation challenges. The complexity involved in its multi-step formulations hinders its reproducible industrial production and clinical translation.

Dissecting multi drug resistance in head and neck cancer cells using multicellular tumor spheroids.

One of the hallmarks of cancers is their ability to develop resistance against therapeutic agents. Therefore, developing effective in vitro strategies to identify drug resistance remains of paramount importance for successful treatment. One of the ways cancer cells achieve drug resistance is through the expression of efflux pumps that actively pump drugs out of the cells.

An insight into the complete biophysical and biochemical characterization of novel class A beta-lactamase (Bla1) from Bacillus anthracis.

Bacillus anthracis, a potent pathogen of anthrax is becoming resistant to many beta-lactam antibiotics because of the expression of two chromosomally encoded beta-lactamases Bla1 and Bla2. Bla1 is a class A beta-lactamase whereas Bla2 is a Metallo beta-lactamase. In the current study, we have attempted in-detailed characterization of Bla1 beta-lactamase by taking interdisciplinary approaches.

A MnO Nanoparticle-Dotted Hydrogel Promotes Spinal Cord Repair Regulating Reactive Oxygen Species Microenvironment and Synergizing with Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most debilitating injuries, and transplantation of stem cells in a scaffold is a promising strategy for treatment. However, stem cell treatment of SCI has been severely impaired by the increased generation of reactive oxygen species in the lesion microenvironment, which can lead to a high level of stem cell death and dysfunction. Herein, a MnO nanoparticle (NP)-dotted hydrogel is prepared through dispersion of MnO NPs in a PPFLMLLKGSTR peptide modified hyaluronic acid hydrogel.

Mechanistic and therapeutic study of novel anti-tumor function of natural compound imperialine for treating non-small cell lung cancer.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Bulbus Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don (BFC) is a Chinese traditional herbal medicine that has long been used as an indispensable component in herbal prescriptions for bronchopulmonary diseases due to its well-established strong anti-inflammation and pulmonary harmonizing effects. Interestingly, there are few case reports in traditional Chinese medicine available where they found it to contribute in anti-tumor therapies.

Inner-View of Nanomaterial Incited Protein Conformational Changes: Insights into Designable Interaction.

Nanoparticle bioreactivity critically depends upon interaction between proteins and nanomaterials (NM). The formation of the "protein corona" (PC) is the effect of such nanoprotein interactions. PC has a wide usage in pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, medicine, and industrial biotechnology.