Glycopolymeric Micellar Nanoparticles for Platelet-Mediated Tumor-Targeted Delivery of Docetaxel for Cancer Therapy.

The high level of accumulation of therapeutic agents in tumors is crucial for cancer treatment. Compared to the passive tumor-targeting effect, active tumor-targeting delivery systems, primarily mediated by peptides with high production costs and reduced circulation time, are highly desired. Platelet-driven technologies have opened new avenues for targeted drug delivery prevalently through a membrane coating strategy that involves intricate manufacturing procedures or the fucoidan-mediated hitchhiking method with limited platelet affinity.

Naphthalimide-based Functional Glycopolymeric Nanoparticles as Fluorescent Probes for Selective Imaging of Tumor Cells.

A series of functional glycopolymer nanoparticles with 1,8-naphthalimide motif was designed, synthesized and applied for tumor cell imaging. With the pH-sensitive and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect of the 1,8-naphthalimide fluorescent probe, the presence of glucose-based glycopolymers enhanced its water-solubility and biocompatibility. Owing to the dual tumor-targeting effects of the dense glucose part and the boronic ester modification, the obtained glycopolymers showed high affinity to tumor cells, with a much faster staining rate than normal cells, indicating a great potential for diagnosis and treatments of cancers.

A phase 2 randomised controlled trial of mazdutide in Chinese overweight adults or adults with obesity.

Mazdutide is a once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucagon receptor dual agonist. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of 24-week treatment of mazdutide up to 6 mg in Chinese overweight adults or adults with obesity, as an interim analysis of a randomised, two-part (low doses up to 6 mg and high dose of 9 mg), double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04904913).

Glycopolymer-Based Antiswelling, Conductive, and Underwater Adhesive Hydrogels for Flexible Strain Sensor Application.

With the fast development of soft electronics, underwater adhesion has become a highly desired feature for various sensing uses. Currently, most adhesive hydrogels are based on catechol-based structures, such as polydopamine, pyrogallol, and tannic acid, with very limited structural variety. Herein, a new type of glycopolymer-based underwater adhesive hydrogel has been prepared straightforwardly by random copolymerization of acrylic acid, acetyl-protected/unprotected glucose, and methacrylic anhydride in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).

Customization of Soft Tissue Expanders: Improving Safety, Accuracy, and Efficiency for Treatment of Large and Complicated Skin Lesions.

Background: Soft tissue expansion is a common technique for restoring large skin defects. Fixed-type expanders may be inappropriate for the following reasons: (1) the shapes and sizes of the defects vary in different patients; and (2) the bulged base of the fixed-type expander does not fit the curve of the human body, which may induce complications such as concave deformities or nerve palsy from continuous mechanical compression. The customized expander adjusts better to the shape and the topography of the expansion site compared with the fixed-type expander.

Glycopolymer-grafted nanoparticles as glycosaminoglycan mimics with cell proliferation and anti-tumor metastasis activities.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are naturally existing extracellular components with a variety important biological functions. However, their heterogeneous chemical compositions and the challenges in purification have become the main disadvantages for clinical applications. Thus, various synthetic glycopolymers have been designed to mimic the structures and functions of natural GAGs.

Deficient mismatch repair is detected in large-to-giant congenital melanocytic naevi: providing new insight into aetiology and diagnosis.

Background: The aetiologies of large-to-giant congenital melanocytic naevi (LGCMN) remain ambiguous. A previous study discovered signatures associated with deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) in patients with LGCMN. However, a screening diagnostic immunohistochemistry (IHC) panel of dMMR in patients with LGCMN has not been performed to date.

Differential diagnostic performance of PET/CT in adult-onset still's disease and lymphoma: a retrospective pilot study.

Background: Adult-onset still's disease (AOSD) and lymphoma are the common causes of fever of unknown origin (FUO) and show some similar clinical symptoms. This study aimed to establish a reliable and easy-to-used scoring model based on clinical information, laboratory characteristics and F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computer tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) images for the differential diagnosis of these two diseases.

Methods: A development cohort including 70 AOSD and 37 lymphoma patients was used to establish a scoring model based on the features of PET/CT images.

Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Features of Small to Big Satellite Nevus Uncover the Nevogenesis of Large/Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus.

The nevogenesis of large/giant congenital melanocytic nevus (lgCMN) is a complex biological process including several integral prenatal stages. Limited by ethical concerns, the debate of whether lgCMN develops from the epidermis to the dermis or in the opposite direction remains controversial. With the present study of the accompanying satellite nevi, we tend to support that lgCMN develops from epidermis to dermis.

Structurally Dynamic Gelatin-Based Hydrogels with Self-Healing, Shape Memory, and Cytocompatible Properties for 4D Printing.

Three-dimensional (3D) printable hydrogels with a shape memory effect have emerged as a new class of 4D printing materials recently and found wide applications in various fields. However, synergistically endowing such materials with good mechanical strength and biocompatibility for biomedical uses remains challenging. In this study, a series of multiresponsive hydrogels have been prepared through a dynamic covalent imine/Diels-Alder network from biocompatible starting materials of modified gelatin and poly(ethylene glycol)-based polymers.

Circular Patterns of Dynamic Covalent Hydrogels with Gradient Stiffness for Screening of the Stem Cell Microenvironment.

As extracellular matrix (ECM) mimetic materials, hydrogels have been widely used for broad biomedical applications. However, with so many physical or chemical cues in the matrix that regulate cell behaviors or functions, it remains challenging to design a customizable hydrogel with the desired properties on demand. In the current study, we aim to establish a circular-patterned hydrogel model with gradient stiffness for screening the most favorable ECM environment for specific cells or certain application purposes.

Scar-centered dilation in the treatment of large keloids.

Background: Hypertrophic scars and keloid treatment is a major problem in plastic surgery. While small keloids can be treated with resection followed by radiotherapy, large keloids require treatment with a tissue expander. Conventional methods increase the need for auxiliary incisions, causing new scar hyperplasia.

Convergent total synthesis of (+)-calcipotriol: A scalable, modular approach to vitamin D analogs.

A convergent approach for the total synthesis of calcipotriol (brand name: Dovonex), a proven vitamin D analog used for the treatment of psoriasis, and medicinally relevant synthetic analogs is described. A complete approach, not wedded to semisynthesis, toward both the A-ring and CD-ring is reported. From a retrosynthetic standpoint, hidden symmetry within the decorated A-ring is disclosed, which allowed for scalable quantities of this advanced intermediate.

Transcriptome Analysis of Large to Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus Reveals Cell Cycle Arrest and Immune Evasion: Identifying Potential Targets for Treatment.

Large to giant congenital melanocytic nevus (lgCMN) is a benign cutaneous tumor that develops during embryogenesis. A large number of lgCMN patients are ineligible for surgical treatment; hence, there is an urgent need to develop pharmacological treatments. Clinically, tumorigenesis and progression essentially halt after birth, resulting in the homeostasis of growth arrest and survival.

Strong, Self-Healing Gelatin Hydrogels Cross-Linked by Double Dynamic Covalent Chemistry.

Hydrogels constructed from natural sources have received increased attention recently, including applications in biomedical fields. They are protein or polysaccharide cross-linked scaffolds that display water retention and are able to recognize host cargos. Their excellent biocompatibility does not always combine with high mechanical strength (up to 136 kPa) and thermostability, making them less useful in biomedical applications.

Total metabolic lesion volume of lymph nodes measured by F-FDG PET/CT: a new predictor of macrophage activation syndrome in adult-onset Still's disease.

Background: To investigate the potential utility of quantitative parameters obtained by F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) in the assessment of disease severity and the occurrence of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) in adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD).

Methods: Fifty-seven patients with AOSD who underwent pre-treatment F-FDG PET/CT were recruited in this study and compared with 60 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Clinical features and laboratory data were recorded.

Anxiety and depression in adult-onset Still's disease patients and associations with health-related quality of life.

Objective: Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is an autoinflammatory disorder leading to multiorgan involvements. We sought to investigate mood status and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in these patients.

Methods: In this study, 82 AOSD patients and 82 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included.

"Non-criteria" antiphospholipid antibodies add value to antiphospholipid syndrome diagnoses in a large Chinese cohort.

Background: Despite expansion in the 2006 Sydney antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) classification criteria to include IgG/IgM anti-β2-glycoprotein (aβ2GPI) antibodies in addition to IgG/IgM anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and lupus anticoagulant (LAC), some individuals with clinical features of APS remain seronegative (seronegative APS or SNAPS) and are at risk of recurrent thrombosis and pregnancy morbidities. Our aim was to assess the value of "non-criteria" aPL antibodies to detect these SNAPS patients.

Methods: One hundred ninety-two APS patients, 90 SNAPS patients, 193 autoimmune disease controls, and 120 healthy controls were evaluated.

Clinical performance of automated chemiluminescent methods for anticardiolipin and anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies detection in a large cohort of Chinese patients with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Introduction: To assess the clinical performance and correlations of automated chemiluminescence assay (CIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies in the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Methods: The study recruited 505 subjects, including 192 with APS, 193 with connective tissue diseases other than APS, and 120 healthy donors. We measured anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-β2-glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) antibodies IgG, IgM, and IgA in all the samples using both CIA and ELISA.

Anti-β2GPI domain 1 antibodies stratify high risk of thrombosis and late pregnancy morbidity in a large cohort of Chinese patients with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Introduction: Anti-β2GPI-Domain 1 (β2GPI-D1) antibodies are considered to be a pathogenic subset of anti-β2GPI antibodies and have been strongly associated with thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). We evaluated the clinical utility of anti-β2GPI-D1 IgG antibodies for stratifying the risk of thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity (PM) in a cohort of Chinese patients with APS and also assessed its correlation with the Global Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome Score (GAPSS).

Materials And Methods: Sera and plasma from 192 consecutive APS patients, 17 aPL carriers, 193 patients with other systemic autoimmune diseases, and 120 healthy controls were collected and the presence of aCL IgG/IgM, anti-β2GPI IgG/IgM and anti-β2GPI-D1 IgG antibodies were assessed by chemiluminescence assays (CIA).

Cytomegalovirus Infection May Trigger Adult-Onset Still's Disease Onset or Relapses.

Previous studies have revealed that several micro-organisms, especially DNA viruses, have been associated with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). However, there are no studies on the relationship between the presence of viral infections in AOSD patients with disease occurrence and reactivation. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the presence of antibodies against virus, virus DNA load and nucleic acid sensors in AOSD patients.

Plasma microRNA Profiles as a Potential Biomarker in Differentiating Adult-Onset Still's Disease From Sepsis.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by cytokine storm. However, a diagnostic test for AOSD in clinical use is yet to be validated. The aim of our study was to identify non-invasive biomarkers with high specificity and sensitivity to diagnosis of AOSD.