COVID-19 patient serum-derived extracellular vesicles deliver miR-20b-5p induces neutrophil extracellular traps.

Background: Severe cases of COVID-19 are characterized by an excessive presence of neutrophils. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), released by activated neutrophils due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, contribute to lung epithelial cell death and are key drivers in COVID-19-associated immunothrombosis. However, the mechanism underlying NET formation in COVID-19 remain unclear.

Enhanced kinase translocation reporters for simultaneous real-time measurement of PKA, ERK, and calcium.

Kinase translocation reporters (KTRs) are powerful tools for single-cell measurement of time-integrated kinase activity but suffer from restricted dynamic range and limited sensitivity, particularly in neurons. To address these limitations, we developed enhanced KTRs (eKTRs) for PKA and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) by (i) increasing KTR size, which reduces the confounding effect of KTR diffusion through the nuclear pore and (ii) modulating the strength of the bipartite nuclear localization signal in their kinase sensor domains, to ensure that the relative distribution of the KTR between the nucleus and cytoplasmic is determined by active nuclear import, active nuclear export, and relative activity of their cognate kinase. The resultant sets of ePKA-KTRs and eERK-KTRs display high sensitivity, broad dynamic range, and cell type-specific tuning.

Analysis of Lymphovascular Infiltration and Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Cervical Cancer Immunoescape.

Background: Exact detection of lymphovascular infiltration (LVI) status can guide accurate surgical operation scope in cervical cancer, but LVI reduces the overall survival (OS) of patients and is not easily detected by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in this process is not well defined.

Methods: Early-stage cervical cancer patients received carbon nanoparticles for sentinel lymph-node mapping, laparotomy pelvic lymph-node dissection, and radical hysterectomy.

Perioperative immunotherapy for patients with EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer: Unexpected potential benefits.

Given that immunotherapy has resulted in a significant overall survival (OS) benefit in advanced-stage disease, it is of notable interest to determine the effectiveness of these agents in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The potential exists for the immunotherapeutic approach in early-stage NSCLC to mirror the paradigm seen in advanced NSCLC, wherein survival enhancements have notably benefited the majority of patients. However, their performance in early-stage epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant NSCLC is controversial.

Enhanced kinase translocation reporters for simultaneous real-time measurement of PKA, ERK, and Ca.

Kinase translocation reporters (KTRs) are powerful tools for single-cell measurement of time-integrated kinase activity but suffer from restricted dynamic range and limited sensitivity, particularly in neurons. To address these limitations, we developed enhanced KTRs (eKTRs) for protein kinase A (PKA) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) that display high sensitivity, rapid response kinetics, broad dynamic range, cell type-specific tuning, and an ability to detect PKA and ERK activity in primary sensory neurons. Moreover, co-expression of optically separable eKTRs for PKA and ERK revealed the kinetics of expected and unexpected crosstalk between PKA, ERK, protein kinase C, and calcium signaling pathways, demonstrating the utility of eKTRs for live cell monitoring of diverse and interacting signaling pathways.

Synthesis and Upconversion Luminescence Fine-tuning of Yb/Ho-Doped Indium and Gallium Oxide Nanoparticles.

Rare earth (RE) dopants can modulate the bandgap of oxides of indium and gallium and provide extra upconversion luminescence (UCL) abilities. However, relevant UCL fine-tuning strategies and energy mechanisms have been less studied. In this research, InGaO, Ho monodoped and Yb/Ho codoped InO, and Ho monodoped YbGaO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a solvothermal method.

EAF2 Downregulation Recruits Tumor-associated Macrophages in Prostate Cancer through Upregulation of MIF.

Background: The role of tumor inflammatory microenvironment in the advancement of cancer, particularly prostate cancer, is widely acknowledged. ELL-associated factor 2 (EAF2), a tumor suppressor that has been identified in the prostate, is often downregulated in prostate cancer. Earlier investigations have shown that mice with EAF2 gene knockout exhibited a substantial infiltration of inflammatory cells into the prostatic stroma.

The transcription factor PAX5 activates human LINE1 retrotransposons to induce cellular senescence.

As a hallmark of senescent cells, the derepression of Long Interspersed Elements 1 (LINE1) transcription results in accumulated LINE1 cDNA, which triggers the secretion of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and paracrine senescence in a cGAS-STING pathway-dependent manner. However, transcription factors that govern senescence-associated LINE1 reactivation remain ill-defined. Here, we predict several transcription factors that bind to human LINE1 elements to regulate their transcription by analyzing the conserved binding motifs in the 5'-untranslated regions (UTR) of the commonly upregulated LINE1 elements in different types of senescent cells.

Endocytosis blocks the vesicular secretion of exosome marker proteins.

Exosomes are secreted vesicles of ~30 to 150 nm diameter that play important roles in human health and disease. To better understand how cells release these vesicles, we examined the biogenesis of the most highly enriched human exosome marker proteins, the exosomal tetraspanins CD81, CD9, and CD63. We show here that endocytosis inhibits their vesicular secretion and, in the case of CD9 and CD81, triggers their destruction.

Development and validation of an MRI-Based nomogram to predict the effectiveness of immunotherapy for brain metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: The variability and unpredictability of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in treating brain metastases (BMs) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the main concern. We assessed the utility of novel imaging biomarkers (radiomics) for discerning patients with NSCLC and BMs who would derive advantages from ICIs treatment.

Methods: Data clinical outcomes and pretreatment magnetic resonance images (MRI) were collected on patients with NSCLC with BMs treated with ICIs between June 2019 and June 2022 and divided into training and test sets.

Using MRI radiomics to predict the efficacy of immunotherapy for brain metastasis in patients with small cell lung cancer.

Background: Brain metastases (BMs) are common in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in these patients is uncertain. In this study we aimed to develop and validate a radiomics nomogram based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for intracranial efficacy prediction of ICIs in patients with BMs from SCLC.

Methods: The training and validation cohorts consisted of 101 patients from two centers.

Noninvasive radiomic biomarkers for predicting pseudoprogression and hyperprogression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibition.

This study aimed to develop a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics model capable of precisely predicting hyperprogression and pseudoprogression (PP) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immunotherapy. We retrospectively analyzed 105 patients with NSCLC, from three institutions, treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and categorized them into training and independent testing set. Subsequently, we processed CT scans with a series of image-preprocessing techniques, and 6008 radiomic features capturing intra- and peritumoral texture patterns were extracted.

Schistosome egg-derived extracellular vesicles deliver Sja-miR-71a inhibits host macrophage and neutrophil extracellular traps via targeting Sema4D.

Background: Macrophages and neutrophils are rapidly recruited around Schistosome eggs to form granulomas. Extracellular traps (ETs) of macrophages and neutrophils are part of the pathogen clearance armamentarium of leukocytes. Schistosome eggs possess the ability to resist attack by the host's immune cells and survive by employing various immune evasion mechanisms, including the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs).

Effective Use of Sugarcane-Bagasse-Derived KOH-Activated Biochar for Remediating Norfloxacin-Contaminated Water.

Bagasse-derived biochar (SCB) was prepared at 750 °C using Chinese sugarcane bagasse as a carbon source and then modified with KOH for the removal of the antibiotic norfloxacin (NOR) from aqueous solutions. 3K-SCB, prepared using a solid-to-liquid mass ratio of bagasse:KOH = 1:3, was found to have the best adsorption performance for NOR. Under the conditions of pH 5, 25 °C, 2.

De Novo Biosynthesis of Vindoline and Catharanthine in .

Vinblastine has been used clinically as one of the most potent therapeutics for the treatment of several types of cancer. However, the traditional plant extraction method suffers from unreliable supply, low abundance, and extremely high cost. Here, we use synthetic biology approach to engineer for de novo biosynthesis of vindoline and catharanthine, which can be coupled chemically or biologically to vinblastine.

Simultaneous thulium laser resection of the prostate and transperineal prostate biopsy in clinically diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer with bladder outlet obstruction.

Metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) patients complicated with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) are often referred to a urologist. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) combined with indwelling catheter usually be the initial management. To retrospectively analysis the safety and efficacy of simultaneous thulium laser resection of the prostate (TmLRP) and transperineal prostate biopsy in metastatic prostate cancer with bladder outlet obstruction.

Rapamycin and Low-dose IL-2 Mediate an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment to Inhibit Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition that becomes more common with age and manifests itself primarily as the expansion of the prostate and surrounding tissues. However, to date, the etiology of BPH remains unclear. In this respect, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of prostate transition zone tissues from elderly individuals with different prostate volumes to reveal their distinct tissue microenvironment.

Identification and Alternative Splicing Profile of the Gene in Grass Species.

() is an important enzyme in the synthesis pathway of raffinose from sucrose and galactinol in higher plants and is involved in the regulation of seed development and plant responses to abiotic stresses. In this study, we analyzed the families and profiled their alternative splicing patterns at the genome-wide scale from 10 grass species representing crops and grasses. A total of 73 genes were identified from grass species such as rice, maize, foxtail millet, and switchgrass.

Syntenin and CD63 Promote Exosome Biogenesis from the Plasma Membrane by Blocking Cargo Endocytosis.

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles important in health and disease. Syntenin is thought to drive the biogenesis of CD63 exosomes by recruiting Alix and the ESCRT machinery to endosomes, initiating an endosome-mediated pathway of exosome biogenesis. Contrary to this model, we show here that syntenin drives the biogenesis of CD63 exosomes by blocking CD63 endocytosis, thereby allowing CD63 to accumulate at the plasma membrane, the primary site of exosome biogenesis.

Metabolic Engineering of for the Production of Triacetic Acid Lactone.

Triacetic acid lactone (TAL) is a promising renewable platform polyketide with broad biotechnological applications. In this study, we constructed an engineered strain for the production of TAL. We first introduced a heterologous TAL biosynthetic pathway by integrating the 2-pyrone synthase encoding gene from ().

HAAN: Learning a Hierarchical Adaptive Alignment Network for Image-Text Retrieval.

Image-text retrieval aims to search related results of one modality by querying another modality. As a fundamental and key problem in cross-modal retrieval, image-text retrieval is still a challenging problem owing to the complementary and imbalanced relationship between different modalities (i.e.

Active Tuning and Anisotropic Strong Coupling of Terahertz Polaritons in Van der Waals Heterostructures.

Electromagnetic field confinement is significant in enhancing light-matter interactions as well as in reducing footprints of photonic devices especially in Terahertz (THz). Polaritons offer a promising platform for the manipulation of light at the deep sub-wavelength scale. However, traditional THz polariton materials lack active tuning and anisotropic propagation simultaneously.

Synthetic Biology Toolkit for Marker-Less Integration of Multigene Pathways into via CRISPR/Cas9.

, an important methylotrophic yeast, is currently mainly used for the expression of recombinant proteins and has great potential applications in the production of value-added compounds (e.g., chemical and natural products).