A novel Bacillus aerolatus CX253 attenuates inflammation induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae in childhood and pregnant rats by regulating gut microbiome.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is the predominant pathogen responsible for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children under five years old, and it can induce over 17% of pregnant women. However, no more effective measures exist to prevent infection induced by Spn in these two special populations. The beneficial microbes can antagonize Spn and provide new targets for preventing pneumococcal infections.

A biodegradable semiconducting polymer phototherapeutic agent for safe cancer phototherapy.

Combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) not only effectively reduce the hypoxic resistance to PDT, but also overcome the heat shock effect to PTT. However, the residual phototherapeutic agents still produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) to damage normal tissue under sunlight after treatment, which induces undesirable side effects to limit their biomedical application. Herein, a facile strategy is proposed to construct a biodegradable semiconducting polymer p-DTT, which is constructed by thieno[3,2-b]thiophene modified diketopyrrolopyrrole and (E)-1,2-bis(5-(trimethylstannyl)thiophen-2-yl)ethene moieties, to avoid the post-treatment side effects of phototherapy.

Ultrabright NIR-II Nanoprobe for Image-Guided Accurate Resection of Tiny Metastatic Lesions.

Fluorescence imaging is a vital way to delineate the tumor boundaries. Here, we achieve a NIR-II aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) with a fluorescence quantum yield (QY) of 12.6% in water through straightforward alkyl side chain modification.

Polystyrene-Based Matrix to Enhance the Fluorescence of Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogen for Fluorescence-Guided Surgery.

Achieving ultrabright fluorogens is a key issue for fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS). Fluorogens with aggregation-induced emission (AIEgens) are potential agents for FGS on the benefit of the bright fluorescence in physiological conditions. Herein, the fluorescence brightness of AIEgen is further improved by preparing the nanoparticle using a polystyrene-based matrix and utilizing it for tumor FGS with a high signal-to-background ratio.

Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide-based carrier to enhance photodynamic immunotherapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) eradicates tumors via the generation of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) by activation of a photosensitizer (PS) with appropriate light. Local PDT toward tumors can trigger the immune response to inhibit distant tumors, but the immune response is usually insufficient. Herein, we used a biocompatible herb polysaccharide with immunomodulatory activity as the carrier of PS to enhance the immune inhibition of tumors after PDT.

Combination of PEG-b-PAA Carrier and Efficient Cationic Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is recognized to be a promising strategy for anticancer treatment. Considering the progressive application of PDT in clinical trials, highly efficient photosensitizers (PSs) are in strong demand. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) based PSs are promising phototheranostic materials for tumor imaging and PDT due to their high fluorescence and photosensitizing efficiency.

Acene enlargement for absorption red-shifting and photosensitization enhancement of photosensitizers with aggregation-induced emission.

Photosensitizers with aggregation-induced emission (AIE PSs) were widely explored in photodynamic therapy. Numerous acceptors but few donors were reported to design AIE PSs. In this study, we developed a new kind of donor that can improve the comprehensive performance of AIE PSs by expanding the π extension of aromatic rings at the end of the triphenylamine group through acene enlargement.

Zein-Based Nanomedicines for Synergistic Chemodynamic/Photodynamic Therapy.

Current cancer treatment is not only limited to monotherapy but is also influenced by limited drug delivery options. Combined chemokinetic-photokinetic therapy has great promise in enhancing anticancer effects. Meanwhile, zein has superior self-assembly properties and can be loaded with photosensitizers.

The roles of inactivated vaccines in older patients with infection of Delta variant in Nanjing, China.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading around the world. The COVID-19 vaccines may improve concerns about the pandemic. However, the roles of inactivated vaccines in older patients (aged ≥60 years) with infection of Delta variant were less studied.

The association between lymphocyte-monocyte ratio and postoperative acute kidney injury in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between baseline lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).

Methods: ATAAD patients undergoing surgery in Nanjing First Hospital were enrolled from January 2019 to April 2021. Lymphocyte and monocyte were measured on admission.

Association Between Hypernatremia and Delirium After Cardiac Surgery: A Nested Case-Control Study.

Background: The association between hypernatremia and delirium after cardiac surgery has rarely been investigated. This study aimed to determine whether hypernatremia increases the risk of delirium after exposure.

Materials And Methods: From April 2016 to June 2021, 7,831 consecutive patients receiving cardiac surgery were screened for potential enrollment.

Engineering Endogenous Tumor-Associated Macrophage-Targeted Biomimetic Nano-RBC to Reprogram Tumor Immunosuppressive Microenvironment for Enhanced Chemo-Immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy has shown encouraging results in various cancers, but the response rates are relatively low due to the complex tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment (TIME). The presence of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor hypoxia correlates significantly with potent immunosuppressive activity. Here, a hemoglobin-poly(ε-caprolactone) (Hb-PCL) conjugate self-assembled biomimetic nano red blood cell (nano-RBC) system (V(Hb)) is engineered to deliver chemotherapeutic doxorubicin (DOX) and oxygen for reprogramming TIME.

In vitro antioxidant and antitumor study of zein/SHA nanoparticles loaded with resveratrol.

Resveratrol (RES) loaded Zein-SHA (low-molecular-weight sodium hyaluronate) nanoparticles with average diameter of about 152.13 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.122, which can be used to encapsulate, protect and deliver resveratrol.

Carbonized zein nanosheets with intrinsic enzyme-mimicking activities and high photothermal conversion efficiency for synergistic cancer therapy.

With the rapid development of biology and nanotechnology, designing nanomaterials with intrinsic enzyme-like activities has attracted huge attention in recent years. Herein, for the first time, we use zein as a new protein precursor to prepare N-rich carbonized zein nanosheets (C-Zein) via facile pyrolysis. Zein is an inert, biodegradable and sustainable natural biopolymer.

Acute gastrointestinal injury in critically ill patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly around the world. Most critically ill patients have organ injury, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute kidney injury, cardiac injury, or liver dysfunction. However, few studies on acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) have been reported in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Surviving 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia: A successful critical case report.

Background: . An outbreak of acute respiratory illness was proved to be infected by a novel coronavirus, officially named Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from World Health Organization (WHO), was confirmed first in Wuhan, China, and has become endemic worldwide, which was a serious threaten to public health all over the world. Herein, we reported a successful critical case of COVID-19 and shared our experience of treatment, which would do a favor for other COVID-19 patients.

Heparin-binding protein as a biomarker of gastrointestinal dysfunction in critically ill patients: a retrospective cross-sectional study in China.

Objective: To investigate the association of plasma heparin-binding protein (HBP) with the development of acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) in critically ill patients.

Design: Clinical retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: A general teaching hospital in China.

Serum calcium as a biomarker of clinical severity and prognosis in patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between serum calcium and clinical outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this retrospective study, serum calcium levels, hormone levels and clinical laboratory parameters on admission were recorded. The clinical outcome variables were also recorded.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Delirium in Type A Aortic Dissection Patients: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication in cardiac surgery among adult patients. This retrospective study was designed to identify the risk factors associated with POD of type A aortic dissection patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS Clinical data of 148 patients with type A aortic dissection in the Department of Critical Care Medicine was retrospectively analyzed.

Meta-analysis for outcomes of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery.

This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery by the meta-analysis.Electronic databases PubMed and Embase were searched for relative studies from December 2008 to June 2015. For eligible studies, the R software was conducted to meta-analyze outcomes of AKI patients (AKI group) and none-AKI patients after cardiac surgery (NO AKI group).

Role of α-II-spectrin breakdown products in the prediction of the severity and clinical outcome of acute traumatic brain injury.

αII-spectrin breakdown products are regarded as potential biomarkers for traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of the present study was to further evaluate these biomarkers by assessing their clinical utility in predicting the severity of injury and clinical outcome of patients with TBI. Eligible patients with acute TBI (n=17), defined by a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of ≤8, were enrolled.

Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Molecule-2 Reduces Intestinal Epithelial Tight-Junction Damage and Mortality in Septic Rats.

Objective: Damage to intestinal epithelial tight junctions plays an important role in sepsis. Recently we found that Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Molecule-2 (CORM-2) is able to protect LPS-induced intestinal epithelial tight junction damage and in this study we will investigate if CORM-2 could protect intestinal epithelial tight junctions in the rat cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model.

Materials And Methods: The CLP model was generated using male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats according to standard procedure and treated with CORM-2 or inactive CORM-2 (iCORM-2), 8 mg/kg, i.

SERPINE1 rs1799768 polymorphism contributes to sepsis risk and mortality.

Introduction: The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether there is an association between SERPINE1 rs1799768 polymorphism and sepsis risk and mortality.

Materials And Methods: Published reports were searched in PubMed, PubMed Central, Gene, PubChem and Google Scholar. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed in a random-effects model.