A glutathione responsive photosensitizer based on hypocrellin B for photodynamic therapy.

As a typical natural photosensitizer, hypocrellin B (HB) offers the advantages of high molar extinction coefficient, high phototoxicity, low dark toxicity, and fast metabolism in vivo. However, the lack of tumor specificity hinders its clinical applications. Herein, we designed and synthesized a glutathione (GSH) responsive photosensitizer based on HB.

All-Cellulose Nanofiber-Based Sustainable Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Enhanced Energy Harvesting.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) show promising potential in energy harvesting and sensing for various electronic devices in multiple fields. However, the majority of materials currently utilized in TENGs are unrenewable, undegradable, and necessitate complex preparation processes, resulting in restricted performance and durability for practical applications. Here, we propose a strategy that combines straightforward chemical modification and electrospinning techniques to construct all-cellulose nanofiber-based TENGs with substantial power output.

A General Strategy for Enhanced Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy with Perylenequinonoid Photosensitizers Using a Macrocyclic Supramolecular Carrier.

Perylenequinonoid natural products are a class of photosensitizers (PSs) that exhibit high reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and excellent activity for Type I/Type II dual photodynamic therapy. However, their limited activity against gram-negative bacteria and poor water solubility significantly restrict their potential in broad-spectrum photodynamic antimicrobial therapy (PDAT). Herein, a general approach to overcome the limitations of perylenequinonoid photosensitizers (PQPSs) in PDAT by utilizing a macrocyclic supramolecular carrier is presented.

Ultrabright Xanthene Fluorescence Probe for Mitochondrial Super-Resolution Imaging.

Mitochondria are important organelles that provide energy for cellular physiological activities. Changes in their structures may indicate the occurrence of diseases, and the super-resolution imaging of mitochondria is of great significance. However, developing fluorescent probes for mitochondrial super-resolution visualization still remains challenging due to insufficient fluorescence brightness and poor stability.

A dual organelle-targeting photosensitizer based on curcumin for enhanced photodynamic therapy.

The efficiency of photodynamic therapy (PDT) is related to the subcellular localization of photosensitizers (PSs) because organelles are associated with many fundamental life-sustaining activities. In this work, we synthesized a PS (CN) based on curcumin (CUR) and obtained enhanced PDT efficiency by simultaneously targeting lipid droplets (LDs) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Compared with CUR, CN with a D-π-A-π-D structure possessed stronger intramolecular charge transfer features, resulting in longer absorption and emission wavelengths.

Polarity-Sensitive Probe for Two-Photon Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of Lipid Droplets and .

Lipid droplets (LDs) are crucial organelles used to store lipids and participate in lipid metabolism in cells. The abnormal aggregation and polarity change of LDs are associated with the occurrence of diseases, such as steatosis. Herein, the polarity-sensitive probe TBPCPP with a donor-acceptor-π-acceptor (D-A-π-A) structure was designed and synthesized.

Constructing lipid droplet-targeting photosensitizers based on coumarins with NIR emission.

The development of photosensitizers (PSs) with subcellular targeting capability has raised interest for photodynamic therapy (PDT) research. In this work, two coumarin-based photosensitizers (C-S-2 and C-S-3) were designed and synthesized via expanding their π-conjugation, introducing strong electron-donor and acceptor groups, and adopting sulfur substitution strategy. These sulfured-coumarins exhibited near-infrared emission (greater than 650 nm), lipid droplet-targeting ability and obvious photocytotoxicity under laser irradiation.

Lipid droplet targeting-guided hypoxic photodynamic therapy with curcumin analogs.

Two photosensitizers (CCOH and CCN) were designed and synthesized by introducing coumarin into the curcumin (CUR) structure. Compared with CUR, more reactive oxygen species (ROS) were generated by CCOH and CCN in type I and II synergy upon light irradiation. Cell experiments indicated that CCN with an excellent LD-targeting effect could be used to monitor the changes in the morphology and number of LDs in tumor cells during PDT.

Transcription factor B-MYB activates lncRNA CCAT1 and upregulates SOCS3 to promote chemoresistance in colorectal cancer.

Currently, resistance to oxaliplatin (OXA) has become an important obstacle to improving the clinical outcome of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Moreover, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been documented in cancer chemoresistance, and our bioinformatic analysis suggested an involvement of lncRNA CCAT1 in CRC development. In this context, this study aimed to clarify the upstream and downstream mechanisms underpinning the effect of CCAT1 in the resistance of CRC to OXA.

A Prediction Model Based on the Risk Factors Associated with Pathological Upgrading in Patients with Early-Stage Gastric Neoplasms Diagnosed by Endoscopic Forceps Biopsy.

Background/aims: The discrepancies between the diagnosis of preoperative endoscopic forceps biopsy (EFB) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in patients with early gastric neoplasm (EGN) exist objectively. Among them, pathological upgrading directly influences the accuracy and appropriateness of clinical decisions. The aims of this study were to investigate the risk factors for the discrepancies, with a particular focus on pathological upgrading and to establish a prediction model for estimating the risk of pathological upgrading after EFB.

Highly sensitive fecal DNA testing of NDRG4 12b methylation is a promising marker for detection of colorectal precancerosis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to research and validate techniques for extracting DNA from human genomes, explore the sensitivity and specificity of known nucleic acid markers of intestinal malignancy in Chinese patients with early colorectal cancer. We also tried to find adenoma-specific biomarkers in human DNA in feces.

Methods: We compared the ability of fecal DNA testing, Fecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT) and serum tumor markers to diagnose different types of polyps, and DNA testing was significantly superior to the other two methods.

Upregulation of Spinal ASIC1 and NKCC1 Expression Contributes to Chronic Visceral Pain in Rats.

: To determine whether acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1)-sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) signaling pathway participates in chronic visceral pain of adult rats with neonatal maternal deprivation (NMD). : Chronic visceral pain was detected by colorectal distension (CRD). Western blotting and Immunofluorescence were performed to detect the expression and location of ASIC1 and NKCC1.

MiRNA-107 contributes to inflammatory pain by down-regulating GLT-1 expression in rat spinal dorsal horn.

Background: Inflammatory pain is a severe clinical problem that affects the quality of life in patients. However, the currently available treatments for inflammatory pain have limited effect and even causes severe side effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of miRNA-107 and glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) in the inflammatory pain of rats induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA).

The value of three narrow-band imaging model in the diagnosis of small colorectal polyps.

This prospective study was aimed to evaluate the clinical value of narrow-band imaging (NBI), magnification endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (NBIME) and magnification endoscopy with acetic acid enhancement and narrow-band imaging (AA-NBIME) in the diagnosis of small colorectal polyps. We studied 261 small colorectal polyps from 122 patients with the use of above three techniques. Lesions were resected for histopathological analysis.

The role of industrial structure upgrades in eco-efficiency evolution: Spatial correlation and spillover effects.

The Chinese government has grown increasingly invested in ecology in recent years. This paper discusses eco-efficiency using data envelopment analysis on 48 cities in Bohai Rim with special focus on the role of industrial structure upgrades. Based on the values from a super undesirable slack-based model, this study investigates eco-efficiency from temporal and spatial perspectives to reveal gaps among Bohai cities but an overall improvement in regional eco-efficiency.

Evaluation of Serum Paired MicroRNA Ratios for Differential Diagnosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Benign Pulmonary Diseases.

Background And Objective: To clarify whether there are different expressions between lung cancer and benign pulmonary diseases, we studied seven microRNAs (miRNAs) in serum from patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), benign pulmonary nodules and four pulmonary inflammation diseases.

Methods: We detected the expression of miRNAs using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results: We found that five miRNA ratios-miR-15b-5p/miR-146b-3p, miR-20a-5p/miR-146b-3p, miR-19a-3p/miR-146b-3p, miR-92a-3p/miR-146b-3p, and miR-16-5p/miR-146b-3p-show higher expression in the NSCLC group than the benign pulmonary nodule group, and 13 ratios of miRNAs were significantly upregulated in the NSCLC group compared with the pulmonary inflammation diseases group.

Nesfatin-1 in the dorsal raphe nucleus influences visceral sensitivity via 5-HT neurons in male maternally separated rats.

Nesfatin-1, a satiety molecule processed from nucleobindin2 (NUCB2), is implicated in visceral hypersensitivity in rats and colocalized with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Maternal separation (MS) in rats contributes to visceral hypersensitivity via elevated expression of 5-HT in the DRN. Intracerebroventricular injection of nesfatin-1 activates DRN 5-HT neurons.

Expression and Transcriptional Regulation of Human ATP6V1A Gene in Gastric Cancers.

Recent studies demonstrate that the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer (GC) is closely associated with a multi-subunit vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase). Here we investigated the expression and role of the human ATP6V1A gene that encodes the catalytic subunit A of V-ATPase in GC. We found that ATP6V1A expression level is significantly elevated in GCs compared to normals, but GC patients with higher expression levels of ATP6V1A have a better prognosis.

Acetic Acid Enhanced Narrow Band Imaging for the Diagnosis of Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia.

Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is a precancerous lesion of the stomach. The detection of GIM using conventional white-light endoscopy (WLE) is difficult. In this study, we determined whether acetic acid-enhanced narrow band imaging (AA-NBI) improves the detection of GIM.

Vav3, a GEF for RhoA, Plays a Critical Role under High Glucose Conditions.

Background: The role of small GTPase molecules is poorly understood under high glucose conditions.

Methods: We analyzed the expression pattern of Vav3 in skeletal muscle C2C12 cells under high glucose culture condition with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. We also measured glucose uptake using isotope-labelled glucose.

Tiam-1, a GEF for Rac1, plays a critical role in metformin-mediated glucose uptake in C2C12 cells.

Metformin is known to stimulate glucose uptake, but the mechanism for this action is not fully understood. In this study, AMPK activators (AICAR and metformin) increased the expression of T-lymphoma invasion and metastasis-inducing protein-1 (Tiam-1), a Rac1 specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), mRNA and protein in skeletal muscle C2C12 cells. Metformin increases the serine-phosphorylation of Tiam-1 by AMPK and induces interaction between Tiam-1 and 14-3-3.

E3 ubiquitin ligase, WWP1, interacts with AMPKα2 and down-regulates its expression in skeletal muscle C2C12 cells.

It is known that the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPKα2) was depressed under high glucose conditions. However, whether protein expression of AMPKα2 is also down-regulated or not remains unclear. In this study, we showed that the expression of AMPKα2 was down-regulated in cells cultured under high glucose conditions.

Celastrol suppresses breast cancer MCF-7 cell viability via the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-induced p53-polo like kinase 2 (PLK-2) pathway.

Celastrol, an anti-oxidant flavonoid that is widely distributed in the plant kingdom, has been suggested to have chemopreventive effects on cancer cells: however, the mechanism of this process is not completely understood. In this study, we found that celastrol suppressed the viability of breast cancer MCF-7 cells in an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent fashion. Celastrol also induced an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, leading to AMPK phosphorylation.

Coenzyme Q10 increases the fatty acid oxidation through AMPK-mediated PPARα induction in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Coenzyme Q10(CoQ10) is a known anti-adipogenic factor. However, the mechanism by which CoQ10 acts is unclear. In this study, we found that CoQ10 increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in 3T3-L1preadipocytes.