hUC-MSC transplantation therapy effects on lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice at early disease stages.

Background: The efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) transplantation in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been confirmed by small-scale clinical trials. However, these trials focused on severe or refractory SLE, while few studies focused on mild SLE. Therefore, this study focused on the therapeutic effects of hUC-MSC transplantation in early-stage or mild MRL/lpr lupus model mice.

MnO nanoparticles decorated porous reduced graphene oxide with excellent oxidase-like activity for fast colorimetric detection of ascorbic acid.

MnO nanoparticles composed of porous reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (MnO@p-rGO) with enhanced oxidase-like activity were successfully fabricated through an in-situ approach for fast colorimetric detection of ascorbic acid (AA). The residual Mn in the GO suspension of Hummers method was directly reused as the manganese source, improving the atom utilization efficiency. Benefiting from the uniform distribution of MnO nanoparticles on the surface of p-rGO nanosheets, the nanocomposite exhibited larger surface area, more active sites, and accelerated electron transfer efficiency, which enhanced the oxidase-like activity.

Interface Engineering Enables High-Performance Sb Anode for Sodium Storage.

Heterointerface engineering has been verified to be an effective approach to enhance the energy density of alkali-ion batteries by resolving inherent shortcomings of single materials. However, the rational construction of heterogeneous composite with abundant heterogeneous interfaces for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is still a significant challenge. Herein, inspired by density functional theory calculations, interface engineering can greatly decrease the energy bandgap and migration barrier of Na ions in Sb and NaSb phases, as well as enhance the mechanical properties.

The development and improvement of immunodeficient mice and humanized immune system mouse models.

Animal models play an indispensable role in the study of human diseases. However, animal models of different diseases do not fully mimic the complex internal environment of humans. Immunodeficient mice are deficient in certain genes and do not express these or show reduced expression in some of their cells, facilitating the establishment of humanized mice and simulation of the human environment .

Life factors acting on systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a highly heterogeneous autoimmune disease that primarily affects women. Currently, in the search for the mechanisms of SLE pathogenesis, the association of lifestyle factors such as diet, cigarette smoking, ultraviolet radiation exposure, alcohol and caffeine-rich beverage consumption with SLE susceptibility has been systematically investigated. The cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating lifestyle effects on SLE occurrence, including interactions between genetic risk loci and environment, epigenetic changes, immune dysfunction, hyper-inflammatory response, and cytotoxicity, have been proposed.

A novel binding-induced DNAzyme motor triggered by survivin mRNA.

The accurate and sensitive detection of survivin mRNA is of great significance for cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, limited by the low-abundance mRNA in live cells, most strategies of survivin mRNA detection that were one-to-one signal-triggered model (one target triggered one signal) were inapplicable in practice. Here, we reported a binding-induced DNAzyme motor triggered by the survivin mRNA, which was a one-to-more signal-triggered model (one target triggered more signals), amplifying the detection signal and enhancing the sensitivity.

Humanized Mouse Models of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Opportunities and Challenges.

Animal models have played a crucial role in the understanding of the mechanisms and treatments of human diseases; however, owing to the large differences in genetic background and disease-specific characteristics, animal models cannot fully simulate the occurrence and progression of human diseases. Recently, humanized immune system mice, based on immunodeficient mice, have been developed that allow for the partial reconstruction of the human immune system and mimic the human microenvironment. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex disease characterized by the loss of tolerance to autoantigens, overproduction of autoantibodies, and inflammation in multiple organ systems.

High-Fat Diet-Induced Renal Proximal Tubular Inflammatory Injury: Emerging Risk Factor of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Nowadays, with the improvements in living standards and changes in living habits, high-fat diet (HFD) has become much more common in the populations worldwide. Recent studies have shown that HFD could induce lipid accumulation, and structural and functional abnormalities, accompanied by the release of large amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs). These findings indicate that, as an emerging risk factor, PTEC injury-induced by HFD may be closely related to inflammation; however, the potential mechanisms underlying this phenomenon is still not well-known, but may involve the several inflammatory pathways, including oxidative stress-related signaling pathways, mitochondrial dysfunction, the myeloid differentiation factor 2/Toll like receptor 4 (MD2/TLR4) signaling pathway, the ERK1/2-kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1)-related pathway, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation, etc.

Modulating Carrier Transfer over Carbazolic Conjugated Microporous Polymers via Donor Structural Design for Functionalization of Thiophenols.

Developing photocatalysts to steer conversion of solar energy toward high-value-added fine chemicals represents a potentially viable approach to address the energy crisis and environmental issues. However, enablement of this conversion is usually impeded by the sluggish kinetic process for proton-coupled electron transfer and rapid recombination of photogenerated excitons. Herein, we report a simple and general structural expansion strategy to facilitate charge transfer in conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) via engineering the donor surrounding the trifluoromethylphenyl core.

Composition and Antithermal Quenching of Noninteger Stoichiometric Eu-Doped Na-β-Alumina with Cyan Emission for Near-UV WLEDs.

Phosphors with high quantum efficiency and thermal stability play a key role in improving the performance of phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes (pc-WLEDs). A near-UV-pumped LED shows a great advantage due to its reduction of the negative effect of blue light on human health. In this work, we propose a series of near-UV excitable cyan-emitting Eu-activated phosphors with a nominal composition of NaAlO:Eu ( = 0.

Increased number and activation of peripheral basophils in adult-onset minimal change disease.

Nowadays, the pathogenesis of minimal change disease (MCD) is still not well-known, and the current understanding on MCD is mainly based on data derived from children, and very few adults. Here, we comprehensively analysed the correlation between the changes of peripheral basophils and the incidence rate and relapse of adult-onset MCD. The results showed that in patients at the onset of MCD, the ratio and activation of basophils were all higher than those of healthy controls (all P < .

Metformin: the updated protective property in kidney disease.

Metformin is a frontline hypoglycemic agent, which is mainly prescribed to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus with obesity. Emerging evidence suggests that metformin also exerts protective effects against various kidney diseases. Some postulate that kidney disease is actually a metabolic disease, accompanied by nonresolving pathophysiologic pathways controlling oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, lipotoxicity, fibrosis, and senescence, as well as insufficient host defense mechanisms such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling and autophagy.

From Nonluminescence to Bright Blue Emission: Boron-Induced Highly Efficient Ce-Doped Hydroxyapatite Phosphor.

Photoluminescence quantum efficiency (QE) and thermal stability are important for phosphors used in phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs). Hydroxyapatite, Ca(PO)OH, is generally not used as host for phosphors, because the OH group in the host will lead to a high vibrational frequency around the activators and reduces the luminescent efficiency or even quenches the emission. In this work, strong blue emission at 450 nm appears after introducing boron atoms into Ce-doped hydroxyapatite under excitation of a UV light.

Cross-regulation between exosomal and autophagic pathways: promising therapy targets in disease.

Exosomes are vesicles secreted by a variety of cell types. They can release their cargo into the extracellular environment or transfer their contents to other cells, as a form of intercellular communication. Therefore, exosomes are vital to both physiological and pathological functions.

Comparison of the detection performance of two different one-step-combined test strips with fluorescent microspheres or colored microspheres as tracers for influenza A and B viruses.

Background: Influenza A and B viruses mainly cause respiratory infectious disease. Till now, few tests are able to simultaneously detect both, especially in primary medical establishments.

Methods: This study was designed to compare the performance of two different one-step-combined test strips for the detection of influenza A and B: one strip with fluorescent microspheres for tracers (FMT); and the other strip with colored microspheres for tracers (CMT).

Updated advances of linking psychosocial factors and sex hormones with systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility and development.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease that primarily affects women, especially those of reproductive age. Genetics, environment, and gene-environment interactions play key roles in the development of SLE. Despite the numerous susceptibility genes of SLE identified to date, gene therapy is far from a clinical reality.

Current mechanistic insights into the role of infection in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and abnormal production of autoantibody, but the mechanisms of the aberrant immune responses are currently unknown. Recently, growing evidence has suggested that infection plays a pivotal role in SLE. Here, we investigate the role of infectious agents (e.

Mechanistic insights into environmental and genetic risk factors for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease involving multiple organ systems with diverse presentation, primarily affecting women of reproductive age. Various genetic and environmental risk factors are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, and many SLE susceptibility genes have been identified recently; however, gene therapy is not a viable clinical option at this time. Thus, environmental risks factors, particularly regional characteristics that can be controlled, need to be further investigated.

Mechanistic Insights of Chemicals and Drugs as Risk Factors for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic and relapsing heterogenous autoimmune disease that primarily affects women of reproductive age. Genetic and environmental risk factors are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, and susceptibility genes have recently been identified. However, as gene therapy is far from clinical application, further investigation of environmental risk factors could reveal important therapeutic approaches.

Indocyanine Green-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy Reduces Methicillin-Resistant Drug Resistance.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) skin-wound infections are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Indocyanine green (ICG), a safe and inexpensive dye used in clinical imaging, can be activated by near-infrared in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) to effectively kill MRSA. However, how this treatment affects MRSA drug sensitivity remains unknown.

Molecularly imprinted photonic hydrogel sensor for optical detection of L-histidine.

A molecularly imprinted photonic hydrogel (MIPH) is described for the optical determination of L-histidine (L-His). The inverse opal structure of MIPH was obtained by placing silica particles (230 nm) in molecularly imprinted polymer on a glass slide. After being fully etched by hydrofluoric acid, this inverse opal structure brings about a high specific surface and plentiful binding sites for L-His.

Highly Efficient and Thermally Stable Blue-Green (BaEuO)(AlO) Phosphor through Structural Modification.

Exploring phosphors with high quantum efficiency (QE) and thermal stability is an important issue for their application in white light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In this work, the crystal structure and luminescent properties of Eu-activated aluminate phosphors with a normal composition (BaEuO)(AlO) (short for BAO:0.2Eu) were studied.

A novel logic gate based on liquid-crystals responding to the DNA conformational transition.

Described herein is a novel liquid crystal (LC)-based DNA logic gate constructed via employing the reorientation of LCs triggered by metal-ion-mediated DNA probe conformational changes.