Tumor cell membrane-based vaccines: A potential boost for cancer immunotherapy.

Because therapeutic cancer vaccines can, in theory, eliminate tumor cells specifically with relatively low toxicity, they have long been considered for application in repressing cancer progression. Traditional cancer vaccines containing a single or a few discrete tumor epitopes have failed in the clinic, possibly due to challenges in epitope selection, target downregulation, cancer cell heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment immunosuppression, or a lack of vaccine immunogenicity. Whole cancer cell or cancer membrane vaccines, which provide a rich source of antigens, are emerging as viable alternatives.

Stimuli-responsive chitosan based nanoparticles in cancer therapy and diagnosis: A review.

Chitosan, obtained through deacetylation of chitin, has been shown to a promising biopolymer for the development of nano- and micro-particles. In spite of inherent anti-cancer activity of chitosan, the employment of this carbohydrate polymer for the synthesis of nanoparticles opens a new gate in disease therapy. The properties of chitosan including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and modifiability are vital in enhancing these nanoparticles, allowing for improved solubility and interaction with cellular targets.

A self-assembled, genetically engineered, irradiated tumor cell debris vaccine.

Vaccine-based therapeutics for cancers face several challenges including lack of immunogenicity and tumor escape pathways for single antigen targets. It has been reported that radiotherapy has an in situ vaccine effect that provides tumor antigens following irradiation, helping to activate antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Herein, a new vaccine approach is developed by combining genetically engineered irradiated tumor cell debris (RTD) and hyaluronic acid (HA), termed HA@RTD.

Mass Spectrometry Imaging for the Characterization of C═C Localization in Unsaturated Lipid Isomers at the Single-Cell Level.

Unsaturated lipids with carbon-carbon double bonds (C═C) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases. While mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has been employed to map the distribution of lipid isomers in tissue sections, the identification of lipid C═C positional isomers at the single-cell level using MSI poses a significant challenge. In this study, we developed a novel approach utilizing ToF-SIMS in conjunction with the Paternò-Büchi (P-B) photochemical reaction to characterize the C═C localization in unsaturated lipid isomers at the single-cell level.

Shen'ge Formula Protects Cardiac Function in Rats with Pressure Overload-Induced Heart Failure.

Background: In China, Shen'ge formula (SGF), a Traditional Chinese Medicine blend crafted from ginseng and gecko, holds a revered place in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, despite its prevalent use, the precise cardioprotective mechanisms of SGF remain largely uncharted. This study aims to fill this gap by delving deeper into SGF's therapeutic potential and underlying action mechanism, thus giving its traditional use a solid scientific grounding.

A broadly applicable protein-polymer adjuvant system for antiviral vaccines.

Although protein subunit vaccines generally have acceptable safety profiles with precise antigenic content, limited immunogenicity can lead to unsatisfactory humoral and cellular immunity and the need for vaccine adjuvants and delivery system. Herein, we assess a vaccine adjuvant system comprising Quillaja Saponaria-21(QS-21) and cobalt porphyrin polymeric micelles that enabling the display of His-tagged antigen on its surface. The nanoscale micelles promote antigen uptake and dendritic cell activation to induce robust cytotoxic T lymphocyte response and germinal center formation.

Irradiated microparticles suppress prostate cancer by tumor microenvironment reprogramming and ferroptosis.

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) plays a crucial role in triggering the antitumor immune response in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recently, considerable attention has been dedicated to ferroptosis, a type of ICD that is induced by intracellular iron and has been demonstrated to change the immune desert status of the TME. However, among cancers that are characterized by an immune desert, such as prostate cancer, strategies for inducing high levels of ferroptosis remain limited.

A comprehensive stem cell laboratory module with blended learning for medical students at Tongji University.

The laboratory practice "Primary culture and directional differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)" is part of a required course for sophomore medical students at Tongji university, which has been conducted since 2012. Blended learning has been widely applied in medical courses. Based on a student-centered teaching philosophy, we reconstructed a comprehensive stem cell laboratory module with blended learning in 2021, aiming to facilitate students in enhancing their understanding of the multi-lineage differentiation potential of stem cells and improve their experimental skills, self-directed learning ability, and innovative thinking.

Acute myocardial infarction due to coronary embolism caused by a metastatic mass from lung cancer.

Background: Acute arterial embolism due to tumor embolus is a rare complication in cancer patients, even rarer is lung tumor embolization leading to acute myocardial infarction. We report a patient who had a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction(AMI)which was brought on by a coronary artery embolism by a metastatic lung cancer tumor. Clinicians need to be aware that tumor embolism can result in AMI.

The roles of inflammasomes in cancer.

Inflammation is a key characteristic of all stages of tumor development, including tumor initiation, progression, malignant transformation, invasion, and metastasis. Inflammasomes are an important component of the inflammatory response and an indispensable part of the innate immune system. Inflammasomes regulate the nature of infiltrating immune cells by signaling the secretion of different cytokines and chemokines, thus regulating the anti-tumor immunity of the body.

TMED3 promotes the development of malignant melanoma by targeting CDCA8 and regulating PI3K/Akt pathway.

Background: Transmembrane emp24 domain containing (TMED) proteins are known to play pivotal roles in normal development, but have been reported to be implicated in pancreatic disease, immune system disorders, and cancers. As far as TMED3 is concerned, its roles in cancers are controversial. However, evidence describing TMED3 in the context of malignant melanoma (MM) is scarce.

Engineered Microparticles for Treatment of Murine Brain Metastasis by Reprograming Tumor Microenvironment and Inhibiting MAPK Pathway.

Brain metastases (BRM) are common in advanced lung cancer. However, their treatment is challenging due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITME). Microparticles (MPs), a type of extracellular vesicle, can serve as biocompatible drug delivery vehicles that can be further modulated with genetic engineering techniques.

Hierarchical Supramolecular Self-Assembly: Fabrication and Visualization of Multiblock Microstructures.

Due to the fast dynamics and re-equilibration of supramolecular self-assembly, bottom-up molecular strategies to fabricate well-defined and controllable multiblock structures are rare. Herein, we propose a new concept for fabrication of fluorescent multiblock microcolumns containing 1 to 7 blocks via hierarchical supramolecular self-assembly based on cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), NaBr and an AIEgen guest. Through the complexation between CB[8] and different numbers of AIEgen guests (2, 1, 0), the competitive displacement caused by the binding of the sodium cation to the CB[8] portal, and the reversible assembly of positively charged guests in salt solutions, one-pot hierarchical supramolecular self-assembly is realized.

Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells in the corpus spongiosum surrounding the urethral plate in hypospadias.

Hypospadias is an abnormal ventral development of the penis caused by incomplete virilization of the male genital tubercle. This study investigated the phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the corpus spongiosum surrounding the urethral plate in hypospadias. The urethral corpus spongiosum tissue was collected for HE, Masson and α-SMA immunohistochemical staining.

Multi-Omics Analysis of the Prognosis and Biological Function for TRPV Channel Family in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background: The transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels family, TRPV1-6, has been identified to profoundly affect a wide spectrum of pathological processes in various cancers. However, the biological function and prognostic value of TRPVs in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) are still largely unknown.

Methods: We obtained the gene expression data and clinical information of 539 ccRCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

Osteoimmune reaction caused by a novel silicocarnotite bioceramic promoting osteogenesis through the MAPK pathway.

The host immune response to an implant is a key factor in determining the fate of bone grafts, which is thought to be a regulator of tissue regeneration. Figuring out the effects of the osteoimmune microenvironment on the osteogenesis of bone grafts can be a valuable strategy for their design and can further enhance the healing of bone defects. Our previous study demonstrated that the silicocarnotite (Ca(PO)SiO, CPS) bioceramic can significantly promote osteogenesis.

Comprehensive Analyses of the Expression, Genetic Alteration, Prognosis Significance, and Interaction Networks of mA Regulators Across Human Cancers.

Accumulating lines of evidence indicate that the deregulation of mA is involved in various cancer types. The mA RNA methylation is modulated by mA methyltransferases, demethylases, and reader proteins. Although the aberrant expression of mA RNA methylation contributes to the development and progression of multiple cancer types, the roles of mA regulators across numerous types of cancers remain largely unknown.

Evaporation and drying characteristics of the sessile ferrofluid droplet under a horizontal magnetic field.

In this study, the evaporation characteristics and drying patterns of various sessile ferrofluid droplets on certain substrate under horizontal magnetic fields of controlled intensities are reported. The effects of droplet concentration and magnetic field intensity on the duration of each evaporation stage and drying patterns of droplets have been systematically investigated. It turned out that a plateau appears at the initial stage of evaporation in the absence of magnetic field and it was found that the plateau value is positively correlated with the concentration of ferrofluid droplets.

Targeted sequencing of NOTCH signaling pathway genes and association analysis of variants correlated with mandibular prognathism.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to systematically identify variants in NOTCH signaling pathway genes that correlate with mandibular prognathism (MP) in the general Chinese population.

Methods: Targeted sequencing of NOTCH signaling pathway genes was conducted in 199 MP individuals and 197 class I malocclusion control individuals. The associations of common and rare variants with MP, cephalometric parameters, and continuous cephalometric phenotypes were analyzed by principal component (PC) analysis.

Real-time in vitro monitoring of the subcellular toxicity of inorganic Hg and methylmercury in zebrafish cells.

Mercury (Hg) is a prominent environmental contaminant and can cause various subcellular effects. Elucidating the different subcellular toxicities of inorganic Hg (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) is critical for understanding their overall cytotoxicity. In this study, we employed aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probes to investigate the toxicity of Hg at the subcellular level using an aquatic embryonic zebrafish fibroblast cell line ZF4 as a model.

Identification of miRNA-Target Gene Pairs in the Parietal and Frontal Lobes of the Brain in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease Using Bioinformatic Analyses.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a growing health concern worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been extensively studied in many diseases, including AD. To identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and genes specific to AD, we used bioinformatic analyses to investigate candidate miRNA-mRNA pairs involved in the pathogenesis of AD.