Surface-engineered mesenchymal stem cell for refractory asthma therapy: Reversing airway remodeling.

In the development of asthma, subepithelial fibrosis and vascular proliferation cause airway remodeling and narrowing, leading to disease deterioration and respiratory failure. In the clinic, the treatment of asthma was aimed at reducing the frequency of acute asthma attacks through inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). However, ICSs cannot prevent the progression into refractory asthma due to the formation of airway remodeling mainly by subepithelial fibrosis and angiogenesis surrounding the tracheal lumen.

A validated estimate of visceral adipose tissue volume in relation to cancer risk.

Background: Despite the recognized role of visceral adipose tissue in carcinogenesis, its independent association with cancer risk beyond traditional obesity measures remains unknown because of limited availability of imaging data.

Methods: We developed an estimation equation for visceral adipose tissue volume using elastic net regression based on demographic and anthropometric data in a subcohort of participants in the UK Biobank (UKB; n = 23 148) with abdominal magnetic resonance imaging scans. This equation was externally validated in 2713 participants from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey according to sex, age, and race groups.

Helicobacter Pylori-Enhanced hnRNPA2B1 Coordinates with PABPC1 to Promote Non-mA Translation and Gastric Cancer Progression.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the primary risk factor for the pathogenesis of gastric cancer (GC). N6-methyladenosine (mA) plays pivotal roles in mRNA metabolism and hnRNPA2B1 as an mA reader is shown to exert mA-dependent mRNA stabilization in cancer.

CircUGGT2 downregulation by METTL14-dependent mA modification suppresses gastric cancer progression and cisplatin resistance through interaction with miR-186-3p/MAP3K9 axis.

Chemoresistance is a major therapeutic challenge in advanced gastric cancer (GC). N-methyladenosine (mA) RNA modification has been shown to play fundamental roles in cancer progression. However, the underlying mechanisms by which mA modification of circRNAs contributes to GC and chemoresistance remain unknown.

Detachable string magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy for the noninvasive diagnosis of esophageal diseases: A prospective, blind clinical study.

Background: Traditional esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), an invasive examination method, can cause discomfort and pain in patients. In contrast, magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE), a noninvasive method, is being applied for the detection of stomach and small intestinal diseases, but its application in treating esophageal diseases is not widespread.

Aim: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of detachable string MCE (ds-MCE) for the diagnosis of esophageal diseases.

Sinularin stabilizes FOXO3 protein to trigger prostate cancer cell intrinsic apoptosis.

Sinularin, a natural product that purified from soft coral, exhibits anti-tumor effects against various human cancers. However, the mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we demonstrated that Sinularin inhibited the viability of human prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner and displayed significant cytotoxicity only at high concentration against normal prostate epithelial cell RWPE-1.

TREM2 as a Prognostic Biomarker for Osteosarcoma Microenvironment Remodeling.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) acts as a crucial role in the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma (OS). Despite this, the mechanism controlling the components of immunity and stroma in the tumor microenvironment remains a mystery. To conduct this study, we download and collate transcriptome data from the TARGET database, whose full name is Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments, as well as available clinical information of OS.

BAFF Promotes FLS Activation Through BAFFR-Mediated Non-canonical NF-κB Pathway and the Effects of CP-25.

B cell activating factor (BAFF) has been shown to play a key role in regulating B cell function, but little is known about whether BAFF affects the function of fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS), an effector cell of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CP-25, a new ester derivative of paeoniflorin, could alleviate the arthritis symptoms of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice by inhibiting BAFF-mediated abnormal activation of B cells. In this study, we aimed to understand the mechanism by which BAFF activates FLS and the effect of CP-25 on FLS function.

Genetic Predictors for Fecal Propionate and Butyrate-Producing Microbiome Pathway Are Not Associated with Colorectal Cancer Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Background: Mechanistic data indicate the benefit of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by gut microbial fermentation of fiber on colorectal cancer, but direct epidemiologic evidence is limited. A recent study identified SNPs for two SCFA traits (fecal propionate and butyrate-producing microbiome pathway PWY-5022) in Europeans and showed metabolic benefits.

Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis of the genetic instruments for the two SCFA traits (three SNPs for fecal propionate and nine for PWY-5022) in relation to colorectal cancer risk in three large European genetic consortia of 58,131 colorectal cancer cases and 67,347 controls.

METTL14-mediated mA modification of circORC5 suppresses gastric cancer progression by regulating miR-30c-2-3p/AKT1S1 axis.

Background: N6-methyladenosine (mA) RNA methylation and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to act vital roles in multiple malignancies including gastric cancer (GC). However, there is little knowledge about how mA modification of circRNAs contributes to GC progression.

Methods: The association of METTL14 expression with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with GC was assessed by Western blot, Immunohistochemistry and public datasets.

Blockade of platelet glycoprotein receptor Ib ameliorates blood-brain barrier disruption following ischemic stroke via Epac pathway.

Glycoprotein (GP) Ib is a platelet membrane receptor complex exposed to vascular injury, proposed as an effective target for stroke therapy. Previously, we have observed that the GPIb antagonist anfibatide (ANF) could mitigate blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CI/R) injury. The current study was designed to investigate whether the amelioration of the BBB by ANF is mediated via the Epac signaling pathway.

Potentially functional variants of ERAP1, PSMF1 and NCF2 in the MHC-I-related pathway predict non-small cell lung cancer survival.

Background: Cellular immunity against tumor cells is highly dependent on antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules. However, few published studies have investigated associations between functional variants of MHC-I-related genes and clinical outcomes of lung cancer patients.

Methods: We performed a two-phase Cox proportional hazards regression analysis by using two previously published genome-wide association studies to evaluate associations between genetic variants in the MHC-I-related gene set and the survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, followed by expression quantitative trait loci analysis.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles in the treatment of human diseases: Progress and prospect.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are self-renewing, multipotent cells that could differentiate into multiple tissues. MSC-based therapy has become an attractive and promising strategy for treating human diseases through immune regulation and tissue repair. However, accumulating data have indicated that MSC-based therapeutic effects are mainly attributed to the properties of the MSC-sourced secretome, especially small extracellular vesicles (sEVs).

[Seasonal Variation of DOM Spectral Characteristics of Rivers with Different Urbanization Levels in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area].

The urbanization process of the Three Gorges Reservoir area (TGRA) shows important impacts on the formation, migration, and transportation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in rivers. In this study, a high-urbanized river (Taohuaxi) and low-urbanized river (Pulihe) in the TGRA were selected and water samples were collected in spring (April) and summer (August) to analyze the seasonal and spatial characteristics of DOM in the rivers using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. The DOC, (the spectral slope of the short wavelength range), (spectral slope ratio), BIX (recent autochthonous contribution), and Fn(280) (relative importance of protein-like substances) of the Taohuaxi and Pulihe Rivers were higher in summer (August) than in spring (April), and CDOM concentration, CDOM/DOC, SUVA (aromatic structure), SUVA (hydrophobic component), E3/E4 (proportion of fulvic acid), (the spectral slope of the long wavelength range), and HIX (the degree of humification) were higher in spring than in summer.

A Novel Fluorescent Probe Based on Pyrazole-Pyrazoline for Fe (III) Ions Recognition.

Firstly, a novel pyrazole-pyrazoline fluorescent probe was developed and synthesized. The probe can be used to determine Fe ions in a series of cations in tetrahydrofuran aqueous solution with high selectivity and high sensitivity. After the addition of iron ions, the fluorescence intensity is significantly reduced, Its structure was characterized by H NMR, C NMR and HR-ESI-MS.

Novel Variants of and in the Interferon Gamma Signaling Pathway Are Associated with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Survival.

Background: IFNγ is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays critical immunomodulatory roles in intercellular communication in innate and adaptive immune responses. Despite recognition of IFNγ signaling effects on host defense against viral infection and its utility in immunotherapy and tumor progression, the roles of genetic variants of the IFNγ signaling pathway genes in survival of patients with cancer remain unknown.

Methods: We used a discovery genotyping dataset from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial ( = 1,185) and a replication genotyping dataset from the Harvard Lung Cancer Susceptibility Study ( = 984) to evaluate associations between 14,553 genetic variants in 150 IFNγ pathway genes and survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Novel Genetic Variants of and of the Glycosylation Pathway Predict Cutaneous Melanoma-Specific Survival.

Because aberrant glycosylation is known to play a role in the progression of melanoma, we hypothesize that genetic variants of glycosylation pathway genes are associated with the survival of cutaneous melanoma (CM) patients. To test this hypothesis, we used a Cox proportional hazards regression model in a single-locus analysis to evaluate associations between 34,096 genetic variants of 227 glycosylation pathway genes and CM disease-specific survival (CMSS) using genotyping data from two previously published genome-wide association studies. The discovery dataset included 858 CM patients with 95 deaths from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the replication dataset included 409 CM patients with 48 deaths from Harvard University nurse/physician cohorts.

Relationship between β-amyloid protein 1-42, thyroid hormone levels and the risk of cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke.

Background: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is not only a common consequence of stroke but also an important factor for adverse prognosis of patients. Biochemical indicators such as blood lipids and blood pressure are affected by many factors, and the ability of evaluating the progress of patients with PSCI is insufficient. Therefore, it is necessary to find sensitive markers for predicting the progress of patients and avoiding PSCI.

[Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of Dissolved Organic Matter in Rivers of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area Under the Background of Urbanization].

Studying the influences of urbanization on the composition, chemical structure, source and migration of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in rivers is of great significance for aquatic ecosystem protection and biogeochemical carbon (C) cycling. The DOM spectroscopic characteristics of the three typical rivers (Taohuaxi, Nanhe, and Puli) with different urbanization levels in the Three Gorges Reservoir area were investigated using the ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectrum and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the higher the degree of urbanization in rivers, the greater the concentrations of DOM and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), the lower the humification degree and aromaticity of DOM, the smaller the proportion of hydrophobic components, the higher the relative level of protein-like substance concentration in DOM, and the greater the contribution of DOM from freshly autochthonous origins.

Novel genetic variants in HDAC2 and PPARGC1A of the CREB-binding protein pathway predict survival of non-small-cell lung cancer.

The CREB-binding protein (CBP) pathway plays an important role in transcription and activity of acetyltransferase that acetylates lysine residues of histones and nonhistone proteins. In the present study, we hypothesized that genetic variants in the CBP pathway genes played a role in survival of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We tested this hypothesis using the genotyping data from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) dataset from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial.