Neutrophil hitchhiking: Riding the drug delivery wave to treat diseases.

Neutrophils are a crucial component of the innate immune system and play a pivotal role in various physiological processes. From a physical perspective, hitchhiking is considered a phenomenon of efficient transportation. The combination of neutrophils and hitchhikers has given rise to effective delivery systems both in vivo and in vitro, thus neutrophils hitchhiking become a novel approach to disease treatment.

Exosome as a crucial communicator between tumor microenvironment and gastric cancer (Review).

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies and has relatively high morbidity and mortality rates. Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles that originate from a diverse array of cells and may be found throughout various bodily fluids. These vesicles are endogenous nanocarriers in their natural state with the unique ability to transport lipids, proteins, DNA and RNA.

Effect of endogenous substance P on visceral afferent signal integration in the nucleus tractus solitaries of rat brainstem slices.

In the first synapse of the blood-pressure-regulating pathway, a neurokinin (NK) family peptide substance P (SP) is release with an excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate, to enhance the sensitivity of the baroreflex responses However, the underlying mechanisms of action are not yet well understood. The effects of NK receptor antagonists and agonists on solitary tract stimulation-evoked excitatory postsynaptic responses were recorded using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of neurons in the medial portion of the nucleus tractus solitarius (mNTS) in the brainstem. SP reduced the amplitude of the evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs) and shifted the holding current inward, in a dose-dependent manner.

Survey of the Prosthogonimus spp. metacercariae infection in the second intermediate host dragonfly in Heilongjiang Province, China.

Prosthogonimiasis poses a threat to the reproductive system of poultry and wild birds, which are the definitive hosts of the parasite causing this disease. However, the parasite infection of the second intermediate host (dragonfly), the primary vector of this pathogen, is rarely reported. In this study, the prevalence of Prosthogonimus infection in dragonflies was investigated from June 2019 to October 2022 in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Prosthogonimus cuneatus and Prosthogonimus pellucidus (Trematoda: Prosthogonimidae), their features and phylogenetic relationships in the superfamily Microphalloidea.

Prosthogonimus cuneatus and Prosthogonimus pellucidus (Trematoda: Prosthogonimidae) are common flukes of poultry and other birds which can cause severe impacts on animal health and losses to the poultry industry. However, there are limited studies on the molecular epidemiology, population genetics, and systematics of Prosthogonimus species. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of P.

Controllable Synthesis and Characterization of AuPd Nanowire Networks with High Electrocatalytic Performance.

A simple and efficient method is proposed for the synthesis of bimetallic AuPd nanowire networks (NWs) with tunable compositions by using KBr as a structure-directing agent and NaBH₄ as a reducing agent. TEM, XRD and XPS results show that the AuPd NWs have a unique one-dimensional network structure. Electrochemical tests indicate that the AuPd NWs catalysts have excellent electrocatalytic activity and durability for methanol oxidation due to the special one-dimensional nanostructure and many structural defects at the junction.

Gene-Set Local Hierarchical Clustering (GSLHC)--A Gene Set-Based Approach for Characterizing Bioactive Compounds in Terms of Biological Functional Groups.

Gene-set-based analysis (GSA), which uses the relative importance of functional gene-sets, or molecular signatures, as units for analysis of genome-wide gene expression data, has exhibited major advantages with respect to greater accuracy, robustness, and biological relevance, over individual gene analysis (IGA), which uses log-ratios of individual genes for analysis. Yet IGA remains the dominant mode of analysis of gene expression data. The Connectivity Map (CMap), an extensive database on genomic profiles of effects of drugs and small molecules and widely used for studies related to repurposed drug discovery, has been mostly employed in IGA mode.

Prostaglandin potentiates 5-HT responses in stomach and ileum innervating visceral afferent sensory neurons.

Gastrointestinal disorder is a common symptom induced by diverse pathophysiological conditions that include food tolerance, chemotherapy, and irradiation for therapy. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) level increase was often reported during gastrointestinal disorder and prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors has been used for ameliorate the symptoms. Exogenous administration of PGE2 induces gastrointestinal disorder, however, the mechanism of action is not known.

Ginger and its pungent constituents non-competitively inhibit serotonin currents on visceral afferent neurons.

Nausea and emesis are a major side effect and obstacle for chemotherapy in cancer patients. Employ of antiemetic drugs help to suppress chemotherapy-induced emesis in some patients but not all patients. Ginger, an herbal medicine, has been traditionally used to treat various kinds of diseases including gastrointestinal symptoms.

Potentiating effect of glabridin on GABAA receptor-mediated responses in dorsal raphe neurons.

Flavonoid-rich ethanol extracts of licorice root have sedative and anxiolytic effects. Glabridin is a major flavonoid component from licorice which we evaluated by examining GABA responses in acutely isolated dorsal raphe neurons of the rat. Neurons were recorded with patch-clamp methods at a holding potential of - 50 mV.

Free anterolateral thigh flap for coverage of scalp large defects in pediatric burn population.

Free anterolateral thigh flap is considered by most surgeons to be the proper choice for restoring scalp defect in the adult population. However, in the pediatric burn population with scalp large defects, the use of this flap has not been well described. From December 2005 to June 2009, 11 free anterolateral thigh flaps were performed to cover scalp defects in eight male children and three female children aged between 3.

Propofol facilitated excitatory postsynaptic currents frequency on nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) neurons.

Propofol, an intravenous anesthetic, is broadly used for general anesthesia and diagnostic sedations due to its fast onset and recovery. Propofol depresses respiratory and cardiovascular reflex responses, however, their underlying mechanisms are not well known. Cardiorespiratory information from visceral afferent vagus nerves is integrated in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS).

Isoliquiritigenin, a chalcone compound, is a positive allosteric modulator of GABAA receptors and shows hypnotic effects.

Isoliquiritigenin (ILTG) is a chalcone compound and has valuable pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiallergic activities. Recently, the anxiolytic effect of ILTG has been reported; however, its action mechanism and hypnotic activity have not yet been demonstrated. Therefore, we investigated the hypnotic effect and action mechanism of ILTG.

Synthesis of sulfated Y-doped zirconia particles and effect on properties of polysulfone membranes for treatment of wastewater containing oil.

Polysulfone (PSF) membranes are broadly applied in many fields owing to good physicochemical stability, resistance to oxidation and chlorine. But when treated with wastewater containing oil, PSF membranes are easily contaminated due to their hydrophilicity, causing declining flux and lifespan of the membranes thereby limiting their large scale applications. In order to enhance the hydrophilic and anti-fouling capability of PSF membranes for treating wastewater containing oil, sulfated Y-doped zirconia particles (SO(4)(2-)/ZrO(2)-Y(2)O(3) or SZY particles) were firstly synthesized and then doped into polysulfone to fabricate a novel hybrid membrane (SZY/PSF).

Transient receptor potential (TRP) A1 activated currents in TRPV1 and cholecystokinin-sensitive cranial visceral afferent neurons.

Culinary use of the pungent spices has potential health benefits including a reduction in food intake. Pungent spices often contain ingredients that activate members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family A1 and evoke pain from capsaicin-sensitive somatosensory neurons. TRPA1 channel have also been identified on cranial visceral afferent neurons but their distribution and functional contributions are poorly understood.

Preparation and characterization of phosphorylated Zr-doped hybrid silica/PSF composite membrane.

Polysulfone (PSF) membranes are broadly applied in many fields owing to good physicochemical stability, resistance to oxidation and chlorine. But when treated with wastewater containing oil, PSF membranes are easy to be contaminated for its hydrophobicity, which can result in the declining of flux and lifespan of the membrane and limit their application in large scale. To enhance the capability of PSF membrane in the above circumstances, phosphorylated Zr-doped hybrid silica particles (SZP particles) were firstly prepared.

Hematopoietic cytokines enhance Chk1-dependent G2/M checkpoint activation by etoposide through the Akt/GSK3 pathway to inhibit apoptosis.

Hematopoietic cytokines play crucial roles in regulation of cell cycle progression and apoptosis of hematopoietic cells. However, the effects of cytokines on cellular responses to chemotherapeutic agents and the mechanisms involved have remained elusive. Here we report that erythropoietin or IL-3 promotes G2/M arrest and prevents apoptosis induced by the topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide in murine hematopoietic 32D cells and human leukemic UT7 cells.

BCR/ABL activates Rap1 and B-Raf to stimulate the MEK/Erk signaling pathway in hematopoietic cells.

The BCR/ABL fusion tyrosine kinase activates various intracellular signaling pathways, thus causing chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Here we demonstrate that the inducible expression of BCR/ABL in a murine hematopoietic cell line, TonB210, leads to the activation of the Ras family small GTPase Rap1, which is inhibited by the ABL kinase inhibitor imatinib. The Rap1 activity in a CML cell line, K562, was also inhibited by imatinib.

Expression of glutamate transporter GLAST in the developing mouse cochlea.

The immunohistochemical localization of glutamate transporter GLAST in the developing mouse cochlea was studied at different ages between 0 and 30 days after birth (DAB). In the adult mouse cochlea, intense GLAST-like immunoreactivity was found in the supporting cells adjacent to the inner hair cells of the organ of Corti, the type II and suprastrial fibrocytes of the cochlear lateral wall, the fibrocytes of the spiral limbus and the satellite cells surrounding the spiral ganglion cells. At 0 DAB, weak GLAST-like immunoreactivity was found in the supporting cells around the immature inner hair cells.

Activation of Rac and tyrosine phosphorylation of cytokine receptors induced by cross-linking of integrin alpha4beta1 and cell adhesion in hematopoietic cells.

Adhesion of hematopoietic cells, mainly through alpha4beta1 and alpha5beta1 integrins, to the bone marrow microenvironment may play important roles in regulation of hematopoiesis. However, the mechanisms for signaling, outside-in signaling, have largely remained to be established. We demonstrate here that cross-linking of alpha4beta1 by anti-alpha4 antibody induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2, Shc, and Cbl as well as binding of the adaptor protein CrkL with Cbl in a murine hematopoietic cell line, 32D/EpoR-Wt.