Interleukin-16 enhances anti-tumor immune responses by establishing a Th1 cell-macrophage crosstalk through reprogramming glutamine metabolism in mice.

Overcoming immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for developing novel cancer immunotherapies. Here, we report that IL-16 administration enhances the polarization of T helper 1 (Th1) cells by inhibiting glutamine catabolism through the downregulation of glutaminase in CD4 T cells and increases the production of Th1 effector cytokine IFN-γ, thus improving anti-tumor immune responses. Moreover, we find that establishing an IL-16-dependent, Th1-dominant TME relies on mast cell-produced histamine and results in the increased expression of the CXCR3 ligands in tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), thereby improving the therapeutic effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB).

Associations of estimated glucose disposal rate with frailty progression: results from two prospective cohorts.

Background: Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome associated with many adverse health outcomes. Identifying the risk factors of frailty is crucial and the insulin resistance (IR) is considered as a potential target. The estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) is a simple and reliable surrogate marker of IR.

Integrated multi-omic high-throughput strategies across-species identified potential key diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis under high glucose conditions.

Diabetes is a well-known risk factor for atherosclerosis (AS), but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. The dysregulated immune response is an important reason. High glucose is proven to induce foam cell formation under lipidemia situations in clinical patients.

Antibacterial and antioxidative hydrogel dressings based on tannic acid-gelatin/oxidized sodium alginate loaded with zinc oxide nanoparticles for promoting wound healing.

Wound infection resulting in delayed wound healing and wound deterioration remains a clinical challenge. Recently, multifunctional hydrogel dressing was a promising strategy which has attracted wide attention in preventing wound infection and promoting wound healing. In this study, a hybrid hydrogel made of gelatin (GL), tannic acid (TA), oxidized sodium alginate (OSA), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was prepared mainly by double network cross-linking approach, named tannic acid-gelatin/oxidized sodium alginate/zinc oxide (TA-GL/OSA/ZnO).

Dynamic Profiling and Prediction of Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Booster-Inactivated Vaccines by Microsample-Driven Biosensor and Machine Learning.

Knowledge of the antibody response to the third dose of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is crucial because it is the subject of one of the largest global vaccination programs. This study integrated microsampling with optical biosensors to profile neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in fifteen vaccinated healthy donors, followed by the application of machine learning to predict antibody response at given timepoints. Over a nine-month duration, microsampling and venipuncture were conducted at seven individual timepoints.

Establishment and Verification of a Nomogram for Predicting the Probability of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation After Dual-Chamber Pacemaker Implantation.

Background: This study aims to establish and validate a nomogram as a predictive model in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) after dual-chamber cardiac implantable electronic device (pacemaker) implantation.

Methods: A total of 1120 Chinese patients with new-onset AF after pacemaker implantation were included in this retrospective study. Patients had AF of at least 180/minute lasting 5 minutes or longer, detected by atrial lead and recorded at least 3 months after implantation.

Characteristics of heavy metal accumulation and risk assessment in understory Panax notoginseng planting system.

Yunnan Province is the main planting area of the precious Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) Panax notoginseng; however, it locates the geological area with high soil heavy metals in China. The frequent land replacement due to continuous cropping obstacles and excessive application of chemicals makes P. notoginseng prone to be contaminated by heavy metals under the farmland P.

Transcriptome analysis uncovers the autophagy-mediated regulatory patterns of the immune microenvironment in dilated cardiomyopathy.

The relationship between autophagy and immunity has been well studied. However, little is known about the role of autophagy in the immune microenvironment during the progression of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Therefore, this study aims to uncover the effect of autophagy on the immune microenvironment in the context of DCM.

Role of iron homeostasis in the heart : Heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and ischemia-reperfusion injury.

As an essential trace mineral in mammals and the second most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, iron acts as a double-edged sword in humans. Iron plays important beneficial roles in numerous biological processes ranging from deoxyribonucleic acid biosynthesis and protein function to cell cycle progression. However, iron metabolism disruption leads to widespread tissue degeneration and organ dysfunction.

Predictive value of red blood cell distribution width in critically ill patients with atrial fibrillation: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among elderly patients especially for patients in ICU. Previous studies revealed the impact of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) on predicting onset of AF. However, the prognostic value of RDW in critically ill patients with AF remains largely unknown.

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified underlying hub genes and mechanisms in the occurrence and development of viral myocarditis.

Background: Myocarditis is an inflammatory myocardial disease, which may lead to heart failure and sudden death. Despite extensive research into the pathogenesis of myocarditis, effective treatments for this condition remain elusive. This study aimed to explore the potential pathogenesis and hub genes for viral myocarditis.

Metabolomic Analysis of the Ameliorative Effect of Enhanced Proline Metabolism on Hypoxia-Induced Injury in Cardiomyocytes.

Background: Coronary heart disease is currently the leading cause of death in humans. Its poor prognosis and high mortality are associated with myocardial ischemia, which leads to metabolic disorder-related cardiomyocyte apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Previous cardiovascular metabolomics studies in humans and mice have shown that proline metabolism is severely altered after cardiomyocyte hypoxia.

Impact of Lowering Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol with Contemporary Lipid-Lowering Medicines on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential association between the lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with contemporary lipid-lowering medicines and cognitive function.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in databases including PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science and all databases in the Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov were collected from inception to January 1, 2020.

Investigation of the underlying hub genes and mechanisms of reperfusion injury in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery by integrated bioinformatic analyses.

Background: Although coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is the main method to revascularize the occluded coronary vessels in coronary artery diseases, the full benefits of the operation are mitigated by ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Although many studies have been devoted to reducing IR injury in animal models, the translation of this research into the clinical field has been disappointing. Our study aimed to explore the underlying hub genes and mechanisms of IR injury.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in the endothelial precursor cells of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by bioinformatics analysis.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease with worldwide prevalence that is associated with a decrease in the number and function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). The aim of the present study was to explore the potential hub genes of EPCs in patients with type 2 DM. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened from a public microarray dataset (accession no.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-secreted exosomes carrying microRNA-125b protect against myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury via targeting SIRT7.

MicroRNA-125b (miR-125b) reduces myocardial infarct area and restrains myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (I/R). In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived exosomes carrying miR-125b on I/R rats. The myocardial I/R model in rats was constructed by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD).

Inhibition of microRNA-34a mediates protection of thymosin beta 4 in endothelial progenitor cells against advanced glycation endproducts by targeting B-cell lymphoma 2.

The aim of our work was to test whether thymosin beta 4 protected endothelial progenitor cells against apoptosis induced by advanced glycation endproducts and investigate the underlying mechanism. Treatment with thymosin beta 4 or transfection with microRNA-34a inhibitor enhanced cell viability, reduced apoptosis, abated oxidative stress, and attenuated mitochondrial dysfunction in endothelial progenitor cells exposed to advanced glycation endproducts. Incubation with advanced glycation endproducts led to increased levels of microRNA-34a, which was attenuated by treatment with thymosin beta 4.

Theaflavin 3,3'-digallate reverses the downregulation of connexin 43 and autophagy induced by high glucose via AMPK activation in cardiomyocytes.

Theaflavin 3,3'-digallate (TF3), is reported to protect cardiomyocytes from lipotoxicity and reperfusion injury. However, the role of TF3 in the protection of high-glucose injury is still poorly understood. This study investigated the protective effects of TF3 on gap junctions and autophagy in neonatal cardiomyocytes (NRCMs).

Nitric oxide as an all-rounder for enhanced photodynamic therapy: Hypoxia relief, glutathione depletion and reactive nitrogen species generation.

A glutathione (GSH)-sensitive supramolecular nitric oxide (NO) nanogenerator is developed as an all-rounder for enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT). By integrating GSH-sensitive NO prodrug into the system via LEGO-like host-guest interaction, the nanocarrier could not only deplete intracellular GSH, but also relieve hypoxia at tumor sites through NO mediated blood vessel relaxation. Furthermore, reactive nitrogen species (RNS) with enhanced biocidal activity could be produced by the reaction between NO and reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated from α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) conjugated S-nitrosothiol and light-activated chlorin e6 (Ce6) respectively.

Thymosin β4 promotes endothelial progenitor cell angiogenesis via a vascular endothelial growth factor‑dependent mechanism.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a promising cell source for tissue repair and regeneration, predominantly through angiogenesis promotion. Paracrine functions serve a pivotal role in EPC‑mediated angiogenesis, which may be impaired by various cardiovascular risk factors. Therefore, it is important to identify a solution that optimizes the paracrine function of EPCs.

TRPC1 Deficiency Impairs the Endothelial Progenitor Cell Function via Inhibition of Calmodulin/eNOS Pathway.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) promote angiogenesis and play a pivotal role in endothelial repair and re-endothelialization after vascular injury. Transient receptor potential-canonical1 (TRPC1) has been recently implied to play important roles on EPC function. Here, we studied the role of TRPC1 in regulating EPC function in vivo and in vitro.

Fn14 is regulated via the RhoA pathway and mediates nuclear factor-kappaB activation by Angiotensin II.

Angiotesin II (Ang II) plays an important role in cardiac remodeling. Fibroblast growth factor inducible-14 (Fn14) is the smallest member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily of receptors. Currently, little is known about the functional role of Fn14 in the heart.

Breviscapine attenuatted contrast medium-induced nephropathy via PKC/Akt/MAPK signalling in diabetic mice.

Contrast medium-induced nephropathy (CIN) remains a major cause of iatrogenic, drug-induced renal injury. Recent studies reveal that Breviscapine can ameliorate diabetic nephropathy in mice. Yet it remains unknown if Breviscapine could reduce CIN in diabetic mice.

Xeroderma pigmentosum group D polymorphisms and esophageal cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis based on case-control studies.

Aim: To clarify the effects of the xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) Asp312Asn and Lys751Gln gene polymorphisms on the risk of esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods: A computerised literature search was conducted to identify the relevant studies from the PUBMED and EMBASE databases, reviews, and reference lists of relevant articles. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the associations between the XPD Asp312Asn and/or Lys751Gln polymorphisms and EC susceptibility.