Counteracting Alzheimer's disease normalizing neurovascular unit with a self-regulated multi-functional nano-modulator.

The neurovascular unit (NVU) is highly responsible for cerebral homeostasis and its dysfunction emerges as a critical contributor to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Hence, rescuing NVU dysfunction might be a viable approach to AD treatments. Here, we fabricated a self-regulated muti-functional nano-modulator (siR/PIO@RP) that can intelligently navigate to damaged blood-brain barrier and release therapeutical cargoes for synergetic AD therapy.

A morphologically transformable hypoxia-induced radical anion for tumor-specific photothermal therapy.

Tumor microenvironment activatable therapeutic agents and their effective tumor accumulation are significant for selective tumor treatment. Herein, we provide an unadulterated nanomaterial combining the above advantages. We synthesize a perylene diimide (PDI) molecule substituted by glutamic acid (Glu), which can self-assemble into small spherical nanoparticles (PDI-SG) in aqueous solution.

Targeted inhibition of Gus-expressing to promote intestinal stem cell and epithelial renovation contributes to the relief of irinotecan chemotoxicity by dehydrodiisoeugenol.

Irinotecan (CPT11) chemotherapy-induced diarrhea affects a substantial cancer population due to -glucuronidase (Gus) converting 10--glucuronyl-7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38G) to toxic 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38). Existing interventions primarily address inflammation and Gus enzyme inhibition, neglecting epithelial repair and Gus-expressing bacteria. Herein, we discovered that dehydrodiisoeugenol (DDIE), isolated from nutmeg, alleviates CPT11-induced intestinal mucositis alongside a synergistic antitumor effect with CPT11 by improving weight loss, colon shortening, epithelial barrier dysfunction, goblet cells and intestinal stem cells (ISCs) loss, and wound-healing.

A microfluidic coculture model for mapping signaling perturbations and precise drug screening against macrophage-mediated dynamic myocardial injury.

Macrophage-mediated inflammation plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis. However, current cell-based models lack a comprehensive understanding of crosstalk between macrophages and cardiomyocytes, hindering the discovery of effective therapeutic interventions. Here, a microfluidic model has been developed to facilitate the coculture of macrophages and cardiomyocytes, allowing for mapping key signaling pathways and screening potential therapeutic agents against inflammation-induced dynamic myocardial injury.

Pretheranostic agents with extraordinaryNIRF/photoacoustic imaging performanceand photothermal oncotherapy efficacy.

Cervical cancer, the most common gynecological malignancy, significantly and adversely affects women's physical health and well-being. Traditional surgical interventions and chemotherapy, while potentially effective, often entail serious side effects that have led to an urgent need for novel therapeutic methods. Photothermal therapy (PTT) has emerged as a promising approach due to its ability to minimize damage to healthy tissue.

Recent advances in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive drug delivery systems for photodynamic therapy of cancer.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive drug delivery systems (DDSs) have garnered significant attention in cancer research because of their potential for precise spatiotemporal drug release tailored to high ROS levels within tumors. Despite the challenges posed by ROS distribution heterogeneity and endogenous supply constraints, this review highlights the strategic alliance of ROS-responsive DDSs with photodynamic therapy (PDT), enabling selective drug delivery and leveraging PDT-induced ROS for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. This review delves into the biological importance of ROS in cancer progression and treatment.

AKR1C1 interacts with STAT3 to increase intracellular glutathione and confers resistance to oxaliplatin in colorectal cancer.

Oxaliplatin (OXA), a platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent, remains a mainstay in first-line treatments for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the eventual development of OXA resistance represents a significant clinical challenge. In the present study, we demonstrate that the aldo-keto reductase 1C1 (AKR1C1) is overexpressed in CRC cells upon acquisition of OXA resistance, evident in OXA-resistant CRC cell lines.

Comparison of Jinzhen oral liquid and ambroxol hydrochloride and clenbuterol hydrochloride oral solution in the treatment of acute bronchitis in children: A multicenter, non-inferiority, prospective, randomized controlled trial.

The comparison between traditional Chinese medicine Jinzhen oral liquid (JZOL) and Western medicine in treating children with acute bronchitis (AB) showed encouraging outcomes. This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the JZOL for improving cough and expectoration in children with AB. 480 children were randomly assigned to take JZOL or ambroxol hydrochloride and clenbuterol hydrochloride oral solution for 7 days.

Reductive stress-a common metabolic feature of obesity and cancer.

Reductive stress, characterized by rising level of NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) for a status of NADH/NAD ratio elevation, has been reported in obesity and cancer. However, the mechanism and significance of reductive stress remain to be established in obesity. This perspective is prepared to address the issue with new insights published recently.

Discovery of highly potent phosphodiesterase-1 inhibitors by a combined-structure free energy perturbation approach.

Accurate receptor/ligand binding free energy calculations can greatly accelerate drug discovery by identifying highly potent ligands. By simulating the change from one compound structure to another, the relative binding free energy (RBFE) change can be calculated based on the theoretically rigorous free energy perturbation (FEP) method. However, existing FEP-RBFE approaches may face convergence challenges due to difficulties in simulating non-physical intermediate states, which can lead to increased computational costs to obtain the converged results.

UBE2G2 inhibits vasculogenic mimicry and metastasis of uveal melanoma by promoting ubiquitination of LGALS3BP.

Uveal melanoma (UM) poses a significant lethality, with approximately 50% of those developing metastases surviving less than one year. In the progression of UM, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) induced by hypoxia plays a pivotal role, which also partially explains the resistance of UM to anti-angiogenic therapies. Nevertheless, the crucial molecular mechanisms underlying VM in the progression of UM remain unclear.

Identification of USP2 as a novel target to induce degradation of KRAS in myeloma cells.

Inducing the degradation of KRAS represents a novel strategy to combat cancers with KRAS mutation. In this study, we identify ubiquitin-specific protease 2 (USP2) as a novel deubiquitinating enzyme of KRAS in multiple myeloma (MM). Specifically, we demonstrate that gambogic acid (GA) forms a covalent bond with the cysteine 284 residue of USP2 through an allosteric pocket, inhibiting its deubiquitinating activity.

Human Hair Follicle Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Attenuate UVB-Induced Photoaging via the miR-125b-5p/TGF-β1/Smad Axis.

Cutaneous photoaging, induced by chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, typically manifests as alterations in both the physical appearance and functional properties of the skin and may predispose individuals to cancer development. Recent studies have demonstrated the reparative potential of exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells in addressing skin damage, while specific reports highlight their efficacy in ameliorating skin photoaging. However, the precise role of exosomes derived from human hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells (HFMSC-Exos) in the context of cutaneous photoaging remains largely unexplored.

Diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcosis via iliac bone marrow aspirate analysis.

HIV infection frequently affects multiple systems, with hematological manifestations being the most prevalent. In some cases, cryptococcosis serves as the initial manifestation and a cause of infection involving HIV-positive patients. This case report describes a patient with thrombocytopenia who incidentally discovered infiltrating the bone marrow upon bone marrow smear examination, highlighting that examining bone marrow is essential in diagnosing pancytopenia resulting from opportunistic fungal infections like cryptococcosis, especially in individuals with compromised immune systems.

Medicinal plants for the management of post-COVID-19 fatigue: A literature review on the role and mechanisms.

Background: COVID-19 infection has a lasting impact on human health, which is known as post-COVID-19 conditions. Fatigue is one of the most commonly reported post-COVID-19 conditions. Management of fatigue in the post-COVID-19 era is necessary and emerging.

Zhongfeng Xingnao prescription alleviates injury of intracerebral hemorrhage via regulating the CaMKII/NF-κB p65/NLRP3/GSDMD signaling axis.

Background And Aim: The NLRP3 inflammasome can be activated after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), triggering an inflammatory response in the brain. Chinese herbal medicine Zhongfeng Xingnao Prescription (ZFXN) is commonly used in China for intracerebral hemorrhage treatment. However, the underlying treatment mechanism of it is unclear.

Corrigendum to "Chinese herbal medicine may reduce major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with dialysis hypotension: A Taiwan nationwide cohort study" [J Tradit Complementary Med 14, Issue 5 (September 2024), 550-557].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.

From "traditional" to modern medicine: A medical and historical analysis of L. (Cempasúchil).

The medicinal value of herbal products is often rooted in their "traditional" use, recontextualized by modern biomedical research granting them certain medical uses. L. (Asteraceae), native to Mexico, exemplifies such historical developments of a species that played a key role in developing a major pharmacologically active compound - lutein.

Corrigendum to "Integrated skin metabolomics and network pharmacology to explore the mechanisms of Goupi Plaster for treating knee osteoarthritis" [J Tradit, Complementary Altern Med 14 (6) (2024) 675-686].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.

When sng meets acupuncture -- a paradigm-shift biomarker for translational research.

The sensation of sng (pronounced/səŋ/, the Romanization form of or soreness in Taiwanese Southern Min) associated with a composite of unique sensations, is a novel phenotype for acupoint stimulation. It is perceived by test participants but also by experienced practitioners as a sensation of "taking the bait" (by fish when fishing), a characteristic heavy and tight sensation from the needle. Here, we propose that sng is a powerful biomarker for associated with successful manual acupuncture.

Clinical effects of acupuncture treatment for prevention of insomnia-induced stroke: A large-scale cohort study.

Background: Recent research has established an association between insomnia and an elevated risk of stroke. Given the severe global impact of stroke on public health, exploring nonpharmacological interventions, such as acupuncture, that can mitigate stroke risk among individuals with insomnia is crucial.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database (NHIRD) to examine the relationship between acupuncture and the risk of stroke among individuals who received a diagnosis of insomnia between 2000 and 2017.