An Improved Method for Extracting Rat Cerebrospinal Fluid with Repeatable Large-Scale Collection.

The aim of this study was to explore an improved method for extracting rat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), observing the impact on animal health under conditions of large-scale CSF collection and evaluating the feasibility of repeated collections. A total of 20 rats were anesthetized and fixed in a stereotactic frame. A 26G scalp needle, combined with a 1 mL syringe, was used to puncture the atlanto-occipital membrane and collect approximately 170 μL of CSF.

Decoding the mA epitranscriptomic landscape for biotechnological applications using a direct RNA sequencing approach.

Epitranscriptomic modifications, particularly N6-methyladenosine (mA), are crucial regulators of gene expression, influencing processes such as RNA stability, splicing, and translation. Traditional computational methods for detecting mA from Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (DRS) data are constrained by their reliance on experimentally validated labels, often resulting in the underestimation of modification sites. Here, we introduce pum6a, an innovative attention-based framework that integrates positive and unlabeled multi-instance learning (MIL) to address the challenges of incomplete labeling and missing read-level annotations.

Predictive value of dendritic cell-related genes for prognosis and immunotherapy response in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) receiving drug treatment often have an unpredictive response and there is a lack of effective methods to predict treatment outcome for patients. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a significant role in the tumor microenvironment and the DCs-related gene signature may be used to predict treatment outcome. Here, we screened for DC-related genes to construct a prognostic signature to predict prognosis and response to immunotherapy in LUAD patients.

CellMsg: graph convolutional networks for ligand-receptor-mediated cell-cell communication analysis.

The role of cell-cell communications (CCCs) is increasingly recognized as being important to differentiation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance in tumoral tissues. Developing CCC inference methods using traditional experimental methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive, cannot handle large amounts of data. To facilitate inference of CCCs, we proposed a computational framework, called CellMsg, which involves two primary steps: identifying ligand-receptor interactions (LRIs) and measuring the strength of LRIs-mediated CCCs.

Ultrasonic Microfluidic Method Used for siHSP47 Loaded in Human Embryonic Kidney Cell-Derived Exosomes for Inhibiting TGF-β1 Induced Fibroblast Differentiation and Migration.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and devastating lung disorder. In response to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), normal lung cells proliferate and differentiate into myofibroblasts, which are instrumental in promoting disease progression. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) has been demonstrated to alleviate IPF by blocking collagen synthesis and secretion.

Three-Level Nanoparticle Rocket Strategy for Colorectal Cancer Therapeutics in Photothermal Therapy, Inflammation Modulation, and Cuproptosis Induction.

Disturbances in intracellular copper (Cu) homeostasis can trigger cuproptosis, a new form of cell death, which, when combined with photothermal therapy (PTT), offers a promising solution to the persistent challenges in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. In this study, a "three-level nanoparticle rocket" strategy is developed by engineering CuO, a multifunctional Cu-based nanoenzyme that is photothermal and has electron transfer properties and antioxidant efficiency. CuO effectively remodels the inflammatory environment by scavenging reactive oxygen species, thereby overcoming the traditional limitations of PTT.

Assessing Wound Healing in Vivo Using a Dual-Function Phosphorescent Probe Sensitive to Tissue Oxygenation and Regenerating Collagen.

Levels of tissue oxygenation and collagen regeneration are critical indicators in the early evaluation of wound healing. Traditionally, these factors have been assessed using separate instruments and different methodologies. Here, we adopt the spatially averaged phosphorescence lifetime approach using Re-diimine complexes (Re-probe) to enable simultaneous quantification of these two critical factors in healing wounds.

Circulating Tumor Cells Culture: Methods, Challenges, and Clinical Applications.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play a pivotal role in cancer metastasis and hold considerable potential for clinical diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, and prognostic evaluation. Nevertheless, the limited quantity of CTCs in liquid biopsy samples poses challenges for comprehensive downstream analysis. In vitro culture of CTCs can effectively address the issue of insufficient CTC numbers.

Pilot Study of Acute and Subchronic Oral Toxicological Biosafety Evaluation of Resorcinol-Formaldehyde Aerogel Nanomaterial in Kunming Mice.

Resorcinol-formaldehyde aerogel (RFa) is a unique nanomaterial composed of polymer nanoparticles with a three-dimensional network structure. Our previous studies have demonstrated its application in the separation and purification of alkaloids, and we are exploring its application potential as the drug delivery carrier. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively understand the in vivo toxicity profile of RFa and evaluate its oral biosafety.

Development and Validation of a Sensitive LC-MS/MS Method for Determination of Lenvatinib and Its Major Metabolites in Human Plasma and Its Application in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.

Lenvatinib has been demonstrated effective in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamics behavior of lenvatinib and its metabolites remains unclear. To investigate the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamics behavior of lenvatinib and its active metabolites in advanced HCC patients, it is important to develop a simple and rapid method to analyze the exposures of lenvatinib and its metabolites in human samples. Here, we established and validated a simple and rapid method for determining lenvatinib and its three major metabolites, descyclopropyl lenvatinib (M1), O-demethyl lenvatinib hydrochloride (M2), and lenvatinib N-Oxide (M3) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method.

Black tea extracts enhance stress-induced sleep of Caenorhabditis elegans to resist UV damage.

Black tea is believed to strengthen the ability of the body to defend itself against external stimuli. Here, by examining Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) locomotor behavior over a short period after UV stress, we found that feeding black tea extract (BTE) caused worms to enter a superior stress-induced sleep (SIS) state, which potentially boosting organismal recovery.

Preclinical delayed toxicity studies of BCMA CAR T-cell injection in B-NDG mice with multiple myeloma.

Purpose: Based on the efficacy data from the previous study of B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell injection, we further examined the delayed toxicity for 8 weeks after a single dose of BCMA CAR T-cell injection to observe possible toxic reactions.

Methods: B-NDG mice transplanted with multiple myeloma (MM) cells were given a single dose of BCMA CAR T-cell injection at two dosages or human normal T cells and then subjected to examinations including clinical signs, weight and food intake measurements, haematology, blood biochemical analysis, cytokine assay, T-lymphocyte subpopulation quantification and histopathology on days 28 and 56 after dosing. In addition, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to quantify DNA fragments in different tissues to assess the tissue distribution of CAR and provide a basis for its preclinical safety evaluation and clinical dosing.

Ultrasonication-Induced Preparation of High-Mechanical-Strength Microneedles Using Stable Silk Fibroin.

Silk fibroin (SF) is an ideal material for microneedle (MN) preparation. However, long extraction and short storage durations limit its application. Furthermore, MNs prepared from SF alone are easy to break during skin insertion.

Dual-modal overcoming of physical barriers for improved photodynamic cancer therapy via soft organosilica nanocapsules.

Amidst the burgeoning field of cancer nanomedicine, dense extracellular matrices and anomalous vascular structures in the tumor microenvironment (TME) present substantial physical barriers to effective therapeutic delivery. These physical barriers hinder the optimal bioavailability of nanomedicine. Here, we propose a pioneering dual-modal strategy for overcoming physical barriers via soft organosilica nanocapsules (SMONs).

FBXL16: a new regulator of neuroinflammation and cognition in Alzheimer's disease through the ubiquitination-dependent degradation of amyloid precursor protein.

Background: Activating the ubiquitin-proteasome system to dismantle disease- related proteins such as tau, β-amyloid, APP, and α-synuclein is an important focus in the research of neurodegenerative proteinopathy. By analyzing the serum RNA extracted from wild-type and Alzheimer's disease (AD) transgenic mice at different ages (4, 8, and 12 months), this study revealed a new protective role of FBXL16 in AD, primarily through facilitating the degradation of disease-related proteins via the ubiquitin proteasome system.

Methods: Proteomic analysis were conducted using protein lysates from HEK293 cells overexpressing FBXL16 to identify potential interacting proteins that interact with FBXL16.

Floral Elegance Meets Medicinal Marvels: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus L.

The genus L. (Lythraceae), known for its exquisite flowers and prolonged flowering period, is commonly employed in traditional medicinal systems across Asian countries, where it has always been consumed as tea or employed to address ailments such as diabetes, urinary disorders, coughs, fevers, inflammation, pain, and anesthesia. Its diverse uses may be attributed to its rich active ingredients.

Discovery of Jaspamycin from marine-derived natural product based on MTA3 to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Studies have underscored the pivotal role of metastasis-associated protein 3 (MTA3) as a cancer regulator, yet its potential as a drug target across cancers necessitates comprehensive evaluation. In this study, we analyzed MTA3 expression profiles to ascertain its diagnostic and prognostic value in pan-cancers, probing associations with genetic variations and immunological characteristics. Notably, liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) exhibited the most significant correlation with MTA3.

Neuropeptide Precursor VGF Promotes Liver Metastatic Colonization of Gαq Mutant Uveal Melanoma by Facilitating Tumor Microenvironment via Paracrine Loops.

Uveal melanoma (UM), the predominant primary ocular malignancy, often progresses to liver metastasis with limited therapeutic options. The interplay of the tumor microenvironment, encompassing secreted soluble factors, plays a crucial role in facilitating liver metastasis. In this study, the role is elucidated of the neural growth factor-inducible gene (VGF), a secreted neuropeptide precursor, in Gαq mutant UM.

An economically viable stable isotope-enhanced multiple reaction monitoring method for total fatty acid analysis in a mouse model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The complex pathological mechanisms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are closely related to dysregulated lipid metabolism, and the therapeutic effects of the traditional Chinese medicine Zexie-Baizhu Decoction (AA) on NAFLD have been gaining increasing attention. However, research into altered lipid metabolism, especially fatty acids, in NAFLD and the intervention of AA faces technical challenges, especially in the precise quantitative analysis of fatty acids in biological samples. The high complexity of biological matrices, particularly after drug intervention, greatly increases the difficulty of detection.

Hypoxia-induced TGFBI maintains glioma stem cells by stabilizing EphA2.

Glioma stem cells (GSCs) have emerged as pivotal drivers of tumor malignancy, sustained by various microenvironmental factors, including immune molecules and hypoxia. In our previous study, we elucidated the significant role of transforming growth factor beta-induced protein (TGFBI), a protein secreted by M2-like tumor-associated macrophages, in promoting the malignant behavior of glioblastoma (GBM) under normoxic conditions. Building upon these findings, the objective of this study was to comprehensively explore the crucial role and underlying mechanisms of autocrine TGFBI in GSCs under hypoxic conditions.