Drug-phospholipid conjugate nano-assembly for drug delivery.

Phospholipid-based liposomes are among the most successful nanodrug delivery systems in clinical use. However, these conventional liposomes present significant challenges including low drug-loading capacity and issues with drug leakage. Drug-phospholipid conjugates (DPCs) and their assemblies offer a promising strategy for addressing these limitations.

Altered zygotic gene expression caused by sperm with variants disrupts early embryonic development.

The precise mechanisms behind early embryonic arrest due to sperm-related factors and the most effective strategies are not yet fully understood. Here, we present two cases of male infertility linked to novel variants, associated with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) and early embryonic arrest. To investigate the underlying mechanisms and promising therapeutic approaches, knock-in and knock-out mice were generated.

The Role of Personalized Stenosing Tenosynovitis Brace Therapy Based on 3D Printing Technology: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of personalized brace based on 3D printing technology in the treatment of stenosing tenosynovitis.

Methods: From September 2021 to June 2023, 20 patients with stenosing tenosynovitis were collected and randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group, with 10 cases in each group, and each patient signed an informed consent. The experimental group was treated with personalized brace combined with External Diclofenac Diethalamine Emulgel, and the control group was treated with External Diclofenac Diethalamine Emulgel, and the clinical efficacy and pain scores of the two groups were compared.

Engineering strategies for apoptotic bodies.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer vesicles containing proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and metabolites secreted by cells under various physiological and pathological conditions that mediate intercellular communication. The main types of EVs include exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies (ABs). ABs are vesicles released during the terminal stages of cellular apoptosis, enriched with diverse biological entities and characterized by distinct morphological features.

Immunomodulation of wound healing leading to efferocytosis.

Effectively eliminating apoptotic cells is precisely controlled by a variety of signaling molecules and a phagocytic effect known as efferocytosis. Abnormalities in efferocytosis may bring about the development of chronic conditions, including angiocardiopathy, chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases. During wound healing, failure of efferocytosis leads to the collection of apoptosis, the release of necrotic material and chronic wounds that are difficult to heal.

Sound conditioning strategy promoting paracellular permeability of the blood-labyrinth-barrier benefits inner ear drug delivery.

The therapeutic effects of pharmaceuticals depend on their drug concentrations in the cochlea. Efficient drug delivery from the systemic circulation into the inner ear is limited by the blood-labyrinth-barrier (BLB). This study investigated a novel noninvasive sound conditioning (SC) strategy (90 dB SPL, 8-16 kHz, 2 h sound exposure) to temporally enhance BLB permeability in a controllable way, contributing to maximizing the penetration of pharmaceuticals from blood circulation into the cochlea.

Exploration of the common pathogenic link between COVID-19 and diabetic foot ulcers: An in silico approach.

Background And Aims: The Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is posing an ongoing threat to human health. Patients of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) are susceptible to COVID-19-induced adverse outcomes. Nevertheless, investigations into their mutual molecular mechanisms have been limited to date.

A pilot study of camrelizumab with docetaxel and cisplatin for the first line treatment in recurrent/metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Pembrolizumab with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil showed survival benefit but relatively high occurrence of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) for recurrent/metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (R/M OSCC). A more tolerable regime is needed. This trial enrolled 20 R/M OSCC patients with previously untreated and PD-L1 positive.

Matrix stiffness-induced α-tubulin acetylation is required for skin fibrosis formation through activation of Yes-associated protein.

Skin fibrosis, a pathological process featured by fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, makes a significant contribution to morbidity. Studies have identified biomechanics as the central element in the complex network of fibrogenesis that drives the profibrotic feedback loop. In this study, we found that the acetylation of α-tubulin at lysine 40 (K40) was augmented in fibrotic skin tissues.

Earlier second polar body transfer and further mitochondrial carryover removal for potential mitochondrial replacement therapy.

The second polar body (PB2) transfer in assisted reproductive technology is regarded as the most promising mitochondrial replacement scheme for preventing the mitochondrial disease inheritance owing to its less mitochondrial carryover and stronger operability. However, the mitochondrial carryover was still detectable in the reconstructed oocyte in conventional second polar body transfer scheme. Moreover, the delayed operating time would increase the second polar body DNA damage.

Stem cells for organoids.

Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems that simulate the structures and functions of organs, involving applications in disease modeling, drug screening, and cellular developmental biology. The material matrix in organoids can provide a 3D environment for stem cells to differentiate into different cell types and continuously self-renew, thereby realizing the in vitro culture of organs, which has received extensive attention in recent years. However, some challenges still exist in organoids, including low maturity, high heterogeneity, and lack of spatiotemporal regulation.

Reprogramming stem cells in regenerative medicine.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that are generated from adult somatic cells are induced to express genes that make them pluripotent through reprogramming techniques. With their unlimited proliferative capacity and multifaceted differentiation potential and circumventing the ethical problems encountered in the application of embryonic stem cells (ESC), iPSCs have a broad application in the fields of cell therapy, drug screening, and disease models and may open up new possibilities for regenerative medicine to treat diseases in the future. In this review, we begin with different reprogramming cell technologies to obtain iPSCs, including biotechnological, chemical, and physical modulation techniques, and present their respective strengths, and limitations, as well as the recent progress of research.

A novel c.68delC variant is associated with progressive hearing loss in Chinese population and literature review.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify genetic etiology in two unrelated Chinese probands with progressive sensorineural hearing loss.

Methods: Two unrelated Chinese families were recruited. Genetic etiology was identified by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) and verified by Sanger sequencing.

Effects of ergosteroside combined risedronate on fracture healing and BMP-2, BMP-7 and VEGF expression in rats.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of ergosterol combined with risedronate on fracture healing.

Methods: Sixty male Sprague Dawley fracture model rats were assigned into group A (n=20), group B (n=20), and group C (n=20) at random. All rats were fed by gavage until their sacrifice as it follows: group A with ergosteroside and risedronate, group B with risedronate, and group C with saline solution.

Therapeutic antibodies under development for SARS-CoV-2.

The world is experiencing one of the most difficult moments in history with COVID-19, which has rapidly developed into a worldwide pandemic with a significant health and economic burden. Efforts to fight the virus, including prevention and treatment, have never stopped. However, no specific drugs or treatments have yet been found.

Hemodynamic Change of Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque After Statin Treatment: A Serial Follow-Up Study by Computed Tomography-Derived Fractional Flow Reserve.

Background Whether statin treatment can improve hemodynamic status of coronary atherosclerotic plaque remains unknown. It is of clinical interest to explore the hemodynamic change of coronary lesions after statin treatment. Methods and Results Consecutive patients with intermediate pre-test probability of coronary artery disease were prospectively enrolled and underwent baseline coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) as well as follow-up CCTA.