CB2R activation enhances tumor-associated macrophages-mediated phagocytosis of glioma cell.

Background: Cannabinoid administration has demonstrated promising anti-tumor effects for glioblastoma (GBM) by inhibiting glioma cell proliferation and inducing glioma cell death. However, the impact of cannabinoids and endocannabinoid receptors on immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains largely unexplored. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the most abundant immune cells in the TME, and their mediated phagocytosis of tumor cells have shown potential in preclinical xenografts of various human malignancies.

Comparative efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor on diabetic macular edema diagnosed with different patterns of optical coherence tomography: A network meta-analysis.

Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections have emerged as the most common therapeutic approach for the management of diabetic macular edema (DME). Despite their proven superiority over other interventions, there is a paucity of data regarding the relative effectiveness of anti-VEGF agents in treating DME diagnosed with different patterns of optical coherence tomography (OCT). In this regard, we conducted a systematic review and comparative analysis of the therapeutic efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab, ranibizumab, aflibercept, and conbercept in the management of DME with diffuse retinal thickening (DRT), cystoid macular edema (CME), and serous retinal detachment (SRD) patterns identified using OCT.

Identification of hypoxic macrophages in glioblastoma with therapeutic potential for vasculature normalization.

Monocyte-derived tumor-associated macrophages (Mo-TAMs) intensively infiltrate diffuse gliomas with remarkable heterogeneity. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we chart a spatially resolved transcriptional landscape of Mo-TAMs across 51 patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type glioblastomas or IDH-mutant gliomas. We characterize a Mo-TAM subset that is localized to the peri-necrotic niche and skewed by hypoxic niche cues to acquire a hypoxia response signature.

Disease-associated microglial activation prevents photoreceptor degeneration by suppressing the accumulation of cell debris and neutrophils in degenerating rat retinas.

Retinitis pigmentosa initially presents as night blindness owing to defects in rods, and the secondary degeneration of cones ultimately leads to blindness. Previous studies have identified active roles of microglia in the pathogenesis of photoreceptor degeneration in RP. However, the contribution of microglia to photoreceptor degeneration remains controversial, partly due to limited knowledge of microglial phenotypes during RP.

Self-Illuminating Triggered Release of Therapeutics from Photocleavable Nanoprodrug for the Targeted Treatment of Breast Cancer.

Photocleavable biomaterials and bioconjugates have been widely researched for tissue engineering, cell culture, and therapeutics delivery. However, most applications of these materials or conjugates require external irradiation, and some of the light sources used such as ultraviolet (UV) light have poor tissue penetration. To address these key limitations, we synthesized a photocleavable nanoprodrug using luminol (a luminescent donor), chlorambucil (CHL, i.

Intravenous infusion of small umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells could enhance safety and delay retinal degeneration in RCS rats.

Background: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) transplantation is a promising therapy for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). However, intravenously infused cells may be blocked in the lung, increasing the risk of vascular obstruction, which needs to be optimized to further improve safety and efficacy.

Methods: We derived small UCMSCs (S-UCMSCs) from filtering UCMSCs with a 10-μm filter, and compared with UCMSCs by flow cytometry, directional differentiation culture and transcriptome sequencing.

Testosterone and Estradiol as Novel Prognostic Indicators for HBV-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) has a high short-term mortality and urgently needs an early warning system with simplicity and high accuracy. Previous studies show that sex hormones play potential roles in the progression of HBV-related liver diseases. To explore the effect of testosterone and estradiol on the occurrence and prognosis of HBV-ACLF.

Folic acid-modified ROS-responsive nanoparticles encapsulating luteolin for targeted breast cancer treatment.

Luteolin (Lut) is a natural flavonoid polyphenolic compound with multiple pharmacological activities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. However, the poor aqueous solubility and low bioactivity of Lut restrict its clinical translation. Herein, we developed a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive nanoplatforms to improve the bioactivity of Lut.

Development and evaluation of a decision aid for family surrogate decision-makers for patients with acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) in ICUs: a study protocol.

Introduction: Shared decision making is endorsed by guidelines for both acute kidney injury and critical care medicine. However, there is still a huge need for effective interventions, especially those focusing on decisions about renal replacement therapy for intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute kidney injury. The decision aids provide evidence-based support for shared decision making, to achieve better decisions through enhanced knowledge of treatment options and treatment aligns with patients' preferences and values.

Amelioration of ulcerative colitis inflammatory regulation by macrophage-biomimetic nanomedicine.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is featured with relapsing inflammation in the colon, where macrophages are recruited and polarized locally into M1 type to drive further inflammation. Pharmacotherapy of UC has exhibited limited efficacy, mostly due to the poor specificity. A macrophage-biomimetic nanomedicine was developed for targeted treatment of UC, which was derived from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive β-cyclodextrin, loaded with rosiglitazone, and coated with macrophage membrane.

Approaches for the synthesis of o-nitrobenzyl and coumarin linkers for use in photocleavable biomaterials and bioconjugates and their biomedical applications.

Photocleavable biomaterials and bioconjugates are particularly interesting because light sources are easy to obtain and the responsiveness of materials is convenient to control. In recent years, various photocleavable biomaterials and bioconjugates have been synthesized for the control of payload release, regulation of biomolecule activity, 3D cell culture, and investigation of molecular mechanisms. Photocleavable linkers are crucial components of photocleavable biomaterials, which significantly influence the photoresponsive capabilities of materials.

Predictors of health-related quality of life in Chinese patients receiving treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a prospective longitudinal study.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is currently the leading cause of irreversible visual impairment in developed countries and seriously affects the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. However, the majority of the research in this area employs cross-sectional design; longitudinal research investigating changes in HRQoL and influencing factors is limited. The aim of this study was to use a longitudinal study design to investigate descriptive trends in HRQoL and their predictive factors in Chinese AMD patients receiving treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGF) at baseline and follow-ups.

Osteopontin Upregulates Col IV Expression by Repressing miR-29a in Human Retinal Capillary Endothelial Cells.

Abnormal synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM), especially collagen type IV (Col IV), in human retinal capillary endothelial cells (HRCECs) and resultant basement membrane (BM) thickening is the most prominent and characteristic feature of early diabetic retinopathy (DR). Osteopontin (OPN) has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of DR and specifically, found to be critically involved in diabetic nephropathy, as it can upregulate many factors, like collagen IV. However, the precise role of OPN in the pathogenesis of DR and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Reactive oxygen species-responsive dexamethasone-loaded nanoparticles for targeted treatment of rheumatoid arthritis via suppressing the iRhom2/TNF-α/BAFF signaling pathway.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease that results in synovitis, cartilage destruction, and even loss of joint function. The frequent and long-term administration of anti-rheumatic drugs often leads to obvious adverse effects and patient non-compliance. Therefore, to specifically deliver dexamethasone (Dex) to inflamed joints and reduce the administration frequency of Dex, we developed Dex-loaded reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive nanoparticles (Dex/Oxi-αCD NPs) and folic acid (FA) modified Dex/Oxi-αCD NPs (Dex/FA-Oxi-αCD NPs) and validated their anti-inflammatory effect in vitro and in vivo.

Surface engineering of nanomaterials with phospholipid-polyethylene glycol-derived functional conjugates for molecular imaging and targeted therapy.

In recent years, phospholipid-polyethylene glycol-derived functional conjugates have been widely employed to decorate different nanomaterials, due to their excellent biocompatibility, long blood circulation characteristics, and specific targeting capability. Numerous in vivo studies have demonstrated that nanomedicines peripherally engineered with phospholipid-polyethylene glycol-derived functional conjugates show significantly increased selective and efficient internalization by target cells/tissues. Targeting moieties including small-molecule ligands, peptides, proteins, and antibodies are generally conjugated onto PEGylated phospholipids to decorate liposomes, micelles, hybrid nanoparticles, nanocomplexes, and nanoemulsions for targeted delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents to diseased sites.

Patient experience of treatment decision making for wet age-related macular degeneration disease: a qualitative study in China.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the experience of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) in treatment decision-making process.

Design: A descriptive qualitative study was designed by using semistructured interviews, and the data analysis was conducted with the thematic analysis approach.

Participants And Setting: A convenient and purposive sample of 21 participants diagnosed with wAMD was recruited from May 2018 to September 2018.