Aptamer-Functionalized Granzyme B-Responsive Nanoprobe for Immunotherapy Assessment: Real-Time Monitoring of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Activation Cleavage.

Real-time visualization of immune effector functions remains pivotal for advancing cancer immunotherapy. However, most existing molecular probes are hindered by limited sensitivity and specificity due to their "always on" signals and the absence of targeted characteristics. To address this limitation, we engineered an activatable nanoprobe (A-GNP) through the integration of granzyme B-cleavable peptide substrates with CD63-targeting aptamers on gold nanoparticles.

The Effect and Mechanism of Self-Compassion on Reducing Materialism: A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online Self-Compassion Intervention.

Materialism reflects the prioritisation of material wealth as a life pursuit, which is a negative mentality, but interventions aimed at reducing this negative mentality from the perspective of intrapersonal resources are rare. When inner resources are lacking, individuals tend to seek the extrinsic materials. This study developed a new 14-day online self-help intervention called Positive Self, which involves psychoeducation focusing on self-compassion and meditation, including breathing meditations and loving-kindness meditations.

Geniposide Improves Glycolysis Driven Angiogenesis in Experimentary Arthritis by Inhibiting SphK1-PI3K-Akt-PFKFB3 Signal.

Angiogenesis driven by aerobic glycolysis in endothelial cells sustains rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression. Geniposide (GE), an iridoid ether extracted from the Rubiaceae plant Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis, has shown anti-angiogenic potential in experimental arthritis.

Protocol for pneumococcal meningitis induction in mice via non-surgical intracisternal injection.

Animal models are crucial for investigating infection dynamics and developing approaches for early disease identification and monitoring. Here, we present a specialized murine model for bacterial meningitis that we designed to directly deliver Streptococcus pneumoniae into the central nervous system through non-surgical intracisternal injection. We outline the steps for precisely collecting biological samples, including brain tissue, to evaluate bacterial burden and immune responses.

Confinement effect of zirconium metal-organic frameworks derived enhanced oxidase-like activity and stability of gold nanoclusters for biosensing.

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), as an attractive material in heterogeneous catalysis, exhibit great potential in biosensing and biomedicine. However, controllable regulation of catalytic activity and preferable stabilization of AuNCs remain challenging. Benefiting from porous structures and ultrahigh specific surfaces, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown promising potential in the tailoring of catalytic activity and improving the stability of AuNCs.

Spatio-temporal assessment of landscape ecological risk and its influencing factors in Jiangxi Province, China.

Landscape ecological risk (LER) can be assessed according to the combined effect of natural disturbances and anthropogenic activities on ecosystem, which can provide an important basis for promoting ecological civilization. On the basis of landscape patterns, an LER assessment system was developed, and the spatiotemporal change in the LER in Jiangxi Province between 2000 and 2020 was analyzed. The findings revealed that rapid urbanization in Jiangxi Province has altered land use patterns, characterized by notable decreases in forestland and cultivated land, accompanied by a substantial increase in built-up land.

Antimicrobial Peptide Signaling in Skin Diseases.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important innate immune molecules at microbe-host interfaces. The biophysical properties of AMPs that facilitate direct killing of microbes have been extensively reviewed. In this article, we focus on how AMPs perform immunomodulatory functions through interaction with host receptors on epithelial, immune, and neuronal cell types.

Neuroimmune interactions between itch neurons and skin microbes.

Itch is an unpleasant sensation that is encoded by specific sensory neurons called pruriceptors. Itch is associated with almost all skin diseases. Recent studies revealed that many itchy skin diseases are associated with microbiome dysbiosis.

Bimetallic CuRu nanozymes for colorimetric and smartphone-assisted rapid visual hypoxanthine biosensing in serum samples.

Bimetallic CuRu nanozymes were synthesized by alloying Ru with inexpensive Cu through a polyol method for hypoxanthine sensing. The prepared CuRu nanozymes exhibit a peroxidase-like activity. Under the specific enzyme of xanthine oxidase (XOD), hypoxanthine was first converted to xanthine, and then to the final product uric acid, accompanied by the production of HO.

Dual-purposing disulfiram for enhanced chemotherapy and afterglow imaging using chlorin e6 and semiconducting polymer combined strategy.

One of the main challenges in chemotherapy is achieving high treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse events. Fully exploiting the therapeutic potential of an old drug and monitoring its effects is highly valuable, but often difficult to achieve. In this study, by encapsulating disulfiram (DSF) approved by US Food and Drug Administration, semiconducting polymer nanocomplex (MEHPPV), and Chlorin e6 into a polymeric matrix F127 via nanoprecipitation method, a nanosystem (FCMC) was developed for afterglow imaging guided cancer treatment.

Functional responses of two species of predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to eggs and first-instar nymphs of Bactericera Gobica Logniova (Homoptera: Psyllidae).

The goji berry psyllid, Bactericera gobica Logniova (Homoptera: Psyllidae), is one of the most important pests on goji berry plants (Lycium barbarum L.), whose fruits are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and food. However, chemical control is still the predominant control strategy of this pest.

Rare microbial taxa as the major drivers of nutrient acquisition under moss biocrusts in karst area.

Karst rocky desertification refers to the process of land degradation caused by various factors such as climate change and human activities including deforestation and agriculture on a fragile karst substrate. Nutrient limitation is common in karst areas. Moss crust grows widely in karst areas.

Spatiotemporal differences, dynamic evolution and trend of cultivated land use efficiency: Based on three food functional areas.

China's agricultural development has entered a period of transition, and improving the cultivated land use efficiency (CLUE) is of great significance for guaranteeing national food security. Based on the province panel data in China from 2000 to 2021, this research calculates the cultivated land use efficiency, and uses the Dagum-Gini coefficient, Kernel density estimation, and Markov chain to conduct an in-depth analysis of CLUE's regional variations and distribution dynamics in three food functional areas (TFA) of China. The study results showed that the trend of CLUE was characterized by "increasing levels and decreasing absolute differences," not only in the whole country but also in the TFA.

Red-emitting carbon dots aggregates-based fluorescent probe for monitoring Cu.

R-CDAs have been synthesized in a one-pot solvothermal procedure starting from 3,4-diaminobenzoic acid in an acidic medium. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that R-CDAs nanoparticles exhibited a much larger diameter of 7.2-28.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of ecological security in a typical conservation region of southern China based on catastrophe theory and GIS.

Ecological security assessment can effectively reflect the ecological status of a region and reveal its level of sustainable development. In this paper, an ecological security-oriented evaluation system was constructed, and the ecological security level of the Dongjiangyuan region from 2000 to 2020 was evaluated based on catastrophe theory and GIS. The results were as follows: (1) As shown in the land use and cover maps, by 2020, the forestland area had decreased the most, and the artificial surface area had increased the most.

A novel mechanism for inhibiting proliferation of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes: geniposide suppresses HIF-1α accumulation in the hypoxic microenvironment of synovium.

Objective: The excessive proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) is a key inducement for the occurrence and development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Hypoxia inducible factor-α (HIF-α) accumulation is involved in the regulation of cell biological functions in the hypoxic microenvironment of synovium. This study aimed to investigate the roles of HIF-α and its level regulator prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) in FLSs proliferation and to explore the regulatory effect of geniposide (GE).

Geniposide inhibits SphK1 membrane targeting to restore macrophage polarization balance in collagen-induced arthritis mice.

Imbalance of macrophage polarization plays a critical role in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Geniposide (GE) has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of GE on macrophage polarization remains unclear.

Peripheral mechanisms of chronic pain.

Acutely, pain serves to protect us from potentially harmful stimuli, however damage to the somatosensory system can cause maladaptive changes in neurons leading to chronic pain. Although acute pain is fairly well controlled, chronic pain remains difficult to treat. Chronic pain is primarily a neuropathic condition, but studies examining the mechanisms underlying chronic pain are now looking beyond afferent nerve lesions and exploring new receptor targets, immune cells, and the role of the autonomic nervous system in contributing chronic pain conditions.

Metabonomic analysis of abnormal sphingolipid metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts in hypoxia microenvironment and intervention of geniposide.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a joint hypoxia microenvironment. Our previous untargeted metabolomics study found that sphingolipid (SPL) metabolism was abnormal in the joint synovial fluid samples from adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats. Geniposide (GE), an iridoid glycoside component of the dried fruit of Ellis, is commonly used for RA treatment in many Asian countries.

Keratinocyte-derived defensins activate neutrophil-specific receptors Mrgpra2a/b to prevent skin dysbiosis and bacterial infection.

Healthy skin maintains a diverse microbiome and a potent immune system to fight off infections. Here, we discovered that the epithelial-cell-derived antimicrobial peptides defensins activated orphan G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) Mrgpra2a/b on neutrophils. This signaling axis was required for effective neutrophil-mediated skin immunity and microbiome homeostasis.

Synchronized cluster firing, a distinct form of sensory neuron activation, drives spontaneous pain.

Spontaneous pain refers to pain occurring without external stimuli. It is a primary complaint in chronic pain conditions and remains difficult to treat. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying spontaneous pain remain poorly understood.

A basophil-neuronal axis promotes itch.

Itch is an evolutionarily conserved sensation that facilitates expulsion of pathogens and noxious stimuli from the skin. However, in organ failure, cancer, and chronic inflammatory disorders such as atopic dermatitis (AD), itch becomes chronic, intractable, and debilitating. In addition to chronic itch, patients often experience intense acute itch exacerbations.

A Connective Tissue Mast-Cell-Specific Receptor Detects Bacterial Quorum-Sensing Molecules and Mediates Antibacterial Immunity.

Quorum-sensing molecules (QSMs) are secreted by bacteria to signal population density. Upon reaching a critical concentration, QSMs induce transcriptional alterations in bacteria, which enable virulence factor expression and biofilm formation. It is unclear whether mammalian hosts can recognize QSMs to trigger responsive antibacterial immunity.

A Dendritic Guidance Receptor Complex Brings Together Distinct Actin Regulators to Drive Efficient F-Actin Assembly and Branching.

Proper morphogenesis of dendrites plays a fundamental role in the establishment of neural circuits. The molecular mechanism by which dendrites grow highly complex branches is not well understood. Here, using the Caenorhabditis elegans PVD neuron, we demonstrate that high-order dendritic branching requires actin polymerization driven by coordinated interactions between two membrane proteins, DMA-1 and HPO-30, with their cytoplasmic interactors, the RacGEF TIAM-1 and the actin nucleation promotion factor WAVE regulatory complex (WRC).