An unrecognized mechanism of self-protection in degenerating neurons mediated by astrocytic YAP through Wnts/β-catenin/EAAT2 signaling in C9orf72-poly-GA mice.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). Non-neuronal cells, particularly astrocytes, have been recognized as pivotal contributors to ALS onset and progression. However, the underlying mechanisms of interactions between astrocytes and motor neurons during ALS remain unclear.

Curcumin-loaded milk-derived sEVs fused with platelet membrane attenuate endothelial senescence and promote spinal cord injury recovery in diabetic mice.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes devastating neurological deficits, and cellular senescence critically contributes to the pathogenesis of various diseases. Notably, endothelial cells (ECs) senescence exerts a pivotal effect on the pathogenesis following SCI. In this study, we found that the number of senescent ECs increased by 18.

Competing risk analysis of surgical resection radiofrequency ablation in early-stage small hepatocellular carcinoma: a SEER-based study.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. While surgical resection (SR) is the gold standard for early-stage HCC, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) serves as an alternative for patients unfit for surgery. The relative efficacy of SR versus RFA for solitary tumors ≤5 cm remains a topic of debate.

Magnesium microspheres for enhanced transarterial chemoembolization therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: From animal models to a pilot clinical study.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been extensively used in clinic to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, magnesium microspheres (Mg MSs) were used as embolic devices to enhance lipiodol-mediated TACE. After being dispersed in lipiodol and injected into tumors, Mg MSs would continuously generate hydrogen and magnesium hydroxide, which could neutralize the acidic tumor microenvironment, restore exhausted CD8 T cells, reverse immunosuppression, and trigger specific T cell-mediated antitumor responses, synergistically resulting in inhibited tumor growth.

NSUN6 Maintains BMPER Stability in an m5C-Dependent Manner to Suppress Cell Proliferation and Migration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: The expression of Nop2/Sun domain family member 6 (NSUN6), an RNA m5C methyltransferase, is correlated with the prognosis of various cancers. However, its role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive.

Methods: The expression of NSUN6 was analyzed using the TCGA-HCC cohort, as well as through quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting in tumor tissues from HCC patients and various HCC cell lines.

Electrically tunable lens-enabled pixel super-resolution for on-chip holographic microscopy.

In this paper, we introduce a novel, to our knowledge, on-chip holographic microscopy system that integrates an electrically tunable lens (ETL) with a super-resolution (SR) algorithm to achieve both a large-field-of-view and high-resolution imaging. A single LED is used as the point light source, which is structured through the electrically tunable system and a microscope objective. By modulating the ETL current, we enable precise z-axis movement of the point light source without the need for mechanical motion.

Activation of Glutamatergic Neurons in the Supramammillary Nucleus Promotes the Recovery of Consciousness under Sevoflurane Anesthesia.

Volatile anesthetics have been widely applied during surgery, but the potential mechanisms by which they influence loss of consciousness (LOC), anesthesia maintenance, and recovery of consciousness (ROC) from anesthesia remain largely unknown. Recent studies have suggested that anesthesia-induced unconsciousness may be due to specific interactions between neural circuits that regulate sleep and wakefulness. Supramammillary (SuM) glutamatergic neurons are essential for sleep-wakefulness regulation.

Potential of bacterial outer membrane vesicles in tumor vaccine: characteristics, advancements, and future directions.

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), naturally released by Gram-negative bacteria, are a type of lipid bilayer nanoparticles containing many components found within the parent bacterium. Despite OMVs were first considered mere by-products of bacterial growth, recent studies have shown them as a highly adaptable platform for tumor vaccine. Here, we first demonstrate the biogenesis of OMVs, then review the strong immunogenicity of OMVs as an immune adjuvant in tumor vaccine and its excellent vaccine delivery capability, and finally discuss OMVs' engineering potentials through summarizing recent scientific advancements in genetic engineering, chemical modification, and nanotechnology.

FTY720 alleviates HBV-mediated inflammatory liver injury through a dual role of inhibiting lymphocyte trafficking and viral replication.

Background: The host immune response plays a critical role in clearing hepatitis B virus infection. However, in chronic hepatitis B, this response fails to eliminate the virus, leading to recurrent inflammation, liver tissue damage, and a gradual progression from hepatitis to fibrosis, and eventually, hepatocellular carcinoma. Reducing liver injury while enhancing antiviral efficacy remains a key objective in hepatitis B virus treatment development.

Phytic acid-modified carboxymethyl cellulose-based hydrogels for efficient removal of methylene blue dye.

With the rapid development of science and technology, the discharge of industrial wastewater, especially dye wastewater, has caused great harm to the ecological environment. In response to the pollution caused by cationic organic dyes in industrial wastewater, this study employed free radical polymerization to prepare a new hydrogel adsorbent, PAA-PA-CMC, which exhibits both reusability and a large adsorption capacity. Phytic acid (PA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were introduced into the acrylic acid-based polymer network using N, N '-methylene-bisacrylamide (MBA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) as cross-linking agents.

Manganese Ions Chelated Tumosomes as Autologous Cancer Nanovaccines for Effective Suppression of Postsurgical Tumor Relapse.

Autologous cancer vaccines represent a promising strategy to effectively suppress postoperative tumor relapse by eliciting tumor-specific immune responses that highly rely on the efficient internalization and lymph node-targeting delivery of vaccines. Herein, we report an autologous nanovaccine obtained by sequentially incorporating tumor plasma membrane proteins into liposomes, termed tumosomes, and chelating it with metallo-agonist of manganese ions. The yielded Mn-tumosomes with a positively charged surface exhibited significantly enhanced internalization by dendritic cells and enhanced lymph node targeting capacity, the latter of which is indicated by the near-infrared II fluorescence of silver sulfide nanoprobes labeled on their lipid bilayers.

Thermal-responsive activation of engineered bacteria to trigger antitumor immunity post microwave ablation therapy.

Incomplete tumor removal after microwave ablation (MWA), a widely used hyperthermia-based therapy, can result in tumor recurrence. Herein, attenuated Salmonella typhimurium VNP20009 is engineered to release interleukin-15&interleukin-15-receptor-alpha (IL-15&IL-15Rα) in response to mildly elevated temperature. Such 15&15R@VNP colonizes in tumors upon intravenous injection, and the expression of IL-15&IL-15Rα is triggered by MWA.

Application of 3D-printed resin guides for the removal of molar fiber posts.

Objective: To evaluate the digital guide technique for removing fiber posts from molars and compare it with the conventional microscope-assisted ultrasound method.

Methods: Two mandibular dentition models, each comprising six extracted molars, were prepared. Two thick and straight canals distributed separately in the distal and mesial roots of each molar were selected for placing the fiber posts.

Engineered VNP20009 expressing IL-15&15Rα augments anti-tumor immunity for bladder cancer treatment.

Surgical resection combined with intravesical instillation of chemotherapeutics or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) to remove residual cancer cells is the gold standard for the clinical treatment of patients with bladder cancer. In a recent clinical trial, a new super-agonist complex of IL-15 - N803, has shown promising results when used in combination with BCG to treat patients with bladder cancer who do not respond to BCG. Herein, we used temperature-controlled pBV220 plasmid encoding Interleukin-15 and its receptor alpha subunit (IL-15&15Rα) to transform VNP20009, an attenuated salmonella typhimurium strain, obtaining engineered bacteria named 15&15Rα@VNP.

Manganese-mediated potentiation of antitumor immune responses by enhancing KLRG1 Macrophage function.

Manganese (Mn) play a crucial role in various biological processes in the body. Studies have primarily focused on their ability to enhance immune cell function and activation against tumors, particularly in dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and T cells. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are often the most abundant immune cell population present in the tumor microenvironment (TME).

The impact of differential pricing subject on consumer behavior.

The escalating use of artificial intelligence in marketing significantly impacts all aspects of consumer life. This research, grounded in attribution theory and S-O-R theory, employs scenario-based experimental methods to simulate two distinct purchasing contexts. The aim is to investigate consumers' psychological and behavioral responses to AI-initiated pricing.

Effects of 10-MDP calcium salt on osteoblasts and fibroblasts.

Objective: 10-methacryloyloxidecyl dihydrogen phosphate monomer (10-MDP) is commonly used as a bonding monomer in universal adhesives. Adhesives that contain this monomer can directly contact the surrounding periodontium due to the chemical binding of 10-MDP with hydroxyapatite in hard tissue to form calcium salts. However, the effect of these calcium salts on the periodontium in the case of subgingival fillings remains poorly understood.

Engineered probiotics with sustained release of interleukin-2 for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease after oral delivery.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a kind of auto-immune disease characterized by disrupted intestinal barrier and mucosal epithelium, imbalanced gut microbiome and deregulated immune responses. Therefore, the restoration of immune equilibrium and gut microbiota could potentially serve as a hopeful approach for treating IBD. Herein, the oral probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (ECN) was genetically engineered to express secretable interleukin-2 (IL-2), a kind of immunomodulatory agent, for the treatment of IBD.

Exploring the multifaceted potential of (R)-ketamine beyond antidepressant applications.

(, )- and ()-ketamine have made significant progress in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and have become a research focus in recent years. However, they both have risks of psychomimetic effects, dissociative effects, and abuse liability, which limit their clinical use. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have shown that ()-ketamine has a more efficient and lasting antidepressant effect with fewer side effects compared to (, )- and ()-ketamine.

Combination of IL-33 with PD-1 blockade augment mILC2s-mediated anti-tumor immunity.

Background: Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) represent one of the main tissue-specific innate lymphoid cell populations, which are key drivers of cytokine secretion in their occupational niche. However, the precise involvement of ILC2s in cancer immunity and their potential impact on immunotherapeutic approaches remain poorly understood.

Methods: The proportion of ILC2s originating from various tissue sources were quantified through flow cytometry, along with the determination of CD4 T cell and CD8 T cell percentages.

Novel prognostic signature for lung adenocarcinoma based on immune-related mRNA pairs.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a highly lethal malignant tumor. While the involvement of multiple mRNAs in the progression of LUAD is well established, the potential diagnostic value of immune-related mRNAs (irmRNAs) in LUAD remains largely unexplored. In this study, we utilized RNA-seq, clinical data, and immune-related gene information from LUAD patients to identify differentially expressed immune-related mRNAs (DEirmRNAs) and developed a predictive risk model based on specific DEirmRNA pairs closely linked with patient prognosis.

'Gold' lost in restoration: Evaluation of core morphology of custom metal posts and cores, and analysis of precious metal debris.

1 Objectives: To investigate the deviations between the morphological dimensions of finished cores and desired dimensions made by three available fabricating techniques. To assess the precious metal loss in custom precious metal post and core restorative treatment in the dental clinic.

2 Methods: Titanium posts and cores were fabricated using three different techniques: digital scanning impression technology, digital scanning wax-pattern technology, and the traditional lost-wax casting method.

Lens-free auto-focusing imaging algorithm for the ultra-broadband light source.

Auto-focusing is an essential task for lens-free holographic microscopy, which has developed many methods for high precision or fast refocusing. In this work, we derive the relationship among intensity derivation, the derivative of spectral distribution, as well as the distribution of the object, and propose a new auto-focusing criterion, the Robert critical function with axial difference (RCAD), to enhance the accuracy of distance estimation for lens-free imaging with the ultra-broadband light source. This method consists of three steps: image acquisition and preprocessing, axial-difference calculation, and distance estimation with sharpness analysis.

Gel-mediated recruitment of conventional type 1 dendritic cells potentiates the therapeutic effects of radiotherapy.

The efficacy of radiotherapy has not yet achieved optimal results, partially due to insufficient priming and infiltration of effector immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME), which often exhibits suppressive phenotypes. In particular, the infiltration of X-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (XCR1)-expressing conventional type-1 dendritic cells (cDC1s), which are critical in priming CD8 cytotoxic T cells, within the TME is noticeably restricted. Hence, we present a facile methodology for the efficient fabrication of a calcium phosphate hydrogel loaded with X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (XCL1) to selectively recruit cDC1s.