Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (PELNs), characterized by a natural lipid bilayer membrane, have rapidly emerged as a prominent research frontier in medicine owing to their unique biological properties and robust therapeutic potential. This review comprehensively examines the biological profiles, mechanistic functions, and recent engineering advancements of PELNs. In terms of composition, PELNs are uniquely enriched in plant-specific glycolipids, phosphatidylserine, secondary metabolites, and highly stable 2'-O-methylated miRNAs. This distinct molecular makeup endows them with exceptional biocompatibility, negligible immunogenicity, and the capacity for cross-species molecular communication. Mechanistically, PELNs demonstrate profound anti-inflammatory efficacy by suppressing the NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways. They also serve as potent immune modulators, driving macrophage M1/M2 polarization and regulating T cell activity. Additionally, PELNs exhibit promising antitumor capabilities, targeting malignancies via reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction, TRAIL pathway activation, and tumor microenvironment remodeling. Crucially, the plant miRNAs encapsulated within PELNs remain highly stable in the gastrointestinal tract, allowing them to selectively alter gene expression in specific gut microbiota communities. This interaction deeply influences host immunity and metabolism, highlighting the vital role in cross-species regulation. Advancements in bioengineering have further expanded the clinical utility of PELNs. Targeted delivery efficiency can be significantly amplified via surface functionalization (e.g., folate and RGD sequences) and state-of-the-art drug loading technologies such as sonication and electroporation. Consequently, engineered PELNs surpass traditional synthetic nanocarriers in penetrating natural physiological barriers, particularly for oral and transdermal drug administration. Despite these advantages, clinical translation is currently hindered by the lack of standardized isolation protocols, challenges in scalable manufacturing, and the need for robust quality control frameworks. Looking forward, the integration of multi-omics approaches and AI-driven “molecular fingerprinting”—coupled with the design of synthetic biomimetic vesicles—will be instrumental in overcoming these bottlenecks, ultimately establishing PELNs as a next-generation platform for precision medicine and targeted nanotherapeutic delivery.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel intravascular lithotripsy(IVL)balloon—Vesscrack shockwave balloon—for vascular preparation before stent implantation in patients with severe coronary artery calcification(CAC).Methods This was a prospective,single-arm,multicenter study conducted in China from June 2022 to October 2022.Patients with severe CAC were treated with the Vesscrack shockwave balloon for lesion preparation,followed by drug-eluting stent(DES)implantation.Of these,33 patients underwent optical coherence tomography(OCT).The primary endpoint was procedural success,defined as successful stent implantation with residual stenosis≤30％and the absence of in-hospital major adverse events,including cardiac death,target vessel-related myocardial infarction,or target lesion revascularization.Results A total of 170 patients[mean age:(65.9±7.9)years,116 males]were enrolled.After treatment with IVL and DES,the minimum lumen diameter increased significantly compared to baseline[(2.34±0.40)mm vs.(0.95±0.33)mm,P＜0.001],the degree of stenosis was significantly reduced[(13.24±6.60)％vs.(65.18±10.59)％,P＜0.001].Procedural success was achieved in 100％of cases,and device success was 98.8％.The 30-day patient-related cardiovascular clinical composite endpoint(POCE)rate was 0.0,with no target lesion failure,no confirmed or potential thrombotic events were observed.The shockwave energy generator demonstrated excellent stability and ease of use.Among the 33 patients assessed with OCT,after IVL intervention,the maximum calcified area of the lumen[(3.51±1.51)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001],and the minimum lumen area within the target lesion[(3.08±1.04)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001],and after DES intervention,the luminal area of the largest calcified site[(6.59±1.64)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001]and the minimum luminal area within the target lesion[(6.19±1.45)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001]were significantly increased,and the differences were statistically significant.Conclusions The Vesscrack shockwave balloon is effective and safe for vascular preparation in patients with severe CAC prior to stent implantation.It achieves significant calcified plaque modification,high procedural success rates,and minimal complications.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel intravascular lithotripsy(IVL)balloon—Vesscrack shockwave balloon—for vascular preparation before stent implantation in patients with severe coronary artery calcification(CAC).Methods This was a prospective,single-arm,multicenter study conducted in China from June 2022 to October 2022.Patients with severe CAC were treated with the Vesscrack shockwave balloon for lesion preparation,followed by drug-eluting stent(DES)implantation.Of these,33 patients underwent optical coherence tomography(OCT).The primary endpoint was procedural success,defined as successful stent implantation with residual stenosis≤30％and the absence of in-hospital major adverse events,including cardiac death,target vessel-related myocardial infarction,or target lesion revascularization.Results A total of 170 patients[mean age:(65.9±7.9)years,116 males]were enrolled.After treatment with IVL and DES,the minimum lumen diameter increased significantly compared to baseline[(2.34±0.40)mm vs.(0.95±0.33)mm,P＜0.001],the degree of stenosis was significantly reduced[(13.24±6.60)％vs.(65.18±10.59)％,P＜0.001].Procedural success was achieved in 100％of cases,and device success was 98.8％.The 30-day patient-related cardiovascular clinical composite endpoint(POCE)rate was 0.0,with no target lesion failure,no confirmed or potential thrombotic events were observed.The shockwave energy generator demonstrated excellent stability and ease of use.Among the 33 patients assessed with OCT,after IVL intervention,the maximum calcified area of the lumen[(3.51±1.51)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001],and the minimum lumen area within the target lesion[(3.08±1.04)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001],and after DES intervention,the luminal area of the largest calcified site[(6.59±1.64)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001]and the minimum luminal area within the target lesion[(6.19±1.45)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001]were significantly increased,and the differences were statistically significant.Conclusions The Vesscrack shockwave balloon is effective and safe for vascular preparation in patients with severe CAC prior to stent implantation.It achieves significant calcified plaque modification,high procedural success rates,and minimal complications.

Objective To investigate the influence of body mass index(BMI)on individualized analgesic effect,inflammatory factors and safety of sufentanil in elderly patients after proximal femoral nail anti-rotation(PFNA)surgery.Methods A total of 161 elderly patients who received PFNA surgery in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group Suqian Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were selected as study subjects.Patients with BMI<18.5 kg/m2 were set as Group A,patients with BMI ranging from 18.5 kg/m2 to 23.9 kg/m2 were set as Group B,patients with BMI ranging from 24.0 kg/m2 to 35.0 kg/m2 were set as Group C.After operation,individualized analgesia was performed with an intravenous patient-controlled analgesia pump of 2 μg/kg sufentanil based on body weight,and the postoperative pain degree,inflammatory factors,analgesia condition and adverse reactions of patients in the three groups were compared.Results At 8 hours,12 hours,24 hours and 48 hours after surgery,the pain visual analogue scale(VAS)scores of patietns in group B and group C were significantly lower than those in group A(P<0.05).At 12 hours,24 hours and 48 hours after surgery,the pain VAS scores of patients in group C were significantly lower than those in group B(P<0.05).The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and interleukin-6(IL-6)1 day after surgery of patients in group B and group C were significantly lower than those in group A(P<0.05).The pressing times of analgesia pump and the duration of obvious pain within 48 hours after surgery of patients in group A were significantly more/longer than those in group B and group C(P<0.05),and the analgesic satisfaction score was significantly lower than those in group B and group C(P<0.05).The total incidence of analgesic adverse reactions in group C was significantly higher than those in group A and group B(P<0.05).Conclusion BMI may affect the individualized analgesic effect,inflammatory factors and safety of sufentanil in elderly patients undergoing PFNA surgery.Underweight patients may have insufficient analgesia,while overweight or obese patients may have excessive analgesia,which may affect the analgesic safety.

Objective To investigate the influence of body mass index(BMI)on individualized analgesic effect,inflammatory factors and safety of sufentanil in elderly patients after proximal femoral nail anti-rotation(PFNA)surgery.Methods A total of 161 elderly patients who received PFNA surgery in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group Suqian Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were selected as study subjects.Patients with BMI<18.5 kg/m2 were set as Group A,patients with BMI ranging from 18.5 kg/m2 to 23.9 kg/m2 were set as Group B,patients with BMI ranging from 24.0 kg/m2 to 35.0 kg/m2 were set as Group C.After operation,individualized analgesia was performed with an intravenous patient-controlled analgesia pump of 2 μg/kg sufentanil based on body weight,and the postoperative pain degree,inflammatory factors,analgesia condition and adverse reactions of patients in the three groups were compared.Results At 8 hours,12 hours,24 hours and 48 hours after surgery,the pain visual analogue scale(VAS)scores of patietns in group B and group C were significantly lower than those in group A(P<0.05).At 12 hours,24 hours and 48 hours after surgery,the pain VAS scores of patients in group C were significantly lower than those in group B(P<0.05).The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and interleukin-6(IL-6)1 day after surgery of patients in group B and group C were significantly lower than those in group A(P<0.05).The pressing times of analgesia pump and the duration of obvious pain within 48 hours after surgery of patients in group A were significantly more/longer than those in group B and group C(P<0.05),and the analgesic satisfaction score was significantly lower than those in group B and group C(P<0.05).The total incidence of analgesic adverse reactions in group C was significantly higher than those in group A and group B(P<0.05).Conclusion BMI may affect the individualized analgesic effect,inflammatory factors and safety of sufentanil in elderly patients undergoing PFNA surgery.Underweight patients may have insufficient analgesia,while overweight or obese patients may have excessive analgesia,which may affect the analgesic safety.

OBJECTIVE: To explore and quantify the association of hot night exposure during the sperm development period (0-90 lag days) with semen quality. METHODS: A total of 6,640 male sperm donors from 6 human sperm banks in China during 2014-2020 were recruited in this multicenter study. Two indices (i.e., hot night excess [HNE] and hot night duration [HND]) were used to estimate the heat intensity and duration during nighttime. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association between hot nights and semen quality parameters. RESULTS: The exposure-response relationship revealed that HNE and HND during 0-90 days before semen collection had a significantly inverse association with sperm motility. Specifically, a 1 °C increase in HNE was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility of 0.0090 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0147, -0.0033) and decreased total motility of 0.0094 (95% CI: -0.0160, -0.0029). HND was significantly associated with reduced sperm progressive motility and total motility of 0.0021 (95% CI: -0.0040, -0.0003) and 0.0023 (95% CI: -0.0043, -0.0002), respectively. Consistent results were observed at different temperature thresholds on hot nights. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the need to mitigate nocturnal heat exposure during spermatogenesis to maintain optimal semen quality.
Humans ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Adult ; Sperm Motility ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects* ; China ; Middle Aged ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Young Adult

Colorectal cancer(CRC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide. Due to the treatment intolerance and side effects, CRC rank the top among various cancers regarding the incidence and mortality rates. Therefore, exploring new therapies is of great significance for the treatment of CRC. Aerobic glycolysis(AEG) plays an important role in the microenvironment formation, proliferation, metastasis, and recurrence of CRC and other tumor cells. It has been confirmed that intervening in the AEG pathway can effectively curb CRC. The active ingredients and compound prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can effectively inhibit the proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance and regulate the apoptosis of tumor cells by modulating AEG-associated transport proteins [eg, glucose transporters(GLUT)], key enzymes [hexokinase(HK) and phosphofructokinase(PFK)], key genes [hypoxia-inducible factor 1(HIF-1) and oncogene(c-Myc)], and signaling pathways(MET/PI3K/Akt/mTOR). Accordingly, they can treat CRC, reduce the recurrence, and improve the prognosis of CRC. Although AEG plays a key role in the development and progression of CRC, the specific mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this article delves into the intrinsic connection of the targets and mechanisms of the AEG pathway with CRC from the perspective of tumor cell glycolysis and explores how active ingredients(oxymatrine, kaempferol, and dioscin) and compound prescriptions(Quxie Capsules, Jiedu Sangen Decoction, and Xianlian Jiedu Prescription) of TCM treat CRC by intervening in the AEG pathway. Additionally, this article explores the shortcomings in the current research, aiming to provide reliable targets and a theoretical basis for treating CRC with TCM.
Humans ; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Glycolysis/drug effects* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

Prostate cancer(PCa) is a common malignant tumor among elderly men, with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide, posing a serious threat to human health. Traditional treatments face limitations, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. Recent studies on the regulatory mechanisms of micro ribonucleic acid(microRNA, miRNA) in tumor development has identified miRNA as new targets for PCa diagnosis and treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), with its multi-mechanism, multi-target, and multi-pathway regulatory properties, shows promising potential in miRNA-based PCa therapy. This review summarized recent findings on miRNA' roles in PCa and research progress of TCM intervention and found that a variety of miRNA played important regulatory roles in cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, immune microenvironment, and drug resistance, and their potential as biomarkers for PCa diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy, indicating the potential to be a biomarker for the diagnosis, prognosis evaluation, and treatment of PCa. The review concluded that the active components of TCM(terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and others) and compounds(Yishen Tonglong Decoction, Shenhu Decoction, Zhoushi Qiling Decoction, Fuzheng Yiliu Decoction, and Qilan Formula) could regulate the expression of their downstream target genes by acting on specific miRNA and affect the above biological behaviors of PCa cells, thus playing a role in the treatment of PCa. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis for miRNA as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PCa and suggest new avenues for further development of targeted therapy strategies against miRNA.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects*

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic, idiopathic, and recurrent gastrointestinal disorder with an unclear etiology and uncertain pathogenesis. Traditional treatment strategies rely on frequent administration of high doses of medication to reduce inflammation, whereas these approaches have limitations and may induce potential complications. Therefore, finding more effective and safe therapeutic drugs and methods is particularly important. Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles(PDELNs) are nano-sized vesicles with a lipid bilayer structure that are secreted by plant cells. The bioactive molecules contained within, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, can serve as information carriers, playing a role in the transmission of information and substances between cells and across species. PDELNs can carry and transfer their own bioactive substances or act as carriers for delivering other active components or drugs. Due to the high biocompatibility, low toxicity, and significant bioactivity, PDELNs have garnered widespread attention. Compared with other exosomes, PDELNs are not destroyed in the gastrointestinal tract when taken orally and can reach the intestines. This unique property makes PDELNs a promising oral nanodrug for treating intestinal diseases, showing great potential in this area. This article reviews recent research literature on PDELNs regarding the physicochemical characteristics, extraction and purification methods, functions, application characteristics and mechanisms in the treatment of intestinal diseases, and use as a carrier for treating intestinal diseases, aiming to provide a reference for the use of PDELNs in the treatment of intestinal diseases.
Humans ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Animals ; Intestinal Diseases/metabolism* ; Plants/metabolism* ; Drug Carriers/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Nanoparticles/chemistry*

Objective To explore the predictive value of growth differentiation factor 15(GDF-15)for atrial fibrillation(AF)in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods A prospective observation cohort of 1261 elderly CHD patients was randomly sampled from the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2012 to December 2015.ELISA was used to detect GDF-15 level in all the subjects,and their baseline data were collected.Until March 2023,93 patients were lost during the follow-up period,and finally 1168 patients completed the follow-up,with a median time of 9.4 years.According to AF occurred or not during the period,the eligible patients were divided into an AF group(197 cases)and a non-AF group(971 cases),and based on their medical history,also assigned into a stable angina pectoris(SAP,n=304)and an acute coronary syndrome group(ACS,n=864).Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether GDF-15 is a risk factor for AF in elderly CHD patients.ROC curve was plotted to assess the predictive value of GDF-15,guideline recommended CHARGE-AF scoring model,and their combination for AF events in the patients.Results The AF group had significantly advanced age,larger proportions of smoking history,type 2 diabetes,hypertension,old myocardial infarction,stroke,ACS and administration of statins,higher ratio of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibi-tor/angiotensin receptor blocker,and elevated levels of GDF-15 and N-terminal pro-B-type natri-uretic peptide,and lower left ventricular ejection fraction,SAP incidence,and low-density lipopro-tein cholesterol,total cholesterol and triglycerides levels when compared with the non-AF group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that GDF-15 was not a risk factor for AF in elderly CHD patients(OR=0.92,95％CI:0.74-1.16,P=0.489),but was a risk factor for AF in SAP patients(OR=1.38,95％CI:1.07-2.79,P=0.015),and in ACS patients,still not a risk factor for AF(OR=0.81,95％CI:0.63-1.05,P=0.814).ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC value of GDF-15 combined with the CHARGE-AF scoring model in predic-ting AF was 0.682 in the elderly CHD patients,0.746 in the SAP patients,and 0.680 in the ACS patients.Conclusion Elevated GDF-15 level is an independent risk factor and predictor of AF in elderly SAP patients.In SAP patients,the combination of GDF-15 and CHARGE-AF scoring model further improves the predictive performance of AF occurrence.