ObjectivePhotoacoustic pump-probe imaging can effectively eliminate the interference of blood background signal in traditional photoacoustic imaging, and realize the imaging of weak phosphorescence molecules and their triplet lifetimes in deep tissues. However, background differential noise in photoacoustic pump-probe imaging often leads to large fitting results of phosphorescent molecule concentration and triplet lifetime. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel triplet lifetime fitting method for photoacoustic pump-probe imaging. By extracting the phase of the triplet differential signal and the background noise, the fitting bias caused by the background noise can be effectively corrected. MethodsThe advantages and feasibility of the proposed algorithm are verified by numerical simulation, phantom and in vivo experiments, respectively. ResultsIn the numerical simulation, under the condition of noise intensity being 10% of the signal amplitude, the new method can optimize the fitting deviation from 48.5% to about 5%, and has a higher exclusion coefficient (0.88>0.79), which greatly improves the fitting accuracy. The high specificity imaging ability of photoacoustic pump imaging for phosphorescent molecules has been demonstrated by phantom experiments. In vivo experiments have verified the feasibility of the new fitting method proposed in this paper for fitting phosphoometric lifetime to monitor oxygen partial pressure content during photodynamic therapy of tumors in nude mice. ConclusionThis work will play an important role in promoting the application of photoacoustic pump-probe imaging in biomedicine.

AIM To explore the effects of Hofmeister series ions on encapsulation efficiencies of cinnamaldehyde,paeonol,and ligustilide in inclusion complex of volatile oils from Wenjing Decoction.METHODS The volatile oils were extracted,after which the β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex was prepared,the thermal stability was evaluated,and encapsulation efficiencies and inclusion complex constants of various volatile components in Na2SO4,NaH2PO4,NaCl,NaI,NaSCN solutions were determined.RESULTS The β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex demonstrated good thermal stability within 10 d.After the addtion of Hofmeister series ions,various volatile components displayed increased encapsulation efficiencies and inclusion complex constants,and concentration-dependent manner was observable in the latter.CONCLUSION Hofmeister series ions can affect the binding affinities of volatile components and β-cyclodextrin in volatile oils from Wenjing Decoction,thus regulate their encapsulation efficiencies.

BACKGROUND: Based on the China-VHD database, this study sought to develop and validate a Valvular Heart Disease- specific Age-adjusted Comorbidity Index (VHD-ACI) for predicting mortality risk in patients with VHD. METHODS & RESULTS: The China-VHD study was a nationwide, multi-centre multi-centre cohort study enrolling 13,917 patients with moderate or severe VHD across 46 medical centres in China between April-June 2018. After excluding cases with missing key variables, 11,459 patients were retained for final analysis. The primary endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality, with 941 deaths (10.0%) observed during follow-up. The VHD-ACI was derived after identifying 13 independent mortality predictors: cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary artery hypertension, low body weight, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, renal insufficiency, moderate/severe hepatic dysfunction, heart failure, cancer, NYHA functional class and age. The index exhibited good discrimination (AUC, 0.79) and calibration (Brier score, 0.062) in the total cohort, outperforming both EuroSCORE II and ACCI (P < 0.001 for comparison). Internal validation through 100 bootstrap iterations yielded a C statistic of 0.694 (95% CI: 0.665-0.723) for 2-year mortality prediction. VHD-ACI scores, as a continuous variable (VHD-ACI score: adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.263 (1.245-1.282), P < 0.001) or categorized using thresholds determined by the Yoden index (VHD-ACI ≥ 9 vs. < 9, adjusted HR (95% CI): 6.216 (5.378-7.184), P < 0.001), were independently associated with mortality. The prognostic performance remained consistent across all VHD subtypes (aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid valve disease, mixed aortic/mitral valve disease and multiple VHD), and clinical subgroups stratified by therapeutic strategy, LVEF status (preserved vs. reduced), disease severity and etiology. CONCLUSION The VHD-ACI is a simple 13-comorbidity algorithm for the prediction of mortality in VHD patients and providing a simple and rapid tool for risk stratification.

Recent data suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor (VEGFRi) can enhance the anti-tumor activity of the anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) antibody in colorectal cancer (CRC) with microsatellite stability (MSS). However, the comparison between this combination and standard third-line VEGFRi treatment is not performed, and reliable biomarkers are still lacking. We retrospectively enrolled MSS CRC patients receiving anti-PD-1 antibody plus VEGFRi (combination group, n=54) or VEGFRi alone (VEGFRi group, n=32), and their efficacy and safety were evaluated. We additionally examined the immune characteristics of the MSS CRC tumor microenvironment (TME) through single-cell and spatial transcriptomic data, and an MSS CRC immune cell-related signature (MCICRS) that can be used to predict the clinical outcomes of MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy was developed and validated in our in-house cohort. Compared with VEGFRi alone, the combination of anti-PD-1 antibody and VEGFRi exhibited a prolonged survival benefit (median progression-free survival: 4.4 vs. 2.0 months, P=0.0024; median overall survival: 10.2 vs. 5.2 months, P=0.0038) and a similar adverse event incidence. Through single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis, we determined ten MSS CRC-enriched immune cell types and their spatial distribution, including naive CD4⁺ T, regulatory CD4⁺ T, CD4⁺ Th17, exhausted CD8⁺ T, cytotoxic CD8⁺ T, proliferated CD8⁺ T, natural killer (NK) cells, plasma, and classical and intermediate monocytes. Based on a systemic meta-analysis and ten machine learning algorithms, we obtained MCICRS, an independent risk factor for the prognosis of MSS CRC patients. Further analyses demonstrated that the low-MCICRS group presented a higher immune cell infiltration and immune-related pathway activation, and hence a significant relation with the superior efficacy of pan-cancer immunotherapy. More importantly, the predictive value of MCICRS in MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy was also validated with an in-house cohort. Anti-PD-1 antibody combined with VEGFRi presented an improved clinical benefit in MSS CRC with manageable toxicity. MCICRS could serve as a robust and promising tool to predict clinical outcomes for individual MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy.
Humans ; Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Immunotherapy ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Tumor Microenvironment/immunology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Microsatellite Instability ; Transcriptome ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/immunology* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Adult ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors*

This study aimed to characterize and identify the non-volatile components in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stems and leaves of Rhododendron tomentosum by using sensitive and efficient ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with a self-built information database. By comparing with reference compounds, analyzing fragment ion information, searching relevant literature, and using a self-built information database, 118 compounds were identified from the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of R. tomentosum, including 35 flavonoid glycosides, 15 phenolic glycosides, 12 flavonoids, 7 phenolic acids, 7 phenylethanol glycosides, 6 tannins, 6 phospholipids, 5 coumarins, 5 monoterpene glycosides, 6 triterpenes, 3 fatty acids, and 11 other types of compounds. Among them, 102 compounds were reported in R. tomentosum for the first time, and 36 compounds were identified by comparing them with reference compounds. The chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum leaves and stems showed slight differences, with 84 common chemical components accounting for 71.2% of the total 118 compounds. This study systematically characterized and identified the non-volatile chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum for the first time. The findings provide a reference for active ingredient research, quality control, and product development of R. tomentosum.
Rhododendron/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry*

Objective To identify the taste critical quality attribute and design and optimize the flavor-correcting formulation of the traditional Chinese medicine oral preparation Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid,in order to improve its taste and enhance patient medication adherence.Methods The taste assignment method was employed to identify the taste critical quality attribute of Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid.Based on human sensory evaluation and the standardized Euclidean distance in electronic tongue analysis,suitable types of corrigent were determined.Subsequently,under constraints such as maximum allowable dosage,solubility,and sweetness,the optimal taste formulation for the sugar-free intermediate of Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid was determined using Box-Behnken experimental design combined with electronic tongue and human sensory evaluation results.The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine(Ethics Approval Number 2020BZYLL0609).Results The quantitative score for bitter taste of Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid accounted for 30.36%,confirming bitterness as the taste critical quality attribute requiring attention.The optimal taste formulation for the sugar-free intermediate of Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid was determined to be 120 mg·mL?1 erythritol,12 mg·mL?1 acesulfame potassium,and 2.4 mg·mL?1 stevioside.This formulation achieved an 11.75-point improvement in sensory evaluation scores compared to the original commercially available oral liquid.Conclusion This study successfully improved the taste of Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid and established a comprehensive strategy for flavor-correcting formulation optimization,including a method for identifying taste critical quality attribute.This strategy provides a referential paradigm for palatability enhancement of similar traditional Chinese medicine oral preparations,laying a crucial technical foundation for elevating the clinical value of Chinese herbal medicines and promoting the high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).

Objective To identify the taste critical quality attribute and design and optimize the flavor-correcting formulation of the traditional Chinese medicine oral preparation Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid,in order to improve its taste and enhance patient medication adherence.Methods The taste assignment method was employed to identify the taste critical quality attribute of Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid.Based on human sensory evaluation and the standardized Euclidean distance in electronic tongue analysis,suitable types of corrigent were determined.Subsequently,under constraints such as maximum allowable dosage,solubility,and sweetness,the optimal taste formulation for the sugar-free intermediate of Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid was determined using Box-Behnken experimental design combined with electronic tongue and human sensory evaluation results.The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine(Ethics Approval Number 2020BZYLL0609).Results The quantitative score for bitter taste of Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid accounted for 30.36%,confirming bitterness as the taste critical quality attribute requiring attention.The optimal taste formulation for the sugar-free intermediate of Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid was determined to be 120 mg·mL?1 erythritol,12 mg·mL?1 acesulfame potassium,and 2.4 mg·mL?1 stevioside.This formulation achieved an 11.75-point improvement in sensory evaluation scores compared to the original commercially available oral liquid.Conclusion This study successfully improved the taste of Qingre Jiedu Oral Liquid and established a comprehensive strategy for flavor-correcting formulation optimization,including a method for identifying taste critical quality attribute.This strategy provides a referential paradigm for palatability enhancement of similar traditional Chinese medicine oral preparations,laying a crucial technical foundation for elevating the clinical value of Chinese herbal medicines and promoting the high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).

AIM To explore the effects of Hofmeister series ions on encapsulation efficiencies of cinnamaldehyde,paeonol,and ligustilide in inclusion complex of volatile oils from Wenjing Decoction.METHODS The volatile oils were extracted,after which the β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex was prepared,the thermal stability was evaluated,and encapsulation efficiencies and inclusion complex constants of various volatile components in Na2SO4,NaH2PO4,NaCl,NaI,NaSCN solutions were determined.RESULTS The β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex demonstrated good thermal stability within 10 d.After the addtion of Hofmeister series ions,various volatile components displayed increased encapsulation efficiencies and inclusion complex constants,and concentration-dependent manner was observable in the latter.CONCLUSION Hofmeister series ions can affect the binding affinities of volatile components and β-cyclodextrin in volatile oils from Wenjing Decoction,thus regulate their encapsulation efficiencies.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) is widely used for targeted genomic and epigenomic modifications, transcriptional regulation and real-time cell imaging, and has already demonstrated great potential for applications in agriculture, industry and medicine. The promise of the technology depends upon the five intrinsic properties of CRISPR/Cas: targeting, target unwinding, target cutting, target residence, and collateral cleavage. Here, mainly using Streptococcus pyogenes CRISPR/Cas9 as example, we will focus on the target residence of CRISPR/Cas in applications of the CRISPR/Cas technology, summarize the recent progress, and discuss the effect of CRISPR/Cas target binding and residence on DNA double strand break repair pathway choices and the opportunities that CRISPR/Cas target residence presents to optimize the CRISPR/Cas technology.

OBJECTIVE To establish the ultra-high liquid chromatography （UPLC） characteristic spectrum of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis from different producing areas， to conduct chemical pattern recognition analysis， and to identify the medicinal materials of their different origins and counterfeit products. METHODS UPLC method was adopted to establish the characteristic spectra of 43 batches of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis from different origins； cluster analysis combined with principal component analysis were used to analyze their quality； Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis from different origins and counterfeit products were identified. RESULTS UPLC specific spectrum of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis was established， and 13 common peaks were calibrated； peak 2 was identified as catechin， peak 3 as chlorogenic acid， peak 4 as cryptochlorogenic acid， peak 7 as isochlorogenic acid B， peak 8 as isodehydroguotenine， peak 9 as isooguotenine， peak 10 as dehydroguotenine， peak 11 as isochlorogenic acid C， peak 12 as goutenine， and peak 13 as camptothecin. Through cluster analysis， the medicinal materials of 43 batches of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis could be divided into 5 categories according to their different origins. Further principal component analysis revealed that the principal component comprehensive scores of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis produced in Jiangxi and Hunan were relatively high， ranging from 0.264 to 2.904. The specific chromatogram could effectively distinguish among the different origins and their counterfeit products of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis. CONCLUSIONS The established UPLC specific chromatogram can be used for quality control of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis， and the study found that the quality of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis from Jiangxi and Hunan provinces is relatively good.