BACKGROUND:Mesenchymal stem cells show extremely therapeutic potential for radiation-induced lung injury through delivering exosomes.Age is a primary factor affecting the function and biological efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the protective effects of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of different mouse ages on radiation-induced lung injury in mice.METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice and old mice were obtained by whole bone marrow adherent culture.The exosomes were isolated from the supernatant of passage 3 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.Ten 2-month-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly selected as the control group after anesthesia and not irradiated.The remaining 30 2-month-old C57BL/6J mice were used to establish a mouse radiation-induced lung injury model and were randomly divided into three groups.Exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice,exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice,and PBS were injected through the tail vein,respectively.The survival rate of mice was monitored.The lung function,lung inflammation and fibrosis were assessed at 1 and 12 weeks after irradiation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The concentrations of particles and proteins in exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice were higher than those in exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.(2)Compared with the control group,the survival rate of mice in the PBS group was low,and lung inflammation was obvious at week 1 after irradiation,and the levels and mRNA expressions of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α were increased.Collagen deposition in lung tissues was observed at week 12 after irradiation,and the mRNA level of E-cadherin was decreased,while the mRNA levels of α-smooth muscle actin,transforming growth factor-β1,and β-catenin were increased.(3)Compared with the PBS group,the survival rate of mice in the exosome group was significantly improved,and the level of proinflammatory factors and their mRNA expression were reduced at week 1 after irradiation,the mRNA level of E-cadherin was increased,and the mRNA levels of α-smooth muscle actin,transforming growth factor β1 and β-catenin were reduced at week 12 after irradiation.(4)Among all the above indicators,the therapeutic effect of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice was better than that of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.(5)The results showed that exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice contained more particles and proteins,and the effect of alleviating early inflammation and late fibrosis of radiation-induced lung injury in mice was better than that of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.

BACKGROUND:Mesenchymal stem cells show extremely therapeutic potential for radiation-induced lung injury through delivering exosomes.Age is a primary factor affecting the function and biological efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the protective effects of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of different mouse ages on radiation-induced lung injury in mice.METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice and old mice were obtained by whole bone marrow adherent culture.The exosomes were isolated from the supernatant of passage 3 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.Ten 2-month-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly selected as the control group after anesthesia and not irradiated.The remaining 30 2-month-old C57BL/6J mice were used to establish a mouse radiation-induced lung injury model and were randomly divided into three groups.Exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice,exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice,and PBS were injected through the tail vein,respectively.The survival rate of mice was monitored.The lung function,lung inflammation and fibrosis were assessed at 1 and 12 weeks after irradiation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The concentrations of particles and proteins in exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice were higher than those in exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.(2)Compared with the control group,the survival rate of mice in the PBS group was low,and lung inflammation was obvious at week 1 after irradiation,and the levels and mRNA expressions of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α were increased.Collagen deposition in lung tissues was observed at week 12 after irradiation,and the mRNA level of E-cadherin was decreased,while the mRNA levels of α-smooth muscle actin,transforming growth factor-β1,and β-catenin were increased.(3)Compared with the PBS group,the survival rate of mice in the exosome group was significantly improved,and the level of proinflammatory factors and their mRNA expression were reduced at week 1 after irradiation,the mRNA level of E-cadherin was increased,and the mRNA levels of α-smooth muscle actin,transforming growth factor β1 and β-catenin were reduced at week 12 after irradiation.(4)Among all the above indicators,the therapeutic effect of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice was better than that of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.(5)The results showed that exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice contained more particles and proteins,and the effect of alleviating early inflammation and late fibrosis of radiation-induced lung injury in mice was better than that of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.

Metastatic dissemination is the major cause of death from breast-cancer (BC). Fusobacterium nucleatum (F.n) is widely enriched in BC and has recently been identified as one of the high-risk factors for promoting BC metastasis. Here, with an experimental model, we demonstrated that intratumoral F.n induced BC aggressiveness by transcriptionally activating Epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated genes. Therefore, the F.n may be a potential target to prevent metastasis. Given the fact that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are abundant in BC and located near blood vessels, we report an optogenetic system that drives CAF to in situ produce human antibacterial peptide LL37, with the characteristics of biosafety and freely intercellular trafficking, for depleting intratumoral F.n, leading to a 72.1% reduction in lung metastatic nodules number without affecting the balance of the systemic flora. Notably, mild photothermal treatment was found that could normalize CAF, contributing to synergistically inhibiting BC metastasis. In addition, the system can also simultaneously encode a gene of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand to suppress the primary tumor. Together, our study highlights the potential of local elimination of tumor pathogenic bacteria to prevent BC metastasis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of HBV infection on pre- and postpartum health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pregnant women. METHODS: A prospective matched cohort consisting of 70 HBV-infected and 70 healthy pregnant women was recruited from the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between April 17 and September 25, 2023. HRQoL of the participants was assessed at 16-24 weeks of gestation, between 32 weeks and delivery, and 5-13 weeks postpartum. Mixed linear models were used for evaluating temporal trends of HRQoL changes, and univariate ANOVA with multiple linear regression was used to identify the predictors of HRQoL. RESULTS: Compared with healthy pregnant women, HBV-infected pregnant women had consistently lower total HRQoL scores across all the 3 intervals, with the lowest scores observed between 32 weeks of gestation and delivery, during which these women had significantly reduced mental component scores (74.27±13.43 vs 80.21±12.9, P=0.009) and postpartum mental (76.52±16.19 vs 85.02±6.51, P<0.001) and physical component scale scores (77.17±14.71 vs 83.09±10.1, P=0.009). HBV infection was identified as an independent risk factor affecting HRQoL during late pregnancy and postpartum periods. Additional independent risk factors for postpartum HRQoL reduction included self-pay medical expenses, spouse's neutral attitude toward the current pregnancy, and preexisting comorbidities (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS HRQoL of pregnant women deteriorates progressively in late pregnancy, and HBV infection exacerbates reductions of physical function and role emotion in late pregnancy and after delivery, suggesting the importance of targeted interventions for financial burdens, partner support and comorbid conditions to improve HRQoL of pregnant women with HBV infection.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Quality of Life ; Prospective Studies ; Postpartum Period ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/psychology* ; Adult ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious

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In the general population, obesity (high BMI) is often considered as an important risk factor for many diseases and premature death. However, in patients with a certain disease, the risk of death in people with obesity was lower than that in people with normal weight. This abnormal correlation has caused widespread discussion, and different explanations have been given by physiology and epidemiology. Based on causal inference theory, this study used directed acyclic graphs to introduce the collision bias (also called collision-stratification bias). Through example demonstrations, this study explored whether and why the abnormal correlation between obesity and higher survival rates in patients with hyperglycemia exists. Finally, it was concluded that this abnormal correlation among patients with a certain disease (e.g., hyperglycemia in the current analysis) was partly or even totally caused by collider bias.

Chinese medicine intestinal administration(CMIA)can avoid the degradation of drugs in gastric acid,bypass the first-pass effect of the liver,and deliver drugs directly to the lesion site.This approach increases local drug concentration,reduces drug dosage,and enhances bioavailability.This study systematically introduces the advantages,drug dosage forms,and whole-colon deliv-ery technologies of CMIA for treating UC,and reviews its mechanisms of action,including repairing intestinal epithelial layer and mu-cous layer,regulating the intestinal microbiota,improving immune function,and promoting local blood circulation.It also analyzes the current progress and limitations of research,aiming to provide a more solid theoretical basis for the treatment of UC with Chinese medi-cine and to offer references for the development of UC therapeutic drugs and administration methods.

In the general population, obesity (high BMI) is often considered as an important risk factor for many diseases and premature death. However, in patients with a certain disease, the risk of death in people with obesity was lower than that in people with normal weight. This abnormal correlation has caused widespread discussion, and different explanations have been given by physiology and epidemiology. Based on causal inference theory, this study used directed acyclic graphs to introduce the collision bias (also called collision-stratification bias). Through example demonstrations, this study explored whether and why the abnormal correlation between obesity and higher survival rates in patients with hyperglycemia exists. Finally, it was concluded that this abnormal correlation among patients with a certain disease (e.g., hyperglycemia in the current analysis) was partly or even totally caused by collider bias.

Chinese medicine intestinal administration(CMIA)can avoid the degradation of drugs in gastric acid,bypass the first-pass effect of the liver,and deliver drugs directly to the lesion site.This approach increases local drug concentration,reduces drug dosage,and enhances bioavailability.This study systematically introduces the advantages,drug dosage forms,and whole-colon deliv-ery technologies of CMIA for treating UC,and reviews its mechanisms of action,including repairing intestinal epithelial layer and mu-cous layer,regulating the intestinal microbiota,improving immune function,and promoting local blood circulation.It also analyzes the current progress and limitations of research,aiming to provide a more solid theoretical basis for the treatment of UC with Chinese medi-cine and to offer references for the development of UC therapeutic drugs and administration methods.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular needle-embedding therapy for treating primary insomnia. Methods:A total of 63 patients were randomly divided into a conventional acupuncture group and an auricular needle-embedding group.The conventional acupuncture group received acupuncture at meridian points,while the auricular needle-embedding group received acupuncture at auricular points.Treatments were given once a day for 6 consecutive days,followed by a 1-day break,as a course of treatment.Both groups were treated for 2 courses.Before treatment,and after 1 course and 2 courses of treatment,the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)score was assessed,and the efficacy was evaluated. Results:The cured and markedly effective rate and total effective rate of the auricular needle-embedding group were higher than those of the conventional acupuncture group,but there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).After 1 course of treatment,the PSQI global score and the scores of subjective sleep quality,sleep latency,sleep duration,habitual sleep efficiency,and daytime dysfunction of both groups decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0.01);there was no statistical significance in comparing the PSQI global score and individual component scores between the two groups(P>0.05).After 2 courses of treatment,the PSQI global score and the scores of sleep latency and habitual sleep efficiency of the auricular needle-embedding group decreased compared with those after 1 course of treatment(P<0.01 or P<0.05),while only the score of sleep latency of the conventional acupuncture group decreased compared with that after 1 course of treatment(P<0.05);the PSQI global score and the scores of subjective sleep quality and sleep latency of the auricular needle-embedding group were lower than those of the conventional acupuncture group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Both therapies can improve insomnia.Compared to conventional acupuncture,auricular needle-embedding therapy demonstrates a therapeutic advantage in improving sleep latency and sleep quality,making it worthy of clinical promotion.