Tumors are the second leading cause of death worldwide. Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicle secreted from multivesicular bodies, with particle sizes ranging from 40 to 160 nm. They regulate the tumor microenvironment, proliferation, and progression by transporting proteins, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules. Compared with other drug delivery systems, exosomes derived from different cells possess unique cellular tropism, enabling them to selectively target specific tissues and organs. This homing ability allows them to cross biological barriers that are otherwise difficult for conventional drug delivery systems to penetrate. Due to their biocompatibility and unique biological properties, exosomes can serve as drug delivery systems capable of loading various anti-tumor drugs. They can traverse biological barriers, evade immune responses, and specifically target tumor tissues, making them ideal carriers for anti-tumor therapeutics. This article systematically summarizes the methods for exosome isolation, including ultracentrifugation, ultrafiltration, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), immunoaffinity capture, and microfluidics. However, these methods have certain limitations. A combination of multiple isolation techniques can improve isolation efficiency. For instance, combining ultrafiltration with SEC can achieve both high purity and high yield while reducing processing time. Exosome drug loading methods can be classified into post-loading and pre-loading approaches. Pre-loading is further categorized into active and passive loading. Active loading methods, including electroporation, sonication, extrusion, and freeze-thaw cycles, involve physical or chemical disruption of the exosome membrane to facilitate drug encapsulation. Passive loading relies on drug concentration gradients or hydrophobic interactions between drugs and exosomes for encapsulation. Pre-loading strategies also include genetic engineering and co-incubation methods. Additionally, we review approaches to enhance the targeting, retention, and permeability of exosomes. Genetic engineering and chemical modifications can improve their tumor-targeting capabilities. Magnetic fields can also be employed to promote the accumulation of exosomes at tumor sites. Retention time can be prolonged by inhibiting monocyte-mediated clearance or by combining exosomes with hydrogels. Engineered exosomes can also reshape the tumor microenvironment to enhance permeability. This review further discusses the current applications of exosomes in delivering various anti-tumor drugs. Specifically, exosomes can encapsulate chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel to reduce side effects and increase drug concentration within tumor tissues. For instance, exosomes loaded with doxorubicin can mitigate cardiotoxicity and minimize adverse effects on healthy tissues. Furthermore, exosomes can encapsulate proteins to enhance protein stability and bioavailability or carry immunogenic cell death inducers for tumor vaccines. In addition to these applications, exosomes can deliver nucleic acids such as siRNA and miRNA to regulate gene expression, inhibit tumor proliferation, and suppress invasion. Beyond their therapeutic applications, exosomes also serve as tumor biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis. The detection of exosomal miRNA can improve the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing prostate and pancreatic cancers. Despite their promising potential as drug delivery systems, challenges remain in the standardization and large-scale production of exosomes. This article explores the future development of engineered exosomes for targeted tumor therapy. Plant-derived exosomes hold potential due to their superior biocompatibility, lower toxicity, and abundant availability. Furthermore, the integration of exosomes with artificial intelligence may offer novel applications in diagnostics, therapeutics, and personalized medicine.

This study investigates the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of different Artemisia argyi germplasm resources to provide a basis for germplasm identification, variety selection, and resource protection. A total of 192 germplasm resources of A. argyi were studied, and EST-based simple sequence repeat(EST-SSR) primers were designed based on transcriptomic data of A. argyi. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) amplification was performed on these resources, followed by fluorescence capillary electrophoresis to detect genetic diversity and construct DNA fingerprints. From 197 pairs of primers designed, 28 pairs with polymorphic and clear bands were selected. A total of 278 alleles were detected, with an average of 9.900 0 alleles per primer pair and an average effective number of alleles of 1.407 2. The Shannon's diversity index(I) for the A. argyi germplasm resources ranged from 0.148 1 to 0.418 0, with an average of 0.255 7. The polymorphism information content(PIC) ranged from 0.454 5 to 0.878 0, with an average of 0.766 9, showing high polymorphism. Cluster analysis divided the A. argyi germplasm resources into three major groups: Group Ⅰ contained 136 germplasm samples, Group Ⅱ contained 45, and Group Ⅲ contained 11. Principal component analysis also divided the resources into three groups, which was generally consistent with the clustering results. Mantel test results showed that the genetic variation in A. argyi populations was to some extent influenced by geographic distance, but the effect was minimal. Structure analysis showed that 190 germplasm materials had Q≥ 0.6, indicating that these germplasm materials had a relatively homogeneous genetic origin. Furthermore, 8 core primer pairs were selected from the 28 designed primers, which could distinguish various germplasm types. Using these 8 core primers, DNA fingerprints for the 192 A. argyi germplasm resources were successfully constructed. EST-SSR molecular markers can be used to study the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of A. argyi, providing theoretical support for the identification and molecular-assisted breeding of A. argyi germplasm resources.
Artemisia/classification* ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Genetic Variation ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; DNA, Plant/genetics* ; Genetic Markers

BACKGROUND: Children's respiratory health demonstrates particular sensitivity to air pollution. Existing evidence investigating the association between short-term ozone (O₃) exposure and childhood pneumonia remains insufficient and inconsistent, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHOD: To provide more reliable and persuasive evidence, we implemented a multi-city, time-stratified case-crossover design with a large sample size, using data from seven representative children's hospitals across major geographical regions in China. To avoid the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, individual-level medical records of inpatient children under 6 years of age diagnosed with pneumonia during 2016-2019 were collected. Conditional logistic regression models were fitted for each city, and city-specific estimates were pooled through a meta-analysis using a random-effects model. RESULTS: In total, the study included 137,470 pediatric pneumonia hospital admissions. The highest pooled estimate for O₃ occurred at lag0-1, with a 10 µg/m³ increase in O₃ associated with a 1.57% (95% CI: 0.67%-2.48%) higher risk of pediatric pneumonia hospital admissions. Stratified analyses indicated that the effects of O₃ were robust across different sexes, age groups, and admission seasons. We also observed a statistically significant increase in risk associated with O₃ concentrations exceeding the World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines (WHO-AQGs). CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a significant positive association between O₃ and pediatric pneumonia hospital admissions. Our findings substantially strengthen the evidence base for the adverse health impacts of O₃, underscoring the importance of O₃ pollution control and management in reducing the public health burden of pediatric pneumonia.
Humans ; Ozone/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Pneumonia/chemically induced* ; Child, Preschool ; Male ; Female ; Infant ; Cross-Over Studies ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data* ; Child ; Cities/epidemiology* ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Infant, Newborn ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*

The aim of this study is to establish an gene editing method of Mesomycoplasma hyo-pneumoniae(Mhp)based on the homologous recombination principle.The restriction enzyme di-gestion and ligation method combined with gene synthesis were used to construct a shuttle plasmid to achieve replication in both Mhp and Escherichia coli(E.coli).The pGEM?-T vector was used as the skeleton.The oriC sequence of Mhp which can achieve the replication of the plasmid in Mhp was inserted into the vector.Sequences of the Spiroplasma promoter and puromycin resistance gene were then inserted into the above constructed plasmid to screen recombinant clones.The up-stream and downstream homologous arms of p97 were constructed to initiate homologous recombination.The recA gene of E.coli is inserted to improve the efficiency of homologous recom-bination.The obtained shuttle plasmid was then delivered into Mhp by electro-transformation or chemical transformation.A shuttle plasmid,pGEM?-Mhp-oriC-p 97,which can replicate in both Mhp and E.coli was constructed.With the transformation of this plasmid,the carried puromycin gene and recA gene can be expressed,the p97 gene can be edited.Finally,the genetically unstable p97 gene mutant was initially obtained.In this study,a tool for Mhp gene editing based on the principle of homologous recombination was established,which laid a foundation for the develop-ment of tools for studying the pathogenesis of Mhp.

Objective:To study effect of matrine on TNF-α induced proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC),as well as to explore whether its mechanism is related to regulation of miR-125b-5p and STAT3 expressions.Methods:HUVEC proliferation model was established by TNF-α stimulating.After matrine treatment,miR-125b-5p level was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),cell cycle protein D1(CyclinD1),matrix metallopro-teinase 2(MMP2),MMP9,STAT3 levels were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot.Targeting rela-tionship between miR-125b-5p and STAT3 was verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay.Results:Matrine inhibited TNF-α in-duced HUVEC proliferation(P<0.05),decreased PCNA,CyclinD1,MMP2,MMP9,STAT3 expressions(P<0.05),and increased miR-125b-5p expression(P<0.05).Overexpression of miR-125b-5p could reduce cell proliferation and PCNA,CyclinD1,MMP2,MMP9 expressions HUVEC induced by TNF-α(P<0.05).miR-125b-5p targeted STAT3 expression negatively in HUVEC,and inhi-biting miR-125b-5p expression could reverse effect of matrine on TNF-α induced cell proliferation and PCNA,CyclinD1,MMP2,MMP9 and STAT3 expressions.Conclusion:Matrine inhibits TNF-α induced proliferation of HUVEC,which is related to regulation of miR-125b-5p/STAT3 pathway.

Objective To compare image quality and clinical usefulness between single breath-hold three-dimensional magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography with compressed sensing(3D BH-CS-MRCP)and with gradient and spin-echo(3D BH-GRASE-MRCP)and conventional three-dimensional breath-triggered magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(3D RT-MRCP).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed in 48 patients(26 males and 22 females,mean age of 53.14±15.19 years),who underwent 3D BH-GRASE-MRCP,3D BH-CS-MRCP and 3D RT-MRCP from September to December 2023.Pancreaticobiliary duct visibility,motion artifacts,background suppression,and overall image quality were scored on a 5-point scale by two radiologists.The relative contrast ratio of three bile duct segmentations(common bile duct,left and right intrahepatic bile ducts)were calculated,and the acquisition time of the three sequences was recorded.Friedman test with a post-hoc test was performed to compare image acquisition time,qualitative and quantitative results.Results The acquisition time was significantly shorter in the two breath-hold groups than for conventional 3D RT-MRCP(P＜0.001).There were no significant differences in overall image quality,motion artifacts,common bile duct and primary branch of intrahepatic bile duct among the three groups.The relative contrast ratio,intrahepatic biliary secondary branch visibility and background suppression score of 3D RT-MRCP and BH-CS-MRCP were significantly higher than those of BH-GRASE-MRCP(P＜0.01).The pancreatic duct(proximal,middle,distal)visibility score of 3D RT-MRCP was significantly better than that of BH-GRASE-MRCP(P=0.002,0.043,0.001),but the gallbladder and gallbladder duct visibility score of BH-GRASE-MRCP was higher than that of 3D RT-MRCP(P=0.036).There was no significant difference between 3D RT-MRCP and BH-CS-MRCP scores except for the middle and distal pancreatic duct visibility.Conclusion Breath-hold 3D MRCP with GRASE and CS can give us feasible options for pancreaticobiliary diagnosis,which significantly shortens the acquisition time without reducing the overall image quality.Compared with BH-GRASE-MRCP,BH-CS-MRCP has better consistency in pancreaticobiliary duct visibility and background suppression.

Objective To investigate the association between rest-activity rhythm(RAR)and the risks of rheumatoid arthritis(RA),and to evaluate whether genetic susceptibility modifies this relationship.Methods This prospective cohort study utilized data from the UK Biobank,including 88 060 participants who did not have RA at baseline.RAR parameters(e.g.,relative amplitude)were calculated using data obtained through wrist-worn accelerometers.The participants'genetic susceptibility to RA was assessed using a polygenic risk score.Cox proportional hazards models were employed to analyze the association between RAR and RA risk,with interaction terms incorporated to evaluate the effect modification by genetic susceptibility.Results Over a median follow-up period of 7.97 years,660 incident RA cases were identified.After adjusting for age,sex,ethnicity,educational attainment,Townsend deprivation index,drinking status,smoking status,dietary score,body mass index,and polygenic risk score for incident RA,the dose-response analysis revealed a linear relationship between the RAR-related parameters,including the average amplitude during the most active 10 h(M10),interdaily stability(IS),intradaily variability(IV),and the risk of developing RA(P>0.05).In contrast,relative amplitude and the average amplitude during the least active 5 h(L5)showed a nonlinear relationship with the risk of developing RA(P<0.05).Compared to those in the the highest quartile of relative amplitude,participants in the lowest quartile had a 49%increase in the risk of developing RA(hazard ratio[HR]=1.49;95%CI,1.17-1.90).Compared to those in the lowest quartile,participants in the highest quartile of L5 had a 40%increased risk of developing RA(HR=1.40;95%CI,1.12-1.75).Every time M10 increased by one standard deviation,the risk of developing RA decreased by 12%(HR=0.88;95%CI,0.80-0.96).No evidence of effect modification by genetic susceptibility was observed in the RAR-RA association(P>0.05).Conclusion Disrupted rest-activity rhythm is associated with an increased risk of RA,which is independent of genetic susceptibility to RA.Our findings suggest that improving rest-activity rhythm may help reduce RA risks.

ObjectiveTo explore the role and potential mechanism of circulating glutamate in enhancing insulin sensitivity by aerobic exercise. This research may provide a novel strategy for preventing metabolic diseases through precise exercise interventions. MethodsTo investigate the effects of elevated circulating glutamate on insulin sensitivity and its potential mechanisms, 18 male C57BL/6 mice aged 6 to 8 weeks were randomly divided into 3 groups: a control group (C), a group receiving 500 mg/kg glutamate supplementation (M), and a group receiving 1 000 mg/kg glutamate supplementation (H). The intervention lasted for 12 weeks, with treatments administered 6 d per week. Following the intervention, an insulin tolerance test (ITT) and a glucose tolerance test (GTT) were conducted. Circulating glutamate levels were measured using a commercial kit, and the activity of the skeletal muscle InsR/IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was analyzed via Western blot. To further investigate the role of circulating glutamate in enhancing insulin sensitivity through aerobic exercise, 30 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups: a control group (CS), an exercise intervention group (ES), and an exercise combined with glutamate supplementation group (EG). The ES group underwent treadmill-based aerobic exercise, while the EG group received glutamate supplementation at a dosage of 1 000 mg/kg in addition to aerobic exercise. The intervention lasted for 10 weeks, with sessions occurring 6 d per week, and the same procedures were followed afterward. To further elucidate the mechanism by which glutamate modulates the InsR/IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, C2C12 myotubes were initially subjected to graded glutamate treatment (0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 10 mmol/L) to determine the optimal concentration for cellular intervention. Subsequently, the cells were divided into 3 groups: a control group (C), a glutamate intervention group (G), and a glutamate combined with MK801 (an NMDA receptor antagonist) intervention group (GK). The G group was treated with 5 mmol/L glutamate, while the GK group received 50 μmol/L MK801 in addition to 5 mmol/L glutamate. After 24 h of intervention, the activity of the InsR/IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was analyzed using Western blot. ResultsCompared to the mice in group C, the circulating glutamate levels, the area under curve (AUC) of ITT, and the AUC of GTT in the mice of group H were significantly increased. Additionally, the expression levels of p-InsRβ, IRS1, p-AKT, and p-mTOR proteins in skeletal muscle were significantly downregulated. Compared to the mice in group CS, the circulating glutamate levels, the AUC of ITT, and the AUC of GTT in the mice of group ES were significantly reduced. Additionally, the expression levels of p-InsRβ, IRS1, p-AKT, and p-mTOR proteins in skeletal muscle of group ES mice were significantly upregulated. There were no significant changes observed in the mice of group EG. Compared to the cells in group 0 mmol/L, the expression levels of p-InsRβ, p-IRS1, p-PI3K, and p-AKT proteins in cells of group 5 mmol/L were significantly downregulated. Compared to the cells in group C, the expression levels of p-InsRβ, p-IRS1, p-PI3K, and p-AKT proteins in the cells of group G were significantly downregulated. No significant changes were observed in the cells of group GK. ConclusionLong-term aerobic exercise can improve insulin sensitivity by lowering circulating levels of glutamate. This effect may be associated with the upregulation of the InsR/IRS1/AKT signaling pathway activity in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, glutamate can weaken the activity of the InsR/IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in skeletal muscle, potentially by binding to NMDAR expressed in skeletal muscle.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of crisaborole ointment 2% versus pimecrolimus cream 1% in the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children aged 2 years or older.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled clinical trial was conducted. A total of 120 pediatric patients aged 2 - 17 years with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis were enrolled from departments of dermatology of 8 hospitals in China between March 2022 and February 2023. The participants were randomly assigned in a 1∶1 ratio to the crisaborole group and the pimecrolimus group, and received the treatment with crisaborole ointment 2% and pimecrolimus cream 1% respectively, twice a day for 4 weeks. Visits were scheduled at baseline/on day 1, as well as on days 8, 15, and 29. The primary efficacy outcome was the percentage of patients achieving the Investigator's Static Global Assessment (ISGA) success (defined as clear [0] or almost clear [1] on the ISGA scale, combined with ≥ 2‐grade improvement from baseline) on day 29. The secondary efficacy outcomes included changes in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) total scores from baseline to day 29, percentages of patients achieving ISGA improvement (defined as clear [0] or almost clear [1] on the ISGA scale), as well as changes in the Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) /Infants' Dermatology Life Quality Index (IDLQI) /Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) scores, and in the Dermatitis Family Impact (DFI) scores. Drug safety was evaluated according to the incidence of adverse events. Categorical data were compared using the chi-square test. Since measurement data did not follow a normal distribution, the rank sum test was used for comparisons of measurement data between groups.Results:A total of 106 children with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis were included in the per-protocol analysis set, with 52 in the crisaborole group (26 males and 26 females) and 54 in the pimecrolimus group (27 males and 27 females). There were no significant differences in age, disease duration, ISGA and EASI scores at baseline between the two groups (all P > 0.05). On day 29, 22 patients (42.31%) in the crisaborole group and 25 (46.30%) in the pimecrolimus group achieved ISGA success, with no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2 = 0.17, P = 0.68) ; 35 patients (67.31%) in the crisaborole group and 45 (83.33%) in the pimecrolimus group achieved ISGA improvement, also with no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2 = 3.68, P = 0.06) ; additionally, there were no significant differences in the EASI, pruritus NRS, DLQI/IDLQI/CDLQI, or DFI scores between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Adverse reactions to the two topical agents were mainly local reactions such as mild to moderate pain, itching, or worsening of itching, and no obvious systemic adverse reactions occurred. The incidence of drug-related adverse reactions was 46.15% (24 cases) in the crisaborole group and 37.04% (20 cases) in the pimecrolimus group, with no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2 = 0.91, P = 0.34) . Conclusion:The efficacy of crisaborole ointment 2% was comparable to that of pimecrolimus cream 1% in the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children aged ≥ 2 years, and it yielded early and rapid improvement in the quality of life of patients and their families, with good safety and tolerability profiles.