High-performance phototheranostics with combined photothermal therapy and photoacoustic imaging have been considered promising approaches for efficient cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, developing phototheranostic materials with efficient photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE), especially over the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm), remains challenging. Herein, we report an ultraefficient NIR-II-activated nanomedicine with phototheranostic and vaccination capability for highly efficient in vivo tumor elimination and metastasis inhibition. The NIR-II nanomedicine of a semiconducting biradical oligomer with a motor-flexible design was demonstrated with a record-breaking PCE of 87% upon NIR-II excitation. This nanomedicine inherently features extraordinary photothermal stability, good biocompatibility, and excellent photoacoustic performance, contributing to high-contrast photoacoustic imaging in living mice and high-performance photothermal elimination of tumors. Moreover, a whole-cell vaccine based on a NIR-II nanomedicine with NIR-II-activated performance was further designed to remotely activate the antitumor immunologic memory and effectively inhibit tumor occurrence and metastasis in vivo, with good biosafety. Thus, this work paves a new avenue for designing NIR-II active semiconducting biradical materials as a promising theranostics platform and further promotes the development of NIR-II nanomedicine for personalized cancer treatment.

Heart failure is a disease that seriously threatens human health and has become a global public health problem. Diagnostic and prognostic analysis of heart failure based on medical imaging and clinical data can reveal the progression of heart failure and reduce the risk of death of patients, which has important research value. The traditional analysis methods based on statistics and machine learning have some problems, such as insufficient model capability, poor accuracy due to prior dependence, and poor model adaptability. In recent years, with the development of artificial intelligence technology, deep learning has been gradually applied to clinical data analysis in the field of heart failure, showing a new perspective. This paper reviews the main progress, application methods and major achievements of deep learning in heart failure diagnosis, heart failure mortality and heart failure readmission, summarizes the existing problems and presents the prospects of related research to promote the clinical application of deep learning in heart failure clinical research.
Humans ; Artificial Intelligence ; Deep Learning ; Heart Failure/diagnosis* ; Machine Learning ; Diagnostic Imaging

BACKGROUND:At present, liver transplantation is the best method to treat end-stage liver disease. UW solution is recognized as the best liver preservation solution, but it is expensive. Moreover, the extracel ular fluid of high K+condition is inconsistent with human physiology. Because transient hyperkalemia of UW solution often causes cardiac arrest, research and development of the new liver preservation solution already brook no delay. OBJECTIVE:To study the protective effect of self-designed KYL solution on ischemia reperfusion injury in macaque donor liver. METHODS:A total of eight recipient macaques and eight donor macaques were selected in this study. Each group contained KYL solution group (n=4) and UW solution group (n=4). Donor liver was perfused and cryopreserved for 4 hours and subjected to al ogenic orthotopic liver transplantation. At 30 minutes and 6 hours after transplantation, bile production was recorded. Blood was obtained and used to detect concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, nitric oxide, endothelin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α. Liver tissue was col ected and detected under the light microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Bile secretion was found in both groups. Bile secretion production increased as time went on (P<0.05). At 30 minutes and 6 hours after donor liver reperfusion, serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations were lower in the KYL solution group than in the UW solution group (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in levels of serum nitric oxide, endothelin 1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha between the two groups (P>0.05). Under light microscope, morphological observation of liver tissue revealed that cel ular edema was evident in the UW solution group than in the KYL solution group. Results suggest that the effect of KYL solution on preventing ischemia/reperfusion injury was identical to the UW solution, and partial effect was better than UW solution.

BACKGROUND:At present, liver transplantation is the only way to cure end-stage liver disease, but the complications after transplantation is stil an important factor of affecting the long-term survival of patients who received orthotopic liver transplantation, therefore it is necessary to establish a stable animal transplantation model. OBJECTIVE:To establish rat models of orthotopic liver transplantation. METHODS:After inhalation anesthesia with ether, 204 SD rats were perfused with 2-4℃ Ringer’s solution through the abdominal aorta. In order to reduce warm ischemia of the liver, the liver was not turned over before perfusion. The suprahepatic inferior vena cava was cut off along the phrenic ring after perfusion. No further trimming was needed when dressing, so as not to damage the vena cava. The donor liver was removed and preserved in 4℃Ringer’s liquid. The receptor liver was cut off and alogeneic orthotopic liver transplantation was performed using modified two-cuff method. After transplantation, rats could automaticaly turn over and drink water. Surviving more than 3 days is regarded as a successful transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:102 liver transplantations were performed in 204 rats, with 86 rats surviving more than 3 days. The success rate of transplantation was 84%. The results demonstrate that rat models of orthotropic liver transplantation can be constructed successfuly through improving techniques.

BACKGROUND:Acelular dermal matrix is a cel-free natural tissue scaffold similar to human soft tissue, which is easy to shape and has non-toxic side effects. It has been used to repair the urethra and ureter. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of acelular dermal matrix on the repair of bile duct injury. METHODS:Thirty Diannan miniature pigs were randomly divided into three groups: in blank group, the bile duct was resected folowed by end to end anastomosis; in experimental group, bile duct defect model was made folowed by repair with acelular dermal matrix; in control group, bile duct defect model was made folowed by repair with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. At 6 and 24 weeks after repair, bile duct patches and surrounding tissues were taken for immunohistochemical observation and RT-PCR detection. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the control and blank group, the expression of cytokeratin was higher, but the expression of transforming growth factor β1 was lower in the experimental group. Within 24 weeks after repair, the total mRNA level of transforming growth factor β1 was lower in the experimental group than the other two groups (P < 0.05), but the total mRNA levels of insulin-like growth factor 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor were higher in the experimental group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that the acelular dermal matrix for repair of bile duct injury can promote angiogenesis and bile duct epithelial regeneration, but not increase the formation of scars.

Underwater exercise and hydrotherapy have rapidly developed in recent years. As an noninvasive and convenient tool, surface electromyography (sEMG) has been applied in underwater research. In favour of experiment procedure, underwater sEMG needs localized waterproof seal or whole-body waterproof suit, and are mainly detected by telemetry system. The muscle activity pattern of underwater exercise is different from on land exercise, the sMEG amplitude is correlated with motion velocity. Compound underwater motion analysis includes sEMG, video and foot pressure will be more effective assessment tool for underwater exercise and hydrotherapy research.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the optimal approach of lentiviral vector transfection for effective delivery of exogenous gene into the liver.

METHODSThe lentiviral vector was delivered via the ileocolic vein of the ileocecus (portal vein group) or via the caudal vein of SD rats. The effect gene transfection into the liver was assessed by observing the expression of green fluorescence protein expression carried by the lentiviral vector, silencing of LXRα mRNA expression mediated by RNA interference, and liver transaminase changes. The efficiency and safety of the two approaches of transfection were evaluated.

RESULTSAll the rats receiving lentiviral transfection survived. In the portal vein group, abundant green fluorescence was detected in the liver at 96 h following the transfection and lasted till 14 days, whereas only weak fluorescence was observed in the caudal vein group. The results of RT-PCR demonstrated a significant higher rate of LXRα knock-down in portal vein group than in caudal vein group (0.135∓0.002 vs 0.713∓0.036, P<0.05). No significant difference in ALT levels found between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSInfusion via the potal vein is effective for gene transfection into the liver, and puncture from the ileocolic vein of ileocecus can guarantee the survival of rats and improve the transfection efficiency without causing liver injury.

Animals ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transfection

Objective To study the potency of transdifferentiated renal tubular epithelial cells for acquiring the tissue stem cells during renal fibrosis.Methods The in vitro cellular model of renal tubular epithelial cells(NRK-52E)transdifferentiation under the inflammatory environment of the local renin-angiotensin (AngⅡ)system was established.The expression and change situation of the embryonic kidney developmental gene Pax2 and the tissue stem cell surface marker CD133 were observed.Results Local high concentration of AngⅡcould stimulate the NRK-52E cells to express Pax2 and CD133 molecule,its effect demonstrated the dose-and time-dependent relation.Conclusion The inflammatory damage leads to the transdifferentiated renal tubular epithelial cells po-tency to acquire the tissue stem cell.

Objective To investigate the optimal approach of lentiviral vector transfection for effective delivery of exogenous gene into the liver. Methods The lentiviral vector was delivered via the ileocolic vein of the ileocecus (portal vein group) or via the caudal vein of SD rats. The effect gene transfection into the liver was assessed by observing the expression of green fluorescence protein expression carried by the lentiviral vector, silencing of LXRα mRNA expression mediated by RNA interference, and liver transaminase changes. The efficiency and safety of the two approaches of transfection were evaluated. Results All the rats receiving lentiviral transfection survived. In the portal vein group, abundant green fluorescence was detected in the liver at 96 h following the trasnfection and lasted till 14 days, whereas only weak fluorescence was observed in the caudal vein group. The results of RT-PCR demonstrated a significant higher rate of LXRαknock-down in portal vein group than in caudal vein group (0.135 ± 0.002 vs 0.713 ± 0.036, P<0.05). No significant difference in ALT levels found between the two groups. Conclusion Infusion via the potal vein is effective for gene transfection into the liver, and puncture from the ileocolic vein of ileocecus can guarantee the survival of rats and improve the transfection efficiency without causing liver injury.