Wideband 1-bit reconfigurable transmission metasurface unit cell design in Ka-band with polarization hold and conversion.

In this paper, a wideband transmission unit cell is proposed for programmable metasurfaces operating in the Ka-band. The unit cell features a compact period of only 2.91 mm, corresponding to 0.34 λ0 at the center frequency of 35 GHz. A receiving layer, consisting of a patch loaded with two PIN diodes, is utilized to achieve 1-bit phase modulation, while a U-shaped patch serves as the transmitting layer to enable selection of linear polarization hold or conversion. Based on the multi-resonance principle, the proposed unit cell exhibits broadband behavior, as demonstrated by simulation results under periodic boundary conditions, which indicate a 3 dB transmission bandwidth of 29.4-40 GHz (30.5%). Two unit cells were fabricated and tested in a standard waveguide, with the minimum insertion loss of the two states tested being 1.2 dB and 3 dB bandwidths of 30.1-31.2 GHz and 33.5-38.5 GHz, respectively. The maximum 180° phase error is 10°, indicating the high quality of the proposed unit cell.

Molecular mechanism of quercetin in treating RA-ILD based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that is associated with systemic complications. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most common pulmonary complication and second leading cause of death in patients with RA. In this study, we used network pharmacology and experimental validation to identify the targets and pathways of quercetin (Que) in the treatment of RA-associated ILD (RA-ILD). A total of 32 potential targets of Que for RA-ILD treatment were screened from six databases, and 10 core targets were screened using protein-protein interaction network analysis. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and molecular docking were employed to explore the potential mechanisms of Que in RA-ILD treatment. The results suggested the IL-17 signaling pathway as an important pathway through which Que alleviates RA-ILD. Subsequently, LPS (1 µg/ml) was used to establish an inflammation model on RAW 264.7 cells, and different concentrations of Que (25, 50, and 100 µM) were used for intervention. Que significantly reduced the expression levels of IL-17, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß in RAW 264.7 cells. Our findings suggest that Que alleviates RA-ILD by regulating the IL-17 signaling pathway and reducing inflammation.

Efficacy evaluation and potential pharmacological mechanism of tanreqing injection in the treatment of COPD combined with respiratory failure based on meta-analysis and network pharmacology.

Background: Tanreqing injection (TRQI) is a Chinese patent medicine. It is commonly used in the treatment of acute exacerbation of COPD in China. It substantially improves the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), and lung function in patients with COPD combined with respiratory failure (RF) and improves the total clinical effective rate. Materials and methods: Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of COPD combined with RF with TRQI were collected through search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CBM, VIP, Wanfang, and CNKI up to October 2, 022. Two investigators in this study independently evaluated the quality of the literature and utilized RevMan 5.4 software for analysis. In network pharmacology, TCMSP database, PubChem database, DisGeNet, Genecards, and other databases were searched to screen the chemical components and targets of TRQI and mapped with COPD-RF targets to obtain potential action targets, which were then analyzed using bioinformatics techniques to initially explore their effects. Result: A total of 18 RCTs containing 1485 patients, showed that TRQI combined with conventional treatment improved the total clinical efficiency of patients with COPD combined with RF compared with that of the conventional treatment group ([RR = 1.33, 95% CI (1.25, 1.41), P < 0.01]), PaCO2 [SMD = -1.29, 95% CI (-1.41, -1.17), P < 0.00001], PaO2 [SMD = 1.19, 95% CI (1.06, 1.31), P < 0.00001], pulmonary function [SMD = 1.00, 95% CI (0.79, 1.21), P < 0.00001]. Through network pharmacology analysis, 284 potential TRQI and 19 common targets were identified. TNF, TP53, SIRT1, SRC, CCND1, IL-10, NF-κB, MAPK14, STAT3, SMAD3 are core targets proteins. In addition, 56 related pathways of TRQI were identified, such as the TNF, MAPK, IL-17, NF-κB signaling pathways. Conclusion: In conclusion, the efficacy of TRQI combined with conventional treatment for COPD combined with RF was higher than that of conventional treatment alone. These findings suggest that TRQI acts on COPD-RF through a multi-target, multi-component, and multi-pathway mechanism. Future studies may explore the active components of TRQI.

[Protective effect and mechanism of Maiwei Yangfei Decoction on pulmonary fibrosis mice based on Nrf2 regulation of oxidative stress].

This study explored the effect and mechanism of Maiwei Yangfei Decoction(MWYF) on pulmonary fibrosis(PF) mice. MWYF was prepared, and its main components were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS). Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a pirfenidone(PFD) group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose MWYF groups, with 10 mice in each group. The PF model was induced in mice except for those in the control group by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin(BLM), and model mice were treated with saline or MWYF or PFD by gavage the next day. The water consumption, food intake, hair, and activity of mice were observed daily. The pathological changes in lung tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, Masson staining, and CT scanning. The level of hydroxyproline(HYP) in lung tissues was detected by alkaline hydrolysis. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression of collagen type Ⅲ(COL3) and fibronectin. The mRNA expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), type Ⅰ collagen α1(COL1α1), COL3, and vimentin were detected by reverse transcription real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR). Superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) kits were used to detect oxidative stress indicators in lung tissues and serum. The nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2) protein was detected by immunofluorescence. The protein and mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, catalase(CAT), and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) in lung tissues were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR. Twelve chemical components were detected by UPLC-MS/MS. Animal experiments showed that MWYF could improve alveolar inflammation, collagen deposition, and fibrosis in PF mice, increase body weight of mice, and down-regulate the expression of fibrosis indexes such as HYP, α-SMA, COL1α1, COL3, fibronectin, and vimentin in lung tissues. In addition, MWYF could potentiate the activity of SOD in lung tissues and serum of PF mice, up-regulate the expression level of Nrf2, and promote its transfer to the nucleus, up-regulate the levels of downstream antioxidant target genes CAT and HO-1, and then reduce the accumulation of lipid metabolite MDA. In summary, MWYF can significantly improve the pathological damage and fibrosis of lung tissues in PF mice, and its mechanism may be related to the activation of the Nrf2 pathway to regulate oxidative stress.

Clinical efficacy and safety of NSCLC ancillary treatment with compound Kushen injection through immunocompetence regulation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Compound Kushen injection (CKI) is a Chinese patented medicine that improves the immunity level of cancer patients and inhibits tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. Clinically, CKI is widely used in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. This study attempted to systemically evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination of CKI and PBC for NSCLC treatment by modulating the immune function. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of CKI in combination with PBC for NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: English and Chinese databases were retrieved for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of NSCLC treatment using a combination of CKI and PBC, and the changes of peripheral blood T lymphocytes (such as CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells), and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio among NSCLC patients were detected before and after treatment using CKI with PBC. The search deadline was set as November 2021. The systemic evaluation was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The methodology and quality of each study included in the systemic evaluation were assessed. Review Manager 5.4, Stata12.0, and trial sequential analysis (TSA) were used for data analysis. The outcome indicators were qualified using GRADEprofiler software. RESULTS: A total of 25 RCTs involving 2460 cases of patients were included. The results showed that the combination of CKI with PBC effectively increased the objective response rate (ORR) [relative risk (RR) = 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.19, 1.44)] and disease control rate (DCR) [RR = 1.16, 95%CI (1.09,1.23)], regulated the expression of peripheral blood T lymphocytes (such as CD3+T cells, CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells, and CD4+/CD8+T cell ratio), upregulated the level of serum immunoglobulins (such as IgA, IgG, and IgM), and reduced the frequency of gastrointestinal reaction, marrow inhibition, hepatorenal toxicity, reduction of white blood cells and blood platelets, baldness, infection, neutrophilic granulocyte counts, diarrhea, or constipation. According to subgroup analysis results, chemotherapy cycles (1-2) had a more significant effect on DCR. A combination of CKI and GP regimens had better effects on improving CD3+T cell levels, and there were no significant changes among other chemotherapies regiments. CONCLUSION: A combination of CKI and PBC had a marked effect in improving tumor response, priming immune function, and decreasing the frequency of adverse reactions, which was safe for NSCLC treatment.

Multicolor bioimaging with biosynthetic zinc nanoparticles and their application in tumor detection.

Because they generate excellent images, nanoparticles (NPs), especially biosynthesized NPs, provide a new solution for tumor imaging. In this research, we unveil a novel type of biosynthesized NPs featuring multicolor fluorescence. These NPs exhibit little cytotoxicity to cells. The explored NPs, designated Zn-ZFP-GST NPs (Zinc NPs in abbreviation), are generated from leukemia cells treated with a Zn2+ solution, while zinc-finger protein and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were also identified in the Zinc NPs. Under near-UV illumination, the Zinc NPs simultaneously emit green, yellow, and red fluorescence. In addition, the intensity of the fluorescence increases with the existence of sulfides. Besides, the NPs are encapsulated by microvesicles (MVs) shed from the plasma membrane. As observed in whole-body research of nude mice, the NP-MVs migrate via blood circulation and are distinguished by their fluorescent signals. Furthermore, the folic acid (FA) &AVR2 (human VEGF antibody)-coated NP-MVs are exploited to target the tumor location, and the feasibility of this approach has been confirmed empirically. The Zinc NPs shed light on an alternative solution to tumor detection.