Ionic Pumping Effect at the Tailored Mesoporous Carbon Interface for an Extra-Stable Lithium Ion Battery at Low Temperatures.

Ion transportation at the interface significantly influences the electrochemical performance of the lithium ion battery, especially at high rates and low temperatures. Here, we develop a controlled self-assembly strategy for constructing a mesoporous carbon nanolayer with a uniform pore size and varied thicknesses on the two-dimensional monolayer MXene substrate. On the basis of the excellent electron conductivity of MXene, the mesoporous carbon layer is found with a voltage-driven ion accumulation effect, acting as an "ionic pump". The thicker mesoporous layer (∼2.28 nm) has the ability to accommodate a substantial quantity of ions, demonstrating enhanced ionic conductivity, remarkable cycling stability (192.8 mAh/g after 9400 cycles at 5.0 A/g), and outstanding rate capability at ambient and sub-zero temperatures (∼601 mAh/g at 0 °C and 0.05 A/g). This work provides valuable insights and guidance for the further development of high-performance electrode materials at high rates or low temperatures.

Mesenchymal stem cells derived from hard palate: An attractive alternative for regenerative medicine.

OBJECTIVE: The palatal mucosa exhibits a notable ability to regenerate without causing scarring during the process of wound healing, rendering it a highly valuable reservoir of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The aim of this review is to summarize the different sources of MSCs derived from hard palatal (PMSCs), thereby presenting a promising avenue for the utilization of regenerative medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pertinent literatures focused on the sources, identification methods, and advantageous characteristics of PMSCs are obtained from PubMed and Web of Science. RESULTS: PMSCs, originating from the hard palate periosteum, subepithelial adipose tissue, and lamina propria, have been successfully isolated and characterized, with positive markers for MSCs and negative markers for hematopoietic stem cells. Moreover, PMSCs demonstrate resistance to inflammatory stimuli, enabling uninterrupted osteogenesis in the presence of inflammation. Additionally, PMSCs possess a notable migratory capacity, facilitating prompt arrival at the site of injury. Furthermore, PMSCs exhibit various advantageous inherent in stem cells, including clonogenicity, self-renewal capability, and pluripotent differentiation potential. CONCLUSIONS: PMSCs have stem cell-related properties and can be used for regenerative medicine of cells and tissues in the future.

Development and preliminary validation of a PROS scale for Chinese bladder cancer patients with abdominal stoma.

Bladder cancer is a common malignant tumor, and patients who have undergone radical cystectomy and urinary diversion require a lifelong abdominal stoma. This greatly affects their physiological, psychological, and social well-being. However, there is currently a lack of a self-assessment outcome scale specifically designed for bladder cancer patients with abdominal stomas. Therefore, we developed and validated a self-assessment outcome scale (PROS-BCAS) for Chinese bladder cancer patients with abdominal stomas. The scale was initially developed through literature research and expert consultation, and it comprised four dimensions: physiological, psychological, social, and treatment, with a total of 66 items. After item analysis, 44 items were retained. We collected scale data from 382 patients to examine its validity and reliability. The results showed that the PROS-BCAS scale had good content validity (S-CVI/Ave = 0.992), construct validity (KMO > 0.6), and discriminant validity (correlation coefficient 0.404-0.870). The Cronbach's alpha coefficients (0.801-0.954), test-retest reliability (0.778-0.956), and split-half reliability (0.896-0.977) all demonstrated good internal consistency for each dimension and the overall scale. The study demonstrated that the PROS-BCAS scale is a reliable and valid tool for accurately assessing the health-related quality of life of bladder cancer patients with abdominal stomas, providing reference for developing individualized clinical care plans.

Enrollment Forecast for Clinical Trials at the Planning Phase with Study-Level Historical Data.

Given progressive developments and demands on clinical trials, accurate enrollment timeline forecasting is increasingly crucial for both strategic decision-making and trial execution excellence. Naïve approach assumes flat rates on enrollment using average of historical data, while traditional statistical approach applies simple Poisson-Gamma model using time-invariant rates for site activation and subject recruitment. Both of them are lack of non-trivial factors such as time and location. We propose a novel two-segment statistical approach based on Quasi-Poisson regression for subject accrual rate and Poisson process for subject enrollment and site activation. The input study-level data are publicly accessible and it can be integrated with historical study data from user's organization to prospectively predict enrollment timeline. The new framework is neat and accurate compared to preceding works. We validate the performance of our proposed enrollment model and compare the results with other frameworks on 7 curated studies.

Enrollment forecast for clinical trials at the portfolio planning phase based on site-level historical data.

An accurate forecast of a clinical trial enrollment timeline at the planning phase is of great importance to both corporate strategic planning and trial operational excellence. The naive approach often calculates an average enrollment rate from historical data and generates an inaccurate prediction based on a linear trend with the average rate. Under the traditional framework of a Poisson-Gamma model, site activation delays are often modeled with either fixed initiation time or a simple random distribution while incorporating the user-provided site planning information to achieve good forecast accuracy. However, such user-provided information is not available at the early portfolio planning stage. We present a novel statistical approach based on generalized linear mixed-effects models and the use of non-homogeneous Poisson processes through the Bayesian framework to model the country initiation, site activation, and subject enrollment sequentially in a systematic fashion. We validate the performance of our proposed enrollment modeling framework based on a set of 25 preselected studies from four therapeutic areas. Our modeling framework shows a substantial improvement in prediction accuracy in comparison to the traditional statistical approach. Furthermore, we show that our modeling and simulation approach calibrates the data variability appropriately and gives correct coverage rates for prediction intervals of various nominal levels. Finally, we demonstrate the use of our approach to generate the predicted enrollment curves through time with confidence bands overlaid.

Th17/Treg balance is regulated by myeloid-derived suppressor cells in experimental autoimmune myocarditis.

OBJECTIVE: Autoimmune myocarditis is caused by both innate and adaptive immune responses. Many studies have found that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) suppress T-cell responses and reduce immune tolerance, while MDSCs may serve as a key player in inflammatory responses and pathogenesis in variety of autoimmune diseases. However, research into the role of MDSCs in experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) remains lacking. METHODS AND RESULTS: We discovered that the expansion of MDSCs in EAM was closely related to the severity of myocardial inflammation. At an early stage of EAM, both adoptive transfer (AT) and selective depletion of MDSCs could inhibit the expression of IL-17 in CD4+ cells and downregulate the Th17/Treg ratio, alleviating excessive inflammation of EAM myocarditis. In another experiment, in addition, MDSCs transferred after selective depletion could increase IL-17 and Foxp3 expressions in CD4+ cells, as well as the Th17/Treg ratio, contributing to the aggravation of myocardial inflammation. MDSCs promoted the Th17 cell induction under Th17-polarizing conditions in vitro but suppressed Treg expansion. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that MDSCs play a plastic role in sustaining mild inflammation in EAM by shifting Th17/Treg balance.

Light-controlled scaffold- and serum-free hard palatal-derived mesenchymal stem cell aggregates for bone regeneration.

Cell aggregates that mimic in vivo cell-cell interactions are promising and powerful tools for tissue engineering. This study isolated a new, easily obtained, population of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from rat hard palates named hard palatal-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs). The PMSCs were positive for CD90, CD44, and CD29 and negative for CD34, CD45, and CD146. They exhibited clonogenicity, self-renewal, migration, and multipotent differentiation capacities. Furthermore, this study fabricated scaffold-free 3D aggregates using light-controlled cell sheet technology and a serum-free method. PMSC aggregates were successfully constructed with good viability. Transplantation of the PMSC aggregates and the PMSC aggregate-implant complexes significantly enhanced bone formation and implant osseointegration in vivo, respectively. This new cell resource is easy to obtain and provides an alternative strategy for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Phase 1 study of safety, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibody ABBV-47D11 in patients with COVID-19.

ABBV-47D11 is a neutralizing monoclonal antibody that targets a mutationally conserved hydrophobic pocket distal to the ACE2 binding site of SARS-CoV-2. This first-in-human safety, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral pharmacodynamic assessment in patients with COVID-19 provide an initial evaluation of this antibody that may allow further development. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled single ascending dose study of ABBV-47D11 (180, 600, or 2400 mg) as an intravenous infusion, was in hospitalized and non-hospitalized (confined) adults with mild to moderate COVID-19. Primary outcomes were grade 3 or higher study drug-related adverse events and infusion-related reactions. Secondary outcomes were pharmacokinetic parameters and concentration-time profiles to Day 29, immunogenicity (anti-drug antibodies), and antiviral activity (change in RT-PCR viral load) from baseline to Days 15 and 29. ABBV-47D11 single doses up to 2400 mg were safe and tolerated and no safety signals were identified. The pharmacokinetics of ABBV-47D11 were linear and showed dose-proportional increases in serum concentrations with ascending doses. The exploratory anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity revealed a reduction of viral load at and above the 600 mg dose of ABBV-47D11 regardless of patient demographics and baseline characteristics, however; because of the high inter-individual variability and small sample size a statistical significance was not reached. There is potential for anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity with ABBV-47D11 doses of 600 mg or higher, which could be evaluated in future clinical trials designed and powered to assess viral load reductions and clinical benefit.

Impact of encapsulating a probiotic (Pediococcus pentosaceus Li05) within gastro-responsive microgels on Clostridium difficile infections.

Antibiotic treatment is often followed by Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), which causes severe diarrhea and other health issues. Oral administration of Pediococcus pentosaceus Li05 (Li05) has been shown to have great potential in preventing CDI. However, the viability of Li05 is greatly reduced during storage and passage through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which limits its biological activity. In this study, a gastro-responsive microgel was designed to encapsulate and protect Li05 to enhance its efficacy against CDI. The viability of Li05 encapsulated within the microgels was significantly enhanced during long-term storage and after exposure to simulated GI fluids. Moreover, this gastro-responsive microgel led to greater sustained release of the probiotic. In a mouse CDI model, we found that encapsulated Li05 was better at inhibiting C. difficile infection than nonencapsulated Li05, as demonstrated through analysis of the probiotic survival rate, spleen weight, colonic histology, and inflammatory cytokine levels. Moreover, the gut microbial diversity was enriched by treatment with encapsulated Li05. These results suggest that encapsulating Li05 within biopolymer microgels may enhance its ability to prevent and treat CDI using functional foods, supplements, or pharmaceuticals.

1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 promotes early osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs and a 12-year follow-up case of early-onset vitamin D deficiency periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a chronic periodontal disease that contributes to tooth loss. In recent years, many animal studies have reported that vitamin D (VitD) deficiency results in chronic periodontitis. However, no studies have reported cases of early-onset periodontitis with VitD deficiency. This study reports a 5-year-old male patient with early-onset periodontitis, VitD deficiency and VitD receptor (VDR) mutation. The patient was treated with VitD and calcium, and received systematic periodontal treatment. During the 12-year treatment, the periodontal conditions of this patient were stable. Our in vitro study found that VitD could promote the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein (BGLAP), and VDR in the early osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). Meanwhile, VitD could downregulate mRNA expression levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and protein levels of IL-6 in the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) -induced inflammation of PDLSCs. Therefore, sufficient VitD supply can be a potential treatment for VitD deficiency induced early-onset periodontitis.

Molecular mechanisms for short root anomaly.

Short root anomaly (SRA) is a dental disorder that presents an abnormal root morphology with short and blunt dental roots. In this situation, many dental treatments face a difficult challenge, especially orthodontic and prosthodontic treatments. Therefore, an understanding of how SRA develops is urgently needed. Here we describe that the abnormal expression of nuclear factor I C-type (Nfic), osterix (Osx), hedgehog (Hh), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), Smad, Wnt, ß-catenin, and dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) leads to SRA. These factors interact with each other and constitute complicated signaling network in tooth formation. Specifically, BMP signaling inhibits the activity of Wnt/ß-catenin directly or by inducing Osx via Runx2-dependent and Runx2-independent pathways. And Osx is a main inhibitor of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. In return, Wnt/ß-catenin signaling has an antagonistic action of BMP pathway and a stimulation of Runx2. We highlight the importance of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in the pathological mechanisms. Either suppression or overactivation of this signaling influences the normal odontogenesis. Finally, we list rescue experiments on animal models, which have been reported to restore the interrupted cell differentiation and impaired tooth formation. We hope to find potential treatments for SRA based on these evidences in the future.

Characterization of cytokine profile to distinguish latent tuberculosis from active tuberculosis and healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease and its mortality rate ranks first. Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) means that a patient is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but has no relative clinical symptoms. It has been estimated that approximately 10% of patients with LTBI would develop into active tuberculosis. Therefore, it was urgent to search for more efficient biomarkers to discriminate LTBI from healthy population. METHODS: The Luminex assay was employed to detect the quantity of cytokines secreted by mononuclear cells from peripheral blood stimulated with the ESAT6 protein among TB, LTBI and healthy controls. The cytokine profile was analyzed by principal components analysis and the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: The principal components analysis indicated that LTBI and TB were clearly separated from healthy controls, and that LTBI was also successfully differentiated from healthy controls. The cytokine profiling method to distinguish LTBI from healthy controls has a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Nine potential biomarkers, including IL-23, IL-21, HGF, Bngf, IL-27, IL-31, IL-1ß, IL-22 and IL-18, were identified, and these cytokines were considered as a potential cytokine complex for more effectively discriminating LTBI from healthy controls. CONCLUSION: IL-23, IL-21, HGF, Bngf, IL-27, IL-31, IL-1ß, IL-22 and IL-18 were demonstrated to be the potential cytokine complex for the assessment between LTBI and healthy controls.

Roles of circular RNAs in regulating the self-renewal and differentiation of adult stem cells.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) and have attracted widespread research attention in recent years. They form a covalently closed loop structure and are widely distributed in tissues and organs. CircRNAs have also been found to regulate a variety of biological processes by functioning as microRNA sponges, transcriptional regulators, and protein binding partners. Recent sequencing results have shown that specific circRNA expression patterns are significantly associated with adult stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, indicating that the differential expression of circRNA affects whether adult stem cells initiate the differentiation process. By studying circRNA expression during adult stem cell differentiation into different lineages, such as the osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic, neurogenic, and cardiac lineages, it can be understood that circRNAs are a potential factor regulating adult stem cell differentiation. Herein, we summarize the general characteristics and functional mechanisms of circRNAs and further examine their roles in adult stem cell self-renewal and differentiation.

Progranulin protects the mouse retina under hypoxic conditions via inhibition of the Toll­like receptor­4­NADPH oxidase 4 signaling pathway.

To investigate the function of progranulin on the retina under hypoxic conditions, 8­week­old C57BL/6 mice were divided into normal condition and hypoxic condition groups (n=24 mice/group). The hypoxia model was established through intravitreal injection of 9 mM cobalt chloride. Subsequently, 10 mM progranulin and an equal amount of PBS were injected into the right and left eyes, respectively. Photoreceptor function was examined using electroretinogram (ERG) analysis. Morphological alterations were examined using immunofluorescence co­localization, retinal vascular inflammation was examined using the leukostasis assay, and signaling pathways were screened using immunoblotting. The results revealed that ERG amplitude was significantly lower under hypoxic conditions compared with under normal conditions. Furthermore, the amplitude was significantly reduced in the PBS­injected eyes compared with in the progranulin­injected eyes. Morphological examination demonstrated that the number of rods in the PBS­injected eyes was decreased compared with in the progranulin­injected eyes under hypoxic conditions. In addition, the arrangement of the cones was sparse and the morphology of the outer segments was short and small. Although the number of adherent leukocytes in the progranulin­injected eyes was higher in the hypoxic mice compared with in those under normal conditions, the number was only 52.31% of the number detected in the PBS­injected eyes. Analysis of the signaling pathways demonstrated that the protective effects of progranulin on retinas under hypoxic conditions were regulated by the Toll­like receptor 4 (TLR4)­NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) pathway, instead of the caspase and Wnt/ß­catenin pathways. In conclusion, progranulin exerted protective effects on the function and morphology of photoreceptors in a hypoxic environment, and could reduce retinal vascular inflammation, through inhibition of the TLR4­NOX4 pathway.