Assessing the effectiveness of internetbased interventions for mental health outcomes:an umbrella review

Internet-based interventions(IBIs)for behavioural health have been prevalent for over two decades,and a growing proportion of individuals with mental health concerns prefer these emerging digital alternatives.However,the effectiveness and acceptability of IBIs for various mental health disorders continue to be subject to scholarly debate.We performed an umbrella review of meta-analyses(MAs),conducting literature searches in PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,Cochrane and Ovid Medline from their inception to 17 January 2023.A total of 87MAs,reporting on 1683 randomised controlled trials and 295589 patients,were included.The results indicated that IBIs had a moderate effect on anxiety disorder(standardised mean difference(SMD)=0.53,95%CI 0.44 to 0.62)and post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)(SMD=0.63,95%CI 0.38 to 0.89).In contrast,the efficacy on depression(SMD=0.45,95%CI 0.39 to 0.52),addiction(SMD=0.23,95%CI 0.16 to 0.31),suicidal ideation(SMD=0.23,95%CI 0.16 to 0.30),stress(SMD=0.41,95%CI 0.33 to 0.48)and obsessive-compulsive disorder(SMD=0.47,95%CI 0.22 to 0.73)was relatively small.However,no significant effects were observed for personality disorders(SMD=0.07,95%CI-0.13 to 0.26).Our findings suggest a significant association between IBIs and improved mental health outcomes,with particular effectiveness noted in treating anxiety disorders and PTSD.However,it is noteworthy that the effectiveness of IBIs was impacted by high dropout rates during treatment.Furthermore,our results indicated that guided IBIs proved to be more effective than unguided ones,playing a positive role in reducing dropout rates and enhancing patient adherence rates.

Visible Light-Induced 3D Bioprinting Technologies and Corresponding Bioink Materials for Tissue Engineering: A Review

Three-dimensional(3D)bioprinting based on traditional 3D printing is an emerging technology that is used to precisely assemble biocompatible materials and cells or bioactive factors into advanced tissue engineering solutions.Similar technology,particularly photo-cured bioprinting strategies,plays an important role in the field of tissue engineering research.The successful implementation of 3D bioprinting is based on the properties of photopolymerized materials.Photocrosslinkable hydrogel is an attractive biomaterial that is polymerized rapidly and enables process control in space and time.Photopolymerization is frequently initiated by ultraviolet(UV)or visible light.However,UV light may cause cell damage and thereby,affect cell viability.Thus,visible light is considered to be more biocompatible than UV light for bioprinting.In this review,we provide an overview of photo curing-based bioprinting technologies,and describe a visible light crosslinkable bioink,including its crosslinking mechanisms,types of visible light initiator,and biomedical applications.We also discuss existing challenges and prospects of visible light-induced 3D bioprinting devices and hydrogels in biomedical areas.

Functionalized Hydrogels for Articular Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Articular cartilage(AC)is an avascular and flexible connective tissue located on the bone surface in the diarthrodial joints.AC defects are common in the knees of young and physically active individuals.Because of the lack of suitable tissue-engineered artificial matrices,current therapies for AC defects,espe-cially full-thickness AC defects and osteochondral interfaces,fail to replace or regenerate damaged carti-lage adequately.With rapid research and development advancements in AC tissue engineering(ACTE),functionalized hydrogels have emerged as promising cartilage matrix substitutes because of their favor-able biomechanical properties,water content,swelling ability,cytocompatibility,biodegradability,and lubricating behaviors.They can be rationally designed and conveniently tuned to simulate the extracel-lular matrix of cartilage.This article briefly introduces the composition,structure,and function of AC and its defects,followed by a comprehensive review of the exquisite(bio)design and(bio)fabrication of func-tionalized hydrogels for AC repair.Finally,we summarize the challenges encountered in functionalized hydrogel-based strategies for ACTE both in vivo and in vitro and the future directions for clinical translation.

Mechanoresponsive MiR-138-5p Targets MACF1 to Inhibit Bone Formation

Mechanical stimuli play an essential role in maintaining bone remodeling and skeletal integrity.Meanwhile,bone can respond to the changes of mechanical condition to adjust its mass and architecture.Clinical studies discover that bedridden patients showed osteoporotic T-scores and low bone mineral density,and long-term immobilized patients presented reduced markers of bone formation.However,as bone formation mediated by osteoblast differentiation is a complex process,the underlying molecular mechanism of mechanical stimuli regulating bone formation is still unclear.Recent evidences show that microRNAs(miRNAs)are involved in mechanical stimuli regulating bone formation or osteoblast differentiation.Nevertheless,no direct evidence identifies mechanoresponsive miRNA in both human and animal bones,and clarifies its mechanoresponsive role under different mechanical conditions(e.g.mechanical unloading,reloading,loading).In the current study,we screened for differentially expressed miRNAs in bone specimens of bedridden patients with fractures,then identified that the expression of miR-138-5p,but not the other miRNAs,altered withbedridden time and was negatively correlated with the expression of the bone formation marker genes Alp(alkaline phosphatase).Moreover,miR-138-5p was up-regulated with reduced bone formation during unloading and down-regulated with increased bone formation during reloading in hind4imb unloaded mice.In addition,miR-138-5p was verified to be responsive to different mechanical unloading condition and cyclic mechanical stretch condition in primary osteogenic cells,respectively.Further in vitro data suggested that mechanoresponsive miR-138-5p directly targeted microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1(MACF1)to inhibit osteoblast differentiation.In vivo,we constructed an osteoblastic miR-138-5p transgenic mice model(TG138)with the Runx2promoter,and found that overexpression miR-138-5p supressed bone formation.Moreover,osteoblast-targeted inhibition of miR-138-5p sensitized bone anabolic response to mechanical loading in TG138 mice.Predominantly,the osteoblast-targeted inhibition of miR-138-5p could counteract bone formation reduction induced by hind limb unloading.Taken together,the mechanoresponsive miR-138-5p inhibited bone anabolic response for developing a novel bone anabolic sensitization strategy.

Comment on: “Development of a CLDN18.2-targeting immuno-PET probe for non-invasive imaging in gastrointestinal tumors”

In the ever-evolving landscape of cancer research and treatment,the quest for novel and non-invasive imaging techniques has become crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective therapy.This study[1]successfully developed a good manufacturing practices(GMP)grade ^(89)Zr-labeled anti-Claudin18.2(CLDN18.2)recombinant humanized antibody TST001.^(89)Zr-DFO-TST001 exhibited high radiochemical purity(>99%)and specific activity(24.15±1.34 GBq/mmol).It demonstrated good specificity and rapid tumor accumulation in vivo and in vivo.Through immuno-PET imaging,it enables non-invasive visualization and quantification of CLDN18.2 expression level in CLDN18.2-positive gastrointestinal tumor models.

Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy vs chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of esophageal adenocarcinoma:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant therapy is an essential modality for reducing the clinical stage of esophageal cancer;however,the superiority of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(nCT)or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(nCRT)is unclear.Therefore,a discussion of these two modalities is necessary.AIM To investigate the benefits and complications of neoadjuvant modalities.METHODS To address this concern,predefined criteria were established using the PICO protocol.Two independent authors performed comprehensive searches using predetermined keywords.Statistical analyses were performed to identify significant differences between groups.Potential publication bias was visualized using funnel plots.The quality of the data was evaluated using the Risk of Bias Tool 2(RoB2)and the GRADE approach.RESULTS Ten articles,including 1928 patients,were included for the analysis.Significant difference was detected in pathological complete response(pCR)[P<0.001;odds ratio(OR):0.27;95%CI:0.16-0.46],30-d mortality(P=0.015;OR:0.4;95%CI:0.22-0.71)favoring the nCRT,and renal failure(P=0.039;OR:1.04;95%CI:0.66-1.64)favoring the nCT.No significant differences were observed in terms of survival,local or distal recurrence,or other clinical or surgical complications.The result of RoB2 was moderate,and that of the GRADE approach was low or very low in almost all cases.CONCLUSION Although nCRT may have a higher pCR rate,it does not translate to greater long-term survival.Moreover,nCRT is associated with higher 30-d mortality,although the specific cause for postoperative complications could not be identified.In the case of nCT,toxic side effects are suspected,which can reduce the quality of life.Given the quality of available studies,further randomized trials are required.

p53 mutations in colorectal cancer-molecular pathogenesis and pharmacological reactivation

Colorectal cancer(CRC) is one of the most common malignancies with high prevalence and low 5-year survival.CRC is a heterogeneous disease with a complex,genetic and biochemical background.It is now generally accepted that a few important intracellular signaling pathways,including Wnt/β-catenin signaling,Ras signaling,and p53 signaling are frequently dysregulated in CRC.Patients with mutant p53 gene are often resistant to current therapies,conferring poor prognosis.Tumor suppressor p53 protein is a transcription factor inducing cell cycle arrest,senescence,and apoptosis under cellular stress.Emerging evidence from laboratories and clinical trials shows that some small molecule inhibitors exert anti-cancer effect via reactivation and restoration of p53 function.In this review,we summarize the p53 function and characterize its mutations in CRC.The involvement of p53 mutations in pathogenesis of CRC and their clinical impacts will be highlighted.Moreover,we also describe the current achievements of using p53 modulators to reactivate this pathway in CRC,which may have great potential as novel anti-cancer therapy.

TLR4-HMGB1-, MyD88- and TRIF-dependent signaling in mouse intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury

AIM: To characterize high-mobility group protein 1-toll-like receptor 4(HMGB1-TLR4) and downstream signaling pathways in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury.METHODS: Forty specific-pathogen-free male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups(n = 8 per group): sham, control, anti-HMGB1, anti-myeloid differentiation gene 88(My D88), and anti-translocatingchain-associating membrane protein(TRIF) antibody groups. Vehicle with the control Ig G antibody, antiHMGB1, anti-My D88, or anti-TRIF antibodies(all 1 mg/kg, 0.025%) were injected via the caudal vein 30 min prior to ischemia. After anesthetization, the abdominal wall was opened and the superior mesenteric artery was exposed, followed by 60 min mesenteric ischemia and then 60 min reperfusion. For the sham group, the abdominal wall was opened for 120 min without I/R. Levels of serum nuclear factor(NF)-κB p65, interleukin(IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α were measured, along with myeloperoxidase activity in the lung and liver. Inaddition,morphologic changes that occurred in the lung and intestinal tissues were evaluated. Levels of m RNA transcripts encoding HMGB1 and NF-κB were measured by real-time quantitative PCR, and levels of HMGB1 and NF-κB protein were measured by Western blot. Results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance.RESULTS: Blocking HMGB 1, MyD 8 8, and TRIF expression by injecting anti-HMGB1, anti-My D88, or anti-TRIF antibodies prior to ischemia reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum; NF-κB p65: 104.64 ± 11.89, 228.53 ± 24.85, 145.00 ± 33.63, 191.12 ± 13.22, and 183.73 ± 10.81(P < 0.05); IL-6: 50.02 ± 6.33, 104.91 ± 31.18, 62.28 ± 6.73, 85.90 ± 17.37, and 78.14 ± 7.38(P < 0.05); TNF-α, 43.79 ± 4.18, 70.81 ± 6.97, 52.76 ± 5.71, 63.19 ± 5.47, and 59.70 ± 4.63(P < 0.05) for the sham, control, anti-HMGB1, anti-My D88, and anti-TRIF groups, respectively(all in pg/m L).Antibodies also alleviated tissue injury in the lung and small intestine compared with the control group in the mouse intestinal I/R model. The administration of antiHMGB1, anti-My D88, and anti-TRIF antibodies markedly reduced damage caused by I/R, for which anti-HMGB1 antibody had the most obvious effect.CONCLUSION: HMGB1 and its downstream signaling pathway play important roles in the mouse intestinal I/R injury, and the effect of the TRIF-dependent pathway is slightly greater.

Collagen type Ⅱ suppresses articular chondrocyte hypertrophy and osteoarthritis progression by promoting integrin β1-SMAD1 interaction

Hypertrophic differentiation is not only the terminal process of endochondral ossification in the growth plate but is also an important pathological change in osteoarthritic cartilage.Collagen type II(COL2A1)was previously considered to be only a structural component of the cartilage matrix,but recently,it has been revealed to be an extracellular signaling molecule that can significantly suppress chondrocyte hypertrophy.However,the mechanisms by which COL2A1 regulates hypertrophic differentiation remain unclear.In our study,a Col2a1 p.Gly1170Ser mutant mouse model was constructed,and Col2a1 loss was demonstrated in homozygotes.Loss of Col2a1 was found to accelerate chondrocyte hypertrophy through the bone morphogenetic protein(BMP)-SMAD1 pathway.Upon interacting with COL2A1,integrinβ1(ITGB1),the major receptor for COL2A1,competed with BMP receptors for binding to SMAD1 and then inhibited SMAD1 activation and nuclear import.COL2A1 could also activate ITGB1-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and,through ERK1/2-SMAD1 interaction,it further repressed SMAD1 activation,thus inhibiting BMP-SMAD1-mediated chondrocyte hypertrophy.Moreover,COL2A1 expression was downregulated,while chondrocyte hypertrophic markers and BMP-SMAD1 signaling activity were upregulated in degenerative human articular cartilage.Our study reveals novel mechanisms for the inhibition of chondrocyte hypertrophy by COL2A1 and suggests that the degradation and decrease in COL2A1 might initiate and promote osteoarthritis progression.

Kindlin-2 inhibits Nlrp3 inflammasome activation in nucleus pulposus to maintain homeostasis of the intervertebral disc

Intervertebral disc(IVD) degeneration(IVDD) is the main cause of low back pain with major social and economic burdens;however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly defined. Here we show that the focal adhesion protein Kindlin-2 is highly expressed in the nucleus pulposus(NP), but not in the anulus fibrosus and the cartilaginous endplates, in the IVD tissues. Expression of Kindlin-2 is drastically decreased in NP cells in aged mice and severe IVDD patients. Inducible deletion of Kindlin-2 in NP cells in adult mice causes spontaneous and striking IVDD-like phenotypes in lumbar IVDs and largely accelerates progression of coccygeal IVDD in the presence of abnormal mechanical stress. Kindlin-2 loss activates Nlrp3 inflammasome and stimulates expression of IL-1β in NP cells, which in turn downregulates Kindlin-2. This vicious cycle promotes extracellular matrix(ECM) catabolism and NP cell apoptosis. Furthermore, abnormal mechanical stress reduces expression of Kindlin-2, which exacerbates Nlrp3 inflammasome activation, cell apoptosis, and ECM catabolism in NP cells caused by Kindlin-2 deficiency. In vivo blocking Nlrp3 inflammasome activation prevents IVDD progression induced by Kindlin-2 loss and abnormal mechanical stress. Of translational significance, adeno-associated virus-mediated overexpression of Kindlin-2 inhibits ECM catabolism and cell apoptosis in primary human NP cells in vitro and alleviates coccygeal IVDD progression caused by mechanical stress in rat. Collectively, we establish critical roles of Kindlin-2 in inhibiting Nlrp3 inflammasome activation and maintaining integrity of the IVD homeostasis and define a novel target for the prevention and treatment of IVDD.

Novel mechanism of drug resistance to proteasome inhibitors in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma(MM) is a cancer caused by uncontrolled proliferation of antibody-secreting plasma cells in bone marrow, which represents the second most common hematological malignancy. MM is a highly heterogeneous disease and can be classified into a spectrum of subgroups based on their molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities. In the past decade, novel therapies, especially, the first-in-class proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, have been revolutionary for the treatment of MM patients. Despite these remarkable achievements, myeloma remains incurable with a high frequency of patients suffering from a relapse, due to drug resistance. Mutation in the proteasome β5-subunit(PSMB5) was found in a bortezomib-resistant cell line generated via long-term coculture with increasing concentrations of bortezomib in 2008, but their actual implication in drug resistance in the clinic has not been reported until recently. A recent study discovered four resistance-inducing PSMB5 mutations from a relapsed MM patient receiving prolonged bortezomib treatment. Analysis of the dynamic clonal evolution revealed that two subclones existed at the onset of disease, while the other two subclones were induced. Protein structural modeling and functional assays demonstrated that all four mutations impaired the binding of bortezomib to the 20 S proteasome, conferring different degrees of resistance. The authors further demonstrated two potential approaches to overcome drug resistance by using combination therapy for targeting proteolysis machinery independent of the 20 S proteasome.

Garcinol sensitizes human head and neck carcinoma to cisplatin in a xenograft mouse model despite downregulation of proliferative biomarkers

OBJECTIVE Platinum compounds such as cisplatin and carboplatin are frequently used as the first-line chemotherapy for the treatment of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC).In the present study,we investigated whether garcinol,apolyisoprenylated benzophenone can chemosensitize HNSCC to cisplatin.METHODS The effect of garcinol and cisplatin on HNSCC was assessed by MTT,Western blotting,real time PCR,FACS,immunohistochemistry,DNA binding assay and xenograft mouse model.RESULTS We found that garcinol inhibited the viability of a panel of diverse HNSCC cell lines,enhanced the apoptotic effect of cisplatin,suppressed constitutive as well as cisplatin-induced NF-κB activation,and downregulated the expression of various oncogenic gene products(cyclin D1,Bcl-2,survivin and VEGF).In vivo study showed that administration of garcinol alone(0.5 mg·kg-1,ip five times/week)significantly suppressed the growth of the tumor,and this effect was further increased by cisplatin.Both the markers of proliferation index(Ki-67)and microvessel density(CD31)were downregulated in tumor tissues by the combination of cisplatin and garcinol.The pharmacokinetic results of garcinol indicated that good systemic exposure was achievable after ip administration of garcinol at 0.5and 2mg·kg-1 with mean peak concentration(cmax)of 1825.4 and 6635.7nmol·L-1 in the mouse serum,respectively.CONCLUSION Overall,our results suggest that garcinol can indeed potentiate the effects of cisplatin by negative regulation of various inflammatory and proliferative biomarkers.

Resistance to FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia: Molecular mechanisms and resensitizing strategies

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3(FLT3) is classified as a type Ⅲ receptor tyrosine kinase, which exerts a key role in regulation of normal hematopoiesis. FLT3 mutation is the most common genetic mutation in acute myeloid leukemia(AML) and represents an attractive therapeutic target. Targeted therapy with FLT3 inhibitors in AML shows modest promising results in current ongoing clinical trials suggesting the complexity of FLT3 targeting in therapeutics. Importantly, resistance to FLT3 inhibitors may explain the lack of overwhelming response and could obstruct the successful treatment for AML. Here, we summarize the molecular mechanisms of primary resistance and acquired resistance to FLT3 inhibitors and discuss the strategies to circumvent the emergency of drug resistance and to develop novel treatment intervention.

Potential role of nimbolide in chemoprevention and therapy of prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide.Current therapies for metastatic prostate cancer are only marginally effective,and hence novel treatment modalities are urgently needed.Considerable evidence suggests that chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of prostate cancer.Thus agents that can suppress these inflammatory mediators could form the basis of novel therapy for prostate cancer patients.In our study,we focused on analyzing the potential anticancer effects of nimbolide,a terpenoid lactone derived from Azadirachta indica(Neem tree)against prostate cancer.METHODS Molecular biology techniques such as western blot analysis,DNA binding,luciferase assays,and immunohistochemistry were used for both in vitro and in vivo experiments.RESULTS Data from the in vitrostudies indicated that nimbolide could inhibit cell proliferation,induce apoptosis and suppress cellular invasion and migration.Interestingly,nimbolide also abrogated the activation of pro-inflammatory STAT 3 transcription factor,and this effect was found to be mediated via an increased production of reactive oxygen species(ROS),whereas depletion of ROS attenuated pSTAT 3 inhibitory effects of the drug.The in vivo efficacy of nimbolide was also noted in transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate(TRAMP)model,in which this triterpenoid significantly suppressed the tumor progression and growth without exhibiting any substantial adverse effects.CONCLUSION Overall our findings indicate that nimbolide exhibits significant anticancer effects in prostate cancer,and these effects may be mediated at least in part through the modulation of STAT 3 signaling pathway.

One in four patients with gastrointestinal bleeding develops shock or hemodynamic instability:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Hemodynamic instability and shock are associated with untoward outcomes in gastrointestinal bleeding.However,there are no studies in the existing literature on the proportion of patients who developed these outcomes after gastrointestinal bleeding.AIM To determine the pooled event rates in the available literature and specify them based on the bleeding source.METHODS The protocol was registered on PROSPERO in advance(CRD42021283258).A systematic search was performed in three databases(PubMed,EMBASE,and CENTRAL)on 14^(th) October 2021.Pooled proportions with 95%CI were calculated with a random-effects model.A subgroup analysis was carried out based on the time of assessment(on admission or during hospital stay).Heterogeneity was assessed by Higgins and Thompson’s I^(2) statistics.The Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool was used for the risk of bias assessment.The Reference Citation Analysis(https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/)tool was applied to obtain the latest highlight articles.RESULTS We identified 11589 records,of which 220 studies were eligible for data extraction.The overall proportion of shock and hemodynamic instability in general gastrointestinal bleeding patients was 0.25(95%CI:0.17-0.36,I^(2)=100%).In non-variceal bleeding,the proportion was 0.22(95%CI:0.14-0.31,I^(2)=100%),whereas it was 0.25(95%CI:0.19-0.32,I^(2)=100%)in variceal bleeding.The proportion of patients with colonic diverticular bleeding who developed shock or hemodynamic instability was 0.12(95%CI:0.06-0.22,I^(2)=90%).The risk of bias was low,and heterogeneity was high in all analyses.CONCLUSION One in five,one in four,and one in eight patients develops shock or hemodynamic instability on admission or during hospitalization in the case of non-variceal,variceal,and colonic diverticular bleeding,respectively.

Discovery of novel thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole 5-carboxamides as potent inhibitors of Chikungunya virus

Chikungunya fever(CHIKF)is an arboviral disease that typically consists of an acute illness with fever,skin rash,and incapacitating arthralgia.The causative agent of CHIKF is Chikungunya virus(CHIKV),an alphavirus that is transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes.Despite the re-emergence of CHIKV as an epidemic threat,there is no approved effective anti-viral treatment currently available for CHIKV.In our preliminary studies,selected small molecule inhibitors of arboviruses related to CHIKV were investigated and this led us to identify compounds with thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole scaffold as hits.Building on the discovery of our best hit compounds,5-carboxylic acid thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole 1 and 5-carboxamide thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole 2,the main aim of this study is to optimize their anti-viral activities by synthesizing analogs of thieno[3,2-b]pyrroles 1 and 2 and examine their activities against CHIKV.In these two parallel optimization studies,we synthesized two series of thieno[3,2-b]pyrroles,namely the 5-carboxylic acids and 5-carboxamides that possessed a variety of substituents at N4,C2,C6 or C5positions of the thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole scaffold.These compounds were then examined for their cytotoxicity effects and anti-viral activities using a luminescence-labelled CHIKV infectious clone.The most potent compound in our studies was found in the 5-carboxamide series.The synthesis,biological activity and structure-activity relationship(SAR)will be presented and discussed in detail.

In vitro and in vivo effect of artesunate against prostate cancer:Targetting STAT3 pathway to combat disease progression

OBJECTIVE In prostate cancer(PCa),signal transducer and activator of transcription factor3(STAT3)has been strongly associated with tumor progression,through numerous means.Hence this allows STAT3 to be an important target for therapeutic action.Artesunate(ART),a well know antimalarial agentis making its way as an anticancer drug.In the present study,we investigated whether ART can control aberrant STAT3 signaling,and thereby take a toll on PCa development.METHODS Various PCa cell lines(DU145,PC3,LNCaP)and in vivo xenograft mouse model are used.Cytotoxic effects of ART against various PCa cell lines were evaluated by MTT assay.Flow cytometry cell cycle analysis and DNA fragmentation assay was done to detect the apoptotic effect of ART.Expression of STAT3 and its regulated gene in the presence and absence of ART were measured by WB,IHC and RT PCR.STAT3 DNA binding activities was analyzed by ELISA.RESULTS ART was found to dephosphorylate STAT3 at Tyr 405,thereby reducing its nuclear translocation and DNA binding efficiency in DU145 PCa cells.We proclaim that ART can prevent the PCa development,as it can inhibit proliferation,bring about cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase,AnnexinⅤ positive staining,DNA fragmentation,caspase 3activation and PARP cleavage in PCa cell lines.Furthermore,inhibition of constitutive STAT3 expression was associated with the ability of ART to suppress its upstream kinases such as Janus kinase 1and 2(JAK1and JAK2).SHP-1,protein tyrosine phosphatases which are considered to be one of the major regulators of STAT3 phosphorylation was upregulated in the presence of ART.We observed reversal in ART mediated inhibition of STAT3 in the presence of pervanadate,tyrosine phosphates inhibitor and during SHP-1 knock down.ART was able to inactivate STAT3 in DU145 cells exposed to conditioned media(CM)rich in cytokines.In the presence of ART we observed the down regulation of various STAT3 regulated gene products which are involved in proliferation,survival,and angiogenesis.ART even blocked the motility and invasion of PCa cells.ART substantially decreased the tumor volume in xenograft mouse which is implanted with DU145 cells.Also ability of ART to control aberrant STAT3 signaling was in accordance with its invitrostudies.CONCLUSION Over all through our findings,we have disclosed for the first time that ART could possibly exerts it antitumor effect by interrupting deregulated expression of STAT3 in PCa,both in vitro and in vivo.

pH/GSH dual responsive nanosystem for nitric oxide generation enhanced type I photodynamic therapy

Tumor hypoxia diminishes the effectiveness of traditional type II photodynamic therapy(PDT)due to oxygen consumption.Type I PDT,which can operate independently of oxygen,is a viable option for treating hypoxic tumors.In this study,we have designed and synthesized JSK@PEG-IR820 NPs that are responsive to the tumor microenvironment(TME)to enhance type I PDT through glutathione(GSH)depletion.Our approach aims to expand the sources of therapeutic benefits by promoting the generation of superoxide radicals(O_(2)^(-).)while minimizing their consumption.The diisopropyl group within PEG-IR820 serves a dual purpose:it functions as a pH sensor for the disassembly of the NPs to release JSK and enhances intermolecular electron transfer to IR820,facilitating efficient O_(2)^(-).generation.Simultaneously,the release of JSK leads to GSH depletion,resulting in the generation of nitric oxide(NO).This,in turn,contributes to the formation of highly cytotoxic peroxynitrite(ONOO^(-).),thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of these NPs.NIR-II fluorescence imaging guided therapy has achieved successful tumor eradication with the assistance of laser therapy.

Mitochondria-specific near-infrared photoactivation of peroxynitrite upconversion luminescent nanogenerator for precision cancer gas therapy

Gas therapy is emerging as a highly promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.However,there are limitations,including the lack of targeted subcellular organelle accuracy and spatiotemporal release precision,associated with gas therapy.In this study,we developed a series of photoactivatable nitric oxide(NO)donors NRh-R-NO(R=Me,Et,Bn,iPr,and Ph)based on an N-nitrosated upconversion luminescent rhodamine scaffold.Under the irradiation of 808 nm light,only NRh-Ph-NO could effectively release NO and NRh-Ph with a significant turn-on frequency upconversion luminescence(FUCL)signal at 740 nm,ascribed to lower N-N bond dissociation energy.We also investigated the involved multistage near-infrared-controlled cascade release of gas therapy,including the NO released from NRh-Ph-NO along with one NRh-Ph molecule generation,the superoxide anion O_(2)^(⋅−)produced by the photodynamic therapy(PDT)effect of NRh-Ph,and highly toxic peroxynitrite anion(ONOO‒)generated from the co-existence of NO and O_(2)^(⋅−).After mild nano-modification,the nanogenerator(NRh-Ph-NO NPs)empowered with superior biocompatibility could target mitochondria.Under an 808 nm laser irradiation,NRh-Ph-NO NPs could induce NO/ROS to generate RNS,causing a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and initiating apoptosis by caspase-3 activation,which further induced tumor immunogenic cell death(ICD).In vivo therapeutic results of NRh-Ph-NO NPs showed augmented RNS-potentiated gas therapy,demonstrating excellent biocompatibility and effective tumor inhibition guided by real-time FUCL imaging.Collectively,this versatile strategy defines the targeted RNS-mediated cancer therapy.

3D-printed NIR-responsive shape memory polyurethane/magnesium scaffolds with tight-contact for robust bone regeneration

Patients with bone defects suffer from a high rate of disability and deformity.Poor contact of grafts with defective bones and insufficient osteogenic activities lead to increased loose risks and unsatisfied repair efficacy.Although self-expanding scaffolds were developed to enhance bone integration,the limitations on the high transition temperature and the unsatisfied bioactivity hindered greatly their clinical application.Herein,we report a near-infrared-responsive and tight-contacting scaffold that comprises of shape memory polyurethane(SMPU)as the thermal-responsive matrix and magnesium(Mg)as the photothermal and bioactive component,which fabricated by the low temperature rapid prototyping(LT-RP)3D printing technology.As designed,due to synergistic effects of the components and the fabrication approach,the composite scaffold possesses a homogeneously porous structure,significantly improved mechanical properties and stable photothermal effects.The programmed scaffold can be heated to recover under near infrared irradiation in 60s.With 4 wt%Mg,the scaffold has the balanced shape fixity ratio of 93.6%and shape recovery ratio of 95.4%.The compressed composite scaffold could lift a 100 g weight under NIR light,which was more than 1700 times of its own weight.The results of the push-out tests and the finite element analysis(FEA)confirmed the tight-contacting ability of the SMPU/4 wt%Mg scaffold,which had a signficant enhancement compared to the scaffold without shape memory effects.Furthermore,The osteopromotive function of the scaffold has been demonstrated through a series of in vitro and in vivo studies.We envision this scaffold can be a clinically effective strategy for robust bone regeneration.