Search

Cancer immunotherapy has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of malignant tumors, but its effectiveness is limited by the low immune response rate and immune‐related adverse events. Pyroptosis, as an inflammatory programmed cell death type, triggers strong acute inflammatory response and antitumor immunity, converting "cold" tumors to "hot". Particularly, biomaterials loading pyroptosis inducers targeting the tumor microenvironment to engineer pyroptosis, have achieved great progress in recent years. Herein, the design strategy, mechanism pathway, and role of biomaterials to induce pyroptosis in cancer immunotherapy are comprehensively reviewed. The present review focuses on the application of biomaterials‐induced pyroptosis in cancer immunotherapy, including nanogel, polymer prodrug, nanovesicle, and mesoporous material. Additionally, the synthesis of a series of stimuli‐responsive nanoplatforms, including glutathione‐responsive, pH‐responsive, reactive oxygen species‐responsive, and enzyme‐mimicking catalytic performance, is described. Meanwhile, it augments multiple immune response processes of cell uptake, antigen presentation, T‐cell activation, and expansion. Finally, the perspectives of pyroptosis‐mediated inflammation to break through the tumor vascular basement membrane barrier achieving efficient volcanic penetration of biomaterials are discussed. Artificial intelligence, multi‐omics analysis, and anthropogenic animal models of organoids are presented, aiming to provide guidance and assistance for constructing effective and controllable pyroptosis‐engineered biomaterials and improving tumor immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional data-driven deep learning models often struggle with high training costs, error accumulation, and poor generalizability in complex physical processes. Physics-informed deep learning (PiDL) addresses these challenges by incorporating physical principles into the model. Most PiDL approaches regularize training by embedding governing equations into the loss function, yet this depends heavily on extensive hyperparameter tuning to weigh each loss term. To this end, we propose to leverage physics prior knowledge by "baking" the discretized governing equations into the neural network architecture via the connection between the partial differential equations (PDE) operators and network structures, resulting in a PDE-preserved neural network (PPNN). This method, embedding discretized PDEs through convolutional residual networks in a multi-resolution setting, largely improves the generalizability and long-term prediction accuracy, outperforming conventional black-box models. The effectiveness and merit of the proposed methods have been demonstrated across various spatiotemporal dynamical systems governed by spatiotemporal PDEs, including reaction-diffusion, Burgers', and Navier-Stokes equations. Most physics-informed deep learning models alleviate the poor generalizability of pure data-driven models by minimizing residuals of the governing equations. In this work the authors propose to leverage physics priors, by embedding the discretized governing equations into the neural network architecture, which improves the generalizability and long-term prediction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supersolid, an exotic quantum state of matter that consists of particles forming an incompressible solid structure while simultaneously showing superfluidity of zero viscosity1, is one of the long-standing pursuits in fundamental research2,3. Although the initial report of 4He supersolid turned out to be an artefact4, this intriguing quantum matter has inspired enthusiastic investigations into ultracold quantum gases5–8. Nevertheless, the realization of supersolidity in condensed matter remains elusive. Here we find evidence for a quantum magnetic analogue of supersolid—the spin supersolid—in the recently synthesized triangular-lattice antiferromagnet Na2BaCo(PO4)2 (ref. 9). Notably, a giant magnetocaloric effect related to the spin supersolidity is observed in the demagnetization cooling process, manifesting itself as two prominent valley-like regimes, with the lowest temperature attaining below 100 mK. Not only is there an experimentally determined series of critical fields but the demagnetization cooling profile also shows excellent agreement with the theoretical simulations with an easy-axis Heisenberg model. Neutron diffractions also successfully locate the proposed spin supersolid phases by revealing the coexistence of three-sublattice spin solid order and interlayer incommensurability indicative of the spin superfluidity. Thus, our results reveal a strong entropic effect of the spin supersolid phase in a frustrated quantum magnet and open up a viable and promising avenue for applications in sub-kelvin refrigeration, especially in the context of persistent concerns about helium shortages10,11.Evidence for a quantum magnetic analogue of a supersolid appears in a recently synthesized antiferromagnet showing a strong magnetocaloric effect of the spin supersolid phase with potential for applications in sub-kelvin refrigeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forkhead box O (FoxO) protein is the main transcriptional effector downstream of the insulin/insulin‐like signaling pathway and regulates many developmental and physiological processes. Holometabolous insects with loss‐of‐function mutations in FoxO exhibit phenotypes distinct from those of hemimetabolous insects in which RNA interference was used. Despite the functional importance of FoxO, whether hemimetabolous insects share an evolutionally conserved function of FoxO with holometabolous insects remains to be clarified. We used the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR‐associated 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) genome editing‐system to establish a homozygous FoxO‐null mutant (NlFoxO4E) of the wing‐dimorphic brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens, an economically important insect pest of rice fields. The phenotypes of NlFoxO4E mutants included extended nymphal duration, shortened lifespan, reduced reproduction, and decreased stress resistance. In addition, depletion of NlFoxO promoted cell proliferation in wing buds and led to 100% long‐winged morphs, in stark contrast to short‐winged wild‐type BPHs. These findings indicate that NlFoxO is highly functionally conserved with its counterpart in holometabolous insects, and is required for optimal fitness of N. lugens. The insights from FoxO studies may facilitate the identification of potential target genes for BPH control applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The migratory brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), is the most destructive pest affecting rice plants in Asia and feeds exclusively on rice. Studies have investigated the olfactory response of BPHs to the major rice volatile compounds in rice. The insect olfactory co‐receptor (Orco) is a crucial component of the olfactory system and is essential for odorant detection. Functional analysis of the Orco gene in BPHs would aid in the identification of their host preference. RESULTS: We identified the BPH Orco homologue (NlOrco) by Blast searching the BPH transcriptome with the Drosophila Orco gene sequence. Spatiotemporal analysis indicated that NlOrco is first expressed in the later egg stage, and is expressed mainly in the antennae in adult females. A NlOrco‐knockout line (NlOrco−/−) was generated through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9‐mediated mutagenesis. The NlOrco−/− mutants showed no response to rice volatile compounds and consequently no host‐plant preference. In addition, NlOrco−/− mutants exhibited extended nymphal duration and impaired fecundity compared with wild‐type BPHs. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that BPHs exhibit strong olfactory responses to major rice volatile compounds and suggest that NlOrco is required for the maximal fitness of BPHs. Our results may facilitate the identification of potential target genes or chemical compounds for BPH control applications. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To summarize the endoscopic and clinicopathological features of gastric adenocarcinoma of the fundic gland type (GA‐FG), and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for the treatment of GA‐FGs. Methods: From September 2017 to August 2021, patients treated with ESD who were pathologically confirmed to have GA‐FGs were included. Those with lymphovascular and distal metastasis were excluded before ESD. The medical records were retrospectively reviewed to obtain information regarding patient demographics, clinicopathological characteristics, tumor features, complete resection rate, and complications, etc. All patients underwent follow‐up for at least 12 months to evaluate any local recurrence or distant metastasis. Results: A total of 15 patients with an average age of 56.9 ± 10.7 years were recruited, including 11 men and 4 women. Lesions were found at the upper third (13 [86.7%]) or middle third (2 [13.3%]) of the stomach. The average lesion size was 9.1 ± 4.8 mm. Macroscopically, lesions presented as a flat elevated type with reddish or erosion on top (n = 7, 46.7%), depressed type with pale color (n = 5, 33.3%), or submucosal tumor (SMT)‐like appearance type (n = 3, 20.0%). En bloc resection, complete resection and curative resection were achieved in 14 (93.3%), 13 (86.7%), and 11 (73.3%) patients, respectively. Nine (60.0%) of the lesions had submucosal invasion. One patient underwent additional surgery. No local recurrence or metastasis was detected during the follow‐up duration. Conclusions: GA‐FGs present with various endoscopic features. ESD appears to be effective and safe for treating early‐stage GA‐FGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The homeotic complex gene Abdominal‐B (Abd‐B) is involved in regulating the development of posterior abdomens and has been extensively studied in holometabolous insects. However, the function of Abd‐B in hemimetabolous insects is not fully understood. Here, we functionally characterize an Abd‐B homologue in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens. The full‐length cDNA of the N. lugens Abd‐B homologue (NlAbd‐B) is 2334 nt, with an open reading frame of 1113 bp. NlAbd‐B has the highest expression level at the egg stage relative to the nymphal and adult stages and is mainly expressed in the fourth to the ninth abdominal segment of embryos. RNA interference (RNAi)‐mediated knockdown of NlAbd‐B in nymphs disrupted the development of genitalia both in females and males and caused a genitalia‐to‐leg transformation. Parental RNAi of NlAbd‐B in both female and male adults caused an extra abdominal segment in offspring nymphs, while parental RNAi of the N. lugens abdominal‐A homologue in both female and males adults led to embryos with leg‐like appendages on the second to the eighth abdominal segment. These findings suggest that NlAbd‐B plays a pivotal role in genital development and posterior abdominal patterning and thus highlight the conservational role of Abd‐B in holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of endocrine cell carcinoma combined with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection. Final diagnosis was collision carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma combined with squamous cell high grade intraepithelial neoplasm (HGIN) (Fig. [Extracted from the article]

Dissect the surrounding tissues as close as possible to the tumor capsule but still with the aim of achieving en bloc resection. e Step 4: Tumor extraction. Incise the esophageal wall layer by layer from the mucosa, submucosa to muscularis, and expose the tumor in the mediastinal cavity, then extend the incision along the vertical diameter of the tumor to ensure the tumor can be removed smoothly. d Step 3: Tumor dissection. Locate the tumor site and perform a submucosal injection followed by a 2-cm longitudinal mucosal incision made right above the tumor site. c Step 2: Full-thickness resection of the esophageal wall. [Extracted from the article]

A 70-year-old gentleman was admitted with a suspected gastric submucosal tumor (SMT) detected by abdominal contrast computed tomography (CT) (Fig. However, for SMTs with a predominantly extraluminal growth pattern, EFTR is sometimes difficult to perform because of the high mobility of the tumor and the limited view from the gastric cavity. [Extracted from the article]

Bacterial infections remain a formidable threat to human health, a situation exacerbated by the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance. While alternative antibacterial strategies such as oxidants, heat treatments, and metal nanoparticles (NPs) have shown potential, they come with significant drawbacks, ranging from non-specificity to potential environmental concerns. In the face of these challenges, the rapid evolution of micro/nanomotors (MNMs) stands out as a revolutionary development in the antimicrobial arena. MNMs harness various forms of energy and convert it into a substantial driving force, offering bright prospects for combating microbial threats. MNMs' mobility allows for swift and targeted interaction with bacteria, which not only improves the carrying potential of therapeutic agents but also narrows the required activation range for non-drug antimicrobial interventions like photothermal and photodynamic therapies, substantially improving their bacterial clearance rates. In this review, we summarized the diverse propulsion mechanisms of MNMs employed in antimicrobial applications and articulated their multiple functions, which include direct bactericidal action, capture and removal of microorganisms, detoxification processes, and the innovative detection of bacteria and associated toxins. Despite MNMs' potential to revolutionize antibacterial research, the translation from laboratory to clinical use remains challenging. Based on the current research status, we summarized the potential challenges and possible solutions and also prospected several key directions for future studies of MNMs for antimicrobial purposes. Collectively, by highlighting the important knowns and unknowns of antimicrobial MNMs, our present review would help to light the way forward for the field of antimicrobial MNMs and prevent unnecessary blindness and detours., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)