Beneficial Factors Research Articles

Hybrid Nanoparticle Engineered with Transforming Growth Factor -β1-Overexpressed Extracellular Vesicle and Cartilage-Targeted Anti-Inflammatory Liposome for Osteoarthritis.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) possess the characteristics of their parent cells, based on which various studies have actively investigated treatments for diseases using mesenchymal stem cell-derived EVs due to their regenerative activity. Furthermore, in recent years, there have been significant efforts to engineer EVs to improve their native activities and integrate additional functions. Although both endogenous and exogenous methods are used for engineering EVs, endogenous methods may pose the problem of administering substances to cells undergoing metabolic changes, which can cause potential side effects. In addition, exogenous methods may have the limitation of losing beneficial factors inside EVs due to membrane disruption during engineering processes. Surface modification of EVs may also impair efficiency due to the presence of proteins on the EV surface. Therefore, in this study, a stable and efficient engineering method was achieved through the ethanol-mediated hybridization of EVs and functionalized lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with a fusogenic lipid component. During hybridization, the internal bioactive factors and targeting moiety were maintained to possess the characteristics of both LNPs and EVs. The Ab-Hybrid, which was successfully synthesized through hybridization with nicotinamide-encapsulated and Col2A1 antibody-modified liposome and Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-overexpressed EVs, was administered to osteoarthritis (OA)-induced rats undergoing the destabilization of the medial meniscus surgery. Ultimately, the Ab-Hybrid demonstrated excellent chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects with targeting and long-lasting properties in OA lesions. We anticipate that this approach for manufacturing hybrid particles will serve as a valuable EV engineering method and a versatile platform technology applicable to various diseases.

BENDRUOMENĖS KŪRIMOSI SVARBA IR NAUDA GYVENAMOJOJE VIETOVĖJE: X MIESTO ATVEJIS

Community building is an important macro and micro phenomenon. This means that the community is economically important in terms of the state's financial resources, their improvement, and growth. The micro-scale is extremely important when it comes to social factors that affect every resident. Therefore, the main goal of this article is to analyze the importance and benefits of community building in the case of X city. The literature section provides insights into the benefits and importance of community building. The concept of community building is analyzed. The study found that the importance and benefits of community building in a residential area include three of the most important and beneficial factors: economic, social, and health connections. During the research, it was revealed that in the presence of a community, the economic factors of the residents became much higher: increasing the awareness of new and small businesses, establishing long-term relationships, promoting business. Social connections are another extremely important phenomenon, thanks to which communities are created. Members of the community make new acquaintances more easily, it is easy for the settlers to get involved in the activities of the community, it promotes the quality of life and safety. Health connections and the interconnectedness of the benefits and importance of community building are another population influencer. It is extremely significant in terms of health, due to the constantly held competitions, which promote the active life of community members, and as a result, the quality of health.

Pyroelectric Pt-supported S-scheme heterojunction catalyst for effective photocatalytic degradation of VOCs containing soot driven by visible light

The trade-off between high visible-light response quantum yields and strong redox activity to achieve effective overall photocatalytic performance is still challengeable in the field of photocatalytic application. Herein, S-scheme heterojunction catalyst with high redox potential was developed by introducing small amount of Pt and excessive Bi into Bi2WO6/CeO2 (denoted as BWO/CeO2) through simple hydrothermal method, and applied to efficiently photocatalytic degradation of typical VOCs containing soot under visible light. It is experimentally proven that photogenerated charge transfer follows an S-scheme mechanism with interfacial Bi as a charge-transfer bridge and surface-deposited Pt as a photoexcited-electron trapper, which not only promotes charge separation but also enhances redox activity. Besides, both surface plasmon resonance of Bi nanoparticles and photothermal effect of soot trigger pyroelectric polarization of BWO to boost charge generation and separation, meanwhile induce photothermal synergistic effect of Pt/Bi-BWO/CeO2. All these beneficial factors lead to remarkably higher photocatalytic activity of Pt/Bi-BWO/CeO2 catalyst in comparison with single component of photocatalysts, with higher reaction rate constant of 2.3 times than BWO/CeO2 and 20.2 times than commercial CeO2. This work provides a visible photocatalytic strategy to efficiently purify VOCs containing soot, while perfectly transform soot pollutant into a valuable cocatalyst during catalytic processes.

Caenorhabditis elegans as a model host to study effects of lactic acid bacteria and functional food factors.

Several approaches for regulating health and disease by intestinal bacteria, bacteria isolated from food products, and food factors have been investigated; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between these bacteria and their hosts are still unknown. Caenorhabditis elegans is a crucial model for exploring various biological phenomena and has been used in studying intestinal bacteria, mainly in the field of antiaging, anti-amyloid β activity in Alzheimer's disease, and its interaction to hosts. The nematode model is expected to be increasingly utilized for elucidating the interactions of beneficial bacteria or food factors with hosts. Herein, we review anti-aging and suppression of amyloid-β expression in a C. elegans model fed lactic acid bacteria, and our developed methods for orally administering food factors and assessing advanced glycation end products as an aging indicator.

Phytochemical screening, nutritional, antinutritional, antioxidant, GCMS and mineral analysis of Zanthoxylum rhetsa (Roxb.) DC: Insights from tribal consumption in Mizoram, Northeast India

The plant Zanthoxylum rhetsa Roxb, a member of the Rutaceae family, holds dual significance in certain communities, particularly in Mizoram, Northeast India, where it is valued for its medicinal properties and consumed as a vegetable. This study comprehensively analyzes the phytochemical, nutritional, antinutritional, and antioxidant properties and the mineral content of Z. rhetsa, a plant traditionally consumed by tribal communities in this region. Minerals such as aluminum, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc were measured using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was conducted to determine the chemical composition of the samples. Phytochemical screening revealed the existence of several bioactive components, such as tannins and flavonoids, while nutritional studies validated the plant's abundance of key nutrients. Among the minerals, manganese was found in the highest concentration (481.356 mg/100 g of DW), while nickel was present in the lowest concentration (1.614 mg/100 g of DW). The total calorific content was ascertained to be 51.344 Kcal/100g, adequate for dietary requirements. Additionally, the total phenolic content measured was 8.28 mg/g in gallic acid equivalent, and the total flavonoid content was 43.04 mg/g in quercetin equivalents. The existence of antinutritional compounds in differing amounts necessitates meticulous evaluation, particularly with the intake of fruits that may possess elevated levels of these substances. This comprehensive assessment highlights the nutritional significance of Z. rhetsa in local diets, emphasizing its dual role as a source of beneficial nutrients and potential antinutritional factors.

Game Analysis of Customers' Participation in New Product Conceptions Selection Based on Separation Sequential Equilibrium

ABSTRACTCustomer participation in new product development (NPD) has various advantages and disadvantages, research has proven that its beneficial factors are more in the early stages. The key in the initial phase of NPD is to understand the real needs of customers. In recent years, research in this field has been done mainly through questionnaires or data mining. However, most of the research have ignored the fact that customer preferences are private information and the influence of different customer groups on their willingness to participate. Because the selection of new product ideas takes place in the early stages of NPD and the degree of advance of customers is also an important parameter that indicates their willingness to cooperate in NPD activities, this paper will study the mechanism of private transfer of customers. Preferences will be considered in the selection phase of NPD concepts and their top grade. Results showed that the leading customers have reasonable motivation to participate in new product development, and advanced customers are more willing to express their product viewpoints.

Qualitative Research on the Topic of End-of-Life Care and a Palliative Care Approach in Persons with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness: Reflections and Take-Home Messages.

Persons experiencing severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) constitute a small but vulnerable population in healthcare and society. Nonetheless, it is advocated to involve people with SPMI in research to improve how care is provided to them. However, qualitative research with this population is challenging due to several factors, including (self-) stigma, assessment of decision-making capacity, reduced communication skills, and the (perceived) risk of adverse events, resulting in relative scarcity in academic interest and scientific publications. In this contribution, the authors share their practical experiences in conducting qualitative research among this group of people, specifically focusing on sensitive topics including end-of-life care and palliative care approaches. Both beneficial and challenging factors encountered across the different research stages are systematically delineated and reflected upon. Qualitative research involving persons with SPMI necessitates a different perspective on methodology and requires specific competencies from researchers. As might be expected, adequate preparation, thorough follow-up, and support for all involved are critical success factors. Additionally, however, it may also require adopting a somewhat unconventional approach to qualitative interviewing, encouraging creativity and ethical reflection as guiding principles. Exploring alternative methodologies and non-conventional engagement in research could provide a much-needed voice to individuals who are currently unrepresented in the research discourse.

Separation and Purification of CHO Secretome and Extracellular Vesicles for Proteome Analysis.

For decades, host cell proteins (HCPs) have been investigated as putative contaminants in downstream processing of biopharmaceutical products of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. However, little is still known about the composition of the entire protein and vesicle environment in CHO cultivations. Ever evolving mass spectrometry techniques allow more and more insights into cell-cell communication processes and the composition of extracellular matrix, proteases, and further actively segregated compounds such as extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs themselves are a heterologous group consisting of exosomes, ectosomes, and apoptotic vesicles. To specifically analyze these subsets of the secretome and determine beneficial and detrimental factors for a production process, targeted separation and purification techniques are necessary.In this chapter, we present our optimized workflows for a clear differentiation between directly secreted proteins and the vesicular protein content of different fractions (especially exosomal small EVs) from CHO cell supernatant for proteomic analysis by NanoLC ESI-MS.

CO2 Utilization and Sequestration in Organic and Inorganic Nanopores During Depressurization and Huff-n-Puff Process.

CO2 injection in shale reservoirs is more suitable than the conventional recovering methods due to its easier injectivity and higher sweep efficiency. In this work, Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation is employed to investigate the adsorption/desorption behavior of CH4-C4H10 and CH4-C4H10-CO2 mixtures in organic and inorganic nanopores during pressure drawdown and CO2 huff and puff processes. The huff and puff process involves injecting CO2 into the micro- and mesopores, where the system pressure is increased during the huffing process and decreased during the puffing process. The fundamental mechanism of shale gas recovery using the CO2 injection method is thereby revealed from the nanopore-scale perspective. During primary gas production, CH4 is more likely to be produced as the reservoir pressure drops. On the contrary, C4H10 tends to be trapped in these organic nanopores and is hard to extract, especially from micropores and inorganic pores. During the CO2 huffing period, the adsorbed CH4 and C4H10 are recovered efficiently from the inorganic mesopores. On the contrary, the adsorbed C4H10 is slightly extracted from the inorganic micropores during the CO2 puffing period. During the CO2 puff process, the adsorbed CH4 desorbs from the pore surface and is thus heavily recovered, while the adsorbed C4H10 cannot be readily produced. During CO2 huff and puff, the recovery efficiency of CH4 is higher in the organic pores than that in the inorganic pores. More importantly, the recovery efficiency of C4H10 reaches the highest levels in both the inorganic and organic pores during the CO2 huff and puff process, suggesting that the CO2 huff and puff method is more advanced for heavier hydrocarbon recovery compared to the pressure drawdown method. In addition to CO2 storage, CO2 sequestration in the adsorbed state is safer than that in the free state. In our work, it was found that the high content of organic matter, high pressure, and small pores are beneficial factors for CO2 sequestration transforming into adsorbed state storage.

Collective swimming pattern and synchronization of fish pairs (Gobiocypris rarus) in response to flow with different velocities.

Collective behaviors in moving fish originate from social interactions, which are thought to be driven by beneficial factors, such as predator avoidance and reduced energy expenditure. Despite numerical simulations and physical experiments aiming at the hydrodynamic mechanisms and interaction rules, how shoaling is influenced by flow velocity and group size is still only partially understood. In this study, spatial distributions, kinematics, and synchronization states between pairs (smallest subsystem of a shoal) of Gobiocypris rarus were investigated in a recirculating swim tunnel with increasing flow velocities from 0.1 to 0.5 m/s (Ucrit = 0.6 m/s). Tests of single fish were also conducted as the control group. The results of spatial distributions showed that fish pairs preferred to swim in the side-by-side configuration under high flows, while under low flows the neighboring fish's positions were more uniformly distributed around the focal fish in the transverse direction. Kinematic analysis revealed that fish pairs adopted similar tail beats (i.e., frequency and Strouhal number) as single fish in low flows, while in high flows both the frequency and Strouhal number of fish pairs were slightly lower. Moreover, the synchronization rates of fish pairs were found to increase with flow velocities, suggesting that synchronized swimming may be beneficial, especially in high flows.

Mediation effect of plasma metabolites on the relationship between immune cells and the risk of prostatitis: A study by bidirectional 2-sample and Bayesian-weighted Mendelian randomization.

According to the findings of multiple observational studies, immune disorder was a risk factor for prostatitis. However, it remained unknown whether there was a direct causal relationship between immune cells and prostatitis or whether this relationship was mediated by plasma metabolites. Based on the pooled data of a genome-wide association study (GWAS), a genetic variant was used to predict the effects of 731 immunophenotypes on the risk of prostatitis and determine whether the effects were mediated by 1400 metabolites. The bidirectional 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method was adopted to uncover the causal relationship between immunophenotypes and prostatitis. Subsequently, a 2-step MR method was employed to evaluate whether the metabolites mediated this causal relationship and quantify the mediating effects and the corresponding ratios. In addition, the Bayesian-weighted Mendelian randomization (BWMR) method was employed to verify the results. Among the 731 immunophenotypes analyzed, 16 had causal relationships with the risk of prostatitis, including 11 with positive correlations (P < .05, beta > 0) and 5 with negative correlations (P < .05, beta < 0). The MR analysis screened out 9 metabolites related to the risk of prostatitis. The X - 24344 levels mediated the causal relationship between CD3 on CD39+ activated Treg and prostatitis (mediation effect: 0.01; ratio: 9.82%). Both histidine betaine (hercynine) levels and the proline-to-glutamate ratio mediated the causal relationship between CD14-CD16+ monocyte absolute count and prostatitis, with the mediation effects of -0.016 (14.20%) and -0.008 (7.24%), respectively. The glutamine degradant levels mediated the causal relationship between HLA DR+ CD4+ %T cells and prostatitis, with a mediation effect of -0.012, accounting for 8.07% of the total. The present study indicated that the immune cell subsets predicted based on gene expression profiles were potentially beneficial or harmful risk factors of prostatitis, and plasma metabolites may serve as the mediating factors of the relationship. The study thus shed light on deciphering the immunologic mechanism of prostatitis.

Examining the influence of tumor-infiltrating macrophages on breast cancer outcomes and identifying relevant genes for diagnostic purposes

ObjectiveThe purpose of this research was to investigate how different types of immune cells impact the outlook of individuals with breast cancer, as well as identify the essential genes associated with immune cell subtype enrichment.MethodsThe Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used to obtain global transcriptome sequencing data sets of breast tissue. The study utilized the CIBERSORT algorithm to determine the presence of 22 different types of immune cells in both breast cancer tissue and normal breast tissue.Immune cell infiltration content was utilized to conduct univariate COX analysis in order to identify risk factors linked to breast cancer prognosis.ResultsUnivariate COX analysis indicates that Macrophages M1 and B cells naive are beneficial factors for the outlook of individuals with breast cancer (P < 0.05), while Macrophages M2 and Monocytes are detrimental factors for the prognosis of breast cancer patients (P < 0.05). The high infiltration group of macrophage M2 had a poorer prognosis compared to the low infiltration group (P < 0.001); Conversely, the high infiltration group of macrophage M1 had a better prognosis than the low infiltration group (P = 0.002).ConclusionThe study provided an overview of immune cell infiltration in breast cancer tissues, identifying macrophage M1 and macrophage M2 as potential factors in breast cancer development and progression. Additionally, genes associated with macrophage phenotype were analyzed, offering insights into macrophage polarization mechanisms.

ATH434, a promising iron-targeting compound for treating iron regulation disorders.

Cytotoxic accumulation of loosely bound mitochondrial Fe2+ is a hallmark of Friedreich's Ataxia (FA), a rare and fatal neuromuscular disorder with limited therapeutic options. There are no clinically approved medications targeting excess Fe2+ associated with FA or the neurological disorders Parkinson's disease and Multiple System Atrophy. Traditional iron-chelating drugs clinically approved for systemic iron overload that target ferritin-stored Fe3+ for urinary excretion demonstrated limited efficacy in FA and exacerbated ataxia. Poor treatment outcomes reflect inadequate binding to excess toxic Fe2+ or exceptionally high affinities (i.e. ≤10-31) for non-pathologic Fe3+ that disrupts intrinsic iron homeostasis. To understand previous treatment failures and identify beneficial factors for Fe2+-targeted therapeutics, we compared traditional Fe3+ chelators deferiprone (DFP) and deferasirox (DFX) with additional iron-binding compounds including ATH434, DMOG, and IOX3. ATH434 and DFX had moderate Fe2+ binding affinities (Kd's of 1-4 µM), similar to endogenous iron chaperones, while the remaining had weaker divalent metal interactions. These compounds had low/moderate affinities for Fe3+(0.46-9.59µM) relative to DFX and DFP. While all compounds coordinated iron using molecular oxygen and/or nitrogen ligands, thermodynamic analyses suggest ATH434 completes Fe2+ coordination using H2O. ATH434 significantly stabilized bound Fe2+ from ligand-induced autooxidation, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, whereas DFP and DFX promoted production. The comparable affinity of ATH434 for Fe2+ and Fe3+ position it to sequester excess Fe2+ and facilitate drug-to-protein iron metal exchange, mimicking natural endogenous iron binding proteins, at a reduced risk of autooxidation-induced ROS generation or perturbation of cellular iron stores.

Development of Neural Cells and Spontaneous Neural Activities in Engineered Brain-Like Constructs for Transplantation.

Stem cell transplantation has demonstrated efficacy in treating neurological disorders by generating functional cells and secreting beneficial factors. However, challenges remain for current cell suspension injection therapy, including uncontrollable cell distribution, the potential for tumor formation, and limited ability to treat spatial defects. Therefore, implants with programmable cell development, tailored 3D structure, and functionalized biomaterials have the potential to both control cell distribution and reduce or heal spatial defects. Here, a biomimetic material system comprising gelatin, alginate, and fibrinogen has been developed for neural progenitor cell constructs using 3D printing. The resulting constructs exhibit excellent formability, stability, and developmental functions in vitro, as well as biocompatibility and integration into the hippocampus in vivo. The controllability, reproducibility, and material composition of the constructs show potential for use in personalized stem cell-based therapies for defective neurological disorders, neural development research, disease modeling, and organoid-derived intelligent systems.

Efficacy and safety of avatrombopag in the treatment of thrombocytopenia after umbilical cord blood transplantation.

Delayed platelet engraftment is a common complication after umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), and there is no standard therapy. Avatrombopag (AVA) is a second-generation thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that has shown efficacy in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, few reports have focused on its efficacy in patients diagnosed with thrombocytopenia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy of AVA as a first-line TPO-RA in 65 patients after UCBT; these patients were compared with 118 historical controls. Response rates, platelet counts, megakaryocyte counts in bone marrow, bleeding events, adverse events and survival rates were evaluated in this study. Platelet reconstitution differences were compared between different medication groups. Multivariable analysis was used to explore the independent beneficial factors for platelet implantation. Fifty-two patients were given AVA within 30days post-UCBT, and the treatment was continued for more than 7days to promote platelet engraftment (AVA group); the other 13 patients were given AVA for secondary failure of platelet recovery (SFPR group). The median time to platelet engraftment was shorter in the AVA group than in the historical control group (32.5days vs. 38.0days, Z=2.095, P=0.036). Among the 52 patients in the AVA group, 46 achieved an overall response (OR) (88.5%), and the cumulative incidence of OR was 91.9%. Patients treated with AVA only had a greater 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment than patients treated with recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) only or rhTPO combined with AVA (95.2% vs. 84.5% vs. 80.6%, P<0.001). Patients suffering from SFPR had a slightly better cumulative incidence of OR (100%, P=0.104). Patients who initiated AVA treatment within 14days post-UCBT had a better 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment than did those who received AVA after 14days post-UCBT (96.6% vs. 73.9%, P=0.003). In summary, compared with those in the historical control group, our results indicate that AVA could effectively promote platelet engraftment and recovery after UCBT, especially when used in the early period (≤14days post-UCBT).

Investigations of Functional Groups Effect on CO2 Adsorption on Pillar[5]arenes Using Density Functional Theory Calculations

AbstractThis study investigates how various functional groups affect the adsorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) in pillar[5]arenes (P[5]A) at the aim of enhancing CO2 capture in P[5]A for environmental applications. Density functional theory (DFT) and density‐functional‐based tight‐binding (DFTB) methods were employed to investigate the adsorption behavior of CO2 in pillar[5]arenes (P[5]A) with various functional groups including P[5]A with methyl (P[5]A‐OCH3), aldehyde (P[5]A‐OCOH) functional groups and pillar[5]quinone (P[5]Q). Self‐consistent charge DFTB calculations have been performed using the DFTB+ code, with dispersion corrections included for van der Waals interactions, to ensure accurate results at a lower computational cost. Bader charge analysis have been carried out with VASP code to understand the interaction mechanisms and charge transfer between P[5]A and CO2. The study demonstrates that changing the functional groups of P[5]A affects CO2 adsorption behavior. Specifically, CO2 adsorption is more favorable at the cavity site of P[5]A‐OCH3 compared to other functional groups, due to the combined effects of weak hydrogen bonds and π‐π interactions. The calculated results shows that the functionalization is one of the beneficial factors for CO2 capture in pillararenes, the adsorption energy and configuration of adsorbed CO2 at P[5]A are affected by both the polarization and geometry of the functional groups. Furthermore, the density of states (DOS) calculations confirm that CO2 is only physisorbed in P[5]A, ensuring the reusability of pillararenes after desorption. The findings of this study suggest that modifying the functional groups of pillararens is a promising strategy for developing high‐efficiency CO2 capture materials.

Identification of hub modules and therapeutic targets associated with CD8+T-cells in HF and their pan-cancer analysis

Heart failure (HF) is a terminal condition of multiple cardiovascular disorders. Cancer is a deadly disease worldwide. The relationship between HF and cancer remains poorly understood. The Gene Expression Omnibus database was used to download the RNA sequencing data of 356 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-induced HF and non-HF. A co-expression network was established through the weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) to identify hub genes of HF and cancer. Cox risk analysis was performed to predict the prognostic risks of HF hub genes in pan-cancer. HF was linked to immune response pathway by the analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). A positive correlation was observed between the expression levels of 4 hub genes and the infiltration of CD8+T-cells in pan-cancer. 4 hub genes were identified as beneficial prognostic factors in several cancers. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction validated the high expression of GZMM, NKG7, and ZAP70 in both mice and patients with HF compared to control groups. Our study highlights the shared immune pathogenesis of HF and cancer and provides valuable insights for developing novel therapeutic strategies, offering new opportunities for improving the management and treatment outcomes of both HF and cancer.

Effective and ineffective strategies for successful rehabilitation: A comparison of activities in juvenile and adult facilities

This article discusses social rehabilitation among adults and minors, comparing methods used in penitentiary units and facilities for adolescents in conflict with the law. The research underlying this article was conducted in two stages: first, through study visits by the Criminological Scientific Club of the University of Warsaw, followed by a series of structured interviews. This approach enabled the authors to determine what works and what does not in the social rehabilitation system. The research revealed that in prisons, the most beneficial factors for convicts are work opportunities and family contact. In turn, for units housing minors, measurable benefits come from education tailored to the child’s learning level and educational outreach beyond the facility walls. However, the authors attributed the failures to the slow work of the courts, which prolongs the time needed to send adolescents to the facility, and to the lack of proper supervision over the situation of the charges. In the case of adults, problems include poor treatment of convicts by the Prison Service, insufficient therapeutic and educational system, and improper selection of management staff. The authors concluded from their research analysis that there are no universal social rehabilitation methods that can be effectively applied to both adults and minors.

Sustained release of stem cell secretome from nano-villi chitosan microspheres for effective treatment of atopic dermatitis

Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) arises from hypersensitive immune reactions. AD symptoms entail severe pruritus and skin inflammation, with frequent relapses. Consequently, AD patients require continuous management, imposing financial burdens and mental fatigue on pet owners. In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic relevance of secretome from canine adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), especially after encapsulation in nano-villi chitosan microspheres (CS-MS) to expect improved efficacy. Conditioned media (CM) from MSCs significantly inhibited the proliferation of splenocytes, induced the generation of regulatory T cells, and decreased mast cell degranulation. We found that beneficial soluble factors known to reduce AD symptoms, including transforming growth factor-beta 1, were detectable after sequential concentration and lyophilization of CM. The CS-MS, developed by a phase inversion regeneration method, showed high loading and sustained release of the secretome. Local injection of secretome-loaded CS-MS (ST/SC-MS) effectively reduced clinical severity compared to groups treated with secretome. Histological analysis revealed that ST/SC-MS potently suppressed epidermal hyperplasia, immunocyte infiltration and mast cell activation in the lesion. Taken together, this study presents a novel therapeutic approach exhibiting more potent and prolonged immunoregulatory efficacy of MSC secretome for canine AD treatment.

Investigating alterations of nutritional constituents, antioxidant abilities, and physicochemicals in aging processes of ginseng sprouts

This study was the first to document the fluctuations of nutritional constituents, antioxidant capacities, and physicochemical characteristics during the aging processes of red ginseng sprouts (RGS) and black ginseng sprouts (BGS) from dried ginseng sprouts (DGS). Total ginsenoside levels differed with 54.72 (DGS) → 57.15 (RGS) and 6.98 (BGS) mg/g, specifically, ginsenoside F2 and Rd2 in RGS remarkably increased with 1.97 → 5.88 and 2.41 → 5.49 mg/g, respectively. Phenolics increased dramatically as 297.02 → 1770.01 (6.0-fold); 1834.94 (6.2-fold) μg/g in DGS → RGS; BGS with abundance contents of benzoic acid (>15.3-fold), chlorogenic acid (>9.5-fold), and catechin (>4.2-fold), whereas amino acids markedly decreased (3686.81 → 1505.00; 364.64 mg/100 g), with arginine showing a significant decrease. Moreover, beneficial factors (total phenolic content: TPC; total flavonoid content: TFC; maillard reaction products: MRP) displayed increase tendencies (approximately 2.0-fold) with BGS > RGS > DGS, and antioxidant patterns significantly increased with potential capacities as follows: ABTS (48.3: DGS → 65.8: RGS; 70.2 %: BGS) > DPPH (18.5 → 44.6; 59.2 %) > hydroxyl (23.2 → 35.4; 39.9 %) > FRAP (0.6 → 1.8; 1.8 %) at 500 μg/mL. In particular, DNA protection exhibited excellent rates of 100 %, in the order of BGS (25 μg/mL) > RGS (50 μg/mL) > DGS (500 μg/mL). These findings suggest that processed ginseng sprouts can be excellent agents for natural antioxidants.