The transfer of configuration information from supramolecular helices is a ubiquitous phenomenon in nature. DNA and proteins often change their helical structure in response to particular external stimuli and can activate important related events through sophisticated mechanisms. Attempts to create artificial multiple-stranded helicates that can adjust the configuration under external stimuli have also met with limited success. Using a simple ligand, we now show multiple-stranded lanthanide helicates that transform efficiently. Lanthanide and ligand are successfully self-assembled into different multiple helical supermolecular clusters using different templates. Additionally, these intelligent supermolecular transformers can also be transformed by different external stimuli and realize the selective recognition and fixation of the corresponding ions and molecules.

In this study, the aim was to investigate the discriminatory power of molecular diagnostics based on mNGS and traditional 16S ribosomal RNA PCR among Nocardia species. A total of fourteen clinical isolates from patients with positive Nocardia cultures and clinical evidence were included between January 2017 and June 2020 in HeNan Provincial People’s Hospital. DNA extraction and 16S rRNA PCR were performed on positive cultures, and pathogens were detected by mNGS in these same samples directly. Among the 14 Nocardia isolates, four species were identified, and N. cyriacigeorgica (8 cases) is the most common species. Twelve of the 14 Nocardia spp. isolates were identified by the two methods, while two strains of N. cyriacigeorgica were not identified by mNGS. All tested isolates showed susceptibility to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT), amikacin and linezolid. Apart from Nocardia species, other pathogens such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumonia, Aspergillus, Enterococcus faecalis, Human herpesvirus, etc., were detected from the same clinical samples by mNGS. However, these different pathogens were considered as colonization or contamination. We found that it is essential to accurately identify species for determining antibiotic sensitivity and, consequently, choosing antibiotic treatment. 16S rRNA PCR was useful for identification of nocardial infection among species, while this technique needs the clinicians to make the pre-considerations of nocardiosis. However, mNGS may be a putative tool for rapid and accurate detection and identification of Nocardia, beneficial for applications of antimicrobial drugs and timely adjustments of medication.

Scoliosis before the age of 5 years is referred to as early-onset scoliosis (EOS). While causes may vary, EOS can potentially affect respiratory function and lung development as children grow. Moreover, scoliosis can lead to thoracic insufficiency syndrome when aggravated or left untreated. Therefore, spinal thoracic deformities often require intervention in early childhood, and solving these problems requires new methods that include the means for both deformity correction and growth maintenance. Therapeutic strategies for preserving the growing spine and thorax include growth rods, vertically expandable titanium artificial ribs, MAGEC rods, braces and casts. The goals of any growth-promoting surgical strategy are to alter the natural history of cardiorespiratory development, limit the progression of underlying spondylarthrosis deformities and minimize negative changes in spondylothorax biomechanics due to the instrumental action of the implant. This review further elucidates EOS in terms of its aetiology, pathogenesis, pathology and treatment.

Certain chemotherapeutics can induce tumor cells’ immunogenic cell death (ICD), release tumor antigens, and thereby trigger personalized antitumor immune responses. Co-delivery of adjuvants using nanocarriers could amplify the ICD-induced tumor-specific immunity achieving a synergistic chemo-immunotherapeutic effect. However, complicated preparation, low drug loading efficiency, and potential carrier-associated toxicity are the major challenges that limited its clinical applications. Herein, a carrier-free core–shell nanoparticle (MPLA-CpG-sMMP9-DOX, MCMD NPs) was constructed by facile self-assembly of spherical nucleic acids (SNA) with two adjuvants of CpG ODN and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) as a core and doxorubicin (DOX) radially around the dual-adjuvants SNA as a shell. The results demonstrated that MCMD NPs could enhance drugs accumulation in tumors, and release DOX upon enzymatic degradation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) peptide in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which enhanced the direct-killing effect of DOX on tumor cells. The core of MPLA-CpG SNA efficiently boosted the ICD-induced antitumor immune response to further attack tumor cells. Thus, MCMD NPs achieved a synergistic therapeutic effect of chemo-immunotherapy with reduced off-target toxicity. This study provided an efficient strategy for the development of a carrier-free nano-delivery system for enhanced cancer chemo-immunotherapy.

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