In this review, recent progress in heavy atom-free triplet photosensitizers was summarized. The general approaches include attaining S1/Tn states sharing similar energy levels or proper molecular geometry to satisfy the angular momentum reservation in intersystem crossing (ISC). ISC via the higher singlet excited state (Sn, n > 1) → Tm (m > 1), which is a rarely reported phenomenon, was also discussed. The ISC of some Bodipy dimers was proposed to be via the 'doubly excited state', but recent studies show that the ISC mechanism of these Bodipy dimers is charge separation/recombination. These new findings in the study of triplet photosensitizers are useful for photovoltaics, photodynamic therapy and photocatalysis, as well as in fundamental photochemistry studies.

Exosomes are membrane-enclosed nanovesicles that shuttle active cargoes, such as mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs), between different cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are able to migrate to the tumor sites and exert complex functions over tumor progress. We investigated the effect of human bone marrow-derived MSC (BMSC)-derived exosomal miR-143 on prostate cancer. During the co-culture experiments, we disrupted exosome secretion by the inhibitor GW4869 and overexpressed exosomal miR-143 using miR-143 plasmid. miR-143 was involved in the progression of prostate cancer via trefoil factor 3 (TFF3). Moreover, miR-143 was downregulated while TFF3 was upregulated in prostate cancer cells and tissues, and miR-143 was found to specifically inhibit TFF3 expression. Human MSC-derived exosomes enriched miR-143 and transferred miR-143 to prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, elevated miR-143 or exosome-miR-143 or silencing TFF3 inhibited the expression of TFF3, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 and PC3 cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth, whereas it promoted apoptosis. In conclusion, hMSC-derived exosomal miR-143 directly and negatively targets TFF3 to suppress prostate cancer.

Singlet fission directly from the upper excited vibrational and electronic states of cofacial perylene dimers, bypassing the relaxed state S1, was detected within 50 fs. This process competes well with vibrational cooling in S1 (4.7–7.0 ps) and S2 → S1 internal conversion (380 fs). The singlet fission has the energy threshold E = 3.06 eV. Other competitive relaxation processes are excimer and dimer cation formation on an ultrafast time scale. Excitation to higher energy levels (4.96 eV) leads to a higher efficiency of singlet fission.

Aims. Interleukin-37 (IL-37) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. This study aims to investigate the concentrations of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IL-37 in patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Methods. The levels of plasma and CSF IL-37, IL-17A, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in 25 GBS patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were determined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay and flow cytometric bead array assay, respectively. The values of clinical parameters in the patients were also measured. Results. The concentrations of plasma IL-37, IL-17A, IFN-γ, and TNF-α and CSF IL-37 and IL-17A in patients at the acute phase of GBS were significantly higher than those in the HC. The levels of plasma IL-37, IL-17A, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were positively correlated in those patients, and the levels of CSF IL-37 and IL-17A as well as the levels of plasma TNF-α were correlated positively with the GBS disability scale scores (GDSs) in those patients. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin significantly reduced the levels of plasma IL-37, IL-17A, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in the drug-responding patients. Conclusions. Our findings indicate higher levels of plasma and CSF IL-37 and IL-17A and other proinflammatory cytokines in patients with GBS.

Leptospirillum ferriphilum has been identified as the dominant, moderately thermophilic, bioleaching microorganism in bioleaching processes. It is an acidic and chemolithoautrophic bacterium that gains electrons from ferrous iron oxidation for energy production and cell growth. Genetic information about this microorganism has been limited until now, which has hindered its further exploration. In this study, the complete genome of L. ferripilum ML-04 is sequenced and annotated. The bacterium has a single circular chromosome of 2,406,157 bp containing 2,471 coding sequences (CDS), 2 rRNA operons, 48 tRNA genes, a large number of mobile genetic elements and 2 genomic islands. In silico analysis shows L. ferriphilum ML-04 fixes carbon through a reductive citric acid (rTCA) cycle, and obtains nitrogen through ammonium assimilation. The genes related to "cell envelope biogenesis, outer membrane" (6.9%) and "DNA replication, recombination and repair" (5.6%) are abundant, and a large number of genes related to heavy metal detoxification, oxidative and acidic stress defense, and signal transduction pathways were detected. The genomic plasticity, plentiful cell envelope components, inorganic element metabolic abilities and stress response mechanisms found the base for this organism's survival in the bioleaching niche.

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Three new isomeric naphthalimide conjugated porphyrins are developed for photocatalytic H2 production. The para-substituted isomer, ZnT(p-NI)PP delivers the highest rate (ηH2) of 973 μmol g−1 h−1 due to the efficient intramolecular energy transfer from the naphthalimide to the porphyrin core.

Circulating memory T follicular helper subsets, Tfh2 and Tfh17 are found to be aberrantly regulated in many autoimmune diseases. However, their roles in the pathogenesis of GBS are still unclear. This study examined the phenotype, distribution, clinical relevance and potential function of Tfh2 and Tfh17 in 36 GBS patients (including 24 AMAN and 12 AIDP patients). We found that the absolute counts of total memory Tfh cells were significantly increased in AMAN, while no significant difference in AIDP compared with HC. Furthermore, the levels of the three subsets of memory Tfh cells, Tfh1, Tfh2 and Tfh17, were differentially altered in AMAN. The absolute counts of Tfh1, Tfh2 and Tfh17 were all increased to a higher level in AMAN. The ratio of (Tfh2+Tfh17)/Tfh1 and the percentages of ICOS+ cells in Tfh2 and Tfh17 cells were greater in AMAN when compared to AIDP and HC, and the former had a positive correlation with the severity of both AMAN and AIDP. Conversely, the percentages of PD1+ cells in Tfh2 and Tfh17 cells were lower in AMAN than in HC. Therefore, circulating memory Tfh2 and Tfh17 cells might promote the autoantibody-related immune response and serve as useful markers to evaluate the progression of AMAN.