Dipeptidyl peptidase 8 (DPP8) and 9 (DPP9) are widely expressed in mammals including humans, mainly locate in the cytoplasm. The DPP8 and DPP9 (DPP8/9) belong to serine proteolytic enzymes, they can recognize and cleave N-terminal dipeptides of specific substrates if proline is at the penultimate position. Because the localization of DPP8/9 is different from that of DPP4 and the substrates for DPP8/9 are not yet completely clear, their physiological and pathological roles are still being further explored. In this article, we will review the recent research advances focusing on the expression, regulation, and functions of DPP8/9 in physiology and pathology status. Emerging research results have shown that DPP8/9 is involved in various biological processes such as cell behavior, energy metabolism, and immune regulation, which plays an essential role in maintaining normal development and physiological functions of the body. DPP8/9 is also involved in pathological processes such as tumorigenesis, inflammation, and organ fibrosis. In recent years, related research on immune cell pyroptosis has made DPP8/9 a new potential target for the treatment of hematological diseases. In addition, DPP8/9 inhibitors also have great potential in the treatment of tumors and chronic kidney disease.

Hydrogel, as a sensitive element of flexible sensor, can change its resistance or capacitance according to mechanical deformation and provide critical service for the Internet of Things (IOT). However, it is a challenge to fabricate a hydrogel that simultaneously possesses excellent mechanical properties and great conductivity via low‐cost and simple method. Herein, one‐pot and solution‐casting methods were adopted to fabricate hydrogel film efficiently. Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) plays the role of both proton source and plasticizer can that improves the conductivity and flexibility of hydrogel. Phytic acid(PA) with abundant hydroxyl groups can form physical crosslink with PVA(polyvinyl alcohol) chain via hydrogen bond, thus increasing rigidity. H3PO4 and PA are used for reinforcing the conductivity and mechanical properties of PVA hydrogel by exploring the best mass fraction. This hydrogel, i.e., PVA/PA/H3PO4, possesses 3500% elongation, 2500% effective sensing range, great conductivity of 4.2467 S m−1, fast response/release time(65ms/91ms), outstanding durability (10,000s) for strain sensor and great detection limit of 1250 kPa and 3.85 kPa−1 sensitivity for pressure sensor. The great performance proves that hydrogel is capable for practice applications such as identifying pressure distribution and monitoring human activity situation. This method provides a new idea for the low‐cost and large‐scale fabrication of flexible sensors.

Background: Primary membranous nephropathy (pMN) is the most common pathological type of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Therefore, it is imperative to find a better combination therapy with fewer adverse effects for patients with pMN.Methods: This study enrolled 84 patients with biopsy-proven pMN and nephrotic syndrome. Thirty patients in the low-dose multitarget regimen (LDMT) group received low-dose glucocorticoids along with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil, and 54 patients in the prednisone plus intravenous cyclophosphamide regimen (PC) group received corticosteroids plus intravenous cyclophosphamide. The clinical efficacy and safety of the LDMT and PC regimens in treating pMN in adults were analyzed and compared.Results: The cumulative complete remission rate was 6.67%, 56.30%, and 83.14% at the 6 th , 12 th , and 24 th month after treatment in the LDMT group, and 16.67%, 60.84%, and 81.02% in the PC group, respectively (P = 0.620). The generalized estimating equation analysis showed that the longer the treatment duration, the better the improvements in serum albumin and urinary protein levels, and hyperlipidemia (P = 0.0001). However, the serum creatinine levels in both groups remained stable during the treatment period. Meanwhile, the relapse rates were comparable between the two groups (21.43% vs. 22.00%, P = 0.953). Moreover, patients in the LDMT group showed fewer adverse events than those in the PC group (46.67% vs. 72.22%, P = 0.020).Conclusions: These data indicated that the low-dose multitarget regimen, which might be an alternative treatment choice for patients with pMN, had a more favorable safety profile and non-inferior efficacy compared with prednisone plus intravenous cyclophosphamide.

Background: Primary membranous nephropathy (pMN) is treated with glucocorticoids or immunosuppressive agents, depending on the disease severity. However, treating pMN with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains challenging. Methods: We retrospectively collected and analyzed the data of patients diagnosed with pMN and T2DM. The low-dose multitarget regimen consists of prednisone (10 mg/d), tacrolimus (0.05 mg/kg/d, blood concentration 5–10 ng/mL), and mycophenolate mofetil (1 g/d); The cyclophosphamide (CTX) regimen consists of prednisone (initial dose 1 mg/kg/d) and CTX (0.8–1.0 g/month, cumulative dose 6–9 g). Results: Sixty-seven patients were diagnosed with pMN and T2DM, and 28 were enrolled in this study, with 14 cases each in the low-dose multitarget and CTX groups. Urinary protein excretion decreased significantly in both groups after treatment, which was significantly greater in the low-dose multitarget group than that in the CTX group (2 months: −4800.48 ± 3002.65 mg/24h versus −1663.32 ± 4113.98 mg/24h, P−BH = 0.045; 12 months: −7289.25 ± 2520.92 mg/24h versus −4512.79 ± 3448.85 mg/24h, P−BH = 0.044). Serum albumin levels increased more in the low-dose multitarget group than in the CTX group, although the difference was not significant. Patients treated with glucocorticoids plus CTX had worse glycemic control in two months. Conclusion: The combination of glucocorticoids, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil was effective for treating pMN with T2DM and not inferior to the CTX regimen in proteinuria reduction. Further studies are needed to confirm the regimen's influence on blood glucose and long-term efficacy.