THE STING AGONIST VB-85247 INDUCES DURABLE ANTITUMOR IMMUNE RESPONSES BY INTRAVESICAL ADMINISTRATION IN A NON-MUSCLE INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER.

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the current standard of care for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), but recurrence is common. Additional therapeutic options are a major unmet medical need for treating unresponsive patients. Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) plays a central role in mounting innate and adaptive immune responses to tumor cells, and activation of STING is a promising immunotherapeutic approach.

Risk of long-term ophthalmological complications in Taiwanese preterm infants: a nationwide cohort study.

Objectives: The aim was to determine whether different maturity levels and birth weights could change the risk of long-term ophthalmological complications in preterm infants.

Design: This was a cohort study.

Setting: This was a nationwide population-based study.

A novel TREX1 inhibitor, VB-85680, upregulates cellular interferon responses.

Activation of the cGAS-STING pathway plays a key role in the innate immune response to cancer through Type-1 Interferon (IFN) production and T cell priming. Accumulation of cytosolic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) within tumor cells and dying cells is recognized by the DNA sensor cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) to create the secondary messenger cGAMP, which in turn activates STING (STimulator of INterferon Genes), resulting in the subsequent expression of IFN-related genes. This process is regulated by Three-prime Repair EXonuclease 1 (TREX1), a 3' → 5' exonuclease that degrades cytosolic dsDNA, thereby dampening activation of the cGAS-STING pathway, which in turn diminishes immunostimulatory IFN secretion.

The Association between Acupuncture Therapy and the Risk of Disability Development in Dementia Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Purpose: Disability is the comorbidity of dementia for which there is no available preventive measure. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between acupuncture treatment and the risk of disability development in dementia patients.

Patients And Methods: A cohort study was performed using a nationwide health database in Taiwan.

Effect of acupuncture on ischaemic stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide propensity score-matched study.

Objective: To demonstrate that acupuncture is beneficial for decreasing the risk of ischaemic stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Design: A propensity score-matched cohort study.

Setting: A nationwide population-based study.

Impact of agricultural activity on PM and its compositions in elementary schools near corn and rice farms.

Agricultural activity is an important source of particulate matter <2.5 μm in size (PM) in rural areas. In Taiwan, many elementary schools are surrounded by farms, and studies investigating the impact of agricultural activity on air quality in schools are required.

The association between acupuncture therapy and the risk of reduced pressure ulcers in dementia patients: A retrospective matched cohort study.

Background: The pressure ulcer is a complication developed from dementia. The aim of this study is to study the association between the development of pressure ulcers and the use of acupuncture therapy in patients with dementia.

Methods: We performed a retrospective 1:1 propensity score-matched cohort study to investigate the association between acupuncture therapy and the risk of pressure ulcers in patients with dementia.

Acceptorless cross-dehydrogenative coupling for C(sp)-H heteroarylation mediated by a heterogeneous GaN/ketone photocatalyst/photosensitizer system.

Alkanes are naturally abundant chemical building blocks that contain plentiful C(sp)-H bonds. While inert, the activation of C(sp)-H via hydrogen atom abstraction (HAT) stages an appealing approach to generate alkyl radicals. However, prevailing shortcomings include the excessive use of oxidants and alkanes that impede scope.

Effect of Acupoint Stimulation on Controlling Pain from Heel Lance in Neonates: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

To evaluate the effect of acupoint stimulation compared to other interventions on pain control in neonates who underwent heel lance, we searched for randomized controlled trials across six databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science) published up to January 2023. Studies comparing acupoint stimulation and other interventions for controlling heel lance pain in neonates were included. These reports measured at least one of the following variables: pain score, crying time, oxygenation saturation, heart rate, respiration rate, and duration of the procedure.

The effect of Tai Chi in elderly individuals with sarcopenia and frailty: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The potential role of Tai Chi in improving sarcopenia and frailty has been shown in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of Tai Chi on muscle mass, muscle strength, physical function, and other geriatric syndromes in elderly individuals with sarcopenia and frailty.

Methods: Systematic searches of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Medline databases for RCTs published between 1989 and 2022 were conducted; the database searchers were supplemented with manual reference searches.

A ligand-enabled metallaphotoredox protocol for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings for the synthesis of diarylmethanes.

Here, we present a ligand-enabled metallaphotoredox Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling protocol for the facile synthesis of diarylmethanes. Specifically, we describe the preparation of a unique class of ligands, 2,4-diarylquinolines, and demonstrate their application in nickel-catalyzed fragment couplings between alkyltrifluoroborates and haloarenes. We detail the synthesis of the most enabling ligand, PPQN, on a gram scale via sequential Grignard reaction and Friedländer condensation.

Photocatalytic C(sp) radical generation C-H, C-C, and C-X bond cleavage.

C(sp) radicals (R˙) are of broad research interest and synthetic utility. This review collects some of the most recent advancements in photocatalytic R˙ generation and highlights representative examples in this field. Based on the key bond cleavages that generate R˙, these contributions are divided into C-H, C-C, and C-X bond cleavages.

Dextromethorphan reduces prenatal lipopolysaccharide exposure-induced dopaminergic neuronal loss and cytokine changes in offspring.

Maternal infection during pregnancy may affect fetal brain development and increase the risk of developing neurological and mental disorders later in life in offspring. In this study, we used low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection to mimic mild maternal infection at a critical time window for fetal dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) neuron development. The affected offspring exhibited reduction of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons and anxiety- and depression-related behaviors in adulthood.

The Association Between Acupuncture Therapies and Reduced Fracture Risk in Patients with Osteoarthritis: A Nationwide Retrospective Matched Cohort Study.

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between acupuncture therapy and the risk of fracture in patient with osteoarthritis (OA). The authors performed a 1:1 propensity score-matched cohort study to analyze patient with OA between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2010 through the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients who received acupuncture therapy from the initial date of diagnosis of OA to December 31, 2010 were included in the acupuncture cohort.

Deoxygenative Functionalizations of Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids.

The simple and efficient conversion of carbonyl compounds into functionalized alkanes via deoxygenation is highly enabling in chemical synthesis. This Review covers the recent methodology development in carbonyl and carboxyl deoxygenative functionalizations, highlighting some representative and significant contributions in this field. These advances are categorized based on the reactivity patterns of some oxygenated feedstock compounds, including aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids.

Direct deoxygenative borylation of carboxylic acids.

Carboxylic acids are readily available, structurally diverse and shelf-stable; therefore, converting them to the isoelectronic boronic acids, which play pivotal roles in different settings, would be highly enabling. In contrast to the well-recognised decarboxylative borylation, the chemical space of carboxylic-to-boronic acid transformation via deoxygenation remains underexplored due to the thermodynamic and kinetic inertness of carboxylic C-O bonds. Herein, we report a deoxygenative borylation reaction of free carboxylic acids or their sodium salts to synthesise alkylboronates under metal-free conditions.

Acupuncture Treatment Reduced the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Patients with Depression: A Propensity-Score Matched Cohort Study.

Background: Major depressive disorder is a significant public health concern, which often leads to loss of productivity, functional decline, and various complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the risk reduction of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with depression.

Methods: We enrolled patients diagnosed with depression between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2010, through the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).

A cross-dehydrogenative C(sp)-H heteroarylation via photo-induced catalytic chlorine radical generation.

Hydrogen atom abstraction (HAT) from C(sp)-H bonds of naturally abundant alkanes for alkyl radical generation represents a promising yet underexplored strategy in the alkylation reaction designs since involving stoichiometric oxidants, excessive alkane loading, and limited scope are common drawbacks. Here we report a photo-induced and chemical oxidant-free cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) between alkanes and heteroarenes using catalytic chloride and cobalt catalyst. Couplings of strong C(sp)-H bond-containing substrates and complex heteroarenes, have been achieved with satisfactory yields.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Decreases Incidence of Cirrhosis in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Taiwan: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is quite popular in Asia. The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits of decreasing the risk of cirrhosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by using CHM. We performed a 1:3 propensity score-matched cohort study to analyze patients with NAFLD diagnosed between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2011 through the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database.

The experience of executing preventive measures to protect a nursing home in Taiwan from a COVID-19 outbreak.

Purpose: We share our strategies for preventing the COVID-19 outbreak in a nursing home in Taiwan.

Methods: We compared the number of outpatient department visits, the days of prescription from the outpatient department, the number of emergency department visits of the nursing home residents and staff, the number of admissions, and the days of admission of the residents for respiratory tract infection treatment between 2019 and 2020 to examine the effect of our preventive measures in the nursing home. Residents and staff who continuously lived and worked in the nursing home from 2019 to 2020 were included.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Is Helpful for Survival Improvement in Patients With Multiple Myeloma in Taiwan: A Nationwide Retrospective Matched-Cohort Study.

Aim Of The Study: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that Chinese herbal medicine is beneficial for survival improvement in patients with multiple myeloma.

Materials And Methods: We performed a 1:1 propensity score-matched cohort study to analyze patients with multiple myeloma diagnosed between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2012, through the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients who received Chinese herbal medicine therapy from the initial date of diagnosis of multiple myeloma to December 31, 2012, were included in the Chinese herbal medicine group.