Assessment of the safety and gut microbiota modulation ability of an infant formula containing Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis CP-9 or Lactobacillus salivarius AP-32 and the effects of the formula on infant growth outcomes: insights from a four-month clinical study in infants under two months old.

Background: Breast milk is a natural treasure for infants, and its microbiota contains a rich array of bacterial species. When breastfeeding is not possible, infant formula with probiotics can be used as a sole source or as a breast milk supplement. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the growth outcomes and tolerance of infants consuming an infant formula containing Bifidobacterium animalis ssp.

UB-612 pan-SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity-promoting vaccine protects against COVID-19 moderate-severe disease.

UB-612 pan-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine targets the monomeric Spike S1-receptor binding domain (RBD) subunit protein along with five sequence-conserved T cell epitopes found on Spike S2 and non-Spike M and N proteins. UB-612 vaccination safely induces potent, broad, and long-lasting immunity against SARS-CoV-2. A phase-2 trial-extended observational study during the Omicron BA.

Massively parallel profiling of RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13d.

CRISPR-Cas13d cleaves RNA and is used in vivo and for diagnostics. However, a systematic understanding of its RNA binding and cleavage specificity is lacking. Here, we describe an RNA Chip-Hybridized Association-Mapping Platform (RNA-CHAMP) for measuring the binding affinity for > 10,000 RNAs containing structural perturbations and other alterations relative to the CRISPR RNA (crRNA).

Safety Assessment and Probiotic Potential Comparison of subsp. BLI-02, LPL28, TYCA06, and ET-66.

subsp. BLI-02, ET-66, LPL28, and TYCA06, isolated from healthy breast milk, miso, and the healthy human gut, were assessed for safety in this study. BLI-02, LPL28, TYCA06, and ET-66 exhibited no antibiotic resistance and mutagenic activity in the Ames test at the highest dosage (5000 μg/plate).

Exploring the Location of Corneal Pigmented Arc and Myopia Control Efficacy in Orthokeratology-Treated Children Using Pentacam Measurements.

Objectives: To determine the location and intensity of the corneal pigmented arc in orthokeratology (ortho-k)-treated children and its relationship with annual axial length (AL) change using Pentacam.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled children aged 9 to 15 years who had been followed up for at least one year after ortho-k treatment for myopia control. A Pentacam was used to determine the location and intensity of pigmented arc after lens wear.

Therapeutic blood-brain barrier modulation and stroke treatment by a bioengineered FZD-selective WNT surrogate in mice.

Derangements of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) or blood-retinal barrier (BRB) occur in disorders ranging from stroke, cancer, diabetic retinopathy, and Alzheimer's disease. The Norrin/FZD/TSPAN12 pathway activates WNT/β-catenin signaling, which is essential for BBB and BRB function. However, systemic pharmacologic FZD stimulation is hindered by obligate palmitoylation and insolubility of native WNTs and suboptimal properties of the FZD-selective ligand Norrin.

Abnormal Conduction Zone Detected by Isochronal Late Activation Mapping Accurately Identifies the Potential Atrial Substrate and Predicts the Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Outcome After Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

Background: The presence of abnormal substrate of left atrium is a predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation. We aimed to investigate the isochronal late activation mapping to access the abnormal conduction velocity for predicting AF ablation outcome.

Methods: Forty-five paroxysmal AF patients (30 males, 57.

Real-World Evidence of Effectiveness and Safety of Vedolizumab for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Taiwan: A Prospective Nationwide Registry (VIOLET) Study.

Background: This nationwide prospective registry study investigated the real-world effectiveness, safety, and persistence of vedolizumab (VDZ) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in Taiwan. Disease relapse rates after VDZ discontinuation due to reimbursement restriction were assessed.

Methods: Data were collected prospectively (January 2018 to May 2020) from the Taiwan Society of IBD registry.

Deglycosylation of SLAMF7 in breast cancers enhances phagocytosis.

N-linked glycosylation of proteins is one of the post-translational modifications (PTMs) that shield tumor antigens from immune attack. Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family 7 (SLAMF7) suppresses cancer cell phagocytosis and is an ideal target under clinical development. PTM of SLAMF7, however, remains less understood.

Defining cellular complexity in human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease by multimodal single cell analysis.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the leading genetic cause of end stage renal disease characterized by progressive expansion of kidney cysts. To better understand the cell types and states driving ADPKD progression, we analyze eight ADPKD and five healthy human kidney samples, generating single cell multiomic atlas consisting of ~100,000 single nucleus transcriptomes and ~50,000 single nucleus epigenomes. Activation of proinflammatory, profibrotic signaling pathways are driven by proximal tubular cells with a failed repair transcriptomic signature, proinflammatory fibroblasts and collecting duct cells.

New Horizons of Macrophage Immunomodulation in the Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the most costly and troublesome complications of diabetes mellitus. The wound chronicity of DFUs remains the main challenge in the current and future treatment of this condition. Persistent inflammation results in chronic wounds characterized by dysregulation of immune cells, such as M1 macrophages, and impairs the polarization of M2 macrophages and the subsequent healing process of DFUs.

Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy and Risk of Dementia: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background And Objectives: Estrogen has the potential to influence brain physiology implicated in dementia pathogenesis. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might be expected to influence the risk of dementia. Observational data indicated that HRT was associated with reductions in dementia risk, but experimental evidence demonstrates that HRT increases the incidence of dementia.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Is an Economical and Efficient Animal Model for Screening Potential Anti-cataract Compounds.

Purpose: To develop a zebrafish cataract model for screening potential anti-cataract compounds.

Methods: Living zebrafish were anesthetized and exposed to ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation at a dosage of 3250 mJ/cm2/d until they developed severe cataracts. These cataracts were graded based on photographs analyzed with ImageQuant TL version 7.

Enhanced Risk of Osteoporotic Fracture in Patients with Sarcopenia: A National Population-Based Study in Taiwan.

Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated with poor health outcomes in older adults. However, its association with the risk of fracture risk is yet to be clarified. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the incidence and consequence of osteoporosis-related fractures among patients with sarcopenia in Taiwan.

Paradoxical mortality of high estimated glomerular filtration rate reversed by 24-h urine creatinine excretion rate adjustment: sarcopenia matters.

Background: Muscle wasting may explain the paradoxical mortality of patients with high estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) derived from equation methods. However, empirical evidence and solutions remain insufficient.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we compared the performance of equation methods for predicting all-cause mortality; we used 24-h creatinine clearance (24-h CrCl), equation-based eGFRs, and a new eGFR estimating equation weighting for population 24-h urine creatinine excretion rate (U-CER).

Functional Investigation of Meningeal Lymphatic System in Experimental Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background: Promotion of hematoma resolution in a timely manner reduces intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) brain injury induced by toxic blood components and subsequent neuroinflammation. The meningeal lymphatic system is responsible for clearance of macromolecules and pathogenic substances from the central nervous system; however, its role in intraparenchymal hematoma clearance and ICH outcomes is unknown. In the present study, we aimed to understand the contribution of the meningeal lymphatic system to ICH pathologies and to test whether pharmacological enhancement of meningeal lymphatic function promotes hematoma resolution and brain recovery after ICH.

Generative adversarial network enables rapid and robust fluorescence lifetime image analysis in live cells.

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is a powerful tool to quantify molecular compositions and study molecular states in complex cellular environment as the lifetime readings are not biased by fluorophore concentration or excitation power. However, the current methods to generate FLIM images are either computationally intensive or unreliable when the number of photons acquired at each pixel is low. Here we introduce a new deep learning-based method termed flimGANE (fluorescence lifetime imaging based on Generative Adversarial Network Estimation) that can rapidly generate accurate and high-quality FLIM images even in the photon-starved conditions.

Targeting conserved N-glycosylation blocks SARS-CoV-2 variant infection in vitro.

Background: Despite clinical success with anti-spike vaccines, the effectiveness of neutralizing antibodies and vaccines has been compromised by rapidly spreading SARS-CoV-2 variants. Viruses can hijack the glycosylation machinery of host cells to shield themselves from the host's immune response and attenuate antibody efficiency. However, it remains unclear if targeting glycosylation on viral spike protein can impair infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

Structural and vibrational characterization of HCO and Rg-HCO, Rg = {He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe}.

The structures of the formyl ion (HCO) and its rare gas tagged counterparts (Rg-HCO, Rg = He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) were studied at the coupled-cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative triples [CCSD(T)]/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory and basis set. A linear structure for these tagged complexes was predicted. The Rg binding energies for Rg-HCO are also examined at the CCSD(T) level.

Expression and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein is a critical component of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines and diagnostics and is also a therapeutic target. However, the spike protein is difficult to produce recombinantly because it is a large trimeric class I fusion membrane protein that is metastable and heavily glycosylated. We recently developed a prefusion-stabilized spike variant, termed HexaPro for six stabilizing proline substitutions, that can be expressed with a yield of >30 mg/L in ExpiCHO cells.