A novel conditioning regimen with pre-transplantation immunosuppression reduces the complication rates in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia.

Background: Allo-HSCT is a curative therapy for patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT). The high incidence of transplant-related complications is becoming an obstacle to safe and effective unrelated donor (URD) transplantation.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we reported the survival outcomes and complications of transplantation in thalassemia patients using a novel regimen consisting of pre-transplantation immunosuppression (PTIS) and modified myeloablative conditioning based on intravenous busulfan, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and rabbit anti-human thymocyte immunoglobulin.

Monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a predictor of the activity of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) and the disease activity of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).

Methods: A total of 87 patients were classified into two groups based on clinical activity score (CAS) scoring criteria: high CAS group (=62, the CAS score was ≥3); low CAS group (=25, the CAS score was <3). In addition, a group of healthy people (=114) were included to compared the MHR.

Integrative analysis of PANoptosis-related genes in diabetic retinopathy: machine learning identification and experimental validation.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major complication of diabetes, leading to severe vision impairment. Understanding the molecular mechanisms, particularly PANoptosis, underlying DR is crucial for identifying potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This study aims to identify differentially expressed PANoptosis-related genes (DE-PRGs) in DR, offering insights into the disease's pathogenesis and potential diagnostic tools.

Smart design in biopolymer-based hemostatic sponges: From hemostasis to multiple functions.

Uncontrolled hemorrhage remains the leading cause of death in clinical and emergency care, posing a major threat to human life. To achieve effective bleeding control, many hemostatic materials have emerged. Among them, nature-derived biopolymers occupy an important position due to the excellent inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability and bioactivity.

Efficient multi-phenotype genome-wide analysis identifies genetic associations for unsupervised deep-learning-derived high-dimensional brain imaging phenotypes.

Brain imaging is a high-content modality that offers dense insights into the structure and pathology of the brain. Existing genetic association studies of brain imaging, typically focusing on a number of individual image-derived phenotypes (IDPs), have successfully identified many genetic loci. Previously, we have created a 128-dimensional Unsupervised Deep learning derived Imaging Phenotypes (UDIPs), and identified multiple loci from single-phenotype genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for individual UDIP dimensions, using data from the UK Biobank (UKB).

Influence of sulfur and selenium application on wheat growth in arsenic-contaminated soil.

Wheat could become poisoned when grown in soil with high arsenic (As) content. It is worthwhile to investigate the potential use of sulfur (S) and selenium (Se) for crop protection while detoxifying heavy metal(loid)s. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted under both single and combined application of the two elements.

Intermittent fasting triggers interorgan communication to suppress hair follicle regeneration.

Intermittent fasting has gained global popularity for its potential health benefits, although its impact on somatic stem cells and tissue biology remains elusive. Here, we report that commonly used intermittent fasting regimens inhibit hair follicle regeneration by selectively inducing apoptosis in activated hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). This effect is independent of calorie reduction, circadian rhythm alterations, or the mTORC1 cellular nutrient-sensing mechanism.

Association of multiple environmental exposures with rhinitis and asthma symptoms in preschool children: Identifying critical risk factor.

Background: The concept "one airway, one disease" for childhood rhinitis and asthma has been challenged in recent years. This study aimed to evaluate associations of environmental exposures with alone and co-morbid symptoms of rhinitis and asthma and identify critical risk factor.

Methods: 5828 children aged 3-6 years in Shanghai were surveyed in 2019.

Case report: Unveiling the silent threat in the ICU - a case of disseminated invasive aspergillosis in a patient with fulminant myocarditis.

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) significantly increases mortality in critically ill patients in the ICU and its occurrence is closely related to immunocompromise. Dissemination of IA is easily misdiagnosed and mistreated due to its ability to invade multiple systems throughout the body and lack of typical clinical manifestations. In this case, a 25-year-old previously healthy woman was hospitalized with fulminant myocarditis and treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane pulmonary oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support and intravenous acyclovir, high-dose methylprednisolone, and immunoglobulin.

Hydrogel-Based Sensor for the Detection of Iron Ions and Excessive Alerting.

The excessive content of heavy metal ions in water has attracted increasing worldwide attention due to the potential harm to human health and ecological systems. Therefore, it is particularly significant to research and develop a sensitive and straightforward water quality monitoring method. Here, a dual-network designed hydrogel poly(acrylic acid-co--methylolacrylamide)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrenesulfonate, P(AA-co-N-MA)/PEDOT: PSS, was constructed and used for Fe detection.

Clinicopathological features and prognostic significance of TAF1L in gastric cancer.

Background: TAF1L may play an important role in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer (GC), but the correlation between the expression of TAF1L and the clinicopathological factors and prognosis of GC is still unclear.

Methods: A total of 1053 GC patients in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital between January 1st, 2018 to December 31th, 2019 were screened. Finally, 120 patients met the inclusion criteria.

Sodium Iodate: Rapid and Clinically Relevant Model of AMD.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in people above the age of 50, affecting approximately 10% of the population worldwide and the incidence is rising. Hyperreflective foci (HRF) are a major predictor of AMD progression. The purpose of this study was to use the sodium iodate mouse model to study HRF formation in retinal degeneration.

Associations of leisure-time and occupational physical activity with allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis in middle-aged adults: a population-based study.

Objective: To explore the links of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and occupational physical activity (OPA) with allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in a nationally representative sample of the Korean population.

Methods: 10,346 participants aged 40-60 years old were obtained from the KNHANES 2014-2018 database. Physical activity levels were assessed using questions adapted from the Korean version of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.

CD133-targeted afatinib nanomicelles for enhanced lung cancer theranostics.

Aims: To develop a novel nanomicelle system to target and eradicate CD133-expressing lung cancer stem cells (CSCs) while imaging lung cancer.

Methods: Averatinib nanomicelles with CD133 aptamers incorporated with gadolinium imaging reagents (M-Afa&Gd-CD133) were synthesized. The anticancer and imaging activities of M-Afa&Gd-CD133 were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo.

Frailty as a Risk Factor for Chronic Sinusitis: Insights from a Nationwide Cross-sectional Survey.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the connection between frailty and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) using a representative sample from the Korean population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 24,269 participants initially, with data sourced from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) database. Frailty was assessed using the modified frailty phenotype (FP) and frailty index (FI), with criteria tailored for the KNHANES dataset.

Analyzing longitudinal trait trajectories using GWAS identifies genetic variants for kidney function decline.

Understanding the genetics of kidney function decline, or trait change in general, is hampered by scarce longitudinal data for GWAS (longGWAS) and uncertainty about how to analyze such data. We use longitudinal UK Biobank data for creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate from 348,275 individuals to search for genetic variants associated with eGFR-decline. This search was performed both among 595 variants previously associated with eGFR in cross-sectional GWAS and genome-wide.

p.C124W variant contributes to schizophrenia by attenuating LLPS-mediated synapse formation.

KCTD10, a member of the potassium channel tetramerization domain (KCTD) family, is implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders and functions as a substrate recognition component within the RING-type ubiquitin ligase complex. A rare de novo variant of KCTD10, p.C124W, was identified in schizophrenia cases, yet its underlying pathogenesis remains unexplored.