Efgartigimod versus intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of patients with impending myasthenic crisis.

Impending myasthenic crisis (IMC) is an emergent situation requiring aggressive management to prevent patients from developing myasthenic crisis (MC) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Efgartigimod has been proved to be well tolerated and efficacious in MG patients. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of efgartigimod and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in rescuing IMC.

CGG Repeat Expansion in Causing Overlapping Oculopharyngodistal Myopathy and Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusion Disease With Diffusion Weighted Imaging Abnormality in the Cerebellum.

Background And Purpose: CGG repeat expansion in the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) of the Notch 2 N-terminal-like C gene () has been associated with neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) and oculopharyngodistal myopathy type 3 (OPDM3). Few OPDM3 patients have been reported. This report describes two OPDM3 patients with novel imaging findings who presented the typical features of NIID, and reviews all OPDM3 cases available in the literature.

Relative frequencies and clinical features of Guillain-Barré Syndrome before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in North China.

Objective: Most studies investigated the relationship between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) by comparing the incidence of GBS before and during the pandemic of COVID-19. However, the findings were inconsistent, probably owing to varying degrees of the lockdown policy. The quarantine requirements and travel restrictions in China were lifted around December 7, 2022.

Efgartigimod in the treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Background: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is caused by immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies. Efgartigimod, a human IgG antibody Fc fragment that acts as a natural ligand for the FcRn, can increase IgG degradation, which thus may be a promising therapeutic drug for GBS.

Case Presentation: The two patients presented with postinfectious and acute flaccid paralysis.

Constructing and Validating a Nomogram Model for Short-Term Prognosis of Patients with AChR-Ab+ GMG.

Objective: This study aimed to establish and validate a nomogram prognostic model for predicting short-term efficacy of acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR-Ab+) generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG).

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, enrolling patients diagnosed with AChR-Ab+ GMG from May 2020 to September 2022. The primary outcome was the change in the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status after 6 months of standard treatment.

The male-to-female ratio in late-onset multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Late-onset multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) is the most common lipid storage myopathy. There are sex differences in fat metabolism and it is not known whether late-onset MADD affects men and women equally.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, and Wanfang databases were searched until 01/08/2023.

Diaphragmatic ultrasonography as a predictor of respiratory muscle fatigue in myasthenia gravis.

Introduction/aims: Easy fatigability, the clinical hallmark of generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG), cannot be detected in a dynamic way. The aim of this study was to assess respiratory function dynamically through diaphragmatic ultrasonography (DUS) in GMG patients.

Methods: GMG patients and controls were recruited in a 1:1 ratio.

Evaluation of a Novel Formaldehyde-Free Fixation Solution for the Fixation of Mouse Organs.

Objective: A new aldehyde-free fixative has been developed and its effect has been compared to traditional formaldehyde fixative in terms of the fixation effect and HE staining of the heart, liver, lung, and kidney. The air in the experimental area was examined to evaluate its impact on the environment and human health.

Methods: The organs from mice of groups 1-6 were taken respectively (thickness of liver and lung was 3 mm).

Hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with riboflavin-responsive multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.

Introduction/aims: Riboflavin-responsive multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (RR-MADD) is an autosomal recessive disease chiefly caused by variants of ETFDH affecting fatty acid metabolism. In our cohort, hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) was common. In this study we aimed to identify the association between RR-MADD and HHcy.

Identification of Cofilin-1 as a novel biomarker of atopic dermatitis using iTRAQ quantitative proteomics.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin condition; however, little is known about the pathogenesis and serum biomarker of this disease.

Methods: Isobaric tagging for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) proteomic assay was adopted to identify and quantify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the serum of AD patients. Bioinformatic analysis, including GO, Reactome, GSEA, PPI, and ssGSEA analysis, were used to identified the enriched pathways, hub proteins and immune cells.

[Clinical Trial Progress and Application of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer].

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a neuroendocrine tumor with fast progression, high malignancy, easy recurrence, and extremely poor prognosis. In the past 30 years, the clinical treatment strategy of SCLC has been mainly chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but the curative effect is not significant; the current immunotherapy of SCLC has gradually entered the clinic and has made certain progress. Tumor immunotherapy includes immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor vaccines, cytokines, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy (CAR-T) therapy, etc.

Facile construction of novel organic-inorganic tetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin/BiMoO heterojunction for tetracycline degradation: Performance, degradation pathways, intermediate toxicity analysis and mechanism insight.

Developing durable photocatalysts with highly efficient antibiotics degradation is crucial for environment purification. Herein, tetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP) was loaded onto the surface of BiMoO microspheres to gain hierarchical organic-inorganic TCPP/BiMoO (TCPP/BMO) heterojunctions via a facile impregnation strategy. The catalytic properties of these catalysts were comprehensively investigated through the photodegradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) under visible light.

A cross-sectional study: Comparing the attitude and knowledge of medical and non-medical students toward 2019 novel coronavirus.

Background And Objectives: Since December 2019, the rapid epidemic spread of COVID-19 in China has aroused the attention of the government and the public. The purpose of this study is to investigate the attitude and knowledge among medical students and non-medical students toward SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: A web-based survey was disseminated to the students from medical colleges and comprehensive universities via the survey website (www.

Terpolymer resin containing bioinspired borneol and controlled release of camphor: Synthesis and antifouling coating application.

Marine biofouling can cause a biocorrosion, resulting in degradation and failure of materials and structures. In order to prevent sea creatures from attaching to the surface, in this work, a new environmentally friendly antifouling coating by incorporating antibacterial polymers and natural antifouling agents has been designed and synthesized. Surface chemical composition and changes in surface hydrophobicity were studied by FTIR spectroscopy and contact angle measurements, respectively.

A Novel Flower-Like Ag/AgCl/BiOCOOH Ternary Heterojunction Photocatalyst: Facile Construction and Its Superior Photocatalytic Performance for the Removal of Toxic Pollutants.

Novel 3D flower-like Ag/AgCl/BiOCOOH ternary heterojunction photocatalysts were fabricated by the solvothermal and in-situ precipitation methods, followed by light reduction treatment. The Ag/AgCl nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed on 3D BiOCOOH microspheres. These obtained catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), and photoluminescence (PL).

Role of LPSO Phase in Crack Propagation Behavior of an As-Cast Mg-Y-Zn Alloy Subjected to Dynamic Loadings.

In this work, the role of long period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase in the crack propagation behavior of an as-cast MgY₃Zn alloy was investigated by dynamic four-point bent tests. The as-cast MgY₃Zn alloy is mainly composed of Mg matrix, 18R LPSO phase located at the grain boundaries and 14H LPSO phase located within the Mg matrix. The alloy exhibits excellent dynamic mechanical properties; the yield stress, maximum stress and strain to failure are 190.

Ag₂CO₃ Decorating BiOCOOH Microspheres with Enhanced Full-Spectrum Photocatalytic Activity for the Degradation of Toxic Pollutants.

The development of excellent full-spectrum photocatalysts is of vital significance to its practical application in environmental remediation. Herein, flower-like Ag₂CO₃/BiOCOOH type I heterostructures were prepared via a facile method and exhibited powerful photocatalytic activity by removing various toxic pollutants (rhodamine B, methyl blue, and tetracycline hydrochloride) under simulated sunlight irradiation. The boosted photocatalytic performance is attributed to the expanded range of the absorption spectrum and alleviated separation rate of the photo-induced electrons and holes.

MicroRNA-29b attenuates non-small cell lung cancer metastasis by targeting matrix metalloproteinase 2 and PTEN.

Background: Our pilot study using miRNA PCR array found that miRNA-29b (miR-29b) is differentially expressed in primary cultured CD133-positive A549 cells compared with CD133-negative A549 cells.

Methods: Ten human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and samples from thirty patients with NSCLC were analyzed for the expression of miR-29b by quantitative RT-PCR. Bioinformatics analysis combined with tumor metastasis PCR array showed the potential target genes for miR-29b.

SRF-miR‑29b-MMP2 axis inhibits NSCLC invasion and metastasis.

MicroRNAs play key roles in tumour metastasis. miR‑29b was previously reported to act as a tumour suppressor or an oncogene in diverse cancers. However, its accurate function and mechanism in metastasis of no-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are not well known.

Characterization of the Merkel Cell Carcinoma miRNome.

MicroRNAs have been implicated in various skin cancers, including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma; however, the expression of microRNAs and their role in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) have yet to be explored in depth. To identify microRNAs specific to MCC (MCC-miRs), next-generation sequencing (NGS) of small RNA libraries was performed on different tissue samples including MCCs, other cutaneous tumors, and normal skin. Comparison of the profiles identified several microRNAs upregulated and downregulated in MCC.

[The synthetic peptide RGDSY-CTTHWGFTLC inhibits metastasis and proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro].

Objective: To study the effect of the synthetic peptide RGDSY-CTTHWGFTLC on the biological behavior of breast cancer MCF-7 cells in vitro.

Methods: MCF-7 cells were incubated with different concentrations of the synthesized peptide RGDSY-CTTHWGFTLC (RGDSY-CTT), the positive control peptide CTTHWGFTLC (CTT), or the negative control peptide STTHWGFTLS (STT) in fibronectin-coated 96-well plates for different time lengths, and the changes in cell adhesion, invasiveness, proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle were detected using Transwell chamber assay, MTT assay, and flow cytometry.

Results: Incubation of the cells with 50, 100 and 200 µg/ml of RGDSY-CTT caused a significant concentration- dependent inhibition of the cell adhesion (cell adhesion rates of 85.

[Study on effect of heavy metal cadmium ions on the ultramicrostructure damage of Pheretima aspergillum gastrointestinal epithelial cells].

Objective: To study the effect of cadmium ions of different concentrations on gastrointestinal epithelial cells structure of Pheretima aspegillum (PA).

Methods: PA were contaminated with cadmium ions of different concentrations,and the structure of the body skin was observed, under light microscope and transmission electron microscope.

Results: With the increasing of cadmium ions concentration, a large number of lysosomal hyperplasia could be seen in the PA intestinal epithelial cells, the Golgi complex distributed around, and some Golgi complex hyperplasiaed, extended to a large bubble, microvilli, cilia arranged in irregular, disordered.

[Effects of VEGF-A/VEGF-C antisense oligodeoxynucleotide on angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and tumor growth of breast cancer].

Background & Objective: Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are closely related to tumor metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is considered as an important factor in promoting angiogenesisû while VEGF-C is the most critical factor in VEGF family in promoting lymphangiogenesis, and exerts synergistic effect with VEGF-A in angiogenesis. This study was to investigate the effects of VEGF-A/VEGF-C antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) on the angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and tumor growth of breast cancer.

[Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A and C in human breast cancer and their significance].

Background & Objective: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family is related to angiogenesis. VEGF-A and VEGF-C are closely related to tumorigenesis and lymphatic metastasis. This study was to detect the expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in breast cancer, and explore their correlation to cell proliferation, microvessel density (MVD), and lymphatic metastasis of breast cancer.

Statins initiated after hypertrophy inhibit oxidative stress and prevent heart failure in rats with aortic stenosis.

Objective: Heart failure is a major and escalating public health problem. Recent studies have demonstrated that statins prevented chronic heart failure (CHF) in animal studies. However, it is unknown whether statins therapy initiated after left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is evident can still effectively prevent CHF.