Calcium nanoparticles target and activate T cells to enhance anti-tumor function.

Calcium signaling plays a crucial role in the activation of T lymphocytes. However, modulating calcium levels to control T cell activation in vivo remains a challenge. In this study, we investigate T cell activation using 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-encapsulated CaCO nanoparticles.

Incremental Prognostic Value of Cardiac MRI Feature Tracking and T1 Mapping in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy.

Purpose To explore the role of cardiac MRI feature tracking (FT) and T1 mapping in predicting sustained ventricular arrhythmias (VA) in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and to investigate their possible incremental value beyond ARVC risk score. Materials and Methods The retrospective study analyzed 91 patients with ARVC (median age, 36 years [IQR, 27-50 years]; 60 male, 31 female) who underwent cardiac MRI examinations between November 2010 and March 2022. The primary end point was the first occurrence of sustained VA after cardiac MRI to first VA, with censoring of patients who were alive without VA at last follow-up.

Associations of Blood Cadmium Levels With Osteoarthritis Among US Adults in NHANES 2013-2018.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a global public health problem, and limited information is available on the effects of Cd on OA. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between Cd and OA.

Method: Weighted multivariable logistic regression model, trend test, restricted cubic spline, and stratified analysis were used to study the association between BCd and OA.

AMPK Attenuation of β-Adrenergic Receptor-Induced Cardiac Injury via Phosphorylation of β-Arrestin-1-ser330.

Background: β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) overactivation is a major pathological cue associated with cardiac injury and diseases. AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), a conserved energy sensor, regulates energy metabolism and is cardioprotective. However, whether AMPK exerts cardioprotective effects via regulating the signaling pathway downstream of β-AR remains unclear.

Correction of age-associated defects in dendritic cells enables CD4 T cells to eradicate tumors.

Defective host defenses later in life are associated with changes in immune cell activities, suggesting that age-specific considerations are needed in immunotherapy approaches. In this study, we found that PD-1 and CTLA4-based cancer immunotherapies are unable to eradicate tumors in elderly mice. This defect in anti-tumor activity correlated with two known age-associated immune defects: diminished abundance of systemic naive CD8 T cells and weak migratory activities of dendritic cells (DCs).

Translational genetics identifies a phosphorylation switch in CARD9 required for innate inflammatory responses.

Population genetics continues to identify genetic variants associated with diseases of the immune system and offers a unique opportunity to discover mechanisms of immune regulation. Multiple genetic variants linked to severe fungal infections and autoimmunity are associated with caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9 (CARD9). We leverage the CARD9 R101C missense variant to uncover a biochemical mechanism of CARD9 activation essential for antifungal responses.

Modulation of Dendritic Cell Function via Nanoparticle-Induced Cytosolic Calcium Changes.

Calcium nanoparticles have been investigated for applications, such as drug and gene delivery. Additionally, Ca serves as a crucial second messenger in the activation of immune cells. However, few studies have systematically studied the effects of calcium nanoparticles on the calcium levels and functions within immune cells.

Efficacy of Acupuncture for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria : A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), reported in a few small-scale studies, is not convincing.

Objective: To investigate whether acupuncture leads to better effects on CSU than sham acupuncture or waitlist control.

Design: A multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial.

Deacetylation of Septin4 by SIRT2 (Silent Mating Type Information Regulation 2 Homolog-2) Mitigates Damaging of Hypertensive Nephropathy.

Background: Hypertension can lead to podocyte damage and subsequent apoptosis, eventually resulting in glomerulosclerosis. Although alleviating podocyte apoptosis has clinical significance for the treatment of hypertensive nephropathy, an effective therapeutic target has not yet been identified. The function of septin4, a proapoptotic protein and an important marker of organ damage, is regulated by post-translational modification.

Ticagrelor Aspirin vs Clopidogrel Aspirin in Loss-of-Function Carriers With Minor Stroke or TIA Stratified by Risk Profile.

Background And Objective: Genotype data of the Clopidogrel with Aspirin in Acute Minor Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (CHANCE) trial showed that efficacy of clopidogrel aspirin depended on genotype and risk profile. A stratification of patients who carried loss-of-function (LOF) alleles according to the risk of recurrent stroke may be important for selecting optimal antiplatelet therapy. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor aspirin with clopidogrel aspirin in LOF carriers with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) stratified by risk profile.

Ornithine decarboxylase supports ILC3 responses in infectious and autoimmune colitis through positive regulation of IL-22 transcription.

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) are RORγT lymphocytes that are predominately enriched in mucosal tissues and produce IL-22 and IL-17A. They are the innate counterparts of Th17 cells. While Th17 lymphocytes utilize unique metabolic pathways in their differentiation program, it is unknown whether ILC3s make similar metabolic adaptations.

Structural and biochemical mechanism for increased infectivity and immune evasion of Omicron BA.2 variant compared to BA.1 and their possible mouse origins.

The Omicron BA.2 variant has become a dominant infective strain worldwide. Receptor binding studies show that the Omicron BA.

Long-term stability and protection efficacy of the RBD-targeting COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in nonhuman primates.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine technology has shown its power in preventing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Two mRNA vaccines targeting the full-length S protein of SARS-CoV-2 have been authorized for emergency use. Recently, we have developed a lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA (mRNA-LNP) encoding the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 (termed ARCoV), which confers complete protection in mouse model.

Acupuncture for Quality of Life in Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Adjuvant Chemotherapy.

Context: Patients with gastric cancer experience health-related quality of life (HRQOL) decline during adjuvant chemotherapy following gastrectomy.

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the preliminary effect and feasibility of electro-acupuncture (EA) for HRQOL and symptom burden in these patients.

Methods: In this open-label, multicenter, parallel controlled trial, gastric cancer patients who planned to receive adjuvant chemotherapy were randomly assigned to receive high-dose EA (seven times each chemotherapy cycle for three cycles), low-dose EA (three times each chemotherapy cycle), or usual care only.

Sodium Sensitivity, Sodium Resistance, and Incidence of Hypertension: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study of Dietary Sodium Intervention.

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Community Health Behaviors and Geographic Variation in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Survival Among Women.

Introduction: Despite overall reductions in colorectal cancer (CRC) morbidity and mortality, survival disparities by sex persist among young patients (age <50 years). Our study sought to quantify variance in early-onset CRC survival accounted for by individual/community-level characteristics among a population-based cohort of US women.

Methods: Geographic hot spots-counties with high early-onset CRC mortality rates among women-were derived using 3 geospatial autocorrelation approaches with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention national mortality data.

Homeostatic and early-recruited CD101 eosinophils suppress endotoxin-induced acute lung injury.

Introduction: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a fatal but undertreated condition with severe neutrophilic inflammation, although little is known about the functions of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of ALI. Our objectives were to investigate the roles and molecular mechanisms of eosinophils in ALI.

Methods: Pulmonary eosinophils were identified by flow cytometry.

Genome Sequencing Explores Complexity of Chromosomal Abnormalities in Recurrent Miscarriage.

Recurrent miscarriage (RM) affects millions of couples globally, and half of them have no demonstrated etiology. Genome sequencing (GS) is an enhanced and novel cytogenetic tool to define the contribution of chromosomal abnormalities in human diseases. In this study we evaluated its utility in RM-affected couples.

Ablation of Myeloid ADK (Adenosine Kinase) Epigenetically Suppresses Atherosclerosis in ApoE (Apolipoprotein E Deficient) Mice.

Objective- Monocyte-derived foam cells are one of the key players in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Adenosine receptors and extracellular adenosine have been demonstrated to modulate foam cell formation. ADK (adenosine kinase) is a major enzyme regulating intracellular adenosine levels, but its functional role in myeloid cells remains poorly understood.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein predicts recurrent stroke in patients with minor stroke or TIA.

Objective: To investigate the association between oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and recurrent stroke in patients with minor stroke or TIA.

Methods: In the Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients With Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) trial, baseline oxLDL levels were blindly measured in plasma with the 4E6 antibody in the core laboratory. The primary outcome was any stroke within 90 days.

Real-time intravascular photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging of lipid-laden plaque in human coronary artery at 16 frames per second.

Intravascular photoacoustic-ultrasound (IVPA-US) imaging is an emerging hybrid modality for the detection of lipid-laden plaques, as it provides simultaneous morphological and lipid-specific chemical information of an artery wall. Real-time imaging and display at video-rate speed are critical for clinical utility of the IVPA-US imaging technology. Here, we demonstrate a portable IVPA-US system capable of imaging at up to 25 frames per second in real-time display mode.

Loss of Smooth Muscle α-Actin Leads to NF-κB-Dependent Increased Sensitivity to Angiotensin II in Smooth Muscle Cells and Aortic Enlargement.

Rationale: Mutations in , encoding the smooth muscle isoform of α-actin, cause thoracic aortic aneurysms, acute aortic dissections, and occlusive vascular diseases.

Objective: We sought to identify the mechanism by which loss of smooth muscle α-actin causes aortic disease.

Methods And Results: mice have an increased number of elastic lamellae in the ascending aorta and progressive aortic root dilation as assessed by echocardiography that can be attenuated by treatment with losartan, an angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 receptor blocker.