Role of Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor in Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension.

Background: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), mainly known for its neuroprotective properties, belongs to the IL-6 (interleukin-6) cytokine family. In contrast to IL-6, the effects of CNTF on the vasculature have not been explored. Here, we examined the role of CNTF in AngII (angiotensin II)-induced hypertension.

Placental Hypoxia-Induced Ferroptosis Drives Vascular Damage in Preeclampsia.

Background: Iron is an essential micronutrient for cell survival and growth; however, excess of this metal drives ferroptosis. Although maternal iron imbalance and placental hypoxia are independent contributors to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, the mechanisms by which their interaction impinge on maternal and placental health remain elusive.

Methods: We used placentae from normotensive and preeclampsia pregnancy cohorts, human H9 embryonic stem cells differentiated into cytotrophoblast-like cells, and placenta-specific preeclamptic mice.

Serum Biomarkers of Pulmonary Damage and Risk for Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

Objective: To investigate baseline and change of pulmonary damage biomarkers (serum Krebs von den Lungen 6 [KL-6], human surfactant protein D [hSP-D], and matrix metalloproteinase 7 [MMP-7]) with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) progression.

Methods: In the Korean Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease (KORAIL) cohort, a prospective cohort, we enrolled patients with RA and ILD confirmed by chest computed tomography imaging and followed annually. ILD progression was defined as worsening in physiological and radiological domains of the 2022 American Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society, Japanese Respiratory Society, and Latin American Thoracic Society guideline for progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF).

Development and Evaluation of Five-in-One Vaccine Microneedle Array Patch for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, and Type b: Immunological Efficacy and Long-Term Stability.

: The development of a five-in-one vaccine microneedle patch (five-in-one MN patch) aims to address challenges in administering vaccines against Diphtheria (DT), Tetanus (TT), Pertussis (wP), Hepatitis B (HBsAg), and type b (Hib). Combining multiple vaccines into a single patch offers a novel solution to improve vaccine accessibility, stability, and delivery efficiency, particularly in resource-limited settings. : The five-in-one MN patch consists of four distinct microneedle arrays: DT and TT vaccines are coated together on one array, while wP, HepB, and Hib vaccines are coated separately on individual arrays.

Overcoming CD226-related immune evasion in acute myeloid leukemia with CD38 CAR-engineered NK cells.

CD226 plays a vital role in natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, interacting with its ligands CD112 and CD155 to initiate immune synapse formation, primarily through leukocyte function-associated-1 (LFA-1). Our study examined the role of CD226 in NK cell surveillance of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). NK cells in patients with AML had lower expression of CD226.

Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation With Versus Without Additional Right Atrial Linear Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: The CRALAL Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone is less effective in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with those with paroxysmal AF. We investigate whether additional linear ablation from the superior vena cava to the right atrial septum and cavotricuspid isthmus ablation improves the rhythm outcome of patients with persistent AF undergoing cryoballoon PVI (Cryo-PVI).

Methods: In this investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized clinical trial, 289 patients with persistent AF refractory to antiarrhythmic drug therapy were randomized 1:1 to either Cryo-PVI with additional right atrium (RA) linear ablation or Cryo-PVI alone.

Risk of Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Computed Tomography: A 16 Institutional Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: Concern about contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) may delay the timely administration of contrast media for computed tomography (CT). The precise causative effect of iodinated contrast media on CI-AKI and its relevant risk factors remains an area of ongoing investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the risk of CI-AKI following contrast-enhanced CT and its predisposing risk factors.

Functional Outcome Measures to Optimize Drug Development in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy: Results From a Meta-Analysis of the Global SBMA Dataset.

Background And Objectives: Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a rare, slowly progressive, and debilitating disease without effective treatments available. Lack of reliable biomarkers and sensitive outcome measures makes clinical research conduct challenging. The primary objective of this study was to identify clinically meaningful and statistically sensitive outcome measures enabling the evaluation of therapeutic interventions in late-stage clinical trials.

The Incidence of Popeye Deformity After Soft-Tissue Biceps Tenodesis Is Comparable to Biceps Anchor Tenodesis and Lower Than Biceps Tenotomy During Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

Purpose: To compare clinical and radiologic outcomes between biceps anchor tenodesis (AT), biceps soft-tissue tenodesis (ST), and biceps tenotomy (TT) for patients with concomitant rotator cuff repair (RCR).

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed patients who underwent arthroscopic RCR for full-thickness rotator cuff tears with AT, ST, or TT with minimum 2-year follow-up. All biceps procedures were performed arthroscopically, and ST consisted of fixation to the transverse humeral ligament.

Role of Lysyl Oxidase-Like Protein 3 in the Pathogenesis of Graves' Orbitopathy in Orbital Fibroblasts.

Purpose: The lysyl oxidase (LOX) family has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases caused by inflammation and fibrosis. Therefore, we aimed to examine the role of lysyl oxidase-like protein 3 (LOXL3) in Graves' orbitopathy (GO) pathogenesis and its potential as a treatment target.

Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction compared the transcript levels of the five LOX family subtypes in orbital tissue explants obtained from patients with GO (n = 18) and healthy controls (n = 15).

AIBP Protects Müller Glial Cells Against Oxidative Stress-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Reduces Retinal Neuroinflammation.

Glaucoma, an optic neuropathy with the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction have a significant role in triggering glia-driven neuroinflammation and subsequent glaucomatous RGC degeneration in the context of glaucoma. It has previously been shown that apolipoprotein A-I binding protein (APOA1BP or AIBP) has an anti-inflammatory function.

Efficacy and Safety of Wilac L Probiotic Complex Isolated from Kimchi on the Regulation of Alcohol and Acetaldehyde Metabolism in Humans.

Alcohol-related hangovers impact both physical and mental wellness, largely due to acetaldehyde levels produced through alcohol metabolism. The present study investigated the efficacy and safety of the Wilac L probiotic complex ( WiKim0168 and WiKim0172 isolated from kimchi) in improving hangovers post-alcohol consumption. This study was conducted as a randomized, double-blind, crossover placebo-controlled clinical trial from August 2023 to February 2024.

Automated quantification of cerebral microbleeds in susceptibility-weighted MRI: association with vascular risk factors, white matter hyperintensity burden, and cognitive function.

Background And Purpose: To train and validate a deep learning (DL)-based segmentation model for cerebral microbleeds (CMB) on susceptibility-weighted MRI; and to find associations between CMB, cognitive impairment, and vascular risk factors.

Materials And Methods: Participants in this single-institution retrospective study underwent brain MRI to evaluate cognitive impairment between January-September 2023. For training the DL model, the nnU-Net framework was used without modifications.

The Effects of Thunb. on the Alleviation of Joint Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Arthritis is mainly a geriatric disease that causes joint pain and lowers the quality of life. This clinical trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of Thunb. (HY-LL) in alleviating joint pain.

Isolation and characterization of IgG3 glycan-targeting antibodies with exceptional cross-reactivity for diverse viral families.

Broadly reactive antibodies that target sequence-diverse antigens are of interest for vaccine design and monoclonal antibody therapeutic development because they can protect against multiple strains of a virus and provide a barrier to evolution of escape mutants. Using LIBRA-seq (linking B cell receptor to antigen specificity through sequencing) data for the B cell repertoire of an individual chronically infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), we identified a lineage of IgG3 antibodies predicted to bind to HIV-1 Envelope (Env) and influenza A Hemagglutinin (HA). Two lineage members, antibodies 2526 and 546, were confirmed to bind to a large panel of diverse antigens, including several strains of HIV-1 Env, influenza HA, coronavirus (CoV) spike, hepatitis C virus (HCV) E protein, Nipah virus (NiV) F protein, and Langya virus (LayV) F protein.

Are we closer to achieving precision medicine for migraine treatment? A narrative review.

Background: The term 'precision medicine' encompasses strategies to optimize diagnosis and outcome prediction and to tailor treatment for individual patients, in consideration of their unique characteristics. The greater availability of multifaceted datasets and strategies to model such data have made precision medicine increasingly possible in recent years. Precision medicine is especially needed in the migraine field since the response to migraine treatments is not universal amongst all individuals with migraine.