Lactobacillus reuteri Assists Engineered Bacteria That Target Tumors to Release PD-L1nb to Mitigate the Adverse Effects of Breast Cancer Immunotherapy.

Programmed death protein-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors demonstrate significant antitumor efficacy by modulating T-cell activity and inhibiting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, thus enhancing immune responses. Despite their robust effects, systemic administration of these inhibitors is linked to severe immune toxicity. To address this issue, we engineered a strain, REP, which releases PD-L1 nanoantibodies (PD-L1nb) to treat breast cancer and attenuate immunotherapy-related side effects.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness as a Risk Factor for Impulse Control Disorders in Parkinson's Disease.

Purpose: Impulse control disorders (ICDs) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) are common symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). Few longitudinal studies have focused on the association between EDS and ICDs. This longitudinal study aimed at assessing association between EDS and ICDs in PD.

Venom exaptation and adaptation during the trophic switch to blood-feeding by kissing bugs.

Kissing bugs are known to produce anticoagulant venom that facilitates blood-feeding. However, it is unknown how this saliva evolved and if the venom produced by the entomophagous ancestors of kissing bugs would have helped or hindered the trophic shift. In this study, we show that venoms produced by extant predatory assassin bugs have strong anticoagulant properties mediated chiefly by proteolytic degradation of fibrinogen, and additionally contain anticoagulant disulfide-rich peptides.

40 Hz light flickering facilitates the glymphatic flow via adenosine signaling in mice.

The glymphatic-lymphatic system is increasingly recognized as fundamental for the homeostasis of the brain milieu since it defines cerebral spinal fluid flow in the brain parenchyma and eliminates metabolic waste. Animal and human studies have uncovered several important physiological factors regulating the glymphatic system including sleep, aquaporin-4, and hemodynamic factors. Yet, our understanding of the modulation of the glymphatic system is limited, which has hindered the development of glymphatic-based treatment for aging and neurodegenerative disorders.

Structure and bioactivity of an insecticidal trans-defensin from assassin bug venom.

Disulfide-rich peptides such as defensins play diverse roles in immunity and ion channel modulation, as well as constituting the bioactive components of many animal venoms. We investigated the structure and bioactivity of U-RDTX-Pp19, a peptide previously discovered in venom of the assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis. Recombinant Pp19 (rPp19) was found to possess insecticidal activity when injected into Drosophila melanogaster.

Autosomal Dominant Weill-Marchesani-Like Syndrome in a Chinese Family due to Novel Haplotypic Mutations in LTBP2.

Introduction: Weill-Marchesani syndrome (WMS) is a hereditary connective tissue disorder with substantial heterogeneity in clinical features and genetic etiology, so it is essential to define the full mutation spectrum for earlier diagnosis. In this study, we report Weill-Marchesani-like syndrome (WMS-like) change to autosomal dominance inheritance caused by novel haplotypic mutations in latent transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 2 (LTBP2).

Methods: Twenty-five members from a 4-generation Chinese family were recruited from Guangzhou, of whom nine were diagnosed with WMS-like disease, nine were healthy, and seven were of "uncertain" clinical status because of their young age.

Polymorphism of Niobium Phosphate Bronze NaNbPO Deduced by the Packings of Structural Units: A Centrosymmetric Phase.

Herein, a new centrosymmetric phase NaNbPO (referred to as CS-NaNbPO) was obtained by a molten salt method, which is a polymorph of niobium phosphate bronze NaNbPO. CS-NaNbPO displays high structural similarity to the noncentrosymmetric NaNbPO phase (referred to as NCS-NaNbPO): Distorted NbO octahedra are corner-coordinated to form ReO-type layers, which are further joined together by isolated PO tetrahedra. However, two polymorphous phases adopt different packings of structural units, resulting in distinct symmetries.

A fully human monoclonal antibody targeting Semaphorin 5A alleviates the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic autoimmune disease worldwide. Although progress has been made in RA treatment in recent decades, remission cannot be effectively achieved for a considerable proportion of RA patients. Thus, novel potential targets for therapeutic strategies are needed.

Comparison of retinal parameters between rhesus and cynomolgus macaques.

Nonhuman primates are important research models for basic vision research, preclinical pathogenesis, and treatment studies due to strong similarities in retinal structure and function with humans. We compared retinal parameters between 10 healthy normal rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and 10 cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) by optical coherence tomography and electroretinography. The Heidelberg Spectralis® HRA+OCT and Roland multifocal electrophysiometer were used to analyze retinal morphology, multifocal electroretinograms (mfERGs), and full-field electroretinograms (ff-ERGs).

CCCTC-binding factor: the specific transcription factor of β-galactoside α-2,6-sialyltransferase 1 that upregulates the sialylation of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Sialylation of the crystallizable fragment (Fc) of ACPAs, which is catalysed by β-galactoside α-2,6-sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1) could attenuate inflammation of RA. In this study, we screened the transcription factor of ST6GAL1 and elucidated the mechanism of transcriptionally upregulating sialylation of ACPAs in B cells to explore its role in the progression of RA.

Methods: Transcription factors interacting with the P2 promoter of ST6GAL1 were screened by DNA pull-down and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), dual luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).

Comparison of the chloroplast genomes and phylogenomic analysis of Elaeocarpaceae.

Background: Elaeocarpaceae is a vital family in tropical and subtropical forests. Compared with the important position of Elaeocarpaceae species in forest ecosystem and the concern of medicinal value, the most research on Elaeocarpaceae are classification and taxonomy. Molecular systematics has corrected the morphological misjudgment, and it belongs to Oxalidales.

The Development of a Novel Headspace O Concentration Measurement Sensor for Vials.

In the process of manufacture and transportation, vials are prone to breakage and cracks. Oxygen (O) in the air entering vials can lead to the deterioration of medicine and a reduction in pesticide effects, threatening the life of patients. Therefore, accurate measurement of the headspace O concentration for vials is crucial to ensure pharmaceutical quality.

A fully human connective tissue growth factor blocking monoclonal antibody ameliorates experimental rheumatoid arthritis through inhibiting angiogenesis.

Background: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by facilitating angiogenesis and is a promising therapeutic target for RA treatment. Herein, we generated a fully human CTGF blocking monoclonal antibody (mAb) through phage display technology.

Results: A single-chain fragment variable (scFv) with a high affinity to human CTGF was isolated through screening a fully human phage display library.

Antiviral treatment in outpatients with herps zoster in six major areas of China, 2010-2019.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the status and trends of antiviral treatment in outpatients with herpes zoster in China.

Methods: Prescription data on antiviral drugs were extracted from the database of the Hospital Prescription Analysis Program of China according to the inclusion criteria. Yearly prescriptions and costs were calculated, and trends were analyzed.

High-Mobility Group Box 1 Inhibitor BoxA Alleviates Neuroinflammation-Induced Retinal Ganglion Cell Damage in Traumatic Optic Neuropathy.

Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is a significant cause of vision loss and irreversible blindness worldwide. It is defined as retinal ganglion cell death and axon degeneration caused by injury. Optic nerve crush (ONC), a well-validated model of TON, activates retinal microglia and initiates neuroinflammation.

Prevalence and risk factors of tigecycline-induced liver injury: A multicenter retrospective study.

Objective: We conducted this multicenter retrospective study to evaluate the prevalence, clinical patterns, and risk factors for tigecycline-induced liver injury, which is a type of drug-induced liver injury (DILI).

Methods: Inpatients receiving intravenous tigecycline for ≥7 days were included. Patient information was collected to assess possible DILIs.

A rapid 2AB-UHPLC method based on magnetic beads extraction for N-glycan analysis of recombinant monoclonal antibody.

N-glycosylation is one of the major post-translational modifications, with significant effects on the mechanism of action, the efficacy, and the safety of antibody drugs or glycoproteins. With the growing application of therapeutic antibodies, routinely monitoring N-glycosylation becomes increasingly important during cell culture process development and quality control. However, the current pretreatment methods for N-glycan analysis are time- and labor-consuming.

Trends in Topical Prescriptional Therapy for Old Patients With Dry Eye Disease in Six Major Areas of China: 2013-2019.

The prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) in old patients are high, corresponding to a substantial economic burden. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the trends in the topical prescriptional treatment of old patients with DED in six major areas of China. Information on topical drug prescriptions for DED patients aged above 60 years was extracted from the Hospital Prescription Analysis Cooperative Program of China database.

Trends in Outpatient Prescribing Patterns for Ocular Topical Anti-Infectives in Six Major Areas of China, 2013-2019.

Topical anti-infectives are important in the management of ocular infections, but little is known about their current status and trends in their use in China. Thus, we carried out a prescription-based, cross-sectional study using the database of Hospital Prescription Analysis Projection of China, and aimed to analyze the trend in the use of ocular topical anti-infectives for outpatients of the ophthalmology department from 2013 to 2019. A total of 2,341,719 prescriptions from 61 hospitals located in six major areas written by ophthalmologists for outpatients were identified, and 1,002,254 of the prescriptions contained at least one anti-infective.

Effect of different sample treatment methods on Low Endotoxin Recovery Phenomenon.

Endotoxin is a kind of lipopolysaccharide that exits on the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria. It can cause fever, shock or even death when is delivered into human body. So, it is necessary to control the endotoxin contamination for biopharmaceutical products that are mainly administered by intravenous route.

Production, composition, and mode of action of the painful defensive venom produced by a limacodid caterpillar, .

Venoms have evolved independently several times in Lepidoptera. Limacodidae is a family with worldwide distribution, many of which are venomous in the larval stage, but the composition and mode of action of their venom is unknown. Here, we use imaging technologies, transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional assays to provide a holistic picture of the venom system of a limacodid caterpillar, Contrary to dogma that defensive venoms are simple in composition, produces a complex venom containing 151 proteinaceous toxins spanning 59 families, most of which are peptides <10 kDa.

Isolation, identification, and whole genome sequence analysis of the alginate-degrading bacterium Cobetia sp. cqz5-12.

Alginate-degrading bacteria or alginate lyases can be used to oligomerize alginate. In this study, an alginate-degrading bacterium with high alginolytic activity was successfully screened by using Sargassum fusiforme sludge. When the strain was grown on a plate containing sodium alginate, the transparent ring diameter (D) was 2.

Weaponisation 'on the fly': Convergent recruitment of knottin and defensin peptide scaffolds into the venom of predatory assassin flies.

Many arthropod venom peptides have potential as bioinsecticides, drug leads, and pharmacological tools due to their specific neuromodulatory functions. Assassin flies (Asilidae) are a family of predaceous dipterans that produce a unique and complex peptide-rich venom for killing insect prey and deterring predators. However, very little is known about the structure and function of their venom peptides.

Missiles of Mass Disruption: Composition and Glandular Origin of Venom Used as a Projectile Defensive Weapon by the Assassin Bug .

Assassin bugs (Reduviidae) produce venoms that are insecticidal, and which induce pain in predators, but the composition and function of their individual venom components is poorly understood. We report findings on the venom system of the red-spotted assassin bug , a large species of African origin that is unique in propelling venom as a projectile weapon when threatened. We performed RNA sequencing experiments on venom glands (separate transcriptomes of the posterior main gland, PMG, and the anterior main gland, AMG), and proteomic experiments on venom that was either defensively propelled or collected from the proboscis in response to electrostimulation.

Comparison of vascular parameters between normal cynomolgus macaques and healthy humans by optical coherence tomography angiography.

Background: The metabolic activity of retina is higher than other human tissues and is crucial to the vision. Cynomolgus macaques is widely used in ophthalmic disease research. The evaluation and comparison of macular and optic disc vascular circulation parameters between normal adult cynomolgus macaques and healthy adult humans using OCT-A can promote better use of nonhuman primate models in studies of ophthalmic vascular disease.