Therapeutic targeting of cGAS-STING pathway in lung cancer.

The presence of DNA in the cytosol triggers a protective response from the innate immune system. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) is an essential cytosolic DNA sensor that triggers a potent innate immune response. As a result of this signaling cascade reaction, type I interferon and other immune mediators activate an immune response.

An efficient extraction device for microplastics in marine sediments and its applications.

Microplastics, defined as small pieces of plastic with a size less than 5 millimeters, constitute a significant sink for microplastics in marine sediments. Given the potential harm to nature and human beings, accurate detection of microplastics in marine sediments is of the utmost importance. The separation of microplastics from marine sediments represents a pivotal step in the quantitative detection of microplastics.

ARF alters PAF1 complex integrity to selectively repress oncogenic transcription programs upon p53 loss.

The polymerase associated factor 1 (PAF1) complex (PAF1c) promotes RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) transcription at the elongation step; however, how PAF1c transcription activity is selectively regulated during cell fate transitions remains poorly understood. Here, we reveal that the alternative reading frame (ARF) tumor suppressor operates at two levels to restrain PAF1c-dependent oncogenic transcriptional programs upon p53 loss in mouse cells. First, ARF assembles into homo-oligomers to bind the PAF1 subunit to promote PAF1c disassembly, consequently dampening PAF1c interaction with RNA Pol II and PAF1c-dependent transcription.

Using the GoogLeNet deep-learning model to distinguish between benign and malignant breast masses based on conventional ultrasound: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women worldwide, and early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for improving treatment outcomes. Conventional ultrasound (CUS) is a widely used screening method for breast cancer; however, the subjective nature of interpreting the results can lead to diagnostic errors. The current study sought to estimate the effectiveness of using a GoogLeNet deep-learning convolutional neural network (CNN) model to identify benign and malignant breast masses based on CUS.

Cardioprotective effect of Perakine against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury of type-2 diabetic rat in Langendorff-Perfused Rat Hearts: Role of TLR4/NF-kB signalling pathway.

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a grave life-threatening situation, if not treated well in time. The development of natural remedies for myocardial I/R injury has witnessed dramatic growth in the last decade. Prompted by the above, in the present study, we have elucidated the pharmacological effect of Perakine (PER), an indole alkaloid in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in type 2 diabetic rats.

The Protective Effect of Astragalus Polysaccharide on Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice by Activating the AMPK/JAK/STAT3/Arginase-1 Signaling Pathway.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the blank control group, EAE group, and APS intervention group (n=15/group). The Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model was established by active immunization.

Echocardiograms and bed placement in patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

Background: Understanding of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) continues to evolve with extensive evaluations, including echocardiograms, obtained in emergency departments (EDs) to assist with clinical decision making and bed allocation. We assessed the utility of obtaining echocardiograms in the ED to assist in determining bed placement for this patient population.

Methods: This 2-year retrospective single-center study of patients 0-21 years old without underlying cardiac disease hospitalized for MIS-C focused on individuals whose initial evaluation occurred in the institution's ED and whose echocardiogram was obtained either in the ED or within 24 hours of admission.

Chemotherapy-mediated lncRNA-induced immune cell plasticity in cancer immunopathogenesis.

Tumor cells engage with the immune system in a complex manner, utilizing evasion and adaptability mechanisms. The development of cancer and resistance to treatment relies on the ability of immune cells to adjust their phenotype and function in response to cues from the tumor microenvironment, known as immunological cell plasticity. This study delves into the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in enhancing immune cell flexibility in cancer, focusing on their regulatory actions in the tumor microenvironment and potential therapeutic implications.

Fluorogenic RNA-based biomaterials for imaging and tracking the cargo of extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), or exosomes, play important roles in physiological and pathological cellular communication and have gained substantial traction as biological drug carriers. EVs contain both short and long non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and epigenetic processes. To fully capitalize on the potential of EVs as drug carriers, it is important to study and understand the intricacies of EV function and EV RNA-based communication.

The NRF2/ID2 Axis in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: Novel Insights into the Interplay between Vascular Calcification and Aging.

Vascular calcification (VC) increases with age and markedly exacerbates the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, effective pharmaceutical interventions are lacking and the molecular mechanisms linking aging to VC remain elusive. This study explored the role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) in age-associated VC, specifically focusing on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) senescence.

Improvement in Echocardiographic and Diagnostic Biomarkers after Systemic Glucocorticoid Therapy in Infants with Pulmonary Hypertension.

Objective: To assess the effect of treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) in infants younger than 1 year of age with systemic glucocorticoids while using echocardiographic and diagnostic biomarkers as measures of efficacy.

Study Design: A retrospective chart review was performed on 17 hospitalized infants younger than 1 year of age at St Louis Children's Hospital who received a 5- to 7-day course of systemic glucocorticoid treatment followed by a 3-week taper with no significant intracardiac shunts from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2021. Quantitative echocardiographic indices for PH, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide, and/or b-type natriuretic peptide levels were collected before glucocorticoid treatment, after the glucocorticoid burst, and after the 21-day taper.

CEBPA Restrains the Malignant Progression of Breast Cancer by Prompting the Transcription of SOCS2.

The suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) has been identified to act as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer (BC) progression. However, the action of SOCS2 in macrophage polarization in BC cells has not been reported yet. The qRT-PCR and western blotting were adopted for detecting the levels of mRNAs and proteins.

Antidote or poison: The relationship between "lying flat" tendency and mental health.

Although "lying flat" has become a new youth subculture phenomenon, it is unclear whether "lying flat" is an antidote or a poison for the youth's mental health. Here, we explored the effect of "lying flat" tendency on mental health using the cross-sectional (Study 1a) and longitudinal designs (Study 1b) as well as the intervention design (Study 2). In Study 1a, we found that the youth's "lying flat" tendency was negatively correlated with their mental health.

Effects of Nox4 upregulation on PECAM-1 expression in a mouse model of diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults. The hallmark features of DR include vascular leakage, capillary loss, retinal ischemia, and aberrant neovascularization. Although the pathophysiology is not fully understood, accumulating evidence supports elevated reactive oxygen species associated with increased activity of NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) as major drivers of disease progression.

[Chronic intermittent hypoxia activates NLRP1 inflammasome and causes liver injury].

Objective To investigate the liver injury induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) activation of NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing protein 1 (NLRP1) inflammasome. Methods C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into control group and CIH group. Mice in CIH group were put into CIH chamber for molding (8 hours a day for 4 weeks).

Reversibility of Cognitive Deficits and Functional Connectivity With Transfusion in Children With Sickle Cell Disease.

Background And Objectives: People with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk of cognitive dysfunction independent of stroke. Diminished functional connectivity in select large-scale networks and white matter integrity reflect the neurologic consequences of SCD. Because chronic transfusion therapy is neuroprotective in preventing stroke and strengthening executive function abilities in people with SCD, we hypothesized that red blood cell (RBC) transfusion facilitates the acute reversal of disruptions in functional connectivity while white matter integrity remains unaffected.

Association Between Peripheral Retinal Defocus and Myopia by Multispectral Refraction Topography in Chinese Children.

Objective: To investigate the association between the peripheral refractive errors of the fundus in different regions and moderate and high myopia.

Methods: In this case-control study, 320 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years were recruited. Peripheral refractive errors were measured using multispectral retinal refractive topography (MRT).

TCM formula for trauma treatment screening and its role of promoting infectious wound coalescence investigating.

In pet clinics, the number of cases using trauma drugs accounts for >10% of the total number of cases, and most wounds are healing by second intention. The prolongation of wound healing time causes inconvenience and burden to pets and pet owners. Therefore, how to reduce wound healing time and achieve maximum recovery of tissue function and aesthetics is one of the focuses of veterinary clinical practice.

Targeting and Microenvironment-Activated Nanoreactor for Diabetic Chronic Wound Healing via Multienzyme Cascade Reactions.

The development of cell-like nanoreactors with the ability to initiate biocatalytic cascades under special conditions holds tremendous potential for therapeutic applications. Herein, conformationally gated nanoreactors that respond to the acidic microenvironment of infected diabetic wounds were developed by cucur[8]bituril (CB[8])-based supramolecular assembly. The bioinspired nanoreactors exhibit not only self-regulated permeability and selectivity to control internal enzyme activities by substance exchange but also distinct binding specificities toward Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria via noncovalent modification with different ligands.

Azithromycin therapy in infants hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis: Airway matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels and subsequent recurrent wheeze.

Background: Early life respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is a significant risk factor for childhood asthma. In vitro and in vivo studies suggested that decreasing levels of airway matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 during RSV bronchiolitis may be associated with clinical benefits.

Objective: To investigate whether azithromycin therapy during severe RSV bronchiolitis reduces upper airway MMP-9 levels, whether upper airway MMP-9 levels correlate with upper airway interleukin IL-8 levels, and whether MMP-9 level reduction is associated with reduced post-RSV recurrent wheeze (RW).

Stress-strain characteristics of FRP-PVC confined spontaneous combustion gangue concrete columns.

A total of 40 fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) confined spontaneous combustion gangue coarse-aggregate concrete (SAC) specimens were subjected to axial compression tests and theoretical studies. The main analysis focused on the impact of the replacement rate of spontaneous combustion gangue (SCG), the type of CFRP confinement, and the number of CFRP layers on the axial compression performance of CFRP-PVC confined SAC (CFRP-PVC-SAC). The results show that CFRP-PVC confinement can effectively enhance the axial compressive capacity, axial deformation, and lateral deformation of the components.