Differential Expression of NRF2 in the Cortex and Hippocampus Following Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion.

Background/aim: Vascular dementia is the second most common cognitive disorder after Alzheimer's disease. Bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) is a widely used model of vascular dementia associated with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Previous studies have reported a beneficial role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) in BCCAO.

Prenyl diphosphate synthase subunit 2 is downregulated in abdominal aortic aneurysm and retards the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex and fatal vascular disease for which specific treatments are still lacking. This study explored the effect and possible mechanisms of prenyl diphosphate synthase subunit 2 (PDSS2) on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced AAA in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Material And Methods: The AAA cell model was established by treating VSMCs with 1 μM Ang II for 24 h.

Small-molecule activator of SMUG1 enhances repair of pyrimidine lesions in DNA.

A potentially promising approach to targeted cancer prevention in genetically at-risk populations is the pharmacological upregulation of DNA repair pathways. SMUG1 is a base excision repair enzyme that ameliorates adverse genotoxic and mutagenic effects of hydrolytic and oxidative damage to pyrimidines. Here we describe the discovery and initial cellular activity of a small-molecule activator of SMUG1.

P2 Receptor Antagonists Rescue Defective Heme Content in an In Vitro SLC25A38-Associated Congenital Sideroblastic Anemia Cell Model.

Mutations in the SLC25A38 gene are responsible for the second most common form of congenital sideroblastic anemia (CSA), a severe condition for which no effective treatment exists. We developed and characterized a K562 erythroleukemia cell line with markedly reduced expression of the SLC25A38 protein (A38-low cells). This model successfully recapitulated the main features of CSA, including reduced heme content and mitochondrial respiration, increase in mitochondrial iron, ROS levels and sensitivity to oxidative stress.

Therapeutic upregulation of DNA repair pathways: strategies and small molecule activators.

DNA repair activity diminishes with age and genetic mutations, leading to a significantly increased risk of cancer and other diseases. Upregulating the DNA repair system has emerged as a potential strategy to mitigate disease susceptibility while minimizing cytotoxic side effects. However, enhancing DNA repair activity presents significant challenges due to the inherent inefficiency in activator screening processes.

Revisiting the full blood count: Circulating blood cells and their role in coagulation.

There has been an expansion in our understanding of the multifaceted roles of circulating blood cells in regulating haemostasis and contributing to thrombosis. Notably, there is greater recognition of the interplay between coagulation with inflammation and innate immune activation and the contribution of leucocytes. The full blood count (FBC) is a time-honoured test in medicine; however, its components are often viewed in isolation and without consideration of their haemostatic and thrombotic potential.

The convergent model of coagulation.

It is increasingly apparent that the pathologic interplay between coagulation and innate immunity, ie, immunothrombosis, forms the common basis of many challenges across the boundaries of specialized medicine and cannot be fully explained by the conventional concepts of cascade and cell-based coagulation. To improve our understanding of coagulation, we propose a model of coagulation that converges with inflammation and innate immune activation as a unified response toward vascular injury. Evolutionarily integral to the convergent response are damage-associated molecular patterns, which are released as a consequence of injury.

Fibrinogen binding to histones in circulation protects against adverse cellular and clinical outcomes.

Background: Circulating histones are released by extensive tissue injury or cell death and play important pathogenic roles in critical illnesses. Their interaction with circulating plasma components and the potential roles in the clinical setting are not fully understood.

Objectives: We aimed to characterize the interaction of histones with fibrinogen and explore its roles in vitro, in vivo, and in patient samples.

Nomogram for predicting survival in T1-T2 stage patients with supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma (SGSCC) is characterized by low differentiation, rapid growth, and inconspicuous initial manifestations. Early detection and prompt treatment can significantly improve survival rates. The main focus of treatment is to maintain optimal laryngeal function.

Modulate the laser phase to improve the ns-LIBS spectrum signal based on orbital angular momentum.

Aiming to enhance the ns-LIBS signal, in this work, we introduced orbital angular momentum to modulate the laser phase of the Gaussian beam into the vortex beam. Under similar incident laser energy, the vortex beam promoted more uniform ablation and more ablation mass compared to the Gaussian beam, leading to elevated temperature and electron density in the laser-induced plasma. Consequently, the intensity of the ns-LIBS signal was improved.

Oral administration of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells attenuates intestinal injury in necrotizing enterocolitis.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a major cause of morbidity in premature infants. However, effective treatment options for NEC are currently lacking.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the optimal dose of intraperitoneally administered bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and investigate the therapeutic potential of orally administered BM-MSCs in NEC.

Damage-associated cellular markers in the clinical and pathogenic profile of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia.

Background: Adenoviral vector-based COVID-19 vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is rare but carries significant risks of mortality and long-term morbidity. The underlying pathophysiology of severe disease is still not fully understood. The objectives were to explore the pathophysiological profile and examine for clinically informative biomarkers in patients with severe VITT.

Rethinking coagulation: from enzymatic cascade and cell-based reactions to a convergent model involving innate immune activation.

Advancements in the conceptual thinking of hemostasis and thrombosis have been catalyzed by major developments within health research over several decades. The cascade model of coagulation was first described in the 1960s, when biochemistry gained prominence through innovative experimentation and technical developments. This was followed by the cell-based model, which integrated cellular coordination to the enzymology of clot formation and was conceptualized during the growth period in cell biology at the turn of the millennium.

Knocking down SOX2 overcomes the resistance of prostate cancer to castration via notch signaling.

Background: Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a terminal type of advanced cancer resistant to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Due to the poor therapeutic response of CRPC, novel treatment strategies are urgently required. This study aimed to clarify the regulatory roles of the SOX2/Notch axis in CRPC.

The protective effects of pirfenidone in preventing abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis participates in the initiation and progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Pirfenidone is a compound that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and suppresses angiogenesis. Pirfenidone targets the extracellular matrix (ECM) and has therapeutic effects on fibrotic diseases.

Reversible 2'-OH acylation enhances RNA stability.

The presence of a hydroxyl group at the 2'-position in its ribose makes RNA susceptible to hydrolysis. Stabilization of RNAs for storage, transport and biological application thus remains a serious challenge, particularly for larger RNAs that are not accessible by chemical synthesis. Here we present reversible 2'-OH acylation as a general strategy to preserve RNA of any length or origin.

Cell-free histones and the cell-based model of coagulation.

The cell-based model of coagulation remains the basis of our current understanding of clinical hemostasis and thrombosis. Its advancement on the coagulation cascade model has enabled new prohemostatic and anticoagulant treatments to be developed. In the past decade, there has been increasing evidence of the procoagulant properties of extracellular, cell-free histones (CFHs).

Chinese Expert Consensus on the Use of Biologics in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis (2022, Zhuhai).

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common inflammatory disease in otolaryngology, mainly manifested as nasal congestion, nasal discharge, facial pain/pressure, and smell disorder. CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), an important phenotype of CRS, has a high recurrence rate even after receiving corticosteroids and/or functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In recent years, clinicians have focused on the application of biological agents in CRSwNP.

Characterization of mesenchymal stem cells in human fetal bone marrow by single-cell transcriptomic and functional analysis.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous population that can self-renew and generate stroma, cartilage, fat, and bone. Although a significant progress has been made toward recognizing about the phenotypic characteristics of MSCs, the true identity and properties of MSCs in bone marrow remain unclear. Here, we report the expression landscape of human fetal BM nucleated cells (BMNCs) based on the single-cell transcriptomic analysis.

Differential Expression of Pax6 Following Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion.

Background/aim: Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion causes neuronal damage involving cognitive impairment and development of dementia. Permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) in rat models is used to study chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Pax6 is used as an early neurogenesis marker which affects the maturation of neuronal cells.

A Small-Molecule Fluorescence Probe for Nuclear ATP.

Fluorescence monitoring of ATP in different organelles is now feasible with a few biosensors developed, which, however, show low sensitivity, limited biocompatibility, and accessibility. Small-molecule ATP probes that alleviate those limitations thus have received much attention recently, leading to a few ATP probes that target several organelles except for the nucleus. We disclose the first small-molecule probe that selectively detects nuclear ATP through reversible binding, with 25-fold fluorescence enhancement at pH 7.