PEG-BCT-100 and Canavanine Synergistically Induce Apoptosis in Arginine Biosynthetic Enzyme-Deficient Pancreatic Cancer.

This study investigates the synergistic antitumor effect of PEG-BCT-100, an arginase, in clinical trials, with canavanine in pancreatic cancer, in vitro and in vivo. The treatment induces cancer cell apoptosis while sparing normal fibroblasts. Our findings suggest heightened susceptibility of pancreatic tumors deficient in arginine biosynthesis enzymes ASS1 and OTC.

Pharmacological activation of STAT1-GSDME pyroptotic circuitry reinforces epigenetic immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Genomic screening uncovered interferon-gamma (IFNγ) pathway defects in tumours refractory to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, its non-mutational regulation and reversibility for therapeutic development remain less understood.

Objective: We aimed to identify ICB resistance-associated druggable histone deacetylases (HDACs) and develop a readily translatable combination approach for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Volumetric measurement to evaluate treatment response to induction chemotherapy on MRI outperformed RECIST guideline in outcome prediction in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Treatment response evaluated by tumour size change is an important indicator for outcome prediction. Advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (adNPC) grows irregularly, and so the unidimensional measurement may not be accurately applied to adNPC for outcome prediction. This study aimed to evaluate values of unidimensional and volumetric measurements for treatment response to induction chemotherapy (IC) for outcome prediction in adNPC and compared the values with that of RECIST 1.

Tunable active noise control circuit topology for multiple-feature applications.

A tunable active-noise-control (ANC) circuit topology for headsets used in different applications is presented in this article. In the current consumer headset market, ANC is a mature technology that is commonly applied to wireless headsets connected to smartphones for listening to music and making phone calls. The development of ANC headsets has resulted in low-cost and simple devices due to the built-in ANC registers in the digital circuit.

PPP1R15A-expressing monocytic MDSCs promote immunosuppressive liver microenvironment in fibrosis-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Recent studies demonstrated the importance of fibrosis in promoting an immunosuppressive liver microenvironment and thereby aggressive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth and resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), particularly via monocyte-to-monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cell (M-MDSC) differentiation triggered by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). We thus aimed to identify druggable targets in these immunosuppressive myeloid cells for HCC therapy.

Methods: M-MDSC signature genes were identified by integrated transcriptomic analysis of a human HSC-monocyte culture system and tumor-surrounding fibrotic livers of patients with HCC.

HIV-related public stigma in the era of "Undetectable = Untransmittable": a population-based study in Hong Kong.

Background: While global efforts are increasingly relying upon biomedical advancements such as antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to end the HIV epidemic, HIV-related stigma remains a concern. This study aimed to assess the general public's awareness and perception of "Undetectable = Untransmittable" (U = U) and PrEP, and the patterns of public stigma towards people living with HIV (PLWH) and their determinants in an Asian Pacific city.

Methods: A population-based, self-administrated online survey was conducted between 10-20 March 2023.

Discrete Acyltransferases and Thioesterases in Iso-Migrastatin and Lactimidomycin Biosynthesis.

Iso-Migrastatin (iso-MGS) and lactimidomycin (LTM) are glutarimide-containing polyketide natural products (NPs) that are biosynthesized by homologous acyltransferase (AT)-less type I polyketide synthase (PKS) assembly lines. The biological activities of iso-MGS and LTM have inspired numerous efforts to generate analogues via genetic manipulation of their biosynthetic machinery in both native producers and model heterologous hosts. A detailed understanding of the MGS and LTM AT-less type I PKSs would serve to inspire future engineering efforts while advancing the fundamental knowledge of AT-less type I PKS enzymology.

Fast ICCD-based temperature modulated fluorescence tomography.

Fluorescence tomography (FT) has become a powerful preclinical imaging modality with a great potential for several clinical applications. Although it has superior sensitivity and utilizes low-cost instrumentation, the highly scattering nature of bio-tissue makes FT in thick samples challenging, resulting in poor resolution and low quantitative accuracy. To overcome the limitations of FT, we previously introduced a novel method, termed temperature modulated fluorescence tomography (TMFT), which is based on two key elements: (1) temperature-sensitive fluorescent agents (ThermoDots) and (2) high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

A Novel Probiotic-Based Oral Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant B.1.1.529.

COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is still affecting the entire world via the rapid emergence of new contagious variants. Vaccination remains the most effective prevention strategy for viral infection, yet not all countries have sufficient access to vaccines due to limitations in manufacturing and transportation. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop an easy-to-use, safe, and low-cost vaccination approach.

Characterization of the Gut Microbiome in Healthy Dogs and Dogs with Diabetes Mellitus.

With a close pathogenetic resemblance to human diabetes, canine Diabetes Mellitus, a chronic metabolic disease featuring abnormally high blood sugar levels, is increasing in prevalence worldwide. Unlike humans, canine glycemic control requires life-long insulin injections and dietary control in most cases, thereby jeopardizing diabetic dogs' quality of life and increasing the difficulty of disease control. While many research studies have focused on elucidating the relationship between the canine gut microbiome and diseases, there is currently no research on the subject of diabetes mellitus in dogs.

Altered gut microbiota of obesity subjects promotes colorectal carcinogenesis in mice.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). The role of gut microbiota in mediating the cancer-promoting effect of obesity is unknown.

Methods: Azoxymethane (AOM)-treated, Apc and germ-free mice were gavaged with feces from obese individuals and control subjects respectively.

Local Orthogonal Moments for Local Features.

By introducing parameters with local information, several types of orthogonal moments have recently been developed for the extraction of local features in an image. But with the existing orthogonal moments, local features cannot be well-controlled with these parameters. The reason lies in that zeros distribution of these moments' basis function cannot be well-adjusted by the introduced parameters.

Prevalence, Patterns, and Clinical Severity of Long COVID among Chinese Medicine Telemedicine Service Users: Preliminary Results from a Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: The emergence and persistence of symptoms after acute COVID-19 is expected to become a major burden on healthcare systems. We assessed the features of the post-COVID-19 Syndrome (Long COVID) burden in a cohort of COVID-19 patients during the fifth major wave in Hong Kong.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 135 patients with confirmed COVID-19 from Feb to Apr 2022 who utilized traditional Chinese medicine telemedicine services was conducted.

Development of a preclinical CCD-based temperature modulated fluorescence tomography platform.

In preclinical research, fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is the most sensitive imaging modality to interrogate whole-body and provide 3D distribution of fluorescent contract agents. Despite its superior sensitivity, its mediocre spatial-resolution has been the main barrier to its clinical translation. This limitation is mainly due to the high scattering of optical photons in biological tissue together with the limited boundary measurements that lead to an undetermined and ill-posed inverse problem.

Fostering integration among students with different backgrounds using an orthotic community service program.

Background: In this globalization era, institutions are developing strategies including international service-learning pedagogies to integrate global perspectives and dimensions into the learning and teaching processes to develop students' capacity in intercultural competence.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the students' intercultural learning outcome through provision of orthotic community service to the less-privileged children.

Methods: A Hong Kong-based university collaborated with 2 American universities to conduct an orthotic community service program for the children with cerebral palsy in mainland China.

Interventions for Sensory Over-Responsivity in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit sensory over-responsivity (SOR), which is characterized by an overwhelmingly negative reaction to or avoidance of sensory stimulation. Despite the detrimental effects of SOR on people's personal and social lives, the knowledge of and interventions for the issue remain limited. This paper collates and reviews studies on SOR and information on the potential for effective interventions for people with ASD.

The differential impacts of early detection and accelerated antiretroviral therapy on the epidemiologic trend of sexually acquired HIV infection in Hong Kong.

Objectives: To assess impacts of early detection and prompt antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the latest epidemiologic situation to inform intervention strategy.

Methods: We analysed data from two clinical cohorts in Hong Kong where sexual transmission accounted for the majority of HIV infections. The two cohorts comprised patients newly diagnosed in 2007-2008 and 2016-2018 respectively.

BMI as a predictor of high fasting blood glucose among people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific region.

Background: Non-Asian body mass index (BMI) classifications are commonly used as a risk factor for high fasting blood glucose (FBG). We investigated the incidence and factors associated with high FBG among people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific region, using a World Health Organization BMI classification specific to Asian populations.

Methods: This study included people living with HIV enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study from 2003 to 2019, receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and without prior tuberculosis.

Disentangling the relationship of gut microbiota, functional gastrointestinal disorders and autism: a case-control study on prepubertal Chinese boys.

Emerging evidence of an altered gut microbiome in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suggests a pathomechanism through the gut-brain axis despite the inconsistent microbiome profile reported across studies. One of the knowledge gaps in the existing ASD microbiota studies is the lack of systematic exploration of the role of comorbid functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) in the association of ASD and altered gut microbiome. Consequently, 92 ASD and 112 age-matched typically developing (TD) boys were profiled on general psychopathology, FGID status by Rome IV classification, and gut microbiota using 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing at the V4 hypervariable region.

Altered Mycobiota Signatures and Enriched Pathogenic Aspergillus rambellii Are Associated With Colorectal Cancer Based on Multicohort Fecal Metagenomic Analyses.

Background & Aims: The enteric mycobiota is a major component of the human gut microbiota, but its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains largely elusive. We conducted a meta-analysis to uncover the contribution of the fungal mycobiota to CRC.

Methods: We retrieved fecal metagenomic data sets from 7 previous publications and established an additional in-house cohort, totaling 1329 metagenomes (454 with CRC, 350 with adenoma, and 525 healthy individuals).

Surfactant-Free Monodispersed Pd Nanoparticles Template for Core-Shell Pd@PdPt Nanoparticles as Electrocatalyst towards Methanol Oxidation Reaction (MOR).

An eco-friendly two-step synthetic method for synthesizing Pd@PdPt/CNTs nanoparticles was introduced and studied for the methanol oxidation reaction. The Pd@PdPt alloy core-shell structure was synthesized by preparing a surfactant-free monodispersed Pd/CNTs precursor through the hydrolysis of tetrachloropalladate (II) ion ([PdCl]) in the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the subsequent hydrogen reduction and followed by a galvanic replacement reaction. This method opens up an eco-friendly, practical, and straightforward route for synthesizing monometallic or bimetallic nanoparticles with a clean surfactant-free electrocatalytic surface.

Vitamin D and carbamazepine protect against infection in mice by restoring macrophage lysosome acidification.

infection (CDI) is a common cause of nosocomial diarrhea. TcdB is a major exotoxin that activates macrophages to promote inflammation and epithelial damage. Lysosome impairment is a known trigger for inflammation.

Sex-Specific Absolute Delta Thresholds for High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T.

Background: Sex differences in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) concentrations from healthy populations have led to the establishment of sex-specific upper reference limits for hs-cTn assays. This study assessed the performance of sex-specific delta (i.e.