Identification of Intracranial Germ Cell Tumors Based on Facial Photos: Exploratory Study on the Use of Deep Learning for Software Development.

Background: Primary intracranial germ cell tumors (iGCTs) are highly malignant brain tumors that predominantly occur in children and adolescents, with an incidence rate ranking third among primary brain tumors in East Asia (8%-15%). Due to their insidious onset and impact on critical functional areas of the brain, these tumors often result in irreversible abnormalities in growth and development, as well as cognitive and motor impairments in affected children. Therefore, early diagnosis through advanced screening techniques is vital for improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Intraprocedural Three-Dimensional Imaging Registration Optimizes Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Focused Ultrasound and Facilitates Novel Applications.

Background And Objective: Transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) has revolutionized ablative treatment of essential tremor in recent years. However, limitations in precision targeting may account for suboptimal efficacy and significant side effects. We describe a simple intraprocedural three-dimensional image-guided lesion shaping technique that can improve overall outcomes of MRgFUS for essential tremor and facilitate expansion to novel indications.

Homeobox protein MSX-1 restricts hepatitis B virus by promoting ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation of HBx protein.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) is a key factor for regulating viral transcription and replication. We recently characterized homeobox protein MSX-1 (MSX1) as a host restriction factor that inhibits HBV gene expression and genome replication by directly binding to HBV enhancer II/core promoter (EnII/Cp) and suppressing its promoter and enhancer activities. Notably, HBx expression was observed to be repressed more drastically by MSX1 compared to other viral antigens.

MicroRNA-221 protects myocardial contractility in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through phospholamban.

Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of miRNA 221 on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) in mice through the regulation of phospholamban (PLB) expression.

Methods: The MIRI mouse model was created and mice were divided into sham, MIRI, MIRI+ 221, and MIRI+ scr groups, with miRNA 221 overexpression induced in the myocardium of MIRI mice by targeted myocardial injection. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis was performed to observe the variation in miRNA 221, PLB, SERCA2, RYR2, NCX1, Cyt C and caspase 3 mRNA levels in myocardium, while Western blot assessed the levels of PLB, p-PLB (Ser16), p-PLB (Thr17), SERCA2, RYR2, NCX1, Cyt C and caspase 3 proteins.

HoxBlinc lncRNA reprograms CTCF-independent TADs to drive leukemic transcription and HSC dysregulation in NUP98-rearranged leukemia.

Although nucleoporin 98 (NUP98) fusion oncogenes often drive aggressive pediatric leukemia by altering chromatin structure and expression of HOX genes, underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that a Hoxb-associated lncRNA HoxBlinc was aberrantly activated in NUP98-PHF23 fusion-driven leukemias. HoxBlinc chromatin occupancies led to elevated MLL1 recruitment and aberrant homeotic topologically associated domains (TADs) that enhanced chromatin accessibilities and activated homeotic/hematopoietic oncogenes.

Elevated protein lactylation promotes immunosuppressive microenvironment and therapeutic resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Metabolic reprogramming shapes tumor microenvironment (TME) and may lead to immunotherapy resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Elucidating the impact of pancreatic cancer cell metabolism in the TME is essential to therapeutic interventions. "Immune cold" PDAC is characterized by elevated lactate levels resulting from tumor cell metabolism, abundance of pro-tumor macrophages, and reduced cytotoxic T cell in the TME.

Adenine base editor corrected ADPKD point mutations in hiPSCs and kidney organoids.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a dominant genetic disorder caused primarily by mutations in the PKD1 gene, resulting in the formation of numerous cysts and eventually kidney failure. However, there are currently no gene therapy studies aimed at correcting PKD1 gene mutations. In this study, we identified two mutation sites associated with ADPKD, c.

Development of a CRISPR-Cas12a based assay for the detection of swine enteric coronaviruses in pig herds in China.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) and Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) rank among the most frequently encountered swine enteric coronaviruses (SECoVs), leading to substantial economic losses to the swine industry. The availability of a rapid and highly sensitive detection method proves beneficial for the monitoring and surveillance of SECoVs. Based on the N genes of four distinct SECoVs, a novel detection method was developed in this study by combining recombinant enzyme polymerase isothermal amplification (RPA) with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated proteins (Cas) 12a.

Human serum albumin microspheres synchronously loaded with ZIF-8 and triptolide (TP) for the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver tumor and remains a fatal malignancy in most patients. Only 20% to 30% of patients can be treated with potentially curative surgical resection. Local therapies such as radioembolization and hepatic arterial perfusion may be a more effective treatment strategy.

Rational Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel c-Met Degraders for Lung Cancer Therapy.

Cellular-mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (c-Met) is an attractive target for treating multiple cancers. Despite plentiful c-Met inhibitors have been developed, some issues, including the acquired drug resistance to c-Met inhibitors, have emerged to hamper their application in clinical treatment. Degradation of c-Met offers an opportunity to solve these issues.

The relationship between impostor phenomenon and emotional exhaustion among Chinese nurses: the mediating role of bi-directional work-family conflict.

Aims: The study aims to explore the relationship between impostor phenomenon and emotional exhaustion among nurses and to examine the potential mediating role of bi-directional work-family conflict.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey using convenience sampling was conducted from January to April 2023, involving 4,088 Chinese nurses. Of those, 3,977 nurses across 43 public hospitals completed the web-based survey that included a sociodemographic information questionnaire, the short Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale, the Bi-directional Scale of Work-Family Conflict, and the Emotional Exhaustion Scale.

The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a risk factor for all-cause mortality among individuals with resolved HBV infection: evidence from the NHANES 1999-2018.

Background: Inflammation is a critical component in the process of resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) serves as a sensitive indicator of systemic inflammation and immune activation. Our study aimed to investigate the correlation between elevated NLR levels and the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with resolved HBV infection.

Human platelet lysate: a potential therapeutic for intracerebral hemorrhage.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a major public health challenge worldwide, and is associated with elevated rates of mortality, disability, and morbidity, especially in low- and middle-income nations. However, our knowledge of the detailed molecular processes involved in ICH remains insufficient, particularly those involved in the secondary injury stage, resulting in a lack of effective treatments for ICH. Human platelet lysates (HPL) are abundant in bioactive factors, and numerous studies have demonstrated their beneficial effects on neurological diseases, including their anti-neuroinflammatory ability, anti-oxidant effects, maintenance of blood-brain barrier integrity, and promotion of neurogenesis.

Cognitive trajectories and their relationships with education and diets among older adults: a network-based 10-year cohort study.

Objectives: Few studies have examined the underlying mechanisms of education, diets, and cognitive function in older adults. This study analyses the relationship between cognitive trajectories, education, and different dietary patterns in older adults from a network perspective, and further explores their longitudinal associations and mediation effects.

Methods: Data on cognitive trajectories were derived from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) between 2008 and 2018.

Insight into the molecular initiating event of mutagenic N-nitrosamines: a computational study on DNA alkylation by their diazonium ions.

N-Nitrosamines are a class of compounds that includes the potent mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of many of its members and is distributed widely throughout the human environment. DNA alkylation by their diazonium ions formed metabolically acts as a molecular initiating event (MIE) that links molecular chemistry to mutagenicity. However, the regiochemistry for diazonium ions reacting with DNA bases is still under debate.

Biokinetic soft-sensing using Thiothrix and Ca. Microthrix bacteria to calibrate secondary settling, aeration and NO emission digital twins.

Climate resilience in water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) necessitates improved adaptation to shock-loading conditions and mitigating greenhouse gas emission. Data-driven learning methods are widely utilised in soft-sensors for decision support and process optimization due to their simplicity and high predictive accuracy. However, unlike for mechanistic models, transferring machine-learning-based insights across systems is largely infeasible, which limits communication and knowledge sharing.

Long non-coding RNA Malat1 modulates CXCR4 expression to regulate the interaction between induced neural stem cells and microglia following closed head injury.

Background: Closed head injury (CHI) provokes a prominent neuroinflammation that may lead to long-term health consequences. Microglia plays pivotal and complex roles in neuroinflammation-mediated neuronal insult and repair following CHI. We previously reported that induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) can block the effects of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling on NF-κB activation in activated microglia by CXCR4 overexpression.

Associations between systemic inflammatory biomarkers and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 2017-2020.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a primary cause of chronic liver disease, with potential progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although systemic inflammatory biomarkers are associated with liver diseases, their specific role in MASLD remains unclear. This study examines the association between systemic inflammatory biomarkers and MASLD.

Phenotypic and genomic characterization of Levilactobacillus brevis YT108: a potential probiotic strain capable of metabolizing xylo-oligosaccharides.

Levilactobacillus brevis YT108, identified for its ability to metabolize prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), emerges as a candidate for probiotic use in synbiotic food formulations. This study aimed to investigate the metabolic and genomic traits associated with XOS metabolism in YT108 and to assess its probiotic attributes through whole genome sequencing and in vitro assays. Strain YT108 exhibited robust growth kinetics on XOS as the sole carbon source, with a growth profile comparable to that on glucose, achieving a pH reduction to 4.

Identification of novel hub gene and biological pathways associated with ferroptosis in In-Stent restenosis.

Background: In-stent restenosis (ISR) is one of the most significant complications following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Ferroptosis is a novel cell death mode characterized by iron overload and lipid peroxidation. However, the role of ferroptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) regulating neointimal formation during restenosis remains unclear.

Deep Learning for Lumbar Disc Herniation Diagnosis and Treatment Decision Making Using MRI Images: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common cause of back and leg pain. Diagnosis relies on clinical history, physical exam, and imaging, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) being an important reference standard. While artificial intelligence (AI) has been explored for MRI image recognition in LDH, existing methods often focus solely on disc herniation presence.

A functional cardiac patch promotes cardiac repair by modulating the CCR2 cardiac-resident macrophage niche and their cell crosstalk.

C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) cardiac-resident macrophages (CCR2 cRMs) are known to promote cardiac repair after myocardial infarction (MI). However, the substantial depletion and slow recovery of CCR2 cRMs pose significant barriers in cardiac recovery. Here, we construct a functional conductive cardiac patch (CCP) that can provide exogenously elastic conductive microenvironment and induce endogenously reparative microenvironment mediated by CCR2 cRMs for MI repair.

Pan-cancer analysis of DCBLD1 and its association with the diagnosis, immunotherapy, and prognosis of cervical cancer.

Background: Cervical cancer (CESC) is a leading cause of death attributed to cancer worldwide. Advanced-stage cervical cancer presents unique challenges, such as few treatment modalities. Though DCBLD1 has been earlier connected to a variety of cancers, there has been no extensive investigation on DCBLD1 regarding cervical cancer.

Association of Year-to-Year Lipid Variability With Risk of Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background And Objectives: Lipid metabolism in older adults is affected by various factors including biological aging, functional decline, reduced physiologic reserve, and nutrient intake. The dysregulation of lipid metabolism could adversely affect brain health. This study investigated the association between year-to-year intraindividual lipid variability and subsequent risk of cognitive decline and dementia in community-dwelling older adults.

Targeting AXL inhibits the growth and metastasis of prostate cancer in bone.

Purpose: After failing primary and secondary hormonal therapy, castration-resistant and neuroendocrine prostate cancer metastatic to the bone is invariably lethal, although treatment with docetaxel and carboplatin can modestly improve survival. Therefore, agents targeting biologically relevant pathways in PCa and potentially synergizing with docetaxel and carboplatin in inhibiting bone metastasis growth are urgently needed.

Experimental Design: Phosphorylated (activated) AXL expression in human prostate cancer bone metastases was assessed by immunohistochemical staining.