Shared decision-making about autologous stem cell transplantation: A qualitative study of older patients and physicians.

Background: The decision-making process between autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (autoHSCT) and less-intensive treatments necessitates shared decision-making between older patients with hematological malignancies and healthcare providers. However, there is limited knowledge from both perspectives. This qualitative study aimed to comprehensively understand the experiences of shared decision-making regarding autoHSCT among older patients with hematological malignancies and physicians.

Outcomes of sonographically-suspected fetal intra-abdominal cysts: Surgical intervention, conservative management and spontaneous regression.

Objective: The prenatal diagnosis of fetal intra-abdominal cysts is challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic ability of prenatal ultrasound for fetal intra-abdominal cysts and to develop a predictive method for pre- and postnatal outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed fetuses with ultrasound-detected intra-abdominal cysts between January 2013 and January 2020.

Prussian Blue/Calcium Peroxide Nanocomposites-Mediated Tumor Cell Iron Mineralization for Treatment of Experimental Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Current lung cancer diagnosis methods encounter delayed visual confirmation of tumor foci and low-resolution metrics in imaging findings, which delays the early treatment of tumors. Here, we developed a potent lung cancer imaging and treatment strategy centered around a nanotransformational concept of tumor iron mineralization , which employs Prussian blue/calcium peroxide nanocomposites as a precursor. The resultant iron mineralization in tumor cells greatly facilitates the early and differential diagnosis of lung carcinoma from benign nodules via medical imaging, meanwhile introducing oxidative stress to activate the cellular apoptosis and ferroptosis pathways, resulting in inhibition of the malignant behavior of tumor cells.

Phosphatidylserine-exposing blood cells, microparticles and neutrophil extracellular traps increase procoagulant activity in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) are at increased risk of venous thrombosis, but the precise mechanisms of hypercoagulable state in PC remain unclear. We aimed to identify how phosphatidylserine positive (PS) blood cells (BCs), PS microparticles (MPs) and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) regulate procoagulant activity (PCA) in PC, and to assess the relationship between PCA and PC staging. A total of 83 PC patients with different stages of disease were compared to 30 healthy controls, with confocal microscopy and flow cytometry used to assess MP and cellular PS exposure.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Induce Intestinal Damage and Thrombotic Tendency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background And Aims: Despite the presence of neutrophil extracellular traps [NETs] in inflamed colon having been confirmed, the role of NETs, especially the circulating NETs, in the progression and thrombotic tendency of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] remains elusive. We extended our previous study to prove that NETs constitute a central component in the progression and prothrombotic state of IBD.

Methods: In all 48 consecutive patients with IBD were studied.

Phosphatidylserine-exposing blood cells and microparticles induce procoagulant activity in non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Background: The definitive role of phosphatidylserine (PS) in the prothrombotic state of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) remains unclear. Our objectives were to study the PS exposure on blood cells and microparticles (MPs) in NVAF, and evaluate their procoagulant activity (PCA).

Methods: NVAF patients without (n = 60) and with left atrial thrombi (n = 18) and controls (n = 36) were included in our study.

Arsenic trioxide promoting ETosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia through mTOR-regulated autophagy.

Despite the high efficacy and safety of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and eradicating APL leukemia-initiating cells (LICs), the mechanism underlying its selective cytotoxicity remains elusive. We have recently demonstrated that APL cells undergo a novel cell death program, termed ETosis, through autophagy. However, the role of ETosis in ATO-induced APL LIC eradication remains unclear.

Promyelocytic extracellular chromatin exacerbates coagulation and fibrinolysis in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Despite routine treatment of unselected acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with all--retinoic acid (ATRA), early death because of hemorrhage remains unacceptably common, and the mechanism underlying this complication remains elusive. We have recently demonstrated that APL cells undergo a novel cell death program, termed ETosis, which involves release of extracellular chromatin. However, the role of promyelocytic extracellular chromatin in APL-associated coagulation remains unclear.

Enhanced Procoagulant Activity on Blood Cells after Acute Ischemic Stroke.

The role of phosphatidylserine (PS)-mediated procoagulant activity (PCA) in stroke remains unclear. To ascertain this role, early dynamic evolution of PS exposure on blood cells and released microparticles (MPs) and the corresponding PCA were evaluated in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Flow cytometry analyses revealed that initial levels of PS exposure on erythrocyte, platelet, and leukocyte were 2.

Microparticles and blood cells induce procoagulant activity via phosphatidylserine exposure in NSTEMI patients following stent implantation.

Background: Relatively little is known about the role of phosphatidylserine (PS) in procoagulant activity (PCA) in patients with non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) after stent implantation. This study was designed to evaluate whether exposed PS on microparticles (MPs) and blood cells were involved in the hypercoagulable state in NSTEMI patients with stent implantation.

Methods: NSTEMI patients (n=90) and healthy controls (n=20) were included in our study.

Procoagulant activity induced by transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects is associated with exposure of phosphatidylserine on microparticles, platelets and red blood cells.

The mechanism of hypercoagulable state following transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs) remains unclear. We evaluated the exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) on released microparticles (MPs) and also the cells of their origin from peripheral blood, and the associated increase in procoagulant activity (PCA) following transcatheter ASD closure. We demonstrate that PS(+) MP levels were elevated immediately after device implantation (P <0.

MoS2 nanoflowers with expanded interlayers as high-performance anodes for sodium-ion batteries.

MoS2 nanoflowers with expanded interlayer spacing of the (002) plane were synthesized and used as high-performance anode in Na-ion batteries. By controlling the cut-off voltage to the range of 0.4-3 V, an intercalation mechanism rather than a conversion reaction is taking place.

Carboxyl terminus truncated human papillomavirus type 58 L1 protein maintains its bioactivity and ability to form virus-like particles.

To prepare carboxyl terminus truncated human papillomavirus type 58 L1 (HPV58L1) protein and evaluate its ability to form virus-like particles, the baculovirus and Sf-9 insect cells was used to express HPV58L1 protein, and pFastBac-Htb containing HPV58L1 gene sequence of carboxyl terminus truncation was generated. Then Sf-9 cells were infected with recombinant baculovirus. After being cultured, the post-infected cells expressing--HPV58L1 protein were harvested and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot.

A novel conotoxin from Conus betulinus, kappa-BtX, unique in cysteine pattern and in function as a specific BK channel modulator.

A novel conotoxin, kappa-conotoxin (kappa-BtX), has been purified and characterized from the venom of a worm-hunting cone snail, Conus betulinus. The toxin, with four disulfide bonds, shares no sequence homology with any other conotoxins. Based on a partial amino acid sequence, its cDNA was cloned and sequenced.