Localized In Vivo Prodrug Activation Using Radionuclides.

Radionuclides used for imaging and therapy can show high molecular specificity in the body with appropriate targeting ligands. We hypothesized that local energy delivered by molecularly targeted radionuclides could chemically activate prodrugs at disease sites while avoiding activation in off-target sites of toxicity. As proof of principle, we tested whether this strategy of radionuclide-induced drug engagement for release (RAiDER) could locally deliver combined radiation and chemotherapy to maximize tumor cytotoxicity while minimizing off-target exposure to activated chemotherapy.

Putative biomarkers of hepatic dysfunction in critically ill sepsis patients.

Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Among the various types of end-organ damage associated with sepsis, hepatic injury is linked to significantly higher mortality rates compared to dysfunction in other organ systems. This study aimed to investigate potential biomarkers of hepatic injury in sepsis patients through a multi-center, case-control approach.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD), an age-associated neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by progressive neuronal loss and the accumulation of misfolded proteins such as amyloid-β and tau. While neuroinflammation, mediated by microglia and brain-resident macrophages, plays a pivotal role in AD pathogenesis, the intricate interactions among age, genes, and other risk factors remain elusive. Somatic mutations, known to accumulate with age, instigate clonal expansion across diverse cell types, impacting both cancer and non-cancerous conditions.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the deposition of amyloid-beta and hyperphosphorylated tau (P-tau) proteins in the brain. P-tau accumulates in neurons and is strongly associated with AD severity and affected brain regions. However, only a subset of neurons in AD exhibit tau pathology.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with repetitive head impact (RHI) although little is known about its molecular pathogenesis. Previous studies of single neurons showed that private somatic mutations increase both during normal aging and in neurodegenerative disorders, and show diverse mutational patterns.

Method: We applied two orthogonal single-nucleus whole-genome sequencing (snWGS) methods to neurons isolated from the prefrontal cortex of 15 individuals with CTE, and 4 individuals with RHI but no CTE diagnosis, and compared mutational rates and spectra with neurons from neurotypical controls and Alzheimer's disease (AD).