Safety and efficacy of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in COVID-19 patients: A real-world observation.

Background: The effects of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) treatment on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have been preliminarily characterized. However, real-world data on the safety and efficacy of intravenous transfusions of MSCs in hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the convalescent stage remain to be reported.

Methods: This was a single-arm, multicenter, real-word study in which a contemporaneous external control was included as the control group.

Developing safe and efficient CGBE editor based on Cas-embedding strategy.

CGBE (C-to-G base editor) systems, pivotal components within the base editing arsenal, enable the precise conversion of cytosines to guanines. However, conventional cytidine deaminases possess non-specific single-stranded DNA binding properties, leading to off-target effects and safety concerns. The Cas-embedding strategy, which involves embedding functional proteins like deaminases within the Cas9 enzyme's architecture, emerges as a method to mitigate these off-target effects.

Genome-coverage single-cell histone modifications for embryo lineage tracing.

Substantial epigenetic resetting during early embryo development from fertilization to blastocyst formation ensures zygotic genome activation and leads to progressive cellular heterogeneities. Mapping single-cell epigenomic profiles of core histone modifications that cover each individual cell is a fundamental goal in developmental biology. Here we develop target chromatin indexing and tagmentation (TACIT), a method that enabled genome-coverage single-cell profiling of seven histone modifications across mouse early embryos.

Long-term outcomes of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in severe COVID-19 patients: 3-year follow-up of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: The long-term effects and outcomes of human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the extended safety and efficacy of MSC treatment in severe patients with COVID-19 who participated in our earlier randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, with follow-up conducted over 3 years.

Methods: One hundred patients with severe COVID-19 were randomized to receive either an MSC infusion (n = 65, 4 × 10 cells/dose, on days 0, 3, and 6) or a placebo, with both groups receiving the standard of care.

Presetting CAR-T cells during ex vivo biomanufacturing.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies. However, it continues to encounter significant obstacles, including treatment relapse and limited efficacy in solid tumors. While effector T cells exhibit robust cytotoxicity, central memory T cells and stem cell-like T cells are essential for in vivo expansion, long-term survival, and persistence.

Mechanism of the microRNA-373-3p/LATS2 Axis in the Prognosis and Metastasis of Thyroid Cancer Patients.

This study focused on the role of the microRNA (miR)-373-3p/LATS2 axis in the prognosis and metastasis of thyroid cancer patients. miR-373-3p and LATS2 expression were assessed in thyroid cancer tissues and cells. The relationship between miR-373-3p and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with thyroid cancer and the impact of miR-373-3p and LATS2 expression levels on the survival and prognosis of thyroid cancer patients were analyzed.

PGLYRP2 drives hepatocyte-intrinsic innate immunity by trapping and clearing hepatitis B virus.

Spontaneous clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is frequent in adults (95%) but rare in infants (5%), emphasizing the critical role of age-related hepatic immunocompetence. However, the underlying mechanisms of hepatocyte-specific immunosurveillance and age-dependent HBV clearance remain unclear. Here, we identified PGLYRP2 as a hepatocyte-specific pattern recognition receptor with age-dependent expression, and demonstrated that phase separation of PGLYRP2 was a critical driver of spontaneous HBV clearance in hepatocytes.

Combining immune checkpoint inhibitors and molecular-targeted agents with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with inferior vena cava and/or right atrium tumor thrombus.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma with inferior vena cava and/or right atrium tumor thrombus (HCC-IVC/RATT) has a poor prognosis and lacks evidence for standard first-line systemic therapy. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of three therapeutic regimens in HCC-IVC/RATT: immune checkpoint inhibitors plus molecular-targeted agents (ICI-MTA), hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), and their combination (ICI-MTA-HAIC).

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included consecutive HCC-IVC/RATT who received ICI-MTA-HAIC, ICI-MTA, or HAIC from June 2015 to December 2023.

HBimmCue: A Versatile Fluorescent Probe for Multi-Scale Imaging of Lipid Polarity and Membrane Order in Inner Mitochondrial Membrane.

Mitochondrial membrane environmental dynamics are crucial for understanding function, yet high-resolution observation remains challenging. Here, HBimmCue is introduced as a fluorescent probe localized to inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) that reports lipid polarity and membrane order changes, which correlate with cellular respiration levels. Using HBimmCue and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), IMM lipid heterogeneity is uncovered across scales, from nanoscale structures within individual mitochondria to mouse pre-implantation embryos.

Three-dimensional mapping of the altermagnetic spin splitting in CrSb.

Altermagnetism, a kind of collinear magnetism that is characterized by a momentum-dependent band and spin splitting without net magnetization, has recently attracted considerable interest. Finding altermagnetic materials with large splitting near the Fermi level necessarily requires three-dimensional k-space mapping. While this is crucial for spintronic applications and emergent phenomena, it remains challenging.

LILRB4 as a novel immunotherapeutic target for multiple diseases.

Immune checkpoints are critical for maintaining autoimmune homeostasis and are implicated in various autoimmune diseases, with their significance increasingly recognized. Investigating the functions and mechanisms of these checkpoints is essential for the development of more effective treatments. Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B member 4 (LILRB4) stands out as a unique immune checkpoint, with limited expression in most normal tissues but prominent presence in various hematological and solid tumors.

Unlocking the Key to Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Using Electronic Mediators for Z-Scheme Water Splitting.

A prevalent challenge in particulate photocatalytic water splitting lies in the fact that while numerous photocatalysts exhibit outstanding hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity in organic sacrificial reagents, their performance diminishes markedly in a Z-scheme water splitting system using electronic mediators. This underlying reason remains undefined, posing a long-standing issue in photocatalytic water splitting. Herein, we unveiled that the primary reason for the decreased HER activity in electronic mediators is due to the strong adsorption of shuttle ions on cocatalyst surfaces, which inhibits the initial proton reduction and results in a severe backward reaction of the oxidized shuttle ions.

Double-targeted liposomes coated with matrix metallopeptidase-2-responsive polypeptide nanogel for chemotherapy and enhanced immunotherapy against cervical cancer.

Immunotherapy is a cornerstone in cancer treatment, celebrated for its precision, ability to eliminate residual cancer cells, and potential to avert tumor recurrence. Nonetheless, its effectiveness is frequently undermined by the immunosuppressive milieu created by tumors. This study presents a novel nanogel-based drug delivery system, DOX-4PI@CpG@Lipo@Gel (DPCLG), engineered to respond to Matrix Metallopeptidase-2 (MMP-2)-a protease abundant in the tumor microenvironment (TME).

A Smart mRNA-Initiated Theranostic Multi-shRNA Nanofactory for Precise and Efficient Cancer Gene Therapy.

Despite the significant potential of short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated gene therapy for various diseases, the clinical success of cancer treatment remains poor, partly because of low selectivity and low efficiency. In this study, an mRNA-initiated autonomous multi-shRNA nanofactory (RNF@CM) is designed for in vivo amplification imaging and precise cancer treatment. The RNF@CM consists of a gold nanoparticle core, an interlayer of two types of three-stranded DNA/RNA hybrid probes, one of which is bound to aptamer-inhibited DNA polymerases, and an outer layer of the cancer cell membrane.

Cervical spine infection arising from chronic paronychia: A case report and review of literature.

Background: Cervical spine pyogenic infection (CSPI) is a rare and challenging form of spinal infection that is typically caused by pyogenic bacteria and primarily affects the cervical vertebral bodies and surrounding tissues. Given its nonspecific symptoms, such as fever and neck pain, early diagnosis is crucial to prevent severe complications, including spinal cord injury. We report a previously unreported case of acute CSPI arising from chronic paronychia, exploring its diagnostic and therapeutic challenges through a review of the current literature.

Alleviating batch effects in cell type deconvolution with SCCAF-D.

Cell type deconvolution methods can impute cell proportions from bulk transcriptomics data, revealing changes in disease progression or organ development. But benchmarking studies often use simulated bulk data from the same source as the reference, which limits its application scenarios. This study examines batch effects in deconvolution and introduces SCCAF-D, a computational workflow that ensures a Pearson Correlation Coefficient above 0.

Human milk microbiota and oligosaccharides in colostrum and mature milk: comparison and correlation.

Background: The interaction between the human breast milk microbiota and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) plays a crucial role in the healthy growth and development of infants. We aimed to clarify the link between the breast milk microbiota and HMOs at two stages of lactation.

Methods: The microbiota and HMOs of 20 colostrum samples (C group, 1-5 days postpartum) and 20 mature milk samples (S group, 42 days postpartum) collected from postpartum mothers were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Single-Nucleus and Spatial Transcriptome Profiling Delineates the Multicellular Ecosystem in Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) has emerged as a promising treatment strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but a detailed understanding of the multicellular ecosystem after HAIC treatment is lacking. Here, we collected tumor samples from treatment-naïve primary and post-HAIC HCC, and integrated single-nucleus RNA sequencing with spatial transcriptomics to characterize the tumor ecosystem in the post-HAIC HCC. Increased fractions and enhanced cellular communication of CD4 T, CD20 B, and dendritic cell subtypes were identified in post-HAIC tumors.

The muscle-intervertebral disc interaction mediated by L-BAIBA modulates extracellular matrix homeostasis and PANoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells.

Upon engaging in physical activity, skeletal muscle synthesizes myokines, which not only facilitate crosstalk with various organs, including the brain, adipose tissue, bone, liver, gut, pancreas, and skin but also promote intramuscular signaling. Crosstalk is vital for maintaining various physiological processes. However, the specific interactions between skeletal muscle and intervertebral discs remain largely unexplored.

Short-term spinal cord stimulation versus debridement for the treatment of diabetic foot: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: This is the first study to evaluate the efficacy of short-term Spinal Cord Stimulation (st-SCS) versus debridement for treating Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed records from DFU patients treated at our hospital. Patients were divided into two groups: 62 received st-SCS with debridement (SCS group), and 43 received only debridement (debridement group).

Effects of Early Oral Feeding on Quality of Life Following Esophagectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The role of early oral feeding (EOF) following esophagectomy remains debated. This study evaluates whether postoperative EOF improves patients' quality of life.

Methods: A comprehensive search was performed across eight databases to identify relevant studies.

Development of a rapid method for the simultaneous determination of aminophylline, doxofylline, bromhexine, and ambroxol by HPLC.

Antitussive and expectorant drugs such as aminophylline (APL), doxofylline (DXL), bromhexine hydrochloride (BXH), and ambroxol hydrochloride (AXH), either individually or in combination, are widely used in the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases. The study aimed to establish a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of these four drugs and to investigate their stability in 0.9% sodium chloride injection or 5% glucose injection over 48 hours.