Optical sectioning methods in three-dimensional bioimaging.

In recent advancements in life sciences, optical microscopy has played a crucial role in acquiring high-quality three-dimensional structural and functional information. However, the quality of 3D images is often compromised due to the intense scattering effect in biological tissues, compounded by several issues such as limited spatiotemporal resolution, low signal-to-noise ratio, inadequate depth of penetration, and high phototoxicity. Although various optical sectioning techniques have been developed to address these challenges, each method adheres to distinct imaging principles for specific applications.

SEAD reference panel with 22,134 haplotypes boosts rare variant imputation and genome-wide association analysis in Asian populations.

Limited whole genome sequencing (WGS) studies in Asian populations result in a lack of representative reference panels, thus hindering the discovery of ancestry-specific variants. Here, we present the South and East Asian reference Database (SEAD) panel ( https://imputationserver.westlake.

Early Lung Adenocarcinoma Manifesting as Irregular Subsolid Nodules: Clinical and CT Characteristics.

Rationale And Objectives: To explore the clinical and computed tomography (CT) characteristics of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) that presents with an irregular shape.

Materials And Methods: The CT data of 575 patients with stage IA LADC and 295 with persistent inflammatory lesion (PIL) manifesting as subsolid nodules (SSNs) were analyzed retrospectively. Among these patients, we selected 233 patients with LADC and 140 patients with PIL, who showed irregular SSNs, hereinafter referred to as irregular LADC (I-LADC) and irregular PIL (I-PIL), respectively.

A Systematic Method to Detect Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Microsatellite Instability in Plasma Cell-Free DNA: plasmaMSI.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) detection using tumor tissue is a well-established prognostic and predictive biomarker for certain types of cancers. However, tumor tissue samples are less convenient to obtain than blood plasma samples. The main challenge facing next-generation sequencing-based MSI detection in blood plasma samples is the ultralow signal/noise ratio in plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA).

The efficacy of plasma exosomal miRNAs as predictive biomarkers for PD-1 blockade plus chemotherapy in gastric cancer.

Background: The response of gastric cancer (GC) patients to first-line programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade and S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) chemotherapy varies considerably, and the underlying mechanisms driving this variability remain elusive. Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) have emerged as potential biomarkers for efficacy prediction due to their roles in GC biology and stable expression in serum. In this study, we aimed to identify biomarkers to predict patients' response to anti-PD-1 therapy and further elucidate the potential mechanisms by which these exosomal miRNAs modulate the immune response in GC.

Safety and efficacy of amulirafusp alfa (IMM0306), a fusion protein of CD20 monoclonal antibody with the CD47 binding domain of SIRPα, in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a phase 1/2 study.

Background: Amulirafusp alfa (IMM0306) is a fusion protein of CD47 binding domain of signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) with CD20 monoclonal antibody on both heavy chains. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of amulirafusp alfa in relapsed or refractory (r/r) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL).

Methods: We enrolled patients with CD20 + r/r B-NHL who had previously received at least two lines of therapy to receive a single-dose of amulirafusp alfa in the first 2 weeks, followed by a multiple-dose period, in which the patients received the same intravenous dose every week in 4-week cycles.

Effects of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy on embryo transfer outcomes in women of advanced reproductive age with no more than three retrieved oocytes.

Objective: To evaluate whether preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) benefits women of advanced reproductive age (≥38 years old) with a diminished ovarian reserve (not more than three retrieved oocytes).

Design: A retrospective analysis comparing two groups: (a) PGT-A group: women who chose PGT-A and subsequent single re-warmed embryo transfers and (b) non-PGT-A group: women who chose not to genetically test their embryos and underwent subsequent fresh or re-warmed embryo transfers of one to two embryos on days 3 or 5.

Subjects: Two hundred thirty patients underwent PGT-A therapy, with 49 of these individuals undergoing more than one PGT-A cycle.

Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for Nonacute Subdural Hematoma.

Background: The effect of embolization of the middle meningeal artery in patients with subacute or chronic subdural hematoma is uncertain.

Methods: We performed a multicenter, open-label, randomized trial in China, involving patients with symptomatic nonacute subdural hematoma with mass effect. Patients were assigned to undergo burr-hole drainage or receive nonsurgical treatment at the surgeon's discretion, and patients in each group were then randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to undergo middle meningeal artery embolization with liquid embolic material or to receive usual care.

Prediction for children with autism spectrum disorder based on digital behavioral features during free play.

Background: Play is an indispensable and meaningful activity in children's daily life. Research has shown that autistic children often exhibit differences in play development. The core traits of autism, such as distinct patterns in social interaction and communication, focused interests, and repetitive behaviors, frequently manifest in their play.

Structural variation in the pangenome of wild and domesticated barley.

Pangenomes are collections of annotated genome sequences of multiple individuals of a species. The structural variants uncovered by these datasets are a major asset to genetic analysis in crop plants. Here we report a pangenome of barley comprising long-read sequence assemblies of 76 wild and domesticated genomes and short-read sequence data of 1,315 genotypes.

Probiotics and their metabolite spermidine enhance IFN-γCD4 T cell immunity to inhibit hepatitis B virus.

The therapeutic potential of commensal microbes and their metabolites is promising in the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which is defined as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss. Here, using both specific-pathogen-free and germ-free mice, we report that probiotics significantly promote the decline of HBsAg and inhibit HBV replication by enhancing intestinal homeostasis and provoking intrahepatic interferon (IFN)-γCD4 T cell immune response. Depletion of CD4 T cells or blockage of IFN-γ abolishes probiotics-mediated HBV inhibition.

Inhibition of GPX4 enhances CDK4/6 inhibitor and endocrine therapy activity in breast cancer.

CDK4/6 inhibition in combination with endocrine therapy is the standard of care for estrogen receptor (ER+) breast cancer, and although cytostasis is frequently observed, new treatment strategies that enhance efficacy are required. Here, we perform two independent genome-wide CRISPR screens to identify genetic determinants of CDK4/6 and endocrine therapy sensitivity. Genes involved in oxidative stress and ferroptosis modulate sensitivity, with GPX4 as the top sensitiser in both screens.

ZC3H14 facilitates backsplicing by binding to exon-intron boundary and 3' UTR.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are natural outputs of eukaryotic transcription and RNA processing and have emerged as critical regulators in physiology and diseases. Although multiple cis-elements and trans-factors are reported to modulate the backsplicing of circRNA biogenesis, most of these regulations play roles in flanking introns of circRNAs. Here, using a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen, we have identified an evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding protein ZC3H14 in regulating circRNA biogenesis.

Neuroimaging Correlates with Clinical Severity in Wilson Disease: A Multiparametric Quantitative Brain MRI.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies have reported metal accumulation and microstructure changes in deep gray nuclei (DGN) in Wilson disease (WD). However, there are limited studies that investigate whether there is metal accumulation and microstructure changes in DGN of patients with WD with normal-appearing routine MRI. This study aimed to evaluate multiparametric changes in DGN of WD and whether the findings correlate with clinical severity in patients with WD.

Association of Psychological and Physical Stress Response With Weight Gain in University Employees in Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: The aim of the study is to clarify the association of job stressor score (A score), psychological and physical stress response score (B score), and social support (C score), with the incidence of ≥10% weight gain.

Methods: This study included 10,036 university employees who completed the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) and annual health checkups between 2016 and 2021. The incidence of ≥10% weight gain from baseline weight was measured.

A Retrospective Assessment of Guideline Adherence and Treatment Outcomes From Infection Following the IDSA 2021 Clinical Guideline Update: Infection.

Background: The 2021 update to the Infectious Diseases Society of America infection (CDI) guidelines recommended fidaxomicin as the preferred treatment over vancomycin for patients with initial and recurrent CDI. Few studies have examined how treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of hospitalized CDI patients changed after the postguideline update or contemporary real-world outcomes of fidaxomicin vs vancomycin.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study used the PINC AI Healthcare Database on adult patients who received CDI treatment between 1/2020 and 6/2021 (pre period) and between 10/2021 and 9/2022 (post period).

Effects of clay grains on the shear properties of unsaturated loess and microscopic mechanism.

Different clay grains affect the structural strength of loess through the cementation of skeletal particles. This study investigates both clay-clay grains and quartz-clay grains. Clay-clay grains mixed loess (CM-L) and quartz-clay grains loess (Q-L) samples were prepared, and their unsaturated shear properties analyzed.

Reproducibility and Repeatability of US Shear-Wave and Transient Elastography in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background US shear-wave elastography (SWE) and vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) enable assessment of liver stiffness, an indicator of fibrosis severity. However, limited reproducibility data restrict their use in clinical trials. Purpose To estimate SWE and VCTE measurement variability in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) within and across systems to support clinical trial diagnostic enrichment and clinical interpretation of longitudinal liver stiffness.

Development and Validation of a Contrast-Enhanced US VI-RADS for Evaluating Muscle Invasion in Bladder Cancer.

Background Contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) can be used preoperatively for evaluating muscle invasion in bladder cancer, which is important for determining appropriate treatment. However, diagnostic criteria for assessing this at CEUS have not been standardized. Purpose To develop and validate a CEUS Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) for evaluating muscle invasion in bladder cancer.