All-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with chronic hepatitis B and concurrent steatotic liver disease.

Background & Aims: Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is prevalent among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the effects of metabolic dysfunction-associated SLD (MASLD) on the long-term survival of such patients remain unknown. Accordingly, this study investigated the mortality risks in patients with CHB and concurrent SLD.

Multifunctional Ultrathin TiCT MXene@CuCoO /PE Separator for Ultra-High-Energy-Density and Large-Capacity Lithium-Sulfur Pouch Cells.

The shuttling of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), sluggish reaction kinetics, and uncontrolled lithium deposition/stripping remain the main challenges in lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs), which are aggravated under practical working conditions, i.e., high sulfur loading and lean electrolyte in large-capacity pouch cells.

Herbicide-resistant plants produced by precision adenine base editing in plastid DNA.

CRISPR-free, protein-only cytosine base editors (CBEs) or adenine base editors, composed of DNA-binding proteins such as zinc finger proteins or transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) and nucleobase cytosine or adenine deaminases, respectively, enable organellar DNA editing in cultured cells, animals and plants. TALE-linked double-stranded DNA deaminase toxin A (DddA)-derived CBEs (DdCBEs) and TALE-linked adenine deaminases (TALEDs) install C-to-T and A-to-G single-nucleotide conversions, respectively, in mitochondria and chloroplasts. Interestingly, whereas TALEDs exclusively induce A-to-G conversions without C-to-T conversions in mammalian mitochondrial DNA, they often install unwanted C-to-T edits in addition to intended A-to-G edits in plastid DNA.

SGLT2 Inhibitor Use and Risk of Dementia and Parkinson Disease Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Background And Objectives: Despite the mechanistic potential of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) to improve neurologic outcomes, the efficacy of SGLT2i in neurodegenerative disorders among patients with type 2 diabetes is not well established. This population-based cohort study aimed to investigate the association of SGLT2i use with risks of incident dementia and Parkinson disease (PD) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: This was a retrospective examination of data from a cohort of 1,348,362 participants with type 2 diabetes (≥40 years), who started antidiabetic drugs from 2014 to 2019, evaluated using the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database.

Mid-term Waitlist and Posttransplant Outcomes With Hepatitis C-positive Donor Hearts.

Background: This study evaluates the clinical trends and impact of hepatitis C virus-positive (HCV+) donors on waitlist and posttransplant outcomes after heart transplantation.

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing registry was queried to identify adult waitlisted and transplanted patients from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2022. In the waitlist analysis, the candidates were stratified into 2 cohorts based on whether they were willing to accept HCV+ donor offers.

Theoretical Insights into the Mechanism and Origin of Solvent-Dependent Selectivity in the Cyclization of Propargyl Alcohols for the Divergent Synthesis of N-Heterocycles.

This study elucidates the mechanisms and principles governing chemoselectivity in synthesizing two distinct N-heterocycles, benzimidazole thiazine and benzothiazole imidazole, through BF•OEt-catalyzed cyclization reactions of propargyl alcohols with benzimidazole thiols. Employing density functional theory calculations, we highlight the crucial role of fluorine source in influencing chemoselectivity. In DCM, BF, as the catalytic center, coordinates with propargyl alcohol's hydroxyl group to form a precursor.

Identifying MAGE-A4-positive tumors for TCR T cell therapies in HLA-A∗02-eligible patients.

T cell receptor (TCR) T cell therapies target tumor antigens in a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted manner. Biomarker-defined therapies require validation of assays suitable for determination of patient eligibility. For clinical trials evaluating TCR T cell therapies targeting melanoma-associated antigen A4 (MAGE-A4), screening in studies NCT02636855 and NCT04044768 assesses patient eligibility based on: (1) high-resolution HLA typing and (2) tumor MAGE-A4 testing via an immunohistochemical assay in HLA-eligible patients.

Microneedle patch with pure drug tips for delivery of liraglutide: pharmacokinetics in rats and minipigs.

Transdermal delivery of peptide drugs is almost impossible with conventional penetration enhancers because of epidermal barrier function. Microneedle (MN) patches can bypass the epidermal barrier and have been developed for trans- and intradermal delivery of peptide drugs and vaccines. However, dissolving MN patches are limited by low drug loading capacities due to their small size and admixture of drug and water-soluble excipients.

Prediction of preterm birth in women with fetal growth restriction - Is the weekly change in sFlt-1/PlGF ratio or PlGF levels useful?

Introduction: To assess the rate of change in soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor (sFlt-1/PlGF) ratio and PlGF levels per week compared to a single sFlt-1/PlGF ratio or PlGF level to predict preterm birth for pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction.

Material And Methods: A prospective cohort study of pregnancies complicated by isolated fetal growth restriction. Maternal serum PlGF levels and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were measured at 4-weekly intervals from recruitment to delivery.

Strategy to develop broadly effective multivalent COVID-19 vaccines against emerging variants based on Ad5/35 platform.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron strain has evolved into highly divergent variants with several sub-lineages. These newly emerging variants threaten the efficacy of available COVID-19 vaccines. To mitigate the occurrence of breakthrough infections and re-infections, and more importantly, to reduce the disease burden, it is essential to develop a strategy for producing updated multivalent vaccines that can provide broad neutralization against both currently circulating and emerging variants.

PIBF1 regulates trophoblast syncytialization and promotes cardiovascular development.

Proper placental development in early pregnancy ensures a positive outcome later on. The developmental relationship between the placenta and embryonic organs, such as the heart, is crucial for a normal pregnancy. However, the mechanism through which the placenta influences the development of embryonic organs remains unclear.

Cross-shelf processes of terrigenous organic matter drive mercury speciation on the east siberian shelf in the Arctic Ocean.

The cross-shelf distributions of total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and organic and inorganic matter, as well as the presence of the hgcA gene were investigated on the East Siberian Shelf (ESS) to understand the processes underlying the speciation of sedimentary Hg. Samples were collected from 12 stations grouped into four zones based on water depth: inner shelf (5 stations), mid-shelf (3 stations), outer shelf (2 stations), and slope (2 stations). The THg concentration in the surface sediment increased from the inner shelf (0.

Discovery of Transfer Factors in Plant-Derived Proteins and an In Vitro Assessment of Their Immunological Activities.

Repeated exposure to pathogens leads to evolutionary selection of adaptive traits. Many species transfer immunological memory to their offspring to counteract future immune challenges. Transfer factors such as those found in the colostrum are among the many mechanisms where transfer of immunologic memory from one generation to the next can be achieved for an enhanced immune response.

Placental growth factor and fetoplacental Doppler indices in combination predict preterm birth reliably in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction.

Objective: To assess the association between placental biomarkers (placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1)/PlGF ratio) and fetoplacental Doppler indices (umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI) and uterine artery (UtA) PI) in various combinations for predicting preterm birth (PTB) in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study, performed at Mater Mother's Hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, from May 2022 to June 2023, of pregnancies complicated by FGR and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) pregnancies. Maternal serum PlGF levels, sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, UA-PI and UtA-PI were measured at 2-4-weekly intervals from recruitment until delivery.

D-Pinitol attenuates postmenopausal symptoms in ovariectomized mice.

Aims: Menopause is a natural process in women that can lead to post-menopausal syndrome with symptoms such as hot flushes, weight gain, anxiety, cognitive decline, and depression. Hormonal replacement therapy is commonly prescribed. However, it has serious adverse effects.