Immunogenic clearance combined with PD-1 blockade elicits antitumor effect by promoting the recruitment and expansion of the effector memory-like CD8T cell.

Immune checkpoint inhibition shows promise for cancer treatment, but only a minority of patients respond. Combination strategies have been explored to overcome this resistance. Combining immunogenic clearance using immunogenic cell death inducers with a rho kinase inhibitor enhances phagocytosis of immunogenically dying cancer cells by antigen-presenting cells, stimulating tumor-specific immune responses by activating CD8T cells via dendritic cell-mediated priming.

Novel insights into paclitaxel's role on tumor-associated macrophages in enhancing PD-1 blockade in breast cancer treatment.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses unique challenges due to its complex nature and the need for more effective treatments. Recent studies showed encouraging outcomes from combining paclitaxel (PTX) with programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) blockade in treating TNBC, although the exact mechanisms behind the improved results are unclear.

Methods: We employed an integrated approach, analyzing spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing data from TNBC patients to understand why the combination of PTX and PD-1 blockade showed better response in TNBC patients.

Novel Personalized Cancer Vaccine Using Tumor Extracellular Vesicles with Attenuated Tumorigenicity and Enhanced Immunogenicity.

Cancer vaccines offer a promising avenue in cancer immunotherapy by inducing systemic, tumor-specific immune responses. Tumor extracellular vesicles (TEVs) are nanoparticles naturally laden with tumor antigens, making them appealing for vaccine development. However, their inherent malignant properties from the original tumor cells limit their direct therapeutic use.

Comparison of a coupling system and the suture method in end-to-side microvascular anastomosis in head and neck reconstruction.

Background: Use of coupling devices in microvascular anastomosis continues to increase, but it is not yet actively used in end-to-side (ETS) anastomosis because there is no standard method. Therefore, we propose an easy and time-saving ETS micro-anastomosis method using coupling devices in head and neck reconstruction and compare it with the conventional suture method.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 30 consecutive cases (43 anastomoses) of ETS anastomosis in head and neck reconstruction from 2018 to 2022.

Factors Contributing to the Development of Choroidal Microvasculature Dropout in Glaucoma Suspects and Patients with Glaucoma.

We aimed to characterize and compare the occurrence of peripapillary microvasculature dropout (MvD) between glaucoma suspects and patients with glaucoma. In addition, the factors related to the development of parapapillary MvD in glaucoma suspects and patients with glaucoma were investigated. Of a total 150 eyes, 68 eyes of glaucoma suspects and 82 eyes of glaucoma patients were analyzed in this study.

Clinical Characteristics and Associated Factors to the Development of Glaucoma in Eyes With Myopic Optic Neuropathy.

Purpose: To observe the development of glaucoma in myopic eyes with and without myopic optic neuropathy (MON) and analyze associated factors to the development of typical glaucomatous damage.

Design: A prospective, observational, cohort study.

Methods: A total of 233 myopic eyes with no definite evidence of glaucomatous damage were included.

Effect of a Pericardium Graft Inserted Adjacent to the Endplate in the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation.

The surface area of encapsulation around the Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) endplate is a critical factor in the surgical outcome as it is associated with the degree of IOP reduction. We investigated the surgical outcome of AGV implantation with an additional pericardium graft inserted adjacent to the endplate, with the intent of expanding the surface area of encapsulation. We enrolled 92 patients (92 eyes) who underwent AGV implantation.

Fluctuation of Intraocular Pressure and Vascular Factors Are Associated With the Development of Epiretinal Membrane in Glaucoma.

Purpose: To identify factors associated with the development of epiretinal membranes (ERM) in glaucoma patients.

Design: Multicenter, propensity-score matched, case-control study.

Methods: One hundred ninety-two eyes of 192 patients with glaucoma from the Catholic Medical Center Glaucoma Suspect Cohort Study were analyzed.

Harnessing Oncolytic Extracellular Vesicles for Tumor Cell-Preferential Cytoplasmic Delivery of Misfolded Proteins for Cancer Immunotherapy.

In this study, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are reimagined as more than just a cellular waste disposal system and are repurposed for cancer immunotherapy. Potent oncolytic EVs (bRSVF-EVs) loaded with misfolded proteins (MPs) are engineered, which are typically considered cellular debris. By impairing lysosomal function using bafilomycin A1 and expressing the respiratory syncytial virus F protein, a viral fusogen, MPs are successfully loaded into the EVs expressing RSVF.

Factors Affecting Visual Acuity and Central Visual Function in Glaucoma Patients With Myopia.

Purpose: To investigate associated factors including structural parameters of myopia and vessel density (VD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) to visual acuity (VA) and central visual function in glaucoma patients with myopia.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: Sixty-five eyes of 60 glaucoma patients with myopia and without media opacity and retinal lesions were included.

Protein-based nanocages for vaccine development.

Protein nanocages have attracted considerable attention in various fields of nanomedicine due to their intrinsic properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, high structural stability, and ease of modification of their surfaces and inner cavities. In vaccine development, these protein nanocages are suited for efficient targeting to and retention in the lymph nodes and can enhance immunogenicity through various mechanisms, including excellent uptake by antigen-presenting cells and crosslinking with multiple B cell receptors. This review highlights the superiority of protein nanocages as antigen delivery carriers based on their physiological and immunological properties such as biodistribution, immunogenicity, stability, and multifunctionality.

Forecasting the Reduction in Urban Air Pollution by Expansion of Market Shares of Eco-Friendly Vehicles: A Focus on Seoul, Korea.

Due to global climate change, various countries have agreed upon the use of conventions. In this study, the eco-friendly vehicular policy on carbon neutrality implemented in Seoul, Korea, was examined. To this end, various policy-based scenarios were set, and the changes in automotive exhaust gas emissions were evaluated and compared.

Advantage of extracellular vesicles in hindering the CD47 signal for cancer immunotherapy.

The cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) protein is abundantly expressed on various malignant cells and suppresses the phagocytic function of macrophages and dendritic cells. High CD47 expression levels are correlated with poor cancer survival. Antagonizing CD47 antibodies with potent antitumor effects have been developed in clinical trials, but have critical side effects, inducing anemia and thrombocytopenia.

Intereye structure-function relationship using photopic negative response in patients with glaucoma or glaucoma suspect.

We evaluated the intereye structure-function relationship in glaucoma patients using photopic negative response in electroretinogram analysis. Patients with confirmed glaucoma (36 eyes, 36 patients) or suspected glaucoma (19 eyes, 19 patients) were included in this study. Electroretinogram (RETI-scan) was performed with red stimulus on blue background.

Predicting Visual Field Progression by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and Pattern Electroretinography in Glaucoma.

Prcis: Reduced P50-N95 amplitude on pattern electroretinography (PERG) and the presence of microvasculature dropout (MvD) on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) at baseline were significant factors associated with visual field (VF) progression in predominantly normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients.

Objective: We investigated the baseline demographics and ocular characteristics that predict future progression in glaucoma patients, including PERG and OCT-A parameters.

Methods: One Hundred forty eyes with open angle glaucoma that were prospectively enrolled and followed up for at least 3 years, and underwent at least 5 serial VF tests were included.

Perineal perforator switch flap for three-dimensional vulvovaginal reconstruction.

Background: Vulvovaginal reconstruction is challenging. In this study, we evaluated the outcomes of vulvovaginal reconstruction with "perineal perforator switch flap" (PPSF) and compared it with other conventional flaps. In addition, the long-term esthetic results were compared with the perineal perforator propeller flap (PPPF), which we previously used.

Comparison between frequency-doubling technology perimetry and standard automated perimetry in early glaucoma.

This study aimed to find out the significance of the difference between frequency-doubling technology perimetry (FDT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP) in terms of the detected visual field (VF) damage, and evaluate associated factors to SAP-FDT difference in early glaucoma. Glaucoma patients in early stage (MD better than - 6.0 decibel, 96 eyes) were included in this cross-sectional study.

A Multivalent Vaccine Based on Ferritin Nanocage Elicits Potent Protective Immune Responses against SARS-CoV-2 Mutations.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has created a global public crisis and heavily affected personal lives, healthcare systems, and global economies. Virus variants are continuously emerging, and, thus, the pandemic has been ongoing for over two years. Vaccines were rapidly developed based on the original SARS-CoV-2 (Wuhan-Hu-1) to build immunity against the coronavirus disease.

Ocular and Hemodynamic Factors Contributing to the Central Visual Function in Glaucoma Patients With Myopia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ocular and hemodynamic factors contributing to the central visual function in glaucoma patients with myopia.

Methods: This study was a prospective observational study, which included 236 eyes of 140 patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), which includes 114 eyes with mild myopia (axial length ≥24 and <26 mm) and 122 eyes with moderate-to-severe myopia (axial length ≥26 mm). Ocular characteristics were axial length and posterior pole profiles, including peripapillary atrophy (PPA) to disc area ratio, disc tilt ratio, disc torsion, and disc-foveal angle.

Parapapillary Choroidal Microvasculature Dropout in Branched Retinal Vein Occlusion and Glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate parapapillary choroidal microvasculature dropout (MvD) in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) patients and compare them with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).

Methods: In total, 85 eyes of BRVO patients and 85 eyes of OAG patients, matched by age, spherical equivalent, and baseline mean deviation (MD) of the visual field (VF), were assessed. MvD was defined as complete loss of microvasculature within the choroidal layer on OCT-A.

Analysis of 461 Consecutive Patients' Donor Site Morbidity following Abdominal Tissue-Based Breast Reconstruction without Fascia Reinforcement Graft.

Despite the popularity of breast reconstruction with abdominal flap, the integrity of the abdominal wall gets compromised after the operation. To decrease donor site morbidity, researchers have developed various inlay or onlay graft materials. However, the indications of use are unclear and dependent on the subjective decision of the surgeons.

Rho-Kinase as a Target for Cancer Therapy and Its Immunotherapeutic Potential.

Cancer immunotherapy is fast rising as a prominent new pillar of cancer treatment, harnessing the immune system to fight against numerous types of cancer. Rho-kinase (ROCK) pathway is involved in diverse cellular activities, and is therefore the target of interest in various diseases at the cellular level including cancer. Indeed, ROCK is well-known for its involvement in the tumor cell and tumor microenvironment, especially in its ability to enhance tumor cell progression, migration, metastasis, and extracellular matrix remodeling.

Statin in combination with cisplatin makes favorable tumor-immune microenvironment for immunotherapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether statins can enhance anticancer effects in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) when used with cisplatin and act as immunogenic cell death (ICD) inducers that can be used in cancer immunotherapy. Statins alone showed both in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects against HNSCC, and synergistic antitumor effects were observed when combined with cisplatin in a syngeneic murine HNSCC model. Statins increased calreticulin exposure and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related signals in HNSCC cells.