Enabling immune checkpoint blockade efficacy in T-lymphopenia by restoring CD8 T cell dynamics with IL-7 cytokine therapy.

Introduction: T-lymphopenia (TLP) is a frequently observed condition in cancer patients, often exacerbated by conventional chemo/radiotherapy, which impairs the efficacy of subsequent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. This study aimed to understand the impact of TLP on ICB responsiveness and explore potential therapeutic strategies to enhance antitumor immunity.

Methods: To investigate ICB responsiveness depending on the severity of TLP, first, we established TLP mouse models that mimic clinically observed mild and severe TLP through thymectomy and anti-Thy1-induced peripheral T cell depletion.

Assessment of the efficacy of on-demand tegoprazan therapy in gastroesophageal reflux disease through a randomized controlled trial.

In patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) whose symptoms improve with acid-suppression therapy, on-demand treatment could constitute maintenance therapy. This study investigated the comparative efficacy and safety of on-demand tegoprazan and proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in GERD. From six university hospitals in the Daejeon-Chungcheong region, we enrolled patients with GERD who had experienced symptomatic improvement with acid-suppressive therapy and, using a randomization table, randomly allocated these participants to two groups: to receive either tegoprazan 50 mg + esomeprazole placebo or tegoprazan placebo + esomeprazole 20 mg, respectively.

Lifetimes and Lifetime-Associated Spectra for Reversible Excited Two-State Reactions.

Photoinduced excited-state processes have been platforms for understanding the molecular mechanisms of many chemical and biological reactions. To elucidate associated chemical kinetics, time-resolved spectroscopic experiments have been performed tracking how the populations of reactants and products change during the reactions while reaction conditions such as the concentration of a reactant, temperature, and solvent properties change. Here, we simulate the lifetimes of a reactant and a product, and construct their lifetime-associated spectra with the various combinations of rate constants based on the analytical solutions of differential rate equations.

Qudit-based variational quantum eigensolver using photonic orbital angular momentum states.

Solving the electronic structure problem is a notorious challenge in quantum chemistry and material science. Variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) is a promising hybrid classical-quantum algorithm for finding the lowest-energy configuration of a molecular system. However, it typically requires many qubits and quantum gates with substantial quantum circuit depth to accurately represent the electronic wave function of complex structures.

Interference-resistant gold nanoparticle assay for detecting Enterococcus in fresh and marine waters.

Enterococci are common indicators of fecal contamination and are used to assess the quality of fresh and marine water, sand, soil, and sediment. However, samples collected from these environments contain various cells and other factors that can interfere with the assays used to detect enterococci. We developed a novel assay for the sensitive and specific detection of enterococci that is resistant to interference from other cells and environmental factors.

Encoded-Fusion-Based Quantum Computation for High Thresholds with Linear Optics.

We propose a fault-tolerant quantum computation scheme in a measurement-based manner with finite-sized entangled resource states and encoded-fusion scheme with linear optics. The encoded fusion is an entangled measurement devised to enhance the fusion success probability in the presence of losses and errors based on a quantum error-correcting code. We apply an encoded-fusion scheme, which can be performed with linear optics and active feedforwards to implement the generalized Shor code, to construct a fault-tolerant network configuration in a three-dimensional Raussendorf-Harrington-Goyal lattice based on the surface code.

Efficacy of robot arm-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection in live porcine stomach (with video).

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is technically challenging and requires a high level of skill. However, there is no effective method of exposing the submucosal plane during dissection. In this study, the efficacy of robot arm-assisted tissue traction for gastric ESD was evaluated using an in vivo porcine model.

Risk Factors for the Recurrence of Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

Objective: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is commonly encountered in neurosurgery, and often occurs in elderly patients following a head injury. Despite favorable postoperative prognosis, recurrence remains common. Herein, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical and radiological data of patients at our institute to identify the risk factors for CSDH recurrence.

Increasing the stability of electrolyte-gated organic synaptic transistors for neuromorphic implants.

Electrolyte-gated organic synaptic transistors (EGOSTs) can have versatile synaptic plasticity in a single device, so they are promising as components of neuromorphic implants that are intended for use in neuroprosthetic electronic nerves that are energy-efficient and have simple system structure. With the advancement in transistor properties of EGOSTs, the commercialization of neuromorphic implants for practical long-term use requires consistent operation, so they must be stable in vivo. This requirement demands strategies that maintain electronic and ionic transport in the devices while implanted in the human body, and that are mechanically, environmentally, and operationally stable.

IL-7-primed bystander CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes optimize the antitumor efficacy of T cell engager immunotherapy.

Bispecific T cell engagers (TCEs) show promising clinical efficacy in blood tumors, but their application to solid tumors remains challenging. Here, we show that Fc-fused IL-7 (rhIL-7-hyFc) changes the intratumoral CD8 T cell landscape, enhancing the efficacy of TCE immunotherapy. rhIL-7-hyFc induces a dramatic increase in CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in various solid tumors, but the majority of these cells are PD-1-negative tumor non-responsive bystander T cells.

Early Rhythm Control and Incident Dementia in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Prior Stroke.

Background: Although early rhythm control (ERC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) reduces the risk of stroke, there is no evidence thus far on whether ERC reduces the risk of developing dementia in patients with AF and prior stroke.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate whether ERC reduces the risk of developing dementia in patients with new-onset AF and prior stroke.

Methods: Using the Korean nationwide claims database, we identified patients with new-onset AF and prior stroke between 2010 and 2016.

Clinical Impact of Early Rhythm Control and Healthy Lifestyles in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: There are limited data regarding the combined effect of early rhythm control (ERC) and healthy lifestyle (HLS) behaviors on the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate how the combination of ERC and HLS behaviors affects the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with AF.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance database, we included patients with new-onset AF between 2009 and 2016 (n = 208,662).

Empowering powdered activated carbon (PAC) with 3D printing: Achieving highly efficient and reusable cationic dye removal.

Powdered activated carbon (PAC) has been extensively used as an effective adsorbent. Despite its excellent adsorption ability, PAC has drawbacks, including difficulty in filtration and reactivation after use, limitations of mass transfer in deeper areas because of its aggregated powder form, and limited applicability in high-flow systems. To overcome these limitations, we used a three-dimensional (3D) printing system to fabricate PAC into a 3D structure.

Harnessing the Power of IL-7 to Boost T Cell Immunity in Experimental and Clinical Immunotherapies.

The cytokine IL-7 plays critical and nonredundant roles in T cell immunity so that the abundance and availability of IL-7 act as key regulatory mechanisms in T cell immunity. Importantly, IL-7 is not produced by T cells themselves but primarily by non-lymphoid lineage stromal cells and epithelial cells that are limited in their numbers. Thus, T cells depend on cell extrinsic IL-7, and the amount of IL-7 is considered a major factor in maximizing and maintaining the number of T cells in peripheral tissues.

Combination of early rhythm control and healthy lifestyle on the risk of stroke in elderly patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: The impact of early rhythm control (ERC) combined with healthy lifestyle (HLS) on the risk of ischemic stroke in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unaddressed.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of combined ERC and HLS on the risk of stroke in elderly patients with new-onset AF.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we included patients aged ≥75 years with new-onset AF from January 2009 to December 2016 ( = 41,315).

Fc-fused IL-7 provides broad antiviral effects against respiratory virus infections through IL-17A-producing pulmonary innate-like T cells.

Repeated pandemics caused by the influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) have resulted in serious problems in global public health, emphasizing the need for broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics against respiratory virus infections. Here, we show the protective effects of long-acting recombinant human interleukin-7 fused with hybrid Fc (rhIL-7-hyFc) against major respiratory viruses, including influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus. Administration of rhIL-7-hyFc in a therapeutic or prophylactic regimen induces substantial antiviral effects.

Distributed quantum sensing of multiple phases with fewer photons.

Distributed quantum metrology has drawn intense interest as it outperforms the optimal classical counterparts in estimating multiple distributed parameters. However, most schemes so far have required entangled resources consisting of photon numbers equal to or more than the parameter numbers, which is a fairly demanding requirement as the number of nodes increases. Here, we present a distributed quantum sensing scenario in which quantum-enhanced sensitivity can be achieved with fewer photons than the number of parameters.

The Association Among Post-hemodialysis Blood Pressure, Nocturnal Hypertension, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

Background: Most hemodialysis (HD) patients suffer from hypertension and have a heightened cardiovascular risk. While blood pressure (BP) control is essential to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients, overly stringent control can lead to intradialytic hypotension (IDH). This study aimed to examine BP variations during and after HD to determine whether these variations correlate with IDH risk.