Effects of Dispatcher-Assisted Public-Access Defibrillation Programs on the Outcomes of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Before-and-After Study.

Background: Public access defibrillation (PAD) programs have been implemented globally over the past decade. Although PAD can substantially increase the survival of cardiac arrest, PAD use remains low. This study aimed to evaluate whether drawing upon the successful experiences of dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation programs would increase the use of PAD in dispatcher-assisted PAD programs.

CTLA-4 tail fusion enhances CAR-T antitumor immunity.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are powerful therapeutics; however, their efficacy is often hindered by critical hurdles. Here utilizing the endocytic feature of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) cytoplasmic tail, we reprogram CAR function and substantially enhance CAR-T efficacy in vivo. CAR-T cells with monomeric, duplex or triplex CTLA-4 cytoplasmic tails (CCTs) fused to the C terminus of CAR exhibit a progressive increase in cytotoxicity under repeated stimulation, accompanied by reduced activation and production of proinflammatory cytokines.

Applications of CRISPR technology in cellular immunotherapy.

CRISPR technology has transformed multiple fields, including cancer and immunology. CRISPR-based gene editing and screening empowers direct genomic manipulation of immune cells, opening doors to unbiased functional genetic screens. These screens aid in the discovery of novel factors that regulate and reprogram immune responses, offering novel drug targets.

Cas12a/Cpf1 knock-in mice enable efficient multiplexed immune cell engineering.

Cas9 transgenic animals have drastically accelerated the discovery of novel immune modulators. But due to its inability to process its own CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs), simultaneous multiplexed gene perturbations using Cas9 remains limited, especially by pseudoviral vectors. Cas12a/Cpf1, however, can process concatenated crRNA arrays for this purpose.

CTLA-4 tail fusion enhances CAR-T anti-tumor immunity.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are powerful therapeutics; however, their efficacy is often hindered by critical hurdles. Here, utilizing the endocytic feature of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) cytoplasmic tail (CT), we reprogram CAR function and substantially enhance CAR-T efficacy . CAR-T cells with monomeric, duplex, or triplex CTLA-4 CTs (CCTs) fused to the C-terminus of CAR exhibit a progressive increase in cytotoxicity under repeated stimulation, accompanied by reduced activation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Skp2-mediated Zeb1 expression facilitates cancer migration by a ubiquitination-independent pathway.

Aims: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) constitutes one of the most dismal malignancies worldwide. Despite multidisciplinary involvement in interventions involving surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, most pancreatic cancer patients eventually develop distant metastasis. S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) plays an important role in cell-cycle regulation in pancreatic cancer.

Designing of pH-Sensitive Hydrogels for Colon Targeted Drug Delivery; Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation.

In the current research work, pH-sensitive hydrogels were prepared via a free radical polymerization technique for the targeted delivery of 5-aminosalicylic acid to the colon. Various proportions of chitosan, β-Cyclodextrin, and acrylic acid were cross-linked by ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. Ammonium persulfate was employed as an initiator.

Formulation and In-Vitro Characterization of pH-Responsive Semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogels for Controlled Release of Ketorolac Tromethamine.

Ketorolac tromethamine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in the management of severe pain. The half-life of Ketorolac tromethamine is within the range of 2.5-4 h.

Differential Nonenrollment of Taiwanese Children in School-Based Substance Use Prevention Studies: A Multilevel Analysis.

Objective: The present study investigated the extent to which individual and school characteristics may differentially affect parental consent and child assent in the enrollment of a school-based substance use prevention study in Taiwan.

Method: This study linked field notes on response and consent status during enrollment of the school-based prevention study with administrative survey data reported by the targeted students when they were in fourth grade (age 10-11) (N = 2,560; 53% male, 97.8% matched).

Curcumol Suppresses Triple-negative Breast Cancer Metastasis by Attenuating Anoikis Resistance Inhibition of Skp2-mediated Transcriptional Addiction.

Background/aim: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a unique subtype that lacks expression of several conventional biomarkers and has a higher incidence of lymph node invasion and distal metastasis among all breast cancers. Anoikis resistance is the fundamental reason behind tumor cells' survival without their attachment to the extracellular matrix and metastasis to distal organs. Therefore, finding novel anti-cancer drugs that can suppress anoikis resistance in cancer cells is critical for patients with TNBC.

Reduction in MicroRNA-4488 Expression Induces NFκB Translocation in Venous Endothelial Cells Under Arterial Flow.

Purpose: Little is known about the molecular interactions among inflammatory responses that damage venous endothelial cells (vECs) during venous-to-arterial flow transition in vein graft diseases. Because arterial flow triggers excessive autophagy and inflammation in vECs, this study aimed to investigate the mediator of inflammation and methods to prevent vEC damage.

Methods: Arterial laminar shear stress (ALSS; 12 dynes/cm) was applied to vECs via in vitro and ex vivo perfusion systems.

Traditional versus blended CPR training program: A randomized controlled non-inferiority study.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and its quality are critical in improving the survival rate of cardiac arrest. This randomized controlled study investigated the efficacy of a newly developed CPR training program for the public in a Taiwanese setting. A total of 832 adults were randomized to either a traditional or blended (18-minute e-learning plus 30-minute hands-on) compression-only CPR training program.

Impact of BMI1 expression on the apoptotic effect of paclitaxel in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, no treatment modality specific for the different CRC phenotypes has been developed. BMI1 has been previously reported to play an important role in the regulation of cancer stem cells and cell cycle in CRC.

Identification of CHD4-β1 integrin axis as a prognostic marker in triple-negative breast cancer using next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics.

Aims: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a special subtype of breast cancer that lacks receptor expression and is difficult to cure. Epigenetic regulators have been suggested as targets for cancer therapy in recent years. Our previous study indicated that the chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 4 (CHD4) is a prognostic biomarker of TNBC and therapeutic target in patients with TNBC.