PATL2 mutations affect human oocyte maternal mRNA homeostasis and protein interactions in cell cycle regulation.

Background: Oocyte maturation defect (OMD) and early embryonic arrest result in female infertility. Previous studies have linked biallelic mutations in the PATL2 gene to OMD, yet the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown.

Results: This study uncovers three novel mutations (c.

RIG-I is an intracellular checkpoint that limits CD8 T-cell antitumour immunity.

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is a pattern recognition receptor involved in innate immunity, but its role in adaptive immunity, specifically in the context of CD8 T-cell antitumour immunity, remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that RIG-I is upregulated in tumour-infiltrating CD8 T cells, where it functions as an intracellular checkpoint to negatively regulate CD8 T-cell function and limit antitumour immunity. Mechanistically, the upregulation of RIG-I in CD8 T cells is induced by activated T cells, and directly inhibits the AKT/glycolysis signalling pathway.

Establishment and validation of a risk score model based on EUS: assessment of lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer.

Background And Aims: Lymph node metastasis significantly affects the prognosis of early gastric cancer patients. EUS plays a crucial role in the preoperative assessment of early gastric cancer. This study evaluated the efficacy of EUS in identifying lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer patients and developed a risk score model to aid in choosing the best treatment options.

ACAT2 suppresses the ubiquitination of YAP1 to enhance the proliferation and metastasis ability of gastric cancer via the upregulation of SETD7.

The contributions of aberrantly expressed metabolic enzymes to gastric cancer (GC) initiation and progression have been widely appreciated in recent years. Acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2 (ACAT2) is one member of the acetyl- CoA thiolase family. Previous studies demonstrated that ACAT2 either promotes or suppresses tumor progression in different conditions.

CRL4 E3 ubiquitin ligase targets MeCP2 for degradation to prevent DNA hypermethylation and ensure normal transcription in growing oocytes.

The DNA methylation is gradually acquired during oogenesis, a process sustained by successful follicle development. However, the functional roles of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), an epigenetic regulator displaying specifical binding with methylated DNA, remains unknown in oogenesis. In this study, we found MeCP2 protein was highly expressed in primordial and primary follicle, but was almost undetectable in secondary follicles.

STAT3 regulates antiviral immunity by suppressing excessive interferon signaling.

This study identifies interleukin-6 (IL-6)-independent phosphorylation of STAT3 Y705 at the early stage of infection with several viruses, including influenza A virus (IAV). Such activation of STAT3 is dependent on the retinoic acid-induced gene I/mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein/spleen tyrosine kinase (RIG-I/MAVS/Syk) axis and critical for antiviral immunity. We generate STAT3 knockin mice that display a remarkably suppressed antiviral response to IAV infection, as evidenced by impaired expression of several antiviral genes, severe lung tissue injury, and poor survival compared with wild-type animals.

Comparative assessment of embryotoxicity of 2,4,6-triiodophenol to mouse blastoid and pre-implantation embryo models.

Embryonic developmental effects of disinfection by-products, which are generated during drinking water treatment and widely detected in environment, have gained more and more attention nowadays, calling for construction of in vitro research models which can mimic early embryonic development to evaluate the embryotoxicity. The embryonic stem cell test offers a promising assay to predict embryotoxicity of environmental pollutions. However, it is not appropriate for the toxicological study of preimplantation embryos.

Cysteine dioxygenase 1 attenuates the proliferation via inducing oxidative stress and integrated stress response in gastric cancer cells.

Whereas cysteine dioxygenase 1 (CDO1) expression is lost due to its hypermethylated promoter across a range of cancer types including gastric cancer (GC), its functions and molecular underpinnings remain largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that reduced CDO1 expression is indicative of unfavorable prognosis in patients with GC. CDO1 overexpression in GC cells markedly inhibits cellular proliferation in vitro and in vivo.

Initial activation of STAT2 induced by IAV infection is critical for innate antiviral immunity.

STAT2 is an important transcription factor activated by interferons (IFNs) upon viral infection and plays a key role in antiviral responses. Interestingly, here we found that phosphorylation of STAT2 could be induced by several viruses at early infection stage, including influenza A virus (IAV), and such initial activation of STAT2 was independent of type I IFNs and JAK kinases. Furthermore, it was observed that the early activation of STAT2 during viral infection was mainly regulated by the RIG-I/MAVS-dependent pathway.

2,4,6-triiodophenol exhibits embryotoxicity to pre-implantation mouse embryos in an in vitro exposure model.

2,4,6-triiodophenol (TIP), a novel type of halophenolic disinfection byproducts, has been widely detected in water bodies, even in drinking water. Recently, TIP has drawn increasing concerns on account of considerable developmental toxicity towards lower organisms and cytotoxicity for mammalian cells. However, it remains unknown about its toxicity on mammalian pre-implantation embryos.

[Clinical Value of Cerebrospinal Fluid ctDNA in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Meningeal Metastasis].

Background: The mortality rate of lung cancer meningeal metastasis is extremely high. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has been confirmed to be contain the genomic alterations present in tumors and has been used to monitor tumor progression and response to treatments. Due to the presence of blood-brain barrier and other factors, peripheral blood ctDNA cannot reflect the information of brain lesions for patients with meningeal metastases.

TRAF4 Promotes Fibroblast Proliferation in Keloids by Destabilizing p53 via Interacting with the Deubiquitinase USP10.

Keloids represent one extreme of aberrant dermal wound healing. One of the important characteristics of keloids is uncontrolled fibroblasts proliferation. However, the mechanism of excessive proliferation of fibroblasts in keloids remains elusive.

Use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine as Self-Care Strategies in Community Health Centers: Cross-Sectional Study in Urban Pearl River Delta Region of China.

In China, Community Health Centers (CHCs) are major providers of primary care services, but their potential in empowering patients' self-management capacity has not been assessed. This study aims to describe self-care practice patterns amongst CHC attendees in urban China.In this cross-sectional quantitative study, 3360 CHC patients from 6 cities within the Pearl Delta Region were sampled using multistage cluster sampling.

Electroacupuncture and splinting versus splinting alone to treat carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The effectiveness of acupuncture for managing carpal tunnel syndrome is uncertain, particularly in patients already receiving conventional treatments (e.g., splinting).

Patient Perceptions of Expression of Empathy From Chinese Medicine Clinicians in a Chinese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aims to examine the level of empathy perceived by patients receiving care from herbalists, acupuncturists and massage therapists and to investigate the factors that influence levels of perceived empathy.Participants who were 18 years or above; able to provide written informed consent; and able to read and write in Chinese without assistance were included. A total of 514 participants sampled from charity and semipublic Chinese medicine (CM) clinics in Hong Kong were recruited to assess levels of empathy perceived during various length of consultations (1-20 minutes) by the Chinese Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure (Chinese CARE).

Patients' experience of Chinese Medicine Primary Care Services: Implications on Improving Coordination and Continuity of Care.

Chinese medicine (CM) is major form of traditional and complementary medicine used by Chinese populations. Evaluation on patients' experience on CM service is essential for improving service quality. This cross sectional study aims (i) to assess how CM clinics with different administrative model differ in terms of quality from patients' perspective; and (ii) to investigate how quality varies with patients' demographic and health characteristics.

A prospective, randomized, controlled study of a suspension positioning system used with elderly bedridden patients with neurogenic fecal incontinence.

Elderly patients with acute neurological impairment are prone to severe disability, fecal incontinence (FI), and resultant complications. A suspension positioning system (SPS), based on the orthopedic suspension traction system commonly used for conservative treatment of pediatric femoral fracture and uncomplicated adult pelvic fracture, was developed to facilitate FI management in patients immobilized secondary to an acute neurological condition. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the system, a prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted between October 2009 and July 2012.

Methodological quality of meta-analyses on treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study using the AMSTAR (Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews) tool.

Background: Meta-analysis (MA) of randomised trials is considered to be one of the best approaches for summarising high-quality evidence on the efficacy and safety of treatments. However, methodological flaws in MAs can reduce the validity of conclusions, subsequently impairing the quality of decision making.

Aims: To assess the methodological quality of MAs on COPD treatments.