Clinical outcome and peripheral CD4 T profile in impending myasthenic crisis: A prospective cohort study.

Impending Myasthenic Crisis (MC) is defined as a rapid worsening of myasthenia gravis (MG) that can progress to respiratory failure within days to weeks. The clinical data regarding the outcome and peripheral immune profile is limited. This multicenter cohort enrolled 37 patients with impending MC who were given timely rescue therapies from six university hospitals (n = 272).

Patterns and predictors of therapeutic response to efgartigimod in acetylcholine receptor-antibody generalized myasthenia gravis subtypes.

Background: Efgartigimod is an approved biologic for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), which is an autoimmune disease and can potentially be life-threatening. However, the therapeutic response to efgartigimod among the acetylcholine receptor gMG (AChR-gMG) subtypes remains inconclusive.

Objective: To explore the patterns and predictors for the therapeutic response to efgartigimod among AChR-gMG subtypes.

The aprD-mutated strain modulates the development of Pseudomonas fragi population but has limited effects on the spoilage profiles of native residents.

Extracellular enzymes produced by predominant bacteria exert important roles in inducing and accelerating spoilage, with their secretion regulated by specific genes. In Pseudomonas fragi, the aprD gene is a recognized regulator for secreting an alkaline extracellular protease. However, limited studies have focused on this gene in P.

Complanatoside A disrupts copper homeostasis and induces cuproptosis via directly targeting ATOX1 in prostate cancer.

Complanatoside A (CA), a flavonoid derived from the Chinese medicinal herb Semen Astragali Complanati, exhibits anticancer activity. However, its effects on prostate cancer (PCa) remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the anti-PCa effects and underlying mechanisms of action of CA, both in vitro and in vivo.

Analysis of ICIs alone or in combination rechallenged outcomes after progression from first-line ICIs plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus chemotherapy have become the standard of care for first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR/ALK negative. However, there is no clear second-line treatment option after first-line treatment failure. To investigate the efficacy and safety of ICIs alone or in combination rechallenge treatment after first-line ICIs plus chemotherapy progression in advanced NSCLC.

Eculizumab in thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis: a real-world cohort study.

Background: Thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis (TAMG) is a subtype of myasthenia gravis (MG) that is associated with more severe symptoms and a relatively poor prognosis. Eculizumab, an inhibitor to target human C5 component of the complement cascade, is considered a treatment option for refractory generalized MG (gMG).

Objectives: To explore the safety and efficacy of eculizumab in patients with TAMG.

CEA-induced PI3K/AKT pathway activation through the binding of CEA to KRT1 contributes to oxaliplatin resistance in gastric cancer.

Background: The serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has prognostic value in patients with gastric cancer (GC) receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. As the molecular functions of CEA are increasingly uncovered, its role in regulating oxaliplatin resistance in GC attracts attention.

Methods: The survival analysis adopted the KaplanMeier method.

Case report: Rapid clinical improvement of anti-HMGCR immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy treated with efgartigimod.

Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) with anti-HMGCR antibody positivity is characterized by proximal extremity weakness, increased creatine kinase, and extensive muscle edema. There is an urgent need to find more appropriate treatment options for anti-HMGCR IMNM patients who do not respond well to conventional therapy in the acute phase. With the advent of targeted biologics, new treatment options are available.

KRAS mutations promote the intratumoral colonization of enterotoxigenic bacteroides fragilis in colorectal cancer through the regulation of the miRNA3655/SURF6/IRF7/IFNβ axis.

KRAS mutations are associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Although the association between the gut microbiota and CRC has been extensively documented, it is unclear whether KRAS mutations can regulate the gut microbiota. Metagenomics has identified changes in the diversity of the gut microbiota in CRC due to KRAS mutations.

Pterin-Based Red Coloration Predicts the Outcome of Male-Male Competition in Guinan Toad-Headed Lizard.

Animal coloration offers a unique opportunity to explore the evolutionary mechanisms underlying phenotypic diversity. Conspicuous coloration caused by pigments plays a crucial role in social signaling across multiple species by conveying information about individual quality, social ranks, or reproductive condition. Nevertheless, most previous studies have focused predominantly on colors produced by the exogenous pigments-carotenoids.

Ability of new protected areas to counteract losses from downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement.

Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) is a common occurrence. Although PADDD is expected to weaken biodiversity protection, PADDD offsets and new unrelated protected areas (PAs) could help restore representation of biodiversity features to the reserve network affected by PADDD. Globally, we analyzed 16 territories with terrestrial PADDD and 4 territories with marine PADDD from 2011 to 2020.

High-risk screening for late-onset Pompe disease in China: An expanded multicenter study.

Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is caused by a genetic deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA), leading to progressive limb-girdle weakness and respiratory impairment. The insidious onset of non-specific early symptoms often prohibits timely diagnosis. This study aimed to validate the high-risk screening criteria for LOPD in the Chinese population.

Context-dependent effects of thermal acclimation on physiological correlates of animal personality in Asiatic toads.

Persistent individual variation in behaviour, or 'personality', is a widespread phenomenon in animals, and understanding the evolution of animal personality is a key task of current biology. Natural selection has been proposed to promote the integration of personality with animal 'intrinsic states', such as metabolic or endocrine traits, and this integration varies with ecological conditions. However, these external ecological modulatory effects have rarely been examined.

Systematic dissection of sequence features affecting binding specificity of a pioneer factor reveals binding synergy between FOXA1 and AP-1.

Despite the unique ability of pioneer factors (PFs) to target nucleosomal sites in closed chromatin, they only bind a small fraction of their genomic motifs. The underlying mechanism of this selectivity is not well understood. Here, we design a high-throughput assay called chromatin immunoprecipitation with integrated synthetic oligonucleotides (ChIP-ISO) to systematically dissect sequence features affecting the binding specificity of a classic PF, FOXA1, in human A549 cells.

Efgartigimod for generalized myasthenia gravis: A multicenter real-world cohort study in China.

Objective: Efgartigimod, a neonatal Fc receptor antagonist, facilitates antibody degradation including pathogenic IgGs. The ADAPT study demonstrated the tolerability and efficacy of efgartigimod in the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). However, very limited evidence is available for the Chinese population, and it remains inconclusive about which kind of patients are selected to preferentially receive efgartigimod in real-world settings.

Dual engagement of the nucleosomal acidic patches is essential for deposition of histone H2A.Z by SWR1C.

The yeast SWR1C chromatin remodeling enzyme catalyzes the ATP-dependent exchange of nucleosomal histone H2A for the histone variant H2A.Z, a key variant involved in a multitude of nuclear functions. How the 14-subunit SWR1C engages the nucleosomal substrate remains largely unknown.

Intensive Ambulance-Delivered Blood-Pressure Reduction in Hyperacute Stroke.

Background: Treatment of acute stroke, before a distinction can be made between ischemic and hemorrhagic types, is challenging. Whether very early blood-pressure control in the ambulance improves outcomes among patients with undifferentiated acute stroke is uncertain.

Methods: We randomly assigned patients with suspected acute stroke that caused a motor deficit and with elevated systolic blood pressure (≥150 mm Hg), who were assessed in the ambulance within 2 hours after the onset of symptoms, to receive immediate treatment to lower the systolic blood pressure (target range, 130 to 140 mm Hg) (intervention group) or usual blood-pressure management (usual-care group).

Association between insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and its components and lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A growing body of evidence points to the association between insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components and lung cancer incidence, but remains controversial and unknown.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted through PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang databases for the corresponding studies. Each study reported the risk estimate and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for lung cancer, and a fixed effects model or random effects model was used for outcome.

Clinical features and genetic spectrum of a multicenter Chinese cohort with myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Background: As the most common subtype of adult muscular dystrophy worldwide, large cohort reports on myotonic dystrophy type I (DM1) in China are still lacking. This study aims to analyze the genetic and clinical characteristics of Chinese Han DM1 patients.

Methods: Based on the multicenter collaborating effort of the Pan-Yangtze River Delta Alliance for Neuromuscular Disorders, patients with suspected clinical diagnoses of DM1 were genetically confirmed from January 2020 to April 2023.

Clinical, neurophysiological evaluation and genetic features of axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in a Chinese family.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a group of inherited peripheral neuropathies related to variants in the mitochondrial transfer RNA () gene. Here, we report a Chinese family harboring the m.1661A>G variant in the gene.

Exploring resting-state EEG oscillations in patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

Background And Objective: Quantitative resting-state electroencephalography (rs-EEG) is a convenient method for characterizing the functional impairments and adaptations of the brain that has been shown to be valuable for assessing many neurological and psychiatric disorders, especially in monitoring disease status and assisting neuromodulation treatment. However, it has not yet been explored in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). This study aimed to investigate the rs-EEG features of NMOSD patients and explore the rs-EEG features related to disease characteristics and complications (such as anxiety, depression, and fatigue).

Hyperoside Inhibits RNF8-mediated Nuclear Translocation of β-catenin to Repress PD-L1 Expression and Prostate Cancer.

Background: Hyperoside is a flavonol glycoside isolated from L. that has inhibitory effects on cancer cells; however, its effects on prostate cancer (PCa) remain unclear. Therefore, we studied the anti-PCa effects of hyperoside and its underlying mechanisms and .

Elevational variation in metabolic rate, feeding capacity and their associations in the Asiatic toad Bufo gargarizans.

Foraging behavior is known to place demands on the metabolic characteristics of anurans. Active foragers feeding on sedentary prey typically have high aerobic capacity and low anaerobic capacity, whereas sit-and-wait foragers feeding on active and mobile prey have the opposite pattern. Thus, the energetic demands of foraging may influence their metabolic adaptations to harsh environments, such as high elevations.