Widespread Impact of Natural Genetic Variations in CRISPR-Cas9 Outcomes.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) is a genome editing tool widely used in biological research and clinical therapeutics. Natural human genetic variations, through altering the sequence context of CRISPR-Cas9 target regions, can significantly affect its DNA repair outcomes and ultimately lead to different editing efficiencies. However, these effects have not been systematically studied, even as CRISPR-Cas9 is broadly applied to primary cells and patient samples that harbor such genetic diversity.

Magnetism and electronic properties of CoMoP (n = 1 ~ 5) cluster: a DFT study.

Context: Hydrogen has emerged as a promising clean energy carrier, underscoring the imperative need to comprehend its adsorption mechanisms. This study delves into the magnetic and electronic properties of Co-Mo-P clusters, aiming to unveil their catalytic potential in hydrogen production. Employing density functional theory (DFT), we optimized cluster configurations and scrutinized their magnetic behaviors.

Density functional theory studies on properties of cluster CoMoS (n=1 ~ 5): interatomic interactions, electronic properties, frontier orbitals.

Context: To comprehend the microscopic property alterations within the ConMoS cluster (n=1-5), this study investigates its internal interactions, electronic characteristics, and orbital correlations employing density functional theory. Structural optimization and theoretical analysis of the cluster are conducted using the Gaussian09 software package, considering various spin multiplicities and employing the B3LYP/def2tzvp quantum chemical method as the computational standard. The outcomes reveal the optimization of the cluster, resulting in 21 stable configurations while continually acquiring energy from the external environment.

Stability, electronic and catalytic properties of CoMoP(n = 1 ~ 5) clusters: A DFT study.

Context: The investigation of the stability, electronic properties, and catalytic activity of clusters CoMoP holds significant applications and implications in catalyst design, materials science, energy conversion and storage, and environmental protection. The study aims to delve into the unique features of the clusters CoMoP(n = 1 ~ 5), aiming to drive advancements in these related fields. The results obtained from the analysis revealed the stable configurations of the ten clusters, primarily characterized by steric structures.

Detection of pancreatic cancer with two- and three-dimensional radiomic analysis in a nationwide population-based real-world dataset.

Background: CT is the major detection tool for pancreatic cancer (PC). However, approximately 40% of PCs < 2 cm are missed on CT, underscoring a pressing need for tools to supplement radiologist interpretation.

Methods: Contrast-enhanced CT studies of 546 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed by histology/cytology between January 2005 and December 2019 and 733 CT studies of controls with normal pancreas obtained between the same period in a tertiary referral center were retrospectively collected for developing an automatic end-to-end computer-aided detection (CAD) tool for PC using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) radiomic analysis with machine learning.

Identification of fish species through tRNA-based primer design.

Background: The correct establishment of the barcode classification system for fish can facilitate biotaxonomists to distinguish fish species, and it can help the government to verify the authenticity of the ingredients of fish products or identify unknown fish related samples. The Cytochrome c oxidation I (COI) gene sequence in the mitochondria of each species possesses unique characteristics, which has been widely used as barcodes in identifying species in recent years. Instead of using COI gene sequences for primer design, flanking tRNA segments of COI genes from 2618 complete fish mitochondrial genomes were analyzed to discover suitable primers for fish classification at taxonomic family level.

Pancreatic Cancer Detection on CT Scans with Deep Learning: A Nationwide Population-based Study.

Background Approximately 40% of pancreatic tumors smaller than 2 cm are missed at abdominal CT. Purpose To develop and to validate a deep learning (DL)-based tool able to detect pancreatic cancer at CT. Materials and Methods Retrospectively collected contrast-enhanced CT studies in patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer between January 2006 and July 2018 were compared with CT studies of individuals with a normal pancreas (control group) obtained between January 2004 and December 2019.

Identification of key genes and signaling pathways related to Hetian sheep wool density by RNA-seq technology.

Hetian sheep is a breed of sheep unique to the Hetian area of Xinjiang whose wool is used for producing blankets. Individual differences and hair follicle density are the key factors affecting wool production. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the Hetian sheep having different wool densities to statistically analyze the wool traits and hair follicle parameters.

Bioactive Small Molecule Enhances Skin Burn Wound Healing and Hair Follicle Regeneration by Activating PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway: A Preclinical Evaluation in Animal Model.

: A bioactive small molecule of precision medicine involves targeted therapies. Shikonin, a herbal extract, is an active small molecule that is traditionally used in wound healing for its anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory role of shikonin in skin burn wound healing and hair follicle regeneration and to identify molecular signaling pathways that promote the regeneration.

Achieving a combination of decent biocompatibility and large near-linear-elastic deformation behavior in shell-core-like structural TiNb/NiTi composite.

As expected from the material design, a novel shell-core-like structural TiNb/NiTi composite possessing both decent biocompatibility and large near-linear-elastic deformation behavior (namely as near-linear elasticity accompanied by high elastic strain limit) was prepared successfully by a hot pack-rolling combined with cold rolling procedure. Non-cytotoxic TiNb outer shell obstructs the NiTi inner core from cells and provides the decent biocompatibility of TiNb/NiTi composite. Large near-linear-elastic deformation behavior for this TiNb/NiTi composite has been confirmed to be associated with intrinsic elastic deformation, two types of reversible stress-induced martensitic transformations (i.

Applications of artificial intelligence in pancreatic and biliary diseases.

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine has increased rapidly with respect to tasks including disease detection/diagnosis, risk stratification, and prognosis prediction. With recent advances in computing power and algorithms, AI has shown promise in taking advantage of vast electronic health data and imaging studies to supplement clinicians. Machine learning and deep learning are the most widely used AI methodologies for medical research and have been applied in pancreatobiliary diseases for which diagnosis and treatment selection are often complicated and require joint consideration of data from multiple sources.

Analysis of the Prognosis and Therapeutic Value of the CXC Chemokine Family in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The CXC chemokines belong to a family which includes 17 different CXC members. Accumulating evidence suggests that CXC chemokines regulate tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in various types of cancers by influencing the tumor microenvironment. The different expression profiles and specific function of each CXC chemokine in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are not yet clarified.

Deep learning to distinguish pancreatic cancer tissue from non-cancerous pancreatic tissue: a retrospective study with cross-racial external validation.

Background: The diagnostic performance of CT for pancreatic cancer is interpreter-dependent, and approximately 40% of tumours smaller than 2 cm evade detection. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have shown promise in image analysis, but the networks' potential for pancreatic cancer detection and diagnosis is unclear. We aimed to investigate whether CNN could distinguish individuals with and without pancreatic cancer on CT, compared with radiologist interpretation.

Efficacy of more intensive lipid-lowering therapy on cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality with incidence rates of 5-10 per 1000 person-years, according to primary prevention studies. To control hyperlipidemia-a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease-initiation of lipid-lowering therapy with therapeutic lifestyle modification or lipid-lowering agent is recommended. Few systematic reviews and meta-analyses are available on lipid-lowering therapy for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Opportunities of circulating tumor DNA in lung cancer.

Current classification and treatment of lung cancer rely increasingly on molecular and genetic testing. Obtaining tumor tissue is not always feasible and multiple biopsies are undesirable. In response to the demand for non-invasive molecular and genetic testing in cancer care, several liquid biopsy technologies, including circulating DNA (ctDNA), have been developed.

Weaning outcome of solid cancer patients requiring mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit.

Background: Whether the weaning outcome of solid cancer patients receiving mechanical ventilation (MV) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is comparable to that in non-cancer patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the weaning outcomes between non-cancer patients and patients with different types of cancer.

Methods: We studied patients requiring MV during ICU stay for medical reasons between 2012 and 2014.

Prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of malignant pleural mesothelioma in Eastern Asian patients - A Taiwanese study.

Background/purpose: There are scarce reports on the prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in Asia. This study aimed to address these matters in a real-world setting.

Methods: Medical records of patients with histologically proven MPM diagnosed between 1977 and 2016 at the National Taiwan University Hospital were reviewed.

New data on clinical decisions in NSCLC patients with uncommon EGFR mutations.

Non-small cell lung cancer patients harboring uncommon epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations together account for approximately 10% of all EGFR mutations. The most common of which being G719X, S768I, L861Q, and exon 20 insertions. The clinical significance, particularly their response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is largely unclear.

Transforming growth factor β-1 stimulates profibrotic epithelial signaling to activate pericyte-myofibroblast transition in obstructive kidney fibrosis.

Pericytes have been identified as the major source of precursors of scar-producing myofibroblasts during kidney fibrosis. The underlying mechanisms triggering pericyte-myofibroblast transition are poorly understood. Transforming growth factor β-1 (TGF-β1) is well recognized as a pluripotent cytokine that drives organ fibrosis.