Analysis of the Genetic Diversity and Genetic Structure of Jiangshan Black Pigs Using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Chips.

The Jiangshan black pig is an indigenous pig breed in China, renowned for its superior meat quality and adaptability to roughage. However, the population of Jiangshan black pigs has dwindled due to the introduction of cosmopolitan pig breeds and the outbreak of African swine fever, putting them at risk of extinction. To offer insights into the conservation and breeding of Jiangshan black pigs, this study involved 118 Jiangshan black pigs as the research subjects and employed the Zhongxin-1 Porcine Breeding Array PLUS chip to detect whole-genome SNPs.

Modulation of FGF pathway signaling and vascular differentiation using designed oligomeric assemblies.

Many growth factors and cytokines signal by binding to the extracellular domains of their receptors and driving association and transphosphorylation of the receptor intracellular tyrosine kinase domains, initiating downstream signaling cascades. To enable systematic exploration of how receptor valency and geometry affect signaling outcomes, we designed cyclic homo-oligomers with up to 8 subunits using repeat protein building blocks that can be modularly extended. By incorporating a de novo-designed fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-binding module into these scaffolds, we generated a series of synthetic signaling ligands that exhibit potent valency- and geometry-dependent Ca release and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation.

Remodeling ceramide homeostasis promotes functional maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived β cells.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived β cells (hPSC-β cells) show the potential to restore euglycemia. However, the immature functionality of hPSC-β cells has limited their efficacy in application. Here, by deciphering the continuous maturation process of hPSC-β cells post transplantation via single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (scATAC-seq), we show that functional maturation of hPSC-β cells is an orderly multistep process during which cells sequentially undergo metabolic adaption, removal of negative regulators of cell function, and establishment of a more specialized transcriptome and epigenome.

Comparing the efficacy and safety of three surgical approaches for total hysterectomy (TSATH): protocol for a multicentre, single-blind, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Hysterectomy is the most common surgical procedure in the field of gynaecology. The traditional multiport laparoscopy, transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (TU-LESS) and transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) hysterectomy approaches have been implemented to varying degrees in clinical practice. At present, although their feasibility has been proven, there are no large randomised controlled studies on postoperative rehabilitation.

IL-21-armored B7H3 CAR-iNKT cells exert potent antitumor effects.

CD1d-restricted invariant NKT (iNKT) cells play a critical role in tumor immunity. However, the scarcity and limited persistence restricts their development and clinical application. Here, we demonstrated that iNKT cells could be efficiently expanded using modified cytokines combination from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Prognostic Value of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and RCA Pericoronary Adipose Tissue CT Attenuation in Patients with Acute Chest Pain.

Rationale And Objectives: Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) CT attenuation of right coronary artery (RCA) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have prognostic value for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with coronary artery disease. However, the superior prognostic value between RCA PCAT CT attenuation and NAFLD remains unclear in patients with acute chest pain. This study is to evaluate the prognostic value of NAFLD for MACE, and further assess the incremental prognostic value of NAFLD over PCAT CT attenuation.

Cardiovascular Health of Middle-Aged U.S. Adults by Income Level, 1999 to March 2020 : A Serial Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Although cardiovascular mortality has increased among middle-aged U.S. adults since 2011, how the burden of cardiovascular risk factors has changed for this population by income level over the past 2 decades is unknown.

Risk stratification of papillary thyroid cancers using multidimensional machine learning.

Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is one of the most common endocrine malignancies with different risk levels. However, preoperative risk assessment of PTC is still a challenge in the worldwide. Here, the authors first report a Preoperative Risk Assessment Classifier for PTC (PRAC-PTC) by multidimensional features including clinical indicators, immune indices, genetic feature, and proteomics.

Origami-based integration of robots that sense, decide, and respond.

Origami-inspired engineering has enabled intelligent materials and structures to process and react to environmental stimuli. However, it is challenging to achieve complete sense-decide-act loops in origami materials for autonomous interaction with environments, mainly due to the lack of information processing units that can interface with sensing and actuation. Here, we introduce an integrated origami-based process to create autonomous robots by embedding sensing, computing, and actuating in compliant, conductive materials.

β2-microglobulin functions as an endogenous NMDAR antagonist to impair synaptic function.

Down syndrome (DS) is a neurological disorder with multiple immune-related symptoms; however, crosstalk between the CNS and peripheral immune system remains unexplored. Using parabiosis and plasma infusion, we found that blood-borne factors drive synaptic deficits in DS. Proteomic analysis revealed elevation of β2-microglobulin (B2M), a major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) component, in human DS plasma.

GPX2 Gene Affects Feed Efficiency of Pigs by Inhibiting Fat Deposition and Promoting Muscle Development.

GPX2 has been recognized as a potential candidate gene for feed efficiency in pigs. This article aimed to elucidate polymorphism of GPX2 associated with feed efficiency and its related molecular mechanism. In this study, seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of GPX2 were found among 383 Duroc pigs.

Rational identification of potent and broad sarbecovirus-neutralizing antibody cocktails from SARS convalescents.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron sublineages have escaped most receptor-binding domain (RBD)-targeting therapeutic neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), which proves that previous NAb drug screening strategies are deficient against the fast-evolving SARS-CoV-2. Better broad NAb drug candidate selection methods are needed. Here, we describe a rational approach for identifying RBD-targeting broad SARS-CoV-2 NAb cocktails.

Lineage-mosaic and mutation-patched spike proteins for broad-spectrum COVID-19 vaccine.

SARS-CoV-2 spread in humans results in continuous emergence of new variants, highlighting the need for vaccines with broad-spectrum antigenic coverage. Using inter-lineage chimera and mutation-patch strategies, we engineered a recombinant monomeric spike variant (STFK1628x) that contains key regions and residues across multiple SAR-CoV-2 variants. STFK1628x demonstrated high immunogenicity and mutually complementary antigenicity to its prototypic form (STFK).

Protocol to estimate cell type proportions from bulk RNA-seq using DAISM-DNN.

Computational protocols for cell type deconvolution from bulk RNA-seq data have been used to understand cellular heterogeneity in disease-related samples, but their performance can be impacted by batch effect among datasets. Here, we present a DAISM-DNN protocol to achieve robust cell type proportion estimation on the target dataset. We describe the preparation of calibrated samples from human blood samples.

Targeted suppression of human IBD-associated gut microbiota commensals by phage consortia for treatment of intestinal inflammation.

Human gut commensals are increasingly suggested to impact non-communicable diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), yet their targeted suppression remains a daunting unmet challenge. In four geographically distinct IBD cohorts (n = 537), we identify a clade of Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) strains, featuring a unique antibiotics resistance and mobilome signature, to be strongly associated with disease exacerbation and severity. Transfer of clinical IBD-associated Kp strains into colitis-prone, germ-free, and colonized mice enhances intestinal inflammation.

Life Expectancy for White, Black, and Hispanic Race/Ethnicity in U.S. States: Trends and Disparities, 1990 to 2019.

Background: Life expectancy (LE) differences within and between states by race/ethnicity have not been examined.

Objective: To estimate LE for selected race/ethnicity groups in states from 1990 to 2019.

Design: Cross-sectional time-series analysis.

Performance Evaluation of a Dengue IgG Rapid Diagnostic Test Designed to Determine Dengue Serostatus as Part of Prevaccination Screening.

The World Health Organization has recommended prevaccination screening for prior dengue infection as the preferred approach prior to vaccination with the dengue vaccine CYD-TDV. These screening tests need to be highly specific and sensitive, and deliverable at the point-of-care. We evaluate here the sensitivity and specificity of the newly developed Dengue IgG rapid diagnostic test (RDT).

DAISM-DNN: Highly accurate cell type proportion estimation with data augmentation and deep neural networks.

Understanding the immune cell abundance of cancer and other disease-related tissues has an important role in guiding disease treatments. Computational cell type proportion estimation methods have been previously developed to derive such information from bulk RNA sequencing data. Unfortunately, our results show that the performance of these methods can be seriously plagued by the mismatch between training data and real-world data.

KANK4 Promotes Arteriogenesis by Potentiating VEGFR2 Signaling in a TALIN-1-Dependent Manner.

Background: Arteriogenesis plays a critical role in maintaining adequate tissue blood supply and is related to a favorable prognosis in arterial occlusive diseases. Strategies aimed at promoting arteriogenesis have thus far not been successful because the factors involved in arteriogenesis remain incompletely understood. Previous studies suggest that evolutionarily conserved KANK4 (KN motif and ankyrin repeat domain-containing proteins 4) might involve in vertebrate vessel development.

A multi-scale map of cell structure fusing protein images and interactions.

The cell is a multi-scale structure with modular organization across at least four orders of magnitude. Two central approaches for mapping this structure-protein fluorescent imaging and protein biophysical association-each generate extensive datasets, but of distinct qualities and resolutions that are typically treated separately. Here we integrate immunofluorescence images in the Human Protein Atlas with affinity purifications in BioPlex to create a unified hierarchical map of human cell architecture.