Profiling microRNA expression differentiates monozygotic twins in peripherical blood by droplet digital PCR.

It is challenging to distinguish monozygotic (MZ) twins using traditional autosomal STR genotyping due to their nearly identical genomes. As an important kind of small non-coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) are essential regulators of gene expression and considered as excellent biomarkers due to their resistance to degradation. Moreover, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) has emerged as a powerful technique for detecting gene mutations and pathogenic microorganisms, owing to its sensitivity and reliability.

Efficacy of rituximab as second-line therapy for autoimmune encephalitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Approximately 20%-50 % of individuals with autoimmune encephalitis (AE) demonstrate suboptimal responses to first-line therapies, leading to persistent neurological deficits and the need for second-line interventions. Although rituximab has shown potential as an alternative treatment in AE, the existing evidence remains insufficient. This study systematically evaluated and meta-analyzed the efficacy of rituximab in AE patients who either failed or exhibited inadequate responses to first-line treatments, aiming to refine and optimize therapeutic strategies for AE.

Associations of dietary factors with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: An inconsistent yet notable relationship between dietary habits and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been previously established, with the causative nature of this relationship remaining uncertain. This study aims to explore the causal connections at a genetic level.

Methods: A two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) based analysis was conducted utilizing a comprehensive, publicly assessable Genome-wide association study (GWAS) database.

A functional cardiac patch promotes cardiac repair by modulating the CCR2 cardiac-resident macrophage niche and their cell crosstalk.

C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) cardiac-resident macrophages (CCR2 cRMs) are known to promote cardiac repair after myocardial infarction (MI). However, the substantial depletion and slow recovery of CCR2 cRMs pose significant barriers in cardiac recovery. Here, we construct a functional conductive cardiac patch (CCP) that can provide exogenously elastic conductive microenvironment and induce endogenously reparative microenvironment mediated by CCR2 cRMs for MI repair.

Tofacitinib Treatment for Active Dermatomyositis and Anti-synthetase Syndrome: A Prospective Cohort Pilot Study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in the treatment of active dermatomyositis (DM) and anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS).

Methods: Tofacitinib was administered at a dose of 5 mg twice daily to patients who exhibited inadequate response to conventional treatments. The primary end point was the reduction of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells at week 24.