PP2A Attenuates Thoracic Aneurysm and Dissection in Mouse Models of Marfan Syndrome.

Background: Recent studies show that hyperactivation of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling plays a causal role in the development of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. Modulation of PP2A (protein phosphatase 2A) activity has been shown to be of significant therapeutic value. In light of the effects that PP2A can exert on the mTOR pathway, we hypothesized that PP2A activation by small-molecule activators of PP2A could mitigate AA progression in Marfan syndrome (MFS).

Machine learning approach for noninvasive intracranial pressure estimation using pulsatile cranial expansion waveforms.

Noninvasive methods for intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring have emerged, but none has successfully replaced invasive techniques. This observational study developed and tested a machine learning (ML) model to estimate ICP using waveforms from a cranial extensometer device (brain4care [B4C] System). The model explored multiple waveform parameters to optimize mean ICP estimation.

CD70-targeted iPSC-derived CAR-NK cells display potent function against tumors and alloreactive T cells.

Clinical application of autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells is complicated by limited targeting of cancer types, as well as the time-consuming and costly manufacturing process. We develop CD70-targeted, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CAR-natural killer (NK) (70CAR-iNK) cells as an approach for universal immune cell therapy. Besides the CD70-targeted CAR molecule, 70CAR-iNK cells are modified with CD70 gene knockout, a high-affinity non-cleavable CD16 (hnCD16), and an interleukin (IL)-15 receptor α/IL-15 fusion protein (IL15RF).

The gut-brain axis underlying hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis.

Up to 50-70% of patients with liver cirrhosis develop hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which is closely related to gut microbiota dysbiosis, with an unclear mechanism. Here, by constructing gut-brain modules to assess bacterial neurotoxins from metagenomic datasets, we found that phenylalanine decarboxylase (PDC) genes, mainly from Ruminococcus gnavus, increased approximately tenfold in patients with cirrhosis and higher in patients with HE. Cirrhotic, not healthy, mice colonized with R.

Proposal of one new family, seven new genera and seventy new basidiomycetous yeast species mostly isolated from Tibet and Yunnan provinces, China.

More than 2 000 yeast strains isolated from 1 200 samples mostly collected from Tibet and Yunnan provinces in China were identified as 462 species according to the internal transcribed spacer including the 5.8S rDNA (ITS) and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rDNA (LSU) sequence analyses. Among them, 70 new basidiomycetous yeast species were proposed based on the multi-locus phylogenetic analyses including the D1/D2 domains, the ITS, the small subunit rDNA (SSU), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II () and translation elongation factor 1-α (), as well as the phenotypic comparisons.

Optimized Adsorption of H and OH over Amorphous SrRuPtOH Nanobelts towards Efficient Alkaline Fuel Cell Catalysis.

PtRu-based catalysts toward hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) suffer from low efficiency, CO poisoning and over-oxidation at high potentials. In this work, an amorphization strategy is adopted for preparation of amorphous SrRuPtOH nanobelts (a-SrRuPtOH NBs). The a-SrRuPtOH NBs has optimized adsorption of intermediates (H and OH), increased number of active sites, highly weakened CO poisoning and enhanced anti-oxidation ability owing to the special amorphous structure.

Pulsed Field Ablation of Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia: A Prospective Multicenter Single-Arm Study in China.

Background: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has gained attention in cardiac electrophysiology, but data on its application to paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia are limited. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of PFA and its combination with radiofrequency ablation for treating paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter, single-arm study was conducted across 8 centers in China.

Efficacy and safety of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells versus placebo added to second-line therapy in patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, phase 2 trial.

Background: Failure of systemic corticosteroid therapy is common in patients with newly diagnosed acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) above grade II. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used as a tolerable and potentially effective second-line therapy for steroid-refractory aGVHD (SR-aGVHD); however, well-designed, prospective, controlled studies are lacking.

Methods: This multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory phase 2 study enrolled patients with SR-aGVHD above grade II from 7 centres.

Relationship Between Physical Literacy and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Physical literacy (PL) can positively affect the health of children, adolescents, and adults, and is closely related to cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).

Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the relationship between overall physical literacy (PL) and CRF in children and adolescents.

Methods: Cross-sectional, cohort and experimental studies on the relationship between PL and CRF in children and adolescents were collected by searching the Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases.

Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for Nonacute Subdural Hematoma.

Background: The effect of embolization of the middle meningeal artery in patients with subacute or chronic subdural hematoma is uncertain.

Methods: We performed a multicenter, open-label, randomized trial in China, involving patients with symptomatic nonacute subdural hematoma with mass effect. Patients were assigned to undergo burr-hole drainage or receive nonsurgical treatment at the surgeon's discretion, and patients in each group were then randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to undergo middle meningeal artery embolization with liquid embolic material or to receive usual care.

One-Stage Orbital Decompression Combined With Intraoperative Muscle Relaxation for TAO: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To gauge the efficacy and safety of performing a one-stage endoscopic orbital decompression procedure combined with the intraoperative relaxed medial rectus muscle (MR) positioning technique as a means of treating esotropia associated with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).

Design: Prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University.

Efficacy and safety of HAIC-FOLFOX plus tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors as first-line treatment for unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been treated with targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of both, however, the overall clinical efficacy is still unsatisfactory. Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), as a localized treatment modality, has demonstrated favorable therapeutic efficacy in patients with advanced HCC accompanied by portal vein tumor thrombus and extensive intrahepatic metastasis. In recent years, the combination of HAIC with immune and targeted therapy has gradually gained acceptance in East Asian countries.

Hepatitis B virus in oocytes and embryos: pregnancy outcomes and children's health.

Objective: To investigate whether the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in oocytes and embryos affects pregnancy outcomes for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (ET) as well as is related to the vertical transmission of HBV to children.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A university-affiliated fertility center.

Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis at 10 A ⋅ cm Over 800 Hours.

Anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) is a potentially cost-effective technology for green hydrogen production. Although the normal current densities of AEMWEs are below 3 A ⋅ cm, operating them at higher current densities represents an efficient, but little-explored approach to decrease the total cost of hydrogen production. We show here that a benchmark AEMWE has an operational lifetime of only seconds at an ultrahigh current density of 10 A ⋅ cm.

Significantly Enhanced Oxidation Resistance and Electrochemical Performance of Hydrothermal TiCT MXene and Tannic Acid Composite for High-Performance Flexible Supercapacitors.

The electrochemical performances of TiCT MXene are severely restricted by the easy oxidation and restacking. Herein, tannic acid (TA) is introduced into TiCT dispersion, and the mixed dispersion is further subjected to a simple hydrothermal treatment to prepare the hydrothermal TiCT and TA composite (h-TiCT@h-TA). Due to the decomposition of TA into gallic acid (GA), hydrothermal TA (h-TA) is a mixture of TA and GA.