High performance of the diffusion magnetic resonance imaging biomarker diffusion-derived 'vessel density' (DDVD) for separating placentas associated with pre-eclampsia from placentas in normal pregnancy.

Background: Diffusion-derived 'vessel density' (DDVD) is a surrogate of the area of micro-vessels per unit tissue. DDVD is calculated according to: DDVD (b0b50) = Sb0/ROIarea0 - Sb50/ROIarea50, where Sb0 and Sb50 refer to the tissue signal when is 0 or 50 s/mm. Due to the complexity of pre-eclampsia (PE), even a combination of risk factors and available tests cannot accurately diagnose or predict PE.

Integration of ordered porous materials for targeted three-component gas separation.

Separation of multi-component mixtures in an energy-efficient manner has important practical impact in chemical industry but is highly challenging. Especially, targeted simultaneous removal of multiple impurities to purify the desired product in one-step separation process is an extremely difficult task. We introduced a pore integration strategy of modularizing ordered pore structures with specific functions for on-demand assembly to deal with complex multi-component separation systems, which are unattainable by each individual pore.

Integration of Deep Learning and Sub-regional Radiomics Improves the Prediction of Pathological Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients.

Rationale And Objectives: The precise prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is crucial for tailoring perioperative treatment in patients diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). This retrospective study aims to develop and validate a model that integrates deep learning and sub-regional radiomics from MRI imaging to predict pathological complete response (pCR) in patients with LARC.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 768 eligible participants from three independent hospitals who had received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery.

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).

Association of Metabolomics With Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The UK Biobank Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify serum metabolites associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) incidence and investigate whether metabolite profiles enhance AMD risk prediction.

Methods: In a prospective cohort study involving 240,317 UK Biobank participants, we assessed the associations of 168 metabolites with AMD incidence using Cox hazards models. Principal component analysis (PCA) captured 90% of the variance in metabolites.

Diffusion-derived vessel density (DDVD) for penumbra delineation in brain acute ischemic stroke: initial proof-of-concept results using single NEX DWI.

Neuroimaging is a cornerstone in the diagnosis and treatment decision-making for brain acute ischemic stroke. A rapid and accurate diagnosis is the key, specifically for time-critical reperfusion therapies. Successful reperfusion of salvageable penumbra can reduce the extent of ischemic stroke and thus improve clinical outcomes, whereas reperfusion of irreversibly affected brain tissue is thought to be futile and may result in harm due to the risk of hemorrhagic transformation.

Feasibility study of low-dose computed tomography (CT) technology for maxillofacial bone three-dimensional (3D) printing in skeletal class III malocclusion.

Background: Skeletal class III malocclusion is among the most common dental and maxillofacial malformations. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has become widely applied in orthopaedics. The data source for 3D printing of maxillofacial bones is computed tomography (CT).

Diagnosis of liver hemangioma using magnetic resonance diffusion-derived vessel density (DDVD) pixelwise map: a preliminary descriptive study.

Background: Liver hemangiomas (HGs) are characterized by cavernous venous spaces delineated by a lining of vascular endothelial cells and interspersed with connective tissue septa. Typically, a liver HG has higher apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and T2 values than those of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and liver metastases, and lower ADC and T2 values than those of liver simple cysts. However, a portion of HGs shows ADC and T2 overlapping with those of HCC, liver metastasis, and simple cyst.

Effects of Physical Activity and Inactivity on Microvasculature in Children: The Hong Kong Children Eye Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical activity and inactivity on the microvasculature in children, as measured from retinal photographs.

Methods: All participants were from the Hong Kong Children Eye Study, a population-based cross-sectional study of children aged 6 to 8 years. They received comprehensive ophthalmic examinations and retinal photography.

Efficacy and Safety of a Dedicated Device for Cerebral Venous Thrombectomy: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Lack of a dedicated thrombectomy device for cerebral venous thrombosis hinders the recanalization ability of endovascular treatment (EVT). Novel NiTi-braided stent retriever (Venous-TD) is a dedicated venous sinus thrombectomy device. This study aims to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of Venous-TD.

De novo production of protoberberine and benzophenanthridine alkaloids through metabolic engineering of yeast.

Protoberberine alkaloids and benzophenanthridine alkaloids (BZDAs) are subgroups of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs), which represent a diverse class of plant-specialized natural metabolites with many pharmacological properties. Microbial biosynthesis has been allowed for accessibility and scalable production of high-value BIAs. Here, we engineer Saccharomyces cerevisiae to de novo produce a series of protoberberines and BZDAs, including palmatine, berberine, chelerythrine, sanguinarine and chelirubine.

PharmaBench: Enhancing ADMET benchmarks with large language models.

Accurately predicting ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) properties early in drug development is essential for selecting compounds with optimal pharmacokinetics and minimal toxicity. Existing ADMET-related benchmark sets are limited in utility due to their small dataset sizes and the lack of representation of compounds used in drug discovery projects. These shortcomings hinder their application in model building for drug discovery.

Heritability and Genetic Factors of Astigmatism and Corneal Curvature: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: To systematically review and meta-analyze all reported heritability studies of refractive astigmatism (RA), corneal astigmatism (CA) and corneal curvature (CC), and evaluate the existing genetic associations of RA, CA and CC.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023447370).

Methods: Studies that reported the heritability and genetic associations of RA, CA and/or CC were identified from PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE (from inception to October 1, 2023).

Genotype Associated With Visual Prognosis in Patients With Congenital Ectopia Lentis Following Lens Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between visual prognosis and genotype in patients undergoing lens surgery for congenital ectopia lentis (EL).

Design: Prospective clinical cohort study.

Methods: Patients with congenital EL who underwent lens removal and intraocular lens implantation received panel-based next-generation sequencing.

AGILE platform: a deep learning powered approach to accelerate LNP development for mRNA delivery.

Ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are seeing widespread use in mRNA delivery, notably in SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. However, the expansion of mRNA therapies beyond COVID-19 is impeded by the absence of LNPs tailored for diverse cell types. In this study, we present the AI-Guided Ionizable Lipid Engineering (AGILE) platform, a synergistic combination of deep learning and combinatorial chemistry.

Ticking Brain: Circadian Rhythm as a New Target for Cerebroprotection.

Circadian rhythm is a master process observed in nearly every type of cell throughout the body, and it macroscopically regulates daily physiology. Recent clinical trials have revealed the effects of circadian variation on the incidence, pathophysiological processes, and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke. Furthermore, core clock genes, the cell-autonomous pacemakers of the circadian rhythm, affect the neurovascular unit-composing cells in a nonparallel manner after the same pathophysiological processes of ischemia/reperfusion.

The efficacy and safety of PARP inhibitors in mCRPC with HRR mutation in second-line treatment: a systematic review and bayesian network meta-analysis.

Background: Poly (ADP- ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) has been increasingly adopted for metastatic castration-resistance prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients with homologous recombination repair deficiency (HRD). However, it is unclear which PARPi is optimal in mCRPC patients with HRD in 2nd -line setting.

Method: We conducted a systematic review of trials regarding PARPi- based therapies on mCRPC in 2nd -line setting and performed a Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA).