Long-Term Prognostic Implications of Non-Culprit Lesions in Patients Presenting With an Acute Myocardial Infarction: Is It the Angiographic Stenosis Severity or the Underlying High-Risk Morphology?

Background: Patients with acute myocardial infarction and angiographically obstructive non-culprit lesions are at high risk for recurrent major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). However, it remains largely unknown whether events are due to stenosis severity or due to the underlying high-risk lesion morphology.

Methods: Between January 2017 and December 2021, 1312 patients with acute myocardial infarction underwent optical coherence tomography of all the 3 main epicardial arteries after successful percutaneous coronary intervention.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study of Socazolimab or placebo combined with carboplatin and etoposide in the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04878016) conducted in 54 hospitals in China. Adults who were histologically diagnosed and never treated for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) were enrolled.

Exploring Immune-Mediated Brain Function Abnormalities in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Neuroimaging Evidence of the Impact of Anti-Ribosomal P Protein Antibodies.

Rationale And Objectives: Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is one of the most severe complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and its early biomarkers and immune mechanisms remain unclear. This study utilizes Resting-State functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to explore early neuroimaging biomarkers and potential immune mechanisms of brain injury in SLE, with a particular focus on anti-ribosomal P protein antibody (ARPA).

Materials And Methods: A total of 47 SLE patients and 33 healthy controls (HCs) underwent rs-fMRI.

The PROTAC selectively degrading BCL-X inhibits the growth of tumors and significantly synergizes with Paclitaxel.

B-cell lymphoma extra large (BCL-X) is an important anti-apoptotic protein of BCL-2 family. It is frequently overexpressed in various hematologic and solid tumors, often positively correlated with chemotherapy resistance in tumors. However, the clinical development of the small molecule BCL-X inhibitor ABT-263 has been challenged on account of its on-target and dose-limiting toxicity.

The changing treatment landscape of EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer.

The discovery of the association between EGFR mutations and the efficacy of EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has revolutionized the treatment paradigm for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, third-generation EGFR TKIs, which are often characterized by potent central nervous system penetrance, are the standard-of-care first-line treatment for advanced-stage EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Rational combinations of third-generation EGFR TKIs with anti-angiogenic drugs, chemotherapy, the EGFR-MET bispecific antibody amivantamab or local tumour ablation are being investigated as strategies to delay drug resistance and increase clinical benefit.

Use of the Consumer Health Literacy Quotient to Quantify and Explore Self-Care Readiness Among Consumers in Four Asia-Pacific Countries.

Background/objectives: Self-care has great potential to benefit consumers and health systems, but its mainstream adoption is hindered by a systemic lack of consumer health literacy (HL). Published data on consumer awareness of self-care and HL are limited for regions in Asia, and are needed to develop interventions to enhance HL and self-care for diverse populations in this region. The aim of this research was to describe and analyze patterns of HL and awareness of self-care among consumers in Asia.

Probiotics and their metabolite spermidine enhance IFN-γCD4 T cell immunity to inhibit hepatitis B virus.

The therapeutic potential of commensal microbes and their metabolites is promising in the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which is defined as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss. Here, using both specific-pathogen-free and germ-free mice, we report that probiotics significantly promote the decline of HBsAg and inhibit HBV replication by enhancing intestinal homeostasis and provoking intrahepatic interferon (IFN)-γCD4 T cell immune response. Depletion of CD4 T cells or blockage of IFN-γ abolishes probiotics-mediated HBV inhibition.

Sorafenib and SIAIS361034, a novel PROTAC degrader of BCL-x, display synergistic antitumor effects on hepatocellular carcinoma with minimal hepatotoxicity.

The overexpression of BCL-x is closely associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While the strategy of combination of BCL-x and MCL-1 for treating solid tumors has been reported, it presents significant hepatotoxicity. SIAIS361034, a novel proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) agent, selectively induces the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of BCL-x through the CRBN-E3 ubiquitin ligase.

Intensive Ambulance-Delivered Blood-Pressure Reduction in Hyperacute Stroke.

Background: Treatment of acute stroke, before a distinction can be made between ischemic and hemorrhagic types, is challenging. Whether very early blood-pressure control in the ambulance improves outcomes among patients with undifferentiated acute stroke is uncertain.

Methods: We randomly assigned patients with suspected acute stroke that caused a motor deficit and with elevated systolic blood pressure (≥150 mm Hg), who were assessed in the ambulance within 2 hours after the onset of symptoms, to receive immediate treatment to lower the systolic blood pressure (target range, 130 to 140 mm Hg) (intervention group) or usual blood-pressure management (usual-care group).

BRCC3 Regulation of ALK2 in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: Implication in Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: An imbalance of antiproliferative BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) signaling and proliferative TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) signaling is implicated in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The posttranslational modification (eg, phosphorylation and ubiquitination) of TGF-β family receptors, including BMPR2 (bone morphogenetic protein type 2 receptor)/ALK2 (activin receptor-like kinase-2) and TGF-βR2/R1, and receptor-regulated Smads significantly affects their activity and thus regulates the target cell fate. BRCC3 modifies the activity and stability of its substrate proteins through K63-dependent deubiquitination.

Risk of Incident Thyroid Dysfunction in the Post-Acute Phase of COVID-19: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Hong Kong.

Objective: The evidence of thyroid dysfunction in the post-acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of incident thyroid dysfunction in the post-acute phase of COVID-19.

Methods: This retrospective, propensity-score matched, population-based study included COVID-19 patients and non-COVID-19 individuals between January 2020 and March 2022, identified from the electronic medical records of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority.

Risks of incident major osteoporotic fractures following SARS-CoV-2 infection among older individuals: a population-based cohort study in Hong Kong.

Population-based epidemiological studies on post-acute phase coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)-related fractures in older adults are lacking. This study aims to examine the risk of incident major osteoporotic fractures following SARS-CoV-2 infection among individuals aged ≥50, compared to individuals without COVID-19. It was a retrospective, propensity-score matched, population-based cohort study of COVID-19 patients and non-COVID individuals identified from the electronic database of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority from January 2020 to March 2022.

Statins Prevent the Deleterious Consequences of Placental Chemerin Upregulation in Preeclampsia.

Background: Chemerin, an inflammatory adipokine, is upregulated in preeclampsia, and its placental overexpression results in preeclampsia-like symptoms in mice. Statins may lower chemerin.

Methods: Chemerin was determined in a prospective cohort study in women suspected of preeclampsia and evaluated as a predictor versus the sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1)/PlGF (placental growth factor) ratio.

lncRNA JPX-Enriched Chromatin Microenvironment Mediates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Senescence and Promotes Atherosclerosis.

Background: Senescence is a series of degenerative changes in the structure and physiological function of an organism. Whether JPX (just proximal to XIST)-a newly identified age-related noncoding RNA by us-is associated with atherosclerosis is still unknown. Our study was to investigate the role of JPX and provide insights into potential therapies targeting atherosclerosis.

Imaging Findings in Cirrhotic Liver: Pearls and Pitfalls for Diagnosis of Focal Benign and Malignant Lesions.

Cirrhosis is the end stage of chronic liver disease and causes architectural distortion and perfusional anomalies. It is a major risk factor for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Common disease entities in noncirrhotic livers, such as hemangiomas, can be rare in cirrhotic livers, and benign entities such as confluent hepatic fibrosis and focal nodular hyperplasia-like lesions may mimic the appearance of malignancies,.

An IgM-like inhalable ACE2 fusion protein broadly neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Many of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics are not effective against newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here, we developed the metallo-enzyme domain of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-the cellular receptor of SARS-CoV-2-into an IgM-like inhalable molecule (HH-120). HH-120 binds to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein with high avidity and confers potent and broad-spectrum neutralization activity against all known SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Transient naive reprogramming corrects hiPS cells functionally and epigenetically.

Cells undergo a major epigenome reconfiguration when reprogrammed to human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPS cells). However, the epigenomes of hiPS cells and human embryonic stem (hES) cells differ significantly, which affects hiPS cell function. These differences include epigenetic memory and aberrations that emerge during reprogramming, for which the mechanisms remain unknown.

Exploring Extended White Blood Cell Parameters for the Evaluation of Sepsis among Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units.

Sepsis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in intensive care units. This case-control study aimed to investigate the haematology cell population data and extended inflammatory parameters for sepsis management. The study included three groups of patients: sepsis, non-sepsis, and healthy controls.

A placental model of SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals ACE2-dependent susceptibility and differentiation impairment in syncytiotrophoblasts.

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes COVID-19. Several clinical reports have linked COVID-19 during pregnancy to negative birth outcomes and placentitis. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning SARS-CoV-2 infection during placentation and early pregnancy are not clear.