Safety and Efficacy of Remote Ischemic Conditioning in Patients With Intravenous Thrombolysis: The SERIC-IVT Trial.

Background: Approximately half of the patients with acute ischemic stroke who receive intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) do not achieve an excellent outcome. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) as a promising neuroprotective treatment may improve clinical outcomes in this population. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of RIC in patients with IVT.

Neural Network and Logistic Regression Models Based on Ultrasound Radiomics and Clinical-Pathological Features to Predict Occult Level II Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Rationale And Objectives: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) often metastasizes to lateral cervical lymph nodes, especially in level II. This study aims to develop predictive models to identify level II lymph node metastasis (LNM), guiding selective neck dissection (SND) to minimize unnecessary surgery and morbidity in low-risk patients.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of 313 PTC patients who underwent modified radical neck dissection (MRND) between October 2020 and January 2023 was analyzed.

Serum GFAP and UCH-L1 Levels for the Assessment of the Absence of Hemorrhagic Transformation: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Currently, validated biomarkers for assessing hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) are lacking. We aimed to validate a test combining GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and UCH-L1 (ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1) to indicate the absence of HT after IVT.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with stroke treated with IVT from 16 hospitals.

Individually addressed entangling gates in a two-dimensional ion crystal.

Two-dimensional (2D) ion crystals may represent a promising path to scale up qubit numbers for ion trap quantum information processing. However, to realize universal quantum computing in this system, individually addressed high-fidelity two-qubit entangling gates still remain challenging due to the inevitable micromotion of ions in a 2D crystal as well as the technical difficulty in 2D addressing. Here we demonstrate two-qubit entangling gates between any ion pairs in a 2D crystal of four ions.

S-Nitrosylation of Septin2 Exacerbates Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection by Coupling the TIAM1-RAC1 Axis in Macrophages.

Background: S-Nitrosylation (SNO), a prototypic redox-based posttranslational modification, is involved in cardiovascular disease. Aortic aneurysm and dissection are high-risk cardiovascular diseases without an effective cure. The aim of this study was to determine the role of SNO of Septin2 in macrophages in aortic aneurysm and dissection.

Development and Validation of Clinical-Radiomics Nomogram for Preoperative Prediction of Central Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: This investigation sought to create and verify a nomogram utilizing ultrasound radiomics and crucial clinical features to preoperatively identify central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods: We enrolled 1069 patients with PTC between January 2022 and January 2023. All patients were randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 748) and a validation cohort (n = 321).

AAV-Mediated Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in Patients with DFNB9 Deafness.

Mutations in OTOFERLIN (OTOF) lead to the autosomal recessive deafness 9 (DFNB9). The efficacy of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated OTOF gene replacement therapy is extensively validated in Otof-deficient mice. However, the clinical safety and efficacy of AAV-OTOF is not reported.

Functionally integrating nanoparticles alleviate deep vein thrombosis in pregnancy and rescue intrauterine growth restriction.

There is still unmet demand for effective, safe, and patient-friendly anti-thrombotics to treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT) during pregnancy. Here we first engineer a bioactive amphiphile (TLH) by simultaneously conjugating Tempol and linoleic acid onto low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), which can assemble into multifunctional nanoparticles (TLH NP). In pregnant rats with DVT, TLH NP can target and dissolve thrombi, recanalize vessel occlusion, and eradicate the recurrence of thromboembolism, thereby reversing DVT-mediated intrauterine growth restriction and delayed development of fetuses.

Synovial Oxygenation at Photoacoustic Imaging to Assess Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity.

Background Synovial hypoxia is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Photoacoustic (PA) imaging, based on the use of laser-generated US, can detect the oxygenation status of tissue in individuals with RA. However, large studies are lacking, with few investigating the correlation between oxygenation status and disease activity.

A Novel SAVE Score to Stratify Decompensation Risk in Compensated Advanced Chronic Liver Disease (CHESS2102): An International Multicenter Cohort Study.

Introduction: In patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD), the invasive measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient is the best predictor of hepatic decompensation. This study aimed at developing an alternative risk prediction model to provide a decompensation risk assessment in cACLD.

Methods: Patients with cACLD were retrospectively included from 9 international centers within the Portal Hypertension Alliance in China (CHESS) network.

Three-dimensional MR Elastography Depicts Liver Inflammation, Fibrosis, and Portal Hypertension in Chronic Hepatitis B or C.

Background The value of measuring mechanical properties to categorize various pathophysiologic states of the liver is as yet undetermined in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or C (CHC). Purpose To evaluate multiparametric three-dimensional (3D) MR elastography as a means of detecting early necroinflammation, distinguishing necroinflammation from fibrosis, and gauging the severity of portal hypertension (PH) in CHB or CHC. Materials and Methods From January 2015 to September 2019, participants with CHB or CHC were prospectively enrolled from a single institution and were divided into two groups: those with liver biopsy and no evidence of PH (group 1) and those with PH and a hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement (group 2).

Percutaneous Transhepatic Papillary Balloon Dilation versus Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography for Common Bile Duct Stones: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Background Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is recommended by major guidelines for the removal of common bile duct (CBD) stones but is technically challenging in patients with low cardiopulmonary reserve and anatomic abnormalities of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Purpose To compare percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilation (PTPBD) with ERCP for CBD stone removal. Materials and Methods Participants with one to three CBD stones (largest stone ≤30 mm) and without intrahepatic bile duct or gallbladder stones were eligible for this prospective cohort study.

A Universal Design of Betacoronavirus Vaccines against COVID-19, MERS, and SARS.

Vaccines are urgently needed to control the ongoing pandemic COVID-19 and previously emerging MERS/SARS caused by coronavirus (CoV) infections. The CoV spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) is an attractive vaccine target but is undermined by limited immunogenicity. We describe a dimeric form of MERS-CoV RBD that overcomes this limitation.

Biomolecule-assisted green synthesis of nanostructured calcium phosphates and their biomedical applications.

Calcium phosphates (CaPs) are ubiquitous in nature and vertebrate bones and teeth, and have high biocompatibility and promising applications in various biomedical fields. Nanostructured calcium phosphates (NCaPs) are recognized as promising nanocarriers for drug/gene/protein delivery owing to their high specific surface area, pH-responsive degradability, high drug/gene/protein loading capacity and sustained release performance. In order to control the structure and surface properties of NCaPs, various biomolecules with high biocompatibility such as nucleic acids, proteins, peptides, liposomes and phosphorus-containing biomolecules are used in the synthesis of NCaPs.

Complementary Roles of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Imaging and Postcontrast Vessel Wall Imaging in Detecting High-Risk Intracranial Aneurysms.

Background And Purpose: Individual assessment of the absolute risk of intracranial aneurysm rupture remains challenging. Emerging imaging techniques such as dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging and postcontrast vessel wall MR imaging may improve risk estimation by providing new information on aneurysm wall properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between aneurysm wall permeability on dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging and aneurysm wall enhancement on postcontrast vessel wall MR imaging in unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

USP20 (Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 20) Inhibits TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor)-Triggered Smooth Muscle Cell Inflammation and Attenuates Atherosclerosis.

Objective- Signaling that activates NFκB (nuclear factor κB) in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is integral to atherosclerosis and involves reversible ubiquitination that activates proteins downstream of proatherogenic receptors. Deubiquitination of these proteins is mediated by USP20 (ubiquitin-specific protease 20), among other deubiquitinases. We sought to determine whether USP20 activity in SMCs decreases atherosclerosis.

18F-florbetapir Positron Emission Tomography-determined Cerebral β-Amyloid Deposition and Neurocognitive Performance after Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Amyloid deposition is a potential contributor to postoperative cognitive dysfunction. The authors hypothesized that 6-week global cortical amyloid burden, determined by F-florbetapir positron emission tomography, would be greater in those patients manifesting cognitive dysfunction at 6 weeks postoperatively.

Methods: Amyloid deposition was evaluated in cardiac surgical patients at 6 weeks (n = 40) and 1 yr (n = 12); neurocognitive function was assessed at baseline (n = 40), 6 weeks (n = 37), 1 yr (n = 13), and 3 yr (n = 9).

Sonochemical synthesis of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate dicalcium porous microspheres and their application in promotion of osteogenic differentiation.

Human bone mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) have the ability to differentiate into bone and cartilage for clinical bone regeneration. Biomaterials with an innate ability to stimulate osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs into bone and cartilage are considered attractive candidates for the applications in bone tissue engineering and regeneration. In this paper, we synthesized fructose 1,6-bisphosphate dicalcium (CaFBP) porous microspheres by the sonochemical method, and investigated the ability of CaFBP for the promotion of the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs.

Hydroxyapatite nanorod-assembled porous hollow polyhedra as drug/protein carriers.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) with a porous hollow structure is an ideal biomaterial owing to its excellent biocompatibility and unique architecture. In this study, HAP nanorod-assembled porous hollow polyhedra, consisting of nanorod building blocks, have been successfully prepared at room temperature or under hydrothermal circumstances using a self-sacrificing Ca(OH) template strategy. The hydrothermal treatment (at 180°C for 1h) can promote the HAP nanorods to be arranged with their axial direction normal to the polyhedron surface.

Templated solvothermal synthesis of magnesium silicate hollow nanospheres with ultrahigh specific surface area and their application in high-performance protein adsorption and drug delivery.

Magnesium silicate nanostructured biomaterials with good biocompatibility and high adsorption capacity for drugs and proteins are promising for applications in various biomedical fields. However, the applications of magnesium silicate nanostructured biomaterials in anticancer drug delivery and protein adsorption have rarely been reported so far. Herein, we report a facile strategy for the synthesis of magnesium silicate hollow nanospheres (MSHNSs) by a classical Stöber method and a template based solvothermal process.

DNA-templated microwave-hydrothermal synthesis of nanostructured hydroxyapatite for storing and sustained release of an antibacterial protein.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is promising in various biomedical applications owing to its similar chemical composition, structure and properties to the inorganic component in natural hard tissues. Herein, we report a DNA-templated microwave-assisted hydrothermal strategy for the preparation of HA nanostructured materials. As a kind of natural biomacromolecule, DNA molecules open up a new way to the synthesis of HA nanostructured materials with well-defined structures and morphologies.

Maize reas1 Mutant Stimulates Ribosome Use Efficiency and Triggers Distinct Transcriptional and Translational Responses.

Ribosome biogenesis is a fundamental cellular process in all cells. Impaired ribosome biogenesis causes developmental defects; however, its molecular and cellular bases are not fully understood. We cloned a gene responsible for a maize (Zea mays) small seed mutant, dek* (for defective kernel), and found that it encodes Ribosome export associated1 (ZmReas1).

α-Fe2O3 nanosheet-assembled hierarchical hollow mesoporous microspheres: Microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis and application in photocatalysis.

α-Fe2O3 nanosheet-assembled hierarchical hollow mesoporous microspheres (HHMSs) were prepared by thermal transformation of nanosheet-assembled hierarchical hollow mesoporous microspheres of a precursor. The precursor was rapidly synthesized using FeCl3·6H2O as the iron source, ethanolamine (EA) as the alkali source, and ethylene glycol (EG) as the solvent by the microwave-assisted solvothermal method. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm.