Assessment of the safety and gut microbiota modulation ability of an infant formula containing Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis CP-9 or Lactobacillus salivarius AP-32 and the effects of the formula on infant growth outcomes: insights from a four-month clinical study in infants under two months old.

Background: Breast milk is a natural treasure for infants, and its microbiota contains a rich array of bacterial species. When breastfeeding is not possible, infant formula with probiotics can be used as a sole source or as a breast milk supplement. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the growth outcomes and tolerance of infants consuming an infant formula containing Bifidobacterium animalis ssp.

Cerebrospinal fluid biomarker profiling of diverse pathophysiological domains in Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: While Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined by amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles in the brain, it is evident that many other pathophysiological processes such as inflammation, neurovascular dysfunction, oxidative stress, and metabolic derangements also contribute to the disease process and that varying contributions of these pathways may reflect the heterogeneity of AD. Here, we used a previously validated panel of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers to explore the degree to which different pathophysiological domains are dysregulated in AD and how they relate to each other.

Methods: Twenty-five CSF biomarkers were analyzed in individuals with a clinical diagnosis of AD verified by positive CSF AD biomarkers (AD, = 54) and cognitively unimpaired controls negative for CSF AD biomarkers (CU-N, = 26) using commercial single- and multi-plex immunoassays.

UB-612 pan-SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity-promoting vaccine protects against COVID-19 moderate-severe disease.

UB-612 pan-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine targets the monomeric Spike S1-receptor binding domain (RBD) subunit protein along with five sequence-conserved T cell epitopes found on Spike S2 and non-Spike M and N proteins. UB-612 vaccination safely induces potent, broad, and long-lasting immunity against SARS-CoV-2. A phase-2 trial-extended observational study during the Omicron BA.

Safety Assessment and Probiotic Potential Comparison of subsp. BLI-02, LPL28, TYCA06, and ET-66.

subsp. BLI-02, ET-66, LPL28, and TYCA06, isolated from healthy breast milk, miso, and the healthy human gut, were assessed for safety in this study. BLI-02, LPL28, TYCA06, and ET-66 exhibited no antibiotic resistance and mutagenic activity in the Ames test at the highest dosage (5000 μg/plate).

Efficacy of Probiotic Supplements on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Inflammatory Biomarkers, Oxidative Stress and Cognitive Function in Patients with Alzheimer's Dementia: A 12-Week Randomized, Double-Blind Active-Controlled Study.

The role of neurotrophic factors, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been explored. Animal studies have reported the positive effects of probiotics on these factors. Some clinical studies also support the potential role of probiotics in improving cognitive function via the gut-brain axis in older adults.

Veterinary echocardiographers' preferences for left atrial size assessment in dogs: the BENEFIT project.

Introduction/objectives: Veterinary echocardiographers' preferences for left atrial (LA) size assessment in dogs have never been systematically investigated. The primary aim of this international survey study was to investigate echocardiographers' preferences for LA size assessment in dogs. The secondary aim was to investigate echocardiographers' preferences for assessing LA size in subgroups based on geographic, demographic, and professional profiles.

Veterinary echocardiographers' preferences for left atrial size assessment in cats: the BENEFIT project.

Introduction/objectives: Veterinary echocardiographers' preferences for left atrial (LA) size assessment in cats have not been systematically investigated. The primary aim of this prospective exploratory study was to investigate echocardiographers' preferences concerning LA size assessment in cats. A secondary aim was to investigate echocardiographers' preferences for assessing LA size in subgroups based on geographic, demographic, and professional profiles.

A therapeutic dose and its pharmacokinetics of ropeginterferon Alfa-2b for hepatitis C treatment.

Aim: Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is a novel mono-pegylated proline-interferon. Its biweekly dosing schema has demonstrated tolerability and clinical efficacy for treating chronic hepatitis in previous clinical studies. This trial evaluates the pharmacokinetics of 400 μg ropeginterferon alfa-2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and provides the data to support the clinical utility of ropeginterferon alfa-2b at 400 μg.

Probiotic Formula Ameliorates Renal Dysfunction Indicators, Glycemic Levels, and Blood Pressure in a Diabetic Nephropathy Mouse Model.

One-third of patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience diabetic nephropathy (DN), which worsens the progression of renal dysfunction. However, preventive measures for DN are lacking. TYCA06, subsp.

Probiotic Strains Isolated from an Olympic Woman's Weightlifting Gold Medalist Increase Weight Loss and Exercise Performance in a Mouse Model.

Obesity is a worldwide health problem. Calorie-restricted diets constitute a common intervention for treating obesity. However, an improper calorie-restricted diet can lead to malnutrition, fatigue, poor concretion, muscle loss, and reduced exercise performance.

Association of Fecal and Plasma Levels of Short-Chain Fatty Acids With Gut Microbiota and Clinical Severity in Patients With Parkinson Disease.

Background And Objectives: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are gut microbial metabolites that promote the disease process in a rodent model of Parkinson disease (PD), but fecal levels of SCFAs in patients with PD are reduced. Simultaneous assessments of fecal and plasma SCFA levels, and their interrelationships with the PD disease process, are scarce. We aimed to compare fecal and plasma levels of different SCFA subtypes in patients with PD and healthy controls to delineate their interrelations and link to gut microbiota changes and clinical severity of PD.

Nanoparticle-enabled innate immune stimulation activates endogenous tumor-infiltrating T cells with broad antigen specificities.

Tumors are often infiltrated by T lymphocytes recognizing either self- or mutated antigens but are generally inactive, although they often show signs of prior clonal expansion. Hypothesizing that this may be due to peripheral tolerance, we formulated nanoparticles containing innate immune stimulants that we found were sufficient to activate self-specific CD8 T cells and injected them into two different mouse tumor models, B16F10 and MC38. These nanoparticles robustly activated and/or expanded antigen-specific CD8 tumor-infiltrating T cells, along with a decrease in regulatory CD4 T cells and an increase in Interleukin-17 producers, resulting in significant tumor growth retardation or elimination and the establishment of immune memory in surviving mice.

Application of transthoracic shear-wave ultrasound elastography in lung lesions.

Introduction: Tissue stiffness information may help in the diagnosis of lung lesions. This study aimed to investigate and validate the application of transthoracic two-dimensional shear-wave ultrasound elastography in differentiating malignant from benign subpleural lung lesions.

Methods: This study involved one retrospective observational derivation cohort from January 2016 to December 2017 and one prospective observational validation cohort from December 2017 to December 2019.

Inhibition of VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor)-A or its Receptor Activity Suppresses Experimental Aneurysm Progression in the Aortic Elastase Infusion Model.

Objective: We examined the pathogenic significance of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)-A in experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and the translational value of pharmacological VEGF-A or its receptor inhibition in aneurysm suppression. Approaches and Results: AAAs were created in male C57BL/6J mice via intra-aortic elastase infusion. Soluble VEGFR (VEGF receptor)-2 extracellular ligand-binding domain (delivered in Ad [adenovirus]-VEGFR-2), anti-VEGF-A mAb (monoclonal antibody), and sunitinib were used to sequester VEGF-A, neutralize VEGF-A, and inhibit receptor tyrosine kinase activity, respectively.

Effect of Anti-CD4 Antibody UB-421 on HIV-1 Rebound after Treatment Interruption.

Background: Administration of a single broadly neutralizing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific antibody to HIV-infected persons leads to the development of antibody-resistant virus in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). It is possible that monotherapy with UB-421, an antibody that blocks the virus-binding site on human CD4+ T cells, could induce sustained virologic suppression without induction of resistance in HIV-infected persons after analytic treatment interruption.

Methods: We conducted a nonrandomized, open-label, phase 2 clinical study evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of UB-421 monotherapy in HIV-infected persons undergoing analytic treatment interruption.

TLR2 Promotes Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Chondrogenic Differentiation and Consequent Calcification via the Concerted Actions of Osteoprotegerin Suppression and IL-6-Mediated RANKL Induction.

Objective- Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) transformation to an osteochondrogenic phenotype is an initial step toward arterial calcification, which is highly correlated with cardiovascular disease-related morbidity and mortality. TLR2 (Toll-like receptor 2) plays a pathogenic role in the development of vascular diseases, but its regulation in calcification of arteries and VSMCs remains unclear. We postulate that TLR2-mediated inflammation participates in mediating atherosclerotic arterial calcification and VSMC calcification.

Prediction for Intravenous Immunoglobulin Resistance by Using Weighted Genetic Risk Score Identified From Genome-Wide Association Study in Kawasaki Disease.

Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is the treatment of choice in Kawasaki disease (KD). IVIG is used to prevent cardiovascular complications related to KD. However, a proportion of KD patients have persistent fever after IVIG treatment and are defined as IVIG resistant.

Endothelium-Derived 5-Methoxytryptophan Is a Circulating Anti-Inflammatory Molecule That Blocks Systemic Inflammation.

Rationale: Systemic inflammation has emerged as a key pathophysiological process that induces multiorgan injury and causes serious human diseases. Endothelium is critical in maintaining cellular and inflammatory homeostasis, controlling systemic inflammation, and progression of inflammatory diseases. We postulated that endothelium produces and releases endogenous soluble factors to modulate inflammatory responses and protect against systemic inflammation.

CXCL10/IP-10 is a biomarker and mediator for Kawasaki disease.

Rationale: Kawasaki disease (KD), an acute febrile vasculitis, is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in childhood; however, diagnosing KD can be difficult.

Objective: To identify unique proteomic biomarkers that can be used to facilitate earlier diagnosis of KD.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 214 children with fever and clinical features suggestive of KD.

Ligand specificities and structural requirements of two Tachypleus plasma lectins for bacterial trapping.

TPL (Tachypleus plasma lectin)-1 was purified by using a Sepharose column and TPL-2 was purified from an LPS-Sepharose (LPS coupled to Sepharose matrix) affinity column, as described previously [Chiou, Chen, Y.-W., Chen, S.