Expected 8-Week Prenatal vs 12-Week Perinatal Tenofovir Alafenamide Prophylaxis to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus: A Multicenter, Prospective, Open-Label, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: The course of maternal antiviral prophylaxis to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV-MTCT) varies greatly, and it has not been demonstrated in a randomized controlled study.

Methods: In this multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial, eligible pregnant women with HBV DNA of 5.3-9.

Functional cure induced by tenofovir alafenamide plus peginterferon-alpha-2b in young children with chronic hepatitis B: a case series study.

Background And Aims: Data on the safety and effectiveness of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) plus peginterferon-alpha (Peg-IFN-α) in children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are lacking. The current study aimed to present the characteristics of four pediatric CHB patients who obtained a functional cure by using TAF and Peg-IFN-α.

Methods: In this case series study initiated in May 2019, ten children who had no clinical symptoms or signs received response-guided (HBV DNA undetectable, hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg] loss or seroconversion, and hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] loss or seroconversion) and functional cure-targeted (HBsAg loss or seroconversion) TAF (25 mg/d, orally) plus Peg-IFN-α-2b (180 µg/1.

Curing of chronic hepatitis C combined with coronavirus disease 2019 in a couple over 85 years old: a case series study.

Introduction: Data on the management of patients aged more than 85 years with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequential infections are lacking.

Methods: The current study described the management of an older couple aged more than 85 years with these above-mentioned two diseases treated with 12 weeks of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (Epclusa) and 5 days of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) sequentially. The effectiveness and safety profiles were closely monitored during therapy and till 9 months posttreatment.

Suppression of SMXL4 and SMXL5 confers enhanced thermotolerance through promoting HSFA2 transcription in Arabidopsis.

Identifying the essential factors and underlying mechanisms regulating plant heat stress (HS) responses is crucial for mitigating the threat posed by HS on plant growth, development, distribution, and productivity. In this study, we found that the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) super-killer2 (ski2) dicer-like4 (dcl4) mutant, characterized by RNA processing defects and the accumulation of abundant 22-nt small interfering RNAs derived from protein-coding transcripts, displayed significantly increased expression levels of HS-responsive genes and enhanced thermotolerance. These traits primarily resulted from the suppression of SMAX1-LIKE4 (SMXL4) and SMXL5, which encode 2 putative transcriptional regulators that belong to the SMXL protein family.

Multiple factors and features dictate the selective production of ct-siRNA in Arabidopsis.

Coding transcript-derived siRNAs (ct-siRNAs) produced from specific endogenous loci can suppress the translation of their source genes to balance plant growth and stress response. In this study, we generated Arabidopsis mutants with deficiencies in RNA decay and/or post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) pathways and performed comparative sRNA-seq analysis, revealing that multiple RNA decay and PTGS factors impede the ct-siRNA selective production. Genes that produce ct-siRNAs often show increased or unchanged expression and typically have higher GC content in sequence composition.

China-origin G1 group isolate FPV072 exhibits higher infectivity and pathogenicity than G2 group isolate FPV027.

Introduction: Feline parvovirus (FPV), a single-stranded DNA virus, is accountable for causing feline panleukopenia, a highly contagious and often lethal disease that primarily affects cats. The epidemiology prevalence and pathogenicity of FPV in certain regions of China, however, remains unclear. The aim of this research was to investigate the epidemiology of FPV in different regions of China in 2021 and compare its infectivity and pathogenicity.

Droplet Microfluidic-Based Low-Cost and High-Speed Microsphere Array Direct Writing Technology and Its Applications.

Microsphere arrays have significant applications and broad development prospects in various fields and disciplines. The simple, efficient, low-cost, automatic, and controllable preparation of microsphere arrays in multiple dimensions and morphologies is still a significant challenge. Here, a novel microsphere array direct writing technology was developed using a low-cost portable droplet microfluidic device and a high-precision movable platform.

Resveratrol ameliorates liver fibrosis induced by nonpathogenic Staphylococcus in BALB/c mice through inhibiting its growth.

Background: The altered gut microbiota is implicated in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Resveratrol is a candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis, which could ameliorate the dysregulation of gut microbiota in mice. This study aimed to clarify the role and mechanism of resveratrol in gut microbiota during liver fibrosis.

Tenofovir Alafenamide for Pregnant Chinese Women With Active Chronic Hepatitis B: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Background & Aims: Data on long-term tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) therapy for pregnant women with active chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (immune clearance and reactivation phases, currently and previously diagnosed) and their infants are lacking.

Methods: Pregnant women with active CHB treated with TAF and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) were enrolled in this multicenter prospective study, and infants received immunoprophylaxis. The primary outcomes were rates of adverse (safety) events in pregnant women and defects in infants and fetuses.

Inhibition of microRNA-30a alleviates vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The excessive and ectopic pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) are crucial to the pathogenesis of pulmonary arteriole (PA) remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We previously found that microRNA (miR)-30a was significantly increased in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and animals, as well as in cultured cardiomyocytes after hypoxia, suggesting that it might be strongly associated with hypoxia-related diseases. Here, we investigated the role of miR-30a in the PASMC remodeling of PAH.

A comprehensive analysis of transcriptome and phenolic compound profiles suggests the role of flavonoids in cotyledon greening in Catharanthus roseus seedling.

During seedling photo-morphogenesis, cotyledon greening is a vital developmental process and a moment of responding to light stress. An increasing number of reports suggest the function of natural antioxidant protection of phenolic compounds in plant growth and development processes. Due to the antioxidant functions, flavonoids allow plants to respond to abiotic or biotic stresses.

IAA3-mediated repression of PIF proteins coordinates light and auxin signaling in Arabidopsis.

The exogenous light signal and endogenous auxin are two critical factors that antagonistically regulate hypocotyl growth. However, the regulatory mechanisms integrating light and auxin signaling pathways need further investigation. In this study, we identified a direct link between the light and auxin signaling pathways mediated by the auxin transcriptional repressor IAA3 and light-controlled PIF transcription factors in Arabidopsis.

Tenofovir Alafenamide to Prevent Perinatal Hepatitis B Transmission: A Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Study.

Background: Few safety and effectiveness results have been published regarding the administration of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) during pregnancy for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: In this multicenter prospective observational study, pregnant women with HBV DNA levels higher than 200 000 IU/mL who received TAF or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) from gestational weeks 24-35 to delivery were 1:1 enrolled and followed until postpartum month 6. Infants received immunoprophylaxis.

PCSK9Qβ-003 Vaccine Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice.

Purpose: Our group has developed a therapeutic vaccine targeting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), named PCSK9Qβ-003. In this study, we investigated the potential effectiveness of the PCSK9Qβ-003 vaccine on atherosclerosis.

Methods: Male ApoE mice were randomly assigned to three groups: a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group, Qβ virus-like particles (VLP) group, and PCSK9Qβ-003 vaccine group.

Short-term Peginterferon-Induced High Functional Cure Rate in Inactive Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Carriers With Low Surface Antigen Levels.

Background: None of the current guidelines recommend antiviral therapy for inactive hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers (IHCs).

Methods: In this real-world, multicenter, nonrandomized study, 32 participants meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled 1:1 for treatment with peginterferon α-2b or monitoring without treatment based on participant preference. The expected treatment duration was 48 weeks.

Plant 22-nt siRNAs mediate translational repression and stress adaptation.

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are essential for proper development and immunity in eukaryotes. Plants produce siRNAs with lengths of 21, 22 or 24 nucleotides. The 21- and 24-nucleotide species mediate cleavage of messenger RNAs and DNA methylation, respectively, but the biological functions of the 22-nucleotide siRNAs remain unknown.

Vaccine Against PCSK9 Improved Renal Fibrosis by Regulating Fatty Acid β-Oxidation.

Background Defects in the renal fatty acid β-oxidation pathway have been implicated in the development of renal fibrosis. Our group has developed a therapeutic vaccine targeting PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9), named PCSK9Qβ-003. In this study, we investigated the potential effectiveness of the PCSK9Qβ-003 vaccine on hypercholesterolemia with renal fibrosis.

Trocar opening: silicone oil removal with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a modified technique [trocar opening (TO)] for silicone oil removal (SOR) in combination with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

Methods: A total of 60 eyes of 60 patients with cataract and silicone oil-filled eyes were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups: the patients in the control group underwent 23-gauge pars plana active SOR surgery with phacoemulsification and IOL implantation, while the patients in the TO group underwent TO methods during surgery.

Vaccine Targeted Alpha 1D-Adrenergic Receptor for Hypertension.

The α1-AR (α1 adrenergic receptor) blockers currently on the market cannot meet clinical needs because of low-selectivity for subtypes of α1-ARs, short half-life, and uncertain role in cardiovascular end point events. The study sought to find a vaccine specifically against α1D-AR (α1D-adrenergic receptor) for treating hypertension. A short peptide ADR-004 (cgiteeagy) belonging to α1D-AR was screened, and the ADRQβ-004 vaccine was produced and injected into spontaneously hypertensive rats model (including a short-term study, 10 weeks, and a long-term observation study, 39 weeks) and NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester + spontaneously hypertensive rats model (15 weeks).

The ATRQβ-001 vaccine improves cardiac function and prevents postinfarction cardiac remodeling in mice.

We invented the ATRQβ-001 hypertension vaccine, which targeted angiotensin II type 1 receptor (ATR) and showed a desirable blocking effect for ATR. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ATRQβ-001 vaccine could improve cardiac function and prevent cardiac remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). C57BL/6 male mice were randomly assigned into four groups: sham + VLP, MI + VLP, MI + ATRQβ-001, and MI + valsartan.

IL-17A-mediated ERK1/2/p65 signaling pathway is associated with cell apoptosis after non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Interleukin (IL)-17A is pro-inflammatory cytokine which has been identified as a noninvasive marker of the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the underlying role of IL-17A in NASH progression remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the biological function and molecular mechanism of IL-17A in the induction of NASH.

Transcriptomics comparison reveals the diversity of ethylene and methyl-jasmonate in roles of TIA metabolism in Catharanthus roseus.

Background: The medicinal plant, Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus), accumulates a wide range of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs). Ethylene (ET) and methyl-jasmonate (MeJA) were previously reported as effective elicitors for the production of various valuable secondary metabolites of C.