Longitudinal assessment of retinal and visual pathway electrophysiology and structure after high altitude exposure.

High altitude (HA) exposure induces impairments in visual function. This study was designed to dynamically observe visual function after returning to lowland and elucidate the underlying mechanism by examining the structure and function of retina and visual pathway. Twenty-three subjects were recruited before (Test 1), and one week (Test 2) and three months (Test 3) after their return from HA (4300 m) where they resided for 30 days.

A mobile genetic element-derived primase-polymerase harbors multiple activities implicated in DNA replication and repair.

Primase-polymerases (PrimPols) play divergent functions from DNA replication to DNA repair in all three life domains. In archaea and bacteria, numerous and diverse PPs are encoded by mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and act as the replicases for their MGEs. However, their varying activities and functions are not fully understood.

A preliminary exploration of establishing a mice model of hypoxic training.

Altitude training has been widely adopted. This study aimed to establish a mice model to determine the time point for achieving the best endurance at the lowland. C57BL/6 and BALB/c male mice were used to establish a mice model of hypoxic training with normoxic training mice, hypoxic mice, and normoxic mice as controls.

Molecular Identification and the Hematological Findings of Four Novel Variants in Globin Genes in Jiangxi Province of Southern China.

Hemoglobin disorders are highly prevalent inherited hematological defects in Southern China. The identification of novel variants in globin genes and accurate assessment of hematological parameters play a crucial role in precise genetic counseling and clinical practice. Peripheral blood samples were collected for hematological analysis, including red blood cell and hemoglobin assessment, while serum ferritin levels were measured to detect iron depletion.

The diagnostic performance of dual-energy CT imaging in cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in detecting cervical lymph node metastasis among papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients.

Methods: A comprehensive search across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify pertinent publications up to May 2024. This search focused on studies examining the diagnostic accuracy of DECT in detecting cervical lymph node metastases in PTC patients.

Biosynthesis of a Bioactive Meroterpene Bakuchiol in Yeast.

Bakuchiol (BAK), a specialized meroterpene, is known for its valuable biological properties and has recently gained prominence in cosmetology for its retinol-like functionality. However, low abundance in natural sources leads to environmentally unfriendly and unsustainable practices associated with crop-based manufacturing and chemical synthesis. Here, we identified a prenyltransferase (PT) from that catalyzes the reverse geranylation of a nonaromatic carbon in -coumaric acid (-CA), coupled with a decarboxylation step to form BAK.

Metabolomic differences between exanthematous drug eruption and infectious mononucleosis.

Background: Exanthematous drug eruption and infectious mononucleosis (IM) are both exanthematous diseases. Current research on exanthematous drug eruption and IM mainly targets identifying these disorders, the resulting differences at the metabolism level have not yet been systematically analyzed.

Materials And Methods: A total of 30 cases of exanthematous drug eruption and IM, 10 patients without exanthema and 10 healthy volunteers were enrolled, 3 mL of fasting venous blood was collected, the serum metabolite content was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics.

Optimization of household medical waste recycling logistics routes: Considering contamination risks.

The escalating generation of household medical waste, a byproduct of industrialization and global population growth, has rendered its transportation and logistics management a critical societal concern. This study delves into the optimization of routes for vehicles within the household medical waste logistics network, a response to the imperative of managing this waste effectively. The potential for environmental and public health hazards due to improper waste disposal is acknowledged, prompting the incorporation of contamination risk, influenced by transport duration, waste volume, and wind velocity, into the analysis.

Anthocyanin modified by chondroitin sulphate and tannic acid improved the quality-indicating properties of gelatin-based intelligent film.

A highly pH-responsive gelatin film incorporating purple cabbage anthocyanin (PCA) and chondroitin sulphate (CS)/tannic acid (TA) was developed. Co-pigmentation of PCA via CS/TA improved its photothermal stability and visibility of color change in gelatin film. The morphological and structural properties of CS-PCA and TA-PCA films revealed that a more stable network was formed as new hydrogen bonds were generated by the co-pigmentation.

Exploring the correlation between homocysteine, red blood cell folate and MTHFRC677T genotypes with female infertility.

To investigate the association between serum homocysteine (HCY) levels, red blood cell folate (RCF) levels, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism and infertility. Serum HCY and RCF levels and C677T polymorphism of MTHFR gene were analyzed in 149 infertile patients and 223 women of normal reproductive age with healthy childbirth history. The HCY level of MTHFR C677T TT genotype infertility patients was higher than that of women of normal reproductive age, while the RCF level was not significantly different between the two groups.

Single-cell sequencing reveals that specnuezhenide protects against osteoporosis via activation of METTL3 in LEPR BMSCs.

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) has garnered significant attention due to its substantial morbidity and mortality rates, imposing considerable health burdens on societies worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying osteoporosis pathogenesis remain largely elusive, and the available therapeutic interventions are limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need for innovative strategies in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Translational PK/PD and the first-in-human dose selection of a PD1/IL15: an engineered recombinant targeted cytokine for cancer immunotherapy.

Introduction: Interleukin 15 (IL-15) is a potential anticancer agent and numerous engineered IL-15 agonists are currently under clinical investigation. Selective targeting of IL-15 to specific lymphocytes may enhance therapeutic effects while helping to minimize toxicities.

Methods: We designed and built a heterodimeric targeted cytokine (TaCk) that consists of an anti-programmed cell death 1 receptor antibody (anti-PD-1) and an engineered IL-15.

Investigating the addition of Fe for improving contaminant removal and regulating microbes in a simulated coastal wetland.

Contaminants from wastewater of aquaculture are increasing the risks of red tides in coastal areas. Such types of contaminants are difficult to remove by using conventional biological and ecological treatment methods because of the relatively low C/N ratios and the high salinity in coastal water ambience. Fe is considered a key element in natural chemical cycling and promotes the growth of animals and plants as well.

Neuroplasticity of visual brain network induced by hypoxia.

The effects of hypoxia on brain function remain largely unknown. This study aimed to clarify this issue by visual-stimulated functional magnetic resonance imaging design. Twenty-three college students with a 30-d high-altitude exposure were tested before, 1 week and 3 months after returning to sea level.

Preliminary efficacy and safety of YSCH-01 in patients with advanced solid tumors: an investigator-initiated trial.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of YSCH-01 (Recombinant L-IFN adenovirus) in subjects with advanced solid tumors.

Methods: In this single-center, open-label, investigator-initiated trial of YSCH-01, 14 patients with advanced solid tumors were enrolled. The study consisted of two distinct phases: (1) the dose escalation phase and (2) the dose expansion phase; with three dose groups in the dose escalation phase based on dose levels (5.

Reevaluating the splice-altering variant in TECTA as a cause of nonsyndromic hearing loss DFNA8/12 by functional analysis of RNA.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the genetic cause of early onset autosomal dominant hearing loss segregating in five-generation kindred of Chinese descent and provide preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)for them.

Methods: Clinical examination, pedigree analysis and exome sequencing were carried out on the family. Minigene-based splicing analysis, in vivo RNA analysis and protein structure prediction by molecular modeling were conducted on the candidate variant.

Group sparse-based Taylor expansion method for liver pharmacokinetic parameters imaging of dynamic fluorescence molecular tomography.

Pharmacokinetic parametric images obtained through dynamic fluorescence molecular tomography (DFMT) has ability of capturing dynamic changes in fluorescence concentration, thereby providing three-dimensional metabolic information for applications in biological research and drug development. However, data processing of DFMT is time-consuming, involves a vast amount of data, and the problem itself is ill-posed, which significantly limits the application of pharmacokinetic parametric images reconstruction. In this study, group sparse-based Taylor expansion method is proposed to address these problems.

Hereditary deafness carrier screening in 9,993 Chinese individuals.

Preconception or prenatal carrier screening plays an important role in reproductive decision-making, but current research on hereditary deafness is limited. This study aimed to investigate the carrier frequencies of common deafness genes in the Chinese population who underwent carrier screening and to follow up on pregnancy outcomes in high-chance couples. Individual females or couples in preconception or early pregnancy were recruited from two hospitals in China.

Microemulsion-Assisted Self-Assembly of Indium Porphyrin Photosensitizers with Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy.

Designing and constructing supramolecular photosensitizer nanosystems with highly efficient photodynamic therapy (PDT) is vital in the nanomedical field. Despite recent advances in forming well-defined superstructures, the relationship between molecular arrangement in nanostructures and photodynamic properties has rarely been involved, which is crucial for developing stable photosensitizers for highly efficient PDT. In this work, through a microemulsion-assisted self-assembly approach, indium porphyrin (InTPP) was used to fabricate a series of morphology-controlled self-assemblies, including nanorods, nanospheres, nanoplates, and nanoparticles.

Identification of two novel and one rare mutation in and prenatal diagnoses in three Chinese families with intellectual Disability-7.

Intellectual disability-7 (MRD7) is a subtype disorder of intellectual disability (MRD) involving feeding difficulties, hypoactivity, and febrile seizures at an age of early onset, then progressive intellectual and physical development deterioration. We purposed to identify the underlying causative genetic factors of three individuals in each Chinese family who presented with symptoms of intellectual disability and facial dysmorphic features. We provided prenatal diagnosis for the three families and genetic counseling for the prevention of this disease.

Differentially expressed genes in orbital adipose/connective tissue of thyroid-associated orbitopathy.

Background: Thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) is a disease associated with autoimmune thyroid disorders and it can lead to proptosis, diplopia, and vision-threatening compressive optic neuropathy. To comprehensively understand the molecular mechanisms underlying orbital adipogenesis in TAO, we characterize the intrinsic molecular properties of orbital adipose/connective tissue from patients with TAO and control individuals.

Methods: RNA sequencing analysis (RNA-seq) was performed to measure the gene expression of orbital adipose/connective tissues of TAO patients.