Elevated C1s/C1-INH in serum and plasma of myasthenia gravis patients.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder where acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies induce membrane attack complex formation at the muscle membrane. The C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) regulates the classical pathway and is a promising marker in other autoimmune disorders. Treatment options for AChR antibody MG include complement inhibitors; nevertheless, the early pathway activation in MG remains unclear.

Serum protein biomarker profile distinguishes acetylcholine receptor antibody seropositive myasthenia gravis patients from healthy controls.

There is an unmet need for objective disease-specific biomarkers in the heterogeneous autoimmune neuromuscular disorder myasthenia gravis (MG). This cross-sectional study identified a signature of 23 inflammatory serum proteins with proximity extension assay (PEA) that distinguishes acetylcholine receptor antibody seropositive (AChR+) MG patients from healthy controls (HCs). CCL28, TNFSF14, 4E-BP1, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α), and ST1A1 ranked top biomarkers.

Visualization and characterization of complement activation in acetylcholine receptor antibody seropositive myasthenia gravis.

Introduction/aims: There are no blood biomarkers to monitor treatment effects in myasthenia gravis (MG) or studies visualizing the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-induced membrane attack complex (MAC) at the human muscle membrane. This study aimed to compare levels of complement activation products and native complement components in MG patients and healthy controls (HCs) and to model the AChR antibody-mediated attacks in human muscle cells.

Methods: We assessed the complement components and activation product levels with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and magnetic bead-based sandwich assays in plasma and sera of 23 MG patients and matched HCs.

Probabilistic risk assessment of dietary exposure to benzophenone derivatives in cereals in Taiwan.

Benzophenone (BP) and BP derivatives (BPDs) are widely used as ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers in food packaging materials and as photoinitiators in UV-curable inks for printing on food-contact materials. However, our knowledge regarding the sources and risks of dietary exposure to BP and BPDs in cereals remains limited, which prompted us to conduct this study. We measured the levels of BP and nine BPDs-BP-1, BP-2, BP-3, BP-8, 2-hydroxybenzophenone, 4-hydroxybenzophenone, 4-methylbenzophenone (4-MBP), methyl-2-benzoylbenzoate, and 4-benzoylbiphenyl-in three types of cereals (rice flour, oatmeal, and cornflakes; 180 samples in total).

Prenatal and childhood neonicotinoid exposure and neurodevelopment: A study in a young Taiwanese cohort.

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) dominate the global pesticide market because of their low cost and effectiveness. However, epidemiological studies regarding the potential adverse health effects of exposure to NEOs before birth and in early childhood are limited. Therefore, this study investigated the associations between NEO exposure before birth and during early childhood and neurodevelopment.

Repulsion, Acceleration, and Coalescence between Water Droplets on Superhydrophobic Glass by Triboelectrification.

Manipulating the motion of water droplets on surfaces, which is crucial for various applications, such as microfluidics and heat transfer, presents considerable challenges, primarily due to the significant influence of capillary forces. This effect becomes more pronounced when droplets are in close proximity, often resulting in undesired coalescence. Triboelectrification, which involves charging pure water droplets, is a promising approach to enhance the ability to manipulate water droplets.

Short-term changes in serum miRNA levels and patient-reported clinical outcomes in myasthenia gravis.

Introduction/aims: The circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) miR-150-5p, miR-30e-5p, and miR-21-5p have been suggested as potential biomarkers for myasthenia gravis (MG); however, the relationships between short-term natural changes of the miRNAs and patient-reported MG outcome scores have not been well-studied. We assessed the short-term fluctuations in miRNA levels and patient-reported outcome measures in MG.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 39 MG patients with regular follow-ups and unchanged medications at the Neurology outpatient clinic at Uppsala University Hospital.

Concentrations, compositional profiles, and health risks of benzophenones among the Taiwanese population based on analysis of 23 daily consumed foods.

In this study, we analyzed the occurrence and distribution of 11 benzophenone-type ultraviolet filters (BPs) in 893 food samples spanning 7 food categories in Taiwan. We conducted a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks of BPs. The results indicated that cornflakes had the highest mean level of BPs (103 ng/g), followed by bread (101 ng/g) and pastries (59 ng/g).

Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase 3: Unravelling Its Biological Function and Significance in Oncology.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP3) is vital in regulating several biological processes. TIMP3 exerts antitumour effects via matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-dependent and MMP-independent pathways. Due to promoter methylation and miRNA binding, TIMP3 expression has been observed to decrease in various cancers.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in soils where astragalus had grown for 2 years were similar to those in the abandoned farmland.

Purpose: Astragalus-cultivated soils are enriched in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); however, the community changes of AMF between years in stragalus-cultivated soils are still unclear.

Methods: To illustrate this, using high-throughput amplicon sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR, we analyzed the AMF communities of the abandoned farmlands and interannual astragalus-cultivated soils for 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-years, including community composition, dominant, core, specific and significantly fluctuating AMF, co-occurrence network, alpha diversity, and beta diversity.

Results: A total of 74 OTUs were classified into one phylum, Glomeromycota; one class, Glomeromycetes; four orders; four families; and six genera.

Prenatal to preschool exposure of nonylphenol and bisphenol A exposure and neurodevelopment in young children.

Background: Nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) are produced in large quantities worldwide as multipurpose agents. However, studies on relations between NP and BPA exposure and childhood neurodevelopment are few, and the results are inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate associations between prenatal and early childhood NP and BPA exposure and neurodevelopment in mother-child pairs.

Dietary risk assessment of benzophenone derivatives using bread consumption estimates in a Taiwanese population.

Listed as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, benzophenone (BP) and its nine analogues (BPs) are an emerging group of contaminants. The migration of BPs from ultraviolet inks to food has been investigated in many studies; however, few studies have investigated BPs in foods and the risks of human exposure to BPs. We validated a trace and multi-residue method for simultaneously determining 10 BPs, including BP, BP-1, BP-2, BP-3, BP-8, 4-MBP, 2-OHBP, 4-OHBP, M2BB, and PBZ.

The downregulation of miR-509-3p expression by collagen type XI alpha 1-regulated hypermethylation facilitates cancer progression and chemoresistance via the DNA methyltransferase 1/Small ubiquitin-like modifier-3 axis in ovarian cancer cells.

Background: MicroRNAs are a group of small non-coding RNAs that are involved in development and diseases such as cancer. Previously, we demonstrated that miR-335 is crucial for preventing collagen type XI alpha 1 (COL11A1)-mediated epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) progression and chemoresistance. Here, we examined the role of miR-509-3p in EOC.

Assessment of various conditions for the simultaneous determination of US EPA and EU priority PAHs in coffee samples and their PAHs consumption risk.

The optimal conditions for simultaneous determination of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and European Union (EU) priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coffee beans and coffee brews were developed.

The Downregulation of miR-509-3p Expression by Collagen Type XI Alpha 1-Regulated Hypermethylation Facilitates Cancer Progression and Chemoresistance via the DNA Methyltransferase 1/Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier-3 Axis in Ovarian Cancer Cells.

Background MicroRNAs are a group of small non-coding RNAs that are involved in development and diseases such as cancer. Previously, we demonstrated that miR-335 is crucial for preventing collagen type XI alpha 1 (COL11A1)-mediated epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) progression and chemoresistance. Here, we examined the role of miR-509-3p in EOC.

Effect of icariin on the HO-induced proliferation of mouse airway smooth muscle cells through miR-138-5p regulating SIRT1/AMPK/PGC-1α axis.

Icariin exerts antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects and is used in the treatment of bronchial asthma. However, the specific modes of action are uncertain. In this study, we investigated whether icariin could modulate the silencing information regulator 2-related enzyme 1 (SIRT1)/adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1α (PGC-1α) axis by regulating miR-138-5p during HO-induced proliferation of mouse airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs).

Desmoid-type fibromatosis mimicking uterine fibroid invade the urinary bladder: A case report and literature review.

Objective: Desmoid fibromatosis (DF) is a rare, locally aggressive soft tissue tumor. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play a critical role in the diagnosis of DF and in developing treatment plans. Currently, observation is the primary therapeutic option for a biopsy-confirmed DF.

An L858R mutation identified in 1862 Chinese NSCLC patients can be a promising neoantigen vaccine therapeutic strategy.

Background: This study aimed to develop a vaccine that targets mutation-derived neoantigen in Chinese non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: A cohort of 1862 Chinese NSCLC patients who underwent targeted sequencing with a 1021-gene panel was investigated. HLA typing was done using OptiType v1.

Study of urinary mercapturic acids as biomarkers of human acrylonitrile exposure.

Exposure to the vinyl monomer acrylonitrile (AN) is primarily occupational. AN is also found in cigarette smoke. AN can be detoxified to form N-acetyl-S-(2-cyanoethyl)-cysteine (CEMA) or activated to 2-cyanoethylene oxide (CEO) and detoxified to form N-acetyl-S-(1-cyano-2-hydroxyethyl)-cysteine (CHEMA) and N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxyethyl)-cysteine (HEMA).

Expression of miR-92a is associated with the prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer: An observation study.

With the development of molecular biology technology, the discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) has provided new ideas for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of lung cancer and laid a foundation for the study of this malignancy. To assess the potential prognostic value of miR-92a as a new biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via clinical evaluation, a total of 100 patients with NSCLC admitted to the Respiratory and Intensive Care Department of Suining Central Hospital in Sichuan Province between August 2007 and April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation between miR-92a expression and prognosis of patients with NSCLC was also evaluated in the present study.

Design of a Multi-Sensor System for Exploring the Relation between Finger Spasticity and Voluntary Movement in Patients with Stroke.

A novel wearable multi-sensor data glove system is developed to explore the relation between finger spasticity and voluntary movement in patients with stroke. Many stroke patients suffer from finger spasticity, which is detrimental to their manual dexterity. Diagnosing and assessing the degrees of spasticity require neurological testing performed by trained professionals to estimate finger spasticity scores via the modified Ashworth scale (MAS).

Effect of Muller's muscle-conjunctival resection on the upper eyelid crease position in Asian eyelids: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Investigating the effect of Muller's muscle-conjunctival resection (MMCR) on the eyelid crease position.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with unilateral acquired blepharoptosis who underwent MMCR during October 2018-December 2021. The following factors were recorded: preoperative, after phenylephrine, postoperative marginal reflex distance1 (MRD1) and tarsal platform show (TPS) of bilateral eyelids.

Rapid determination of benzophenone derivatives in cereals using FaPEx coupled with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A robust and sensitive analytical method was developed and validated for the simultaneous analysis of the levels of 10 benzophenone derivatives (BPs; BP, BP-1, BP-2, BP-3, BP-8, 2-hydroxybenzophenone [2-OHBP], 4-hydroxybenzophenone [4-OHBP], 4-methylbenzophenone [4-MBP], methyl-2-benzoylbenzoate [M2BB], and 4-benzoylbiphenyl [PBZ]) in 54 breakfast cereal samples. A fast pesticide extraction (FaPEx) technique coupled with isotope-labeled internal standards ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was employed. The developed method exhibited satisfactory linearity (R > 0.

Durable complete response to neoantigen-loaded dendritic-cell vaccine following anti-PD-1 therapy in metastatic gastric cancer.

Neoantigens are ideal targets for dendritic cell (DC) vaccines. So far, only a few neoantigen-based DC vaccines have been investigated in clinical trials. Here, we reported a case of a patient with metastatic gastric cancer who received personalized neoantigen-loaded monocyte-derived dendritic cell (Neo-MoDC) vaccines followed by combination therapy of the Neo-MoDC and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI).