Compact RNA editors with natural miniature Cas13j nucleases.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-Cas13 effectors are used for RNA editing but the adeno-associated virus (AAV) packaging limitations because of their big sizes hinder their therapeutic application. Here we report the identification of the Cas13j family, with LepCas13j (529 aa) and ChiCas13j (424 aa) being the smallest and most highly efficient variants for RNA interference. The miniaturized Cas13j proteins enable the development of compact RNA base editors.

Abnormal brain spontaneous neural activity in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with neuropathic pain.

Background: Neuropathic pain is one of the most common symptoms in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Notwithstanding, its underlying mechanism remains obscure.

Methods: The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) metric was employed to investigate spontaneous neural activity alterations via resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-MRI) data from a 3.

Discovery of CRN04894: A Novel Potent Selective MC2R Antagonist.

A novel class of nonpeptide melanocortin type 2 receptor (MC2R) antagonists was discovered through modification of known nonpeptide MC4R ligands. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies led to the discovery of (CRN04894), a highly potent and subtype-selective first-in-class MC2R antagonist, which demonstrated remarkable efficacy in a rat model of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-stimulated corticosterone secretion. Oral administration of suppressed ACTH-stimulated corticosterone secretion in a dose-dependent manner at doses ≥3 mg/kg.

Vitamin D status and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: There's an increasing body of evidence on vitamin D deficiency and the risk of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess serum vitamin D levels in patients with NMOSD versus healthy controls.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and CNKI for publications up to November 2022 and explored the relationship between NMOSD and serum vitamin D levels.

Neurometabolic and Brain Functional Alterations Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis: A Combined H-MRS and fMRI Study.

Whether patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) exhibit cognitive impairment is controversial. Also the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We aimed to investigate alterations in cognitive function, neurometabolite levels, and brain function in patients with MG and to explore the associations between abnormal regional brain functional activity, neurometabolite concentrations in the MPFC and left thalamus, and cognitive activity in patients with MG.

Use of MRI-based deep learning radiomics to diagnose sacroiliitis related to axial spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a deep learning radiomics (DLR) model, which integrates multimodal MRI features and clinical information, in diagnosing sacroiliitis related to axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Material & Methods: A total of 485 patients diagnosed with sacroiliitis related to axSpA (n = 288) or non-sacroiliitis (n = 197) by sacroiliac joint (SIJ) MRI between May 2018 and October 2022 were retrospectively included in this study. The patients were randomly divided into training (n = 388) and testing (n = 97) cohorts.

Asymptomatic spinal lesions in patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD: A real-world cohort study.

Objective: This study aims to explore the frequency and influencing factors of asymptomatic spinal lesions (ASLs) and their impact on subsequent relapses in patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD (AQP4-NMOSD) in a real-world setting.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical information and spinal MRI data from AQP4-NMOSD patients who had at least one spinal cord MRI during their follow-ups. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were employed to ascertain potential predictors of remission ASLs and to investigate factors associated with subsequent relapses.

Single-Cell Sequencing Combined with Transcriptome Sequencing Constructs a Predictive Model of Key Genes in Multiple Sclerosis and Explores Molecular Mechanisms Related to Cellular Communication.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes chronic inflammation and demyelination of the central nervous system and comprises a class of neurodegenerative diseases in which interactions between multiple immune cell types mediate the involvement of MS development. However, the early diagnosis and treatment of MS remain challenging.

Methods: Gene expression profiles of MS patients were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.

Rationally Tailoring Chiral Molecules to Minimize Interfacial Energy Loss Enables Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells Using Vacuum Flash Technology.

Facing the defects and energy barrier at the interface of perovskite solar cells, we propose a chiral molecule engineering strategy to simultaneously heal interfacial defects and regulate interfacial energy band alignment. S-ibuprofen (S-IBU), R-ibuprofen (R-IBU), and racemic ibuprofen (rac-IBU) are used to post-treat perovskite films. rac-IBU molecules possess the strongest anchoring on the surface of perovskites among all chiral molecules, translating into the best defect passivation effect.

Aqueous-Based Inorganic Colloidal Halide Perovskites Customizing Liquid Scintillators.

Compared to solid scintillators and organic liquid scintillators, aqueous-based liquid scintillators (AbLS) have more superiority in highly flexible scalability, yet are now limited by their low light yield (≈100 photons MeV ). Here, aqueous-based inorganic colloidal halide perovskites with high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of three primary color luminescence up to 88.1% (red), 96% (green), and 81.

Protective effects of Radix Stellariae extract against Alzheimer's disease via autophagy activation in Caenorhabditis elegans and cellular models.

Enhancing the clearance of proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) emerges as a promising approach for AD therapeutics. This study explores the potential of Radix Stellariae, a traditional Chinese medicine, in treating AD. Utilizing transgenic C.

Ameliorative effect of Luffa cylindrica fruits on Caenorhabditis elegans and cellular models of Alzheimer's disease-related pathology via autophagy induction.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder without an effective cure. Natural products, while showing promise as potential therapeutics for AD, remain underexplored.

Aims: This study was conducted with the goal of identifying potential anti-AD candidates from natural sources using Caenorhabditis elegans (C.

Automatic Image Segmentation and Grading Diagnosis of Sacroiliitis Associated with AS Using a Deep Convolutional Neural Network on CT Images.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes inflammatory low back pain and may even limit activity. The grading diagnosis of sacroiliitis on imaging plays a central role in diagnosing AS. However, the grading diagnosis of sacroiliitis on computed tomography (CT) images is viewer-dependent and may vary between radiologists and medical institutions.

Molecular Synergistic Passivation for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells and Self-Powered Photodetectors.

The interface between the perovskite and electron-transporting material is often treated for defect passivation to improve the photovoltaic performance of devices. A facile 4-Acetamidobenzoic acid (containing an acetamido, a carboxyl, and a benzene ring)-based molecular synergistic passivation (MSP) strategy is developed here to engineer the SnO /perovskite interface, in which dense SnO are prepared using an E-beam evaporation technology while the perovskite is deposited with vacuum flash evaporation deposition method. MSP engineering can synergistically passivate defects at the SnO /perovskite interface by coordinating with Sn and Pb with functional group CO in the acetamido and carboxyl.

B-cell proliferation characteristics and monitoring significance under the modified reduced-dose rituximab regimen for NMOSD: A real-world case series study.

Objective: To explore the B-cell proliferation characteristics and monitoring significance under the modified reduced-dose rituximab (mRTX) regimen for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Methods: NMOSD patients treated with mRTX were recruited, and the percentages of total CD19 B cells and CD27 memory B cells were dynamically detected by flow cytometry. The annualized relapse rate (ARR) and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores were compared before and after mRTX treatment, and the differences in B-cell values were compared between groups.

Discovery of Paltusotine (CRN00808), a Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Non-peptide SST2 Agonist.

The discovery of a novel 4-(4-aminopiperidinyl)-3,6-diarylquinoline series of potent SST2 agonists is described. This class of molecules exhibit excellent selectivity over SST1, SST3, SST4, and SST5 receptors. The compound 3-[4-(4-aminopiperidin-1-yl)-3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)quinolin-6-yl]-2-hydroxybenzonitrile (, paltusotine, formerly known as CRN00808) showed no direct inhibition of major cytochrome P450 enzymes or the hERG ion channel and had sufficient exposure in rats and excellent exposure in dogs upon oral dosing.

Measurement invariance of the 10-item resilience scale specific to cancer in Americans and Chinese: A propensity score-based multidimensional item response theory analysis.

Objective: Little is known about the measurement invariance (MI) of resilience instruments in cancer care. This study was designed to examine MI of 10-Item Resilience Scale (RS-SC-10) in Americans and Chinese with cancer using propensity score-based multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) analysis.

Methods: A sample of 924 patients were enrolled in the Be Resilient to Cancer trial involving 1 hospital in America and 3 hospitals in China.

A male germ-cell-specific ribosome controls male fertility.

Ribosomes are highly sophisticated translation machines that have been demonstrated to be heterogeneous in the regulation of protein synthesis. Male germ cell development involves complex translational regulation during sperm formation. However, it remains unclear whether translation during sperm formation is performed by a specific ribosome.

Combinatorial strategies for production improvement of anti-tuberculosis antibiotics ilamycins E/E from deep sea-derived Streptomyces atratus SCSIO ZH16 ΔilaR.

Ilamycins E/E are novel cyclic heptapeptides from Streptomyces atratus SCSIO ZH16, which have the MIC value of 9.8 nM against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. However, the lower fermentative titer of ilamycins E/E cut off further development for novel anti-TB lead drugs.

Synthetic MRI in the detection and quantitative evaluation of sacroiliac joint lesions in axial spondyloarthritis.

Objective: Our primary objective was to verify the hypothesis that synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is similar to conventional MRI in detecting sacroiliac joint lesions in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). A secondary objective was to assess the quantitative value of synthetic mapping in bone marrow edema (BME) and fat metaplasia.

Methods: A total of 132 axSpA patients who underwent synthetic and conventional MRI from October 2019 to March 2021 were included in this prospective study.

Different doses of Rituximab for the therapy of Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease(NMOSD) is an autoimmune neurological disease that primarily affects the spinal cord, optic nerve, and periventricular organs. Rituximab plays an important role in the prevention of relapse in NMOSD. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of different doses of the anti-monoclonal antibody rituximab in NMOSD.