Integrative Transcriptome-Wide Association Study With Expression Quantitative Trait Loci Colocalization Identifies a Causal VAMP8 Variant for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Susceptibility.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an Asia-prevalent malignancy, yet its genetic underpinnings remain incompletely understood. Here, a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) is conducted on NPC, leveraging gene expression prediction models based on epithelial tissues and genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics from 1577 NPC cases and 6359 controls of southern Chinese descent. The TWAS identifies VAMP8 on chromosome 2p11.

Optimizing orthobiologic therapies with exercise, diet, and supplements.

Orthobiologic injections including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and cell-based injections are becoming increasingly popular. Evidence suggests that these therapies can be effective in certain situations. The efficacy of these injections may be more dependent on the quality of the injectate, which given their autologous nature, may be dependent on lifestyle choices like exercise, diet, and supplements.

Turning Waste into Treasure: Functionalized Biomass-Derived Carbon Dots for Superselective Visualization and Eradication of Gram-Positive Bacteria.

Gram-positive bacteria pose significant threats to human health, necessitating the development of targeted bacterial detection and eradication strategies. Nevertheless, current approaches often suffer from poor targeting specificity. Herein, the study utilizes purple rice lixivium to synthesize biomass carbon dots (termed BCDs) with wheat germ agglutinin-like residues for precisely targeting Gram-positive bacteria.

Cost-effectiveness of Dual Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion Versus Static Cold Storage in DCD Liver Transplantation.

Background: Ex situ machine perfusion of the donor liver, such as dual hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (DHOPE), is increasingly used in liver transplantation. Although DHOPE reduces ischemia/reperfusion-related complications after liver transplantation, data on cost-effectiveness are lacking. Our objective was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of DHOPE in donation after circulatory death (DCD) liver transplantation.

Rhanterium Epapposum Essential Oil and Its Primary Compounds Control Infection, Inflammation, and Serum Electrolyte Imbalance in Mice with Giardiasis.

Purpose: The present experimental study seeks to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects, as well as the potential mechanisms of action, of Rhanterium epapposum essential oil (REE) and its main constituents against Giardia lamblia infection.

Methods: The analysis of REE was performed using the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) detector. The in vitro effects of REE and its main constituents on viability of G.

Lipidomic profiling of plasma from patients with multiple myeloma receiving bortezomib: an exploratory biomarker study of JCOG1105 (JCOG1105A1).

Purpose: A comprehensive analysis of metabolites (metabolomics) has been proposed as a new strategy for analyzing liquid biopsies and has been applied to identify biomarkers predicting clinical responses or adverse events associated with specific treatments. Here, we aimed to identify metabolites associated with bortezomib (Btz)-related toxicities and response to treatment in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods: Fifty-four plasma samples from transplant-ineligible MM patients enrolled in a randomized phase II study comparing two less-intensive regimens of melphalan, prednisolone and Btz (MPB) were subjected to the lipidomic profiling analysis.

Revealing the role of natural killer cells in ankylosing spondylitis: identifying diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the axial joints. Immune cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of AS. This study integrated bioinformatics methods with experimental validation to explore the role of natural killer (NK) cells in AS.

Chimeric Peptide Functionalized Immunostimulant to Orchestrate Photodynamic Immunotherapeutic Effect by PD-L1 Deglycosylation and CD47 Inhibition.

Breast cancer utilizes diverse immunosuppressive mechanisms to evade immune surveillance, thereby impairing immunotherapeutic effects. In this work, a chimeric peptide functionalized immunostimulant (designated as aGlyR) is fabricated to boost photodynamic immunotherapy through PD-L1 deglycosylation and CD47 inhibition. The photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is conjugated to a PD-L1 deglycosylation peptide via a hydrophilic PEG linker, yielding the chimeric peptide Fmoc-K(PpIX)-PEG-GFTATPPAPDSPQEP.

Synergistic Approach of High-Precision 3D Printing and Low Cell Adhesion for Enhanced Self-Assembled Spheroid Formation.

Spheroids, as three-dimensional (3D) cell aggregates, can be prepared using various methods, including hanging drops, microwells, microfluidics, magnetic manipulation, and bioreactors. However, current spheroid manufacturing techniques face challenges such as complex workflows, the need for specialized personnel, and poor batch reproducibility. In this study, we designed a support-free, 3D-printed microwell chip and developed a compatible low-cell-adhesion process.

Real-World Characterization of Toxicities and Medication Management in Recipients of CAR T-Cell Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Nova Scotia (NS) began offering CAR T-cell therapy as a third-line standard of care for eligible patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (r/r LBCL) in 2022. Recipients of CAR T-cell therapy often experience acute toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), which require close monitoring and prompt management. This retrospective review aimed to describe the characteristics of adult patients with r/r LBCL deemed eligible to receive CAR T-cell therapy with axicabtagene ciloleucel in NS between January 2022 and June 2024, the toxicities experienced and toxicity management, hospital visits and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, the utilization of toxicity management guidelines, and general efficacy outcomes.

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of NAD(P)H in Patients' Lymphocytes: Evaluation of Efficacy of Immunotherapy.

Background: The wide variability in clinical responses to anti-tumor immunotherapy drives the search for personalized strategies. One of the promising approaches is drug screening using patient-derived models composed of tumor and immune cells. In this regard, the selection of an appropriate in vitro model and the choice of cellular response assay are critical for reliable predictions.

Modulation of Stemness and Differentiation Regulators by Valproic Acid in Medulloblastoma Neurospheres.

Changes in epigenetic processes such as histone acetylation are proposed as key events influencing cancer cell function and the initiation and progression of pediatric brain tumors. Valproic acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug that acts partially by inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs) and could be repurposed as an epigenetic anticancer therapy. Here, we show that VPA reduced medulloblastoma (MB) cell viability and led to cell cycle arrest.

Developing and validating a drug recommendation system based on tumor microenvironment and drug fingerprint.

Introduction: Tumor heterogeneity significantly complicates the selection of effective cancer treatments, as patient responses to drugs can vary widely. Personalized cancer therapy has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance treatment effectiveness and precision. This study aimed to develop a personalized drug recommendation model leveraging genomic profiles to optimize therapeutic outcomes.

Rational strategies for designing next-generation oncolytic viruses based on transcriptome analysis of tumor cells infected with oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1.

Introduction: Oncolytic herpes simplex viruses (oHSVs) are a type of biotherapeutic utilized in cancer therapy due to their ability to selectively infect and destroy tumor cells without harming healthy cells. We sought to investigate the functional genomic response and altered metabolic pathways of human cancer cells to oHSV-1 infection and to elucidate the influence of these responses on the relationship between the virus and the cancer cells.

Methods: Two datasets containing gene expression profiles of tumor cells infected with oHSV-1 (G207) and non-infected cells from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were processed and normalized using the R software.

Efficacy and safety of immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown favorable therapeutic effects in recurrent or metastatic or locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M/LA HNSCC). However, the effects of immunotherapy in HNSCC are still inconsistent because of complicating factors. This meta-analysis tries to provide a more precise assessment of the efficacy and safety of this integrated approach in HNSCC.

Repurposing the prostaglandin analogue treprostinil and the calcium-sensing receptor modulator cinacalcet to revive cord blood as an alternate source of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells for transplantation.

Objective: The expanding field of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for non-malignant diseases, including those amenable to gene therapy or gene editing, faces challenges due to limited donor availability and the toxicity associated with cell collection methods. Umbilical cord blood (CB) represents a readily accessible source of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs); however, the cell dose obtainable from a single cord blood unit is frequently insufficient. This limitation can be addressed by enhancing the potency of HSPCs, specifically their capacity to reconstitute hematopoiesis.

Microsomal glutathione transferase 1 confers cisplatin resistance of non-small cell lung cancer via interaction with arachidonate lipoxygenase 5 to repress ferroptosis.

Objectives: Cisplatin (DDP) resistance remains a primary cause of chemotherapy failure and recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Abnormal high microsomal glutathione transferase 1 (MGST1) expression has been found in DDP-resistant NSCLC cells. This study aimed to explore the function and mechanism of MGST1 in DDP resistance of NSCLC cells.

Predicting TNFRSF4 expression and prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tissue: a pathological image analysis approach.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) exhibits a poor 5-year survival rate. TNFRSF4 is gaining attention in tumor therapy. The objective of this study was to forecast the expression of TNFRSF4 in HNSCC tissue using analysis of pathological images and investigate its possible molecular mechanisms.

Real-world use of tafasitamab preceding CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Potential CD19 antigen loss following CD19-directed therapy has raised concerns over sequential use of these therapies. Tafasitamab, a CD19-targeting immunotherapy, combined with lenalidomide, is approved for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) treatment in adults ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation. This retrospective analysis examined characteristics and outcomes of adults with R/R DLBCL who received tafasitamab preceding CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in a real-world setting.

Neutrophil-macrophage hybrid membrane-coated prussian blue nanozyme for ulcerative colitis treatment and mechanistic insights.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and recurrent digestive tract disease that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of UC is intricately associated with the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Prussian blue (PB), an inorganic nanozyme with potent antioxidant properties, has been extensively applied in the treatment of various inflammatory conditions and tumors.

Total marrow irradiation as part of autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with multiple myeloma.

The efficacy and safety of total marrow irradiation (TMI) plus a reduced dose of melphalan as autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) preconditioning for multiple myeloma (MM) patients were evaluated. The 11 patients with MM had a median age of 57 (range: 46-75) years; six of them were at standard risk and five of them were at high risk based on the Mayo Stratification of Myeloma and Risk-adapted Therapy (mSMART) standard risk factors. Before ASCT, three patients achieved stringent complete response (sCR), two patients achieved complete remission (CR), and the rest of the patients had either partial response (PR) or progressive disease.

[Application of delayed replantation of degloving skin preserved at 4 in treatment of limb degloving injuries].

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of delayed replantation of degloving skin preserved at 4℃ in treatment of limb degloving injuries.

Methods: Between October 2020 and October 2023, 12 patients with limb degloving injuries were admitted. All patients had severe associated injuries or poor wound conditions that prevented primary replantation.

Screening of a retinal-targeting Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) via DNA shuffling.

Due to its unique physiological structure and functions, the eye has received considerable attention in the field of adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy. Inherited retinal degenerative diseases, which arise from pathogenic mutations in mRNA transcripts expressed in the eye's photoreceptor cells or retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), are the most common cause of vision loss. However, current retinal gene therapy mostly involves subretinal injection of therapeutic genes, which treats a limited area, entails retinal detachment, and requires sophisticated techniques.

A genome-wide association study identified PRKCB as a causal gene and therapeutic target for Mycobacterium avium complex disease.

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is a chronic progressive lung disease that is increasing in incidence. Host genetic factors are associated with NTM-PD susceptibility. However, the heritability of NTM-PD is not well understood.

Comparing the Robustness of Intensity-modulated Proton Therapy and Proton-arc Therapy Against Interplay Effects of 4D Robust-optimised Plans for Lung Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

Aims: To assess the robustness of 4D-optimised IMPT and PAT plans against interplay effects in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with respiratory motion over 10 mm, and to provide insights into the use of proton-based stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for lung cancer with significant tumour movement.

Materials And Methods: Fourteen patients with early-stage NSCLC and tumour motion >10 mm were selected. Three hypofraction regimens were generated using 4D robust optimisation with the IMPT and PAT techniques.