Metagenome-based characterization of the gut bacteriome, mycobiome, and virome in patients with chronic hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis.

Introduction: The gut microbiota is believed to be directly involved in the etiology and development of chronic liver diseases. However, the holistic characterization of the gut bacteriome, mycobiome, and virome in patients with chronic hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis (CHB-LF) remains unclear.

Methods: In this study, we analyzed the multi-kingdom gut microbiome (i.

Pre-existing dementia is associated with 2-3 folds risk for in-hospital mortality and complications after intracerebral hemorrhage stroke.

Background: Pre-existing dementia was related to poor functional outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and its commonly underlying pathologies were considered as cerebral amyloid angiopathy. But the impact of pre-existing dementia on in-hospital mortality in Chinese ICH patients has not been well characterized.

Objective: To investigate the association between pre-existing dementia and in-hospital mortality after ICH.

Parasalinivibrio latis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from the distal gut of healthy farmed Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer).

Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer) is widely farmed as a sustainable source of protein for countries in the tropical Indo-West Pacific region. However, microbial species of the gut microbiome of healthy Asian Seabass remain largely uncharacterized and uncultured. Here, we analysed the microbial composition along the gastrointestinal tract of a farmed healthy Asian Seabass.

Mammalian cell-based production of glycans, glycopeptides and glycomodules.

Access to defined glycans and glycoconjugates is pivotal for discovery, dissection, and harnessing of a range of biological functions orchestrated by cellular glycosylation processes and the glycome. We previously employed genetic glycoengineering by nuclease-based gene editing to develop sustainable production of designer glycoprotein therapeutics and cell-based glycan arrays that display glycans in their natural context at the cell surface. However, access to human glycans in formats and quantities that allow structural studies of molecular interactions and use of glycans in biomedical applications currently rely on chemical and chemoenzymatic syntheses associated with considerable labor, waste, and costs.

Multi-dimensional factors associated with adequate social participation among stroke survivors based on the social ecological model: A cross-sectional study on the gender and living place differences.

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the multi-dimensional factors associated with adequate social participation among stroke survivors based on the social ecological model, and to identify the gender and living place differences. A total of 470 stroke survivors were recruited through convenience sampling method in two northern tertiary hospitals in China. Stepwise multiple logistic regression models showed that multi-dimensional factors (except for political factors) accounted for 10.

68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT imaging to assess Trop2 expression in multiple types of cancer.

BACKGROUNDConsidering that trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (Trop2) is overexpressed in a wide range of human epithelial cancers, it presents an attractive target for diagnosis and treatment of multiple types of cancer. Herein, we have developed a Trop2-specific radiotracer, 68Ga-MY6349, and present a prospective, investigator-initiated trial to explore the clinical value of 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT.METHODSIn this translational study, 90 patients with 15 types of cancer who underwent 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT were enrolled prospectively.

Electrostatic Assembly of Gold Nanoclusters in Reverse Emulsion Enabling Nanoassemblies with Tunable Structure and Size for Enhanced NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging.

The precise control of the assembly structure and size of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) can potentially amplify their near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging and targeting properties. However, the conventional electrostatic assembly of AuNCs and charged molecules faces challenges in balancing the inherent electrostatic repulsions among charged units and regulating the diffusion of assembly units. These difficulties limit precise control over assembly size and structure, along with limited options for coassembled molecules, thereby restricting imaging properties and targeting capability.

Hypertension Induced by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitors in Treating Anemia in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Mini-Review.

Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) inhibitors are a new class of agents for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Unlike traditional treatments such as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), HIF-PH inhibitors are orally administered drugs and may increase endogenous erythropoietin and improve iron homeostasis. However, a significant concern is their possible side effect on blood pressure.

Decoding the epigenetics and chromatin loop dynamics of androgen receptor-mediated transcription.

Androgen receptor (AR)-mediated transcription plays a critical role in development and prostate cancer growth. AR drives gene expression by binding to thousands of cis-regulatory elements (CRE) that loop to hundreds of target promoters. With multiple CREs interacting with a single promoter, it remains unclear how individual AR bound CREs contribute to gene expression.

Molecular probes for tracking lipid droplet membrane dynamics.

Lipid droplets (LDs) feature a unique monolayer lipid membrane that has not been extensively studied due to the lack of suitable molecular probes that are able to distinguish this membrane from the LD lipid core. In this work, we present a three-pronged molecular probe design strategy that combines lipophilicity-based organelle targeting with microenvironment-dependent activation and design an LD membrane labeling pro-probe called LDM. Upon activation by the HClO/ClO microenvironment that surrounds LDs, LDM pro-probe releases LDM-OH probe that binds to LD membrane proteins thus enabling visualization of the ring-like LD membrane.

Omics-Enhanced Nanomedicine for Cancer Therapy.

Cancer nanomedicine has emerged as a promising approach to overcome the limitations of conventional cancer therapies, offering enhanced efficacy and safety in cancer management. However, the inherent heterogeneity of tumors presents increasing challenges for the application of cancer nanomedicine in both diagnosis and treatment. This heterogeneity necessitates the integration of advanced and high-throughput analytical techniques to tailor nanomedicine strategies to individual tumor profiles.

Novel [F]FPG-interleukin-2 conjugate for monitoring immune checkpoint therapy with positron emission tomography.

F-interleukin-2 based PET imaging of activated T cells serves as a potential tool for non-invasive response prediction, treatment evaluation, and patient stratification in cancer immune checkpoint therapy. Herein, we report the radiolabelling of interleukin-2 (IL-2) with a novel arginine selective bioconjugation reagent, 4-[F]fluorophenylglyoxal ([F]FPG). Good non-decay corrected bioconjugation efficiencies of 29 ± 4 % (n = 5) were obtained for the [F]FPG-IL-2.

Prognostic and therapeutic implications of low aortic valve calcium score in patients with low gradient aortic stenosis.

Introduction: Low gradient (LG) aortic stenosis (AS) poses a diagnostic challenge. Aortic valve calcium score (AVCS) assessment has emerged as a complementary diagnostic method when echocardiography provides discordant results. However, the diagnostic and prognostic value of AVCS in LGAS has not been thoroughly studied.

Differences in phenotype between long-lived memory B cells against Plasmodium falciparum merozoite antigens and variant surface antigens.

Plasmodium falciparum infections elicit strong humoral immune responses to two main groups of antigens expressed by blood-stage parasites: merozoite antigens that are involved in the erythrocyte invasion process and variant surface antigens that mediate endothelial sequestration of infected erythrocytes. Long-lived B cells against both antigen classes can be detected in the circulation for years after exposure, but have not been directly compared. Here, we studied the phenotype of long-lived memory and atypical B cells to merozoite antigens (MSP1 and AMA1) and variant surface antigens (the CIDRα1 domain of PfEMP1) in ten Ugandan adults before and after local reduction of P.

Association of modifiable risk factors with progression to dementia in relation to amyloid and tau pathology.

Background: Dementia preventive interventions targeting multiple modifiable risk factors are a promising approach. However, the impact of modifiable risk factors in the presence of beta-amyloid or phosphorylated-tau (p-tau) pathology is unclear.

Methods: The objective of the study was to examine the role of modifiable risk factors (vascular factors, depression, and smoking) in the progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia among 434 cognitively unimpaired (CU) and 611 individuals with MCI from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database.

Effect of Vaginal Laser and Topical Therapies on Vulvovaginal Atrophy Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) significantly impacts the quality of life in breast cancer patients leading to symptoms like vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and genital discomfort. Quality of life in this context is measured using validated scales like the Vaginal Health Index, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). : We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify effective treatment options for VVA, including topical estrogen, systemic hormone therapy, vaginal DHEA, ospemifene, and non-hormonal methods like intravaginal laser therapy, moisturizers, and lubricants.

Hepaticogastrostomy versus hepaticogastrostomy with antegrade stenting for malignant biliary obstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Combining antegrade stenting (AGS) and hepaticogastrostomy (HGS) is an increasingly used endoscopic ultrasound-guided intervention when stenting by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is impossible.

Objectives: We comprehensively assessed the benefits and downsides of combined AGS and HGS (HGS procedure with AGS, HGAS).

Data Sources And Methods: From 788 HGS and 295 HGAS cases, a random-effects meta-analysis was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol.

Head-to-Head Comparison of [Ga]Ga-NOTA-RM26 and [F]FDG PET/CT in Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A Prospective Study.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common stromal tumors in the gastrointestinal tract. This study was designed to evaluate a gastrin-releasing peptide receptor antagonist PET tracer, [Ga]Ga-NOTA-RM26, and compare it with [F]FDG PET/CT in the assessment of patients with GISTs. With institutional review board approval and informed consent, 30 patients with suspected or proven GISTs based on abdominal CT or gastroscopy were recruited.

The risk of postherpetic neuralgia in COVID-19 vaccination-associated herpes zoster: A retrospective cohort study using TriNetX.

Background: The administration of the COVID-19 vaccine has been linked to the development of herpes zoster (HZ). However, studies examining the clinical outcomes in COVID-19 vaccination-associated and non-COVID-19 vaccination-associated HZ are lacking.

Objective: To investigate the risk of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in COVID-19 vaccination associated HZ.

Restoring CFTR function with Orkambi decreases the severity of alcohol-induced acute pancreatitis.

Heavy alcohol intake is one of the most common causes of acute pancreatitis (AP). We have previously shown that ethanol (EtOH) decreases the expression and activity of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which plays a key role in alcohol-induced AP development. The prescription drug, Orkambi (a combination of ivacaftor and lumacaftor) can correct impaired CFTR function and expression in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

Molecular Correlates of Prostate Cancer Visibility on Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Systematic Review.

Background And Objective: Although prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used to diagnose and stage prostate cancer (PCa), the biologic and clinical significance of MRI visibility of the disease is unclear. Our aim was to examine the existing knowledge regarding the molecular correlates of MRI visibility of PCa.

Methods: The PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were queried through November 2023.

Profiling genetic variants in cardiovascular disease genes among a Heterogeneous cohort of Mendelian conditions patients and electronic health records.

Introduction: This study addresses the rising cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by investigating the occurrence and impact of genetic variants in CVD-related genes.

Methods: We collected all genes linked to heritable CVD from public and diagnostic databases and mapped them to their corresponding biological processes and molecular pathways. We then evaluated the types and burden of genetic variants within these genes in 343 individuals from the Emirati Mendelian Study Cohort and 3,007 national electronic health records.