Substrate stiffness dictates unique doxorubicin-induced senescence-associated secretory phenotypes and transcriptomic signatures in human pulmonary fibroblasts.

Cells are subjected to dynamic mechanical environments which impart forces and induce cellular responses. In age-related conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, there is both an increase in tissue stiffness and an accumulation of senescent cells. While senescent cells produce a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), the impact of physical stimuli on both cellular senescence and the SASP is not well understood.

Progress report on multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a germline pathogenic variant in the MEN1 tumor suppressor gene. Patients with MEN1 have a high risk for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) with a penetrance of nearly 100%, pituitary adenomas (PitAd) in 40% of patients, and neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) of the pancreas (40% of patients), duodenum, lung, and thymus. Increased MEN1-related mortality is mainly related to duodenal-pancreatic and thymic NEN.

Sotatercept in pulmonary hypertension and beyond.

Sotatercept binds free activins by mimicking the extracellular domain of the activin receptor type IIA (ACTRIIA). Additional ligands are BMP/TGF-beta, GDF8, GDF11 and BMP10. The binding with activins leads to the inhibition of the signalling pathway and the deactivation of the bone morphogenic protein (BMP) receptor type 2.

The sulfur-related metabolic status of during infection reveals cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase as a promising antifungal target.

Sulfur metabolism is an essential aspect of fungal physiology and pathogenicity. Fungal sulfur metabolism comprises anabolic and catabolic routes that are not well conserved in mammals, therefore is considered a promising source of prospective novel antifungal targets. To gain insight into sulfur-related metabolism during infection, we used a NanoString custom nCounter-TagSet and compared the expression of 68 key metabolic genes in different murine models of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, at 3 time-points, and under a variety of conditions.

Portable devices for periodic monitoring of bioelectrical impedance along meridian pathways in healthy individuals.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the monthly variation patterns of bioelectrical impedance (BEI) along 24 meridian pathways in healthy individuals.

Methods: A cohort of 684 healthy middle-aged participants from North China was enrolled between July 1, 2017, and September 5, 2020. BEI measurements were consistently recorded along the 24 meridian pathways over the study period.

PRDX2 induces tumor immune evasion by modulating the HDAC3-Galectin-9 axis in lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Background: PRDX2 is significantly expressed in various cancers and is associated with the proliferation of tumor cells. Nonetheless, the precise mechanism of PRDX2 in tumor immunity remains incompletely understood. This study aims to investigate the impact of PRDX2, which is highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma, on T cells in the tumor immune microenvironment, and its immune action target to promote the immune escape of lung cancer cells, to provide a theoretical basis for lung adenocarcinoma treatment with PRDX2 as the target.

The epitope of the antibody used in the REAADS VWF activity assay is quaternary.

The REAADS VWF activity assay is often assumed to be specific for the A1 domain, the portion of VWF that binds platelet GPIbα. We tested this assay on the A1A2A3 region of VWF with each domain expressed independently of one another and together in combination as a tri-domain. The monoclonal antibody used in this assay is found to be insensitive to the single A domains and does not recognize free A1 domains as it is often assumed.

Atypical pulmonary manifestations suggestive of lung cancer in behçet's disease with spontaneously regressing lymphadenopathy and a lung mass: a case report.

Background: Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem inflammatory disorder that can affect various organs, including the lungs. Pulmonary manifestations are rare and typically present as pulmonary artery aneurysms.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 56-year-old East Asian male with a 27-year history of BD, who had no respiratory symptoms, such as hemoptysis, cough, or fever.

mtSTAT3 suppresses rheumatoid arthritis by regulating Th17 and synovial fibroblast inflammatory cell death with IL-17-mediated autophagy dysfunction.

Th17 cells are activated by STAT3 factors in the nucleus, and these factors are correlated with the pathologic progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of STAT3 in mitochondria, but its function is unclear. We investigated the novel role of mitochondrial STAT3 (mitoSTAT3) in Th17 cells and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and analyzed the correlation of mitoSTAT3 with RA.

Epicardial adipose tissue, cardiac damage, and mortality in patients undergoing TAVR for aortic stenosis.

Computed tomography (CT)-derived Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT) is linked to cardiovascular disease outcomes. However, its role in patients undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) and the interplay with aortic stenosis (AS) cardiac damage (CD) remains unexplored. We aim to investigate the relationship between EAT characteristics, AS CD, and all-cause mortality.

NeoScore: a new tool to assess technical and non-technical skills during neonatal resuscitation.

Background: Training with high-technology manikins improves cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skill retention, but a checklist to assess both technical and non-technical skills is lacking. This study aimed to develop a standardized checklist to evaluate healthcare's performance during simulated Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) scenarios.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two international neonatal resuscitation experts participated in a two-step modified Delphi process, rating each checklist item on a scale of 1-5 and providing feedback.

Patterns of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremic dissemination from the lung.

Bacteremia, a leading cause of death, generally arises after bacteria establish infection in a particular tissue and transit to secondary sites. Studying dissemination from primary sites by solely measuring bacterial burdens does not capture the movement of individual clones. By barcoding Klebsiella pneumoniae, a leading cause of bacteremia, we track pathogen dissemination following pneumonia.

Racial disparities in lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis in the era of highly effective modulator therapy.

Background: Highly effective modulator therapies (HEMT) including ivacaftor (IVA) and elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) have transformed treatment for people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). However, non-HEMT-responsive mutations are more common in pwCF of non-White race/ethnicity; introduction of HEMT might have exacerbated racial/ethnic disparities in CF care.

Methods: Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified all lung transplant candidates and recipients 05/2005-12/2022 and categorized them by diagnosis (CF/non-CF), race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White/Black/Hispanic) and era [Pre-HEMT (2005-1/30/2012), IVA (1/31/2012-10/30/2019), ETI (10/31/2019-12/31/2022)].

Sex and Cardiac Operations: Are We Being Fair to Our Female Patients?

Background: Research suggests that although men have a higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) rate, women with CVD are more likely to experience a poorer prognosis, possibly owing to incorrect diagnosis and poorer treatment. A question not yet addressed is whether some of this inequality could be due to sex bias when selecting patients for operation.

Method: The participants were from the Scottish Heart Health Extended Cohort who had been admitted to hospital with a cardiovascular diagnosis over the study period.

Prognostic Analysis of Pathological Stage I Lung Adenocarcinoma Harboring Major EGFR Mutations.

Background: While Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has favorable outcomes with targeted therapy, early-stage prognosis remains influenced by pathological factors and central nervous system (CNS) recurrence. The study aimed to clarify prognostic factors in pathological stage (pStage) I EGFR mutation-positive LUAD.

Methods: Between 2015 and 2018, 2,191 pStage I LUAD cases with known EGFR status (excluding EGFR testing after recurrence) who received anatomical resection were included from multiple institutions in Japan.

Deciphering neutrophil heterogeneity in human blood and tumors: Methods for isolating neutrophils and assessing their effect on T-cell proliferation.

Neutrophils were historically considered a homogenous population of cells with functions limited to innate immunity against external threats. However, with the rise of immunotherapy, recent works have shown that neutrophils are also important actors in immuno-oncology. In this context, neutrophils appear as a more heterogenous population of cells.

Serum autoantibody-based biomarkers for prognosis in early-stage lung cancer patients with surgical resection.

Background: Lung cancer is the cancer with the highest morbidity and mortality in the world. With the increasing diagnosis rate of patients with early-stage lung cancer, surgery treatment becomes an option for more patients. However, there is a lack of effective indicators to assess the risk of recurrence after lung cancer surgery.

T follicular helper cell expansion and hyperimmunoglobulinemia with spontaneous IgE production to dietary antigens in IgA-deficient mice.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA), the most abundantly produced antibody at mucosal surfaces, is thought to play key roles in immune responses to respiratory and enteric pathogens and in the regulation of commensal colonization. Low IgA levels have been associated with recurrent infections and immune dysregulation, including inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmunity. Levels of IgA in maternal breast milk and infant stool are both inversely associated with the emergence of immune responses to food antigens in infants and, in naturally resolving food sensitivity and immunotherapy protocols, the induction of IgA antibodies to dietary antigens has been associated with the acquisition of food tolerance.

Endoscopy and Anesthesia Outcomes Associated with Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist use in Patients Undergoing Outpatient Upper Endoscopy.

Background And Aims: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) can cause delayed gastric emptying, raising concern for retained gastric contents (RGCs) during endoscopy and adverse anesthesia events. We aimed to determine associations between GLP1RA and endoscopy and anesthesia outcomes.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study examined patients prescribed GLP1RA who underwent outpatient endoscopy stratified by exposure at the time of endoscopy.

From Zone -1 to Zone 3: Feasibility and Safety of Complex Endovascular Aortic Repairs in Type A Aortic Dissection.

Objective: Over 30% of patients presenting with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) are considered high - risk or inoperable. This study aims to investigate the early and mid-term outcomes of complex endovascular aortic repair of aortic root, ascending aorta, and aortic arch among patients with ATAAD.

Methods: From January 2018 to January 2023, 29 patients who were considered high risk for open operation underwent endovascular aortic repair.

Outcomes after medical treatment for primary aldosteronism: an international consensus and analysis of treatment response in an international cohort.

Background: Primary aldosteronism can be treated medically but there is no standardised method to evaluate treatment outcomes. We aimed to develop criteria for assessing the outcomes of targeted medical treatment of primary aldosteronism, analyse outcomes across an international cohort, and identify factors associated with a complete treatment response.

Methods: An international panel of 31 primary aldosteronism experts used the Delphi method to reach consensus on the definition of complete, partial, or absent biochemical and clinical outcomes of medical treatment of primary aldosteronism.

First-in-human trial of atrial fibrillation ablation using real time tissue optical assessment to predict pulsed field lesion durability.

Background: Loss of bipolar electrograms immediately after pulsed field ablation (PFA) makes lesion durability assessment challenging.

Objective: The aim of this trial (NCT06700226) was to evaluate a novel ablation system that can optically predict lesion durability by detecting structural changes in the tissue during ablation.

Methods: Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using PFA (AblaView®, MedLumics).

Repeat Procedures After Pulsed Field Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: MANIFEST-REDO Study.

Background: Initial clinical studies of pulsed field ablation (PFA) to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) indicated a >90% durability rate of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, these studies were largely conducted in single centers and involved a limited number of operators. The electrophysiological findings and outcomes in patients undergoing repeat ablation after an initial PF ablation for AF are incompletely understood.