Evaluation of Inflammatory Activity of Extraocular Muscles in Thyroid Associated Orbitopathy by [Ga]DOTATATE PET/CT.

Purpose: The accurate assessment of inflammatory activity of the extraocular muscles (EOMs) in thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is crucial for formulating subsequent treatment strategies and prognostic judgments. This study aims to explore the efficacy of using [Ga]DOTATATE PET/CT to assess the inflammatory activity of EOMs in TAO patients.

Procedures: This study enrolled 22 TAO patients and 6 healthy volunteers, all of whom underwent orbital [Ga]DOTATATE PET/CT.

Excess Weight Loss at 6 Months Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Correlates with the Remission of Hyperuricemia.

Background: Hyperuricemia is a metabolic disorder associated with obesity. Many studies have reported the effect of bariatric surgery on the decrease of serum uric acid level in patients with hyperuricemia. However, since the update of diagnostic criteria of hyperuricemia, the correlation between preoperative body mass index, postoperative weight changes, and the remission of hyperuricemia in patients with obesity after sleeve gastrectomy requires consensus.

Correcting mitochondrial loss mitigates NOTCH1-related aortopathy in mice.

Loss-of-function mutations in NOTCH1 were previously linked to thoracic aortopathy, a condition for which non-surgical treatment options are limited. Based on clinical proteome analysis, we hypothesized that mitochondrial fusion and biogenesis in aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are crucial for regulating the progression of NOTCH1-related aortopathy. Here we demonstrate that SMC-specific Notch1 knockout mice develop aortic pathology, including stiffening, dilation and focal dissection.

The NAT1-bHLH110-CER1/CER1L module regulates heat stress tolerance in rice.

Rice production is facing substantial threats from global warming associated with extreme temperatures. Here we report that modifying a heat stress-induced negative regulator, a negative regulator of thermotolerance 1 (NAT1), increases wax deposition and enhances thermotolerance in rice. We demonstrated that the C2H2 family transcription factor NAT1 directly inhibits bHLH110 expression, and bHLH110 directly promotes the expression of wax biosynthetic genes CER1/CER1L under heat stress conditions.

Catalytic-independent functions of the Integrator-PP2A complex (INTAC) confer sensitivity to BET inhibition.

Chromatin and transcription regulators are critical to defining cell identity through shaping epigenetic and transcriptional landscapes, with their misregulation being closely linked to oncogenesis. Pharmacologically targeting these regulators, particularly the transcription-activating BET proteins, has emerged as a promising approach in cancer therapy, yet intrinsic or acquired resistance frequently occurs, with poorly understood mechanisms. Here, using genome-wide CRISPR screens, we find that BET inhibitor efficacy in mediating transcriptional silencing and growth inhibition depends on the auxiliary/arm/tail module of the Integrator-PP2A complex (INTAC), a global regulator of RNA polymerase II pause-release dynamics.

Dynamic switching between brain networks predicts creative ability.

Creativity is hypothesized to arise from a mental state which balances spontaneous thought and cognitive control, corresponding to functional connectivity between the brain's Default Mode (DMN) and Executive Control (ECN) Networks. Here, we conduct a large-scale, multi-center examination of this hypothesis. Employing a meta-analytic network neuroscience approach, we analyze resting-state fMRI and creative task performance across 10 independent samples from Austria, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States (N = 2433)-constituting the largest and most ethnically diverse creativity neuroscience study to date.

Cortical arealization of interneurons defines shared and distinct molecular programs in developing human and macaque brains.

Cortical interneurons generated from ganglionic eminence via a long-distance journey of tangential migration display evident cellular and molecular differences across brain regions, which seeds the heterogeneous cortical circuitry in primates. However, whether such regional specifications in interneurons are intrinsically encoded or gained through interactions with the local milieu remains elusive. Here, we recruit 685,692 interneurons from cerebral cortex and subcortex including ganglionic eminence within the developing human and macaque species.

Highly Efficient Schottky Heterojunctions for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution: Facile Synthesis of Hollow Nano-ZnSe Spheres on Ti3C2-Nanosheets.

Traditional photocatalysts often have limited efficiency due to the high recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. In this work, we synthesized 3D/2D ZnSe-MXene heterojunctions by an in situ electrostatic self-assembly method. Notably, the 3% MXene-ZnSe composite exhibited an optimized photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of 765.

In-Plane Polarization-Triggered WS-Ferroelectric Heterostructured Synaptic Devices.

To date, various kinds of memristors have been proposed as artificial neurons and synapses for neuromorphic computing to overcome the so-called von Neumann bottleneck in conventional computing architectures. However, related working principles are mostly ascribed to randomly distributed conductive filaments or traps, which usually lead to high stochasticity and poor uniformity. In this work, a heterostructure with a two-dimensional WS monolayer and a ferroelectric PZT film were demonstrated for memristors and artificial synapses, triggered by in-plane ferroelectric polarization.

Deep learning-based assessment of missense variants in the gene presented with bilateral congenital cataract.

Objective: We compared the protein structure and pathogenicity of clinically relevant variants of the gene with AlphaFold2 (AF2), Alpha Missense (AM), and ThermoMPNN for the first time.

Methods And Analysis: The sequences of clinically relevant Cog4 missense variants (one novel identified p.Y714F and three pre-existing p.

Causal effect of C-reaction protein and endometrial cancer: Genetic evidence of the role of inflammation in endometrial cancer.

Consensus remains elusive regarding the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and endometrial cancer (EC). Our study sought to elucidate the causal association between CRP and EC, aiming to contribute to the understanding of this complex interplay. We primarily utilized the random-effects inverse variance-weighted method.

Dual-path neural network extracts tumor microenvironment information from whole slide images to predict molecular typing and prognosis of Glioma.

Background And Objective: Utilizing AI to mine tumor microenvironment information in whole slide images (WSIs) for glioma molecular subtype and prognosis prediction is significant for treatment. Existing weakly-supervised learning frameworks based on multi-instance learning have potential in WSIs analysis, but the large number of patches from WSIs challenges the effective extraction of key local patch and neighboring patch microenvironment info. Therefore, this paper aims to develop an automatic neural network that effectively extracts tumor microenvironment information from WSIs to predict molecular typing and prognosis of glioma.

Rotavirus vaccine effectiveness and coverage among children younger than 5 years old in Shanghai, China: A test-negative case control study.

Objectives: The number of post-marketing studies assessing the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the Lanzhou lamb rotavirus vaccine (LLR, licensed in 2000 exclusively in China) and the oral human attenuated pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq, licensed in China in 2018) in China is limited.

Methods: A test-negative case-control study based on prospective surveillance was conducted among diarrhea patients aged 5 years and younger at five hospitals in Shanghai, China. Cases and controls were defined based on the results of real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) of fecal samples for rotavirus.

Non-carbapenem-producing carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in children: Risk factors, molecular epidemiology, and resistance mechanism.

Background: The investigation into risk factors, molecular epidemiology, and resistance mechanisms of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) in pediatric populations in China is currently inadequate.

Methods: To assess epidemiology, molecular characteristics, and resistance mechanisms, virulence-associated genes were analyzed, alongside multi locus sequence typing (MLST), PCR, and qRT-PCR.

Finding: Multivariate analysis identified prolonged hospitalization (OR: 1.

PADS-Net: GAN-based radiomics using multi-task network of denoising and segmentation for ultrasonic diagnosis of Parkinson disease.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, and its accurate diagnosis is crucial for timely intervention. We propose the PArkinson disease Denoising and Segmentation Network (PADS-Net), to simultaneously denoise and segment transcranial ultrasound images of midbrain for accurate PD diagnosis. The PADS-Net is built upon generative adversarial networks and incorporates a multi-task deep learning framework aimed at optimizing the tasks of denoising and segmentation for ultrasound images.

Timely delivery of care in neurological emergencies: can standardized management protocols help?

Purpose Of Review: To review the evidence that supports the implementation of goal-directed care bundle protocols to improve outcomes from neurocritical conditions, and of the possible advantage of specific over generalized protocols.

Recent Findings: Articles from January 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024 were searched to evaluate the effectiveness of standardized management in neurological emergencies. The use of care bundles and standardized protocols with time- and target-related metrics has shown benefit in patients with acute stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Standard: Human gastric organoids.

Organoid technology provides a transformative approach to understand human physiology and pathology, offering valuable insights for scientific research and therapeutic development. Human gastric organoids, in particular, have gained significant interest for applications in disease modeling, drug discovery, and studies of tissue regeneration and homeostasis. However, the lack of standardized quality control has limited their extensive clinical applications.

Epigenetics in the modern era of crop improvements.

Epigenetic mechanisms are integral to plant growth, development, and adaptation to environmental stimuli. Over the past two decades, our comprehension of these complex regulatory processes has expanded remarkably, producing a substantial body of knowledge on both locus-specific mechanisms and genome-wide regulatory patterns. Studies initially grounded in the model plant Arabidopsis have been broadened to encompass a diverse array of crop species, revealing the multifaceted roles of epigenetics in physiological and agronomic traits.

New Atg9 Phosphorylation Sites Regulate Autophagic Trafficking in Glia.

We previously identified a role for dAuxilin (dAux), the fly homolog of Cyclin G-associated kinase, in glial autophagy contributing to Parkinson's disease (PD). To further dissect the mechanism, we present evidence here that lack of glial dAux enhanced the phosphorylation of the autophagy-related protein Atg9 at two newly identified threonine residues, T62 and T69. The enhanced Atg9 phosphorylation in the absence of dAux promotes autophagosome formation and Atg9 trafficking to the autophagosomes in glia.

Understanding phage BX-1 resistance in AP-1 and the role of quorum-sensing regulation.

The marine ecosystem is characterized by a rich diversity of bacterial hosts and their phages. The propagation of phages is primarily limited by their ability to adsorb to host cells and is further challenged by various bacterial defense mechanisms. To fully realize the potential of phage therapy in aquaculture, a comprehensive understanding of phage-host interactions and their regulation is essential.

Mechanically Robust Bismuth-Embedded Carbon Microspheres for Ultrafast Charging and Ultrastable Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Advancements in the development of fast-charging and long-lasting microstructured alloying anodes with high volumetric capacities are essential for enhancing the operational efficiency of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). These anodes, however, face challenges such as declined cyclability and rate capability, primarily due to mechanical degradation reduced by significant volumetric changes (over 252%) and slow kinetics of sodium-ion storage. Herein, we introduce a novel anode design featuring densely packed bismuth (Bi) embedded within highly conductive carbon microspheres to overcome the aforementioned challenges.

Impact of Frailty on Antihypertensive Treatment in Older Adults.

Background: The association between systolic blood pressure and all-cause mortality differs between frail and nonfrail individuals, highlighting uncertainties about the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatments in frail populations.

Methods: Using data from the SHEP trial (Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program), a baseline frailty index (FI), including 55 variables, was constructed. Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard models and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to explore the association between baseline FI and the risks of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause death, as well as to examine whether the impact of antihypertensive treatment on these outcomes was modified by baseline FI.

Reversing Cochlear Nucleus Maladaptive Plasticity via Customized Extracochlear Stimulation: A New Approach for Tinnitus Treatment.

Tinnitus, a widespread condition affecting numerous individuals worldwide, remains a significant challenge due to limited effective therapeutic interventions. Intriguingly, patients using cochlear implants (CIs) have reported significant relief from tinnitus symptoms, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear and intracochlear implantation risks cochlear damage and hearing loss. This study demonstrates that targeted intracochlear electrical stimulation (ES) in guinea pigs with noise-induced hearing loss reversed tinnitus-related maladaptive plasticity in the cochlear nucleus (CN), characterized by reduced auditory innervation, increased somatosensory innervation, and diminished inhibitory neural networks.