Integrating melt electrospinning writing and microfluidics to engineer a human cardiac microenvironment for high-fidelity drug screening.

The preclinical evaluation of drug-induced cardiotoxicity is critical for developing novel drug, helping to avoid drug wastage and post-marketing withdrawal. Although human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) and the engineered heart organoid have been used for drug screening and mimicking disease models, they are always limited by the immaturity and lack of functionality of the cardiomyocytes. In this study, we constructed a Cardiomyocytes-on-a-Chip (CoC) that combines micro-grooves (MGs) and circulating mechanical stimulation to recapitulate the well-organized structure and stable beating of myocardial tissue.

The early and mid-term outcomes of acute type A aortic dissection patients with ECMO.

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) poses significant challenges in cardiovascular management due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. Postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS) is a severe complication following ATAAD repair that complicates postoperative recovery. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has emerged as a potential life-saving intervention in this context, yet the specific outcomes related to ECMO in ATAAD patients remain insufficiently studied.

Monitoring of Circulating Tumor DNA and Indication of De-Escalation Adjuvant Targeted Therapy for -Mutated NSCLC After Complete Resection.

Introduction: EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) is the standard adjuvant treatment for patients with stages IB to IIIA -mutated NSCLC. Nevertheless, adapting this approach to include a molecular residual disease (MRD)-guided de-escalation strategy warrants further investigation.

Methods: From January 2019 to December 2022, 71 patients with stages I to III NSCLC and (exon 19 deletion or L858R) mutations were enrolled in this observational study.

Improving Diagnostic Accuracy in Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Insights from Spectral Dual-energy CT.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of spectral dual-energy detector computed tomography (SDCT) and its associated parameters in diagnosing acute pulmonary embolism (APE).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of imaging data from 86 APE-diagnosed patients using SDCT was conducted. Virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) at 40, 70, and 100 KeV, Iodine concentration (IC) maps, Electron Cloud Density Map (ECDM), Effective atomic number (Z-eff) maps, and Hounsfield unit attenuation plots (VMI slope) were reconstructed from pulmonary artery phase CT images.

A phase II trial of anlotinib plus EGFR-TKIs in advanced non-small cell lung cancer with gradual, oligo, or potential progression after EGFR-TKIs treatment (CTONG-1803/ALTER-L001).

Background: The study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined anlotinib and EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had gradual, oligo, or potential progression after previous EGFR-TKIs treatment.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, phase II trial in China. Eligible patients were 18-75 years old with histologically or cytologically confirmed NSCLC who were EGFR mutation positive and showed gradual, oligo, or potential progression after EGFR-TKIs.

Diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma by an MRI-based deep learning model.

Background: Cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a well-established poor prognosticator of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), in which occult metastasis is a subtype that makes prediction challenging. Here, we developed and validated a deep learning (DL) model using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the identification of LNM in OSCC patients.

Methods: This retrospective diagnostic study developed a three-stage DL model by 45,664 preoperative MRI images from 723 patients in 10 Chinese hospitals between January 2015 and October 2020.

Oxaliplatin induces pyroptosis in hepatoma cells and enhances antitumor immunity against hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Pyroptosis is closely associated with chemotherapeutic drugs and immune response. Here, we investigated whether oxaliplatin, a key drug in FOLFOX-hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (FOLFOX-HAIC), induces pyroptosis in hepatoma cells and enhances antitumor immunity after tumor cell death.

Methods: Hepatoma cells were treated with oxaliplatin.

The transcriptional repressor HEY2 regulates mitochondrial oxidative respiration to maintain cardiac homeostasis.

Energy deprivation and metabolic rewiring of cardiomyocytes are widely recognized hallmarks of heart failure. Here, we report that HEY2 (a Hairy/Enhancer-of-split-related transcriptional repressor) is upregulated in hearts of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Induced Hey2 expression in zebrafish hearts or mammalian cardiomyocytes impairs mitochondrial respiration, accompanied by elevated ROS, resulting in cardiomyocyte apoptosis and heart failure.

Modulation of glymphatic system by visual circuit activation alleviates memory impairment and apathy in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive amyloid deposition and cognitive decline, yet the pathological mechanisms and treatments remain elusive. Here we report the therapeutic potential of low-intensity 40 hertz blue light exposure in a 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Our findings reveal that light treatment prevents memory decline in 4-month-old 5xFAD mice and motivation loss in 14-month-old 5xFAD mice, accompanied by restoration of glial water channel aquaporin-4 polarity, improved brain drainage efficiency, and a reduction in hippocampal lipid accumulation.

HDAC6 deacetylates TRIM56 to negatively regulate cGAS-STING-mediated type I interferon responses.

Histone deacetylase HDAC6 has been implicated in regulating antiviral innate immunity. However, its precise function in response to DNA virus infection remains elusive. Herein, we find that HDAC6 deficiency promotes the activation of cGAS-STING signaling and type I interferon (IFN) production, both in vitro and in vivo, resulting in a decrease in HSV-1 infection.

Whole-exome sequencing association study reveals genetic effects on tumor microenvironment components in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) presents a substantial clinical challenge due to the limited understanding of its genetic underpinnings. Here we conduct the largest scale whole-exome sequencing association study of NPC to date, encompassing 6,969 NPC cases and 7,100 controls. We unveil 3 germline genetic variants linked to NPC susceptibility: a common rs2276868 in RPL14, a rare rs5361 in SELE, and a common rs1050462 in HLA-B.

Hand Dexterity Recovery Capacity for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy With Varying Levels of Impairment: A Prospective 1-Year Follow-Up Study.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the hand function recovery capacity of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) patients with different severities of hand dexterity impairment.

Methods: Hand functional outcome measures such as the 10s-G&R test, modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) upper extremity score and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ) Upper Extremity Function were collected before surgery and at the 1-year follow-up. A total of 102 DCM patients were categorized into Mild, Moderate and Severe group based on the preoperative 10s-G&R test result.

Conference 2024: Building an innovative scientific research ecosystem for microbiome and One Health.

The Conference 2024 provides a platform to promote the development of an innovative scientific research ecosystem for microbiome and One Health. The four key components - Technology, Research (Biology), Academic journals, and Social media - form a synergistic ecosystem. Advanced technologies drive biological research, which generates novel insights that are disseminated through academic journals.

Thymidine Phosphorylase Promotes Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm via VSMC Modulation and Matrix Remodeling in Mice and Humans.

Thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP) promotes platelet activation and thrombosis while suppressing vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. Both processes are central to the development and progression of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). We hypothesize that TYMP plays a role in AAA development.

Effects of stress hyperglycemia ratio upon long-lasting prognosis in coronary artery disease patients with or lacking chronic renal impairment: findings from a Chinese multi-center observational study.

Background: Lately, numerous researches have portrayed stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) is predominantly connected with short-term adverse prognosis among individuals who have acute coronary syndrome. Nevertheless, the relation of SHR with prolonged effects and the value of SHR in predicting in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with or lacking chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain unclear. The present study was designed to elucidate the relation of SHR with prolonged prognosis and the value of SHR in predicting the long-term all-cause and cardiovascular death of CAD patients with CKD or non-CKD.

Vein watershed analysis locational method versus computed tomography-guided percutaneous localization for detecting non-palpable peripheral pulmonary nodules: a real-world study of non-inferiority.

Objectives: In recent years, with the advancement of sublobar resection, A safe, painless method for locating peripheral pulmonary nodules is required. Previously, an alternative method of arterial watershed localization was been introduced to remedy the shortcomings of preoperative CT-guided localization or other methods for locating pulmonary nodules, but its technical limitations were discovered during clinical application. Therefore, we innovated a technique to localize non-subpleural nodules using basin analysis of the target vein and validated its feasibility and safety.

Reconstitution of pluripotency from mouse fibroblast through Sall4 overexpression.

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by overexpressing defined transcription factors. Specifically, overexpression of OCT4 alone has been demonstrated to reprogram mouse fibroblasts into iPSCs. However, it remains unclear whether any other single factor can induce iPSCs formation.

Global, regional and national burden due to retinoblastoma in children aged younger than 10 years from 1990 to 2021.

Background: Retinoblastoma (RB), an aggressive intraocular malignancy, significantly adds to the global disease burden in early childhood. This study offers insights into the global burden of retinoblastoma (RB) in children aged 0-9 years, examining incidence, mortality, and DALYs from 1990 to 2021, across age, sex, location, and SDI levels. It aims to inform health policy, resource allocation, and RB combat strategies.

Higher interfragmentary compression force improves lateral tibial plateau fracture stability using locking plate fixation: experimental and simulation verification.

Background: This study investigated the impact of higher interfragmentary compression force (IFCF) on the stability of locking plate fixation in lateral tibial plateau fractures.

Methods: Biomechanical experiments and finite element analysis (FEA) were employed to compare the performance of the AO cancellous lag screw (AOCLS) and a newly developed combined cancellous lag screw (CCLS).

Results: The results demonstrated that the CCLS provided a higher IFCF without the risk of over-screwing, significantly improving fixation stability.

Uncovering novel therapeutic clues for hypercoagulable active ulcerative colitis: novel findings from old data.

Background: Hypercoagulability has been shown to act as an important component of ulcerative colitis (UC) pathogenesis and disease activity, and is strongly correlated with the occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study aimed at providing novel therapeutic clues for hypercoagulable active UC.

Methods: The coagulation score model was developed using VTE cohorts, and the predictive performance of this model was evaluated by coagulation subtypes of UC patients, which were clustered by the unsupervised method.

Morphological and bone defect mapping analysis of true acetabulum in Crowe type IV hip dysplasia.

Background: The primary aim of this study was to quantitatively analysis the acetabular morphological feature and 2D/3D coverage of the Crowe IV DDH hip, dividing into subgroups by the false acetabulum. The secondary aim was to propose a 3D bone mapping to determine acetabular bone defect analysis from the perspective of the implanted simulation.

Methods: A total of 53 Crowe IV hips (27 hips without the false acetabulum in IVa group and 26 hips in IVb group) and 40 normal hips met the inclusion criteria and were retrospectively evaluated.

Lipotoxicity-induced upregulation of FIS1 exacerbates mitochondrial fragmentation and promotes NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Lipotoxicity is a significant factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DbCM), a condition characterized by mitochondrial fragmentation and pyroptosis. Mitochondrial fission protein 1 (FIS1) plays a role in mitochondrial fission by anchoring dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1). However, the specific contribution of FIS1 to DbCM remains unclear.

The impact of ciliary length on the mechanical response of osteocytes to fluid shear stress.

Background: Osteocytes are crucial for detecting mechanical stimuli and translating them into biochemical responses within the bone. The primary cilium, a cellular 'antenna,' plays a vital role in this process. However, there is a lack of direct correlation between cilium length changes and osteocyte mechanosensitivity changes.

Synergizing quantum techniques with machine learning for advancing drug discovery challenge.

The Quantum Computing for Drug Discovery Challenge, held at the 42nd International Conference on Computer-Aided Design (ICCAD) in 2023, was a multi-month, research-intensive competition. Over 70 teams from more than 65 organizations from 12 different countries registered, focusing on the use of quantum computing for drug discovery. The challenge centered on designing algorithms to accurately estimate the ground state energy of molecules, specifically OH+, using quantum computing techniques.