Retrovirus-based manufacturing of chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells for cancer therapy research.

Treatment with autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells can achieve outstanding clinical response rates in heavily pretreated patients with B and plasma cell malignancies. However, relapses occur, and they limit the efficacy of this promising treatment approach. The complex GMP-compliant production and high treatment costs cause that CAR T cells cannot yet be used in a broad population.

Phase I study of BMS-986299, an NLRP3 agonist, as monotherapy and in combination with nivolumab and ipilimumab in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Purpose: BMS-986299 is a first-in-class, NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin-domain containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome agonist enhancing adaptive immune and T-cell memory responses.

Materials And Methods: This was a phase-I (NCT03444753) study that assessed the safety and tolerability of intra-tumoral BMS-986299 monotherapy (part 1A) and in combination (part 1B) with nivolumab, and ipilimumab in advanced solid tumors. Reported here are single-center results.

International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology: The involvement of the endocannabinoid system in metabolic and inflammatory responses in dairy cows during negative energy balance.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in the regulation of energy metabolism, immune function and reproduction in mammals. The ECS is consisted of the endocannabinoid (eCB) ligands, enzymes, and cannabinoid receptors. In mammals, the cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1/CNR1) is expressed in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues; and its activation increases anabolic processes.

Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation from late pregnancy to early lactation attenuates the endocannabinoid system and immune proteome in preovulatory follicles and endometrium of Holstein dairy cows.

Activation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) elicits negative effects on the reproductive system in mammals. Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid (FA) supplementation lowers ECS activation and has anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, we hypothesized that supplementing cows with n-3 FA will downregulate components of the ECS and immune system in preovulatory follicles and in the endometrium.

Molecular mechanism of Yersinia ruckeri Flagellin C (FliC) induced intestinal inflammation in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

Yersinia ruckeri is known to cause enteric red mouth disease (ERM) in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). This study first established a model of Y. ruckeri-induced intestinal inflammation in channel catfish.

Role of FOXO3a in LPS-induced inflammatory conditions in human dental pulp cells.

Objectives: We investigated the involvement of FOXO3a in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in primary human dental pulp cells (HDPCs).

Methods: HDPCs that were isolated from donors undergoing tooth extraction for orthodontic purposes were cultured with or without 1 μg/mL LPS at various intervals. The FOXO3a localization in the HDPCs was verified using immunofluorescence.

Postoperative Outcomes Following Lung Resection Performed at Private Equity-Acquired Hospitals.

Objective: Private equity acquisition of hospitals performing complex operations is increasingly prevalent in the United States healthcare landscape. While comparative health outcomes for common medical conditions have been investigated, the quality of thoracic surgical care in private equity-acquired hospitals is unknown.

Methods: Medicare Beneficiaries, aged 65-99 years, undergoing elective lung resection between 2016 to 2020 were included.

Maternal exposure to nicotine causes oxidative stress and inflammatory changes in the ovaries of adult rats' offspring.

Nicotine is one of the most toxic substances found in cigarettes, but also found in chewing tobacco gum, patches and vaping products (electronic cigarettes). In addition to being a highly addictive chemical, it is capable of reducing fertility in men and women. In the ovaries, it can induce morphological changes and impair the formation of follicles, being a possible cause of changes in the reproductive cycle and anticipation of menopause in women whose mothers smoked during pregnancy.

Swietenolide inhibits the TXNIP/NLRP3 pathways via Nrf2 activation to ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in diabetic mice.

Oxidative stress and inflammation play important roles in diabetic-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD). Swietenolide (Std), isolated from the fruit of Swietenia macrophylla King, exhibits various potent pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. However, the effects of Std on DACD remains unexplored.

The MC-LR induced neuroinflammation and the disorders of neurotransmitter system in zebrafish (Danio rerio): Oxidative stress as a key.

Microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR) has been shown to induce neuroinflammation and disrupt neurotransmitter system. However, little is known about the mechanism of toxicity. In this study, male adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to MC-LR at concentrations of 0, 0.

Neural Rewiring of Resilience: The Effects of Combat Deployment on Functional Network Architecture.

Background: Although combat-deployed soldiers are at a high risk for developing trauma-related psychopathology, most will remain resilient for the duration and aftermath of their deployment tour. The neural basis of this type of resilience is largely unknown, and few longitudinal studies exist on neural adaptation to combat in resilient individuals for whom a pre-exposure measurement was collected. Here, we delineate changes in the architecture of functional brain networks from pre- to post-combat in psychopathology-free, resilient participants.

Discovery of a DNA methylation profile in individuals with Sifrim-Hitz-Weiss syndrome.

Pathogenic heterozygous variants in CHD4 cause Sifrim-Hitz-Weiss syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with brain anomalies, heart defects, macrocephaly, hypogonadism, and additional features with variable expressivity. Most individuals have non-recurrent missense variants, complicating variant interpretation. A few were reported with truncating variants, and their role in disease is unclear.

Serum levels of PSA and VEGF2 as the prognosis markers for bone metastasis of prostate cancer: A retrospective study.

Background And Objective: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in males, the mechanism of PCa with bone metastasis remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to utilize a retrospective clinical study to evaluate the diagnostic value of bone metastases from PCa and provide reference values for future applications.

Methods: We retrospectively collected a total of 200 samples including 100 PCa patients with bone metastatic and 100 without from June 2019 to August 2021.

Molecular-level exploration of spatiotemporal dynamics of fluvial particulate organic carbon sources during storm events: Using a high-temporal resolution multi-biomarker approach.

Identifying the origins of storm fluvial particulate organic carbon (POC) provides information about the hydrological connectivity within the river corridor and the roles of the land-stream interface in the carbon cycle. However, current understanding of storm-induced POC source dynamics is constrained by observations limited in space and time. This study presents a unique approach integrating higher spatial and temporal resolution sampling with a multi-biomarker analysis to better understand POC source dynamics across scales.

Increased adherence to the DASH dietary pattern in community dwelling older adults: Findings from two National Health and Nutrition Surveys.

Objectives: To assess adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet over a decade among community-dwelling older adults, with and without hypertension and to examine associated factors.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Data from two cross-sectional Israel National Health and Nutrition Surveys (NHNS) for older adults, from 2005 to 2006 (NHNS1) and 2014-2015 (NHNS2) were analysed.

Effect of molecular weight of tyramine-modified hyaluronan on polarization state of THP-1 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells-derived macrophages.

The immunomodulatory properties of hyaluronan and its derivatives are key to their use in medicine and tissue engineering. In this work we evaluated the capability of soluble tyramine-modified hyaluronan (THA) synthesized from hyaluronan of two molecular weights (low M = 280 kDa and high M = 1640 kDa) for polarization of THP-1 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)-derived macrophages (MΦs). We demonstrate the polarization effects of the supplemented THA by flow cytometry and bead-based multiplex immunoassay for the THP-1 derived MΦs and by semi-automated image analysis from confocal microscopy, immunofluorescent staining utilizing CD68 and CD206 surface markers, RT-qPCR gene expression analysis, as well as using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for PBMCs-derived MΦs.

Heat-inactivated Lactobacillus casei strain GKC1 Mitigates osteoporosis development in vivo via enhanced osteogenesis.

Osteoporosis, a significant bone disease predominantly affecting elderly and postmenopausal women, leads to increased bone fragility and fracture risk, presenting a major public health concern with substantial socioeconomic implications. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of Lactobacillus strains, known for their immunomodulatory properties, in an ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis mouse model. Among three tested strains Lactobacillus casei GKC1, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GKLC1, and Lactobacillus johnsonii GKJ2, GKC1 demonstrated superior efficacy in promoting osteogenesis-related gene expression, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2).

N-terminal domain swapping: A new paradigm for spermidine/spermine N-acetyltransferase (SSAT) protein structures?

Enterococcus faecalis is a multi-drug-resistant human pathogen that is found in a variety of environments and is challenging to treat. Under stress conditions, some bacteria regulate intracellular polyamine concentrations via polyamine acetyltransferases to reduce their toxicity. The E.

Childhood opportunity index and vaccine uptake in pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Introduction: Risk factors for COVID-19 hospitalization in children include incomplete vaccination and having high-risk chronic conditions. There is concern for a lack of vaccine equity. Our study evaluates the association between socioeconomic child opportunity index (COI), chronic conditions, and vaccine uptake.

Enhancing the safety climate among nursing students: The role of clinical instructors' evidence-based practice competencies.

Aims: To evaluate the evidence-based practice (EBP) competency levels of clinical instructors and their role in promoting a safety climate for nursing students.

Background: Establishing a safety climate in nursing education is vital, particularly during clinical training. However, the contributions of clinical instructors to this environment remain underexplored.

Phoenixin-14 inhibits the formation of cerebral aneurysms in rats by downregulating the p38/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Cerebral aneurysms (CA) are a serious condition characterized by the bulging of a blood vessel in the brain, which can lead to rupture and life-threatening bleeding. The pathophysiology of CA involves complex processes, particularly inflammation and macrophage infiltration. Phoenixin-14 (PNX-14) is a neuropeptide with diverse biological effects, including roles in reproduction, energy homeostasis, and inflammation.

Association of experienced stigma in healthcare settings with health outcomes among Black women living with HIV: Mediating roles of internalized stigma, anticipated stigma, and trust in HIV care.

Background: Black women living with HIV (WLHIV) often have suboptimal ART adherence due to a multitude of social and structural barriers, including HIV-related stigma. Trust in healthcare providers plays a significant role in adhering to ART and is likely lower among Black WLHIV compared to their White counterparts. This study examined the relationship between experienced stigma in healthcare settings and ART adherence and viral suppression through anticipated stigma in healthcare settings, internalized stigma, and medical mistrust.

A statistical approach for interplanar spacing metrology at a relative uncertainty below 10 using scanning transmission electron microscopy.

Atomic-scale metrology in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) allows to measure distances between individual atomic columns in crystals and is therefore an important aspect of their structural characterization. Furthermore, it allows to locally resolve strain in crystals and to calibrate precisely the pixel size in STEM. We present a method dedicated to the evaluation of interplanar spacing (d-spacing) based on an algorithm including curve fitting of processed high-angle annular dark-field STEM (HAADF STEM) signals.