Claudins as diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets-Glimpse of the horizon.

Claudins (CLDNs) play a crucial and indispensable role as fundamental components within the structure of tight junctions. Due to the distinct and unique distribution pattern exhibited by CLDNs in both normal and malignant tissues, these proteins have garnered significant attention as pivotal targets for systemic anti-cancer therapy and as noteworthy diagnostic markers. This review provides a comprehensive and detailed elucidation of the fundamental understanding surrounding CLDNs, their intricate expression patterns, the potential role they play in cancer diagnosis and therapeutic potentials; all encapsulated within a succinct summary of the cutting-edge advancements and the information derived from various clinical trials.

Light-Harvesting Spin Hyperpolarization of Organic Radicals in a Metal-Organic Framework.

Light-driven spin hyperpolarization of organic molecules is a crucial technique for spin-based applications such as quantum information science (QIS) and dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). Synthetic chemistry provides the design of spins with atomic precision and enables the scale-up of individual spins to hierarchical structures. The high designability and extended pore structure of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can control interactions between spins and guest molecules.

Effectiveness of Oral Prophylactic Antibiotics for Diagnostic Bronchoscopy: A Nationwide Database Study.

Rationale: Although the guidelines generally omit routine antibiotic prophylaxis for diagnostic bronchoscopy, this recommendation is primarily based on studies with relatively small sample sizes conducted at single institutions. Moreover, the applicability of recent technical and procedural advancements to these guidelines remains uncertain.

Objectives: To evaluate whether oral prophylactic antibiotic administration for diagnostic bronchoscopy reduces post-bronchoscopy infections among non-infectious diseases in the current setting.

Mpox drug wins approval in Japan-but it doesn't work.

Europe previously approved tecovirimat for mpox, based on animal data; the U.S. has stockpiled it for smallpox.

DECODE enables high-throughput mapping of antibody epitopes at single amino acid resolution.

Antibodies are extensively used in biomedical research, clinical fields, and disease treatment. However, to enhance the reproducibility and reliability of antibody-based experiments, it is crucial to have a detailed understanding of the antibody's target specificity and epitope. In this study, we developed a high-throughput and precise epitope analysis method, DECODE (Decoding Epitope Composition by Optimized-mRNA-display, Data analysis, and Expression sequencing).

Comparison of actionable alterations in cancers with kinase fusion, mutation, and copy number alteration.

Kinase-related gene fusion and point mutations play pivotal roles as drivers in cancer, necessitating optimized, targeted therapy against these alterations. The efficacy of molecularly targeted therapeutics varies depending on the specific alteration, with great success reported for such therapeutics in the treatment of cancer with kinase fusion proteins. However, the involvement of actionable alterations in solid tumors, especially regarding kinase fusions, remains unclear.

Preparation of Hydroxyapatite-Aligned Collagen Sheets and Their Evaluation for Fibroblast Adhesion and Collagen Secretion.

The structure of many native tissues consists of aligned collagen (Col) fibrils, some of which are further composited with dispersed hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocrystals. Accurately mimicking this inherent structure is a promising approach to enhance scaffold biocompatibility in tissue engineering. In this study, biomimetic sheets composed of highly aligned Col fibrils were fabricated using a plastic compression and tension method, followed by the deposition of HAp nanocrystals on the surface via an alternate soaking method.

Characteristics and treatment patterns in patients with multiple myeloma in Japan: A retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Approval of proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), such as daratumumab, has reshaped treatment patterns in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in Japan. This retrospective study evaluated patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and trends in MM patients using Medical Data Vision, the largest electronic health records database in Japan with anonymous inpatient and outpatient health information.

Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years, with ≥2 records of an MM diagnostic and disease code and ≥1 record of MM treatment between 01 April 2008 and 30 June 2023 were included.

Data-driven discovery and parameter estimation of mathematical models in biological pattern formation.

Mathematical modeling has been utilized to explain biological pattern formation, but the selections of models and parameters have been made empirically. In the present study, we propose a data-driven approach to validate the applicability of mathematical models. Specifically, we developed methods to automatically select the appropriate mathematical models based on the patterns of interest and to estimate the model parameters.

Atypical memory B cells from natural malaria infection produced broadly neutralizing antibodies against Plasmodium vivax variants.

Expansion of atypical memory B cells (aMBCs) was demonstrated in malaria-exposed individuals. To date, the generation of P. vivax-specific aMBCs and their function in protective humoral immune responses is unknown.

Class-specific school closures for seasonal influenza: Optimizing timing and duration to prevent disease spread and minimize educational losses.

School closures are a safe and important strategy for preventing infectious diseases in schools. However, the effects of school closures have not been fully demonstrated, and prolonged school closures have a negative impact on students and communities. This study evaluated class-specific school closure strategies to prevent the spread of seasonal influenza and determine the optimal timing and duration.

Imaging Findings, Complications, and Mimics after Common and Advanced Dental Procedures.

Various new dental treatment methods have been introduced in dental clinics, and many new materials have been used in recent years for dental treatments. Dentistry is divided into several specialties, each offering unique treatments, such as endodontics, implantology, oral surgery, and orthodontics. CT and MR images after dental treatment reveal a variety of hard- and soft-tissue changes and dental materials, which often cause image artifacts.

Amphiphilic Polyaspartamide Derivatives with Cholesterol Introduction Enhanced Ex Vivo mRNA Transfection Efficiency to Natural Killer Cells.

Engineered natural killer (NK) cells eliminate cancer cells by overexpressing a chimeric antigen receptor, producing highly efficient and safe NK cell therapies. This study investigated the polyplex formulation for the fusion protein GreenLantern-natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) mRNA to evaluate its delivery efficacy into NK cells, wherein NKG2D on the surface of NK cells recognized its counterpart NKG2D ligands on cancer cells. Amphiphilic polyaspartamide derivatives Chol-PAsp(DET/CHE) were prepared by adding cyclohexylethylamine (CHE) and diethylenetriamine (DET) in the side chains and cholesterol (Chol) at the α-terminus to enhance endosomal escapability and optimize hydrophobicity.

NO Oxidation States in Nonheme Iron Nitrosyls: A DMRG-CASSCF Study of {FeNO} Complexes.

Building upon an earlier study of heme-nitrosyl complexes (. , , 20496-20505), we examined a wide range of nonheme {FeNO} complexes (the superscript represents the Enemark-Feltham count) and two dinitrosyl iron complexes using DMRG-CASSCF calculations. Analysis of the wave functions in terms of resonance forms with different [π*(NO)] occupancies (where = 0-4 for mononitrosyl complexes) identified the dominant electronic configurations of {FeNO} and {FeNO} complexes as Fe-NO and Fe-NO, respectively, mirroring our previous findings on heme-nitrosyl complexes.

Repeatome landscapes and cytogenetics of hortensias provide a framework to trace Hydrangea evolution and domestication.

Background And Aims: Ornamental hortensias are bred from a reservoir of over 200 species in the genus Hydrangea s.l. (Hydrangeaceae), and are valued in gardens, households and landscapes across the globe.

Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Transplantation Promotes Bone Healing via Gap Junction-Mediated Cell-Cell Interaction.

Aims: Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) are a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells that have been widely used in experimental therapies for patients with various diseases, including fractures.Activation of angiogenesis is believed to be one of the major modes of action of BM-MNCs; however, the essential mechanism by which BM-MNCs activate angiogenesis remains elusive. This study aimed to demonstrate that BM-MNCs promote bone healing by enhancing angiogenesis through direct cell-to-cell interactions via gap junctions, in addition to a previously reported method.

Ageing and inflammation limit the induction of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell responses in severe COVID-19.

CD8+ T cells are critical for immune protection against severe COVID-19 during acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. However, the induction of antiviral CD8+ T cell responses varies substantially among infected people, and a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie such immune heterogeneity is required for pandemic preparedness and risk stratification. In this study, we analyzed SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in relation to age, clinical status, and inflammation among patients infected primarily during the initial wave of the pandemic in France or Japan.

WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0: responsiveness in detecting long-term functional disability after surgery.

Background: The WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 is widely used for detecting postoperative functional disability. Its responsiveness for detecting disability has been evaluated at 1 year after surgery, with no long-term evaluation.

Identification of glycogen synthase kinase 3alpha/beta as a host factor required for hepatitis B virus transcription using high-throughput screening.

Background Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) leads to severe liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Identification of host factors that regulate HBV replication can provide new therapeutic targets. The discovery of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) as an HBV entry receptor has enabled the establishment of hepatic cell lines for analyzing HBV infection and propagation.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Resection of Localized Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Following Preoperative FOLFIRINOX.

Importance: The effect of adjuvant chemotherapy following resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma after preoperative (m)FOLFIRINOX (combination leucovorin calcium [folinic acid], fluorouracil, irinotecan hydrochloride, and oxaliplatin in full or modified dosing) chemotherapy on overall survival (OS) is unclear because current studies do not account for the number of cycles of preoperative chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy regimen.

Objective: To investigate the association of adjuvant chemotherapy following resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma after preoperative (m)FOLFIRINOX with OS, taking into account the number of cycles of preoperative chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy regimen.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study included patients with localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with 2 to 11 cycles of preoperative (m)FOLFIRINOX followed by resection across 48 centers in 20 countries from 2010 to 2018.

Calcineurin governs baseline and homeostatic regulations of non-rapid eye movement sleep in mice.

Sleep need accumulates during waking and dissipates during sleep to maintain sleep homeostasis (process S). Besides the regulation of daily (baseline) sleep amount, homeostatic sleep regulation commonly refers to the universal phenomenon that sleep deprivation (SD) causes an increase of sleep need, hence, the amount and intensity of subsequent recovery sleep. The central regulators and signaling pathways that govern the baseline and homeostatic sleep regulations in mammals remain unclear.

Band asymmetry-driven nonreciprocal electronic transport in a helimagnetic semimetal α-EuP.

Chiral magnetic textures give rise to unconventional magnetotransport phenomena such as the topological Hall effect and nonreciprocal electronic transport. While the correspondence between topology or symmetry of chiral magnetic structures and such transport phenomena has been well established, a microscopic understanding based on the spin-dependent band structure in momentum space remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate how a chiral magnetic superstructure introduces an asymmetry in the electronic band structure and triggers a nonreciprocal electronic transport in a centrosymmetric helimagnet α-EuP.