Neutrophil Elastase as A Potential Target in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Neutrophil elastase (NE), a major protease in neutrophils, is important in promoting inflammation and multiple pathological processes. While NE is released abundantly in ischemiareperfusion (I/R) injury, the intricate relationship between NE and I/R injury remains unclear. We examine several aspects of how NE is involved in I/R injury.

Target Discovery Driven by Chemical Biology and Computational Biology.

Target identification is crucial for drug screening and development because it can reveal the mechanism of drug action and ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results. Chemical biology, an interdisciplinary field combining chemistry and biology, can assist in this process by studying the interactions between active molecular compounds and proteins and their physiological effects. It can also help predict potential drug targets or candidates, develop new biomarker assays and diagnostic reagents, and evaluate the selectivity and range of active compounds to reduce the risk of off-target effects.

An Injectable Multifunctional Nanosweeper Eliminates Cardiac Mitochondrial DNA to Reduce Inflammation.

Myocarditis, a leading cause of sudden cardiac death and heart transplantation, poses significant treatment challenges. The study of clinical samples from myocarditis patients reveals a correlation between the pathogenesis of myocarditis and cardiomyocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). During inflammation, the concentration of mtDNA in cardiomyocytes increases.

Prevalence and Prognostic Significance of Malnutrition Risk in Patients With Valvular Heart Disease.

Background: Previous studies on the prevalence and prognosis of nutritional status in valvular heart disease (VHD) were primarily limited to aortic stenosis. The nutritional status of other types of VHDs remained an underexplored area.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition risk in different types of VHD and investigate the association between malnutrition risk and adverse clinical events.

Compensatory effect-based oxidative stress management microneedle for psoriasis treatment.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) at elevated levels trigger oxidative DNA damage, which is a significant factor in psoriasis exacerbation. However, normal ROS levels are essential for cell signaling, cell growth regulation, differentiation, and immune responses. To address this, we developed ROS control strategies inspired by compensatory effects.

Discovery of Novel Pyrimidine Derivatives as Human Pin1 Covalent Inhibitors.

Pin1 (peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1) is a unique peptidyl-prolyl isomerase (PPIase), and inactivation of Pin1 with a covalent inhibitor is a potential strategy for developing anticancer agents. Herein, a series of sulfolane amino-substituted 2-chloro-5-nitropyrimidine derivatives were disclosed as structurally distinct covalent inhibitors toward Pin1, which were validated for their covalent binding to Cys113 of Pin1 by X-ray cocrystal structures of compounds (IC = 11.55 μM) and (IC = 3.

Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Induced by Advanced Glycation End Products on Energy Metabolism in Vascular Endothelial Cells.

Introduction: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play a critical role in the development of vascular diseases in diabetes. Although stem cell therapies often involve exposure to AGEs, the impact of this environment on extracellular vesicles (EVs) and endothelial cell metabolism remains unclear.

Methods: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were treated with either 0 ng/ml or 100 ng/ml AGEs in a serum-free medium for 48 hours, after which MSC-EVs were isolated.

Clinical Spectrum and Outcome of Kidney Involvement in Non-Langerhans Histiocytosis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features and treatment responses of Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) and Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) with kidney involvement.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with RDD and ECD with kidney involvement from 2005 to 2023, evaluating kidney function changes, as well as computed tomography (CT), and metabolic responses.

Results: The study included 4 patients with RDD and 44 with ECD, with median ages of 58 and 51 years, respectively.

The efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in paediatric chronic immune thrombocytopenia: A retrospective cohort study.

Aims: Research on hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for children with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is limited. The association between antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity and its efficacy remains unclear.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study compared the clinical characteristics of children with chronic ITP who received HCQ with those who did not, as well as patients who responded to HCQ at 3 months with those who did not.

Baseline and cumulative Chinese visceral adiposity index and diabetic kidney disease: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) makes up nearly half of all chronic kidney disease cases and is a major cause of mortality for people with diabetes. However, the study of the association of longitudinal Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) with DKD is still missing.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 7874 diabetes patients from the Kailuan study.

Mechanism of Qilong Capsule against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation.

Introduction: Qilong capsule (QC) has been used clinically to treat ischemic stroke in China. This study evaluated the therapeutic effects of QC on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) and its potential mechanisms.

Method: The components and candidate targets of QC against MIRI were predicted by network pharmacology via relevant databases such as TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, GeneCards.

Construction and characterization of chimeric FcγR T cells for universal T cell therapy.

Background: Several approaches are being explored for engineering off-the-shelf chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. In this study, we engineered chimeric Fcγ receptor (FcγR) T cells and tested their potential as a versatile platform for universal T cell therapy.

Methods: Chimeric FcγR (CFR) constructs were generated using three distinct forms of FcγR, namely CD16A, CD32A, and CD64.

Construction of a prognostic model for gastric cancer based on immune infiltration and microenvironment, and exploration of MEF2C gene function.

Background: Advanced gastric cancer (GC) exhibits a high recurrence rate and a dismal prognosis. Myocyte enhancer factor 2c (MEF2C) was found to contribute to the development of various types of cancer. Therefore, our aim is to develop a prognostic model that predicts the prognosis of GC patients and initially explore the role of MEF2C in immunotherapy for GC.

A multi-modal neuroimaging data release for Meige Syndrome and Facial Paralysis Research.

The sharing of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data is of utmost importance in the field, as it enables a deeper understanding of facial nerve-related pathologies. However, there is a significant lack of multi-modal neuroimaging databases specifically focused on these conditions, which hampers our comprehensive knowledge of the neural foundations of facial paralysis. To address this critical gap and propel advancements in this area, we have released the Multimodal Neuroimaging Dataset of Meige Syndrome, Facial Paralysis, and Healthy Controls (MND-MFHC).

Dual ferroptosis induction in N2-TANs and TNBC cells via FTH1 targeting: A therapeutic strategy for triple-negative breast cancer.

Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) play a critical role in the progression and prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), with N2-type TANs known for their pro-tumor characteristics. This study introduces CT-1, a derivative of cryptotanshinone that effectively suppresses TNBC growth while selectively reducing the proportion of N2-type TANs within tumor tissue. Notably, CT-1 induces simultaneous ferroptosis in both N2-type TANs and TNBC cells, a dual mechanism that enhances its therapeutic efficacy.

High cellular plasticity state of medulloblastoma local recurrence and distant dissemination.

Medulloblastoma (MB), a heterogeneous pediatric brain tumor, poses challenges in the treatment of tumor recurrence and dissemination. To characterize cellular diversity and genetic features, we comprehensively analyzed single-cell/nucleus RNA sequencing (sc/snRNA-seq), single-nucleus assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (snATAC-seq), and spatial transcriptomics profiles and identified distinct cellular populations in SHH (sonic hedgehog) and Group_3 subgroups, with varying proportions in local recurrence or dissemination. Local recurrence showed higher cycling tumor cell enrichment, whereas disseminated lesions had a relatively notable presence of differentiated subsets.

Causal relationships between uremic metabolites or toxins and heart failure: Univariate and multivariate Mendelian randomization.

Studies have shown that uremia, renal failure and heart failure (HF) are closely related. However, whether this association reflects a causal effect is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the causal effect of uremic metabolites or toxins on HF.

Causal associations between telomere length and pulmonary arterial hypertension: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening condition characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressure, leading to right heart failure, and mortality. The role of telomere length, a marker of biological aging, in PAH remains unclear. We utilized summary-level data from genome-wide association studies for various measures of telomere length and PAH.

Cucurbit[6]uril host-guest interaction assisted N-terminal epitope imprinted particles for cytochrome c recognition prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer strategy.

A novel strategy for cytochrome c selective recognition assisted with cucurbit[6]uril by host-guest interaction via N-terminal epitope imprinting and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was developed. N-terminal nonapeptide of cytochrome c (GI-9) was used as the epitope template to achieve highly selective recognition of cytochrome c. As a common supramolecule in recent years, cucurbit[6]uril can encapsulate the butyrammonium group of lysine residue to capture the peptide and improve the corresponding spatial orientation by the host-guest interaction for GI-9 or cytochrome c recognition.

ATAD2 is a potential immunotherapy target for patients with small cell lung cancer harboring HLA-A∗0201.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents a highly aggressive neuroendocrine tumour with a dismal prognosis. Currently, the identification of a specific tumour antigen that can facilitate immune-based therapies for SCLC remains elusive.

Methods: We employed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to analyse cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) in SCLC cell lines and human tumour specimens.

Clinical characteristics of lymphoma patients presenting with fever of unknown origin misdiagnosed with connective tissue diseases.

Recognizing and diagnosing lymphoma in patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO) can be challenging, and misdiagnosis is not uncommon. To improve understanding of the clinical characteristics of lymphoma patients presenting with FUO who were misdiagnosed with autoimmune diseases. A retrospective, observational study of 140 consecutive patients with FUO and lymphoma presenting to a tertiary center between January 2017 and December 2023.

A study on the variation of cytokine and electrolyte levels in rhesus macaques, cynomolgus monkeys, and Assamese macaques.

Background: Non-human primates (NPHs), such as rhesus macaques, cynomolgus monkeys, and Assamese macaques, play a crucial role in biomedical research. However, baseline cytokine and electrolyte data for these three species, particularly data stratified by age and sex, are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish and analyze age- and sex-specific cytokine and electrolyte profiles in these three species.