Creation of a Yeast Strain with Co-Translationally Acylated Nucleosomes.

Structurally diverse acylations have been identified as post-translational modifications (PTMs) on histone lysine residues, but their functions and regulations remain largely unknown. Interestingly, in nature, a lysine acylation analog, pyrrolysine, is introduced as a co-translational modification (CTM) through genetic encoding. To explore this alternative life form, we created a model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing site-specific lysine CTMs (acetyl-lysine, crotonyl-lysine, or another synthetic analog) at histone H3K56 using non-canonical amino acid mutagenesis to afford a chemically modified nucleosome in lieu of their own in vivo.

Emerging Trends in Fluorescence Bioimaging of Divalent Metal Cations Using Small-Molecule Indicators.

Visualization of cation dynamics inside a living system represent a major breakthrough at the crossroad of chemistry and cellular physiology. Since the inception of BAPTA-based cellular calcium indicators in the 1980s, generations of chemical and genetically encoded ion indicators spanning the visible spectrum have been developed. In this article, we bring up three emerging concepts in this field: 1.

Advances and Challenges in De Novo Drug Design Using Three-Dimensional Deep Generative Models.

A persistent goal for drug design is to generate novel chemical compounds with desirable properties in a labor-, time-, and cost-efficient manner. Deep generative models provide alternative routes to this goal. Numerous model architectures and optimization strategies have been explored in recent years, most of which have been developed to generate two-dimensional molecular structures.

[A new insights of mesorectum].

Total mesorectal excision (TME) represents the gold standard for radical resection in rectal cancer. The development in radiology and laparoscopic surgical equipment and the advancement in technology have led to a deepened understanding of the mesorectum and its surrounding structures. Both the accuracy of preoperative staging and the preciseness of the planes of TME surgical dissection have been enhanced.

COVID-19 Control in Community Hospitals: Experience From Four Community Hospitals in Beijing, China.

By September 20, 2021, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been pandemic in 237 countries and regions, resulting in 228,506,698 confirmed cases and 4,692,361 deaths. At the same time, a total of 1123 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in Beijing, China. Peking University Shougang Hospital has 4 community hospitals with 174 staff members, covering 230,000 residents in Shijingshan district, Beijing.

Open surgery in the era of minimally invasive surgery.

The benefits and popularity of minimally invasive surgery are undeniable around the globe. However, open surgery is necessary and learning open surgery skills is still a necessity. Open surgery allows for better exposure to the surgical field and provides tactile sensation to facilitate the stereo visual assessment to precisely remove the lesion.

Characterization of protein unfolding by fast cross-linking mass spectrometry using di-ortho-phthalaldehyde cross-linkers.

Chemical cross-linking of proteins coupled with mass spectrometry is widely used in protein structural analysis. In this study we develop a class of non-hydrolyzable amine-selective di-ortho-phthalaldehyde (DOPA) cross-linkers, one of which is called DOPA2. Cross-linking of proteins with DOPA2 is 60-120 times faster than that with the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester cross-linker DSS.

Chimeric Antigens Receptor T Cell Therapy Improve the Prognosis of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With Persistent/Recurrent Minimal Residual Disease in First Complete Remission.

Background: The presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Moreover, the role of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in patients with MRD is currently unclear.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study to investigate the role of CAR-T therapy in patients with persistent/recurrent MRD-positive ALL in first remission.

Optical Cell Tagging for Spatially Resolved Single-Cell RNA Sequencing.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful tool for profiling gene expression of distinct cell populations at the single-cell level. However, the information of the positions of cells within the multicellular samples is missing in scRNA-seq datasets. To overcome this limitation, we herein develop OpTAG (optical cell tagging) as a new chemical platform for attaching functional tags onto cell surfaces in a spatially resolved manner.

Case Report: Lenalidomide as a Second-Line Treatment for Bortezomib-Ineffective Nephrotic Syndrome Caused by LCDD: 2 Case Reports and a Literature Review.

Light-chain deposition disease (LCDD) is a rare systemic disorder characterized by the deposition of monoclonal light chains in organs. The kidney is a prominent target of light-chain deposition, with a median time to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) of 2.7 years and 5-year ESRD-free survival of 37%.

C3 glomerulonephritis associated with monoclonal gammopathy: a retrospective case series study from a single institute in China.

Objective: To investigate the demographic and clinicopathological features and renal outcomes of Chinese patients with C3 glomerulonephritis in the setting of monoclonal gammopathy.

Methods: Patients with renal biopsy-proven C3 glomerulonephritis and detectable serum and/or urine monoclonal immunoglobulin from 2006 to 2018 in Peking University First Hospital were included, their clinical data, renal pathology type, treatment, and prognosis were collected and analyzed.

Results: Nineteen patients were enrolled, accounting for 24% of C3GN patients in the study period.

Red- and Far-Red-Emitting Zinc Probes with Minimal Phototoxicity for Multiplexed Recording of Orchestrated Insulin Secretion.

Zinc biology, featuring intertwining signaling networks and critical importance to human health, witnesses exciting opportunities in the big data era of physiology. Here, we report a class of red- and far-red-emitting Zn probes with K values ranging from 190 nM to 74 μM, which are particularly suitable for real-time monitoring the high concentration of Zn co-released with insulin during vesicular secretory events. Compared to the prototypical rhodamine-based Zn probes, the new class exploits morpholino auxochromes which eliminates phototoxicity during long-term live recording of isolated islets.

[A challenge for colorectal surgeons: pathogenesis, progression and management of the secondary tumors of the ovary].

A common clinical problem encountered by colorectal surgeons is the secondary tumors of the ovary (STO), particularly in young female patients. Most STO are from the digestive tract, and the known possible metastatic mechanisms include lymphatic, hematogenous, and intraperitoneal spreading. The molecular and histopathological characteristics of STO from different sites are diverse.

Association of cardiovascular disease with 30-day hospital readmission in Chinese patients receiving maintenance dialysis.

Background: Previous studies have shown cardiovascular disease (CVD) to be a risk factor in the prediction of 30-day hospital readmission among patients receiving dialysis. However, studies of Asian populations are limited. In the present study, we examined the association between CVD and 30-day hospital readmission in Chinese patients receiving maintenance dialysis.

Surgery may not benefit patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who achieved clinical complete response following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: We compared the long-term outcome of the watch and wait (WW) strategy and surgery in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Patients And Methods: This prospective cohort study included 84 patients who achieved clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT). They were divided into the WW group (n = 58) and surgery group (SG, n = 26).

Unmanipulated haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an excellent option for children and young adult relapsed/refractory Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia after CAR-T-cell therapy.

Although chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy produces a high complete remission rate among patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, relapse remains an urgent issue. It is uncertain whether consolidative haploidentical-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) is suitable for achieving sustainable remission. Therefore, we aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of bridging CAR-T therapy to haplo-HSCT.

Human Endogenous Natural Products.

Natural products are a class of chemical compounds that are biosynthesized by living organisms, including humans. Endogenous natural products are produced by human cells as well as by the human microbiome. This contribution describes the current understanding and recent progress made on endogenous natural products that are produced by human cells, including amines, steroids, and fatty acid-derived natural products.

Epidemiology and risk factors of colorectal cancer in China.

In China, colorectal cancer (CRC) ranked fourth and fifth in the highest incidence and mortality rates of all malignancies in 2018, respectively. Although these rates are below the world average, China placed first worldwide in the number of new CRC cases and CRC-related deaths because of its comparatively large population. This disease represents a threat to the health of population and incurs a heavy economic burden on the society and individuals.

Estimation of Prevalence of Kidney Disease Treated With Dialysis in China: A Study of Insurance Claims Data.

Rationale & Objective: The national prevalence of dialysis in China has not been well studied. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of kidney disease treated with dialysis and predict the trend using claims data in order to provide evidence for developing prevention strategies.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study of insurance claims.

Chemical Tagging of Protein Lipoylation.

Protein lipoylation is a post-translational modification of emerging importance in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. However, labeling and large-scale profiling of protein lipoylation remain challenging. Here, we report the development of iLCL (iodoacetamide-assisted lipoate-cyclooctyne ligation), a chemoselective reaction that enables chemical tagging of protein lipoylation.

Combination of radiotherapy and suppression of Tregs enhances abscopal antitumor effect and inhibits metastasis in rectal cancer.

Background: Distant metastasis is the major cause of mortality in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Local radiotherapy can trigger an abscopal response to metastatic tumor cells. However, the abscopal effect is a rare event.

Chemoenzymatic Total Syntheses of Artonin I with an Intermolecular Diels-Alderase.

Diels-Alder reaction is one of the most important transformations used in organic synthesis, with the ability to construct two new CC bonds and up to four chiral centers simultaneously. However, the biggest synthetic challenge in Diels-Alder reaction lies in controlling its regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity. Using Stille cross-coupling and enzymatic Diels-Alder reaction as the key steps, the first chemoenzymatic total synthesis of artonin I is achieved in 30% overall yield over only seven steps.

Current status of surgical treatment of rectal cancer in China.

With the changing lifestyle and the acceleration of aging in the Chinese population, the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) have risen in the last decades. On the contrary, the incidence and mortality of CRC have continued to decline in the USA since the 1980s, which is mainly attributed to early screening and standardized diagnosis and treatment. Rectal cancer accounts for the largest proportion of CRC in China, and its treatment regimens are complex.