Connection between oral health and chronic diseases.

Chronic diseases have emerged as a paramount global health burden, accounting for 74% of global mortality and causing substantial economic losses. The oral cavity serves as a critical indicator of overall health and is inextricably linked to chronic disorders. Neglecting oral health can exacerbate localized pathologies and accelerate the progression of chronic conditions, whereas effective management has the potential to reduce their incidence and mortality.

MHCI trafficking signal-based mRNA vaccines strengthening immune protection against RNA viruses.

The major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI) trafficking signal (MITD) plays a pivotal role in enhancing the efficacy of mRNA vaccines. However, there was a lack of research investigating its efficacy in enhancing immune responses to RNA virus infections. Here, we have developed an innovative strategy for the formulation of mRNA vaccines.

Sarcopenia and cachexia: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.

Sarcopenia is defined as a muscle-wasting syndrome that occurs with accelerated aging, while cachexia is a severe wasting syndrome associated with conditions such as cancer and immunodeficiency disorders, which cannot be fully addressed through conventional nutritional supplementation. Sarcopenia can be considered a component of cachexia, with the bidirectional interplay between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle potentially serving as a molecular mechanism for both conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms differ.

Nonviral targeted mRNA delivery: principles, progresses, and challenges.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics have garnered considerable attention due to their remarkable efficacy in the treatment of various diseases. The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine and RSV mRNA vaccine have been approved on the market. Due to the inherent nuclease-instability and negative charge of mRNA, delivery systems are developed to protect the mRNA from degradation and facilitate its crossing cell membrane to express functional proteins or peptides in the cytoplasm.

Clinical evaluation of bispectral index-guided closed-loop infusion of propofol for preschool children: A multi-center randomized controlled study.

Importance: The closed-loop infusion system can automatically adjust and maintain the depth of anesthesia by using the propofol target-controlled infusion (TCI) model under the feedback guidance of the bispectral index (BIS).

Objective: To evaluate the safety and superiority of closed-loop TCI of propofol guided by BIS during maintenance of generalized intravenous anesthesia for preschool children.

Methods: A total of 120 children aged 1-6 years were enrolled and were divided into a closed-loop feedback group (Group C) and an open-loop manual control group (Group O), with 60 participants in each group.

Negative pressure wound therapy for the management of deep brain stimulation-related surgical site infections: A retrospective case series.

The management of deep brain stimulation (DBS)-related surgical site infection (SSI) is challenging. This article aimed to report the efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in treating DBS-related SSI while preserving all DBS devices. As a retrospective case series in a single center, localized DBS-related SSI was treated with complete debridement and NPWT, with preserving all DBS devices.

Atopic dermatitis: pathogenesis and therapeutic intervention.

The skin serves as the first protective barrier for nonspecific immunity and encompasses a vast network of skin-associated immune cells. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin disease that affects individuals of all ages and races, with a complex pathogenesis intricately linked to genetic, environmental factors, skin barrier dysfunction as well as immune dysfunction. Individuals diagnosed with AD frequently exhibit genetic predispositions, characterized by mutations that impact the structural integrity of the skin barrier.

Patient-reported outcome and survival in premenopausal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients at moderate to high risk: comparing toremifene with aromatase inhibitor in a real-world study.

Toremifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, is commonly used in China for premenopausal breast cancer patients. This real-world study aimed to compare patient-reported outcome (PRO) and survival between toremifene and aromatase inhibitor (AI) plus ovarian function suppression (OFS) in patients with moderate-/high-risk premenopausal hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer. The primary endpoint was PROs, assessed using SF-36 and EQ-5D-5L questionnaires between January and March 2023.

Twenty-Four-Hour Post-Thrombolysis NIHSS Score As the Strongest Prognostic Predictor After Acute Ischemic Stroke: ENCHANTED Study.

Background: This study was conducted to determine optimal predictive ability of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) measurements at baseline, 24 hours, and change from baseline to 24 hours after thrombolysis on functional recovery in patients with acute ischemic stroke who participated in the ENCHANTED (Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Thrombolysis Stroke Study).

Methods And Results: ENCHANTED was an international, multicenter, 2×2 quasifactorial, prospective, randomized open trial of low-dose versus standard-dose intravenous alteplase and intensive versus guideline-recommended blood pressure lowering in thrombolysis-eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke. Absolute (baseline minus 24 hours) and percentage (absolute change/baseline × 100) changes in NIHSS scores were calculated.

Endovascular Treatment With or Without Intravenous Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke Due to Tandem Occlusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Endovascular treatment (EVT) has been demonstrated to be effective for patients with tandem occlusion. The efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis before EVT in patients with tandem occlusion remain debatable.

Methods And Results: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from inception to September 2023.

Epigenetic reprogramming in gastrointestinal cancer: biology and translational perspectives.

Gastrointestinal tumors, the second leading cause of human mortality, are characterized by their association with inflammation. Currently, progress in the early diagnosis and effective treatment of gastrointestinal tumors is limited. Recent whole-genome analyses have underscored their profound heterogeneity and extensive genetic and epigenetic reprogramming.

Current developments of gene therapy in human diseases.

Gene therapy has witnessed substantial advancements in recent years, becoming a constructive tactic for treating various human diseases. This review presents a comprehensive overview of these developments, with a focus on their diverse applications in different disease contexts. It explores the evolution of gene delivery systems, encompassing viral (like adeno-associated virus; AAV) and nonviral approaches, and evaluates their inherent strengths and limitations.

XBB.1.16-RBD-based trimeric protein vaccine can effectively inhibit XBB.1.16-included XBB subvariant infection.

The newly identified XBB.1.16-containing sublineages, including XBB.

Exosome nanovesicles: biomarkers and new strategies for treatment of human diseases.

Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles of cellular origin. One of the main characteristics of exosomes is their ability to carry a wide range of biomolecules from their parental cells, which are important mediators of intercellular communication and play an important role in physiological and pathological processes. Exosomes have the advantages of biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and wide biodistribution.

The original scores of traditional Chinese medicine constitutions are risk and diagnostic factors in middle-aged and older adults with sarcopenia.

Objective: Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome that occurs with age and is characterized by a gradual decline in muscle mass, power, and functionality. It serves as a prominent contributor to frailty, disability, and mortality among older individuals. Currently, no standardized global guidelines exist for the diagnosis of sarcopenia.

Efficacy and safety of remimazolam versus propofol for intraoperative sedation during regional anesthesia: A phase II, multicenter, randomized, active-controlled, single-blind clinical trial.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of remimazolam for intraoperative sedation during regional anesthesia. It was a phase II-multicenter, randomized, single-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled clinical trial (No. ChiCTR2100054956).

Good's syndrome combined with CMV gastroenteritis: A case report and literature review.

Key Clinical Message: Good's syndrome (GS) presents with thymoma, hypogammaglobulinemia, and recurrent infection. The manifestations of patients diagnosed with GS and (CMV) gastroenteritis are rare and non-specific. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the prognosis of the rare disease.

Molecular and transcriptional basis of bidirectional CD4 T cell exhaustion in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Tumor-infiltrating CD4 T cells orchestrate the adaptive immune response through remarkable plasticity, and the expression patterns of exhaustion-related inhibitory receptors in these cells differ significantly from those of CD8 T cells. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular basis of CD4 T cell exhaustion and their responses to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is required. Here, we integrated multiomics approaches to define the phenotypic and molecular profiles of exhausted CD4 T cells in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

The combination of tumor mutational burden and T-cell receptor repertoire predicts the response to immunotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Tumor mutational burden (TMB) and T-cell receptor (TCR) might predict the response to immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the predictive value of the combination of TMB and TCR was not clear. Targeted DNA and TCR sequencing were performed on tumor biopsy specimens.

CD44 and its implication in neoplastic diseases.

CD44, a nonkinase single span transmembrane glycoprotein, is a major cell surface receptor for many other extracellular matrix components as well as classic markers of cancer stem cells and immune cells. Through alternative splicing of gene, CD44 is divided into two isoforms, the standard isoform of CD44 (CD44s) and the variant isoform of CD44 (CD44v). Different isoforms of CD44 participate in regulating various signaling pathways, modulating cancer proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance, with its aberrant expression and dysregulation contributing to tumor initiation and progression.

Blood Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Apolipoproteins With Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Prospective Study Among Racially Diverse Populations.

Background: Comprehensive blood lipoprotein profiles and their association with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) among racially and geographically diverse populations remain understudied.

Methods And Results: We conducted nested case-control studies of CHD among 3438 individuals (1719 pairs), including 1084 White Americans (542 pairs), 1244 Black Americans (622 pairs), and 1110 Chinese adults (555 pairs). We examined 36 plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins, measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, with incident CHD among all participants and subgroups by demographics, lifestyle, and metabolic health status using conditional or unconditional logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders.

RNA modifications in pulmonary diseases.

Threatening public health, pulmonary disease (PD) encompasses diverse lung injuries like chronic obstructive PD, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, pulmonary infections due to pathogen invasion, and fatal lung cancer. The crucial involvement of RNA epigenetic modifications in PD pathogenesis is underscored by robust evidence. These modifications not only shape cell fates but also finely modulate the expression of genes linked to disease progression, suggesting their utility as biomarkers and targets for therapeutic strategies.