Extracellular Matrix-Inspired Dendrimer Nanogels Encapsulating Cyclophosphamide for Systemic Sclerosis Treatment.

Cyclophosphamide has a certain therapeutic effect on treating systemic sclerosis (SSc), while difficulties exist in controlling severe systematic side effects and enhancing targeting capacity. Here, inspired from the natural extracellular matrix composition, we propose a cyclophosphamide-encapsulated nanogel based on dendritic polymers polyamidoamine (PAMAM) for SSc treatment. We combine bovine serum albumin and generation 5 (G5) PAMAM dendrimers with polyphenol modification to obtain nanogels featured with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Pathogenic variants of TUBB8 cause oocyte spindle defects by disrupting with EB1/CAKP5 interactions and potential treatment targeting microtubule acetylation through HDAC6 inhibition.

Background: Numerous pathogenic variants causing human oocyte maturation arrest have been reported on the primate-specific TUBB8 gene. The main etiology is the dramatic reduction of tubulin α/β dimer, but still large numbers of variants remain unexplained.

Methods: Using microinjection mRNA and genome engineering to reintroduce the conserved pathogenic missense variants into oocytes or in generating TUBB8 variant knock-in mouse models, we investigated that the human deleterious variants alter microtubule nucleation and spindle assembly during meiosis.

Pragmatic performance, its relationship with symptom severity, and early clinical predictors of pragmatics in 5 ~ 6-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder.

Background: Pragmatic language refers to using spoken language to convey messages effectively across diverse social communication contexts. However, minimal longitudinal research has focused on defining early predictors of pragmatic development in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: In the present study, 71 children with ASD and 38 age- and gender- matched 24- to 30-month-old typically developing (TD) children were enrolled.

Association between fasting blood glucose and psychotic symptoms in Chinese patients with first-episode drug-naïve major depressive disorder.

Introduction: Psychotic depression (PD) is a highly debilitating disorder characterized by hallucinations and/or delusions accompanied by depression. A variety of neurotransmitters, hormones and corresponding receptors in the endocrine system are involved in the onset and progression of depression, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) can be an important indicator for monitoring the stability of the endocrine system. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between FBG and PD in a Chinese population with first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) major depressive disorder (MDD).

Comparative Efficacy of Lenvatinib Plus Immunotherapy and Regorafenib Plus Immunotherapy After Lenvatinib Failure for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study.

Background: The combination of regorafenib and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) has been the most popular second-line systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, considering the good anti-tumor performance of lenvatinib, combined immunotherapy on the basis of lenvatinib after first-line lenvatinib failure is also popular in clinical practice. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of regorafenib plus ICI (TACE-R-I) versus lenvatinib plus ICI (TACE-L-I) in patients with advanced HCC after lenvatinib failure.

Positively charged cytoplasmic residues in corin prevent signal peptidase cleavage and endoplasmic reticulum retention.

Positively charged residues are commonly located near the cytoplasm-membrane interface, which is known as the positive-inside rule in membrane topology. The mechanism underlying the function of these charged residues remains poorly understood. Herein, we studied the function of cytoplasmic residues in corin, a type II transmembrane serine protease in cardiovascular biology.

S1PR3-driven positive feedback loop sustains STAT3 activation and keratinocyte hyperproliferation in psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and persistent inflammation. Although persistent activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is implicated in its pathogenesis, the mechanisms underlying the sustained STAT3 activation remain poorly understood. Here, we identify sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 3 (S1PR3) as a critical regulator of STAT3 activation and psoriasis pathogenesis, orchestrating a self-amplifying circuit that sustains keratinocyte hyperproliferation and chronic inflammation.

Location-specific net water uptake and malignant cerebral edema in acute anterior circulation occlusion ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: Early identification of malignant cerebral edema (MCE) in patients with acute ischemic stroke is crucial for timely interventions. We aimed to identify regions critically associated with MCE using the Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) to evaluate the association between location-specific-net water uptake (NWU) and MCE.

Materials And Methods: This multicentre, retrospective cohort study included patients with acute ischemic stroke following large anterior circulation occlusion.

Quaternized and boronic acid dual-functional CoAg nanozymes for label-free, stable, sensitive, and rapid quantitation detection of the bacterial total concentration.

Background: Foodborne pathogenic bacteria lead to a significant increase in illnesses and fatalities annually. In the early stage of a pathogenic bacterial infection, the concentration of bacteria in food is lower than the detection limit of most technology which enhances the difficulty in diagnosis. It is a serious challenge for researchers to develop a rapid, sensitive, accurate, and stable pathogenic bacterial determination method without costly equipment and highly skilled operators.

Overexpressed CD73 attenuates GSDMD-mediated astrocyte pyroptosis induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury through the A2B/NF-κB pathway.

Ischemic stroke, resulting from the blockage or narrowing of cerebral vessels, causes brain tissue damage due to ischemia and hypoxia. Although reperfusion therapy is essential to restore blood flow, it may also result in reperfusion injury, causing secondary damage through mechanisms like oxidative stress, inflammation, and excitotoxicity. These effects significantly impact astrocytes, neurons, and endothelial cells, aggravating brain injury and disrupting the blood-brain barrier.

GSDMB modulates intestinal epithelial homeostasis via regulating hyperactive unfolded protein response in Crohn's disease.

Background: Impaired intestinal epithelial barrier has been considered to be associated with an increasing variety of gastrointestinal diseases, especially inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to investigate the role of Gasdermin B (GSDMB) in modulating intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and proposed a promising therapeutic strategy.

Methods: GSDMB expression was evaluated in adult CD samples by molecular biology means and single-cell transcriptomes.

Significance of Relative Left Ventricle Wall Thickness in Predicting Acute Kidney Injury After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Lung Cancer.

Given the strong association between relative wall thickness (RWT) and cardiovascular dysfunction, this study aims to explore RWT as a novel cardiovascular indicator to predict the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) after lung cancer surgery and guide clinical interventions. This study retrospectively analyzed 170 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer in Nanjing First Hospital, China, between January 2022 and December 2023. Patients were divided into AKI group (n = 52) and non-AKI group (n = 118) based on the occurrence of AKI.

Bioengineered NanoAid synergistically targets inflammatory pro-tumor processes to advance glioblastoma chemotherapy.

Through transcriptomic analysis of patient-derived glioblastoma tissues, we identify an overactivation of inflammatory pathways that contribute to the development of a tumor-promoting microenvironment and therapeutic resistance. To address this critical mechanism, we present NanoAid, a biomimetic nanoplatform designed to target inflammatory pro-tumor processes to advance glioblastoma chemotherapy. NanoAid employs macrophage-membrane-liposome hybrids to optimize the delivery of COX-2 inhibitor parecoxib and paclitaxel.

Thoracoscopic anatomical sublobar resection for deep interlobar lung cancer with fused fissure.

Background: The technical challenges associated with the removal of small nodules in challenging locations rather than peripheral locations remain unaddressed. We sought to illustrate the parenchymal-sparing surgical approach employed for deep interlobar lung cancer with fused fissures (DILCFFs).

Methods: A retrospective review of 43 patients with cT1N0M0 DILCFFs from January 2013 through December 2022 was performed.

Echoes of Strain: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study on the Impact of China's Zero-COVID Policy on College Students' Insomnia and Depressive Symptoms.

Purpose: In China, stringent and long-lasting infection control measures, which were called "dynamic zero-COVID policy", have significantly affected the mental health of college students, particularly concerning depressive and insomnia symptoms. This study aims to investigate how depressive and insomnia symptoms evolved among Chinese college students throughout the pandemic, including the beginning and end of the dynamic zero-COVID policy period.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a 2-years longitudinal survey involving 1102 college students, collecting data at three key time points.

Radiomicsmetabolic signature profiles for advanced non-small cell lung cancer with chemoimmunotherapy by reflecting biological function and survival.

Background: Resistance to chemoimmunotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) necessitates effective prognostic biomarkers. Although F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has shown potential for efficacy assessment, it has been mainly evaluated in immuno-monotherapy setting, lacking elaborations in the scenarios of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. To tackle this dilemma, we aimed to build a non-invasive PET/CT-based model for stratifying tumor heterogeneity and predicting survival in advanced NSCLC patients undergoing chemoimmunotherapy.

Anatomic and clinical implications of venous drainage variations in superior segment resections for clinical T1N0 non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Superior segmentectomies for clinical T1N0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often suffer from inadequate surgical margins. Our study aimed to enhance the precision of superior segmentectomies by focusing on the anatomical features of the superior segmental vein (V) branches, and assess the relevant outcomes.

Methods: The clinical data of 646 patients with cT1N0 NSCLC who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) from August 2020 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.

Microfluidic Synthesis of miR-200c-3p Lipid Nanoparticles: Targeting ZEB2 to Alleviate Chondrocyte Damage in Osteoarthritis.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration. Chondrocyte inflammation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix degradation accelerated OA progression. MicroRNA (miRNA) has the potential to be a therapeutic method for osteoarthritis.

Small Extracellular Vesicles from Young Healthy Human Plasma Inhibit Cardiac Fibrosis After Myocardial Infarction via miR-664a-3p Targeting SMAD4.

Purpose: Cardiac fibrosis, a key contributor to ventricular pathologic remodeling and heart failure, currently lacks effective therapeutic approaches.

Patients And Methods: Small extracellular vesicles from young healthy human plasma (Young-sEVs) were characterized via protein marker, transmission electron microscopy, and nanoparticle tracking analysis, then applied in cellular models and mouse models of cardiac fibrosis. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to identify protective signaling pathways in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs).

Comprehensive Analysis of m6A-Related Programmed Cell Death Genes Unveils a Novel Prognostic Model for Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) involves complex dysregulated cellular processes, including programmed cell death (PCD), influenced by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification. This study integrates bulk RNA and single-cell sequencing data to identify 43 prognostically valuable m6A-related PCD genes, forming the basis of a 13-gene risk model (m6A-related PCD signature [mPCDS]) developed using machine-learning algorithms, including CoxBoost and SuperPC. The mPCDS demonstrated significant predictive performance across multiple validation datasets.

Readiness for hospital discharge among patients requiring home nutrition support: a cross-sectional study.

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to investigate readiness for hospital discharge of patients requiring home nutrition support and explore the factors that influence this readiness.

Methods And Study Design: This cross-sectional survey included 220 patients discharged from the general surgery department of a tertiary-care teaching hospital in China with home nutrition support. Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale and Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale scores were calculated and general, disease- and therapy-related information were collected.

MOTS-c mimics remote ischemic preconditioning in protecting against lung ischemia-reperfusion injury by alleviating endothelial barrier dysfunction.

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) induces the expression of unidentified protective cytokines that mitigate lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI). This study hypothesizes that MOTS-c, a mitokine with potent protective effects against mitochondrial damage, contributes to RIPC-mediated protection by alleviating endothelial barrier dysfunction. In human lung transplantation patients, serum levels of MOTS-c significantly decreased following IR injury but were markedly increased when RIPC was performed prior to transplantation.

Surveillance on the coverage of herpes zoster vaccine and post-marketing adverse events in Jiangsu province, China.

To analyze the coverage rate of adult herpes zoster (HZ) vaccine and the incidence of Adverse event following immunization (AEFI) in Jiangsu province, China. The vaccination information of HZ vaccine in people aged 50 years and above in Jiangsu province in 2023 and the AEFI information of HZ vaccine from 2020 to 2023 were collected through the Jiangsu Province vaccination management information system and China AEFI information management system, and the vaccination rate and AEFI incidence of HZ vaccine were analyzed. The overall vaccination rate among individuals aged 50 years and above was merely 0.

IBI310 plus sintilimab vs. placebo plus sintilimab in recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Background: It remains unclear whether adding CTLA-4 blockade to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade improves clinical outcomes in cervical cancer (CC).

Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04590599), patients with recurrent/metastatic CC (R/M CC) who experienced disease progression after or during platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled from 37 centers across China and randomly assigned (1:1), stratified by PD-L1 expression and prior treatment lines, to receive either IBI310 plus sintilimab or placebo plus sintilimab intravenously every 3 weeks for 12 weeks, followed by sintilimab alone.