Cellular and metabolic impacts of repeated sub-acute exposures to biomass-burning extracts in vitro.

The increasing exposure to biomass-burning emissions underscores the need to understand their toxicological impacts on human health. In this study, we developed a laboratory model to evaluate the effects of single and repeated sub-acute exposures to water-soluble wood tar (WT) extracts, a product of biomass burning, on human lung, liver, and immune cells. Using representative cell lines for different tissues, we examined the cytotoxic effects under conditions mimicking sub-acute environmental exposure levels relevant to humans.

The psychophysical assessments of tactile, temperature and electrical perception for implants with metal prosthetic surfaces.

The tactile function and thermal perception are two primary functions of oral structures. Implants without periodontal ligament and pulp might fail to sense the tactile and temperature change. This study aimed to investigate implants' tactile, thermal, and electrical perception by detailed psychophysical assessments.

Acetyltransferase NAT10 promotes an immunosuppressive microenvironment by modulating CD8 T cell activity in prostate cancer.

N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10), an enzyme responsible for ac4C acetylation, is implicated in cancer progression, though its specific biological function in prostate cancer remains insufficiently understood. This study clarifies NAT10's role in prostate cancer and its effects on the tumor immune microenvironment. NAT10 expression and clinical relevance were assessed through bioinformatics, RT-qPCR, and IHC analyses, comparing prostate cancer tissues with normal controls.

Deferoxamine functionalized alginate-based collagen composite material enhances the integration of metal implant and bone interface.

Poor osseointegration markedly compromises the longevity of prostheses. To enhance the stability of titanium implants, surface functionalization is a proven strategy to promote prosthesis-bone integration. This study developed a hydrogel coating capable of simultaneous osteoangiogenesis and vascularization by incorporating deferoxamine (DFO) into a sodium alginate mineralized collagen composite hydrogel.

Probiotics Bi-Enzymatic Cascade Repair System for Editing the Inflammatory Microenvironment to Boost Probiotic Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease presents significant treatment challenges owing to its complex pathology. Although probiotics have shown promise as a therapeutic option, their effectiveness is often limited by low concentrations at sites of inflammation, exacerbated by excessive reactive oxygen species and inflammatory triggers. To address this, an innovative cascade repair system is developed to enhance probiotic therapeutic impact by modulating the intestinal microenvironment.

Epstein-Barr virus infection upregulates extracellular OLFM4 to activate YAP signaling during gastric cancer progression.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to mediate cell communications and shape tumor microenvironment. Compared to the well-studied small EVs, the function of large microvesicles (MVs) during tumorigenesis is poorly understood. Here we show the proteome of MVs in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC), and identify olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4) is induced by EBV infection and secreted via MVs to promote tumor progression through Hippo signaling.

Association between cardiovascular risk and diastolic blood pressure in older adults with systolic blood pressure less than 130mmHg: a prospective cohort study from 2014 to 2022.

Background: The 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guideline lowered the diagnostic threshold for hypertension to a systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) of 130/80 mmHg. However, the predictive value of DBP for cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment diminishes with aging. The study aimed to explore whether the new diagnostic threshold for diastolic hypertension is associated with increased risk of CV organ damage and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in older adults.

Layered Double Hydroxides for Radium-223 Targeted Alpha Therapy with Elicitation of the Immune Response.

Targeted Alpha therapy (TAT) has promising application prospects in tumor therapy. It is very appealing to design alpha-emitting radiopharmaceuticals that can modulate the immune microenvironment to overcome the limitations of immunotherapy. Herein, Mg/Al layered double hydroxide nanomaterials (LDH) are utilized to load the alpha-emitting nuclide Radium-223 (Ra), achieving precise delivery of Ra to the tumor microenvironment.

Self-Assembled Nanoparticles with Well-Defined Oligosaccharide Promote Osteogenesis by Regulating Golgi Stress Response.

Osteoporosis, a prevalent disease characterized by low bone density and increased fracture risk, poses significant health challenges for the elderly. Current treatments offer short-term benefits but are limited by long-term efficacy and adverse effects, highlighting the need for new strategies. Chondroitin sulfate polysaccharides (CS), a major component of the bone matrix, are crucial for bone and cartilage health.

Microwave ablation for benign thyroid nodules with cosmetic problems and related factors for post-ablative complete relief: a two-center retrospective study.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous MWA for benign thyroid nodules with cosmetic problems and identify related factors contributing to post-ablative complete relief (CR).

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the efficacy of MWA in treating thyroid nodules in patients with cosmetic problems who underwent MWA from January 2021 to May 2023. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months after MWA.

Lubricating and Dual-Responsive Injectable Hydrogels Formulated From ZIF-8 Facilitate Osteoarthritis Treatment by Remodeling the Microenvironment.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressively developing condition primarily characterized by the deterioration of articular cartilage and the proliferation of bone, along with ongoing inflammation. Although the precise pathogenesis remains somewhat elusive, restoring the homeostatic balance of the intra-articular microenvironment is crucial for the management of OA. Intra-articular injection of medication is one of the most direct and effective treatment methods; however, most injectable drugs used for osteoarthritis treatment, due to their rapid breakdown, quick release, poor biological activity, and frequent injections, leading to increased risk of infection and suboptimal therapeutic outcomes.

The impact of dexamethasone on short- and long-term mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a retrospective study.

Background: Dexamethasone has been widely used in treating severe COVID-19 patients due to its anti-inflammatory properties. However, its long-term impact on mortality remain unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone on short-term (28-day) and long-term (1-year) mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and to explore its efficacy across different respiratory support.

Zfp260 choreographs the early stage osteo-lineage commitment of skeletal stem cells.

The initial fine-tuning processes are crucial for successful bone regeneration, as they guide skeletal stem cells through progenitor differentiation toward osteo- or chondrogenic fate. While fate determination processes are well-documented, the mechanisms preceding progenitor commitment remain poorly understood. Here, we identified a transcription factor, Zfp260, as pivotal for stem cell maturation into progenitors and directing osteogenic differentiation.

Role of USF1 in activating CYBA transcription and influencing NADPH-ROS-mediated oxidative stress and lipid accumulation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression is relevant to oxidative stress, while NADPH oxidase can produce ROS. This study explored how the upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) regulates cytochrome b-245 alpha chain (CYBA) expression through the NADPH-ROS pathway and its impact on oxidative stress and lipid accumulation in NAFLD. Bioinformatics analysis identified CYBA as a gene with altered expression in NAFLD.

Chromatin landscape dynamics during reprogramming towards human naïve and primed pluripotency reveals the divergent function of PRDM1 isoforms.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology holds great potential in both scientific research and clinical applications. It enables the generation of naïve and primed iPSCs from various cell types through different strategies. Despite extensive characterizations of transcriptional and epigenetic factors, the intricacies of chromatin landscape dynamics during naïve and primed reprogramming, particularly in humans, remain poorly understood.

Targeted delivery of Saikosaponin A and doxorubicin via hyaluronic acid-modified ZIF-8 nanoparticles for TNBC treatment: Inhibiting metastasis and reducing cardiotoxicity.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2 expression, making traditional hormone and targeted therapies ineffective. Chemotherapy remains the primary treatment for TNBC; however, it has failed to adequately address the high rates of recurrence and metastasis, underscoring the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. This study investigates Saikosaponin A (SSA), a compound extracted from traditional Chinese medicine, for its potential to enhance the efficacy of doxorubicin (DOX) chemotherapy while reducing TNBC metastasis and mitigating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Modulation of SRC by SNTB1 activates the Hippo-YAP pathway during colon adenocarcinoma metastasis.

Background: Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) ranks as the third most prevalent and lethal cancer in 2020, with metastasis being the primary cause of cancer-related mortality. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanism underlying distant metastasis is imperative for enhancing the prognosis and quality of life of patients with COAD.

Methods: This study employed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) on RNA-sequencing data from 408 patients with COAD in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

SMAD4 Limits PARP1 dependent DNA Repair to Render Pancreatic Cancer Cells Sensitive to Radiotherapy.

Dysregulation of SMAD4 (i.e. somatic mutation) is strongly associated with poor pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) prognosis, yet the molecular mechanisms remain underlying this relationship obscure.

MGAT4A/Galectin9-Driven N-Glycosylation Aberration as a Promoting Mechanism for Poor Prognosis of Endometrial Cancer with TP53 Mutation.

Emerging evidence recognizes aberrant glycosylation as the malignant characteristics of cancer cells, but little is known about glycogenes' roles in endometrial carcinoma (EC), especially the most aggressive subtype carrying TP53 mutations. Using unsupervised hierarchical clustering, an 11-glycogene cluster is identified to distinguish an EC subtype associated with frequent TP53 mutation and worse prognosis. Among them, MGAT4A (alpha-1,3-mannosyl-glycoprotein 4-β-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase A) emerges as the most consistently overexpressed glycogene, contributing to EC aggressiveness.

Genetically modified E. Coli secreting melanin (E.melanin) activates the astrocytic PSAP-GPR37L1 pathway and mitigates the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.

The characteristic neuropathology of Parkinson's disease (PD) involves the abnormal accumulation of phosphorylated α-synuclein (αSyn), as well as a significant decrease in neuromelanin (NM) levels within dopamine neurons (DaNs). Unlike αSyn aggregates, the relationship between NM levels and PD pathogenesis is not well understood. In this study, we engineered an E.

Ambient PMs pollution, blood pressure, potential mediation by short-chain fatty acids: A prospective panel study of young adults in China.

Background: The concurrent effects of particulate matter (PM) on both blood pressure (BP) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are insufficiently explored, with limited research on the potential mediating roles of SCFAs.

Methods: In this prospective panel study with 4 follow-ups, we recruited 40 college students in Hefei, China, to assess the impacts of short-term exposure to PM (aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM), ≤2.5 μm (PM), and ≤1 μm (PM)) on BP and SCFAs, along with potential mechanisms.

Effects of Hyrax Maxillary Expander on Nasal Cavity and Upper Airway in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Whether Hyrax maxillary expander is an effective treatment for maxillary transverse deficiency as well as expansion of the upper airway is still controversial. The study's purpose was to evaluate 3D changes in upper airway dimensions of adolescent patients measured primarily by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) with the Hyrax maxillary expander.

Methods: Studies up to 1 April 2024 were searched in the following databases: PubMed/MEDICINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase.