The urinary eccDNA landscape in prostate cancer reveals associations with genome instability and vital roles in cancer progression.

Introduction: Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) plays significant roles in cancer progression and prognosis. However, it remains unclear whether cell-free eccDNA, considered more stable than linear DNA, possesses cancer-specific genomic features. Furthermore, the biogenesis and function of eccDNAs are not yet fully understood.

Selective activation of mesoscale functional circuits via multichannel infrared stimulation of cortical columns in ultra-high-field 7T MRI.

To restore vision in the blind, advances in visual cortical prosthetics (VCPs) have offered high-channel-count electrical interfaces. Here, we design a 100-fiber optical bundle interface apposed to known feature-specific (color, shape, motion, and depth) functional columns that populate the visual cortex in humans, primates, and cats. Based on a non-viral optical stimulation method (INS, infrared neural stimulation; 1,875 nm), it can deliver dynamic patterns of stimulation, is non-penetrating and non-damaging to tissue, and is movable and removable.

Monitoring of inflammatory preterm responses via myometrial cell based multimodal electrophysiological and optical biosensing platform.

Preterm birth (PTB) remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, with inflammation-induced PTB posing a significant challenge due to its complex pathophysiology. To address this, we developed an in vitro platform utilizing hTERT-immortalized human myometrial (hTERT-HM) cells integrated with a multielectrode array (MEA) biosensing system and optical calcium imaging. Compared to primary uterine myometrial cells, hTERT-HM cells exhibit superior reproducibility, high scalability, and convenient manipulation, facilitating the consistent and large-scale investigations.

Experience of multidisciplinary cooperation in treating 15 extensively burned casualties：The Zhejiang LNG tanker explosion on 13 June 2020.

Background: On June 13, 2020, an explosion involving a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker truck occurred in eastern China. Fifteen patients with extremely severe burns (referred to as "June 13" patients) were treated in the burn-intensive care unit (ICU) joint ward within the general ICU.

Methods: A multidisciplinary treatment team comprising 129 doctors, 126 nurses, and 165 auxiliary staff members was assembled.

Dual oxygen supply system of carbon dot-loaded microbubbles with acoustic cavitation for enhanced sonodynamic therapy in diabetic wound healing.

Diabetic wounds present significant treatment challenges due to their complex microenvironment, marked by persistent inflammation from bacterial infections, hypoxia caused by diabetic microangiopathy, and biofilm colonization. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) offers potential for treating such wounds by targeting deep tissues with antibacterial effects, but its efficacy is limited by hypoxic conditions and biofilm barriers. To overcome these obstacles, we developed a novel approach using oxygen-carrying microbubbles loaded with Mn-doped carbon dots (MnCDs@OMBs) to enhance SDT and disrupt biofilms.

Preoperative and early postoperative factors associated with visual outcome after macular-off retinal detachment surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate preoperative and early postoperative factors associated with changes in visual acuity in macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) patients.

Methods: A retrospective review of 59 eyes from 59 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and silicone oil (SiO) tamponade for macula-off RRD. Preoperative and early postoperative characteristics were analyzed using the classification and regression tree (CART) analysis.

Oral Microalgae-Based Biosystem to Enhance Irreversible Electroporation Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel local tumor ablation technique that can potentially stimulate immune responses. However, IRE alone cannot effectively activate the immune system or prevent distant metastases. Therefore, this study utilized the biocompatibility of Chlorella vulgaris (C.

Advances in the Development and Application of Human Organoids: Techniques, Applications, and Future Perspectives.

Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures derived from human pluripotent stem cells or adult stem cells that recapitulate the cellular heterogeneity, structure, and function of human organs. These microstructures are invaluable for biomedical research due to their ability to closely mimic the complexity of native tissues while retaining human genetic material. This fidelity to native organ systems positions organoids as a powerful tool for advancing our understanding of human biology and for enhancing preclinical drug testing.

TTC7A Variants Results in Gastrointestinal Defects and Immunodeficiency Syndrome: Case Series and Literature Review.

Gastrointestinal Defects and Immunodeficiency Syndrome-1 (GIDID-1), caused by abnormalities in TTC7A, is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by multiple gastrointestinal malformations and immune deficiencies, often accompanied by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This condition typically results in poor treatment outcomes and is usually fatal in early infancy. This paper examined the genetic abnormalities and clinical features of GIDID by analyzing data from three children and one fetus with gastrointestinal dysfunction and immune deficiency associated with TTC7A abnormalities at our hospital, and reviewed reported cases worldwide.

Targeting Ketone Body Metabolism Improves Cardiac Function and Hemodynamics in Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Context: The impacts of elevated ketone body levels on cardiac function and hemodynamics in patients with heart failure (HF) remain unclear.

Objective: The effects of ketone intervention on these parameters in patients with HF were evaluated quantitatively in this meta-analysis.

Data Sources: We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases for relevant studies published from inception to April 13, 2024.

A hypoxia-targeting and hypoxia-responsive nano-probe for tumor detection and early diagnosis.

Accurate imaging of tumor hypoxia is critical for early cancer diagnosis and clinical outcomes, highlighting the great need for its detection specificity and sensitivity. In this report, we propose a probe (HTRNP) that simultaneously has hypoxia-targeting and hypoxia-responsive capabilities to enhance the tumor hypoxia imaging efficiency. HTRNP was successfully prepared through the encapsulation of Pt(II)-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (PtPFPP), which exhibits hypoxia-dependent phosphorescence, within the amphiphilic block copolymer OPDMA-PF, which has hypoxia-targeting tertiary amine -oxide moieties and hydrophobic perfluorobenzene ring structures, which highly improved the loading content and water solubility of PtPFPP.

Skeletal organoids.

The skeletal system, composed of bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons, serves as the foundation for maintaining human posture, mobility, and overall biomechanical functionality. However, with ageing, chronic overuse, and acute injuries, conditions such as osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration, muscle atrophy, and ligament or tendon tears have become increasingly prevalent and pose serious clinical challenges. These disorders not only result in pain, functional loss, and a marked reduction in patients' quality of life but also impose substantial social and economic burdens.

Advances of research in diabetic cardiomyopathy: diagnosis and the emerging application of sequencing.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most prevalent and severe complications associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). The onset of DCM is insidious, with the symptoms being obvious only in the late stage. Consequently, the early diagnosis of DCM is a formidable challenge which significantly influences the treatment and prognosis of DCM.

The complex landscape of immune dysregulation in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children with COVID-19.

The immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection in children are still under investigation. While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is usually mild in the paediatric population, some children develop severe clinical manifestations or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) after infection. MIS-C, typically emerging 2-6 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 exposure, is characterized by a hyperinflammatory response affecting multiple organs.

Comparative dissection of transcriptional landscapes of human iPSC-NK differentiation and NK cell development.

Clinical and preclinical research has demonstrated that iPSC-derived NK (iNK) cells have a high therapeutic potential, yet poor understanding of the detailed process of their differentiation and their counterpart cell development has hindered therapeutic iNK cell production and engineering. Here we dissect the crucial differentiation of both fetal liver NK cells and iNK cells to enable the rational design of advanced iNK production protocols. We use a comparative analysis of single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) to pinpoint key factors lacking in the induced setting which we hypothesized would hinder iNK differentiation and/ or functionality.

Synergistic inhibition of colorectal cancer progression by silencing Aurora A and the targeting protein for Xklp2.

Background: Unraveling the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC) can aid in developing prevention and treatment strategies. Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is a key participant in mitotic control and interacts with its co-activator, the targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) microtubule nucleation factor. AURKA is associated with poor clinical outcomes and high risks of CRC recurrence.

Monkey multi-organ cell atlas exposed to estrogen.

Awareness of estrogen's effects on health is broadening rapidly. The effects of long-term high levels of estrogen on the body involve multiple organs. Here, we used both single-cell chromatin accessibility and RNA sequencing data to analyze the potential effect of estrogen on major organs.

Famitinib plus camrelizumab in patients with advanced colorectal cancer: Data from a multicenter, basket study.

Concurrent inhibition of angiogenesis and immune checkpoints represents a potent therapeutic approach. We conducted a phase 2, multicenter, basket study to assess the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of famitinib (anti-angiogenic agent) plus camrelizumab (PD-1 antagonist) in patients with metastatic solid tumors across 11 cohorts (this study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov [NCT04346381]).

Deciphering the dynamic single-cell transcriptional landscape in the ocular surface ectoderm differentiation system.

The ocular surface ectoderm (OSE) is essential for the development of the ocular surface, yet the molecular mechanisms driving its differentiation are not fully understood. In this study, we used single-cell transcriptomic analysis to explore the dynamic cellular trajectories and regulatory networks during the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into the OSE lineage. We identified nine distinct cell subpopulations undergoing differentiation along three main developmental branches: neural crest, neuroectodermal, and surface ectodermal lineages.

Myokines: metabolic regulation in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Skeletal muscle plays a vital role in the regulation of systemic metabolism, partly through its secretion of endocrine factors which are collectively known as myokines. Altered myokine levels are associated with metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). The significance of interorgan crosstalk, particularly through myokines, has emerged as a fundamental aspect of nutrient and energy homeostasis.

A deep learning framework for screening of anticancer drugs at the single-cell level.

Tumor heterogeneity plays a pivotal role in tumor progression and resistance to clinical treatment. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) enables us to explore heterogeneity within a cell population and identify rare cell types, thereby improving our design of targeted therapeutic strategies. Here, we use a pan-cancer and pan-tissue single-cell transcriptional landscape to reveal heterogeneous expression patterns within malignant cells, precancerous cells, as well as cancer-associated stromal and endothelial cells.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the intercellular crosstalk and the regulatory landscape of stromal cells during the whole life of the mouse ovary.

The heterogeneity of ovarian mesenchymal/stromal cells has just been revealed in both mice and humans. However, it remains unclear about the cellular development trace and the intercellular communication network in the whole life of the ovary. In the study, we integrated ours and published single-cell RNA sequencing data from E11.

Exploring age and gender disparities in cardiometabolic phenotypes and lipidomic signatures among Chinese adults: a nationwide cohort study.

Understanding sex disparities in modifiable risk factors across the lifespan is essential for crafting individualized intervention strategies. We aim to investigate age-related sex disparity in cardiometabolic phenotypes in a large nationwide Chinese cohort. A total of 254,670 adults aged 40 years or older were selected from a population-based cohort in China.

A Predictive Model for Pulmonary Aspergillosis in ICU Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Several predictive models for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) based on clinical characteristics have been reported. Nevertheless, the significance of other concurrently detected microorganisms in IPA patients is equally noteworthy. This study aimed to develop a risk prediction model for IPA by integrating clinical and microbiological characteristics.