Enhanced Immune Response Against Echinococcus Granulosus Through a CTLA-4/B7 Affinity-Based Vaccine.

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that poses a significant threat to the health of individuals living in rural regions. While vaccination represents a potential strategy for disease prevention, there is currently no effective vaccine available for humans to prevent cystic echinococcosis (CE). This study aimed to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine (MEV) against Echinococcus granulosus for human use, employing immunoinformatics methods.

Current Status of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Vaccines.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), characterized by reproductive failures in breeding pigs and respiratory diseases in growing pigs, is a widespread and challenging disease. The agent, PRRSV, is a single-strand RNA virus that is undergoing continuous mutation and evolution, resulting in the global spread of multiple strains with different genetic characteristics and variable antigens. There are currently no effective measures to eradicate PRRS, and vaccination is crucial for controlling the disease.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A WAidid Consensus Document on New Preventive Options.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory infections, particularly affecting young infants, older adults, and individuals with comorbidities. : This document, developed as a consensus by an international group of experts affiliated with the World Association of Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid), focuses on recent advancements in RSV prevention, highlighting the introduction of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and vaccines. : Historically, RSV treatment options were limited to supportive care and the monoclonal antibody palivizumab, which required multiple doses.

Neurotransmitter Metabolic Disturbance in Methamphetamine Abusers: Focus on Tryptophan and Tyrosine Metabolic Pathways.

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse disrupts the homeostasis of neurotransmitter (NT) metabolism, contributing to a wide range of neurological and psychological disorders. However, the specific effects of METH on NT metabolism, particularly for the tryptophan (TRP) and tyrosine (TYR) metabolic pathways, remain poorly understood. In this study, serum samples from 78 METH abusers and 79 healthy controls were analyzed using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS).

Microplastics Exposure Aggravates Synovitis and Pyroptosis in SLE by Activating NF-κB and NRF2/KEAP1 Signaling.

Microplastics (MPs) represent an emerging pollutant capable of entering the human body through the respiratory and digestive systems, thereby posing significant health risks. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems, often presenting with polyarticular joint manifestations. Despite its relevance, there is currently limited research on the impact of MPs on lupus arthritis.

Bufadienolides from Chansu Injection Synergistically Enhances the Antitumor Effect of Erlotinib by Inhibiting the KRAS Pathway in Pancreatic Cancer.

The Chansu injection (CSI), a sterile aqueous solution derived from Chansu, is applied in clinical settings to support antitumor and anti-radiation treatments. CSI's principal active components, bufadienolides (≥90%), demonstrate potential effects on pancreatic cancer (PDAC), but their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the antitumor effects and pathways associated with CSI in PDAC.

Evaluating the Diagnostic Efficacy of Using Pooled Samples for Chronic Wasting Disease Testing and Surveillance.

Disease monitoring informs the opportunities for intervention by natural resource agencies tasked with managing chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild cervids. However, allocating funds toward testing can reduce those available for education, outreach, and disease reduction. Implementation of more efficient testing strategies can help meet both an expanding need by resource managers and a burgeoning demand from the hunting public in North America.

Identification of Neonatal Factors Predicting Pre-Discharge Mortality in Extremely Preterm or Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: A Historical Cohort Study.

Background/objectives: This study identified early neonatal factors predicting pre-discharge mortality among extremely preterm infants (EPIs) or extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) in China, where data are scarce.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 211 (92 deaths) neonates born <28 weeks of gestation or with a birth weight <1000 g, admitted to University Affiliated Hospitals from 2013 to 2024 in Guangzhou, China. Data on 26 neonatal factors before the first 24 h of life and pre-discharge mortality were collected.

ZFP36L2 Is a Potential Prognostic Marker of IL1β Osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma stands as the predominant bone malignancy afflicting children and young adults. Despite strides in treatment, the enduring reality is that the long-term survival rates for patients grappling with recurrences and metastases linger at a mere 30%. This underscores the pressing demand for novel prognostic markers and therapeutic avenues to improve outcomes and offer hope to those battling this formidable disease.

Decoding the Genes Orchestrating Egg and Sperm Fusion Reactions and Their Roles in Fertility.

Mammalian fertilization is a complex and highly regulated process that has garnered significant attention, particularly with advancements in assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). The fusion of egg and sperm involves a sequence of molecular and cellular events, including capacitation, the acrosome reaction, adhesion, and membrane fusion. Critical genetic factors, such as IZUMO1, JUNO (also known as FOLR4), CD9, and several others, have been identified as essential mediators in sperm-egg recognition and membrane fusion.

Research on Lipidomic Profiling and Biomarker Identification for Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head.

Abnormal lipid metabolism is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor to the development of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). This study aimed to explore the lipidomic profiles of ONFH patients, focusing on distinguishing between traumatic ONFH (TONFH) and non-traumatic ONFH (NONFH) subtypes and identifying potential biomarkers for diagnosis and understanding pathogenesis. Plasma samples were collected from 92 ONFH patients (divided into TONFH and NONFH subtypes) and 33 healthy normal control (NC) participants.

Early Alpha-Fetoprotein Response Predicts Sustained Tumor Response Following Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Combined with Targeted Therapy in Liver Cancer.

Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized liver cancer treatment, some patients experience early tumor progression after therapy, missing the window for other potential treatments, such as neoadjuvant therapy. Therefore, identifying the predictive factors for early progression is critical for timely therapeutic adjustment and the optimization of patient outcomes. This retrospective study enrolled patients with liver cancer who received their first ICI combined with targeted therapy at the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital between June 2022 and December 2023.

Taurine Supplementation Alleviates Blood Pressure via Gut-Brain Communication in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Objects: Taurine exhibits protective effects in the context of cardiovascular pathophysiology. A range of evidence suggests that hypertension activates inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), elevating the arterial tone and sympathetic activity, while it induces gut-brain axis dysfunction in the context of hypertension. However, the mechanism underlying taurine's anti-hypertensive effects via the gut-brain axis remains unclear.

Promoting Healthy Aging for Older People Living with Chronic Disease by Implementing Community Health Programs: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study.

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases could be mitigated by expanding community programs. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of delivering a community wellness program for older adults living with chronic disease. A two-group randomized controlled study, with blinded assessments, enrolling adults (≥50 years) with chronic disease, was conducted at a Western Australian community hub.

Long Non-Coding RNAs as Diagnostic Biomarkers for Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Ischemic stroke is a serious cerebrovascular disease, highlighting the urgent need for reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis. Recent reports suggest that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can be potential biomarkers for ischemic stroke. Therefore, our study seeks to investigate the potential diagnostic value of lncRNAs for ischemic stroke by analyzing existing research.

RRM2 Regulates Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression Through Activation of TGF-β/Smad Signaling and Hepatitis B Virus Transcription.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a type of malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality. Untimely treatment and high recurrence are currently the major challenges for HCC. The identification of potential targets of HCC progression is crucial for the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Lactate and Lactylation: Dual Regulators of T-Cell-Mediated Tumor Immunity and Immunotherapy.

Lactate and its derivative, lactylation, play pivotal roles in modulating immune responses within the tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly in T-cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy. Elevated lactate levels, a hallmark of the Warburg effect, contribute to immune suppression through CD8 T cell functionality and by promoting regulatory T cell (Treg) activity. Lactylation, a post-translational modification (PTM), alters histone and non-histone proteins, influencing gene expression and further reinforcing immune suppression.

Whole-genome sequencing identified ALK as a novel susceptible gene of Hirschsprung disease.

Background And Study Aims: Hirschsprung disease (HD) is a complex developmental disease that resulted from impaired proliferation and migration of neural crest cells. Despite the genetic causation of enteric nervous system have been found to be responsible for part of HD cases, the genetic aetiology of most HD patients still needs to be explored.

Patients And Methods: Whole-genome sequencing and subsequent Sanger sequencing validation analysis were performed in 13 HD children and their unaffected parents.

[Pedigree analysis of novel missense mutations causing hereditary coagulation factor Ⅴ deficiency].

This study aimed to primarily discuss the pathogenesis of hereditary coagulation factor Ⅴ (FⅤ) deficiency in a family with a consanguineous cousin marriage. The coagulation indices of the pedigree (three generations with seven individuals) and the thrombin levels of the proband and his father were assessed. All exons of the F5 gene were analyzed with Sanger sequencing, and a new mutation was confirmed with reverse sequencing.

[Comparison of the efficacy and safety between high-dose intravenous iron and oral iron in treating iron deficiency anemia: a multicenter, prospective, open-label, randomized controlled study].

This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between high-dose intravenous iron and oral iron in treating iron deficiency anemia (IDA) . This prospective randomized controlled study (1∶1) enrolled 338 patients with IDA at The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Hongci Hematology Hospital, and Huai'an Second People's Hospital from June 1, 2022, to January 19, 2024. Of all the patients, 169 received high-dose intravenous iron therapy and 169 received oral iron treatment for 12 weeks of observation.

[The efficacy and safety of thioamide in maintenance therapy for peripheral T-cell lymphoma].

This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of thioamide as a maintenance therapy for peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) . This study retrospectively analyzed the data from 58 patients with PTCL who were treated in the Department of Hematology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2015 to July 2022. Chidamide was orally administered as a maintenance therapy after first-line or salvage treatment.

Identification of a dual JAK3/TEC family kinase inhibitor for atopic dermatitis therapy.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by recurrent eczematous lesions and severe itching, for which clinical treatments are limited. Selectively inhibiting Janus Kinase 3 (JAK3) and tyrosine kinase expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (TEC) family kinases is proposed as a promising strategy to treat AD with possible reduced side effects and enhanced efficacy. In this study, we developed a dual JAK3/TEC family kinase inhibitor ZZB, which demonstrated potent inhibitory activity with IC values of 0.

IFN alpha signaling drives hematopoietic stem cells malfunction under acute inflammation.

Inflammation stimulation regulates the activity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) through direct-sensing and cytokine-mediation. It is known that HSCs directly sense lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a classical infection-related inflammatory signal, via toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) and subsequently become active. However, the mechanism underlying the activity change of HSCs induced by LPS remains incompletely disclosed.

Chinese Herbal Medicine and Their Active Ingredients Involved in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis Related Signaling Pathways.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory dermatitis of the skin and poses therapeutic challenges due to the adverse reactions and high costs associated with available treatments. In Eastern Asian countries, a plethora of herbal remedies is extensively employed for the alleviation of AD. Many of these botanicals are renowned for their formidable anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to AD management.

Bergapten Ameliorates Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Ferroptosis.

Renal fibrosis is the most common pathway for the development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in various kidney diseases. Currently, the treatment options for renal fibrosis are limited. Ferroptosis is iron-mediated lipid peroxidation, triggered mainly by iron deposition and ROS generation.