Chimeric antigen carried by extracellular vesicles induces stronger protective immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Although Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has been used in human for centuries, tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases.There have been remarkable successes in the field of TB vaccine research over the past decade, but the search for a better vaccine candidate is still a challenge. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) possess a multitude of properties that make them attractive candidates for the development of novel, cell-free, non-replicative, and safe vaccine system.

The impact of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcium on risk of age-related macular degeneration: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The relationships between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and calcium and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are unclear.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the causal role of 25(OH)D concentrations, calcium concentrations, and dietary supplements use of vitamin D and calcium on risk of AMD and its subtypes.

Methods: Independent genetic variants associated with 25(OH)D and calcium concentrations were used as instrumental variables in published genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of European ancestry.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation promotes motor function recovery in mice after spinal cord injury via regulation of the Cx43-autophagy loop.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe condition with an extremely high disability rate. It is mainly manifested as the loss of motor, sensory and autonomic nerve functions below the injury site. High-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation, a recently developed neuromodulation method, can increase motor function in mice with spinal cord injury.

Race and Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Factors, and Epigenetic Age Acceleration in Survivors of Childhood Cancer.

Importance: Current research in epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) is limited to non-Hispanic White individuals. It is imperative to improve inclusivity by considering racial and ethnic minorities in EAA research.

Objective: To compare non-Hispanic Black with non-Hispanic White survivors of childhood cancer by examining the associations of EAA with cancer treatment exposures, potential racial and ethnic disparity in EAA, and mediating roles of social determinants of health (SDOH).

Correlation between circulating advanced glycation end products and thioredoxin-interacting protein levels and renal fat content in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Background: This study sought to explore the clinical relevance of the associations of serum levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), soluble receptor for AGEs (sRAGE), and thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) with the renal fat fraction (RFF) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A total of 133 patients with T2DM were enrolled in the study. RFF, which represents the renal fat level, was determined utilizing Dixon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Utilizing machine learning for early screening of thyroid nodules: a dual-center cross-sectional study in China.

Background: Thyroid nodules, increasingly prevalent globally, pose a risk of malignant transformation. Early screening is crucial for management, yet current models focus mainly on ultrasound features. This study explores machine learning for screening using demographic and biochemical indicators.

Comparison of lung ultrasound assisted by artificial intelligence to radiology examination in pneumothorax.

Background: Lung ultrasound can evaluate for pneumothorax but the accuracy of diagnosis depends on experience among physicians. This study aimed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of intelligent lung ultrasound in comparison with chest x-ray, employing chest computed tomography (CT) as the gold standard for diagnosis of pneumothorax in critical ill patients.

Methods: This prospective, observational study included 75 dyspnea patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2021 to April 2023.

Molecular subtypes of ischemic heart disease based on circadian rhythm.

Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAD) is among the most prevalent chronic diseases globally. Circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) is closely associated with the progression of various diseases. However, the precise role of CRD in the development of CAD remains to be elucidated.

Intravitreal conbercept injection with panretinal photocoagulation for high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy with vitreous hemorrhage.

Aim: To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of combining panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) with intravitreal conbercept (IVC) injections for patients with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy (HR-PDR) complicated by mild or moderate vitreous hemorrhage (VH), with or without diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: Patients diagnosed with VH with/without DME secondary to HR-PDR and received PRP combined with IVC injections were recruited in this retrospective study. Upon establishing the patient's diagnosis, an initial IVC was performed, followed by prompt administration of PRP.

Altered counts and mitochondrial mass of peripheral blood leucocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) damages liver cells through abnormal immune responses. Mitochondrial metabolism is necessary for effector functions of white blood cells (WBCs). The aim was to investigate the altered counts and mitochondrial mass (MM) of WBCs by two novel indicators of mitochondrial mass, MM and percentage of low mitochondrial membrane potential, MMP%, due to chronic HBV infection.

MoO nanodots coated suture for combating surgical site infection via antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Surgical site infection (SSI) significantly affects patient recovery time, health outcomes and quality of life which is closely associated with the use of implants or mesh. Sutures are the most frequently used implants that play a significant role in the development of SSI. Studies have demonstrated that the administration of effective bactericidal and anti-inflammatory treatments can significantly decrease the incidence of SSI.

Molecular landscape for risk prediction and personalized therapeutics of castration-resistant prostate cancer: at a glance.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is commonly occurred with high incidence in men worldwide, and many patients will be eventually suffered from the dilemma of castration-resistance with the time of disease progression. Castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) is an advanced subtype of PCa with heterogeneous carcinogenesis, resulting in poor prognosis and difficulties in therapy. Currently, disorders in androgen receptor (AR)-related signaling are widely acknowledged as the leading cause of CRPC development, and some non-AR-based strategies are also proposed for CRPC clinical analyses.

FBXL18 is required for ovarian cancer cell proliferation and migration through activating AKT signaling.

Background: F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 18 (FBXL18) is an F-box protein that functions as an E3-ubiquitin ligase, and it plays pivotal roles in multiple disease processes. However, its role and underlying mechanism in ovarian cancer (OC) are still unknown. We investigated the impact and mechanism of FBXL18 in OC cell growth and tumorigenesis.

UFMylation: An integral post-translational modification for the regulation of proteostasis and cellular functions.

Ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (UFM1) is covalently conjugated to protein substrates via a cascade of enzymatic reactions, a process known as UFMylation. UFMylation orchestrates an array of vital biological functions, including maintaining endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, facilitating protein biogenesis, promoting cellular differentiation, regulating DNA damage response, and participating in cancer-associated signaling pathways. UFMylation has rapidly evolved into one of the forefront research areas within the last few years, yet much remains to be uncovered.

Silk fibroin microspheres loaded Rehmannia Liuwei extract for the protection of endothelial cells from the inhibitory effects.

Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH) is a multi-component and multi-target Chinese herbal compound widely used for treating chronic conditions such as diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, hypertension, osteoporosis, and chronic kidney disease. However, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations like decoction and pill face limitations, including low active component concentration, limited bioavailability, short half-life, and the need for high dosage, which may increase the burden on liver and kidney functions and reduce clinical efficacy. In this study, LWDH was further purified using D101 macroporous adsorption resin, resulting in a soluble extract with an active component content 53.

Artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction in abdominal CT of patients with irregular arm positioning: a case-by-case evaluation.

Background: Streak artifacts induced by irregular arm positioning have been an issue in diagnosing the abdomen.

Purpose: To illustrate the risk of misdiagnosis in abdominal computed tomography (CT) of patients with irregular arm positioning through a case-by-case evaluation and to test if it can be solved by the artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction (AIIR) algorithm.

Material And Methods: By reviewing 5220 cases of chest and thoracoabdominal CT, 64 patients with irregular arm positioning were enrolled, whose image data were reconstructed using AIIR in addition to routine hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR).

Ku70 Binding to YAP Alters PARP1 Ubiquitination to Regulate Genome Stability and Tumorigenesis.

Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a central player in cancer development, with functions extending beyond its recognized role in cell growth regulation. Recent work has identified a link between YAP/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) and the DNA damage response. Here, we investigated the mechanistic underpinnings of the cross-talk between DNA damage repair and YAP activity.

Mitochondrial mechanisms in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders.

Chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders characterized by prolonged muscle inflammation, resulting in enduring pain and diminished functionality, pose significant challenges for the patients. Emerging scientific evidence points to mitochondrial malfunction as a pivotal factor contributing to these ailments. Mitochondria play a critical role in powering skeletal muscle activity, but in the context of persistent inflammation, disruptions in their quantity, configuration, and performance have been well-documented.

In silico intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) for quality assured imaging with reduced intervention.

In the clinical application of intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT), it is necessary to flush opaque blood during image acquisition. However, there are no specific standards for how to perform low-dose but effective flushing. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and optical models were integrated to numerically simulate the complete process of IVOCT, which includes blood flushing with normal saline followed by image acquisition.

Advances on the Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies in Non-coding CGG Repeat Expansion Diseases.

Non-coding CGG repeat expansions within the 5' untranslated region are implicated in a range of neurological disorders, including fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, oculopharyngeal myopathy with leukodystrophy, and oculopharyngodistal myopathy. This review outlined the general characteristics of diseases associated with non-coding CGG repeat expansions, detailing their clinical manifestations and neuroimaging patterns, which often overlap and indicate shared pathophysiological traits. We summarized the underlying molecular mechanisms of these disorders, providing new insights into the roles that DNA, RNA, and toxic proteins play.