Safety of embryo cryopreservation: insights from mid-term placental transcriptional changes.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, with benefits from the continuous improvement of clinical technology and the advantage of fertility preservation, the application of embryo cryopreservation has been growing rapidly worldwide. However, amidst this growth, concerns about its safety persist. Numerous studies have highlighted the elevated risk of perinatal complications linked to frozen embryo transfer (FET), such as large for gestational age (LGA) and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Thus, it is imperative to explore the potential risk of embryo cryopreservation and its related mechanisms. METHODS: Given the strict ethical constraints on clinical samples, we employed mouse models in this study. Three experimental groups were established: the naturally conceived (NC) group, the fresh embryo transfer (Fresh-ET) group, and the FET group. Blastocyst formation rates and implantation rates were calculated post-embryo cryopreservation. The impact of FET on fetal growth was evaluated upon fetal and placental weight. Placental RNA-seq was conducted, encompassing comprehensive analyses of various comparisons (Fresh-ET vs. NC, FET vs. NC, and FET vs. Fresh-ET). RESULTS: Reduced rates of blastocyst formation and implantation were observed post-embryo cryopreservation. Fresh-ET resulted in a significant decrease in fetal weight compared to NC group, whereas FET reversed this decline. RNA-seq analysis indicated that the majority of the expression changes in FET were inherited from Fresh-ET, and alterations solely attributed to embryo cryopreservation were moderate. Unexpectedly, certain genes that showed alterations in Fresh-ET tended to be restored in FET. Further analysis suggested that this regression may underlie the improvement of fetal growth restriction in FET. The expression of imprinted genes was disrupted in both FET and Fresh-ET groups. CONCLUSION: Based on our experimental data on mouse models, the impact of embryo cryopreservation is less pronounced than other in vitro manipulations in Fresh-ET. However, the impairment of the embryonic developmental potential and the gene alterations in placenta still suggested it to be a risky operation.

Molecular Editing of Pyrroles to Benzenes/Naphthalenes by N2O Deletion.

Molecular editing promises to facilitate the rapid diversification of complex molecular architectures by rapidly and conveniently altering core frameworks. This approach has the potential to accelerate both drug discovery and total synthesis. In this study, we present a novel protocol for the molecular editing of pyrroles. Initially, N-Boc pyrroles and alkynes are converted into N-bridged compounds through a Diels-Alder reaction. These compounds then undergo deprotection of the Boc group, nitrosylation, and cheletropic N2O extrusion to yield benzene or naphthalene products. By using benzyne as a substrate, this method can be conceptually viewed as a fusion of skeletal editing of the pyrrole ring and site-selective peripheral editing of the benzene ring. Furthermore, this proof-of-concept protocol has demonstrated its potential to transform the (hetero)arene motif from commercially available drugs, offering the possibility of generating new biologically active compounds.

Efficacy and safety of visepegenatide, a long-acting weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist as monotherapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomised, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains a challenge to treat despite the expansion of various therapeutic classes. Visepegenatide (PB-119) is a once a week, subcutaneous, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) injection without the requirement of dose titration that has shown glycaemic control and safety profile in two phase 2 studies conducted in China and the United States, respectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of visepegenatide as a monotherapy in treatment-naïve patients with T2DM. Methods: This was a multicentre, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial conducted in 30 centres in China. Adult participants (aged 18-75 years) with T2DM, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of 7.5%-11.0% [58.47-96.73 mmol/mol], body mass index (BMI) of 18-40 kg/m2, and who had been treated with diet and exercise alone for at least 8 weeks before the screening visit were eligible for enrolment. After a 4-week placebo injection run-in period, participants with HbA1c of 7.0%-10.5% [53.0-91.3 mmol/mol] and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) < 15 mmol/L were randomised in a ratio of 1:1 to receive visepegenatide (150 µg) or placebo subcutaneous injections once a week for 24 weeks. The treatment was extended to another 28 weeks during which all participants received visepegenatide. The primary outcome was a change in HbA1c from baseline to week 24. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, as NCT04504370. Findings: Between November 2, 2020, and November 2, 2022, we randomly assigned 273 adult participants to the visepegenatide (n = 137) and placebo (n = 136) groups. In total, 257 (94.12%) participants, 131 (95.6%) on visepegenatide, and 126 (92.6%) on placebo, completed the double-blinded treatment period. At baseline, the mean (SD) HbA1c was 8.47% (0.81) [69.07 [8.81] mmol/mol], which rapidly decreased to 7.63% (0.80) [59.94 [8.70] mmol/mol] with visepegenatide by week 4 of treatment, and the change from baseline was significantly greater than that in the placebo group (-0.82% [-0.90 to -0.74]; [-8.99 [-9.89 to -8.10] mmol/mol] vs -0.30% [-0.41 to -0.19]; [-3.30 [-4.50 to -2.09] mmol/mol]). At week 24, when evaluating the effects of treatment with treatment policy estimand, the least square mean (LSM change in HbA1c from baseline was -1.36 (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.52 to -1.20) [-14.84 [-16.60 to -13.08] mmol/mol] in the visepegenatide group vs -0.63 (-0.79 to -0.46) [-6.84 [-8.61 to -5.07] mmol/mol] in the placebo group. The reduction in HbA1c was significantly greater with visepegenatide than placebo (LSM difference -0.73, 95% CI -0.96 to -0.50; p < 0.001). When evaluating the treatment estimand with hypothetic policy, the LSM change in HbA1c from baseline in the visepegenatide group (-1.37 [-1.53 to -1.20]) [-14.95 [-16.76 to -13.14] mmol/mol] was significantly greater than the placebo group (-0.63 [-0.81 to -0.45]) [6.90 (-8.89 to -4.90) mmol/mol]. The LSM difference was (-0.74, 95% CI -0.98 to -0.49; [-8.00 [-10.50 to -5.50] mmol/mol]; p < 0.001]. A significantly greater proportion of the visepegenatide group achieved a target HbA1c level of <7% (<53 mmol/mol) than the placebo (50.4% vs 14.2%; p < 0.05) and stringent HbA1c level of ≤6.5% (≤48 mmol/mol) (26.7% vs 7.9%), respectively. There was also a significantly greater improvement in FPG, 2-h postprandial glucose, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) of beta cell function, post-prandial insulin, fasting, and post-prandial C-peptide level (p < 0.05) with visepegenatide treatment. The number (3 [2.2%]) of participants who received rescue therapy in the visepegenatide group was remarkably lower compared with those (17 [12.5%]) in the placebo group (p < 0.05). During the extended treatment period, visepegenatide consistently maintained the efficacy till week 52 confirmed by all the above endpoints. The reduction in HbA1c at week 52 was -1.39% (-1.58 to -1.19) [-15.14 [-17.28 to -13.01] mmol/mol], which was even greater than that at week 24. There was also a significant improvement in HOMA-insulin resistance (p = 0.004) at week 52 compared with the baseline value. For the placebo→visepegenatide group, which received visepegenatide in the extended treatment period, a notable decrease in HbA1c at week 52 compared to baseline was observed. The change from baseline in HbA1c was -1.49% (-1.68 to -1.30) [-16.27 [-18.37 to -14.16] mmol/mol]. The outcome was in the same direction as the visepegenatide group from the double-blind treatment period. Comprehensive benefits of visepegenatide including weight loss, improvement in lipid profile, and reduction in blood pressure have been demonstrated in this study. Visepegenatide reduced the body weight in a BMI-dependent manner that was prominent in BMI ˃32 kg/m2 with a mean (SD) reduction of -4.77 (13.94) kg at week 52 (p < 0.05). Incidences of gastrointestinal adverse events were less common than other weekly GLP-1 RA in the market, and most of the adverse events were mild and moderate in nature, occurring in the first weeks of the treatment, and were transient. No serious hypoglycaemia or grade 2 hypoglycaemia (blood glucose: ≤3 mmol/L) was reported during the study. Interpretation: As a monotherapy, visepegenatide provided rapid without the risk of hypoglycaemia, significant, and sustainable glycaemic control by improving islet ß-cell function and insulin resistance. Treatment with visepegenatide induced early treatment response in reducing HbA1c and maintaining glycaemic control for 52 weeks. Meanwhile, visepegenatide provided a comprehensive benefit in body weight loss, lipids, and blood pressure reduction. Visepegenatide had a better safety profile than other weekly GLP-1 RA in participants with T2DM even without the requirement of dose titration. Visepegenatide would provide an optimal treatment approach with its high benefit and low-risk balance. Funding: PegBio Co., Ltd.

Short-term efficacy of microwave ablation in the treatment of liver cancer and its effect on immune function.

BACKGROUND: Hepatectomy is the first choice for treating liver cancer. However, inflammatory factors, released in response to pain stimulation, may suppress perioperative immune function and affect the prognosis of patients undergoing hepatectomies. AIM: To determine the short-term efficacy of microwave ablation in the treatment of liver cancer and its effect on immune function. METHODS: Clinical data from patients with liver cancer admitted to Suzhou Ninth People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-five patients underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy for liver cancer (liver cancer resection group) and 35 patients underwent medical image-guided microwave ablation (liver cancer ablation group). The short-term efficacy, complications, liver function, and immune function indices before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: One month after treatment, 19 patients experienced complete remission (CR), 8 patients experienced partial remission (PR), 6 patients experienced stable disease (SD), and 2 patients experienced disease progression (PD) in the liver cancer resection group. In the liver cancer ablation group, 21 patients experienced CR, 9 patients experienced PR, 3 patients experienced SD, and 2 patients experienced PD. No significant differences in efficacy and complications were detected between the liver cancer ablation and liver cancer resection groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, total bilirubin (41.24 ± 7.35 vs 49.18 ± 8.64 µmol/L, P < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (30.85 ± 6.23 vs 42.32 ± 7.56 U/L, P < 0.001), CD4+ (43.95 ± 5.72 vs 35.27 ± 5.56, P < 0.001), CD8+ (20.38 ± 3.91 vs 22.75 ± 4.62, P < 0.001), and CD4+/CD8+ (2.16 ± 0.39 vs 1.55 ± 0.32, P < 0.001) were significantly different between the liver cancer ablation and liver cancer resection groups. CONCLUSION: The short-term efficacy and safety of microwave ablation and laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of liver cancer are similar, but liver function recovers quickly after microwave ablation, and microwave ablation may enhance immune function.

Effects of serum inflammatory factors, health index and disease activity scores on ankylosing spondylitis patients with sleep disorder.

BACKGROUND: Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) frequently suffer from comorbid sleep disorders, exacerbating the burden of the disease and affecting their quality of life. AIM: To investigate the clinical significance of serum inflammatory factors, health index and disease activity scores in patients with AS complicated by sleep disorders. METHODS: A total of 106 AS patients with comorbid sleep disorders were included in the study. The patients were grouped into the desirable and undesirable prognosis groups in accordance with their clinical outcomes. The serum levels of inflammatory factors, including C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor-α and IL-1ß, were measured. Disease activity scores, such as the Bath AS functional index, Bath AS disease activity index, Bath AS metrology index and AS disease activity score, were assessed. The health index was obtained through the Short Form-36 questionnaire. RESULTS: The study found significant associations amongst serum inflammatory factors, health index and disease activity scores in AS patients with comorbid sleep disorders. Positive correlations were found between serum inflammatory factors and disease activity scores, indicating the influence of heightened systemic inflammation on disease severity and functional impairment. Conversely, negative correlations were found between disease activity scores and health index parameters, highlighting the effect of disease activity on various aspects of health-related quality of life. Logistic regression analysis further confirmed the predictive value of these factors on patient outcomes, underscoring their potential utility in risk assessment and prognostication. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate the intricate interplay amongst disease activity, systemic inflammation and patient-reported health outcomes in AS patients complicated by sleep disorders. The results emphasise the need for comprehensive care strategies that address the diverse needs and challenges faced by these patients and underscore the potential relevance of serum inflammatory factors, health index and disease activity scores as prognostic markers in this patient population.

Clinical effect of acupuncture at ghost points combined with fluoxetine hydrochloride on mild-to-moderate depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common, chronic, and recurrent mood disorder that has become a worldwide health hazard. Fluoxetine hydrochloride, a common treatment method, can inhibit 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) recycling in the presynaptic membrane; however, the efficacy of a single drug is inadequate. At present, mild-to-moderate depression can be treated with acupuncture of ghost caves, but the clinical curative effect of combined therapy with fluoxetine hydrochloride has not been sufficiently reported. AIM: To evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture at ghost points combined with fluoxetine hydrochloride in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression. METHODS: This retrospective study included 160 patients with mild-to-moderate depression who were admitted to Shanghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, between January 2022 and June 2023. Patients were separated into a single-agent group (fluoxetine hydrochloride treatment, n = 80) and a coalition group (fluoxetine hydrochloride treatment combined with acupuncture at ghost points, n = 80). Pre-treatment symptoms were recorded, and the clinical curative effect and adverse reactions [Asberg Antidepressant Side Effects Scale (SERS)] were assessed. Depression before and after treatment [Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD)-24], neurotransmitter levels [5-HT, norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA)], oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA)], and sleep quality [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)] were compared. RESULTS: The total efficacy rate was 97.50% in the coalition group and 86.25% in the single-agent group (P < 0.05). After 2, 4, 6, and 8 wk of treatment, the HAMD, self-rating depression scale, and SERS scores of the coalition and single-agent groups decreased compared with pre-treatment, and the decrease was more significant in the coalition group (P < 0.05). After 8 wk of treatment, the levels of NE, DA, 5-HT, and SOD in the coalition and single-agent groups increased, while the levels of MDA decreased; the increases and decrease in the coalition group were more significant (P < 0.05). The PSQI scores of the coalition and single-agent groups decreased, and the decrease was more significant in the coalition group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at ghost points combined with paroxetine tablets can safely improve depressive symptoms and sleep disorders, regulate neurotransmitter levels, and reduce stress responses in patients with mild-to-moderate depression.

Sensitive detection of H2S based on Ce doped ZnCo2O4 hollow microspheres at low working temperature.

In order to develop a highly efficient H2S gas sensor at low working temperature, in this work, a kind of novel Ce-doped ZnCo2O4 hollow microspheres (Ce/ZnCo2O4 HMSs) were successfully synthesized using a template-free one-pot method, showing a sensitive response toward H2S. The microstructure and morphology of the material were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The gas-sensing performance of the composite was investigated, showing that the ZnCo2O4 doped with 6 mol% Ce had the highest response to 20 ppm H2S at a low operating temperature of 160 °C with a response value of 67.42, which was about 2 times higher than that of original ZnCo2O4. The prepared Ce/ZnCo2O4 HMS sensor in response to H2S exhibited a linear range of 0.1-200 ppm with a low detection limit of 0.1 ppm under the conditions of ambient humidity of 45% and ambient temperature of 20 °C. Meanwhile, it also possessed good selectivity, repeatability and reproducibility. The response value of the sensor decreased by 5.32% after 7 months of continuous monitoring of H2S in an atmospheric environment of a pig farm, indicating that the sensor had a long-term stability and continuous service life with important application prospects.

A landscape of methodology and implementation of adaptive designs in cancer clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: The use of adaptive designs in cancer trials has considerably increased worldwide in recent years, along with the release of various guidelines for their application. This systematic review aims to comprehensively summarize the key methodological and executive features of adaptive designs in cancer clinical trials. METHODS: A comprehensive search from PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was conducted to screen eligible clinical trials that employed adaptive designs and were conducted in cancer patients. The methodological and executive characteristics of adaptive designs were the main measurements extracted. Descriptive analyses, primarily consisting of frequency and percentage, were employed to analyzed and reported the data. RESULTS: A total of 180 cancer clinical trials with adaptive designs were identified. The first three most common type of adaptive design was the group sequential design (n=114, 63.3 %), adaptive dose-finding design (n=22, 12.2 %), and adaptive platform design (n=16, 8.9 %). The results showed that 4.4 % (n=8) of trials conducted post hoc modifications, and around 29.4 % (n=53) did not provide the methods for controlling type I errors. Among phase II or above trials, 79.9 % (112/140) applied the surrogate endpoint as the primary outcome in these trials. Importantly, 27.2 % (49/180) of trials did not report clear information on the independent data monitoring committee (iDMC), and 13.3 % (n=24) without clear information on interim analyses. Interim analyses suggested 34.4 % (62/180) of trials being stopped for futility, 10.6 % (n=19) for efficacy, and 2.2 % (n=4) for safety concerns in the early stage. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes adaptive designs in cancer trials face significant challenges in their design or strict implementation according to protocol, which might significantly compromise the validity and integrity of trials. It is thus important for researchers, sponsors, and policymakers to actively oversee and guide their application.

LINC00982-encoded protein PRDM16-DT regulates CHEK2 splicing to suppress colorectal cancer metastasis and chemoresistance.

Metastasis is one of the key factors of treatment failure in late-stage colorectal cancer (CRC). Metastatic CRC frequently develops resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. This study aimed to identify the novel regulators from "hidden" proteins encoded by long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in tumor metastasis and chemoresistance. Methods: CRISPR/Cas9 library functional screening was employed to identify the critical suppressor of cancer metastasis in highly invasive CRC models. Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, invasion, migration, wound healing, WST-1, colony formation, gain- and loss-of-function experiments, in vivo experimental metastasis models, multiplex immunohistochemical staining, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and RT-PCR were used to assess the functional and clinical significance of FOXP3, PRDM16-DT, HNRNPA2B1, and L-CHEK2. RNA-sequencing, co-immunoprecipitation, qRT-PCR, RT-PCR, RNA affinity purification, RNA immunoprecipitation, MeRIP-quantitative PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization, chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assay were performed to gain mechanistic insights into the role of PRDM16-DT in cancer metastasis and chemoresistance. An oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cell line was established by in vivo selection. WST-1, colony formation, invasion, migration, Biacore technology, gain- and loss-of-function experiments and an in vivo experimental metastasis model were used to determine the function and mechanism of cimicifugoside H-1 in CRC. Results: The novel protein PRDM16-DT, encoded by LINC00982, was identified as a cancer metastasis and chemoresistance suppressor. The down-regulated level of PRDM16-DT was positively associated with malignant phenotypes and poor prognosis of CRC patients. Transcriptionally regulated by FOXP3, PRDM16-DT directly interacted with HNRNPA2B1 and competitively decreased HNRNPA2B1 binding to exon 9 of CHEK2, resulting in the formation of long CHEK2 (L-CHEK2), subsequently promoting E-cadherin secretion. PRDM16-DT-induced E-cadherin secretion inhibited fibroblast activation, which in turn suppressed CRC metastasis by decreasing MMP9 secretion. Cimicifugoside H-1, a natural compound, can bind to LEU89, HIS91, and LEU92 of FOXP3 and significantly upregulated PRDM16-DT expression to repress CRC metastasis and reverse oxaliplatin resistance. Conclusions: lncRNA LINC00982 can express a new protein PRDM16-DT to function as a novel regulator in cancer metastasis and drug resistance of CRC. Cimicifugoside H-1 can act on the upstream of the PRDM16-DT signaling pathway to alleviate cancer chemoresistance.

U-shaped association between serum calcium and in-hospital mortality in diabetes patients with congestive heart failure: a cohort study.

Previous studies have reported that the significant association between serum calcium and mortality substantially in patients, especially among those with intensive care unit (ICU). And In diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure (CHF) is a significant comorbidity. We aim to evaluate the association between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality among patients with diabetes and congestive heart failure. The participants in this study were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. To scrutinize potential associations between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality, a comprehensive analysis encompassing multivariate logistic regression, cubic spline function model, threshold effect analysis, and subgroup analysis was performed. This retrospective cohort study encompassed 7063 patients, among whom the in-hospital mortality stood at 12.2%. In the multivariate logistic regression, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were contrasted with the reference category Q6 (8.8-9.1 mg/dL) for serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality. The adjusted ORs for Q1 (≤ 7.7 mg/dL), Q2 (7.7-8 mg/dL), and Q7 (≥ 9.1 mg/dL) were 1.69 (95% CI 1.17-2.44, p = 0.005), 1.62 (95% CI 1.11-2.36, p = 0.013), and 1.57 (95% CI 1.1-2.24, p = 0.012) respectively. The dose-response analysis uncovered a U-shaped relationship between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality in diabetic patients with heart failure. Subgroup analyses confirmed result stability notwithstanding the influence of diverse factors. Our investigation revealed a U-shaped correlation between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality in diabetes patients with congestive heart failure, pinpointing a significant inflection point at 9.05 mg/dL.

Evaluation of postoperative complications of hypospadias using high-frequency ultrasound imaging.

PURPOSE: Various complications following hypospadias surgery present distinct manifestations when examined with ultrasound. Utilizing high-frequency ultrasound, clinicians can promptly identify these complications and initiate appropriate treatment. The aim of this study is to catalogue the ultrasonographic presentations of various postoperative complications following hypospadias surgery, thereby providing a reference for ultrasonographic diagnosis. METHODS: Ultrasonic images of post-hypospadias surgery from October 1, 2015, to June 30, 2023, recorded at the Plastic Surgery Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, serve as the basis for this investigation. Drawing on patient clinical diagnoses, this study compiles and selects representative ultrasound images of diverse complications. RESULTS: The study encompassed a total of 121 subjects; 26 demonstrated urethral stricture on ultrasonic images, two presented local urethral dilation, six showed intraurethral hair-like structures, 17 revealed intraurethral septum, two exhibited intraurethral fold, one had urethral calculus, one displayed urethral calcification, 12 indicated intraurethral urine accumulation, and two showed urethral diverticulum. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound examination is helpful for postoperative diagnosis following hypospadias, detecting complications such as urethral stricture, urethral hair growth, and urethral diverticulum, which can help doctors choose appropriate clinical treatment strategies.

KLF7 promotes neuroblastoma differentiation through the GTPase signaling pathway by upregulating neuroblast differentiation-associated protein AHNAKs and glycerophosphodiesterase GDPD5.

The arrest of neural crest-derived sympathoadrenal neuroblast differentiation contributes to neuroblastoma formation, and overriding this blocked differentiation is a clear strategy for treating high-risk neuroblastoma. A better understanding of neuroblast or neuroblastoma differentiation is essential for developing new therapeutic approaches. It has been proposed that Krueppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) is a neuroblastoma super-enhancer-associated transcription factor gene. Moreover, KLF7 was found to be intensely active in postmitotic neuroblasts of the developing nervous system during embryogenesis. However, the role of KLF7 in the differentiation of neuroblast or neuroblastoma is unknown. Here, we find a strong association between high KLF7 expression and favorable clinical outcomes in neuroblastoma. KLF7 induces differentiation of neuroblastoma cells independently of the retinoic acid (RA) pathway and acts cooperatively with RA to induce neuroblastoma differentiation. KLF7 alters the GTPase activity and multiple differentiation-related genes by binding directly to the promoters of neuroblast differentiation-associated protein (AHNAK and AHNAK2) and glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase domain-containing protein 5 (GDPD5) and regulating their expression. Furthermore, we also observe that silencing KLF7 in neuroblastoma cells promotes the adrenergic-to-mesenchymal transition accompanied by changes in enhancer-mediated gene expression. Our results reveal that KLF7 is an inducer of neuroblast or neuroblastoma differentiation with prognostic significance and potential therapeutic value.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG alleviates radiation-induced intestinal injury by modulating intestinal immunity and remodeling gut microbiota.

Radiation injury to the intestine is one of the most common complications in patients undergoing abdominal or pelvic cavity radiotherapy. In this study, we investigated the potential protective effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on radiation-induced intestinal injury and its underlying mechanisms. Mice were assigned to a control group, a 10 Gy total abdominal irradiation (TAI) group, or a group pretreated with 108 CFU LGG for three days before TAI. Small intestine and gut microbiota were analyzed 3.5 days post-exposure. LGG intervention improved intestinal structure, reduced jejunal DNA damage, and inhibited the inflammatory cGAS/STING pathway. Furthermore, LGG reduced M1 proinflammatory macrophage and CD8+ T cell infiltration, restoring the balance between Th17 and Treg cells in the inflamed jejunum. LGG also partially restored the gut microbiota. These findings suggest the possible therapeutic radioprotective effect of probiotics LGG in alleviating radiation-induced intestinal injury by maintaining immune homeostasis and reshaping gut microbiota.

Singapore tuberculosis (TB) clinical management guidelines 2024: A modified Delphi adaptation of international guidelines for drug-susceptible TB infection and pulmonary disease.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains endemic in Singapore. Singapore's clinical practice guidelines for the management of tuberculosis were first published in 2016. Since then, there have been major new advances in the clinical management of TB, ranging from diagnostics to new drugs and treatment regimens. The National TB Programme convened a multidisciplinary panel to update guidelines for the clinical management of drug-susceptible TB infection and disease in Singapore, contextualising current evidence for local practice. Method: Following the ADAPTE framework, the panel systematically reviewed, scored and synthesised English-language national and international TB clinical guidelines published from 2016, adapting recommendations for a prioritised list of clinical decisions. For questions related to more recent advances, an additional primary literature review was conducted via a targeted search approach. A 2-round modified Delphi process was implemented to achieve consensus for each recommendation, with a final round of edits after consultation with external stakeholders. Results: Recommendations for 25 clinical questions spanning screening, diagnosis, selection of drug regimen, monitoring and follow-up of TB infection and disease were formulated. The availability of results from recent clinical trials led to the inclusion of shorter treatment regimens for TB infection and disease, as well as consensus positions on the role of newer technologies, such as computer-aided detection-artificial intelligence products for radiological screening of TB disease, next-generation sequencing for drug-susceptibility testing, and video observation of treatment. Conclusion: The panel updated recommendations on the management of drug-susceptible TB infection and disease in Singapore.

Chemical constituents from the twigs with leaves of Tetradium trichotomum.

Twelve compounds, comprising of four new ones, 6ß,7α-limondiol (1) and ethyl 19-hydroxyisoobacunoate diosphenol (2), N-benzoyl 3-prenyltyramine (9) and 9-O-methyl integrifoliodiol (12), were isolated from the twigs with leaves of Tetradium trichotomum. The structures were elucidated by analysis of MS, NMR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1, 6, 8, 9 and 12 exhibited immunosuppressive activities in vitro against the proliferation of ConA-induced T lymphocytes and LPS-induced B cells.

SpliceAPP: an interactive web server to predict splicing errors arising from human mutations.

BACKGROUND: Splicing variants are a major class of pathogenic mutations, with their severity equivalent to nonsense mutations. However, redundant and degenerate splicing signals hinder functional assessments of sequence variations within introns, particularly at branch sites. We have established a massively parallel splicing assay to assess the impact on splicing of 11,191 disease-relevant variants. Based on the experimental results, we then applied regression-based methods to identify factors determining splicing decisions and their respective weights. RESULTS: Our statistical modeling is highly sensitive, accurately annotating the splicing defects of near-exon intronic variants, outperforming state-of-the-art predictive tools. We have incorporated the algorithm and branchpoint information into a web-based tool, SpliceAPP, to provide an interactive application. This user-friendly website allows users to upload any genetic variants with genome coordinates (e.g., chr15 74,687,208 A G), and the tool will output predictions for splicing error scores and evaluate the impact on nearby splice sites. Additionally, users can query branch site information within the region of interest. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, SpliceAPP represents a pioneering approach to screening pathogenic intronic variants, contributing to the development of precision medicine. It also facilitates the annotation of splicing motifs. SpliceAPP is freely accessible using the link https://bc.imb.sinica.edu.tw/SpliceAPP . Source code can be downloaded at https://github.com/hsinnan75/SpliceAPP .

Efficacy and relative safety of caplacizumab in immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (iTTP) is a rare microvascular disease characterized by severe disseminated microvascular thrombose-bleeding syndrome. Caplacizumab has been approved for the treatment of iTTP in combination with Plasma Exchange (PE) and immunosuppressive therapy, but its role in iTTP therapy remains uncertain. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the safety and efficacy of caplacizumab for the treatment of patients with iTTP. We searched electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus) and reference lists of relevant articles to find articles published from 2015 to 2022. The time to normalization of the platelet count of the group caplacizumab is shorter than the group placebo (SMD = -0.72; 95% CI -0.88 to -0.56; P  < 0.05). Caplacizumab reduced the incidence of mortality (OR = 0.41; 95% CI 0.18-0.92; P  < 0.05), exacerbations (OR = 0.10; 95% CI 0.05-0.18; P  < 0.05), and recurrence (OR = 0.17; 95% CI 0.06-0.50; P  < 0.05). However, the bleeding events in the caplacizumab group were higher than those in the placebo group, especially severe bleeding events. There was no difference in ADAMTS13 activity and thromboembolic events between the two groups. Our analysis indicated that caplacizumab is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of iTTP. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022362370.

Network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of ground glass nodules.

Background: Ground glass nodules (GGNs) in the lung are considered to be a high-risk factor of lung adenocarcinoma. Immediate surgery is not recommended for GGNs patients, and low-dose computed tomography (CT) is often used for observation and follow-up, which brings high psychological and economic burden to the patient. Methods: Three traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions for the treatment of GGNs were found through database including PubMed, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Scopus and so on. The possible targets of the active ingredients of the TCM preparations and the gene targets of GGNs were screened out from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP), UniProt and GeneCards. Network visualization was realized via STRING, Cytoscape 3.7.2, Evenn, DAVID and Hiplot. Finally, molecular docking Vina and PyMOL software were performed to further explore the possibility of drug-target interactions using PubChem compounds, protein data bank (PDB) database, Autodocktools and Autodock. Results: Three TCM preparations could target the same 13 potential therapeutic targets in GGNs. From network pharmacology, 14 signaling pathways, the functions of the significant targets, an effective ingredient in TCM prescriptions and its functions were obtained. Conclusions: Chinese herbal formulas containing quercetin could be a potential treatment for GGNs, targeting C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) through the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and leukocyte transendothelial migration.

Reducing tension step by step in epicanthus and lower eyelid incision for treating cilial entropion in children: A case series analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of a modified technique for treating congenital cilial entropion in children, which involves reducing tension step by step in the epicanthus and lower eyelid incision. METHODS: The observational group consisted of 153 pediatric patients (81 males and 72 females) who were treated using the modified technique, whereas the control group included 124 patients (68 males and 56 females) who were treated using the rotating suture surgery. All the participants were bilateral. Surgical outcomes were classified as good, fair, or poor, and the recurrence rate, scar condition, inferior eyelid position, and patient satisfaction were also assessed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 9.13 ± 3.50 months (range: 3-14 months) for the observational group and 6.93 ± 4.51 months (range: 3-14 months) for the control group. In the observational group, surgical success with "good" outcomes was achieved in 300 eyes (98.04%), compared to 224 eyes (90.32%) in the control group. No recurrence occurred in the observational group, whereas the recurrence rate in the control group was 4.43%. Postoperative scar formation was mild in the observational group. The average scar score was 1.27 ± 0.96 in the observational group and 2.70 ± 0.99 in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). Neither overcorrection nor postoperative ectropion was observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: The modified technique effectively corrected medial entropion and trichiasis in the lower eyelid, resulting in stable postoperative outcomes, mild scar formation, quick recovery, flexible eyelid motility, and stable ocular surface. Therefore, it can be widely applied to children with congenital entropion and trichiasis.