In Vivo Evaluation of Melasma Pathologic Features and Treatment Response by 2-Photon Microscopy.

Importance: Melasma, a complex and clinically challenging facial pigmentary disorder, lacks in vivo pathologic tools for definitive diagnosis and accurate efficacy assessment.

Objective: To use 2-photon microscopy (TPM) for noninvasive pathologic detection of melasma and therapeutic response monitoring to hydroquinone cream, 2%.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This single-center, evaluator-blinded, observational study consisting of 2 sequential phases was conducted at the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of China-Japan Friendship Hospital from January to September 2024.

Normal stress on surface of mesenchymal stem cells boosts extracellular vesicle secretion and regenerative bioactivity.

Scalable approaches for enhancing therapeutic small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) production can facilitate the transition of sEVs from bench to bedside and beyond. Here, we present a user-friendly method to manipulate the extracellular mechanical microenvironment of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a promising cell type for generating sEVs with therapeutic benefits, to boost sEV secretion and regenerative bioactivity. The bioreactor system, called the programmable controlled rotating platform (PRP), is designed to apply normal stress on cell surface through centrifugal rotation culture.

Efficient and Precise Integration of Large DNA Sequences Using Precise Interstrand Cross-Linking of Long ssDNA and sgRNA.

Homology-directed repair (HDR) allows the precise introduction of functional constructs into the human genome through nonviral gene-editing reagents. However, its application in large DNA sequence gene editing remains limited due to challenges such as low efficiency and the off-target effect. To address these limitations, a new method named AOLP was developed to synthesize chemically modified long single-stranded DNA (lssDNA) as the template donor for Cas9-based gene editing, which has been proven to be more stable than that prepared using the commercial phosphorylation method.

Natural resistance to cancers in long-lived mammals: genomic mechanisms and experimental evidence to explain Peto's paradox.

Long-lived mammals are reported to have rare or considerably fewer instances of spontaneous tumors, suggesting they might have evolved specific or convergent mechanisms of cancer resistance to extend lifespan; however, the underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently explored. Here, we conducted comparative analysis across 60 mammalian genomes to investigate the genomic features associated with natural cancer resistance. We identified 296 strongly selected genes unique to long-lived species and associated with immune response, DNA repair, and cancer, which might contribute to cancer resistance and lifespan extension in long-lived species.

Photo-Cross-linked DNA Structures Greatly Improves Their Serum Nuclease Resistances and Gene Knock-In Efficiencies.

The stabilization and structural integrity of DNA architectures remain significant challenges in their biomedical applications, particularly when inserting functional units into the genome using long single-stranded DNA (lssDNA). To address these challenges, a site-specific photo-cross-linking method is employed. Single-stranded oligonucleotides, containing one or two photosensitive cyanovinylcarbazole nucleoside (K) molecules, are precisely incorporated and cross-linked at the specific sites of ssDNA through base-pairing, followed by rapid UV irradiation at 365 nm.

Highly Dispersed Pd-CeO Nanoparticles in Zeolite Nanosheets for Efficient CO-Mediated Hydrogen Storage and Release.

Formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation and CO hydrogenation to FA/formate represent promising methodologies for the efficient and clean storage and release of hydrogen, forming a CO-neutral energy cycle. Here, we report the synthesis of highly dispersed and stable bimetallic Pd-based nanoparticles, immobilized on self-pillared silicalite-1 (SP-S-1) zeolite nanosheets using an incipient wetness co-impregnation technique. Owing to the highly accessible active sites, effective mass transfer, exceptional hydrophilicity, and the synergistic effect of the bimetallic species, the optimized PdCe/SP-S-1 catalyst demonstrated unparalleled catalytic performance in both FA dehydrogenation and CO hydrogenation to formate.

A nomogram based on clinicopathological and ultrasound characteristics to predict central neck lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid cancer.

Purpose: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has grown rapidly in prevalence over the past few decades, and central neck lymph node metastasis (CNLNM) is associated with poor prognoses. However, whether to carry out preventive central neck lymph node dissection (CNLND) is still controversial. We aimed to construct a prediction model of CNLNM to facilitate making clinical surgical regimens.

Metabolic signatures of tear extracellular vesicles caused by herpes simplex keratitis.

Purpose: Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK), caused by type 1 herpes simplex virus (HSV) reactivation, is a severe infectious disease that leads to vision loss. HSV can trigger metabolic reprogramming in the host cell and change the extracellular vesicles (EV) cargos; however, little is known about the EV metabolic signatures during ocular HSV infection. Here, we aimed to depict the EV-associated metabolic landscape in HSK patients' tears.

Efficacy and safety of 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser combined with mucopolysaccharide polysulfate cream for erythematous acne scars.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser (NAFL) combined with mucopolysaccharide polysulfate (MPS) cream in the treatment of erythematous acne scars.

Methods: A total of 28 subjects with erythematous acne scars from June 2021 to April 2022 were enrolled. One side of each subject's face was randomly assigned to be treated with 1565-nm NAFL (at 2 sessions with four-week intervals) combined with MPS cream (twice daily) for 8 weeks, and the other side with 1565-nm NAFL combined with placebo cream.

Efficient precise integration of large DNA sequences with 3'-overhang dsDNA donors using CRISPR/Cas9.

CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing tools have tremendously boosted our capability of manipulating the eukaryotic genomes in biomedical research and innovative biotechnologies. However, the current approaches that allow precise integration of gene-sized large DNA fragments generally suffer from low efficiency and high cost. Herein, we developed a versatile and efficient approach, termed LOCK (ong dsDNA with 3'-verhangs mediated RISPR nock-in), by utilizing specially designed 3'-overhang double-stranded DNA (odsDNA) donors harboring 50-nt homology arm.

Detection of skin thickness and density in healthy Chinese people by using high-frequency ultrasound.

Objectives: Due to a recent development of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) systems, it is easier to realize high-resolution in vivo imaging of the biological tissues. The object of this study was to map the thickness and echo density of skin layers in healthy Chinese people and assess the influence of gender, age, and region on it.

Methods: A total of 189 volunteers (85 male, 104 female) with age range of 22-75-year old (mean age of 41.

The gut microbiota of silkworm are altered by antibiotic exposure.

In recent years, antibiotics have frequently been detected in soil, lakes, and rivers. Antibiotic residues in the environment may alter microbial structure and cause bacterial resistance, but their effect on interactions among host microbiota is still poorly understood. To investigate this issue, here we used silkworm (Bombyx mori) fed on antibiotic-treated mulberry leaf as a model to explore the effects of antibiotic exposure on gut bacteria and fungi.

Summarization and comparison of dermoscopic features on different subtypes of rosacea.

Background: The dermoscopic features of rosacea have already been reported. However, the current findings are incomplete, and little is known about phymatous rosacea. Hence, this study aimed to summarize and compare the dermoscopic features and patterns of three rosacea subtypes (erythematotelangiectatic [ETR], papulopustular [PPR], and phymatous [PHR]) in the Chinese Han population and to evaluate whether these features differ with patients' genders, ages, and durations.

Biological insights into systemic lupus erythematosus through an immune cell-specific transcriptome-wide association study.

Objective: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified >100 risk loci for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the disease genes at most loci remain unclear, hampering translation of these genetic discoveries. We aimed to prioritise genes underlying the 110 SLE loci that were identified in the latest East Asian GWAS meta-analysis.

Methods: We built gene expression predictive models in blood B cells, CD4 and CD8 T cells, monocytes, natural killer cells and peripheral blood cells of 105 Japanese individuals.

How fluorescent labels affect the kinetics of the toehold-mediated DNA strand displacement reaction.

End modification of the toehold domain or near to it using fluorophore dyes or quenchers can significantly modulate the kinetics of the toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction (TMSDR) by almost two orders of magnitude. The labels at the end of the signal strand impede the TMSDR, while those at the end of the toehold domain of the substrate strand accelerate the TMSDR kinetics.

Comparison of dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy accuracy for the diagnosis of psoriasis and lichen planus.

Background: Dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) as noninvasive tools are gaining increasing importance in the diagnosis of inflammatory skin disorders. The purpose of our study was to calculate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy and RCM in common inflammatory skin diseases.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical, dermoscopic, and RCM images of psoriasis and lichen planuscases from March 2018 to February 2021 in China-Japan Friendship Hospital.

Deficiency of two-pore segment channel 2 contributes to systemic lupus erythematosus via regulation of apoptosis and cell cycle.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease, and the mechanism of SLE is yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to explore the role of two-pore segment channel 2 (TPCN2) in SLE pathogenesis.

Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of TPCN2 in SLE.

Curvature-Mediated Pair Interactions of Soft Nanoparticles Adhered to a Cell Membrane.

The curvature-mediated interactions by cell membranes are crucial in many biological processes. We systematically studied the curvature-mediated wrapping of soft nanoparticles (NPs) by a tensionless membrane and the underlying pair interactions between NPs in determining it. We found that there are three types of wrapping pathways, namely, independence, cooperation, and tubulation.

Procyanidin B2 alleviates liver injury caused by cold stimulation through Sonic hedgehog signalling and autophagy.

Procyanidin B2 (PB2), a naturally occurring flavonoid abundant in a wide range of fruits, has been shown to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. However, the role of PB2 in the prevention of cold stimulation (CS)-induced liver injury. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of PB2 on liver injury induced by cold stimulation and its potential molecular mechanisms.

Skin diseases in the Da Qing Diabetes Study: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The prevalence of skin diseases and diabetes mellitus (DM) are prominent around the world. The current scope of knowledge regarding the prevalence of skin diseases and comorbidities with type 2 DM (T2DM) is limited, leading to limited recognition of the correlations between skin diseases and T2DM.

Methods: We collected 383 subjects from the Da Qing Diabetes Study during the period from July 9th to September 1st, 2016.

Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitalized Patients Infected with COVID-19 from Wuhan, China: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Since the first diagnosed case of infection with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), there has been a rapid spread of the disease with an increasing number of cases confirmed every day, as well as a rising death toll. An association has been reported between acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, our study was conducted to explore possible risk factors of AKI as well as whether AKI was a risk factor for worse outcome, especially mortality among patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Meta-analysis of 208370 East Asians identifies 113 susceptibility loci for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disorder, has been associated with nearly 100 susceptibility loci. Nevertheless, these loci only partially explain SLE heritability and their putative causal variants are rarely prioritised, which make challenging to elucidate disease biology. To detect new SLE loci and causal variants, we performed the largest genome-wide meta-analysis for SLE in East Asian populations.

ActivinA activates Notch1-Shh signaling to regulate proliferation in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells.

The myoblast is a precursor cell that rebuilds muscle tissue after trauma in human and animal skeletal muscle tissue. Proliferation of myoblasts is important for skeletal muscle damage repair and is controlled by numerous transcription factors and signals. The regulation of these signaling pathways and their complex interactions are not fully understood.