Genetic and antigenic characterization of classical and recombinant waterfowl parvoviruses circulating in Taiwan.

Parvovirus infections are highly communicable and pathogenic in ducklings and goslings, leading to major economic losses in waterfowl farming. Although it is well established that Goose parvovirus (GPV) and Muscovy duck parvovirus (MDPV) are primary causes of disease, control of these viruses is difficult due to cross-species transmission and high infectivity of variant strains derived from viral recombination and mutation. In this study, we performed molecular and antigenic analyses on ten field-derived waterfowl parvovirus isolates collected between 2019 and 2023.

Engineering B cells to Express Fully Customizable Antibodies with Enhanced Fc Functions.

Genome editing within the constant region of the immunoglobulin Heavy chain locus () can reprogram B cells to express Heavy chain only antibodies (HCAbs) containing custom antigenrecognition domains. HCAb-engineered cells express both surface B cell receptor (BCR) and secreted antibody isoforms and respond to antigen. By selecting alternate editing sites within , we extended this approach to also allow customization of the constant (Fc) domain of the Heavy chain, producing HCAbs with enhanced effector functions or containing mutations to extend antibody half-life.

In Situ Vaccination with Poly-ICLC Combined with Systemic Nivolumab for the Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents significant therapeutic challenges. While immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are part of the current standard of care, combining poly-ICLC as an in situ vaccination with an ICI may enhance treatment efficacy. The study investigated the safety and therapeutic effects of combining poly-ICLC with nivolumab, an ICI, in patients with unresectable HCC.

Aromatase inhibitors therapy and major osteoporotic fracture risk in postmenopausal breast cancer patients: a nationwide real-world cohort study.

Background: The increased risk of fractures associated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) therapy has been well established in clinical trials; however, data on Asian populations remain limited. Furthermore, the impact of AIs on fracture risk across different age groups and breast cancer stages has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to assess the association between AIs therapy and major osteoporotic fractures (MOFs) in postmenopausal Taiwanese women with breast cancer using real-world data.

GKJOY Supplementation Ameliorates Oxidative Stress and Reproductive Dysfunction in Male Rats with Polystyrene Microplastics-Induced Reproductive Toxicity.

The growing demand for plastic products has led to an increase in human exposure to microplastics (MPs). MPs have been shown to have detrimental effects on reproductive function, while probiotics have demonstrated promise in enhancing fertility. This study aimed to determine the protective effects of GKJOY against reproductive damage induced by polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) in male rats.

Performance comparison between the conventional and blade-designed two-fluid pressure nozzles via CFD simulation.

This study aims to evaluate the performance differences between a conventional pressure twin-fluid nozzle and a blade-designed nozzle, hypothesizing that the blade-designed nozzle can achieve superior gas-liquid interaction. The research of the velocity distribution and atomization behavior of two nozzle designs provides insights into improving nozzle efficiency and suitability for various industrial spray applications. Simulations were conducted under fixed pressure (2 bar) using two Newtonian liquids-water and a glycerol/water mixture with viscosities of 1 mPa s and 100 mPa s, respectively-and air velocities of 60 m/s and 100 m/s.

Ethanol inhibits the growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing immunogenic cell death.

Background: Immunogenic cell death (ICD) can elicit an adaptive immune response with significant antitumor effects. Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy has been applied as tumor ablation for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it was not clear whether ethanol can elicit ICD.

A streamlined U-Net convolution network for medical image processing.

Background: Image segmentation is crucial in medical diagnosis, helping to identify diseased areas in images for more accurate diagnoses. The U-Net model, a convolutional neural network (CNN) widely used for medical image segmentation, has limitations in extracting global features and handling multi-scale pathological information. This study aims to address these challenges by proposing a novel model that enhances segmentation performance while reducing computational demands.

Guiding Sole Intraoperative Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer According to ASTRO Guidelines: Mitigating Adverse Outcomes in a Taiwan Single-Center.

Background: Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is considered a de-escalating adjuvant treatment for breast cancer low-risk patients. However, the broader criteria applied by the Taiwan IORT Study Cooperative Group led to an increased rate of locoregional recurrence (LRR) among patients receiving only IORT. Consequently, we revised the criteria for sole IORT treatment to include patients who meet the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) eligibility standards.

Critical role of hepsin/TMPRSS1 in hearing and tectorial membrane morphogenesis: Insights from transgenic mouse models.

Mutations in various type II transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS) family members are associated with non-syndromic hearing loss, with some mechanisms still unclear. For instance, the mechanism underlying profound hearing loss and tectorial membrane (TM) malformations in hepsin/TMPRSS1 knockout (KO) mice remains elusive. In this study, we confirmed significantly elevated hearing thresholds and abnormal TM morphology in hepsin KO mice, characterized by enlarged TM with gaps and detachment from the spiral limbus.

Reprogramming human B cells with custom heavy-chain antibodies.

The immunoglobulin locus of B cells can be reprogrammed by genome editing to produce custom or non-natural antibodies that are not induced by immunization. However, current strategies for antibody reprogramming require complex expression cassettes and do not allow for customization of the constant region of the antibody. Here we show that human B cells can be edited at the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus to express heavy-chain-only antibodies that support alterations to both the fragment crystallizable domain and the antigen-binding domain, which can be based on both antibody and non-antibody components.

Optimizing aesthetic results in Asian women with giant phyllodes tumors over 10 cm: the periareolar mastopexy approach.

Giant phyllodes tumors, typically exceeding 10 cm in size, are neoplastic lesions with malignant potential. Surgical excision in small-breasted Asian women presents unique challenges where expected poor aesthetic outcomes may delay timely medical intervention. The periareolar mastopexy technique offers a comprehensive solution, enabling complete tumor removal alongside mastopexy to achieve optimal breast contouring.

Modelling Selective CO Absorption and Validation via Photosynthetic Bacteria and Chemical Adsorbents for Methane Purification in Anaerobic Fermentation Bioreactors.

This study delves into advanced methane purification techniques within anaerobic fermentation bioreactors, focusing on selective CO absorption and comparing photosynthetic bacteria (PNSB) with chemical adsorbents. Our investigation demonstrates that MgO-Mg(OH) composites exhibit remarkable CO selectivity over CH, substantiated through rigorous bulk and surface modelling analyses. To address the challenges posed by MgCO shell formation on MgO particles, hindering CO transport, we advocate for the utilisation of MgO-Mg(OH) composites.

Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors based on ACE2 receptor or engineered Spike-binding peptides.

With increasing resistance of SARS-CoV-2 variants to antibodies, there is interest in developing entry inhibitors that target essential receptor-binding regions of the viral Spike protein and thereby present a high bar for viral resistance. Such inhibitors could be derivatives of the viral receptor, ACE2, or peptides engineered to interact specifically with the Spike receptor-binding pocket. We compared the efficacy of a series of both types of entry inhibitors, constructed as fusions to an antibody Fc domain.

Reprogramming human B cells with custom heavy chain antibodies.

We describe a genome editing strategy to reprogram the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) locus of human B cells to express custom molecules that respond to immunization. These heavy chain antibodies (HCAbs) comprise a custom antigen-recognition domain linked to an Fc domain derived from the IgH locus and can be differentially spliced to express either B cell receptor (BCR) or secreted antibody isoforms. The HCAb editing platform is highly flexible, supporting antigen-binding domains based on both antibody and non-antibody components, and also allowing alterations in the Fc domain.

Reprogramming human B cells with custom heavy chain antibodies.

We describe a genome editing strategy to reprogram the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) locus of human B cells to express custom molecules that respond to immunization. These heavy chain antibodies (HCAbs) comprise a custom antigen-recognition domain linked to an Fc domain derived from the IgH locus and can be differentially spliced to express either B cell receptor (BCR) or secreted antibody isoforms. The HCAb editing platform is highly flexible, supporting antigen-binding domains based on both antibody and non-antibody components, and also allowing alterations in the Fc domain.

Porous hydroxyapatite carrier enables localized and sustained delivery of honokiol for glioma treatment.

The objective of this study is to develop hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles for targeted delivery of honokiol to tumor sites after glioma surgical management. Honokiol is released from the HAp-honokiol particles inside cancer cells through endocytosis and subsequent acid lysosomal dissolution. HAp is synthesized using a co-precipitation method, and egg white is added to create porous structures.

Elevated Urinary Hepcidin Level and Hypoferremia in Infants with Febrile Urinary Tract Infection: A Prospective Cohort Study.

To evaluate the kinetics of serum and urinary hepcidin levels along with anemia-related parameters during the infection course of infants with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI), we enrolled febrile infants aged one to four months in this prospective study. Febrile patients with UTI were allocated into () or non- groups according to urine culture results. Septic workup, blood hepcidin, iron profile, urinalysis, and urinary hepcidin-creatinine ratio were collected upon admission and 3 days after antibiotic treatment.

SARS-CoV-2 Enters Human Leydig Cells and Affects Testosterone Production In Vitro.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a SARS-like coronavirus, continues to produce mounting infections and fatalities all over the world. Recent data point to SARS-CoV-2 viral infections in the human testis. As low testosterone levels are associated with SARS-CoV-2 viral infections in males and human Leydig cells are the main source of testosterone, we hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 could infect human Leydig cells and impair their function.

Neoantigen vaccination augments antitumor effects of anti-PD-1 on mouse hepatocellular carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are groundbreaking resources for cancer therapy. However, only a few patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have shown positive responses to anti-PD-1 therapy. Neoantigens are sequence-altered proteins resulting from somatic mutations in cancer.