Shining light on liquid-liquid phase separation in chronic liver disease.

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), a phenomenon characterized by a membrane-free structure formed by weak multivalent interactions of intracellular biological macromolecules, has attracted wide attention in the study of chronic liver diseases in recent years. LLPS has multiple roles in the occurrence and development of chronic liver disease, including regulating virus replication, affecting lipid metabolism, regulating immune response, and participating in the regulation of gene expression. This article reviews the specific mechanism of LLPS in chronic liver disease, and discusses its potential application in drug development, immunotherapy, and gene therapy, providing new ideas for the treatment of chronic liver disease.

Preexisting ulcerative colitis increases the risk of immune-related colitis and predicts divergent survival outcomes in gastrointestinal cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: The risk of immune-related colitis (IRC) and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with gastrointestinal cancers and preexisting ulcerative colitis (UC) has not been well described.

Patients And Methods: We divided the patients with gastrointestinal cancers and preexisting UC who received ICIs between January 2021 and May 2024 into two groups as IRC group and non-IRC group. The electronic medical records were reviewed to compare the risk of IRC between two groups.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Using Cages with Different Sized Windows: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Study Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the subsidence rates of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages with different window sizes.

Summary Of Background Data: PEEK cages used for ACDF procedures typically come with windows designed for filling with bone graft material.

A nomogram model for predicting maternal cardiovascular complications and neonatal adverse outcomes in pregnant patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) during pregnancy significantly increases maternal and fetal mortality risk. We developed nomogram prediction models from retrospective data to assess maternal cardiovascular risks and neonatal adverse outcomes.

Methods: Our study included 170 pregnant women, divided into training (70%) and validation (30%) sets.

A novel chlorine derivative ShengTaiBuFen mediated photodynamic therapy on a mouse wound model infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most common and difficult-to-treat pathogen in chronic wounds. In this study, a novel derivative of chlorin, ShengTaiBuFen (STBF), was used as a photosensitiser to investigate the effect of STBF mediated photodynamic therapy (STBF-PDT) on MRSA-infected ulcers. Appropriate incubation time and concentration parameters were initially explored to evaluate the anti-MRSA performance of STBF-PDT in vitro.

OsATG1 and OsATG8 exhibit autophagy-independent functions to oppositely regulate ROP GTPase-mediated plant immunity in rice.

ROP GTPases regulate various cellular processes, including plant immunity. While ROP GTPase activation has been reported during plant immune responses, the mechanisms underlying the dynamic deactivation of ROP GTPases remain unclear. In this study, we identified the autophagy kinase OsATG1 as a key regulator that interacts with and phosphorylates SPIN6, a plant-specific ROP GTPase-activating protein (RhoGAP), which in turn deactivates the ROP GTPase OsRac1.

Ce6 derivative photodynamic therapy triggers PANoptosis and enhances antitumor immunity with LAG3 blockade in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most prevalent form of nonmelanoma skin cancer, with 2.4 million cases annually and significant mortality. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising antitumor strategy, and its integration with immunotherapy has garnered attention.

Gestational Exposure to Particulate Matter and Preeclampsia Risk: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis and Mendelian Randomization Study.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe hypertensive disorder that occurs during pregnancy. Exposure to particulate matter (PM), particularly fine particles such as PM2.5/PM10, has been investigated as a potential environmental risk factor for its development.

Dynamic chromatin accessibility landscape changes in cardiac fibrosis.

Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by the activation and abnormal proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, which secrete excessive amounts of extracellular matrix proteins. Dynamic changes in chromatin accessibility regulate the structural accessibility of chromatin DNA during transcription and replication. Chromatin accessibility influences gene expression by modulating the interactions between cis-regulatory elements and trans-acting factors.

Identification of a Fetal De Novo Splice Variant in Associated With Growth and Skeletal Abnormalities.

Objective: To report a fetus with -related syndrome caused by a novel heterozygous variant, highlighting the importance of early genetic diagnosis in prenatal care.

Methods: The clinical and genetic data of a fetus with a complex combination of clinical signs and a novel heterozygous variant were collected and have been summarized in this study. The potential pathogenic variant was identified throughout the whole exome sequencing and the effects of candidate variants were further validated by a minigene splicing assay.

Novel landscapes of N6-methyladenosine modification of mitochondrial oxidative stress in organ fibrosis.

Modern medicine increasingly focuses on the treatment and alleviation of diseases before they make substantial progress, and organ fibrosis has always been an important stage in the occurrence of substantial pathological changes in organs. The important characteristics of organ fibrosis are the excessive proliferation of myofibroblasts and the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, which are regulated by a variety of complex signaling pathways and cytokines. The process of fibrosis cannot be separated from the functional support of mitochondria.

Novel insights on post-translational modifications of nucleic acid methylation proteins in hepatic fibrosis.

Hepatic fibrosis is a pathologic state in which there is an excessive accumulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) components within the liver parenchyma. It is an ongoing process that compromises the structure and functional performance of the liver tissue. Without treatment, it may progress to end-stage liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

MOTS-c-modified functional self-assembly peptide hydrogels enhance the activity of nucleus pulposus-derived mesenchymal stem cells of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Unlabelled: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is characterized by oxidative-stress driven progressive apoptosis and senescence of nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells (NP-MSCs). MOTS-c, a 16-amino acid peptide encoded by the mitochondrial 12S rRNA open reading frame, has emerged as a key regulator of cellular metabolism, oxidative stress, and senescence. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of MOTS-c in countering tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced oxidative damage in NP-MSCs, and we developed a novel biomaterial strategy for IDD treatment.

Yogurt in Combination with Inactivated Modulated Feline Lipid Metabolism, Anti-Inflammation and Fecal Microbiota.

Yogurt and postbiotics are both beneficial for intestinal health of pets. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of yogurt with postbiotics in cats. A total of 18 adult cats were randomly divided into three groups, CK group (Control = 6, free feeding and drinking without any probiotic products), Y group (Yogurt, = 6, 50 g/day), and YP group (Yogurt + 2% postbiotics, 50 g/day), with the same environment and diet.

A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study of Pregnancy Outcomes in Idiopathic Oligohydramnios at Term.

Objective: The effect of idiopathic oligohydramnios or isolated oligohydramnios on perinatal outcomes at term pregnancies is understudied. This study aimed to show the current epidemiological status of idiopathic oligohydramnios in mainland China, evaluate the pregnancy outcomes, and discuss the optimal delivery opportunity and mode.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 106,225 term pregnancies from 37 hospitals in mainland China.

Machine learning reveals distinct aquatic organic matter patterns driven by soil erosion types.

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), characterized by unique optical properties, is an essential indicator for understanding aquatic organic matter dynamics within global carbon cycles. Soil erosion, a major source of CDOM received by lakes, transports terrestrial organic matter to water bodies, altering sources, bioavailability and molecular complexity of CDOM significantly. Yet, the spatial patterns of CDOM in lakes from different soil erosion regions are still unknown.

Ethanol-induced Nrf2 suppression in the lung is mediated by AP-1-driven expression of miR-144.

Background: Alcohol use disorders (AUD) increase susceptibility to lung diseases. Ethanol suppresses nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), impairing pulmonary antioxidant and immune defenses. We showed that HIV-mediated Nrf2 suppression in the lung is driven by miR-144.

Cirrhosis Promotes Cardiac Fibrosis Development by Inhibiting Notch1 in Cardiac Fibroblasts.

Cardiovascular disease risk is elevated in patients with cirrhosis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Herein, we found that high levels of circulating transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were associated with an increased risk of cardiomyopathy in cirrhosis patients.

Thromboelastography Maximum Amplitude Is a Valuable Biomarker for Early Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study.

Hypercoagulability contributes to atherosclerosis (AS) progression in individuals suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and thromboelastography (TEG) is a valuable diagnostic tool. This hospital-based cross-sectional study assessed the clinical efficacy of TEG parameters in detecting hypercoagulability and subclinical AS by purposively sampling 372 RA patients and 105 healthy controls. TEG indices, conventional coagulation markers, and biochemical profiles were assessed.

HGF/c-Met Axis-Targeted Nanotherapy via GSH-Responsive Polymer Platforms Suppresses Uveal Melanoma Metastasis.

Uveal melanoma (UM), a malignant tumor originating within the ocular, characterizes high metastasis and lethality among patients. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) distinguished by the c-Met protein are believed to mediate tumor metastasis in UM. However, the low bioavailability of c-Met inhibitors like Crizotilib (Criz) limits their clinical application.

Regulatory Effects of the Wnt7b/β-Catenin/MMP-2 Signaling Pathway on Scleral Stiffness in Guinea Pigs With Form-Deprivation Myopia.

Purpose: The development and progression of myopia are influenced by the Wnt7b/β-catenin signaling pathway. This study investigated the specific impacts of this pathway on the biomechanical properties of the sclera by altering the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) to regulate type I collagen (collagen I) levels.

Methods: We examined the effects of the Wnt7b/β-catenin signaling pathway and MMP-2 on human fetal scleral fibroblasts (HFSFs) and the sclera of guinea pigs with form-deprivation myopia (FDM).

Tree-ring blue-intensity reconstruction of the April-September maximum temperature in the Greater Caucasus region of Georgia since 1780 CE.

The April-September maximum temperature in the Greater Caucasus region of Georgia has undergone notable changes, yet extended reconstructions remain scarce. We collected 40 Pinus sylvestris cores from Bakuriani and extracted their blue-intensity (BI) signals, which capture latewood density closely linked to high-season temperature. After chemical treatment and high-resolution scanning, we employed correlation analyses to identify the seasonal temperature signal in BI.

Epigenetic silencing of SOD2 exacerbates mitochondrial oxidative stress and promotes pulmonary fibrosis.

Mitochondrial oxidative damage-mediated dysfunction is implicated in pulmonary pathogenesis, yet the molecular mechanisms linking redox imbalance to pulmonary fibrosis remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that DNA methyltransferase 3 A (DNMT3A) drives fibroblast activation and pulmonary fibrosis by epigenetically repressing superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), a critical antioxidant enzyme. Using fibroblast-specific DNMT3A-deficient mice and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis models, we observed that DNMT3A ablation significantly attenuated mitochondrial oxidant overproduction, restored mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reduced fibrotic progression.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Yeast Hydrolysate on Immune Function, Fecal Short Chain Fatty Acids, and Intestinal Health in Cats.

Yeast hydrolysate (YH) is rich in amino acids and other nutrients, and as a nutritional supplement it has been widely used in daily nutritional supplements for livestock. However, the role of YH in domestic pets, especially cats, has not yet been determined. The objective of this research was to study the effects of different concentrations of YH on the healthy cats.