Robust fluorescent labeling and tracking of endogenous non-repetitive genomic loci.

The spatial organization and dynamics of a genome are central to gene regulation. While a comprehensive understanding of chromatin organization in the human nucleus has been achieved using fixed-cell methods, measuring the dynamics of specific genomic regions over extended periods in individual living cells remains challenging. Here, we present a robust and fully genetically encoded system for fluorescent labeling and long-term tracking of any accessible non-repetitive genomic locus in live human cells using fluorogenic and replenishable nanobody array fusions of the dCas9, and compact polycistronic single guide (sg)RNAs.

Exploring cerebral small vessel disease, choroid plexus, demographics and vascular risk factors that affect glymphatic function.

Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a major contributor to cognitive decline and dementia. The glymphatic system, a recently discovered brain waste clearance system, plays a critical role in maintaining brain health. This study investigates glymphatic dysfunction in CSVD using diffusion tensor imaging along perivascular spaces (DTI-ALPS) and enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS), to identify key risk factors and modifiable influences.

Prognostic Value of TBC1D1 and Its Relationship With the Tumor Microenvironment in Pancreatic Cancer: A Study Based on Single-Cell Sequencing.

TBC1 Domain Family Member 1 (TBC1D1) plays a crucial role in various cancers. However, its specific function in pancreatic cancer (PC) remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of TBC1D1 and its correlation with the tumor microenvironment (TME) in PC.

Norcholic Acid Promotes M1 Macrophage Polarization in Acute Pancreatitis by Activating the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common gastrointestinal emergency and critical condition worldwide. Given the absence of specific therapeutic targets, managing the progression of AP to severe phases and the accompanying systemic inflammatory response remains challenging. We detected an abnormally elevated expression of norcholic acid (NorCA) in the serum of patients with various types of AP and found that this bile acid is closely associated with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the context of AP.

The Role of Iron Homeostasis Imbalance in T2DM-Associated Cognitive Dysfunction: A Prospective Cohort Study Utilizing Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that significantly impacts cognitive health. Although the vascular complications of T2DM have been extensively studied, research on brain iron deposition in T2DM remains scarce, and few studies have directly linked iron accumulation in cognition-related subcortical nuclei to cognitive dysfunction. This study aims to evaluate brain iron deposition using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and identify key subcortical nuclei associated with T2DM-related cognitive decline.

Histone hyperacetylation disrupts spermatogonial stem cells homeostasis and impairs spermiogenesis.

Background: It is well-known that epigenetic regulation is involved in the negative effects of environmental physical, chemical and biological factors exposures on organs. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of histone hyperacetylation caused by environmental stress on spermatogenesis, we used the histone deacetylase inhibitor Panobinostat (PANO) to establish the hyperacetylation models in mice.

Methods: To investigate the effects of PANO on testicular function of male reproductive system, we conducted the evaluation of sperm quality parameters in mice.

Potential value of quantitative magnetic susceptibility mapping for the assessment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemic brain injury: A retrospective cohort study based on propensity score matching method.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore the iron contend of patients with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NHB) and its correlation with clinical indicators.

Methods: A total of 34 patients with NHB and 15 subjects in healthy controls (HC) group were included and underwent laboratory examinations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for QSM. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to perform 1:1 no-return matching of subjects in the NHB and HC groups, and then the correlation analysis of the susceptibility values of each brain region with the clinical parameter was explored again, as well as the factors influencing the susceptibility values of each brain region were probed by multivariate linear regression analyses.

Economic burden due to hearing loss among individuals in Hebei, China.

Background: Hearing loss is a common sensory disorder that imposes a significant economic burden on both society and families. However, there is a paucity of research analyzing the economic burden of hearing loss, particularly in-depth regional analyses.

Methods: This study employed a convenience sampling method and a custom-designed questionnaire.

Efficacy and prognostic impact of preoperative risk factors for salvage liver transplantation and repeat hepatectomy in patients with early-stage recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: The optimal treatment strategy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (rHCC) remains unclear. This study is based on cases of rHCC after liver resection, aiming to evaluate the influence of preoperative risk factors on the long-term prognosis of patients with rHCC by comparing patients who underwent salvage liver transplantation (SLT) with those who underwent repeat hepatectomy (RH).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 401 consecutive patients with rHCC who underwent SLT or RH between March 2015 and December 2022.

Carbon Flow in Acidic CO Electroreduction.

Electrochemical CO reduction in acidic media attracts extensive research attention due to its potential in increasing carbon efficiency. In most reports, alkali cations are introduced to suppress hydrogen evolution and to promote CO reduction. However, the mass transport of alkali cations through cation exchange membrane induces the change of electrolyte compositions.

Stacked meshes with super-wettability atmospheric plasma for efficient emulsion separation.

Common filter membranes for emulsion separation often require time-intensive preparation and extensive use of chemicals, necessitating a fast-processing and eco-friendly alternative. This study introduces a 2-layer stacked nylon mesh treated with surface diffuse atmospheric plasma (SDAP) for rapid and efficient emulsion separation. Commercial nylon mesh exhibited durable super-wetting properties after just 30 s of SDAP treatment, which was sufficient for effective emulsion separation.

Microglia-Derived Vitamin D Binding Protein Mediates Synaptic Damage and Induces Depression by Binding to the Neuronal Receptor Megalin.

Vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) is a potential biomarker of major depressive disorder (MDD). This study demonstrates for the first time that VDBP is highly expressed in core emotion-related brain regions of mice susceptible to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Specifically, the overexpression of microglia (MG)-derived VDBP in the prelimbic leads to depression-like behavior and aggravates CUMS-induced depressive phenotypes in mice, whereas conditional knockout of MG-derived VDBP can reverse both neuronal damage and depression-like behaviors.

Stepwise Assembly of DNA Nanostructures in a Surface-Based Method.

Hierarchical assembly of DNA nanostructures has already led to superstructures of ever-increasing level of complexity. Processing control in building nanostructures hierarchically is desirable but remains underexplored. Here, we present the stepwise assembly of DNA origami nanostructures by a surface-based method.

Cognitive impairment and amygdala subregion volumes in elderly with cerebral small vessel disease: A large prospective cohort study.

Although the amygdala is associated with cognitive impairment resulting from cerebral small vessel disease, the relationship between alterations in amygdala structure and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) remains controversial. Given that the amygdala comprises several subregions, detecting subtle regional changes through total amygdala volume measurement is challenging. This study aimed to identify the patterns of amygdala subregion atrophy in cerebral small vessel disease patients and their relationship with cognitive impairment.

DNA Mechanics: From Single Stranded to Self-Assembled.

DNA encodes genetic information and forms various structural conformations with distinct physical, chemical, and biological properties. Over the past 30 years, advancements in force manipulation technology have enabled the precise manipulation of DNA at nanometer and piconewton resolutions. This mini-review discusses these force manipulation techniques for exploring the mechanical properties of DNA at the single-molecule level.

Advancing cerebral small vessel disease diagnosis: Integrating quantitative susceptibility mapping with MRI-based radiomics.

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a neurodegenerative disease with hidden symptoms and difficult to diagnose. The diagnosis mainly depends on clinical symptoms and neuroimaging. Therefore, we explored the potential of combining clinical detection with MRI-based radiomics features for the diagnosis of CSVD in a large cohort.

Neuromolecular and behavioral effects of cannabidiol on depressive-associated behaviors and neuropathic pain conditions in mice.

Background And Aims: Neuropathic pain (NP) has a high incidence in the general population, is closely related to anxiety disorders, and has a negative impact on the quality of life. Cannabidiol (CBD), as a natural product, has been extensively studied for its potential therapeutic effects on symptoms such as pain and depression (DP). However, the mechanism of CBD in improving NP with depression is not fully understood.

Histone acetylation regulated by histone deacetylases during spermatogenesis.

Background: Physical, chemical, and biological factors in the environment constantly influence in vivo and in vitro biological processes, including diverse histone modifications involved in cancer and metabolism. However, the intricate mechanisms of acetylation regulation remain poorly elucidated. In mammalian spermatogenesis, acetylation plays a crucial role in repairing double-strand DNA breaks, regulating gene transcription, and modulating various signaling pathways.

Quantitative evaluation of science and technology financial policies based on the PMC-AE index model: A case study of China's science and technology financial policies since the 13th five-year plan.

The formulation of science and technology financial policies directly influences the direction of national economic development. Quantitative evaluation of these policies is an important method to reflect the consistency and strengths and weaknesses of policy interrelations. This paper analyzes 16 science and technology financial policy documents issued by the Chinese central government from 2016 to 2022, using text analysis and content analysis to extract keyword frequencies, and constructs 9 primary variables and 34 secondary variables.

Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain Induced by Spinal Nerve Ligation: A New Approach via an Oblique Lateral Incision.

Purpose: The spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model is a typical peripheral neuropathic pain model. During its construction, the removal of paraspinal muscles and transverse processes typically occurs, resulting in additional trauma that may potentially affect the pathophysiologic process of neuropathic pain. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of establishing a more reliable SNL model using an oblique lateral approach.

Amygdala and cognitive impairment in cerebral small vessel disease: structural, functional, and metabolic changes.

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a prevalent vascular disorder that has been consistently associated with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). The diagnosis of CSVD continues to rely on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Epidemiological data indicate that the characteristic MRI features of CSVD, including white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and lacunar infarction, are very common among individuals over 40 years of age in community studies.

Efficacy and safety of TACE combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and camrelizumab for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta‑analysis.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and camrelizumab (collectively: T-T-C) is a novel treatment strategy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of T-T-C compared with TACE combined with TKIs only (T-T) in the treatment of patients with unresectable HCC. A systematic literature search was conducted on T-T and T-T-C using PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library.

Lenvatinib in combination with transarterial chemoembolization vs. sorafenib in combination with transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A network meta‑analysis.

The use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is considered the standard therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). However, information regarding the efficacy of lenvatinib or sorafenib in combination with TACE for patients with uHCC is limited. The present study involved a systematic search for randomized controlled trials on the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library online databases to compare the use of TACE combined with either lenvatinib or sorafenib, and monotherapy using either lenvatinib or sorafenib for patients with uHCC.

Green processing surface diffuse atmospheric plasma to enhance the dyeing performance on polylactic acid fabric.

Poor dyeing performance has been a major defect of polylactic acid (PLA) fibers, which is caused by the lack of active chemical groups in PLA, and hinders the widespread use of this biodegradable material. Most of the existing chemical modification methods are not environmentally friendly and produce effluents. Herein, we report a green, efficient and continuous method to process PLA fibers surface diffuse atmospheric plasma for the improvement of its hydrophilicity and dyeing performance.

Salvage liver transplantation versus curative treatment for patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Salvage liver transplantation (SLT) is an effective treatment option for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (rHCC) following primary curative treatment (CUR). However, its efficacy remains controversial compared to that of CURs, including repeat liver resection (RLR) and local ablation. This meta-analysis compared the efficacy and safety of these procedures.