Exploring the Causal Effect of Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number on Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Purpose: Although some studies have established a clear association between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the causative relationship between the two remains unclear, which is what this study aims to explore.

Method: We investigated the causal relationship between mtDNA copy number and OSA based on public genome-wide association study data utilizing a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and also explored the mediating role of immune cells between the two using a mediator MR analysis. We estimated the causal effects primarily using the inverse variance weighted method and conducted sensitivity analyses based on the MR-Egger intercept method and Cochran's Q test.

Patient journey and Quality of Life for Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPFLife) in China: a sequential exploratory mixed methods research protocol.

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare, chronic and progressive lung disease with a significant impact on patients' quality of life. While much research has focused on disease mechanisms and treatment efficacy, limited attention has been paid to the landscape, unmet needs, patient experiences and quality of life. Understanding these aspects through the patient journey is essential for developing patient-centred therapeutic strategies.

Novel Pharmacokinetic Bridging Strategy for Locally Acting Intravitreal Drug Products.

A clinical development program for follow-on locally acting intravitreal drug products typically includes a comparative efficacy study. Pharmacokinetic assessment is often considered of limited value because systemic exposure is low and/or not predictive of efficacy at the site of action. In this commentary, we evaluated the relevance of pharmacokinetics for locally acting intravitreal large molecule drug products.

TERC Stimulates Fatty Acid Metabolism to Promote Bladder Cancer Progression.

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer is susceptible to metastasis and has a poor prognosis. A better understanding of the biological process and molecular mechanisms associated with bladder cancer aggressiveness could lead to the development of effective strategies to prevent metastasis. Here, we identified that the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) telomerase RNA component (TERC) was significantly upregulated in invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma tissues.

Anatomically Based Multitask Deep Learning Radiomics Nomogram Predicts the Implant Failure Risk in Sinus Floor Elevation.

Objectives: To develop and assess the performance of an anatomically based multitask deep learning radiomics nomogram (AMDRN) system to predict implant failure risk before maxillary sinus floor elevation (MSFE) while incorporating automated segmentation of key anatomical structures.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected patients' preoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and electronic medical records (EMRs). First, the nn-UNet v2 model was optimized to segment the maxillary sinus (MS), Schneiderian membrane (SM), and residual alveolar bone (RAB).

Importance of oxygen content in La doped SrIrO.

We perform a systematical investigation on the influence of oxygen content in SrLaIrOcompounds by comparing the physical properties of the as-prepared SrLaIrOsamples, the SrLaIrOsamples after annealing under high oxygen pressure and the samples synthesized directly under high oxygen pressure. It is found that there are a lot of oxygen vacancies in the as-prepared SrLaIrOsamples, which is rarely reported before. The annealing treatment to the SrLaIrOsamples and the synthesis of SrLaIrOsamples under oxygen pressure could substantially increase the oxygen content of the samples.

FTO-mediated mA demethylation regulates IGFBP3 expression and AKT activation through IMP3-dependent P-body re-localisation in lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and a growing body of evidence suggests that RNA modifications, including methylation, play a critical role in its progression. In this study, we investigated the role of the RNA demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) in lung cancer progression and determined the underlying molecular mechanisms. FTO expression was significantly upregulated in LUAD and correlated with poor prognosis.

A potent and broad CD4 binding site neutralizing antibody with strong ADCC activity from a Chinese HIV-1 elite neutralizer.

The discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that target conserved epitopes on the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) has garnered significant attention for its potential in the development of effective therapeutic and vaccine strategies. In this study, we isolated and characterized a CD4 binding site (CD4bs) antibody, FD22, from an elite neutralizer in China who had been infected with a clade B virus through contaminated blood plasma for 23 years. The heavy chain of FD22 was derived from a rarely reported IGHV3-30 germline gene and exhibited an exceptionally high degree of somatic hypermutation (SHM) (37%), along with a long and unique CDRH3 loop of 20-amino acids.

Whole-genome sequencing of coexisting bla, bla, and mcr-9.1 in a clinical carbapenem-resistant Citrobacter braakii isolate.

Objective: We aimed to characterize the molecular characteristics and clinical features of carbapenem-resistant Citrobacter braakii carrying bla, bla, and mcr-9.1 using whole-genome sequencing.

Methods: The susceptibility of C.

Evaluation of caries prevention effect of dental dentin remineralization system constructed by biomimetic peptides and NACP: Molecular properties of calcium phosphate composite material NACP.

This study evaluated the anti-caries effect of the dentin remineralization system constructed by biomimetic peptide and calcium phosphate composite NACP, especially the molecular properties of NACP and its role in dentin remineralization, as well as the effectiveness and biocompatibility of this composite system in promoting dentin remineralization. The influence of DGP polypeptide and NACP bonding system on bonding strength was compared. Then, the NACP+DGP polypeptide system was constructed to evaluate its acid buffering ability and calcium and phosphorus ion release characteristics in vitro.

Comparison of Analysis of Covariance and Analysis of Variance in Pharmacokinetic Similarity Studies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of demographic covariates on pharmacokinetic (PK) similarity assessment. A total of 30 PK similarity studies were analyzed to compare the use of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Trial simulations were conducted to further compare the two statistical approaches by varying sample size and covariates.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals altered placental microenvironment due to maternal high-fat diet.

Background: The prevalence of childhood metabolic diseases has markedly increased in recent decades whereas the effects of maternal nutrients affecting the placental microenvironment are not clearly addressed.

Methods: In the present study, female C57BL/6J mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) or control diet (CON) for 5 weeks prior to mating and then during pregnancy. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to dissect the placental cell atlas at embryonic day(E) 18.

Haptic rendering for multi-phase tooth extraction process.

Tooth extraction simulation with force feedback can provide a valuable training tool for dental students, familiarizing them with the detailed motion and force patterns involved in this procedure. This simulation encounters two major challenges - replicating the forceps' 7-DoF motion and accurately simulating the distinct phases of tooth extraction. This paper presents a comprehensive haptic simulation framework for simulating tooth extraction with force feedback, combining both hardware and software solutions.

Thioredoxin: a key factor in cold tumor formation and a promising biomarker for immunotherapy resistance in NSCLC.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has shown promising clinical efficacy in cancer treatment, but only a subset of patients experience significant therapeutic responses. Tumor cells respond to internal and external stresses, such as hypoxia and nutrient deprivation, by activating the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the tumor microenvironment. This response helps maintain homeostasis, promoting malignant progression, chemotherapy resistance, and immune escape.

cGAMP-targeting injectable hydrogel system promotes periodontal restoration by alleviating cGAS-STING pathway activation.

The impaired function of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) impedes restoration of periodontal tissues. The cGAS-cGAMP-STING pathway is an innate immune pathway that sensing cytosolic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), but its role in regulating the function of PDLSCs is still unclear. In this study, we found that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was released into the cytoplasm through the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in PDLSCs upon inflammation, which binds to cGAS and activated the STING pathway by promoting the production of cGAMP, and ultimately impaired the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs.

Osteoclastogenesis-characterized osteoinductive biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic for bone regeneration in rabbit maxillary sinus lift.

Calcium phosphate ceramics can be osteoinductive. Osteoinductive calcium phosphate ceramics are attractive bone substitutes because of their ability to induce bone formation in soft tissues far from osseous sites. Herein, we introduce an osteoinductive biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramic for maxillary sinus lift.

Bcl6 controls the stability and suppressive function of regulatory T cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) ranks as the sixth most common cancer globally. Most studies in HNSCC demonstrated that regulatory T (Treg) cells confine the anti-tumor activity of effector T cells which may contribute to the immune escape and uncontrolled tumor progression. Here, we uncovered that the specific abrogation of Bcl6 in Treg cells resulted in significantly delayed malignant transformation of 4NQO-induced tumorigenesis.

Targeted tumor therapy with L-cyst(e)ine-addicted bacteria-nanodrug biohybrids.

Bacteria-based metabolic therapy has been acknowledged as a promising strategy for tumor treatment. However, the insufficient efficiency of wild-type bacteria severely restricts their therapeutic efficacy. Here, we elaborately develop an ʟ-cyst(e)ine-addicted bacteria-nanodrug biohybrid for metabolic therapy through a dual-selection directed evolution strategy.

Injectable hydrogel microsphere orchestrates immune regulation and bone regeneration via sustained release of calcitriol.

Repairing bone defects in inflammatory conditions remains a significant clinical challenge. An ideal scaffold material for such situations should enable minimally invasive implantation and integrate capabilities for immunomodulation, anti-infection therapy, and enhanced bone regeneration. In this study, we developed injectable calcitriol@polydopamine@gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel microspheres (CAL@PDA@GMs) using microfluidic technology.

BCG-trained macrophages couple LDLR upregulation to type I IFN responses and antiviral immunity.

Trained immunity refers to memory-like responses of innate immune cells when they re-encounter pathogenic stimuli. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination implies enhanced antiviral immunity, whereas the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we have uncovered elevated expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) on BCG-trained macrophages with robust type I interferon (IFNI) production and antiviral effects both in vivo and in vitro.

Voxel-based alterations in spontaneous brain activity among very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis: A preliminary resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Very late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis (VLOSLP) is a subtype of schizophrenia spectrum disorders in which individuals experience psychotic symptoms for the first time after the age of 60. The incidence of VLOSLP shows a linear relationship with increasing age. However, no studies have reported alterations in spontaneous brain activity among VLOSLP patients and their correlation with cognitive function and clinical symptoms.

Unsupervised Domain Adaptation for Cross-Modality Cerebrovascular Segmentation.

Cerebrovascular segmentation from time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA) and computed tomography angiography (CTA) is essential in providing supportive information for diagnosing and treatment planning of multiple intracranial vascular diseases. Different imaging modalities utilize distinct principles to visualize the cerebral vasculature, which leads to the limitations of expensive annotations and performance degradation while training and deploying deep learning models. In this paper, we propose an unsupervised domain adaptation framework CereTS to perform translation and segmentation of cross-modality unpaired cerebral angiography.

Effectiveness evaluation of a serious game for dental lost wax casting training.

Background: A serious game module called "D-Casting" was developed in the previous study. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the D-Casting module.

Methods: The experiment consisted of two parts: construct validity assessment and skill transfer assessment.

Improvement in Nitrogen-Use Efficiency Increases Salt Stress Tolerance in Rice Seedlings and Grain Yield in Salinized Soil.

Salt stress has become a major limiting factor of rice ( L.) yield worldwide. Appropriate nitrogen application contributes to improvement in the salt tolerance of rice.