DHRS13 suppresses differentiation and mitophagy in glioma via retinoic acid and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species.

To elucidate the complex interplay of undifferentiated cancer cells in malignancy, we focus on the crucial mechanisms that maintain the undifferentiated state of cancer stem-like cells, which drive tumor growth and therapy resistance. Here, we identify a protein called dehydrogenase/reductase 13 (DHRS13) that is abundant in undifferentiated glioblastoma cells. DHRS13 is primarily located in the mitochondria and functions as a retinaldehyde reductase, converting all-trans-retinaldehyde to all-trans-retinol with high affinity for NADPH.

Competing Programs Shape Cortical Sensorimotor-Association Axis Development.

The neocortex is organized along a dominant sensorimotor-to-association (S-A) axis, anchored by modality-specific primary sensorimotor areas at one end and transmodal association areas that form distributed networks supporting abstract cognition at the other. The developmental mechanisms shaping this axis remain elusive. Here, we present converging multispecies evidence supporting the Multinodal Induction-Exclusion in Network Development (MIND) model, in which S-A patterning is governed by competing processes of induction and exclusion, driven by opposing transcriptomically-defined identity programs emerging from different nodes.

Early developmental origins of cortical disorders modeled in human neural stem cells.

The implications of the early phases of human telencephalic development, involving neural stem cells (NSCs), in the etiology of cortical disorders remain elusive. Here, we explore the expression dynamics of cortical and neuropsychiatric disorder-associated genes in datasets generated from human NSCs across telencephalic fate transitions in vitro and in vivo. We identify risk genes expressed in brain organizers and sequential gene regulatory networks throughout corticogenesis, revealing disease-specific critical phases when NSCs may be more vulnerable to gene dysfunction and converging signaling across multiple diseases.

Longitudinal analysis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis using enhanced resolution-computed tomography images: unveiling patterns in lung structure, function, and clinical correlations.

Rationale: Pneumoconiosis, caused by prolonged exposure to mineral dust, leads to progressive structural and functional lung alterations. Quantitative computed tomography (qCT) has emerged as a critical tool for assessing these changes, yet there is limited research on the longitudinal patterns in pneumoconiosis patients.

Methods: This study examined a cohort of 31 former coal workers with pneumoconiosis over a 1-year period.

Quantitative computed tomography imaging classification of cement dust-exposed patients-based Kolmogorov-Arnold networks.

Background: Occupational health assessment is critical for detecting respiratory issues caused by harmful exposures, such as cement dust. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) imaging provides detailed insights into lung structure and function, enhancing the diagnosis of lung diseases. However, its high dimensionality poses challenges for traditional machine learning methods.

Assessment of ventilation heterogeneity and particle deposition in asthmatics using combined SPECT/CT imaging and computational modeling approaches.

Purpose: This study investigated asthma phenotypes and their associations with ventilation heterogeneity and particle deposition by utilizing Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imaging, quantitative Computed Tomography (qCT) imaging-based subgrouping, and a whole-lung computational model.

Materials And Methods: Two datasets were analyzed: one from a combined SPECT and CT (SPECT/CT) study with six asthmatic subjects, and another from the Severe Asthma Research Program (SARP) with 209 asthmatic subjects. Data from 35 previously acquired healthy subjects served as a control group.

MFGE-8, a Corona Protein on Extracellular Vesicles, Mediates Self-Renewal and Survival of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and secretory factors play crucial roles in intercellular communication, but the molecular mechanisms and dynamics governing their interplay in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that hPSC-secreted milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFGE-8) is the principal corona protein at the periphery of EVs, playing an essential role in controlling hPSC stemness. MFGE-8 depletion reduced EV-mediated self-renewal and survival in hPSC cultures.

1D Network computational fluid dynamics for evaluating regional pressures in subjects with cement dust exposure.

Cement dust is a primary contributor to air pollution and is responsible for causing numerous respiratory diseases. The impact of cement dust exposure on the respiratory health of residents is increasing owing to the demand for construction associated with urbanization. Long-term inhalation of cement dust leads to a reduction in lung function, alterations in airway structure, increased inhalation and exhalation resistance, and heightened work of breath.

Nano-fluorescence imaging: advancing lymphatic disease diagnosis and monitoring.

The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in maintaining physiological homeostasis and regulating immune responses. Traditional imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, and positron emission tomography have been widely used to diagnose disorders in the lymphatic system, including lymphedema, lymphangioma, lymphatic metastasis, and Castleman disease. Nano-fluorescence technology has distinct advantages-including naked-eye visibility, operational simplicity, portability of the laser, and real-time visibility-and serves as an innovative alternative to traditional imaging techniques.

Assessing respiratory airflow unsteadiness under different tidal respiratory frequencies using large eddy simulation method.

Unsteady respiratory airflow characteristics play a crucial role in understanding the deposition of toxic particles and inhaled aerosol drugs in the human respiratory tract. Considering the variations in respiratory flow rate and glottis motion under different respiratory frequencies, these respiratory airflow characteristics are studied by large-eddy simulations, including pressure field, power loss, modal spatial patterns, and vortex structures. Firstly, the results reveal that varying respiratory frequencies significantly affect airflow unsteadiness, turbulent evolution, and vortex structure dissipation, as they increase the complexity and butterfly effect introduced by the turbulent disturbance.

BranchLabelNet: Anatomical Human Airway Labeling Approach using a Dividing-and-Grouping Multi-Label Classification.

Anatomical airway labeling is crucial for precisely identifying airways displaying symptoms such as constriction, increased wall thickness, and modified branching patterns, facilitating the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary ailments. This study introduces an innovative airway labeling methodology, BranchLabelNet, which accounts for the fractal nature of airways and inherent hierarchical branch nomenclature. In developing this methodology, branch-related parameters, including position vectors, generation levels, branch lengths, areas, perimeters, and more, are extracted from a dataset of 1000 chest computed tomography (CT) images.

ID1/activin A glioblastoma cells contribute to resistance to anti-angiogenesis therapy through malformed vasculature.

Although bevacizumab (BVZ), a representative drug for anti-angiogenesis therapy (AAT), is used as a first-line treatment for patients with glioblastoma (GBM), its efficacy is notably limited. Whereas several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the acquisition of AAT resistance, the specific underlying mechanisms have yet to be sufficiently ascertained. Here, we established that inhibitor of differentiation 1 (ID1)/activin A glioblastoma cell confers resistance to BVZ.

Relationship of computed tomography-based measurements with symptom perception and quality of life in patients with severe asthma.

Background: Symptom perception and quality of life (QOL) are important domains for properly managing severe asthma. This study aimed to assess the relationship between airway structural and parenchymal variables measured using chest computed tomography (CT) and subjective symptom perception and QOL in patients with severe asthma enrolled in the Korean Severe Asthma Registry.

Methods: This study used CT-based objective measurements, including airway wall thickness (WT), hydraulic diameter, functional small airway disease (fSAD), and emphysematous lung (Emph), to assess their association with subjective symptom (cough, dyspnea, wheezing, and sputum) perception measured using the visual analog scale, and QOL measured by the Severe Asthma Questionnaire (SAQ).

Human-airway surface mesh smoothing based on graph convolutional neural networks.

Background And Objective: A detailed representation of the airway geometry in the respiratory system is critical for predicting precise airflow and pressure behaviors in computed tomography (CT)-image-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The CT-image-based geometry often contains artifacts, noise, and discontinuities due to the so-called stair step effect. Hence, an advanced surface smoothing is necessary.

Migrasomal autophagosomes relieve endoplasmic reticulum stress in glioblastoma cells.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is more difficult to treat than other intractable adult tumors. The main reason that GBM is so difficult to treat is that it is highly infiltrative. Migrasomes are newly discovered membrane structures observed in migrating cells.

Structural and functional features of asthma participants with fixed airway obstruction using CT imaging and 1D computational fluid dynamics: A feasibility study.

Asthma with fixed airway obstruction (FAO) is associated with significant morbidity and rapid decline in lung function, making its treatment challenging. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) along with data postprocessing is a useful tool to obtain detailed information on airway structure, parenchymal function, and computational flow features. In this study, we aim to identify the structural and functional differences between asthma with and without FAO.

Computed tomography-based imaging biomarker identifies coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

The increase in the incidence and the diagnostic limitations of pneumoconiosis have emerged as a public health concern. This study aimed to conduct a computed tomography (CT)- based quantitative analysis to understand differences in imaging results of pneumoconiosis according to disease severity. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) guidelines, coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) are classified into five categories.

Aloe-derived nanovesicles attenuate inflammation and enhance tight junction proteins for acute colitis treatment.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease of the digestive tract that causes pain and weight loss and also increases the risk of colon cancer. Inspired by the benefits of plant-derived nanovesicles and aloe, we herein report aloe-derived nanovesicles, including aloe vera-derived nanovesicles (VNVs), aloe arborescens-derived nanovesicles (ANVs), and aloe saponaria-derived nanovesicles (SNVs) and evaluate their therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute experimental colitis mouse model. Aloe-derived nanovesicles not only facilitate markedly reduced DSS-induced acute colonic inflammation, but also enable the restoration of tight junction (TJ) and adherent junction (AJ) proteins to prevent gut permeability in DSS-induced acute colonic injury.

An unsupervised image registration method employing chest computed tomography images and deep neural networks.

Background: Deformable image registration is crucial for multiple radiation therapy applications. Fast registration of computed tomography (CT) lung images is challenging because of the large and nonlinear deformation between inspiration and expiration. With advancements in deep learning techniques, learning-based registration methods are considered efficient alternatives to traditional methods in terms of accuracy and computational cost.

The oncogenic JAG1 intracellular domain is a transcriptional cofactor that acts in concert with DDX17/SMAD3/TGIF2.

Jagged1 (JAG1) is a Notch ligand that contact-dependently activates Notch receptors and regulates cancer progression. The JAG1 intracellular domain (JICD1) is generated from JAG1, like formation of the NOTCH1 intracellular domain (NICD1); however, the role of JICD1 in tumorigenicity has not been comprehensively elucidated. Here we show that JICD1 induces astrocytes to acquire several cancer stem cell properties, including tumor formation, invasiveness, stemness, and resistance to anticancer therapy.

Inhibitor of differentiation 1 in U87MG glioblastoma cells promotes HUVEC sprouting through endothelin-1.

Anti-angiogenesis therapy, a promising remedy against tumor progression, is now widely used to treat numerous types of cancer. Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most vital factor in angiogenesis, most anti-angiogenesis drugs target the VEGF-related pathway. However, in glioblastoma (GBM), the therapeutic strategy involving the inhibition of VEGF signaling is ineffective.

Hemp-Derived Nanovesicles Protect Leaky Gut and Liver Injury in Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis.

Hemp ( L.) is used for medicinal purposes owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. We evaluated the protective effect of nanovesicles isolated from hemp plant parts (root, seed, hemp sprout, and leaf) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice.

Cytoplasmic LMO2-LDB1 Complex Activates STAT3 Signaling through Interaction with gp130-JAK in Glioma Stem Cells.

The oncogenic role of nuclear LIM domain only 2 (LMO2) as a transcriptional regulator is well established, but its function in the cytoplasm is largely unknown. Here, we identified LMO2 as a cytoplasmic activator for signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling in glioma stem cells (GSCs) through biochemical and bioinformatics analyses. LMO2 increases STAT3 phosphorylation by interacting with glycoprotein 130 (gp130) and Janus kinases (JAKs).