Role of TGF-β3 in Regulating Neural Crest Cell Fate and Craniofacial Development: Insights From Zebrafish Models.

Background: Craniofacial malformations, caused by dysregulated neural crest cell (NCC) differentiation, affect approximately one-third of newborns worldwide. Although TGFB3 mutations were recently associated with human coronoid process hypertrophy (CPH) and other craniofacial disorders, the mechanisms by which TGF-β3 regulates NCC fate determination through cell-cell communication remains unknown.

Methods: A zebrafish model was used to investigate the impact of tgfb3 on craniofacial cartilage and bone development.

Vonoprazan-minocycline dual therapy as a first-line treatment of infection compared with empirical bismuth-containing quadruple therapy.

Background: Increasing antibiotic resistance compromises therapeutic options for () infection, especially in penicillin-allergic individuals.

Objectives: This trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of 14-day vonoprazan-minocycline (VM) dual therapy against bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (B-quadruple therapy), as initial treatment for infection.

Design: This study was a single-center, open-label, and non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.

Tegoprazan-based versus esomeprazole-based triple therapy plus bismuth for first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication: A nationwide, multicenter, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although triple therapy plus bismuth (TTPB), comprising a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), two antibiotics, and bismuth, is widely used to eradicate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), eradication rates have been suboptimal. Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) offer stronger and more stable gastric acid inhibition compared to PPIs.

ANO5 p.I616F variant drives florid cemento-osseous dysplasia by disrupting transmembrane domain structure.

Background: To date, genetic studies on florid cemento-osseous dysplasia (FCOD) remain limited. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical features and genetic basis of FCOD in Chinese populations, with particular emphasis on identifying pathogenic variants and their mechanistic contributions to disease development.

Methods: Clinical data from 17 FCOD patients diagnosed between May 2015 and December 2024 at Kunming Medical University Affiliated Stomatological Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

Clinical experience of genome-wide non-invasive prenatal testing as a first-tier screening test in a cohort of 59,771 pregnancies.

Objective: Genome-wide non-invasive prenatal testing (GW-NIPT) for prenatal screening has been widely implemented. However, the related clinical data is still insufficient. Here, we evaluated the clinical performance of GW-NIPT as a first-tier screening test for detecting fetal aneuploidy and copy number variation (CNV).

Diversity and composition of sponge-associated microbiomes from Korean sponges revealed by full-length 16S rRNA analysis.

Marine sponges host diverse and specialized microbial communities that serve essential functions in nutrient cycling, ecosystem stability, and biotechnological applications. This study investigates the diversity and composition of sponge-associated microbiomes from eight sponge species collected in Chuksan Harbor, South Korea, using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing and amplicon sequence variant (ASV)-based methods. Our results demonstrate that each sponge species harbors distinct and highly structured microbial communities.

CYP2C19 Loss-of-Function Is an Independent Risk Factor of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With Hypertension.

Objective: Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) is affected by its gene polymorphisms and is involved in the occurrence and development of diseases. To assess the relationship between CYP2C19 polymorphisms and coronary artery disease (CAD) susceptibility in hypertensive patients.

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 3404 hypertensive patients who were admitted to Meizhou People's Hospital from November 2019 to August 2023, including 1438 CAD patients and 1966 nonCAD individuals.

Gasdermin C cleavage by Cathepsin S modulates Rab7 vesicles in intestinal epithelial cells to amplify anti-helminth immunity.

Gasdermins are canonically associated with plasma membrane pore formation and lytic cell death. Gasdermin C (GsdmC), predominantly expressed in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), seems to operate independently of these canonical roles. Here, we show that activated GsdmC is increased in response to type 2 immunity in the gut, driven by Cathepsin S (CTSS)-mediated cleavage.

BrHDA6 mediates nonhistone deacetylation of BrSOT12 to positively regulate downy mildew resistance in .

Downy mildew is a major disease that significantly impacts the yield and quality of . While histone deacetylase ( family members are implicated in stress responses, their role in regulating downy mildew resistance in remains unclear. Herein, we treated the susceptible line R32 with Trichostatin A (TSA), a potent inhibitor.

Real-Time Force Measurement Between Emulsion Droplets During Enzymatic Breakdown.

This protocol introduces a unique methodology for investigating the stability of emulsions and the dynamic disintegration of emulsion droplets during enzymatic digestion using dual-trap optical tweezers. The process involves preparing the emulsion, introducing the enzyme, and configuring a force measurement system to monitor inter-droplet forces in real time. By employing dual-trap optical tweezers, the method enables precise manipulation and observation of emulsion droplets, facilitating the measurement of forces between droplets during enzymatic disintegration.

S100A9 promotes resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma by degrading PARP1 and activating the STAT3/PD-L1 pathway.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) immunotherapy, have emerged as promising treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), significantly improving clinical outcomes. However, resistance to ICIs remains a major challenge, and the underlying mechanisms of this resistance are not yet fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9) in mediating resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy.

Washed microbiota transplantation alleviates tyrosine kinase inhibitors associated gastrointestinal adverse effects.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis is implicated in tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-induced gastrointestinal adverse effects (GAEs), often necessitating medication adjustments or discontinuation in severe or persistent cases. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) in managing TKI-induced GAEs. This prospective study involved cancer patients presenting TKI-induced GAEs.

Dynamics of ultrafine silver implanted DNA nanowire formation.

Recent research on silver nanowires prepared on DNA templates has focused on two fundamental applications: nano-scale circuits and sensors. Despite their broad potential, the formation kinetics of silver implanted DNA nanowires remains unclear. Here, we present an experimental demonstration of the formation of silver nanowires with a diameter of 2.

Coronoidectomy for Alleviating Restricted Mouth Opening in Masticatory Muscle Tendon-Aponeurosis Hyperplasia: Integration With Genetic Mutation Analysis.

Masticatory muscle tendon-aponeurosis hyperplasia (MMTAH) is often misdiagnosed as temporomandibular joint disorders, hypertrophic masticatory muscles, or congenital maxillomandibular dysplasia due to overlapping clinical manifestations. This case study is aimed at elucidating a novel genetic association in MMTAH by reporting a patient with pathognomonic features, including chronic limited mouth opening, bilateral coronoid process elongation, tendon hyperplasia in the masseter and temporalis muscles, and concomitant fatty degeneration. Crucially, whole-exome sequencing of peripheral blood identified a heterozygous SYNE1 missense mutation (NM_182961.

Prevalence of and risk factors for adolescent scoliosis from a multi-year school screening programme in Eastern China.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the occurrence of adolescent scoliosis (AS) and identify possible associated factors in Eastern China.

Methods: The screening technique involved performing forward bending tests and using scoliometer data. Adolescents at risk for scoliosis based on the screening were advised to undergo an x-ray examination for diagnosis confirmation.

Comparison of short- and long-term outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic operation in hilar cholangiocarcinoma patients: a case control study.

Background: Robotic surgery (RS) has gained increasing acceptance due to its ability to overcome certain limitations associated with laparoscopic surgery (LS). However, the performance of RS in hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) patients compared with LS remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of RS versus LS in patients with HCCA.

Processing wheat straw into strong and flexible cellulose fiber bundle: Waste-to-wealth strategy.

The excessive reliance on traditional petroleum resources poses significant environmental challenges. Fortunately, agricultural straw, which is often regarded as a waste product, has considerable potential for various applications. However, these materials are frequently crushed into particles, thereby neglecting their inherent structural advantages.

Biomimetic Gradual Helical Structure for Enhancing the Strength and Toughness of Fiber-Reinforced Composites.

Multilayered helical arrangements are commonly observed in natural creatures to enhance their strength and toughness. A biomimicry of such an intricate structure has thus far been challenging. Herein, a green, facile, and versatile design strategy is proposed for transitional units.

Exogenous Gibberellin Delays Postharvest Leaf Senescence in Pak Choi by Modulating Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Profiles.

Postharvest leaf senescence is a pivotal determinant influencing the quality and shelf life of leafy vegetables, exemplified by pak choi ( L. subsp. ).

Measuring interactions between Pickering emulsion droplets coated with casein-chitosan complex using optical tweezers.

Emulsions stabilized by protein/polysaccharide complexes have attracted great interest. However, the emulsion properties and interactions between droplets at the microscale require further investigation. In this work, the interaction forces between two rice bran oil droplets stabilized by casein-chitosan complexes, with a diameter of 3 ± 0.

PAR2 deficiency impairs antitumor immunity and attenuates anti-PD1 efficacy in colorectal cancer.

A T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment is predictive of better prognosis and clinical response to immunotherapy. Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), a member of G-protein coupled receptors is involved in inflammatory process and the progression of various cancers. However, the role of PAR2 in modulating the tumor microenvironment remains unclear.

Development and validation of a predictive model for the risk of endocervical curettage positivity.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients undergoing endocervical curettage (ECC), identify factors influencing ECC positivity, and develop a predictive model to assess the risk of positive ECC results. The goal was to assist clinicians in making ECC decisions and reduce missed diagnoses of cervical lesions.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 953 patients who underwent colposcopically directed biopsy and ECC at the gynecology clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between October 2021 and September 2023 due to abnormal screening results.

Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of 2-Methylbenzothiazole Oxidation by OH in Air and the Role of O and NO.

Benzothiazoles are in widespread use as components of, or precursors to, a variety of consumer and industrial products. This class of compounds encompasses the simplest molecule benzothiazole (BTH) in which a benzene ring is fused to a thiazole ring, as well as a series of derivatives which are commonly functionalized at the C2 position of the thiazole ring. The addition of groups at this position modifies the reactivity in ways that are not well-known.

Virus detection by short read high throughput sequencing in a high virus low cellular background.

The safety of all biological products includes demonstrating the absence of adventitious viruses by testing various types of samples at different stages of the manufacturing process. Seven laboratories evaluated short-read high-throughput sequencing (HTS) for sensitivity and breadth of adventitious virus detection using viruses with distinct physicochemical and genome properties. These five viruses are currently designated as CBER NGS Virus Reagents and include: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV; or human herpes virus 4), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), mammalian orthoreovirus type 1 (Reo1), and porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1).

Time trends in stomach cancer mortality across the BRICS: an age-period-cohort analysis for the GBD 2021.

Objectives: Stomach cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death, and its epidemiologic characteristics are regionally heterogeneous worldwide. The BRICS nations (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China, and South Africa) have markedly increasing influences on the international stage. We aim to investigate time trends in stomach cancer mortality among the BRICS countries from 1982 to 2021.