Effect of 5 % lactose and 0.1 % polysorbate 80 buffer on protein-based multivalent ETEC vaccine candidate MecVax stabilization and immunogenicity.

MecVax is a protein-based vaccine candidate targeting the seven most important adhesins and the two toxins of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), the top cause of children's diarrhea and travelers' diarrhea. In this study, we formulated MecVax protein antigens, toxoid fusion 3xSTa-mnLT and CFA/I/II/IV MEFA, with 5 % lactose and/or 0.1 % polysorbate 80 (Tween-80) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and explored buffer formulations for this ETEC vaccine candidate.

Characterization of virulence factor intracellular spread A (IcsA, or VirG) functional epitopes against 2a and invasion and adherence.

There are no licensed vaccines against , a leading cause of children's diarrhea and travelers' diarrhea. To develop a cross-protective vaccine against heterogeneous species and serotypes, we attempted to apply an epitope- and structure-based vaccinology platform, multiepitope fusion antigen, to construct an optimal polyvalent chimeric immunogen with functional epitopes from the key virulence determinants. With invasion plasmid antigens B and D functional epitopes identified in recent studies, in this study, we focused on intracellular spread protein A (IcsA; also known as virulence gene G, VirG), a multifunctional virulence factor that plays roles in bacterial adherence, invasion, and particularly intracellular and intercellular spread.

Integrative proteogenomic characterization of Wilms tumor.

Wilms tumor (WT), the most common pediatric renal malignancy, exhibits a relatively low mutational burden compared to adult cancers, which hinders the development of targeted therapies. To elucidate the molecular landscape of WT, we perform integrative proteomic, phosphoproteomic, transcriptomic, and whole-exome sequencing analyses of WT and normal kidney tissue adjacent to tumor. Our multi-omics approach uncovers prognostic genetic alterations, distinct molecular subgroups, immune microenvironment features, and potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Vaccine Candidate MecVax With Protein Antigens Prepared From Animal-Free Media Is Equally Immunogenic and Protective Against Adhesins CFA/I, CS1-CS6 and Toxins LT and STa.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a leading cause of diarrhea in young children in low- and middle-income countries and the most common cause of diarrhea in international travelers. Currently, there are no vaccines licensed to prevent ETEC-associated diarrhea. MecVax, a protein-based, multivalent ETEC vaccine candidate, has been demonstrated to be broadly immunogenic and cross-protective in preclinical studies.

Development of a prediction model for risk of breakthrough urinary tract infection in children with primary vesicoureteral reflux.

Background: Many factors influence the risk of breakthrough urinary tract infection (BTUTI) in children with primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Distal ureteral diameter ratio (UDR) and VUR index (VURx) have been shown in studies as predictors of BTUTI. We aimed to establish a predictive model through selecting voiding cystourethrography (VCUG)-related parameters in combination with clinical parameters for BTUTI in children with primary VUR.

Theoretical analysis of an electrometer based on microwave-dressed Rydberg atoms using a quantum interferometer.

Rydberg atoms have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in the precise sensing microwave (MW) fields. Previous studies on Rydberg atom-based electrometers (RAEs) have predominantly focused on absorption measurements. Recently, phase-sensitive RAEs employing Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) have been demonstrated, though their performance remains constrained by the standard quantum limit (SQL).

School bullying and depression in Chinese primary and secondary school students after the COVID-19: mediating effect of academic anxiety and moderating effect of home-school cooperation.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between school bullying, depression, academic anxiety, and home-school cooperation among Chinese primary and secondary school students, with a focus on promoting students' mental wellbeing in the post-COVID-19 era.

Methods: A survey was conducted among 3,600 Chinese primary and secondary school students using the Depression Scale, School Bullying Scale, Academic Anxiety Scale, and Home-School Cooperation Scale. A total of 3,341 students were selected as research subjects to examine the mediating and moderating mechanisms of academic anxiety and home-school cooperation in the relationship between school bullying and depression.

Interleukin-5 is an adjunctive biomarker for engraftment syndrome in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) can cause engraftment syndrome (ES), a clinical diagnosis without specific laboratory biomarkers. Herein, six cytokines commonly elevated during transplantation were chronologically detected during ASCT in 96 patients with newly diagnosed MM, 24.0 % of whom experienced ES.

Elevated ubiquitin phosphorylation by PINK1 contributes to proteasomal impairment and promotes neurodegeneration.

Ubiquitin (Ub), a central regulator of protein turnover, can be phosphorylated by PINK1 (PTEN-induced putative kinase 1) to generate S65-phosphorylated ubiquitin (pUb). Elevated pUb levels have been observed in aged human brains and in Parkinson's disease, but the mechanistic link between pUb elevation and neurodegeneration remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that pUb elevation is a common feature under neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, aging, and ischemic injury.

A fluorescent molecular rotor for biomolecular imaging analysis.

Biological macromolecules play a crucial role in information transmission, energy storage and structural support, and are closely related to the physiological state of living organisms. Disruption of the macromolecular homeostasis or anomalies of cellular microenvironment can precipitate cellular dysfunction, potentially leading to a spectrum of diseases including diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory conditions, and cancer. Consequently, aberrations in biological macromolecules have emerged as pivotal biomarkers linked to a myriad of diseases.

Structural insights into ZBTB20 action at the AFP promoter.

ZBTB20, a C2H2 zinc finger and broad-complex, tramtrack and bric-à-brac (BTB) domain-containing protein, is crucial for organ development and metabolic homeostasis. Its functionality is dependent on its DNA-binding zinc fingers, and heterozygous mutations within these regions are linked to Primrose syndrome, which is characterized by various physical and developmental abnormalities. However, the molecular basis underlying ZBTB20 zinc finger recognition of DNA remains largely unknown.

Pediatric papillary urothelial neoplasm: 18-year single-center experience in diagnosis and treatment.

Objective: This study outlines the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up protocols for pediatric bladder urothelial tumors, sharing insights from clinical experience to assist pediatric surgeons.

Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted on medical records from January 2006 to January 2024, involving 17 pediatric cases treated at our hospital. The patients were categorized into two groups: Group 1 included children diagnosed with the pathological type "urothelial papilloma" (UP), while Group 2 consisted of those with the pathological type "papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential" (PUNLMP).

Early versus late pancreatic stent placement for preventing post-ERCP pancreatitis: protocol of a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Background: Pancreatic stenting has been shown to effectively lower the occurrence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) and reduce its severity. To date, no evidence exists to determine the optimal timing for pancreatic stent placement in prospective trials. Our aim is to compare early versus late pancreatic stent placement in preventing PEP among patients with naive papilla.

Hepatic stellate cell-derived Delta-like 1 is dispensable for injury-induced liver fibrosis.

Chronic liver injury results in fibrosis and ultimately progresses to cirrhosis. Delta-like 1 (DLK1) has been implicated in the activation of myofibroblasts derived from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in the context of liver injury; however, the specific cellular origins of DLK1 remain a subject of debate. In this study, we demonstrate that DLK1 originating from HSCs is not essential for liver fibrosis resulting from chemical injury.

Trapα deficiency impairs the early events of insulin biosynthesis and glucose homeostasis.

Defects in the early events of insulin biosynthesis, including inefficient preproinsulin (PPI) translocation across the membrane of the ER and proinsulin (PI) misfolding in the ER, can cause diabetes. Cellular machineries involved in these events remain poorly defined. Genes encoding translocon-associated protein α (TRAPα) show linkage to glycemic control in humans, though their pathophysiological role remains unknown.

PINK1 deficiency alleviates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disorder marked by deteriorating dyspnea and declining pulmonary function. Despite its rising prevalence and incidence, therapeutic options remain limited. PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), known for its role in PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy, contributes to the pathogenesis of various lung diseases.

Characterization of the recombination activity in the pituitary and ovary of Prop1-iCre knockin mice.

The pituitary gland plays a central role in the regulation of development, metabolism, stress, reproduction, and homeostasis in the mammalians. All the endocrine cells secreting distinct pituitary hormones are derived from Prop1-expressing progenitors. Prop1 promoter-driven Cre transgenic mice are useful in the field of pituitary biology based on the Cre/LoxP system; however, their ectopic activity complexes data interpretation.

Exploring secondary extramedullary myeloma disease: a five-predictor scoring system with spotlight on double-hit cytogenetics.

Background: Extramedullary myeloma disease (EMD) can present at disease relapse (secondary EMD, sEMD) and confers an aggressive clinical course. Identifying predictive markers for sEMD is crucial for clinical management.

Methods: Our study, spanning February 2013 to October 2022, identified sEMD in 77 (12.

Predictors of febrile neutropenia in small cell lung cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin: a focus on nutritional status, inflammation, and performance status.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a rapidly proliferating malignancy with a poor prognosis, commonly treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy based on the etoposide and cisplatin (EP) regimen; however, this treatment is often complicated by febrile neutropenia (FN), a potentially life-threatening condition that can compromise treatment efficacy and patient safety. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for FN in SCLC patients undergoing EP-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy to enhance treatment outcomes and improve patient management. In this retrospective case-control study, data from 216 SCLC patients who underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy with the EP regimen between September 2014 and January 2020 were analyzed.

Simultaneous degradation of direct black BN dye wastewater and electricity generation by red soil microbial fuel cells.

Azo dyes, widely used in industries, pose environmental challenges due to their recalcitrance and potential carcinogenicity. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a sustainable solution by coupling wastewater treatment with renewable energy production. However, research on polyazo dye treatment using MFCs remains limited.

Immunogenicity and preclinical efficacy characterization of ShecVax, a combined vaccine against and enterotoxigenic .

No licensed vaccines are available for the largely antibiotic-resistant or enterotoxigenic (ETEC), the two most common bacteria causing children's diarrhea and travelers' diarrhea. Virulence heterogeneity is a key obstacle to developing vaccines against or ETEC. By applying a multiepitope fusion antigen (MEFA) vaccinology platform, we recently constructed epitope- and structure-based polyvalent proteins to induce cross-protective antibodies against heterogeneous or ETEC strains.

Development of a clinical prediction model for postoperative complications following tubularized incised plate urethroplasty: a multicenter study.

Purpose: This multicenter study aimed to identify risk factors for postoperative complications following tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (TIP) in hypospadias patients and develop a clinical prediction model.

Methods: Retrospective data from 17 tertiary centers (2018-2021) were analyzed.

Inclusion Criteria: primary TIP surgery with complete anatomical and follow-up data.

KHK in leptin receptor-expressing neurons is dispensable for fructose preference and energy homeostasis.

Fructose metabolism in the central nervous system not only affects local neuronal function but also plays a critical role in regulating appetite and energy metabolism. However, the precise mechanisms underlying these effects are still not well understood. The leptin receptor (LepR) plays a crucial role in modulating neuronal signaling pathways that control food intake and energy expenditure, integrating peripheral metabolic signals to maintain physiological balance.

Preliminary results of feasibility, safety and efficacy of robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty with the SHURUI single-port robotic surgical platform in children.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) with the novel SHURUI single-port (SR-SP) robotic surgical platform in children. Between November 2023 and April 2024, 20 pediatric patients diagnosed with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) underwent transperitoneal RALP with the SR-SP surgical platform. Baseline characteristics, perioperative parameters and follow-up data were collected and analyzed.