A dual-drug strategy to enhance the function of cryopreserved ovaries by promoting revascularization and inhibiting follicle over-activation.

Background: Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation (OTCT) is a promising approach for fertility preservation. However, significant follicle loss after transplantation challenges long-term reproductive recovery. Although primordial follicle loss and ischemic damage are known contributors, the underlying mechanisms and effective strategies to mitigate these damages are still lacking.

A laboratory-less nomogram predicting survival rates for hospice patients with advanced cancer.

Introduction: Cancer is the leading cause of death globally(1). According to the WHO's 2020 Global Cancer Report(2), China represented 23.7% of new cancer cases and 30.

Chromatin accessibility landscape of mouse early embryos revealed by single-cell NanoATAC-seq2.

In mammals, fertilized eggs undergo genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming to generate the organism. However, our understanding of epigenetic dynamics during preimplantation development at single-cell resolution remains incomplete. Here, we developed scNanoATAC-seq2, a single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using long-read sequencing for scarce samples.

OTUB2 contributes to vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease via the YAP-mediated transcription of PFKFB3.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health issue, with vascular calcification (VC) being a common and deadly complication. Despite its prevalence, the underlying mechanisms of VC remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether and how Otubain-2 (OTUB2) contributes to VC.

Physiological premature aging of ovarian blood vessels leads to decline in fertility in middle-aged mice.

Ovarian function declines significantly as females enter middle-age, but the mechanisms underlying this decline remain unclear. Here, we utilize whole-organ imaging to observe a notable decrease in ovarian blood vessel (oBV) density and angiogenesis intensity of middle-aged mice. This leads to a diminished blood supply to the ovaries, resulting in inadequate development and maturation of ovarian follicles.

BRCC36 regulates β-catenin ubiquitination to alleviate vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease.

Background: The prevalence of vascular calcification (VC) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients remains substantial, but currently, there are no effective pharmaceutical therapies available. BRCA1/BRCA2-containing complex subunit 36 (BRCC36) has been implicated in osteoblast osteogenic conversion; however, its specific role in VC remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of BRCC36 in VC.

Single-cell analysis reveals insights into epithelial abnormalities in ovarian endometriosis.

Ovarian endometriosis is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue within the ovary, causing infertility and chronic pain. However, its pathophysiology remains unclear. Utilizing high-precision single-cell RNA sequencing, we profile the normal, eutopic, and ectopic endometrium from 34 individuals across proliferative and secretory phases.

Successful rescue of disseminated infection with multiple abscesses in a patient with membranous nephropathy after cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A three-year follow-up.

Nocardiosis manifests as an opportunistic infection, primarily affecting individuals who are immunocompromised and susceptible to the infection. We present a case study of one patient with nephrotic syndrome and membranous nephropathy, who underwent treatment with prednisone and cyclosporine in 2016. In early 2017, the patient was diagnosed with a "fungal infection" and discontinued the use of cyclosporine.

Analyzing the cellular and molecular atlas of ovarian mesenchymal cells provides a strategy against female reproductive aging.

Ovarian mesenchymal cells (oMCs) constitute a distinct microenvironment that supports folliculogenesis under physiological conditions. Supplementation of exogenous non-ovarian mesenchymal-related cells has been reported to be an efficient approach to improve ovarian functions. However, the development and cellular and molecular characteristics of endogenous oMCs remain largely unexplored.

Therapeutic effects and mechanism of human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells on hypercoagulability in a uremic calciphylaxis patient.

Calciphylaxis is a rare cutaneous vascular disease that manifests with intolerable pains, non-healing skin wounds, histologically characterized by calcification, fibrointimal hyperplasia, and microvessel thrombosis. Currently, there are no standardized guidelines for this disease. Recent studies have recognized a high prevalence of thrombophilias and hypercoagulable conditions in calciphylaxis patients.

Quantitative proteomic analysis uncovers protein-expression profiles during gonadotropin-dependent folliculogenesis in mice†.

Ovarian follicle is the basic functional unit of female reproduction, and is composed of oocyte and surrounding granulosa cells. In mammals, folliculogenesis strictly rely on gonadotropin regulations to determine the ovulation and the quality of eggs. However, the dynamic changes of protein-expressing profiles in follicles at different developmental stages remain largely unknown.

Acute kidney injury in advanced lung cancer patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors: a single center observational study.

Purpose: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is now the stand of care for lung cancer. Due to the low incidence, the study of acute kidney injury (AKI) in lung cancer patients treated with ICIs was hardly reported. We focused on the incidence, characteristics, risk factors, and mortality of AKI in advanced lung cancer patients receiving PD-1 inhibitors.

Asynchronous embryonic germ cell development leads to a heterogeneity of postnatal ovarian follicle activation and may influence the timing of puberty onset in mice.

Background: Ovarian follicles, which are the basic units of female reproduction, are composed of oocytes and surrounding somatic (pre) granulosa cells (GCs). A recent study revealed that signaling in somatic preGCs controlled the activation (initial recruitment) of follicles in the adult ovaries, but it is also known that there are two waves of follicle with age-related heterogeneity in their developmental dynamics in mammals. Although this heterogeneity was proposed to be crucial for female reproduction, our understanding of how it arises and its significance is still elusive.

Incidence, predictors and 6-month overall outcome of acute kidney injury in Chinese patients receiving PD-1 inhibitors.

To explore the incidence, risk factors and overall outcome of the first episode of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related acute kidney injury (ICI-AKI) in Chinese patients receiving PD-1 inhibitors. Data for patients receiving PD-1 inhibitors at Jiangsu Province Hospital between December 2017 and January 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 5.

A novel long-term intravenous combined with local treatment with human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells for a multidisciplinary rescued uremic calciphylaxis patient and the underlying mechanism.

Calciphylaxis is a rare disease characterized histologically by microvessel calcification and microthrombosis, with high mortality and no proven therapy. Here, we reported a severe uremic calciphylaxis patient with progressive skin ischemia, large areas of painful malodorous ulcers, and mummified legs. Because of the worsening symptoms and signs refractory to conventional therapies, treatment with human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) was approved.

Imaging and tracing the pattern of adult ovarian angiogenesis implies a strategy against female reproductive aging.

Robust angiogenesis is continuously active in ovaries to remodel the ovary-body connections in mammals, but understanding of this unique process remains elusive. Here, we performed high-resolution, three-dimensional ovarian vascular imaging and traced the pattern of ovarian angiogenesis and vascular development in the long term. We found that angiogenesis was mainly active on ovarian follicles and corpus luteum and that robust angiogenesis constructs independent but temporary vascular networks for each follicle.

Value of urine/serum Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin ratio in distinguishing acute kidney injury from chronic kidney disease.

Objective: This study was performed to test the hypothesis that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a biomarker would be helpful for differentiation acute kidney injury (AKI) from chronic kidney disease (CKD) in kidney malfunction patients from the nephrology department.

Methods: This retrospective study included 355 patients admitted from the nephrology department with modification of diet in renal disease estimated glomerular filtration rate (MDRD eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m.

Comparative Prevalence of Acute Kidney Injury in Chinese Patients Receiving Vancomycin with Concurrent β-Lactam Antibiotics: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: The combination of vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam (VAN + PTZ) provides a broad spectrum of activity against multiple pathogens. However, a major issue in previous research concerned significant nephrotoxicity associated with this drug combination, and most studies have been conducted in American and European countries, with no similar data available from China. Therefore, this study evaluated the nephrotoxic effects of VAN + PTZ in a large-scale Chinese cohort to determine the prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in this population by comparing PTZ and vancomycin monotherapies and the combined use of vancomycin and β-lactam antibiotics.

Association between continuous renal replacement therapy and 28-day mortality of critically ill patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation.

Background: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has become an important multiple organ support therapy and it is widely used in the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to clarify the association between CRRT and 28-day mortality in critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (-COVID-19) patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Materials And Methods: 112 respiratory decompensated critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to a COVID-19-designated ICU were included in this retrospective cohort study.

Comparative Risk of Renal Adverse Events in Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have brought a paradigm shift to cancer treatment. However, little is known about the risk of renal adverse events (RAEs) of ICI-based regimens, especially ICI combination therapy.

Methods: We carried out a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the risk of RAEs between ICI-based regimens and traditional cancer therapy, including chemotherapy and targeted therapy.

Association of Serum Sclerostin Level, Coronary Artery Calcification, and Patient Outcomes in Maintenance Dialysis Patients.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the association between the serum sclerostin, the coronary artery calcification (CAC), and patient outcomes in maintenance dialysis patients.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of 65 maintenance dialysis patients in 2014, including 39 patients on peritoneal dialysis and 26 on hemodialysis, and followed up for 5 years. Parameters of mineral metabolism including bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, fibroblast growth factor 23, sclerostin, and other biochemical factors were determined at the baseline.

Low plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 level in diabetics increases the risk of severe COVID-19 infection.

Patients with pre-existing chronic diseases are more susceptible to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet the underlying causes of increased risk are of infection remain unclear. Angiotensin-converting- enzyme 2 (ACE2), the cell surface receptor that recognizes the coronavirus spike protein has protective effects against inflammation and chronic hyperglycemia in animal models. The roles of ACE2 in severe SARS-CoV-2 infections remains ambiguous due to contradictory findings.

Oocyte-derived microvilli control female fertility by optimizing ovarian follicle selection in mice.

Crosstalk between oocytes and surrounding somatic cells is crucial for mammalian oogenesis, but the structural mechanisms on oocytes to control female reproduction remain unknown. Here we combine endogenous-fluorescent tracing mouse models with a high-resolution live-cell imaging system to characterize oocyte-derived mushroom-like microvilli (Oo-Mvi), which mediate germ-somatic communication in mice. We perform 3D live-cell imaging to show that Oo-Mvi exhibit cellular characteristics that fit an exocrine function for signaling communication.

The Effect of Coronary Angiography Timing on Cardiac Surgery Associated Acute Kidney Injury Incidence and Prognosis.

Acute kidney injury has been identified as a common complication of cardiac surgery. To date, the effect of the time interval from coronary angiography to cardiac surgery on postoperative acute kidney injury is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the timing of coronary angiography and cardiac surgery associated acute kidney injury.