Value of urinary lipoarabinomannan levels for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring of therapy.

Background: The urinary lipoarabinomannan (LAM) assay has emerged as a promising tool for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment monitoring. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and monitoring performance of LAM compared to Acid-fast bacilli (AFB), Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT), and GeneXpert, and to establish its clinical utility in a stratified TB population.

Methods: A prospective cohort study included TB patients stratified by AFB/MGIT status into three groups.

Whole-genome sequencing and machine learning reveal key drivers of delayed sputum conversion in rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis.

Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) remains a major global health challenge, with delayed sputum culture conversion (SCC) predicting poor treatment outcomes. This study integrated whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and machine learning to identify clinical and genomic determinants of SCC failure in 150 RR-TB patients (2019-2023). Phenotypic and genotypic analysis revealed high rates of isoniazid resistance (74.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of applying reduced surgery for the treatment of asymptomatic unresectable advanced gastric cancer.

Objectives: Systematic evaluation of the efficacy and safety of reduction surgery in asymptomatic unresectable advanced gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched from database inception to 12 July 2024. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used to evaluate the quality and analyze the bias of the randomized controlled and non-randomized controlled studies included in this study, and RevMan (Version 5.

Population genetic analysis of clinical complex strains in China.

Background: To explore the genetic characteristics of the complex (MABC) population in China, given its rising clinical importance among nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Methods: We conducted population genetic analyses on 360 MABC genomes from China, focusing on core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST), pan-genome characterization, population genetics, and antimicrobial resistance gene profiling.

Results: Our analysis identified 273 subsp.

Surveillance of fluoroquinolones resistance in rifampicin-susceptible tuberculosis in eastern China with whole-genome sequencing-based approach.

Background: Leveraging well-established DNA-level drug resistance mechanisms, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has emerged as a valuable methodology for predicting drug resistance. As the most effective second-line anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drugs, fluoroquinoloness (FQs) are generally used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB, defined as being resistant to resistant to rifampicin and isoniazid) or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB). However, FQs are also commonly used in the management of other bacterial infections.

Cannabidiol protects against acute aortic dissection by inhibiting macrophage infiltration and PMAIP1-induced vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis.

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) progresses rapidly and is associated with high mortality; therefore, there remains an urgent need for pharmacological agents that can protect against AAD. Herein, we examined the therapeutic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in AAD by establishing a suitable mouse model. In addition, we performed human AAD single-cell RNA sequencing and mouse AAD bulk RNA sequencing to elucidate the potential underlying mechanism of CBD.

Transmission dynamics of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Ningbo, China: an epidemiological and genomic analysis.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), particularly drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), remains a significant public health concern in Ningbo, China. Understanding its molecular epidemiology and spatial distribution is paramount for effective control.

Methods: From December 24, 2020, to March 12, 2023, we collected clinical (MTB) strains in Ningbo, with whole-genome sequencing performed on 130 MTB strains.

Gravity-driven and rotation-controlled microfluidic chip for point-of-care nucleic acid detection in the fully closed environment.

Point-of-care nucleic acid detection is essential for diagnosis and food safety, especially in resource-limited areas. This study reports a gravity-driven and rotation-controlled (GR) chip-coupled lateral flow-based assay (LFA) for point-of-care nucleic acid detection. The sample solution is added to the inlet of the GR chip and flows into the loop-medicated isothermal amplification (LAMP) chamber by the action of gravity.

A biomarker framework for cardiac aging: the Aging Biomarker Consortium consensus statement.

Cardiac aging constitutes a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases prevalent among the elderly population. Urgent attention is required to prioritize preventive and management strategies for age-related cardiovascular conditions to safeguard the well-being of elderly individuals. In response to this critical challenge, the Aging Biomarker Consortium (ABC) of China has formulated an expert consensus on cardiac aging biomarkers.

H3.3B controls aortic dissection progression by regulating vascular smooth muscle cells phenotypic transition and vascular inflammation.

Aortic dissection is a devastating cardiovascular disease with a high lethality. Histone variants maintain the genomic integrity and play important roles in development and diseases. However, the role of histone variants in aortic dissection has not been well identified.

Imaging Method Using CRISPR/dCas9 and Engineered gRNA Scaffolds Can Perturb Replication Timing at the Locus.

Fluorescence microscopy imaging of specific chromosomal sites is essential for genome architecture research. To enable visualization of endogenous loci in mammalian cells, programmable DNA-binding proteins such as TAL effectors and CRISPR/dCas9 are commonly utilized. In addition, site-specific insertion of a TetO repeat array, coupled with TetR-enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion protein expression, can be used for labeling nonrepetitive endogenous loci.

CRISPR/Cas12a-Assisted Dual Visualized Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on Frozen Shrimps.

Given the possibility that food contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 might become an infection source, there is an urgent need for us to develop a rapid and accurate nucleic acid detection method for SARS-CoV-2 in food to ensure food safety. Here, we propose a sensitive, specific, and reliable molecular detection method for SARS-CoV-2. It has a mechanism to control amplicon contamination.

Integrated slip valve-assisted fluidic chip coupling with CRISPR/Cas12a system for nucleic acid analysis.

Currently, some on-site nucleic acid detection platforms have been developed. However, these platforms still need to be improved in device integration and multiple detection capability. In this work, an integrated dual nucleic acid analysis platform was developed by slip valve-assisted fluidic chip coupled with CRISPR/Cas12a system.

The role of IL-35 and IL-37 in breast cancer - potential therapeutic targets for precision medicine.

Breast cancer is still a major concern due to its relatively poor prognosis in women, although there are many approaches being developed for the management of breast cancer. Extensive studies demonstrate that the development of breast cancer is determined by pro versus anti tumorigenesis factors, which are closely related to host immunity. IL-35 and IL-37, anti-inflammatory cytokines, play an important role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis.

A generic framework for hierarchical de novo protein design.

De novo protein design enables the exploration of novel sequences and structures absent from the natural protein universe. De novo design also stands as a stringent test for our understanding of the underlying physical principles of protein folding and may lead to the development of proteins with unmatched functional characteristics. The first fundamental challenge of de novo design is to devise "designable" structural templates leading to sequences that will adopt the predicted fold.

Multiple crRNAs-assisted CRISPR/Cas12a assay targeting cytochrome b gene for amplification-free detection of meat adulteration.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas systems have been widely applied in nucleic acid analysis for the high specificity. Coupled with pre-amplification steps, the sensitivity of CRISPR-based detection is greatly improved. However, an extra pre-amplification step not only complicates the detection procedures but may also cause aerosol contaminations in the process of transferring amplified solution into CRISPR system.

Evaluation of whole-genome sequence to predict drug resistance of nine anti- drugs and characterize resistance genes in clinical rifampicin-resistant isolates from Ningbo, China.

Setting: Controlling drug-resistant in Ningbo, China.

Objective: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has not been employed to comprehensively study isolates, especially rifampicin-resistant , in Ningbo, China. Here, we aim to characterize genes involved in drug resistance in RR-TB and create a prognostic tool for successfully predicting drug resistance in patients with TB.

Assessing and enhancing foldability in designed proteins.

Recent advances in protein-design methodology have led to a dramatic increase in reliability and scale. With these advances, dozens and even thousands of designed proteins are automatically generated and screened. Nevertheless, the success rate, particularly in design of functional proteins, is low and fundamental goals such as reliable de novo design of efficient enzymes remain beyond reach.

Modeling and Predicting Pulmonary Tuberculosis Incidence and Its Association with Air Pollution and Meteorological Factors Using an ARIMAX Model: An Ecological Study in Ningbo of China.

The autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous regressors (ARIMAX) modeling studies of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) are still rare. This study aims to explore whether incorporating air pollution and meteorological factors can improve the performance of a time series model in predicting PTB. We collected the monthly incidence of PTB, records of six air pollutants and six meteorological factors in Ningbo of China from January 2015 to December 2019.

ASPP2 reduction attenuates HBV induced chronic liver damage: A hybrid mouse model study.

Background & Aim: P53 Apoptosis Stimulating Protein 2 (ASPP2) is confirmed to participate in cellular activities including apoptosis, proliferation, autophagy, injury and so on. However, the role of ASPP2 in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has not been reported in detail. The study explored the role of ASPP2 in HBV induced chronic liver damage.

Incidental Prostate Cancer from Prostate with Benign Biopsies: A Predictive and Survival Analysis from Cohort Study.

Purpose: This cohort was to evaluate incidental prostate cancer (iPCa) from men with preoperative benign biopsies and demonstrate their outcomes under different managements.

Patients And Methods: Between 2015 and 2017, we analyzed the risk factors having iPCa from surgical specimens from men provided with benign preoperative biopsies of their prostates. Furthermore, we compared the survival outcomes according to the different managements after iPCa was diagnosed.

Dipstick-based rapid nucleic acids purification and CRISPR/Cas12a-mediated isothermal amplification for visual detection of African swine fever virus.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) can cause highly contagious and fatal disease among domestic pigs, resulting in considerable economic losses for swine breeders. There is a strong demand for accurate, rapid, and simple detection methods especially for on-site application. Nucleic acid testing is the most commonly used method for ASFVdetection.

Diffusive Ki67 and vimentin are associated with worse recurrence-free survival of upper tract urothelial carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study from bench to bedside.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prognostic values of Ki67 and vimentin in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after extirpative surgery.

Methods And Materials: Between 2014 and 2019, patients diagnosed with UTUC and receiving radical nephroureterectomy were included retrospectively. Nuclear MIB-1 clones and cytoplasmic VIM 3B4 clones were used to assess Ki67 and vimentin levels, respectively.

Validation of robotic-assisted ureteroplasty with buccal mucosa graft for stricture at the proximal and middle ureters: the first comparative study.

Although ureteroplasty with buccal mucosa graft for long-segmental ureteral stenosis has been developed long ago, evidence was still restricted to case series in published literature. This study aims to validate ureteroplasty with buccal mucosa graft (BMG) in long-segment stricture at the proximal and middle ureters under designed comparative methods. From April 2015 to January 2019, we performed robotic-assisted ureteroplasty with BMG with a two-phase design and compared ureteroplasty and BMG (phase 2 surgery) with endoscopic stenting (phase 1 surgery).