Loss of NOTCH2 creates a TRIM28-dependent vulnerability in small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive malignancy that lacks effective targeted therapies, in part due to frequent loss-of-function mutations in tumor suppressors and the absence of recurrent oncogenic drivers. Approximately 15% of SCLCs harbor inactivating mutations in NOTCH1 or NOTCH2, and most neuroendocrine-high SCLCs exhibit low NOTCH activity. Using CRISPR-Cas9 screening in primary cell lines derived from NOTCH1/2-isogenic SCLC genetically engineered mouse models, we identified TRIM28 as a synthetic lethal dependency in NOTCH2-inactivated SCLCs.

Optimizing aortic arch branch cannulation in acute type A dissection surgery: a minimally invasive approach.

Background: The optimal cannulation strategy for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery via a minimally invasive approach remains a topic of debate. This study aimed to compare the feasibility and safety of different aortic arch branch cannulation techniques using a single upper hemisternotomy.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 207 patients with ATAAD who underwent total arch replacement combined with frozen elephant trunk techniques between December 2019 and July 2023.

Dynamic comparative analysis of moisture and flavour characteristics in green peppers (Piper nigrum L.) during thermal and non-thermal drying processes.

Dynamic changes in moisture and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of green pepper (GP) during hot-air drying (HAD), far-infrared drying (FIRD), and freeze drying (FD) were investigated. Results showed HAD increased terpenoids peak area by 44.72 %, the drying time of FIRD was only 5 h, and the FD piperine retention was 135 %.

Notch signaling pathway regulates the progression of fetal growth restriction through mediating immune dysfunction.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with an increased risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality, as well as the development of metabolic syndrome in adulthood. The present study investigated the regulatory mechanisms of Notch signaling in FGR progression. The expression levels of Notch1 and Jagged1 were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Aminated fullerene for comprehensive dry eye therapy: Promoting epithelial-barrier reconstruction and nerve regeneration by suppressing oxidation and inflammation.

Dry eye disease (DED) affects up to 50 % of the global population, leading to serious discomforts that affect patients' quality of life. In the multifactorial etiology of DED, oxidative stress is at the core, initiating a sequence of inflammatory responses and surface damage via a vicious cycle. However, current therapies merely have a narrow focus on inflammation.

Baicalein prevents pregnancy loss by maintaining regulatory T cell activation through inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Introduction: Unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) involves multifactorial etiologies, with regulatory T cells (Tregs) playing a pivotal role in maintaining immune tolerance during pregnancy. Baicalein, a flavonoid from Scutellaria baicalensis, exhibits anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. This study evaluates baicalein's therapeutic potential in mitigating URSA via the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

. Polyphenol Extract Alleviates NAFLD via Regulating Gut Microbiota and AMPK/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway.

With the drastic changes in lifestyle, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a widespread health problem. Natural actives such as polyphenols have multi-target, multi-mechanism characteristics, and offer new opportunities for NAFLD treatment. This study established a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD model in mice to investigate the molecular mechanism of polyphenol extract (PAE) in alleviating NAFLD.

A case of protein-losing enteropathy secondary to constrictive pericarditis in a 3-year-old boy: a rare case report.

This article presents the case of a 3-year-old boy whose primary symptom was hypoproteinemia. After evaluations at multiple hospitals, he was sequentially diagnosed with protein-losing enteropathy and constrictive pericarditis. Following pericardiectomy, his albumin levels returned to normal.

METTL14 modulates the progression and ferroptosis of colitis by regulating the stability of m6A-modified GPX4.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is non-specific inflammatory bowel disease. UC development and progression were closely associated with epigenetic modifications. Nevertheless, the specific relationship between N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification at RNA transcription levels and UC pathogenesis remains unclear.

Protective or limited? Maternal antibodies and RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection in hospitalized infants aged 28-90 days.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe health problems in newborns and young children. The protective role and limitations of serum maternal RSV antibodies in infants under 3 months remain controversial.

Methods: A two-center prospective study from 2020 to 2023 recruited infants (n=286) admitted to the respiratory departments of two children's hospitals in southwestern and southeastern China during RSV epidemic.

The Clinical Value of Novel Inflammatory Biomarkers for Predicting Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection in Children.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), posing diagnostic challenges. This study evaluates novel inflammatory biomarkers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and system inflammation response index (SIRI) for MP diagnosis in children.

Methods: Complete blood count (CBC) results of 424 children with MP infection and 150 health children were collected.

The synergistic protective effects of paeoniflorin and β-ecdysterone against cardiac hypertrophy through suppressing oxidative stress and ferroptosis.

Exploring feasible drugs for the treatment of pathological cardiac hypertrophy has always been a focus of cardiovascular disease research. Paeoniflorin (PF) and β-Ecdysterone (β-Ecd) are the main active components of Paeonia lactiflora and Achyranthes bidentata, which can be used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, but their mechanism of action remains unclear. This study focused on oxidative stress and ferroptosis to investigate the protective effects of PF and β-Ecd on cardiac hypertrophy in primary cardiomyocytes and C57BL/6 mice, utilizing the integration of CCK8 assays, ROS detection, molecular docking, real-time quantitative PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence, etc.

Exploring synergistic effects of Blume and Pall. on hypertension with liver yang hyperactivity using the multidisciplinary integrative strategy.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulations serve as a multi-component pharmacological combination therapy with various potential targets and have collected extensive knowledge regarding the in vivo efficacy of treating cardiovascular disorders in clinical practice for thousands of years. However, the obscurity of the chemicals and the molecular mechanisms are impediments to their continued growth and globalization. Therefore, new modern medications based on the combination of beneficial TCM components with precise clinical efficacy are required.

Stem cell activity-coupled suppression of endogenous retrovirus governs adult tissue regeneration.

Mammalian retrotransposons constitute 40% of the genome. During tissue regeneration, adult stem cells coordinately repress retrotransposons and activate lineage genes, but how this coordination is controlled is poorly understood. Here, we observed that dynamic expression of histone methyltransferase SETDB1 (a retrotransposon repressor) closely mirrors stem cell activities in murine skin.

Metabolomics analysis reveals the non-enzymatic browning mechanism of green peppers (Piper nigrum L.) during the hot-air drying process.

Non-enzymatic browning (NEB) reduced the colour quality of hot-air dried peppers, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. This may be related to the degradation of chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, and polyphenols. The findings revealed that the surface of pepper gradually browned during hot-air drying, with the ΔE value and browning degree (BD) significantly increasing by 119.

Engineering of a mammalian VMAT2 for cryo-EM analysis results in non-canonical protein folding.

Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) belongs to the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), and mediates cytoplasmic monoamine packaging into presynaptic vesicles. Here, we present two cryo-EM structures of VMAT2, with a frog VMAT2 adopting a canonical MFS fold and an engineered sheep VMAT2 adopting a non-canonical fold. Both VMAT2 proteins mediate uptake of a selective fluorescent VMAT2 substrate into cells.

Understanding the causes of skincare product pilling.

Background: Skincare and makeup "pilling" is an unsightly and undesirable phenomenon whereby skincare such as moisturizers or foundation ball up to form flakes on the skin. To date, the causes of skincare product pilling have not been studied. This study aimed to examine the relationship between skin physiology and pilling potential of sunscreen and foundation (the two products most reported by consumers to cause pilling).

Phosphatidylserine improves aging sepsis survival, modulates gut microbiome, and prevents sepsis-associated encephalopathy.

Aged adults are prone to both short- and long-term complications following sepsis due to ineffective therapy. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a membrane nutrient supplement known to enhance cognition and brain function, but its potential effects in treating sepsis are not well-documented. Our study aimed to explore the potential of PS in improving outcomes in sepsis and sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE).

A combination of phospholipids and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids supports neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

Phospholipids (PLs) and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are naturally present in breast milk and play important roles in promoting the growth of the infant. Several studies have investigated the effects of the combination of PLs and LCPUFAs on neurodevelopment. However, data on the effectiveness of infant formula containing both PLs and LCPUFAs on the neurodevelopment of infants is still scarce.

The Prevalence of Anemia among Pregnant Women in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to ascertain the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency (ID), and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among Chinese pregnant women. A total of 722 articles on maternal anemia during pregnancy published between January 2010 and December 2020 were compiled, and a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on 57 eligible studies including 1,376,204 pregnant women to ascertain the prevalence of anemia and the prevalence in different subgroups. The results showed that the prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA among pregnant women in China were 30.

The development of a novel zeolite-based assay for efficient and deep plasma proteomic profiling.

Plasma proteins are considered the most informative source of biomarkers for disease diagnosis and monitoring. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics has been applied to identify biomarkers in plasma, but the complexity of the plasma proteome and the extremely large dynamic range of protein abundances in plasma make the clinical application of plasma proteomics highly challenging. We designed and synthesized zeolite-based nanoparticles to deplete high-abundance plasma proteins.

Identifying Predictors for Hypoplastic Aortic Arch (HAA) in Pediatric Patients with Complex Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA).

Objective: HAA is a significant risk factor in complex CoA patients. We conducted a retrospective study to explore the relationship between HAA and other cardiovascular factors.

Methods: We analyzed 103 patients diagnosed with complex CoA using CT angiography and echocardiography.

High level of intraoperative lactate might predict acute kidney injury in aortic arch surgery via minimally invasive approach in patients with type A dissection.

Background: A high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) has been recorded in total arch replacement (TAR) combined with frozen elephant trunk (FET) implantation in patients with acute type A dissection (ATAAD) via median sternotomy approach with some risk factors. However, the independent risk factors for AKI via a minimally invasive approach have not yet been identified.

Methods: A total of 207 patients with ATAAD were enrolled from January 2018 and November 2019 and were divided into AKI and non-AKI groups.

High-throughput multitarget quantitative assay to profile the whole grain-specific phytochemicals alkylresorcinols, benzoxazinoids and avenanthramides in whole grain and grain-based foods.

Currently, there is a growing interest in using whole grain (WG)-specific phytochemicals to perform WG research, including research on dietary assessment, health mechanisms, and quality control. However, the current approaches used for WG-specific phytochemical analysis cannot simultaneously achieve coverage, specificity, and sensitivity. In the present study, a series of WG-specific phytochemicals (alkylresorcinols (ARs), benzoxazinoids (BXs) and avenanthramides (AVAs)) were identified, and their mass spectrometry (MS) fragmentation mechanism was studied by TOF MS.

MiR-210-5p promotes the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into dopaminergic neural precursors by targeting SMAD4 and SUFU and treats parkinsonian rats.

The differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into functional dopaminergic neural precursors is the basis of cell therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the use of small molecule inhibitors/activators in the differentiation of hiPSCs in vitro leads to cell death and low differentiation efficiency. Moreover, the mechanism of differentiation remains unclear.