Sarcopenia index based on serum creatinine and cystatin C is associated with the risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults in Chinese: a prospective cohort study from the China health and retirement longitudinal study.

Objective: The sarcopenia index (SI), calculated as the serum creatinine divided by the serum cystatin C, multiplied by 100, is recommended for predicting sarcopenia. However, limited evidence exists regarding its association with incident stroke. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between SI and the risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults.

Clinical Value of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in Early Diagnosis of Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis: A Randomised Controlled Observational Trial.

Aim: While metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a high-throughput diagnostic tool capable of rapidly and accurately identifying pathogenic microorganisms, predicting their antibiotic resistance/susceptibility profiles, its clinical utility in peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) remains unvalidated. This study aims to evaluate its ability to enable early pathogen detection and predict antibiotic susceptibility, thereby informing optimised treatment strategies.

Method: A prospective randomised controlled trial was conducted in patients diagnosed with PDAP.

Epimedin C promotes mitochondrial transfer and delays thymus atrophy in 4-VCD induced mimetic-menopausal mice.

Background: Prevention of thymus atrophy during menopause is of great significance for improving the immune function and overall health of menopausal women. Epimedin C is one of the major bioactive compounds in Herba Epimedii, a traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of menopausal syndrome in China, but the action and mechanism of Epimedin C in the treatment of menopausal thymus atrophy remains unclear.

Objective: To study the effect of Epimedin C on thymus atrophy in 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (4-VCD) induced mimetic-menopausal mice and explore its mechanism from new perspectives of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) formation and mitochondrial transfer (MitoT).

A Possibilistic Formulation of Autonomous Search for Targets.

Autonomous search is an ongoing cycle of sensing, statistical estimation, and motion control with the objective to find and localise targets in a designated search area. Traditionally, the theoretical framework for autonomous search combines sequential Bayesian estimation with information theoretic motion control. This paper formulates autonomous search in the framework of possibility theory.

Thymosin β4 and Actin: Binding Modes, Biological Functions and Clinical Applications.

Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is the β-thymosin (Tβs) with the highest expression level in human cells; it makes up roughly 70-80% of all Tβs in the human body. Combining the mechanism and activity studies of Tβ4 in recent years, we provide an overview of the subtle molecular mechanism, pharmacological action, and clinical applications of Tβ4. As a G-actin isolator, Tβ4 inhibits the polymerization of G-actin by binding to the matching site of G-actin in a 1:1 ratio through conformational and spatial effects.

Enhanced AMPAR-dependent synaptic transmission by S-nitrosylation in the vmPFC contributes to chronic inflammatory pain-induced persistent anxiety in mice.

Chronic pain patients often have anxiety disorders, and some of them suffer from anxiety even after analgesic administration. In this study, we investigated the role of AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in chronic pain-induced persistent anxiety in mice and explored potential drug targets. Chronic inflammatory pain was induced in mice by bilateral injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the planta of the hind paws; anxiety-like behaviours were assessed with behavioural tests; S-nitrosylation and AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission were examined using biochemical assays and electrophysiological recordings, respectively.

Discovery of Anti-PD-L1 Human Domain Antibodies for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction has shown enormous success for various cancers. Despite their encouraging results in clinics, antibody-based checkpoint inhibitors have several limitations, such as poor tumor penetration. To address these limitations of monoclonal antibodies, there is a growing interest in developing low-molecular-weight checkpoint inhibitors, such as antibody fragments.

A retrospective study of the use of percutaneous vesselplasty for pathological vertebral compression fractures.

Objective And Aims: To assess percutaneous vesselplasty's safety and efficacy in treating pathological vertebral compression fractures (VCFs).

Subjects And Methods: This retrospective review covered nine patients with an equal number of symptomatic pathological VCFs treated with vesselplasty. The study assessed the patients' pain scores, subjective conditions, imaging guidance, and incidence of procedure-related complications.

Hypoxia-induced Tie1 drives stemness and cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung carcinoma cells.

Background: Drug resistance and metastasis involving hypoxic tumor environments and persistent stem cell populations are detrimental to the survival of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Tie1 is upregulated in hypoxia and is believed to counteract the effectiveness of platinum agents by promoting the stemness properties in cells. We have investigated the association of Tie1 with HIF-1α and cisplatin resistance in NSCLC cell lines.

nNOS-expressing neurons in the vmPFC transform pPVT-derived chronic pain signals into anxiety behaviors.

Anxiety is common in patients suffering from chronic pain. Here, we report anxiety-like behaviors in mouse models of chronic pain and reveal that nNOS-expressing neurons in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) are essential for pain-induced anxiety but not algesia, using optogenetic and chemogenetic strategies. Additionally, we determined that excitatory projections from the posterior subregion of paraventricular thalamic nucleus (pPVT) provide a neuronal input that drives the activation of vmPFC nNOS-expressing neurons in our chronic pain models.

A one-dimensional infinite silver alkynyl assembly [Ag(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C Bu)(CFCOO)(CHCN)] : synthesis, crystal structure and properties.

A high-yield silver alkynyl assembly [Ag(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C Bu)(CFCOO)(CHCN)] (1) constructed from [AgC[triple bond, length as m-dash]C Bu] ligand, CFCOOAg and CHCN auxiliary ligands with a one-dimensional infinite chain structure has been obtained in one pot. Compound 1 has been well-defined and characterized. The photocurrent properties and the temperature-sensitive luminescent properties of 1 have been investigated.

Three site molecular orbital controlled single-molecule rectifiers based on perpendicularly linked porphyrin-imide dyads.

The original single-molecule rectifier proposed by Aviram and Ratner is based on a donor-σ-acceptor structure, in which σ functions as the insulator to disconnect the π electronic systems of the two parts. However, there have been no reports on experimentally demonstrated highly efficient single-molecule rectifiers based on this mechanism. In this paper, we demonstrate single-molecule rectifiers with perpendicularly connected metal porphyrin-imide dyads.

Robo1-specific CAR-NK Immunotherapy Enhances Efficacy of I Seed Brachytherapy in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Human Pancreatic Carcinoma.

Background/aim: The aim of the current study was to investigate the synergistic efficacy of Robo1 bichimeric antigen receptor-natural killer cell (BiCAR-NK) immunotherapy and I seed brachytherapy in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model.

Materials And Methods: The orthotopic pancreatic tumor model was established with human pancreatic cancer BxPC-3 cells expressing red fluorescent protein. The mice were treated with I seed implantation alone or the combination of I seeds with Robo1-specific CAR-NK cells.

Targeted Drug Delivery to Hepatic Stellate Cells for the Treatment of Liver Fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is caused by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix during chronic liver injuries. Although clinical evidence suggests that liver fibrosis can be reversed, there is no standard therapy for liver fibrosis. Moreover, there is a lack of diagnostic tools to detect early-stage liver fibrosis.

The safety and efficacy of interstitial I seed implantation brachytherapy for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of I seed interstitial implantation brachytherapy for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) as well as the life quality of patients.

Materials And Methods: From April 2009 to May 2015, 28 patients who met the eligibility criteria were retrospectively reviewed. The number of implanted I seeds ranged from 7 to 62, with appropriate activity of 0.

Preliminary application of 3D-printed coplanar template for iodine-125 seed implantation therapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Aim: To evaluate a 3D-printed coplanar template for iodine-125 seed implantation therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of our database was performed, and a total of 25 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent iodine-125 seed implantation between January 2014 and November 2017 were analyzed. Of these, 12 implantations were assisted by a 3D-printed coplanar template (group A), and 13 implantations performed freehand were selected as a control group (group B).

Assignment of the Absolute-Handedness Chirality of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Using Organic Molecule Supramolecular Structures.

Supramolecular structures of organic molecules on planar nanocarbon surfaces, such as highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), have been extensively studied and the factors that control them are generally well-established. In contrast, the properties of supramolecular structures on curved nanocarbon surfaces like carbon nanotubes remain challenging to predict and/or to understand. This paper reports an investigation into the first study of the supramolecular structures of 5,15-bisdodecylporphyrin (C12P) on chiral, concentrated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs; with right-handed helix P- and left-handed helix M-) surfaces using STM.

Silencing of α-complex protein-2 reverses alcohol- and cytokine-induced fibrogenesis in hepatic stellate cells.

Background And Aim: α-complex protein-2 (αCP2) encoded by the poly (rC) binding protein 2() gene is responsible for the accumulation of type I collagen in fibrotic livers. In this study, we silenced the gene using a small interfering RNA (siRNA) to reverse alcohol-and cytokine-induced profibrogenic effects on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Methods: Primary rat HSCs and the HSC-T6 cell line were used as fibrogenic models to mimic the initiation and perpetuation stages of fibrogenesis, respectively.

Development of a peptide-modified siRNA nanocomplex for hepatic stellate cells.

Insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (IGF2R) is overexpressed in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and therefore can be utilized for HSC-specific drug delivery. We recently discovered an IGF2R-specific peptide using a novel biopanning. Here, we adopted biotin-conjugated IGF2R-specific peptide, cholesterol, and vitamin A as the targeting ligands for the neutravidin-based siRNA nanocomplex to deliver PCBP2 siRNA, a potentially antifibrotic agent, to HSCs.

Discovery of Aptamer Ligands for Hepatic Stellate Cells Using SELEX.

Insulin like growth factor II receptor (IGFIIR) is a transmembrane protein overexpressed in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which are the major target for the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this study, we aim to discover an IGFIIR-specific aptamer that can be potentially used as a targeting ligand for the treatment and diagnosis of liver fibrosis. Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) was conducted on recombinant human IGFIIR to identify IGFIIR-specific aptamers.

Elimination of persistent vaccine bacteria of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in the guts of immunized mice by inducible expression of truncated YncE.

Orally administered vaccine bacteria usually persist for a period of time in the intestinal tracts of immunized individuals, and are excreted in feces to the environment resulting in a potential biosafety issue. The releasing risk can be minimized by immediate elimination of the persistent vaccine bacteria once adequate protective immune responses have been elicited by the vaccine bacteria. In a previous study, inducible expression of truncated yncE gene (yncE*) was found lethal to host bacteria.

Lipoprotein ratios are better than conventional lipid parameters in predicting arterial stiffness in young men.

Although dyslipidemia is associated with cardiovascular disease, there are conflicting data about the role of serum lipids and their ratios in promoting arterial stiffness. The authors aimed to compare serum lipid profiles to predict arterial stiffness, which was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in young Chinese men. A total of 1015 participants aged 18 to 44 years without serious comorbidities were recruited for conventional detection.

Vi Capsular Polysaccharide Produced by Recombinant Serovar Paratyphi A Confers Immunoprotection against Infection by Serovar Typhi.

Enteric fever is predominantly caused by serovar Typhi and serovar Paratyphi A, and accounts for an annual global incidence of 26.9 millions. In recent years, the rate of .

Percutaneous intraductal radiofrequency ablation for treatment of biliary stent occlusion: A preliminary result.

Aim: To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel application of percutaneous intraductal radiofrequency (RF) for the treatment of biliary stent obstruction.

Methods: We specifically report a retrospective study presenting the results of percutaneous intraductal RF in patients with biliary stent occlusion. A total of 43 cases involving biliary stent obstruction were treated by placing an EndoHPB catheter and percutaneous intraductal RF was performed to clean stents.