Independent and joint effects of neighborhood-level environmental and socioeconomic exposures on body mass index in early childhood: the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort.

Past studies support the hypothesis that the prenatal period influences childhood growth. However, few studies explore the joint effects of exposures that occur simultaneously during pregnancy. To explore the feasibility of using mixtures methods with neighborhood-level environmental exposures, we assessed the effects of multiple prenatal exposures on body mass index (BMI) from birth to age 24 months. We used data from two cohorts: Healthy Start (n = 977) and Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES; n = 303). BMI was measured at delivery and 6, 12, and 24 months and standardized as z-scores. We included variables for air pollutants, built and natural environments, food access, and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES). We used two complementary statistical approaches: single-exposure linear regression and quantile-based g-computation. Models were fit separately for each cohort and time point and were adjusted for relevant covariates. Single-exposure models identified negative associations between NO2 and distance to parks and positive associations between low neighborhood SES and BMI z-scores for Healthy Start participants; for MADRES participants, we observed negative associations between O3 and distance to parks and BMI z-scores. G-computations models produced comparable results for each cohort: higher exposures were generally associated with lower BMI, although results were not significant. Results from the g-computation models, which do not require a priori knowledge of the direction of associations, indicated that the direction of associations between mixture components and BMI varied by cohort and time point. Our study highlights challenges in assessing mixtures effects at the neighborhood level and in harmonizing exposure data across cohorts. For example, geospatial data of neighborhood-level exposures may not fully capture the qualities that might influence health behavior. Studies aiming to harmonize geospatial data from different geographical regions should consider contextual factors when operationalizing exposure variables.

Association of body mass index with clinical outcome of primary WHO grade 4 glioma.

Background: The prognostic value of body mass index (BMI) in primary WHO grade 4 gliomas is not widely acknowledged. This study aims to assess the survival outcomes of patients with different BMIs. Methods: Real-world data of patients diagnosed with primary WHO grade 4 (2021 version) glioma was assessed. All 127 patients admitted in this study were administered with standard-of-care from September 2018 to September 2021. The outcomes of overall survival and progression-free survival were analyzed. Results: The baseline characteristics of clinical features, molecular features, and secondary treatment in BMI subsets showed no significant difference. The survival analyses showed a significantly superior overall survival (OS) in the overweight group compared to the normal weight group. A trend of better OS in the overweight group compared to the obesity group was observed. The univariate Cox regression demonstrated patients of round-BMI 25 and 26 had superior OS outcomes. Conclusion: In this real-world setting, patients with a BMI between 24 and 28 have superior overall survival. Patients in the proper BMI range may acquire survival benefits undergoing standard-of-care of primary WHO grade 4 gliomas. The prospective studies on a larger scale on these subsets of patients are necessary to solve the paradox of BMI in glioma.

Profiling of the Proteins Interacting with Amyloid Beta Peptides in Clinical Samples by PACTS-TPP.

The accumulation of amyloid beta (Aß1-42) results in neurotoxicity and is strongly related to neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the underlying molecular mechanism is still poorly understood. Therefore, there is an urgent need for researchers to discover the proteins that interact with Aß1-42 to determine the molecular basis. Previously, we developed peptide-ligand-induced changes in the abundance of proTeinS (PACTS)-assisted thermal proteome profiling (TPP) to identify proteins that interact with peptide ligands. In the present study, we applied this technique to analyze clinical samples to identify Aß1-42-interacting proteins. We detected 115 proteins that interact with Aß1-42 in human frontal lobe tissue. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed proteins were involved mainly in neurodegenerative diseases. Further orthogonal validation revealed that Aß1-42 interacted with the AD-associated protein mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3), and knockdown of the Aß1-42 amyloid precursor protein (APP) inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway, suggesting potential functional roles for Aß1-42 in interacting with MAPK3. Overall, this study demonstrated the application of the PACTS-TPP in clinical samples and provided a valuable data source for research on neurodegenerative diseases.

Mogrol-Mediated enhancement of radiotherapy sensitivity in Non-Small cell lung cancer: A mechanistic study.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate Mogrol's impact on NSCLC radiosensitivity and underlying mechanisms using various methods including assays, bioinformatics, and xenograft models. METHODS: CCK-8, clonogenic, flow cytometry, TUNEL, and Western blot assays evaluated Mogrol and radiation effects on NSCLC viability and apoptosis. USP22 expression in NSCLC patient tissues was determined using RT-qPCR and Western blot. A xenograft model validated Mogrol's effects on tumor growth. RESULTS: Bioinformatics identified four ubiquitin-specific proteases, including USP22, in NSCLC. Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed USP22's value in lung cancer survival. HPA database indicated higher USP22 expression in lung cancer tissues. GO and KEGG analysis implicated ERK1/2 in NSCLC progression, and molecular docking showed stability between Mogrol and ERK1/2. Further in vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that Mogrol enhances the inhibitory effect of radiation on NSCLC cell viability and clonogenic capacity. Cell viability and clonogenic capacity are reduced by more than 50%, and an increase in cellular apoptosis is observed, with apoptotic levels reaching 10%. USP22 expression was significantly elevated in NSCLC tissues, particularly in radiotherapy-resistant patients. Mogrol downregulated USP22 expression by inhibiting the ERK/CREB pathway, lowering COX2 expression. Mogrol also enhanced radiation's inhibition of tumor growth in mice. CONCLUSION: Mogrol enhances NSCLC radiosensitivity by downregulating USP22 via the ERK/CREB pathway, leading to reduced COX2 expression.

Targeting the tumor microenvironment in primary central nervous system lymphoma: Implications for prognosis.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and there is limited research on its tumor microenvironment (TME). Nevertheless, more and more studies have evidence that TME has essential effects on tumor cell proliferation, immune escape, and drug resistance. Thus, it is critical to elucidate the role of TME in PCNSL. The understanding of the PCNSL TME is gradually unfolding, including factors that distinguish it from systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The TME in PCNSL exhibits both transcriptional and spatial intratumor heterogeneity. Cellular interactions between tumor cells and stroma cells reveal immune evasion signaling. The comparative analysis between PCNSL and DLBCL suggests that PCNSL is more likely to be an immunologically deficient tumor. In PCNSL, T cell exhaustion and downregulation of macrophage immune function are accompanied by suppressive microenvironmental factors such as M2 polarized macrophages, endothelin B receptor, HLA depletion, PD-L1, and TIM-3. MMP-9, Integrin-ß1, and ICAM-1/LFA-1 play crucial roles in transendothelial migration towards the CNS, while CXCL13/CXCR5, CD44, MAG, and IL-8 are essential for brain parenchymal invasion. Further, macrophages, YKL-40, CD31, CD105, PD-1/PD-L1 axis, osteopontin, galectin-3, aggregative perivascular tumor cells, and HLA deletion may contribute to poor outcomes in patients with PCNSL. This article reviews the effect of various components of TME on the progression and prognosis of PCNSL patients to identify novel therapeutic targets.

Prenatal air pollution exposure is associated with inflammatory, cardiovascular, and metabolic biomarkers in mothers and newborns.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal air pollution exposure has been associated with individual inflammatory, cardiovascular, and metabolic biomarkers in mothers and neonates. However, studies of air pollution and a comprehensive panel of biomarkers across maternal and cord blood samples remain limited. Few studies used data-driven methods to identify biomarker groupings that converge biomarkers from multiple biological pathways. This study aims to investigate the impacts of prenatal air pollution on groups of biomarkers in maternal and cord blood samples. METHODS: In the Maternal And Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) cohort, 87 biomarkers were quantified from 45 trimester 1 maternal blood and 55 cord blood samples. Pregnancy and trimester 1-averaged concentrations of particulate matter ≤2.5 µm and ≤10 µm in diameter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) were estimated, using inverse distance squared weighted spatial interpolation from regulatory air monitoring stations. Traffic-related NOx was assessed using California Line Source Dispersion Model: freeway/highway roads, non-freeway major roads, non-freeway minor roads, and their sum as total NOx. Elastic Net (EN) regression within the rexposome R package was used to group biomarkers and assess their associations with air pollution. RESULTS: In maternal samples, trimester 1-averaged PM10 was associated with elevated inflammation biomarkers and lowered cardiovascular biomarkers. NO2 exhibited positive associations with cardiovascular and inflammation markers. O3 was inversely associated with inflammation, metabolic, and cardiovascular biomarkers. In cord blood, pregnancy-averaged PM2.5 was associated with higher cardiovascular biomarkers and lower metabolic biomarkers. PM10 was associated with lower inflammation and higher cardiovascular biomarkers. Total and major road NOx was associated with lower cardiovascular biomarkers. CONCLUSION: Prenatal air pollution exposure was associated with changes in biomarkers related to inflammation, cardiovascular, metabolic, cancer, and neurological function in both mothers and neonates. This study shed light on mechanisms by which air pollution can influence biological function during pregnancy.

The diagnostic efficiency of integration of 2HG MRS and IVIM versus individual parameters for predicting IDH mutation status in gliomas in clinical scenarios: A retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Currently, there remains a scarcity of established preoperative tests to accurately predict the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status in clinical scenarios, with limited research has explored the potential synergistic diagnostic performance among metabolite, perfusion, and diffusion parameters. To address this issue, we aimed to develop an imaging protocol that integrated 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) by comprehensively assessing metabolic, cellular, and angiogenic changes caused by IDH mutations, and explored the diagnostic efficiency of this imaging protocol for predicting IDH mutation status in clinical scenarios. METHODS: Patients who met the inclusion criteria were categorized into two groups: IDH-wild type (IDH-WT) group and IDH-mutant (IDH-MT) group. Subsequently, we quantified the 2HG concentration, the relative apparent diffusion coefficient (rADC), the relative true diffusion coefficient value (rD), the relative pseudo-diffusion coefficient (rD*) and the relative perfusion fraction value (rf). Intergroup differences were estimated using t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Finally, we performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and DeLong's test to evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of individual parameters and their combinations. RESULTS: 64 patients (female, 21; male, 43; age, 47.0 ± 13.7 years) were enrolled. Compared with IDH-WT gliomas, IDH-MT gliomas had higher 2HG concentration, rADC and rD (P < 0.001), and lower rD* (P = 0.013). The ROC curve demonstrated that 2HG + rD + rD* exhibited the highest areas under curve (AUC) value (0.967, 95%CI 0.889-0.996) for discriminating IDH mutation status. Compared with each individual parameter, the predictive efficiency of 2HG + rADC + rD* and 2HG + rD + rD* shows a statistically significant enhancement (DeLong's test: P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The integration of 2HG MRS and IVIM significantly improves the diagnostic efficiency for predicting IDH mutation status in clinical scenarios.

Subpopulations of children with multiple chronic health outcomes in relation to chemical exposures in the ECHO-PATHWAYS consortium.

A multimorbidity-focused approach may reflect common etiologic mechanisms and lead to better targeting of etiologic agents for broadly impactful public health interventions. Our aim was to identify clusters of chronic obesity-related, neurodevelopmental, and respiratory outcomes in children, and to examine associations between cluster membership and widely prevalent chemical exposures to demonstrate our epidemiologic approach. Early to middle childhood outcome data collected 2011-2022 for 1092 children were harmonized across the ECHO-PATHWAYS consortium of 3 prospective pregnancy cohorts in six U.S. cities. 15 outcomes included age 4-9 BMI, cognitive and behavioral assessment scores, speech problems, and learning disabilities, asthma, wheeze, and rhinitis. To form generalizable clusters across study sites, we performed k-means clustering on scaled residuals of each variable regressed on study site. Outcomes and demographic variables were summarized between resulting clusters. Logistic weighted quantile sum regressions with permutation test p-values associated odds of cluster membership with a mixture of 15 prenatal urinary phthalate metabolites in full-sample and sex-stratified models. Three clusters emerged, including a healthier Cluster 1 (n = 734) with low morbidity across outcomes; Cluster 2 (n = 192) with low IQ and higher levels of all outcomes, especially 0.4-1.8-standard deviation higher mean neurobehavioral outcomes; and Cluster 3 (n = 179) with the highest asthma (92 %), wheeze (53 %), and rhinitis (57 %) frequencies. We observed a significant positive, male-specific stratified association (odds ratio = 1.6; p = 0.01) between a phthalate mixture with high weights for MEP and MHPP and odds of membership in Cluster 3 versus Cluster 1. These results identified subpopulations of children with co-occurring elevated levels of BMI, neurodevelopmental, and respiratory outcomes that may reflect shared etiologic pathways. The observed association between phthalates and respiratory outcome cluster membership could inform policy efforts towards children with respiratory disease. Similar cluster-based epidemiology may identify environmental factors that impact multi-outcome prevalence and efficiently direct public policy efforts.

Design and Implementation of Behavior Analysis and Risk Identification for Stroke Patients under Medical Technology Intelligentization.

This study aimed to explore behavior analysis and risk identification for stroke patients under medical technology intelligentization, to establish a design and implementation of risk control and post-event recovery. A total of 80 stroke patients from 2019 to 2021 were selected using service design thinking combined with patient behavior as the guiding principle. The study used smart device monitoring modules and balance monitoring applications to monitor the daily behavior and post-event behavior of stroke patients and used intelligent recognition and analysis of risk behavior to develop interventions for post-event recovery services. The conclusion is that by combining service design thinking with patient behavior as the guiding principle, medical technology advancements in the field of intelligentization have the potential to greatly impact stroke patient care by enabling behavior analysis and risk identification. By utilizing smart device monitoring modules and balance monitoring applications, healthcare professionals can gather valuable data to understand better the behaviors and risks associated with stroke patients. This approach can provide a forward-looking reminder for risky behaviors and intervene in stroke patients' behaviors, reducing the risk of stroke recurrence.

Identification of MGMT promoter methylation as a specific lipid metabolism biomarker, reveals the feasibility of atorvastatin application in glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest tumors, and limited improvement in managing glioblastoma has been achieved in the past decades. The unmethylated promoter area of 6-O-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) is a significant biomarker for recognizing a subset of glioblastoma that is resistant to chemotherapy. Here we identified MGMT methylation can also work as a specific biomarker to classify the lipid metabolism patterns between methylated and unmethylated glioblastoma and verify the potential novel therapeutic strategy for unmethylated MGMT glioblastoma. METHODS: Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer has been applied for non-targeted metabolome and targeted lipidomic profiling to explore the metabolism pattern correlated with MGMT promoter methylation. Transcriptome has been performed to explore the biological differences and the potential mechanism of lipid metabolism in glioblastoma samples. In vivo and ex vivo assays were performed to verify the anti-tumor activity of atorvastatin in the administration of glioblastoma. RESULTS: Multi-omics assay has described a significant difference in lipid metabolism between MGMT methylated and unmethylated glioblastoma. Longer and unsaturated fatty acyls were found enriched in MGMT-UM tumors. Lipid droplets have been revealed remarkably decreased in MGMT unmethylated glioblastoma. In vivo and ex vivo assays revealed that atorvastatin and also together with temozolomide showed significant anti-tumor activity, and atorvastatin alone was able to achieve better survival and living conditions for tumor-hosting mice. CONCLUSIONS: MGMT promoter methylation status might be a well-performed biomarker of lipid metabolism in glioblastoma. The current study can be the basis of further mechanism studies and implementation of clinical trials, and the results provide preclinical evidence of atorvastatin administration in glioblastoma, especially for MGMT unmethylated tumors.

Lower-grade gliomas surgery guided by GRPR-targeting PET/NIR dual-modality image probe: a prospective and single-arm clinical trial.

Purpose: Lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) are a group of infiltrative growing glial brain tumors characterized by intricate intratumoral heterogeneity and subtle visual appearance differences from non-tumor tissue, which can lead to errors in pathologic tissue sampling. Although 5-ALA fluorescence has been an essential method for visualizing gliomas during surgery, its effectiveness is limited in the case of LGGs due to low sensitivity. Therefore, we developed a novel PET/NIR dual-modality image probe targeting gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) in glioma cells to enhance tumor visualization and improve the accuracy of sampling. Methods: A prospective, non-randomized, single-center feasibility clinical trial (NCT03407781) was conducted in the referral center from October 21, 2016, to August 17, 2018. Consecutive enrollment included patients suspected of having LGGs and considered suitable candidates for surgical removal. Group 1 comprised ten patients who underwent preoperative 68Ga-IRDye800CW-BBN PET/MRI assessment followed by intraoperative fluorescence-guided surgery. Group 2 included 42 patients who underwent IRDye800CW-BBN fluorescence-guided surgery. The primary endpoints were the predictive value of preoperative PET imaging for intraoperative fluorescence and the sensitivity and specificity of fluorescence-guided sampling. Results: Thirty-nine patients were included in the in-depth analysis of endpoints, with 25 (64.1%) exhibiting visible fluorescence, while 14 (35.9%) did not. The preoperative positive PET uptake exhibited a greater accuracy in predicting intraoperative fluorescence compared to MRI enhancement (100% [10/10] vs. 87.2% [34/39]). A total of 125 samples were harvested during surgery. Compared with pathology, subjective fluorescence intensity showed a sensitivity of 88.6% and a specificity of 88.2% in identifying WHO grade III samples. For WHO grade II samples, the sensitivity and specificity of fluorescence were 54.7% and 88.2%, respectively. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the feasibility of the novel dual-modality imaging technique for integrated pre- and intraoperative targeted imaging via the same molecular receptor in surgeries for LGGs. The PET/NIR dual-modality probe exhibits promise for preoperative surgical planning in fluorescence-guided surgery and provides greater accuracy in guiding tumor sampling compared to 5-ALA in patients with LGGs.

Expression of Interleukin-13 Receptor Alpha 2 in Brainstem Gliomas.

The objective of this study was to investigate IL13Ra2 expression in brainstem glioma (BSG) and its correlation with key markers, functions, and prognostic implications, evaluating its therapeutic potential. A total of 80 tumor samples from BSG patients were analyzed. Multiplex immunofluorescence was used to examine six markers-IL13Ra2, H3.3K27M, CD133, Ki67, HLA-1, and CD4-establishing relationships between IL13Ra2 and these markers. Survival analysis, employing Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression models, encompassed 66 patients with complete follow-up. RNA-Seq data from a previously published study involving 98 patients were analyzed using the DESeq2 library to determine differential gene expression between groups. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) via the clusterProfiler library were used to delineate the gene functions of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Nearly all the BSG patients displayed varying IL13Ra2 expression, with 45.0% (36/80) exhibiting over a 20% increase. Elevated IL13Ra2 levels were notably observed in pontine gliomas, diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs), H3F3A-mutant gliomas, and WHO IV gliomas. IL13Ra2 expression was strongly correlated with H3.3K27M mutant protein, Ki67, and CD133. Patients with IL13Ra2 expression >20% showed shorter overall survival compared to those with ≤20% IL13Ra2 expression. The Cox proportional hazard regression model identified H3F3A mutations, rather than IL13Ra2 expression, as an independent prognostic factor. Analysis of RNA-Seq data from our prior cohort confirmed IL13Ra2's correlation with H3.3, CD133, and Ki67 levels. Widespread IL13Ra2 expression in BSG, particularly elevated in the H3F3A mutant group, was strongly correlated with H3F3A mutations, increased proliferation, and heightened tumor stemness. IL13Ra2 represents a promising therapeutic target for BSGs, potentially benefiting patients with H3K27M mutations, DIPGs, WHO Grade IV, and pontine location-specific BSGs, particularly those with H3K27M mutations.

Influence of cancer-directed surgery on the prognosis of liver metastases from gastric cancer.

There are controversial about the application of cancer-directed surgery (CDS) in patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer, with improved responses to chemotherapy and targeted treatments, the role of CDS in metastatic gastric cancer to the liver needs to be revisited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of CDS on patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer. Data for patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer were extracted from the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. A total of 958 individuals were enrolled, 285 in the CDS group and 673 in the non-cancer guided surgery (Non-CDS) group. Following propensity score matching (PSM) analysis at 1:1 in the two groups,285 were included in the survival analysis for each group. Kaplan-Meier values and Cox proportional risk models were used to estimate the effect of CDS on patients' prognoses. Compared with the Non-CDS group, the CDS group significantly prolonged the median overall survival from 4 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 3-5) to 11 months (95% CI 8-12), p value < 0.001. Overall survival (OS) at 1 year was higher in the CDS group than in the Non-CDS group, at 44% (95 CI 38-50) and 25% (95 CI 20-30), respectively. OS at 3 years was also higher in the CDS group than in the Non-CDS group, at 24% (95 CI 19-29) and 6% (95 CI 3-9), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that Non-CDS (hazard ratio[HR] = 2.26, 95% CI 1.88-2.72, p value < 0.001) was an adverse independent prognostic factor for patients. This study concludes that CDS prolonged survival in patients with gastric cancer with liver metastases. Due to the lack of information on the quality of life, biomarkers, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy in the SEER database, the observed improved survival rates following CDS of hepatic metastasis from gastric cancer requires prospective studies that take these factors into account to properly address the survival advantages and impact on quality of life of such a method.

Mutagenesis of Odorant Receptor Coreceptor Orco Reveals the Odorant-Detected Behavior of the Predator Eupeodes corollae.

The successful mating of the hoverfly and the search for prey aphids are of great significance for biological control and are usually mediated by chemical cues. The odorant receptor co-receptor (Orco) genes play a crucial role in the process of insect odor perception. However, the function of Orco in the mating and prey-seeking behaviors of the hoverfly remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we characterized the Orco gene from the hoverfly, Eupeodes corollae, a natural enemy insect. We used the CRISPR/Cas9 technique to knock out the Orco gene of E. corollae, and the EcorOrco-/- homozygous mutant was verified by the genotype analysis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the antennal ORN of EcorOrco-/- mutant lack Orco staining. Electroantennogram (EAG) results showed that the adult mutant almost lost the electrophysiological response to 15 odorants from three types. The two-way choice assay and the glass Y-tube olfactometer indicated that both the larvae and adults of hoverflies lost their behavioral preference to the aphid alarm pheromone (E)-ß-farnesene (EBF). In addition, the mating assay results showed a significant decrease in the mating rate of males following the knock out of the EcorOrco gene. Although the mating of females was not affected, the amount of eggs being laid and the hatching rate of the eggs were significantly reduced. These results indicated that the EcorOrco gene was not only involved in the detection of semiochemicals in hoverflies but also plays a pivotal role in the development of eggs. In conclusion, our results expand the comprehension of the chemoreceptive mechanisms in the hoverflies and offers valuable insights for the advancement of more sophisticated pest management strategies.

Whole human-brain mapping of single cortical neurons for profiling morphological diversity and stereotypy.

Quantifying neuron morphology and distribution at the whole-brain scale is essential to understand the structure and diversity of cell types. It is exceedingly challenging to reuse recent technologies of single-cell labeling and whole-brain imaging to study human brains. We propose adaptive cell tomography (ACTomography), a low-cost, high-throughput, and high-efficacy tomography approach, based on adaptive targeting of individual cells. We established a platform to inject dyes into cortical neurons in surgical tissues of 18 patients with brain tumors or other conditions and one donated fresh postmortem brain. We collected three-dimensional images of 1746 cortical neurons, of which 852 neurons were reconstructed to quantify local dendritic morphology, and mapped to standard atlases. In our data, human neurons are more diverse across brain regions than by subject age or gender. The strong stereotypy within cohorts of brain regions allows generating a statistical tensor field of neuron morphology to characterize anatomical modularity of a human brain.

Momordica charantia-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Provide Antioxidant Protection in Ulcerative Colitis.

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles are functional nanovesicles that have significant applications in both disease prevention and treatment, as well as for use as drug carriers. Momordica charantia is a widely consumed food that has both medicinal and nutritional properties and has shown intervention in diabetes and inflammation caused by oxidative damage. In this study, Momordica charantia-derived extracellular vesicles (MCEVs) were extracted and demonstrated to have excellent antioxidant activity by characterization, lipid composition analysis, protein domain analysis, and in vitro antioxidant measurement. In addition, in vivo studies indicated that the MCEVs could restore ulcerative colitis by regulating oxidation and inflammatory factors. Therefore, the antioxidant properties of MCEVs may be important in protecting the colon from inflammation, which provides new insights into the application of MCEVs as drugs or vectors for intervention in ulcerative colitis.

B7H3-targeting chimeric antigen receptor modification enhances antitumor effect of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive primary brain tumor with a poor prognosis. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in GBM treatment. The sensitivity of different glioma specimens to Vγ9Vδ2 T cell-mediated cytotoxicity is assessed using a patient-derived tumor cell clusters (PTCs) model. METHODS: The study evaluates the anti-tumor effect of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in 26 glioma cases through the PTCs model. Protein expression of BTN2A1 and BTN3A1, along with gene expression related to lipid metabolism and glioma inflammatory response pathways, is analyzed in matched tumor tissue samples. Additionally, the study explores two strategies to re-sensitize tumors in the weak anti-tumor effect (WAT) group: utilizing a BTN3A1 agonistic antibody or employing bisphosphonates to inhibit farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS). Furthermore, the study investigates the efficacy of genetically engineered Vγ9Vδ2 T cells expressing Car-B7H3 in targeting diverse GBM specimens. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that Vγ9Vδ2 T cells display a stronger anti-tumor effect (SAT) in six glioma cases, while showing a weaker effect (WAT) in twenty cases. The SAT group exhibits elevated protein expression of BTN2A1 and BTN3A1, accompanied by differential gene expression related to lipid metabolism and glioma inflammatory response pathways. Importantly, the study reveals that the WAT group GBM can enhance Vγ9Vδ2 T cell-mediated killing sensitivity by incorporating either a BTN3A1 agonistic antibody or bisphosphonates. Both approaches support TCR-BTN mediated tumor recognition, which is distinct from the conventional MHC-peptide recognition by αß T cells. Furthermore, the study explores an alternative strategy by genetically engineering Vγ9Vδ2 T cells with Car-B7H3, and both non-engineered and Car-B7H3 Vγ9Vδ2 T cells demonstrate promising efficacy in vivo, underscoring the versatile potential of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells for GBM treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Vγ9Vδ2 T cells demonstrate a robust anti-tumor effect in some glioma cases, while weaker in others. Elevated BTN2A1 and BTN3A1 expression correlates with improved response. WAT group tumors can be sensitized using a BTN3A1 agonistic antibody or bisphosphonates. Genetically engineered Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, i.e.,  Car-B7H3, show promising efficacy. These results together highlight the versatility of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells for GBM treatment.

Nucleic Acid Detection through RNA-Guided Protease Activity in Type III-E CRISPR-Cas Systems.

RNA-guided protease activity was recently discovered in the type III-E CRISPR-Cas systems (Craspase), providing a novel platform for engineering a protein probe instead of the commonly used nucleic acid probe in nucleic acid detection assays. Here, by adapting a fluorescence readout technique using the affinity- and fluorescent protein dual-tagged Csx30 protein substrate, we have established an assay monitoring Csx30 cleavage by target ssRNA-activated Craspase. Four Craspase-based nucleic acid detection systems for genes from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), norovirus, and the influenza virus (IFV) were reconstituted with demonstrated specificity. The assay could reliably detect target ssRNAs at concentrations down to 25 pM, which could be further improved approximately 15 000-fold (ca. 2 fM) by incorporating a recombinase polymerase isothermal preamplification step. Importantly, the species-specific substrate cleavage specificity of Craspase enabled multiplexed diagnosis, as demonstrated by the reconstituted composite systems for simultaneous detection of two genes from the same virus (SARS-CoV-2, spike and nsp12) or two types of viruses (SARS-CoV-2 and IFV). The assay could be further expanded by diversifying the fluorescent tags in the substrate and including Craspase systems from various species, thus potentially providing an easily adaptable platform for clinical diagnosis.

Prenatal ambient air pollution exposure and child weight trajectories from the 3rd trimester of pregnancy to 2 years of age: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal air pollution exposure may increase risk for childhood obesity. However, few studies have evaluated in utero growth measures and infant weight trajectories. This study will evaluate the associations of prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants with weight trajectories from the 3rd trimester through age 2 years. METHODS: We studied 490 pregnant women who were recruited from the Maternal and Development Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) cohort, which comprises a low-income, primarily Hispanic population in Los Angeles, California. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter < 10 µm (PM10), particulate matter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5), and ozone (O3) concentrations during pregnancy were estimated from regulatory air monitoring stations. Fetal weight was estimated from maternal ultrasound records. Infant/child weight measurements were extracted from medical records or measured during follow-up visits. Piecewise spline models were used to assess the effect of air pollutants on weight, overall growth, and growth during each period. RESULTS: The mean (SD) prenatal exposure concentrations for NO2, PM2.5, PM10, and O3 were 16.4 (2.9) ppb, 12.0 (1.1) µg/m3, 28.5 (4.7) µg/m3, and 26.2 (2.9) ppb, respectively. Comparing an increase in prenatal average air pollutants from the 10th to the 90th percentile, the growth rate from the 3rd trimester to age 3 months was significantly increased (1.55% [95%CI 1.20%, 1.99%] for PM2.5 and 1.64% [95%CI 1.27%, 2.13%] for NO2), the growth rate from age 6 months to age 2 years was significantly decreased (0.90% [95%CI 0.82%, 1.00%] for NO2), and the attained weight at age 2 years was significantly lower (- 7.50% [95% CI - 13.57%, - 1.02%] for PM10 and - 7.00% [95% CI - 11.86%, - 1.88%] for NO2). CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal ambient air pollution was associated with variable changes in growth rate and attained weight from the 3rd trimester to age 2 years. These results suggest continued public health benefits of reducing ambient air pollution levels, particularly in marginalized populations.

Inhibitory mechanism of CRISPR-Cas9 by AcrIIC4.

CRISPR-Cas systems act as the adaptive immune systems of bacteria and archaea, targeting and destroying invading foreign mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as phages. MGEs have also evolved anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins to inactivate the CRISPR-Cas systems. Recently, AcrIIC4, identified from Haemophilus parainfluenzae phage, has been reported to inhibit the endonuclease activity of Cas9 from Neisseria meningitidis (NmeCas9), but the inhibition mechanism is not clear. Here, we biochemically and structurally investigated the anti-CRISPR activity of AcrIIC4. AcrIIC4 folds into a helix bundle composed of three helices, which associates with the REC lobe of NmeCas9 and sgRNA. The REC2 domain of NmeCas9 is locked by AcrIIC4, perturbing the conformational dynamics required for the target DNA binding and cleavage. Furthermore, mutation of the key residues in the AcrIIC4-NmeCas9 and AcrIIC4-sgRNA interfaces largely abolishes the inhibitory effects of AcrIIC4. Our study offers new insights into the mechanism of AcrIIC4-mediated suppression of NmeCas9 and provides guidelines for the design of regulatory tools for Cas9-based gene editing applications.