High-risk screening for late-onset Pompe disease in China: An expanded multicenter study.

Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is caused by a genetic deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA), leading to progressive limb-girdle weakness and respiratory impairment. The insidious onset of non-specific early symptoms often prohibits timely diagnosis. This study aimed to validate the high-risk screening criteria for LOPD in the Chinese population. A total of 726 patients were included, including 96 patients under 14 years of age. Dried blood spots (DBS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) were employed to evaluate serum GAA activity. Forty-four patients exhibited a decreased GAA activity, 16 (2.2%) of which were confirmed as LOPD by genetic testing. Three previously unreported GAA mutations were also identified. The median diagnostic delay was shortened to 3 years, which excelled the previous retrospective studies. At diagnosis, most patients exhibited impaired respiratory function and/or limb-girdle weakness. Elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) levels were more frequently observed in patients who manifested before age 16. Overall, high-risk screening is a feasible and efficient method to identify LOPD patients at an early stage. Patients over 1 year of age with either weakness in axial and/or proximal limb muscles, or unexplained respiratory distress shall be subject to GAA enzymatic test, while CK levels above 2 times the upper normal limit shall be an additional criterion for patients under 16. This modified high-risk screening criteria for LOPD requires further validation in larger Chinese cohorts.

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Axi-Cel and Tisa-Cel Based on Meta-Analysis.

This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for B-cell lymphoma using published literature data. Literature on CAR-T therapy for B-cell lymphoma was collected by searching common databases. The literature was screened, quality assessed, and data extracted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. We performed a quantitative meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of combined literature data. If the data could not be combined, descriptive analysis was performed. The meta-analysis results indicated that compared with tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel), axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) had higher objective response rate (ORR) and complete response rate, with odds ratio (OR) of 0.63 for both sides (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50-0.79) and statistically significant differences. Partial response rate was lower with axi-cel than with tisa-cel, with an OR of 1.02 for tisa-cel versus axi-cel (95% CI, 0.75-1.40) and no statistically significant difference. Compared with tisa-cel, axi-cel had longer progression-free survival and overall survival, with risk ratios of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.62-0.80) and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.61-0.84) for axi-cel and tisa-cel, respectively. Compared with tisa-cel, axi-cel had higher incidence rates of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-related neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), with ORs of 3.84 (95% CI, 2.10-7.03) and 4.4 (95% CI, 2.81-6.91), respectively. CAR T-cell therapy is an effective treatment option for relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma. Axi-cel has better ORR and survival advantages compared with tisa-cel; however, axi-cel has higher incidence rates of CRS and ICANS compared with tisa-cel.

Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy: a case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy is a rare autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease. It is a rare disease in the world. Therefore, sharing clinical encounters of this case can deepen global awareness and understanding of the disease. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 34-year-old male of Han nationality who was unmarried. The patient was admitted owing to weakness of the left lower limb with walking instability for 2 months and aggravation for 1 month. There was no dizziness, headache, numbness of limbs, convulsions, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, ataxia, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. No nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distension, tinnitus, hearing loss, fever, cough, expectoration. Personal history: worked in Cambodia 5 years ago, worked in Dubai 3 years ago, engaged in computer work, smoking or drinking habits. The patient was unmarried. Family history: the mother had symptoms similar to walking unsteadily (undiagnosed). Positive signs include a wide-base gait with a rotatory nystagmus that jumps upward in both eyes. Bilateral finger-nose instability test was quasi-positive, rapid alternating test was negative, and eye closure tolerance test was positive. Tendon reflexes were active in both upper limbs and hyperreflexia in both lower limbs. Stability of the heel, knee, and tibia. Genetic testing showed that the number of repeats in the dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy ATN1 gene was 18 and 62, and the (CAG)n repeat sequence in the ATN1 gene was abnormal, with a repeat number of 62, and the patient was a pathogenic variant. The patient was diagnosed with dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy. Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy remains a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no effective treatment. At present, the proband is taking 5 mg of buspirone three times a day, which has been reported to improve the symptoms. The patient was followed up for 6 months after taking buspirone, and there was no significant improvement in the temporary symptoms. At present, there are few cases of dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy, and the characteristics of nystagmus in this disease have not been proposed in the past. This case reported the unusual presentation of nystagmus. CONCLUSION: Dentatorubral-pallidoluygur atrophy is a rare neurodegenerative disease with autosomal dominant inheritance. To the best of our knowledge, our present case report is the first case report of dentatorubral-pallidoluygur atrophy with specific nystagmus. We describe the special eye shake and its positive signs to increase dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy clinical positive signs.

Corticosteroid-dependent immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced enterocolitis treated with vedolizumab: a case report.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have greatly improved the survival in several cancers. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are common in patients on ICI therapy, as inhibition of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) or programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) leads to non-selective activation of the immune system. ICI-induced enterocolitis is highly prevalent and corticosteroid administration is the first-line treatment. Selective immunosuppressive therapy was employed for steroid-refractory patients. The monoclonal antibody vedolizumab exhibits gut-specific immunosuppressive effects by targeting the α4ß7 integrin. Case Description: We report a case of corticosteroid-dependent camrelizumab-induced enterocolitis in a 58-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who was treated with vedolizumab. The patient's diarrhea resolved following the administration of two doses of vedolizumab (300 mg), and he was able to stop using corticosteroids. He later underwent surgery and HCC treatment, including appropriate management of ICI-induced enterocolitis, and achieved a complete pathological response. Conclusions: This report illustrates the valuable role of vedolizumab in treating ICI-induced enterocolitis that is refractory to corticosteroid treatment.

Microbial communities and functions are structured by vertical geochemical zones in a northern peatland.

Northern peatlands are important carbon pools; however, differences in the structure and function of microbiomes inhabiting contrasting geochemical zones within these peatlands have rarely been emphasized. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, metagenomic profiling, and detailed geochemical analyses, we investigated the taxonomic composition and genetic potential across various geochemical zones of a typical northern peatland profile in the Changbai Mountains region (Northeastern China). Specifically, we focused on elucidating the turnover of organic carbon, sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), and methane (CH4). Three geochemical zones were identified and characterized according to porewater and solid-phase analyses: the redox interface (<10 cm), shallow peat (10-100 cm), and deep peat (>100 cm). The redox interface and upper shallow peat demonstrated a high availability of labile carbon, which decreased toward deeper peat. In deep peat, anaerobic respiration and methanogenesis were likely constrained by thermodynamics, rather than solely driven by available carbon, as the acetate concentrations reached 90 µmol·L-1. Both the microbial community composition and metabolic potentials were significantly different (p < 0.05) among the redox interface, shallow peat, and deep peat. The redox interface demonstrated a close interaction between N, S, and CH4 cycling, mainly driven by Thermodesulfovibrionia, Bradyrhizobium, and Syntrophorhabdia metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). The archaeal Bathyarchaeia were indicated to play a significant role in the organic carbon, N, and S cycling in shallow peat. Although constrained by anaerobic respiration and methanogenesis, deep peat exhibited a higher metabolic potential for organic carbon degradation, primarily mediated by Acidobacteriota. In terms of CH4 turnover, subsurface peat (10-20 cm) was a CH4 production hotspot, with a net turnover rate of ∼2.9 nmol·cm-3·d-1, while the acetoclastic, hydrogenotrophic, and methylotrophic methanogenic pathways all potentially contributed to CH4 production. The results of this study improve our understanding of biogeochemical cycles and CH4 turnover along peatland profiles.

[An in vitro experiment on the stability and irritant of hypochlorous acid in oral cavity].

PURPOSE: To study the stability of physicochemical properties and sterilizing effect about two commercially available hypochlorous acid (HClO) products under simulated clinical conditions, and to evaluate the compatibility of HClO on soft and hard tissues and cells in oral cavity. METHODS: Samples of HClO solution with different production processes were prepared, to detect the changes of physicochemical indexes of each sample over time under simulated clinical conditions (shielded from light at 20-25 ℃, open the cover for 5 minutes every day), including free available chlorine, oxidation-reduction potential and pH. Through suspension quantitative germicidal test, the antibiosis-concentration curve of HClO solution was made, so as to calibrate the change of antibacterial ability of disinfectant with the decrease of available chlorine content during storage. Pulp, tongue and dentine were immersed in PBS, 100 ppm HClO, 200 ppm HClO and 3% NaClO. The influence on soft and hard tissues was evaluated by weighing method and microhardness test. The toxic effects of HClO, NaClO and their 10-fold diluent on human gingival fibroblasts were determined by CCK-8 cytotoxicity assay. GraphPad PRIS 8.0 software was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Under simulated conditions, the free available chlorine (FAC) of HClO solution decayed with time, and the attenuation degree was less than 20 ppm within 1 month. The bactericidal effect of each HClO sample was still higher than 5log after concentration decay. There was no obvious dissolution and destruction to soft and hard tissues for HClO(P＞0.05). The cell viability of HClO to human gingival fibroblast cells (HGFC) was greater than 80%, which was much higher than 3% NaClO (P＜0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The bactericidal effect and stability of HClO solution can meet clinical needs, which has low cytotoxicity and good histocompatibility. It is expected to become a safe and efficient disinfection product in the field of living pulp preservation and dental pulp regeneration.

Programmed cell death 1 inhibitor sintilimab plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a malignancy that arises in the cells of the pancreas, is a devastating disease with unclear etiology and often poor prognosis. Locally advanced pancreatic cancer, a stage where the tumor has grown significantly but has not yet spread to distant organs, presents unique challenges in treatment. This article aims to discuss the current strategies, challenges, and future directions in the management of locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPC). AIM: To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor sintilimab plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy for LAPC. METHODS: Eligible patients had LAPC, an Eastern cooperative oncology group performance status of 0 or 1, adequate organ and marrow functions, and no prior anticancer therapy. In the observation group, participants received intravenous sintilimab 200 mg once every 3 wk, and received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (concurrent conventional fractionated radiotherapy with doses planning target volume 50.4 Gy and gross tumor volume 60 Gy in 28 fractions and oral S-1 40 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1-14 of a 21-d cycle and intravenous gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 of a 21-d cycle for eight cycles until disease progression, death, or unacceptable toxicity). In the control group, participants only received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. From April 2020 to November 2021, 64 participants were finally enrolled with 34 in the observation group and 30 in the control group. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients completed the scheduled course of chemoradiotherapy, while 32 (94.1%) received sintilimab plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy with 2 patients discontinuing sintilimab in the observation group. Thirty patients completed the scheduled course of chemoradiotherapy in the control group. Based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors guidelines, the analysis of the observation group revealed that a partial response was observed in 11 patients (32.4%), stable disease was evident in 19 patients (55.9%), and 4 patients (11.8%) experienced progressive disease; a partial response was observed in 6 (20.0%) patients, stable disease in 18 (60%), and progressive disease in 6 (20%) in the control group. The major toxic effects were leukopenia and nausea. The incidence of severe adverse events (AEs) (grade 3 or 4) was 26.5% (9/34) in the observation group and 23.3% (7/30) in the control group. There were no treatment-related deaths. The observation group demonstrated a significantly longer median overall survival (22.1 mo compared to 15.8 mo) (P < 0.05) and progression-free survival (12.2 mo vs 10.1 mo) (P < 0.05) in comparison to the control group. The occurrence of severe AEs did not exhibit a statistically significant difference between the observation group and the control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sintilimab plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy was effective and safe for LAPC patients, and warrants further investigation.

Association between cytokines and symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with type 1 narcolepsy.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of depression and anxiety are common complications of narcolepsy. Earlier studies have shown that narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease and symptoms of depression and anxiety are closely related to fluctuations in inflammatory cytokines. The objective of the current research was to investigate the potential correlation between cytokines and symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with NT1. METHODS: We collected demographic and clinical data and information on cytokine levels from 50 patients with NT1 and used Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) to assess the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms. Patients with SDS scores ≥ 53 points were defined as depressive narcolepsy type 1 (D-NT1) and those with SDS scores < 53 points as non-depressive narcolepsy type 1 (ND-NT1). Patients with SAS scores ≥ 50 points were defined as anxious narcolepsy type 1 (A-NT1) and those with SAS scores < 50 points as non-anxious narcolepsy type 1 (NA-NT1). A binary logistic regression model was employed to identify the influencing factors of depressive and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: Levels of IL-10 (p = 0.02), IL-4 (p = 0.049) and disease duration (p = 0.049) were decreased, while SAS scores (p < 0.001) and total sleep duration (p = 0.03) were increased in D-NT1 relative to ND-NT1 patients. A-NT1 patients had higher SDS scores (p < 0.001) compared to NA-NT1 patients. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed associations of longer disease duration (OR=0.83; 95 % CI: 0.70-0.97) and increased IL-10 (OR=0.40; 95 % CI: 0.17-0.90) with reduced risk of depression and worsening anxiety (SAS score; OR=1.17; 95 % CI: 1.06-1.30) with increased risk of depression in patients with NT1. Consistently, worsening depression (SDS score; OR=1.22; 95 % CI: 1.07-1.39) was correlated with increased risk of anxiety in the NT1 group. CONCLUSION: Our finding that higher IL-10 levels correlate with a lower risk of depression in NT1 patients provides a reference for further exploration of the pathophysiological mechanisms of depressive symptoms in NT1 patients.

Bio-accumulation and health risk assessments of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in wheat grains.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been widely detected in various food, which has attracted worldwide concern. However, the factors influencing the transfer and bio-accumulation of PFASs from soils to wheat in normal farmland, is still ambiguous. We investigated the PFASs accumulation in agricultural soils and grains from 10 cites, China, and evaluated the health risks of PFASs via wheat consumption. Our results show that ∑PFASs in soils range from 0.34 µg/kg to 1.59 µg/kg with PFOA and PFOS dominating, whilst ∑PFASs in wheats range from 2.74 to 6.01 µg/kg with PFOA, PFBA and PFHxS dominating. The lower pH conditions and high total organic carbon (TOC) could result in the higher accumulation of PFASs in soils and subsequently in wheat grains, whilst the bioaccumulation factors of PFASs increase with increasing pH conditions but not with TOC. The estimated daily intake (EDI) values of PFBA, PFOA, and PFHxS are relatively high, but data supports that ingesting wheat grains does not result in any potential risk to the human beings. Our studies provided more information about PFASs accumulation in wheat grains, and help us understand the current potential risks of PFASs in food.

New species, new records and common species of Pluteussect.Celluloderma from northern China.

Wood-rotting fungi are organisms that can decompose wood substrates and extract nutrients from them to support their growth. They play a crucial role in the material cycle of forest ecosystems. The genus Pluteus plays a significant role in wood decomposition. In this study, the morphology and molecular systematics of the sect. Celluloderma of the genus Pluteus were carried out. Pluteusbrunneodiscus was identified as a new species, along with the discovery of two new records, P.cystidiosus and P.chrysophlebius, and a common species, P.romellii. Pluteusbrunneodiscus is characterized by the brown center of the pileus that transitions to white towards the margins, with the surface cracking to form irregular granules. It is typically found in Populus forests growing on decomposing twigs or wood chips. Line drawings, color photographs, and phylogenetic analyses of related species within the genus Pluteus accompany the descriptions of these four species. The analyses are based on ITS + TEF1-α sequence data. Finally, a key for the twenty species within the sect. Celluloderma of the genus Pluteus, which has been documented in China, is provided.

Measurement of nanocomposite scintillators by terahertz time domain spectroscopy.

Nanocomposite scintillators are expected to combine the advantages of inorganic and plastic scintillators, such as high detection efficiency, high light yield, fast decay time, low cost, and ease of processing. They are currently the forefront and hot field of scintillator research. In this study, a non-destructive method was developed for measuring the content of inorganic components in nanocomposite scintillators by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The complex refractive index of B a F 2 nanocomposite scintillators with different mass contents was measured in the terahertz band. As the mass content of B a F 2 nanoparticles increases, the refractive index and extinction coefficient of B a F 2 nanocomposite scintillators also gradually increase in the terahertz band. By combining the effective medium theory, the expected mass content was obtained, proving the feasibility of this measuring method.

Assembly and succession of the phyllosphere microbiome and nutrient-cycling genes during plant community development in a glacier foreland.

The phyllosphere, particularly the leaf surface of plants, harbors a diverse range of microbiomes that play a vital role in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. However, our understanding of microbial successions and their impact on functional genes during plant community development is limited. In this study, considering core and satellite microbial taxa, we characterized the phyllosphere microbiome and functional genes in various microhabitats (i.e., leaf litter, moss and plant leaves) across the succession of a plant community in a low-altitude glacier foreland. Our findings indicate that phyllosphere microbiomes and associated ecosystem stability increase during the succession of the plant community. The abundance of core taxa increased with plant community succession and was primarily governed by deterministic processes. In contrast, satellite taxa abundance decreased during plant community succession and was mainly governed by stochastic processes. The abundance of microbial functional genes (such as C, N, and P hydrolysis and fixation) in plant leaves generally increased during the plant community succession. However, in leaf litter and moss leaves, only a subset of functional genes (e.g., C fixation and degradation, and P mineralization) showed a tendency to increase with plant community succession. Ultimately, the community of both core and satellite taxa collaboratively influenced the characteristics of phyllosphere nutrient-cycling genes, leading to the diverse profiles and fluctuating abundance of various functional genes during plant community succession. These findings offer valuable insights into the phyllosphere microbiome and plant-microbe interactions during plant community development, advancing our understanding of the succession and functional significance of the phyllosphere microbial community.

Phenanthrothiophene-Triazine Star-Shaped Discotic Liquid Crystals: Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and Stimuli-Responsive Fluorescence Properties.

Lipophilic biphenylthiophene- and phenanthrothiophene-triazine compounds, BPTTn and CPTTn, respectively, were prepared by a tandem procedure involving successive Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and Scholl cyclodehydrogenation reactions. These compounds display photoluminescence in solution and in thin film state, solvatochromism with increasing solvent's polarity, as well as acidochromism and metal ion recognition stimuli-responsive fluorescence. Protonation of BPTT10 and CPTT10 by trifluoroacetic acid results in fluorescence quenching, which is reversibly restored once treated with triethylamine (ON-OFF switch). DFT computational studies show that intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) phenomena occurs for both molecules, and reveal that protonation enhances the electron-withdrawing ability of the triazine core and reduces the band gap. This acidochromic behavior was applied to a prototype fluorescent anti-counterfeiting device. They also specifically recognize Fe3+ through coordination, and the recognition mechanism is closely related to the photoinduced electron transfer between Fe3+ and BPTT10/CPTT10. CPTTn self-assemble into columnar rectangular (Colrec) mesophase, which can be modulated by oleic acid via the formation of a hydrogen-bonded supramolecular liquid crystal hexagonal Colhex mesophase. Finally, CPTTn also form organic gels in alkanes at low critical gel concentration (3.0 mg/mL). Therefore, these star-shaped triazine molecules possess many interesting features and thus hold great promises for information processing, liquid crystal semiconductors and organogelators.

Identification and validation of mitophagy-related signatures as a novel prognostic model for colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the world. Mitophagy is associated with tumorigenesis and development of malignancy. However, the specific role of mitophagy has yet not been systematically explored in CRC. Methods: The RNA-sequencing dataset of CRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and microarray data of gene expression profiles of CRC from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were downloaded. Mitophagy-related gene sets were obtained from the Pathway Unification database. The package "limma" was used for differential gene expression analysis. Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analyses were utilized to evaluate the prognostic value of the mitophagy regulators. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was used to estimate the infiltrating immune cells and the activity of immune response. The ConsensusClusterPlus algorithm was used to determine mitophagy-related subtypes. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to create composite measurement of mitophagy scores. The R packages "survminer" and "ReGlot" were used to plot the nomogram and calibration curves. Results: Integrated analysis of the GEO and TCGA databases revealed some common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CRC. MFN2, UBB, PINK1, and PRKN were significantly downregulated in CRC samples as compared to normal samples, and other genes were significantly upregulated in CRC samples. KM survival analyses showed that high expression of ATG12 and MAP1LC3B predicted a poor prognosis, whereas high expression of TOMM22 and TOMM40 predicted a better prognosis. Mitophagy showed significant correlation with immune-related pathways in CRC samples. We identified 2 distinct CRC subtypes with different mitophagy accumulation, of which subtype B had better prognosis and immune activity. The mitophagy score may be employed as a new and efficient clinical predictor in conjunction with other clinical indicators to predict the prognosis of CRC patients. Conclusions: We systematically investigated the CRC heterogeneity with reference to mitophagy based on bioinformatics analyses, and the findings of this study might provide some guidance for future research into potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis prediction of CRC patients.

[Soil microbial carbon pump conceptual framework 2.0]. / 土壤微生物碳泵概念体系2.0.

Microorganisms are essential actors in the biogeochemical cycling of elements within terrestrial ecosystems, with significant influences on soil health, food security, and global climate change. The contribution of microbial anabolism-induced organic compounds is a non-negligible factor in the processes associated with soil carbon (C) storage and organic matter preservation. In recent years, the conceptual framework of soil microbial carbon pump (MCP), with a focus on microbial metabolism and necromass generation process, has gained widespread attention. It primarily describes the processes of soil organic C formation and stabilization driven by the metabolic activities of soil heterotrophic microorganisms, representing an important mechanism and a focal point in current research on terrestrial C sequestration. Here, we reviewed the progress in this field and introduced the soil MCP conceptual framework 2.0, which expands upon the existing MCP model by incorporating autotrophic microbial pathway for C sequestration and integrating the concept of soil mineral C pump. These advancements aimed to enrich and refine our understanding of microbial-mediated terrestrial ecosystem C cycling and sequestration mechanisms. This refined framework would provide theoretical support for achieving China's "dual carbon" goals.

Batoclimab vs Placebo for Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is caused by autoantibodies that disrupt the neuromuscular junction. The neonatal fragment crystallizable receptor (FcRn) antagonists, efgartigimod and rozanolixizumab, reduce immunoglobulin G (IgG) level in the circulation and alleviate symptoms in patients with generalized MG. Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety profile of batoclimab, a monoclonal IgG1 antibody, in patients with generalized MG. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a multicenter randomized clinical trial conducted from September 15, 2021, to June 29, 2022, at 27 centers in China. Adult patients 18 years or older with generalized MG were screened, and those who were antibody positive were enrolled. Intervention: Eligible patients received batoclimab or matching placebo in addition to standard of care. Each treatment cycle consisted of 6 weekly subcutaneous injections of batoclimab, 680 mg, or matching placebo followed by 4 weeks of observation. A second treatment cycle was conducted in patients who required continuing treatment. Main Outcome and Measure: The primary outcome was sustained improvement, as defined by a 3-point or greater reduction in the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score from baseline for 4 or more consecutive weeks in the first cycle in individuals who were positive for acetylcholine receptor or muscle-specific kinase antibodies. Results: A total of 178 adult patients with generalized MG were screened, 132 were randomly assigned, 131 tested positive for antibodies, and 1 tested negative for antibodies. A total of 132 patients (mean [SE] age, 43.8 [13.6] years; 88 women [67.2%]) were enrolled. The rate of sustained MG-ADL improvement in the first cycle in antibody-positive patients was 31.3% (20 of 64) in the placebo group vs 58.2% (39 of 67) in the batoclimab group (odds ratio, 3.45; 95% CI, 1.62-7.35; P = .001). The MG-ADL score diverged between the 2 groups as early as week 2. The mean (SE) maximum difference in MG-ADL score reduction occurred 1 week after the last dose (day 43, 1.7 [0.3] in the placebo group vs 3.6 [0.3] in the batoclimab group; group difference, -1.9; 95% CI, -2.8 to -1.0; nominal P < .001). The rates of treatment-related and severe treatment-emergent adverse events in patients were 36.9% (24 of 65) and 7.7% (5 of 65) in the placebo group vs 70.1% (47 of 67) and 3.0% (2 of 67) in the batoclimab group, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: Batoclimab increased the rate of sustained MG-ADL improvement and was well tolerated in adult patients with generalized MG. Clinical effects and the extent of IgG reduction were similar to those previously reported for efgartigimod and rozanolixizumab. Future studies of large sample size are needed to further understand the safety profile of batoclimab. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05039190.

Lithium isotopic constraints on the evolution of continental clay mineral factory and marine oxygenation in the earliest Paleozoic Era.

The evolution of oxygen cycles on Earth's surface has been regulated by the balance between molecular oxygen production and consumption. The Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic transition likely marks the second rise in atmospheric and oceanic oxygen levels, widely attributed to enhanced burial of organic carbon. However, it remains disputed how marine organic carbon production and burial respond to global environmental changes and whether these feedbacks trigger global oxygenation during this interval. Here, we report a large lithium isotopic and elemental dataset from marine mudstones spanning the upper Neoproterozoic to middle Cambrian [~660 million years ago (Ma) to 500 Ma]. These data indicate a dramatic increase in continental clay formation after ~525 Ma, likely linked to secular changes in global climate and compositions of the continental crust. Using a global biogeochemical model, we suggest that intensified continental weathering and clay delivery to the oceans could have notably increased the burial efficiency of organic carbon and facilitated greater oxygen accumulation in the earliest Paleozoic oceans.

The complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analysis of Bauhinia glauca subsp. hupehana (Craib) T. C. Chen 1988.

Bauhinia glauca subsp. hupehana (Craib) T. C. Chen 1988, a member of the Leguminosae family, Cercidoideae subfamily, and Bauhinia genus, has a rich history of traditional usage in Chinese medicine. Renowned for its analgesic properties, it is commonly employed for managing inflammation and pain. This study aimed to sequence the complete chloroplast genome of B. glauca subsp. hupehana using Illumina paired-end sequencing data. The chloroplast genome spans 156,967 bp and consists of four main regions: the large single-copy (LSC) region (89,185 bp), the small single-copy (SSC) region (19,146 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) (24,318 bp). The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome is 36.19%, with specific values of 33.99%, 29.79%, and 42.76% for the LSC, SSC, and IR regions, respectively. A total of 128 genes were annotated in the chloroplast genome, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that B. glauca subsp. hupehana is closely related to Bauhinia racemose, indicating a sister taxon relationship between the two species. This study significantly contributes to the chloroplast genomic resource for Bauhinia, laying the groundwork for future phylogenetic investigations within the genus.

Clinical features and genetic spectrum of a multicenter Chinese cohort with myotonic dystrophy type 1.

BACKGROUND: As the most common subtype of adult muscular dystrophy worldwide, large cohort reports on myotonic dystrophy type I (DM1) in China are still lacking. This study aims to analyze the genetic and clinical characteristics of Chinese Han DM1 patients. METHODS: Based on the multicenter collaborating effort of the Pan-Yangtze River Delta Alliance for Neuromuscular Disorders, patients with suspected clinical diagnoses of DM1 were genetically confirmed from January 2020 to April 2023. Peak CTG repeats in the DMPK gene were analyzed using triplet repeat-primed PCR (TP-PCR) and flanking PCR. Time-to-event analysis of onset age in females and males was performed. Additionally, detailed clinical features and longitudinal changes from the disease onset in 64 DM1 patients were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale were used to quantify the severity of daytime sleepiness and fatigue. RESULTS: Among the 211 genetically confirmed DM1 patients, the mean age at diagnosis was 40.9 ± 12.2 (range: 12-74) with a male-to-female ratio of 124:87. The average size of CTG repeats was 511.3 (range: 92-1945). Among the DM1 patients with comprehensive clinical data (n = 64, mean age 41.0 ± 12.0), the age at onset was significantly earlier in males than in females (4.8 years earlier, p = 0.026). Muscle weakness (92.2%), myotonia (85.9%), and fatigue (73.4%) were the most prevalent clinical features. The predominant involved muscles at onset are hands (weakness or myotonia) (52.6%) and legs (walking disability) (42.1%). Of them, 70.3% of patients had daytime sleepiness, 14.1% had cataract surgery, 7.8% used wheelchairs, 4.7% required ventilatory support, and 1.6% required gastric tubes. Regarding the comorbidities, 4.7% of patients had tumors, 17.2% had diabetes, 23.4% had dyspnea, 28.1% had intermittent insomnia, 43.8% experienced dysphagia, and 25% exhibited cognitive impairment. Chinese patients exhibited smaller size of CTG repeats (468 ± 139) than those reported in Italy (613 ± 623), the US (629 ± 386), and Japan (625 [302, 1047]), and milder phenotypes with less multisystem involvement. CONCLUSION: The Chinese Han DM1 patients presented milder phenotypes compared to their Caucasian and Japanese counterparts. A male predominance and an early age of onset were identified in male Chinese Han DM1 patients.