Integrative Proteomic Characterization of Human Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Genomic studies of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have advanced our understanding of the disease's biology and accelerated targeted therapy. However, the proteomic characteristics of LUAD remain poorly understood. We carried out a comprehensive proteomics analysis of 103 cases of LUAD in Chinese patients. Integrative analysis of proteome, phosphoproteome, transcriptome, and whole-exome sequencing data revealed cancer-associated characteristics, such as tumor-associated protein variants, distinct proteomics features, and clinical outcomes in patients at an early stage or with EGFR and TP53 mutations. Proteome-based stratification of LUAD revealed three subtypes (S-I, S-II, and S-III) related to different clinical and molecular features. Further, we nominated potential drug targets and validated the plasma protein level of HSP 90ß as a potential prognostic biomarker for LUAD in an independent cohort. Our integrative proteomics analysis enables a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular landscape of LUAD and offers an opportunity for more precise diagnosis and treatment.

Targeting Epigenetic Crosstalk as a Therapeutic Strategy for EZH2-Aberrant Solid Tumors.

Mutations or aberrant upregulation of EZH2 occur frequently in human cancers, yet clinical benefits of EZH2 inhibitor (EZH2i) remain unsatisfactory and limited to certain hematological malignancies. We profile global posttranslational histone modification changes across a large panel of cancer cell lines with various sensitivities to EZH2i. We report here oncogenic transcriptional reprogramming mediated by MLL1's interaction with the p300/CBP complex, which directs H3K27me loss to reciprocal H3K27ac gain and restricts EZH2i response. Concurrent inhibition of H3K27me and H3K27ac results in transcriptional repression and MAPK pathway dependency in cancer subsets. In preclinical models encompassing a broad spectrum of EZH2-aberrant solid tumors, a combination of EZH2 and BRD4 inhibitors, or a triple-combination including MAPK inhibition display robust efficacy with very tolerable toxicity. Our results suggest an attractive precision treatment strategy for EZH2-aberrant tumors on the basis of tumor-intrinsic MLL1 expression and concurrent inhibition of epigenetic crosstalk and feedback MAPK activation.

Sunlight-powered sustained flight of an ultralight micro aerial vehicle.

Limited flight duration is a considerable obstacle to the widespread application of micro aerial vehicles (MAVs)1-3, especially for ultralightweight MAVs weighing less than 10 g, which, in general, have a flight endurance of no more than 10 min (refs. 1,4). Sunlight power5-7 is a potential alternative to improve the endurance of ultralight MAVs, but owing to the restricted payload capacity of the vehicle and low lift-to-power efficiency of traditional propulsion systems, previous studies have not achieved untethered sustained flight of MAVs fully powered by natural sunlight8,9. Here, to address these challenges, we introduce the CoulombFly, an electrostatic flyer consisting of an electrostatic-driven propulsion system with a high lift-to-power efficiency of 30.7 g W-1 and an ultralight kilovolt power system with a low power consumption of 0.568 W, to realize solar-powered sustained flight of an MAV under natural sunlight conditions (920 W m-2). The vehicle's total mass is only 4.21 g, within 1/600 of the existing lightest sunlight-powered aerial vehicle6.

A proteomic and phosphoproteomic landscape of KRAS mutant cancers identifies combination therapies.

KRAS mutant cancer, characterized by the activation of a plethora of phosphorylation signaling pathways, remains a major challenge for cancer therapy. Despite recent advancements, a comprehensive profile of the proteome and phosphoproteome is lacking. This study provides a proteomic and phosphoproteomic landscape of 43 KRAS mutant cancer cell lines across different tissue origins. By integrating transcriptomics, proteomics, and phosphoproteomics, we identify three subsets with distinct biological, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics. The integrative analysis of phosphoproteome and drug sensitivity information facilitates the identification of a set of drug combinations with therapeutic potentials. Among them, we demonstrate that the combination of DOT1L and SHP2 inhibitors is an effective treatment specific for subset 2 of KRAS mutant cancers, corresponding to a set of TCGA clinical tumors with the poorest prognosis. Together, this study provides a resource to better understand KRAS mutant cancer heterogeneity and identify new therapeutic possibilities.

Restoring T and B cell generation in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency mice through hematopoietic stem cells adenine base editing.

Base editing of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) is an attractive strategy for treating immunohematologic diseases. However, the feasibility of using adenine-base-edited HSPCs for treating X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1), the influence of dose-response relationships on immune cell generation, and the potential risks have not been demonstrated in vivo. Here, a humanized SCID-X1 mouse model was established, and 86.67% ± 2.52% (n = 3) of mouse hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) pathogenic mutations were corrected, with no single-guide-RNA (sgRNA)-dependent off-target effects detected. Analysis of peripheral blood over 16 weeks post-transplantation in mice with different immunodeficiency backgrounds revealed efficient immune cell generation following transplantation of different amounts of modified HSCs. Therefore, a large-scale infusion of gene-corrected HSCs within a safe range can achieve rapid, stable, and durable immune cell regeneration. Tissue-section staining further demonstrated the restoration of immune organ tissue structures, with no tumor formation in multiple organs. Collectively, these data suggest that base-edited HSCs are a potential therapeutic approach for SCID-X1 and that a threshold infusion dose of gene-corrected cells is required for immune cell regeneration. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of base-edited HSCs in treating SCID-X1.

Integrated Manipulation and Addressing of Spin Defect in Diamond.

Scalable and addressable integrated manipulation of qubits is crucial for practical quantum information applications. Different waveguides have been used to transport the optical and electrical driving pulses, which are usually required for qubit manipulation. However, the separated multifields may limit the compactness and efficiency of manipulation and introduce unwanted perturbation. Here, we develop a tapered fiber-nanowire-electrode hybrid structure to realize integrated optical and microwave manipulation of solid-state spins at nanoscale. Visible light and microwave driving pulses are simultaneously transported and concentrated along an Ag nanowire. Studied with spin defects in diamond, the results show that the different driving fields are aligned with high accuracy. The spatially selective spin manipulation is realized. And the frequency-scanning optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of spin qubits is measured, illustrating the potential for portable quantum sensing. Our work provides a new scheme for developing compact, miniaturized quantum sensors and quantum information processing devices.

Targeted PLK1 suppression through RNA interference mediated by high-fidelity Cas13d mitigates osteosarcoma progression via TGF-ß/Smad3 signalling.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy in children and adolescents. Overexpression of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is frequent in osteosarcoma and drives disease progression and metastasis, making it a promising therapeutic target. In this study, we explored PLK1 knockdown in osteosarcoma cells using RNA interference mediated by high-fidelity Cas13d (hfCas13d). PLK1 was found to be significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma tumour tissues compared to normal bone. sgRNA-mediated PLK1 suppression via hfCas13d transfection inhibited osteosarcoma cell proliferation, induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, promoted apoptosis, reduced cell invasion and increased expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin. Proximity labelling by TurboID coupled with co-immunoprecipitation identified novel PLK1 interactions with Smad3, a key intracellular transducer of TGF-ß signalling. PLK1 knockdown impaired Smad2/3 phosphorylation and modulated TGF-ß/Smad3 pathway inactivation. Finally, in vivo delivery of hfCas13d vectors targeting PLK1 substantially attenuated osteosarcoma xenograft growth in nude mice. Taken together, this study highlights PLK1 as a potential therapeutic target and driver of disease progression in osteosarcoma. It also demonstrates the utility of hfCas13d-mediated gene knockdown as a strategy for targeted therapy. Further optimization of PLK1 suppression approaches may ultimately improve clinical outcomes for osteosarcoma patients.

Cornichon protein CNIH4 is not essential for mice gametogenesis and fertility.

BACKGROUND: Cornichon is a functionally conserved transmembrane protein family that generally acts as a cargo-sorting receptor and cycles between the ER and the Golgi. Four Cornichon family members (CNIH1-4) have been identified. The key residues responsible for CNIH1-3 to bind to AMPA receptors are not conserved in CNIH4. Additionally, the function of CNIH1-3 in GPCR signaling is less established, while more established in case of CNIH4 protein that interact with GPCR and control their exportation. Many GPCRs are known for their essential roles in male and female gonad development. But whether CNIH4 plays a role in gametogenesis remains unknown. DESIGN: Mice carrying the Cnih4 knockout allele (Cnih4tm1a-/-) were generated by insertion of a LacZ reporter and a polyadenylation site after exon 1. Western blot, Immunofluorescence, computer-aided sperm analysis and other methods were used in the functional analysis. RESULTS: We identified that both Cnih4tm1a-/- male and female mice have normal fertility. Though, the sperm count, morphology, and motility of Cnih4tm1a-/- mice were slightly impaired compared to those of wild-type mice, the testes to body weight ratio and testicular histology were similar to those in control mice. Histological examination of Cnih4tm1a-/- ovaries detected follicles from primordial to antral stages and the numbers of follicles at each stage were also comparable to wild-type controls. Normal fertility was noticed after six-month fertility tests. That was likely due to the compensatory role of Chin3, which significantly upregulated in the Cnih4tm1a-/- mice to preserve the fertility role. CONCLUSION: Despite CNIH4 showing enriched expression in mouse germ cells, our genetic knockout studies demonstrated that CNIH4 is not essential for gametogenesis and fertility in mice although with a slight reduction in count, motility and morphology of sperm in male mice.

Kinetics of EBV antibody-based NPC risk scores in Taiwan NPC multiplex families.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) risk prediction models based on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-antibody testing have shown potential for screening of NPC; however, the long-term stability is unclear. Here, we investigated the kinetics of two EBV-antibody NPC risk scores within the Taiwan NPC Multiplex Family Study. Among 545 participants with multiple blood samples, we evaluated the stability of a 2-marker enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay score and 13-marker multiplex serology score using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) by fitting a linear mixed model that accounted for the clustering effect of multiple measurements per subject and age. We also estimated the clustering of positive tests using Fleiss's kappa statistic. Over an average 20-year follow-up, the 2-marker score showed high stability over time, whereas the 13-marker score was more variable (p < .05). Case-control status is associated with the kinetics of the antibody response, with higher ICCs among cases. Positive tests were more likely to cluster within the same individual for the 2-marker score than the 13-marker score (p < .05). The 2-marker score had an increase in specificity from ~90% for single measurement to ~96% with repeat testing. The 13-marker score had a specificity of ~73% for a single measurement that increased to ~92% with repeat testing. Among individuals who developed NPC, none experienced score reversion. Our findings suggest that repeated testing could improve the specificity of NPC screening in high-risk NPC multiplex families. Further studies are required to determine the impact on sensitivity, establish optimal screening intervals, and generalize these findings to general population settings in high-risk regions.

A proteome-wide analysis unveils a core Epstein-Barr virus antibody signature of classic Hodgkin lymphoma across ethnically diverse populations.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an oncogenic virus associated with various malignancies, including classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Despite its known association, the specific role of humoral immune response to EBV remains poorly characterized in cHL. To address this, we conducted a study using a custom protein microarray to measure the antibody responses in cHL patients and matched healthy controls recruited from an East-Asian hospital-based case-control study. We identified 16 IgG antibodies significantly elevated in EBV-positive cHL compared with controls, defining an "East-Asian antibody signature of EBV-positive cHL." We evaluated responses against these 16 antibodies in a distinct European population, leveraging data from our previous European cHL case-control study from the UK, Denmark, and Sweden. A subset of antibodies (14/16, 87.5%) from the "East-Asian antibody signature of EBV-positive cHL" exhibited significant associations with cHL in the European population. Conversely, we assessed the "European antibody signature of EBV-positive cHL" identified in our prior study which consisted of 18 EBV antibodies (2 IgA, 16 IgG), in the East-Asian population. A subset of these antibodies (15/18, 83.3%) maintained significant associations with cHL in the East-Asian population. This cross-comparison of antibody signatures underscores the robust generalizability of EBV antibodies across populations. Five anti-EBV IgG antibodies (LMP-1, TK, BALF2, BDLF3, and BBLF1), found in both population-specific antibody signatures, represent a "core signature of EBV-positive cHL." Our findings suggest that the antibody responses targeting these core EBV proteins reflect a specific EBV gene expression pattern, serving as potential biomarkers for EBV-positive cHL independent of population-specific factors.

Heat-Localized and Salt-Resistant 3D Hierarchical Porous Ceramic Platform for Efficient Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) is a highly promising approach to achieve sustainable desalination and tackle the global freshwater crisis. Despite advancements in this field, achieving balanced thermal localization and salt resistance remains a challenge. Herein, the study presents a 3D hierarchical porous ceramic platform for SDIE applications. The utilized alumina foam ceramics (AFCs) exhibit remarkable corrosion resistance and chemical stability, ensuring a prolonged operational lifespan in seawater or brines. The millimeter-scale air-filled pores in AFCs prevent thermal losses through conduction with bulk water, resulting in heat-localized interfaces. The hydrophilic nature of macroporous AFC skeletons facilitates rapid water replenishment on the evaporating surface for effective salt-resistant desalination. Benefiting from its self-radiation adsorption and side-assisted evaporation capabilities, the AFC-based evaporators exhibit high indoor evaporation rates of 2.99 and 3.54 kg m-2 h-1 under one-sided and three-sided illumination under 1.0 sun, respectively. The AFC-based evaporator maintains a high evaporation rate of ≈2.77 kg m-2 h-1 throughout the 21-day long-term test. Furthermore, it achieves a daily water productivity of ≈10.44 kg m-2 in outdoor operations. This work demonstrates the potential of 3D hierarchical porous ceramics in addressing the trade-off between heat localization and salt resistance, and contributes to the development of durable solar steam generators.

Identification and expression analysis of XIP gene family members in rice.

Xylanase inhibitor proteins (XIP) are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, and also exist in rice. However, a systematic bioinformatics analysis of this gene family in rice (OsXIP) has not been conducted to date. In this study, we identified 32 members of the OsXIP gene family and analyzed their physicochemical properties, chromosomal localization, gene structure, protein structure, expression profiles, and interaction networks. Our results indicated that OsXIP genes exhibit an uneven distribution across eight rice chromosomes. These genes generally feature a low number of introns or are intronless, all family members, except for OsXIP20, contain two highly conserved motifs, namely Motif 8 and Motif 9. In addition, it is worth noting that the promoter regions of OsXIP gene family members feature a widespread presence of abscisic acid response elements (ABRE) and gibberellin response elements (GARE-motif and TATC-box). Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis unveiled that the expression of OsXIP genes exhibited higher levels in leaves and roots, with considerable variation in the expression of each gene in these tissues both prior to and following treatments with abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA3). Protein interaction studies and microRNA (miRNA) target prediction showed that OsXIP engages with key elements within the hormone-responsive and drought signaling pathways. The qRT-PCR suggested osa-miR2927 as a potential key regulator in the rice responding to drought stress, functioning as tissue-specific and temporally regulation. This study provides a theoretical foundation for further analysis of the functions within the OsXIP gene family.

Fabrication and Photovoltaic Conversion Performances of Imidazolyl and Fumaric Acid Composite Langmuir-Blodgett Membranes.

Novel organic small molecule structures have received increasing attention in the preparation of multifunctional thin film materials and have become the subject of research in many cutting-edge directions. In this work, imidazolyl and transbutylene glycolic acid molecules and dye molecules were designed and prepared as composite films by supramolecular self-assembly in the LB technique, and their morphological features and spectral properties were analyzed. The results showed that the prepared LB films presented different aggregation states. In addition, their photoelectrochemical properties, on ITO sheets were tested, all of which showed good optoelectronic properties, and their binding energies, structure optimization, and electrostatic potentials were theoretically calculated by DFT simulations, which proved that the prepared films have good optoelectronic properties, and have the potential to become optoelectronic multifunctional ultrathin film devices.

Enhanced Energy Storage Properties and DFT Investigation of a Zn-Co-Mo Heterojunction Rich in Oxygen Vacancies with Dual Electron Transport Pathways.

Petal-like heterojunction materials ZnCo2O4/CoMoO4 with abundant oxygen vacancies are prepared on nickel foam (NF) using modified ionic hybrid thermal calcination technology. Nanoscale ion intermixing between Zn and Mo ions induces oxygen vacancies in the annealing process, thus creating additional electrochemical active sites and enhancing the electrical conductivity. The ZnCo2O4/CoMoO4 conductive network skeleton forms the primary transport pathway for electrons, while the internal electric field of the heterojunction serves as the secondary pathway. ZnCo2O4/CoMoO4 exhibits excellent rate performance and high capacity attributable to its unique double electron transport mode and the effect of oxygen vacancies. The initial discharge capacity at a current of 0.1 A g-1 is approximately 1774 mAh g-1, and the reversible capacity remains at 1100 mAh g-1 after 200 cycles. After a high current of 1 A g-1, the reversible capacity is observed to remain at approximately 1240 mAh g-1. The electronic structure, crystal structure, and work function of the heterojunction interface model are then analyzed by density functional theory (DFT). The analysis results indicate that the charge at the ZnCo2O4/CoMoO4 interface is unevenly distributed, which leads to an enhanced degree of electrochemical reaction. The presence of an internal electric field improves the transport efficiency of the carriers. Experimental and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the ZnCo2O4/CoMoO4 anode material designed in this work provides a reference for fabricating transition metal oxide-based lithium-ion batteries.

Prevalence and Rapid Screen Method of Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research Syndromes in Human Papillomavirus-Infected Patients.

INTRODUCTION: The early and rapid identification of psychosomatic symptoms is crucial to prevent harmful outcomes in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in busy comprehensive clinics. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and rapid screening method of the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research-revised (DCPR) syndromes in patients with HPV infection. METHODS: A total of 504 participants underwent a clinical assessment that included DCPR, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), fear of disease, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. The prevalence of DCPR syndromes and DSM-5 diagnoses were compared between the HPV-positive and negative patients using χ2 tests. We explored the rapid screen indicator through multiple logistic regression analyses of the participants' psychosocial factors, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: The incidence of DCPR syndromes in HPV-positive patients (56.6%) was significantly greater than that in HPV-negative patients (17.3%) and DSM-5 diagnoses (8.5%) in the HPV-positive group. Health anxiety, irritable mood, type A behavior, and demoralization were the most common psychosomatic syndromes in HPV-positive patients. As the degree of fear increased from 0 to 5 to 10, the risk of DCPR increased from 1.27 (95% CI: 0.21-7.63) to 3.24 (score range: 1-5, 95% CI: 1.01-10.39) to 9.91 (score range: 6-10, 95% CI: 3.21-30.62) in the HPV-positive group. CONCLUSION: The degree of fear, as an independent risk factor, could be used to quickly screen outpatients with a high risk of DCPR syndrome among women with HPV infection.

Strongly Coupled Heterostructured CoP/MoO2 as an Advanced Electrocatalyst for Urea-Assisted Water Electrolysis.

Developing low-cost electrocatalysts with excellent activity and durability in urea-assisted water splitting is urgently needed in order to achieve sustainable hydrogen production. Herein, we in situ synthesized a robust coupled heterostructured electrocatalyst (CoP/MoO2) on a nickel foam (NF) substrate and explored its electrocatalytic performances in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and urea oxidation reaction (UOR). The overpotential of CoP/MoO2/NF is found to be only 11 mV at 10 mA cm-2 during the HER process, which is significantly lower than that of commercial Pt/C. Meanwhile, the UOR catalytic performance of CoP/MoO2/NF indicates fast reaction kinetics, along with a considerable low driving potential (1.26 V) compared to that of the OER (1.51 V). In situ and ex situ techniques demonstrate that these excellent electrocatalytic properties are mainly ascribed to the effective synergistic coupled effect and strong electronic interactions between single-component CoP and MoO2, which can tune electronic states of Co and Mo, expose more active sites, enhance intrinsic catalytic activity, and accelerate charge transfer. Moreover, when used in electrochemical overall water splitting and urea-assisted water electrolysis, CoP/MoO2/NF can reach a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at only 1.46 and 1.32 V. This outperforms Pt/C||RuO2 and numerous nonprecious metal electrocatalysts and maintains a stable long-term electrolytic operation for 84 h. This work provides a promising pathway for the development of efficient catalysts during urea-assisted water electrolysis for hydrogen production.

Alternatives Exert Higher Health Risks than Bisphenol A on Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins.

The detrimental effects of bisphenol (BP) exposure are a concern for vulnerable species, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis). To investigate the characteristics of BP profiles and their adverse impact on humpback dolphins, we assessed the concentrations of six BPs, including bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol B (BPB), and bisphenol P (BPP) in blubber (n = 26) and kidney (n = 12) of humpback dolphins stranded in the Pearl River Estuary, China. BPS accounted for the largest proportion of the total bisphenols (∑BPs) in blubber (55%) and kidney (69%). The concentration of ∑BP in blubber was significantly higher than that in the kidney and liver. The EC50 values of five BPA alternatives were lower than those of BPA in humpback dolphin skin fibroblasts (ScSF) and human skin fibroblasts (HSF). ScSF was more sensitive to BPS, BPAF, BPB, and BPP than HSF. The enrichment pathway of BPA was found to be associated with inflammation and immune dysregulation, while BPP and BPS demonstrated a preference for genotoxicity. BPA, BPP, and BPS, which had risk quotients (RQs) > 1, were found to contribute to subhealth and chronic disease in humpback dolphins. According to the EC50-based risk assessment, BPS poses a higher health risk than BPA for humpback dolphins. This study successfully evaluated the risks of bisphenols in rare and endangered cetacean cell lines using a noninvasive method. More in vivo and in field observations are necessary to know whether the BPA alternatives are likely to be regrettable substitutions.

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Exposure Induces Adverse Effects on the Population Dynamics of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin.

Cetaceans play a pivotal role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of ocean ecosystems. However, their populations are under global threat from environmental contaminants. Various high levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been detected in cetaceans from the South China Sea, such as the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), suggesting potential health risks, while the impacts of endocrine disruptors on the dolphin population remain unclear. This study aims to synthesize the population dynamics of the humpback dolphins in the PRE and their profiles of EDC contaminants from 2005 to 2019, investigating the potential role of EDCs in the population dynamics of humpback dolphins. Our comprehensive analysis indicates a sustained decline in the PRE humpback dolphin population, posing a significant risk of extinction. Variations in sex hormones induced by EDC exposure could potentially impact birth rates, further contributing to the population decline. Anthropogenic activities consistently emerge as the most significant stressor, ranking highest in importance. Conventional EDCs demonstrate more pronounced impacts on the population compared to emerging compounds. Among the conventional pollutants, DDTs take precedence, followed by zinc and chromium. The most impactful emerging EDCs are identified as alkylphenols. Notably, as the profile of EDCs changes, the significance of conventional pollutants may give way to emerging EDCs, presenting a continued challenge to the viability of the humpback dolphin population.

In utero aspirin exposure and child neurocognitive development: A propensity score-matched analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between a short-period, high-dose in utero aspirin exposure and child neurocognitive development. DESIGN: A propensity score-matched analysis of a multicentre prospective cohort study. SETTING: The US Collaborative Perinatal Project (1959-1976). POPULATION: A total of 50 565 singleton live births with maternal information. METHODS: We performed a propensity score matching to balance maternal characteristics between women with and without aspirin exposure. Inverse probability-weighted marginal structural models were used to estimate associations between aspirin exposure and child neurocognitive assessments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Child neurocognitive development was assessed using the Bayley Scales at 8 months, the Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale at 4 years, and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale and Wide-Range Achievement Test (WRAT) at 7 years. RESULTS: Children exposed to aspirin in utero were associated with an 8%-16% reduced risk of having suspect/abnormal or below-average scores in most neurocognitive assessments. A trend of lower risks of having suspect/abnormal or below-average scores was further observed in children with in utero aspirin exposure for more than 7 days, particularly on Bayley Mental (relative risk [RR] 0.82, 95% CI 0.74-0.92), WRAT Reading (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78-0.98) and WRAT Arithmetic tests (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.86). This association was mainly observed in the second trimester of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: In utero aspirin exposure was associated with improved child neurocognitive development in a prospective cohort study. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the impact of long-period and low-dose in utero aspirin exposure on child short- and long-term neurodevelopment.

The role of IgG4 in systemic lupus erythematosus: Implications for pathogenesis and therapy.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 has a distinctive nature, and its involvement in autoimmune disorders is a subject of ongoing debate and uncertainty. A growing body of evidence indicates that IgG4 may play a pathogenic role in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The IgG4 autoantibodies have the capability to bind autoantigens in a competitive manner with other Ig classes, thereby forming immune complexes (ICs) that are noninflammatory in nature. This is due to the low affinity of IgG4 for both the Fc receptors and the C1 complement molecule, which results in a diminished inflammatory response in individuals with SLE. The present study aims to elucidate the significance of IgG4 in SLE. The present discourse pertains to the nascent and suggested modalities through which IgG4 might participate in the pathogenesis of SLE and the potential ramifications for therapeutic interventions in SLE.