Ionic Hydrogen Bond-Assisted Catalytic Construction of Nitrogen Stereogenic Center via Formal Desymmetrization of Remote Diols.

The control of noncarbon stereogenic centers is of profound importance owing to their enormous interest in bioactive compounds and chiral catalyst or ligand design for enantioselective synthesis. Despite various elegant approaches have been achieved for construction of S-, P-, Si- and B-stereocenters over the past decades, the catalyst-controlled strategies to govern the formation of N-stereogenic compounds have garnered less attention. Here, we disclose the first organocatalytic approach for efficient access to a wide range of nitrogen-stereogenic compounds through a desymmetrization approach. Intriguingly, the pro-chiral remote diols, which are previously not well addressed with enantiocontrol, are well differentiated by potent chiral carbene-bound acyl azolium intermediates. Preliminary studies shed insights on the critical importance of the ionic hydrogen bond (IHB) formed between the dimer aggregate of diols to afford the chiral N-oxide products that feature a tetrahedral nitrogen as the sole stereogenic element with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities. Notably, the chiral N-oxide products could offer an attractive strategy for chiral ligand design and discovery of potential antibacterial agrochemicals.

Nickel-Iron-Layered Double Hydroxide Electrocatalyst with Nanosheets Array for High Performance of Water Splitting.

Developing high-performance and cost-competitive electrocatalysts have great significance for the massive commercial production of water-splitting hydrogen. Ni-based electrocatalysts display tremendous potential for electrocatalytic water splitting. Herein, we synthesize a novel NiFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) electrocatalyst in nanosheets array on high-purity Ni foam. By adjusting the Ni/Fe ratio, the microstructure, and even the behavior of the electrocatalyst in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), changes significantly. The as-obtained material shows a small overpotential of 223 mV at 10 mAcm-2 as well as a low Tafel slope of 48.9 mV·dec-1 in the 1 M KOH electrolyte. In addition, it can deliver good stability for at least 24 h of continuous working at 10 mAcm-2. This work proposes a strategy for engineering catalysts and provides a method for the development of other Ni-based catalysts with excellent performance.

Impact of PD-L1 gene polymorphisms and interactions with cooking with solid fuel exposure on tuberculosis.

Introduction Given that PD-L1 is a crucial immune checkpoint in regulating T cell responses, the aim of this study was to explore the impact of PD-L1 gene polymorphism and its interaction with cooking with solid fuel on susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) in Chinese Han populations. Methods A total of 503 TB patients and 494 healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. Mass spectrometry (MS) technology was applied to genotype rs2297136 and rs4143815 of PD-L1 genes. The associations between SNPs and TB were assessed using unconditional logistic regression analysis. Marginal structural linear odds models were used to estimate the gene-environment interactions. Results Compared with genotype CC, genotypes GG and CG + GG at rs4143815 locus were significantly associated with susceptibility to TB (OR: 3.074 and 1.506, respectively, P<0.05). However, no statistical association was found between rs2297136 SNP and TB risk. Moreover, the relative excess risk of interaction (RERI) between rs4143815 of the PD-L1 gene and cooking with solid fuel was 2.365 (95% CI 1.922,2.809), suggesting positive interactions with TB susceptibility. Conclusion The rs4143815 polymorphism of the PD-L1 gene was associated with susceptibility to TB in Chinese Han populations. There were significantly positive interactions between rs4143815 and cooking with solid fuel.

The cell cycle regulator p16 promotes tumor infiltrated CD8+ T cell exhaustion and apoptosis.

The therapeutic efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy is largely restricted by reduced viability and dysfunction of CD8+ T cells. Continuous antigen stimulation disrupts the expansion, effector function, and metabolic fitness of CD8+ T cells, leading to their differentiation into an exhausted state within the tumor microenvironment (TME). While the function of the cell cycle negative regulator p16 in senescent cells is well understood, its role in T cell exhaustion remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that TCR stimulation of CD8+ T cells rapidly upregulates p16 expression, with its levels positively correlating with TCR affinity. Chronic TCR stimulation further increased p16 expression, leading to CD8+ T cell apoptosis and exhaustion differentiation, without inducing DNA damage or cell senescence. Mechanistic investigations revealed that p16 downregulates mTOR, glycolysis, and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) associated gene expression, resulting in impaired mitochondrial fitness, reduced T cell viability, and diminished effector function. Furthermore, the deletion of p16 significantly enhances the persistence of CD8+ T cells within tumors and suppresses the terminal exhaustion of tumor-infiltrating T cells. Overall, our findings elucidate how increased p16 expression reshapes T cell intracellular metabolism, drives T cell apoptosis and exhaustion differentiation, and ultimately impairs T cell anti-tumor function.

Indicators to Measure Adolescent Health at the Country, Regional, and Global Levels: Results of a Five-Year Selection Process by the Global Action for the Measurement of Adolescent Health.

PURPOSE: To improve adolescent health measurement, the Global Action for the Measurement of Adolescent health (GAMA) Advisory Group was formed in 2018 and published a draft list of 52 indicators across six adolescent health domains in 2022. We describe the process and results of selecting the adolescent health indicators recommended by GAMA (hereafter, "GAMA-recommended indicators"). METHODS: Each indicator in the draft list was assessed using the following inputs: (1) availability of data and stakeholders' perceptions on their relevance, acceptability, and feasibility across selected countries; (2) alignment with current measurement recommendations and practices; and (3) data in global databases. Topic-specific working groups comprised of GAMA experts and representatives of United Nations partner agencies reviewed results and provided preliminary recommendations, which were appraised by all GAMA members and finalized. RESULTS: There are 47 GAMA-recommended indicators (36 core and 11 additional) for adolescent health measurement across six domains: policies, programs, and laws (4 indicators); systems performance and interventions (4); health determinants (7); health behaviors and risks (20); subjective well-being (2); and health outcomes and conditions (10). DISCUSSION: These indicators are the result of a robust and structured five-year process to identify a priority set of indicators with relevance to adolescent health globally. This inclusive and participatory approach incorporated inputs from a broad range of stakeholders, including adolescents and young people themselves. The GAMA-recommended indicators are now ready to be used to measure adolescent health at the country, regional, and global levels.

Kuicolong-yu enema decoction retains traditional Chinese medicine enema attenuates inflammatory response ulcerative colitis through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Ulcer colitis (UC) is a chronic, nonspecific, and noninfectious inflammatory bowel disease. Recently, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been found to be closely associated with clinical inflammatory diseases. Achieving complete remission in patients with intermittent periods of activity followed by dormancy is challenging. Moreover, no study has explored the mechanism by which Kuicolong-yu enema decoction retains traditional Chinese medicine enemas to attenuate the inflammatory response in UC. AIM: To explore the mechanism by which Kuicolong-yu enema decoction retains traditional Chinese medicine enemas to attenuate the inflammatory response in UC. METHODS: This prospective clinical study included patients who met the exclusion criteria in 2020 and 2021. The patients with UC were divided into two groups (control and experimental). The peripheral blood of the experimental and control groups were collected under aseptic conditions. The expression of TLR4 protein, NF-κB, IL-6, and IL-17 was detected in the peripheral blood of patients in the experimental group and control group before and 1 month after taking the drug. Linear correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the expression level of TLR4 protein and the expression levels of downstream signal NF-κB and inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-17, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the patient characteristics between the control and experimental groups. The results showed that the expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of IL-6 and IL-17 in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The TLR4 protein expression in the experimental group was positively correlated with the expression level of downstream signal NF-κB and was positively correlated with the levels of downstream inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-17 (r = 0.823, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Kuicolong-yu enema decoction retains traditional Chinese medicine enema attenuates the inflammatory response of UC through the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Effects of an Animation-Based Comprehensive Sexuality Education Package: A 2-Year Repeated Intervention Study.

BACKGROUND: Preadolescents, who are in a transitional phase of development, may experience higher exposure to heterosexual interactions while facing higher risks regarding misinformation in sexual knowledge and unsafe engagement in sexual activities. There is a deficiency in the availability of qualified educators and age-appropriate teaching materials for sexuality education in China. METHODS: We implemented an animation-based comprehensive sexuality education package among preadolescents aged 9 to 12 years from eight schools in Anhui, China. The first round of intervention included 1,835 participants, lasting 2 months from September to November 2020. A total of 374 participants, accounting for 52% of the intervention group, received a second round of intervention in September 2021. Participants completed immediate follow-up assessment and 1-year follow-up assessment to assess changes in their sexual knowledge, attitudes, and other outcomes. Propensity score matching and difference-in-difference analysis were performed to determine the short- and long-term impacts. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed for both sexual knowledge and sexual attitudes in the immediate follow-up. There was no significant effect on pornography-seeking behavior or awareness of experiencing sexual abuse. After 1 year, the effect was sustained for sexual knowledge, but slightly declined for sexual attitudes. The second intervention significantly improved sexual knowledge; however, no significant change in sexual attitudes, pornography-seeking behavior, or awareness of experiencing sexual abuse was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our comprehensive sexuality education package was effective in improving sexual knowledge both immediately and 1 year after the intervention. Repeated intervention can be an effective strategy for promoting preadolescent health development regarding comprehensive sexuality education.

The Application of Nanoparticles Targeting Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are the most abundant stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), especially in solid tumors. It has been confirmed that it can not only interact with tumor cells to promote cancer progression and metastasis, but also affect the infiltration and function of immune cells to induce chemotherapy and immunotherapy resistance. So, targeting CAF has been considered an important method in cancer treatment. The rapid development of nanotechnology provides a good perspective to improve the efficiency of targeting CAF. At present, more and more researches have focused on the application of nanoparticles (NPs) in targeting CAF. These studies explored the effects of different types of NPs on CAF and the multifunctional nanomedicines that can eliminate CAF are able to enhance the EPR effect which facilitate the anti-tumor effect of themselves. There also exist amounts of studies focusing on using NPs to inhibit the activation and function of CAF to improve the therapeutic efficacy. The application of NPs targeting CAF needs to be based on an understanding of CAF biology. Therefore, in this review, we first summarized the latest progress of CAF biology, then discussed the types of CAF-targeting NPs and the main strategies in the current. The aim is to elucidate the application of NPs in targeting CAF and provide new insights for engineering nanomedicine to enhance immune response in cancer treatment.

Cell membrane coated nanoparticles as a biomimetic drug delivery platform for enhancing cancer immunotherapy.

Cancer immunotherapy, a burgeoning modality for cancer treatment, operates by activating the autoimmune system to impede the growth of malignant cells. Although numerous immunotherapy strategies have been employed in clinical cancer therapy, the resistance of cancer cells to immunotherapeutic medications and other apprehensions impede the attainment of sustained advantages for most patients. Recent advancements in nanotechnology for drug delivery hold promise in augmenting the efficacy of immunotherapy. However, the efficacy is currently constrained by the inadequate specificity of delivery, low rate of response, and the intricate immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In this context, the investigation of cell membrane coated nanoparticles (CMNPs) has revealed their ability to perform targeted delivery, immune evasion, controlled release, and immunomodulation. By combining the advantageous features of natural cell membranes and nanoparticles, CMNPs have demonstrated their unique potential in the realm of cancer immunotherapy. This review aims to emphasize recent research progress and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of CMNPs as an innovative drug delivery platform for enhancing cancer immunotherapy. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive overview of the current immunotherapeutic strategies involving different cell membrane types of CMNPs, with the intention of further exploration and optimization.

A fluorescence detection method for postharvest tomato epidermal defects based on improved YOLOv5m.

BACKGROUND: Tomato quality visual grading is greatly affected by the problems of smooth skin, uneven illumination and invisible defects that are difficult to identify. The realization of intelligent detection of postharvest epidermal defects is conducive to further improving the economic value of postharvest tomatoes. RESULTS: An image acquisition device that utilizes fluorescence technology has been designed to capture a dataset of tomato skin defects, encompassing categories such as rot defects, crack defects and imperceptible defects. The YOLOv5m model was improved by introducing Convolutional Block Attention Module and replacing part of the convolution kernels in the backbone network with Switchable Atrous Convolution. The results of comparison experiments and ablation experiments show that the Precision, Recall and mean Average Precision of the improved YOLOv5m model were 89.93%, 82.33% and 87.57%, which are higher than YOLOv5m, Faster R-CNN and YOLOv7, and the average detection time was reduced by 47.04 ms picture-1. CONCLUSION: The present study utilizes fluorescence imaging and an improved YOLOv5m model to detect tomato epidermal defects, resulting in better identification of imperceptible defects and detection of multiple categories of defects. This provides strong technical support for intelligent detection and quality grading of tomatoes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Co-occurrence of and factors associated with health risk behaviors among adolescents: a multi-center study in sub-Saharan Africa, China, and India.

Background: Despite lifelong and detrimental effects, the co-occurrence of health risk behaviors (HRBs) during adolescence remains understudied in low- and middle-income countries. This study examines the co-occurrence of HRBs and its correlates among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, China, and India. Methods: A multi-country cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021-2022, involving 9697 adolescents (aged 10-19 years) from eight countries, namely Burkina Faso, China, Ethiopia, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. A standardized questionnaire was administered to examine five types of HRBs - physical inactivity, poor dietary habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, and risky sexual behavior. Latent class analysis was employed to identify clustering patterns among the behaviors, and logistic regression was used to identify the correlates of these patterns. Findings: Three clusters of HRBs were identified, with Cluster 1 (27.73%) characterized by the absence of any specific risky behavior, Cluster 2 (68.16%) characterized by co-occurrence of physical inactivity and poor dietary habits, and Cluster 3 (4.11%) characterized by engagement in smoking, alcohol consumption, and risky sexual behavior. Relative to Cluster 1, being in Cluster 2 was associated with being female (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09-1.32), not enrolled in education (aOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.71-0.99), and not engaged in paid work (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.08-1.41). Compared with those Cluster 1, adolescents in Cluster 3 were less likely to be female (aOR 0.41, 95% CI 0.32-0.54), be engaged in paid work (aOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.41-0.71), more likely to be older (aOR 7.56, 95% CI 5.18-11.03), not be enrolled in educational institution (aOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.27-2.38), and more likely to live with guardians other than parents (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.19-2.05). Interpretation: The significant clustering patterns of HRBs among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, China, and India highlights the urgent need for convergent approaches to improve adolescent health behaviors. Early life and school-based programs aimed at promoting healthy behaviors and preventing risky and unhealthy behaviors should be prioritized to equip adolescents with the tools and skills for lifelong well-being. Funding: Fondation Botnar (Grant #INV-037672) and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, partially funded this study.

The application of nanoparticles-based ferroptosis, pyroptosis and autophagy in cancer immunotherapy.

Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) have been applied for cancer therapy and achieved great success in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the broad application of ICBs is limited by the low response rate. To address this issue, increasing studies have found that the induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumor cells is becoming an emerging therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment, not only straightly killing tumor cells but also enhancing dying cells immunogenicity and activating antitumor immunity. ICD is a generic term representing different cell death modes containing ferroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy and apoptosis. Traditional chemotherapeutic agents usually inhibit tumor growth based on the apoptotic ICD, but most tumor cells are resistant to the apoptosis. Thus, the induction of non-apoptotic ICD is considered to be a more efficient approach for cancer therapy. In addition, due to the ineffective localization of ICD inducers, various types of nanomaterials have been being developed to achieve targeted delivery of therapeutic agents and improved immunotherapeutic efficiency. In this review, we briefly outline molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis, pyroptosis and autophagy, as well as their reciprocal interactions with antitumor immunity, and then summarize the current progress of ICD-induced nanoparticles based on different strategies and illustrate their applications in the cancer therapy.

Photoelectrochemical Cells with a Pyridine-Anchored Bilayer Photoanode for Water Splitting.

A dye-sensitized photoanode is prepared by coassembling a Ru complex photosensitizer and a Ru water oxidation catalyst (WOC) on a TiO2 substrate, in which the WOC molecules are immobilized in a layer-by-layer fashion through metal-pyridine coordination with the aid of a bifunctional anchoring and bridging molecule containing multiple pyridine groups. Under visible-light irradiation, an anodic photocurrent of around 200 µA/cm2 has been achieved with O2 and H2 being generated at the photoanode and Pt counter electrode, respectively. The pyridine anchoring strategy provides a simple method to prepare photoelectrodes for applications in photoelectrochemical cells.

Recent Advances in Nanomaterials for the Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious clinical syndrome with high morbidity, elevated mortality, and poor prognosis, commonly considered a "sword of Damocles" for hospitalized patients, especially those in intensive care units. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, caused by the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), play a key role in AKI progression. Hence, the investigation of effective and safe antioxidants and inflammatory regulators to scavenge overexpressed ROS and regulate excessive inflammation has become a promising therapeutic option. However, the unique physiological structure and complex pathological alterations in the kidneys render traditional therapies ineffective, impeding the residence and efficacy of most antioxidant and anti-inflammatory small molecule drugs within the renal milieu. Recently, nanotherapeutic interventions have emerged as a promising and prospective strategy for AKI, overcoming traditional treatment dilemmas through alterations in size, shape, charge, and surface modifications. This Review succinctly summarizes the latest advancements in nanotherapeutic approaches for AKI, encompassing nanozymes, ROS scavenger nanomaterials, MSC-EVs, and nanomaterials loaded with antioxidants and inflammatory regulator. Following this, strategies aimed at enhancing biocompatibility and kidney targeting are introduced. Furthermore, a brief discussion on the current challenges and future prospects in this research field is presented, providing a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of nanotherapeutic interventions for AKI.

Development assistance, donor-recipient dynamic, and domestic policy: a case study of two health interventions supported by World Bank-UK and Global Fund in China.

BACKGROUND: This study views sustainability after the exit of development assistance for health (DAH) as a shared responsibility between donors and recipients and sees transitioning DAH-supported interventions into domestic health policy as a pathway to this sustainability. It aims to uncover and understand the reemergent aspects of the donor-recipient dynamic in DAH and how they contribute to formulating domestic health policy and post-DAH sustainability. METHODS: We conducted a case study on two DAH-supported interventions: medical financial assistance in the Basic Health Services Project supported by the World Bank and UK (1998-2007) and civil society engagement in the HIV/AIDS Rolling Continuation Channel supported by the Global Fund (2010-2013) in China. From December 2021 to December 2022, we analyzed 129 documents and interviewed 46 key informants. Our data collection and coding were guided by a conceptual framework based on Walt and Gilson's health policy analysis model and the World Health Organization's health system building blocks. We used process tracing for analysis. RESULTS: According to the collected data, our case study identified three reemergent, interrelated aspects of donor-recipient dynamics: different preferences and compromise, partnership dialogues, and responsiveness to the changing context. In the case of medical financial assistance, the dynamic was characterized by long-term commitment to addressing local needs, on-site mutual learning and understanding, and local expertise cultivation and knowledge generation, enabling proactive responses to the changing context. In contrast, the dynamic in the case of HIV/AIDS civil society engagement marginalized genuine civil society engagement, lacked sufficient dialogue, and exhibited a passive response to the context. These differences led to varying outcomes in transnational policy diffusion and sustainability of DAH-supported interventions between the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Given the similarities in potential alternative factors observed in the two cases, we emphasize the significance of the donor-recipient dynamic in transnational policy diffusion through DAH. The study implies that achieving post-DAH sustainability requires a balance between donor priorities and recipient ownership to address local needs, partnership dialogues for mutual understanding and learning, and collaborative international-domestic expert partnerships to identify and respond to contextual enablers and barriers.

Managing transitions from external assistance: cross-national learning about sustaining effective coverage.

The often-prominent role of external assistance in health financing in low- and middle-income countries raises the question of how such resources can enable the sustained or even expanded coverage of key health services and initiatives even after donor funding is no longer available. In response to this question, this paper analyses the process and outcomes of donor transitions in health-where countries or regions within countries are no longer eligible to receive grants or concessional loans from external sources based on eligibility criteria or change in donor policy. The comparative analysis of multiple donor transitions in four countries-China, Georgia, Sri Lanka and Uganda-identifies 16 factors related to policy actors, policy process, the content of donor-funded initiatives and the broader political-economic context that were associated with sustained coverage of previously donor supported interventions. From a contextual standpoint, these factors relate to favourable economic and political environments for domestic systems to prioritize coverage for donor-supported interventions. Clear and transparent transition processes also enabled a smoother transition. How the donor-supported initiatives and services were organized within the context of the overall health system was found to be critically important, both before and during the transition process. This includes a targeted approach to integrate, strengthen and align key elements of the governance, financing, input management and service delivery arrangements with domestic systems. The findings of this analysis have important implications for how both donors and country policy makers can better structure external assistance that enables sustained coverage regardless of the source of funding. In particular, donors can better support sustained coverage through supporting long-term structural and institutional reform, clear co-financing policies, ensuring alignment with local salary scales and engaging with communities to ensure a continued focus on equitable access post-transition.

Adapting national data systems for donor transition: comparative analysis of experience from Georgia and China.

Health management information systems (HMISs) are essential in programme planning, budgeting, monitoring and evidence-informed decision-making. This paper focuses on donor transitions in two upper-middle-income countries, China and Georgia, and explores how national HMIS adaptations were made and what facilitated or limited successful and sustainable transitions. This comparative analytical case study uses a policy triangle framework and a mixed-methods approach to explore how and why adaptations in the HMIS occurred under the Gavi Alliance and the Global Fund-supported programmes in China and Georgia. A review of published and grey literature, key informant interviews and administrative data analysis informed the study findings. Contextual factors such as the global and country context, and health system and programme needs drove HMIS developments. Other factors included accountability on a national and international level; improvements in HMIS governance by establishing national regulations for clear mandates of data collection and reporting rules and creating institutional spaces for data use; investing in hardware, software and human resources to ensure regular and reliable data generation; and capacitating national players to use data in evidence-based decision-making for programme and transition planning, budgeting and outcome monitoring. Not all the HMIS initiatives supported by donors were sustained and transitioned. For the successful adaptation and sustainable transition, five interlinked and closely coordinated support areas need to be considered: (1) coupling programme design with a good understanding of the country context while considering domestic and external demands for information, (2) regulating appropriate governance and management arrangements enhancing country ownership, (3) avoiding silo HMIS solutions and taking integrative approach, (4) ensuring the transition of funding onto domestic budget and enforcing fulfilment of the government's financial commitments and finally (5) investing in technologies and skilled human resources for the HMIS throughout all levels of the health system. Neglecting any of these elements risks not delivering sustainable outcomes.

External technical assistance and its contribution to donor transition and long-term sustainability: experience from China and Georgia.

External technical assistance has played a vital role in facilitating the transitions of donor-supported health projects/programmes (or their key components) to domestic health systems in China and Georgia. Despite large differences in size and socio-political systems, these two upper-middle-income countries have both undergone similar trajectories of 'graduating' from external assistance for health and gradually established strong national ownership in programme financing and policymaking over the recent decades. Although there have been many documented challenges in achieving effective and sustainable technical assistance, the legacy of technical assistance practices in China and Georgia provides many important lessons for improving technical assistance outcomes and achieving more successful donor transitions with long-term sustainability. In this innovation and practice report, we have selected five projects/programmes in China and Georgia supported by the following external health partners: the World Bank and the UK Department for International Development, Gavi Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. These five projects/programmes covered different health focus areas, ranging from rural health system strengthening to opioid substitution therapy. We discuss three innovative practices of technical assistance identified by the cross-country research teams: (1) talent cultivation for key decision-makers and other important stakeholders in the health system; (2) long-term partnerships between external and domestic experts; and (3) evidence-based policy advocacy nurtured by local experiences. However, the main challenge of implementation is insufficient domestic budgets for capacity building during and post-transition. We further identify two enablers for these practices to facilitate donor transition: (1) a project/programme governance structure integrated into the national health system and (2) a donor-recipient dynamic that enabled deep and far-reaching engagements with external and domestic stakeholders. Our findings shed light on the practices of technical assistance that strengthen long-term post-transition sustainability across multiple settings, particularly in middle-income countries.