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Nerve injury in revision total elbow arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Revision total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is technically demanding and carries a substantial risk of postoperative neurological complications because of scarring, altered anatomy, implant removal, and repeated humeral and ulnar exposure. The incidence, nerve distribution, and recovery profile of nerve injury after revision TEA remain incompletely defined. This study aimed to systematically review the literature to define the incidence, recovery profile, and risk factors for nerve injury after revision TEA. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidance. Thirteen retrospective case series were included, comprising 282 revision TEAs in 271 patients. Random-effects meta-analysis of proportions was undertaken where the data permitted. The primary outcome was postoperative nerve injury following revision TEA. Secondary outcomes included nerve type, recovery, secondary nerve-related procedures, infection, triceps insufficiency, metallosis, periprosthetic fracture, and re-revision. RESULTS: The pooled incidence of postoperative nerve injury was 22.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 16.3 to 29.6; I2 = 34.6%). The crude incidence was 60 of 282 revisions (21.3%, 95% CI 16.6 to 26.5). The ulnar nerve was involved in 66.7% of all nerve injuries, the radial nerve in 31.7%, and the median nerve in 1.7%. No significant difference in pooled nerve-injury incidence was identified between studies published before 2010 and those published from 2010 onwards (22.9% vs. 21.4%, P = .837). Recovery reporting was heterogeneous; among injuries with numerically extractable outcomes, 85.4% improved partially or completely (95% CI 72.2 to 93.9). Secondary nerve-related procedures were reported in 7 studies. Pooled complication estimates were 10.2% for infection, 13.6% for triceps insufficiency, 25.5% for metallosis, 15.9% for periprosthetic fracture, and 14.0% for re-revision. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative nerve injury is a common and clinically important complication of revision TEA, affecting approximately 1 in 5 cases. The ulnar nerve is most frequently involved, although radial nerve injury accounts for a substantial proportion of cases. Many neuropathies improve during follow-up, but persistent deficits and the need for secondary nerve-related procedures are not uncommon. Future studies should adopt standardized neurological definitions and reporting to improve comparability and guide preventive surgical strategies.

Humans

K-wire versus screw fixation in Scarf-Akin osteotomy for hallux valgus: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Retention of metal implants after Scarf-Akin osteotomy (SAO) may cause irritation and psychological discomfort, often necessitating a hardware removal procedure. This study aimed to introduce K-wire fixation, allowing for outpatient removal, and to compare it with screw fixation. METHODS: This retrospective study included 64 patients with hallux valgus, comprising 32 in the K-wire fixation group and 32 in the screw fixation group. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, visual analogue scale (VAS), and patient satisfaction. Radiographic parameters included hallux valgus angle(HVA), intermetatarsal angle(IMA), and distal metatarsal articular angle(DMAA). RESULTS: Both groups showed significant clinical and radiographic improvement (P&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.01). No significant between-group differences were observed in the other clinical or radiographic outcomes (P&#x202f;>&#x202f;0.05). Treatment costs were significantly lower in the K-wire group (P&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.001). CONCLUSIONS: K-wire fixation provides clinical and radiographic outcomes comparable to screw fixation, while avoiding the need for an additional procedure to remove the implant. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Humans

Comparative efficacy and safety of bi-flanged metal stents versus lumen-apposing metal stents for endoscopic drainage of pancreatic fluid collections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs), particularly walled-off necrosis, are common complications of acute pancreatitis that often require endoscopic drainage. Bi-flanged metal stents (BFMS; NAGI; Taewoong Medical, Gyenoggi-do, Korea) and electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS; AXIOS, Boston Scientific Corporation, Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA) are frequently used, but comparative data remain limited. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of BFMS and LAMS in the endoscopic drainage of PFCs. METHODS: This meta-analysis followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Comprehensive database searches were conducted through November 2024 to identify studies comparing BFMS and LAMS for endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of PFCs. Outcomes were pooled using a random-effects model with RevMan Web, and statistical significance was defined as a P value less than 0.05. RESULTS: Three studies ( n &#x2005;=&#x2005;627; 329 BFMS and 298 LAMS) met inclusion criteria. No significant differences were observed between BFMS and LAMS for technical success [odds ratio (OR): 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.55-2.43] or clinical success (OR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.51-1.87). Similarly, there were no differences in walled-off necrosis recurrence (OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 0.17-24.02), number of direct endoscopic necrosectomy sessions (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.05-5.12), or mean number of endoscopic procedures (mean difference: 0.18, 95% CI: 2.08-2.45). Adverse events were also comparable between groups, including bleeding (OR: 0.64), infection (OR: 1.18), stent migration (OR: 1.83), and stent occlusion/dysfunction (OR: 1.71). CONCLUSION: BFMS and LAMS provide equivalent efficacy and safety in the endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of PFCs. Either stent type represents a viable therapeutic option. Further large-scale prospective studies are warranted to refine stent selection strategies.

Humans

Mitomycin C in the Endoscopic Treatment of Airway Stenosis: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of adjuvant MMC in the endoscopic treatment of airway stenoses. DATA SOURCES: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar databases. REVIEW METHODS: A literature search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The PICOS tool was used to determine the eligibility criteria for this study. A single arm meta-analysis was performed for stenosis resolution, the rate of patients requiring multiple endoscopic procedures, and the rate of patients requiring other surgical treatments. RESULTS: A total number of 358 patients (median age: 48.0&#x2009;years; 95% CI 44.8-50.8) were included. The median follow-up was 25.2&#x2009;months (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;244/358; 95% CI 15.4-38.3). Overall, the cumulative stenosis resolution rate was 76.37% (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;187/254; 95% CI 59.72-89.64), the rate of patients requiring multiple endoscopic procedures was 52.33% (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;131/260; 95% CI 32.03-72.25), and the rate of patients requiring other surgical treatments was 4.08% (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;26/310; 95% CI 0.37-11.48). The median intervention-free interval was 366&#x2009;days (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;155/358; 95% CI 270-696). CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence does not allow definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of adjuvant MMC in reducing recurrence or prolonging intervention-free intervals in airway stenosis. Further well-designed prospective studies are needed to clarify the role of MMC and to inform evidence-based guidelines for patient selection and treatment use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Humans

A dual-dimensional CRISPR toolkit enables one-step high-efficiency multiplex genome editing in Komagataella phaffii.

Against the backdrop of green biomanufacturing, engineering methanol-utilizing Komagataella phaffii (K. phaffii) represents an effective strategy to expand the one carbon (C1) product profile and speed up the industrialization of C1-based bioeconomy. To address the technical challenges of low efficiency and cumbersome experimental procedures for multiplex gene editing and precise large-fragment integration during the reconstruction of complex metabolic pathways in K. phaffii, this study established a CRISPR toolkit - Efficient Multi-Gene Editing System 3.0 (EMGES 3.0) - which enabled one-step large-fragment integration coupled with multiplex gene knockout. EMGES 3.0 was constructed through the synergistic optimization of a repair-engineered chassis and an episomal CRISPR vector. For chassis engineering, five DNA repair modules: &#x394;lig4 (DNA Ligase IV, non-homologous end joining end ligation), ppMRE11(The endogenous MRE11 gene from Pichia pastoris) overexpression (The Meiotic Recombination 11, DNA double-strand break end resection), &#x394;rad9 (Radiation-Sensitive 9, DNA damage checkpoint regulation), &#x394;mph1 (Mutator Phenotype Helicase 1, improvement of homologous recombinant strand extension), and PapRecT-PaSSB co-expression (stabilization of recombination intermediates) were integrated to generate the highly recombinogenic strain Y09. For vector engineering, cenARS was replaced by panARS and the endogenous promoter PGAP was employed to drive the double hammerhead ribozyme-single guide RNA-hepatitis delta virus ribozyme (double HH-sgRNA-HDV: dHgH)-mediated sgRNA expression, yielding the optimized vector Nov_pGAP_panARS_pLAT1_Cas9. These two features on K. phaffii together enhanced the EMGES 3.0 to a higher standard of transformation rate and editing efficiency. According to our results, EMGES 3.0 achieved dual-functional gene knockout efficiencies between 76.6% and 100%. For insertion of medium-long fragments (>4.5&#x202f;kb), the efficiency achieved 93.3%. In addition, the one-step integration of ultra-long fragments (>16&#x202f;kb) achieved 14.8%, which was reported for the first time. Furthermore, the efficiency of simultaneous long-fragment integration at three neutral loci reached 38.4% (>15&#x202f;kb). We applied the system for one-step production of free fatty acids (FFAs, yield: 5.82 &#x223c; 7.30&#x202f;mg/L/OD600) and resveratrol (yield: 1.14 &#x223c; 1.28&#x202f;mg/L) using methanol as the sole carbon source. EMGES 3.0 provides a robust technical foundation for complex compounds biosynthesis and high-yield industrial strains, while also advancing K. phaffii as an industrial synthetic biology chassis for efficient C1 utilization.

CRISPR-Cas Systems

Animal-assisted therapy in pediatric urodynamics.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: Urodynamics (UDS) is associated with high levels of patient anxiety/discomfort. Children are often unable to complete UDS, with anesthesia needed to place catheters. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been used in a variety of settings, but it has not been studied for UDS before. OBJECTIVE: To determine if AAT can increase success of completing UDS testing without anesthesia in children who were previously unable to perform UDS, along with decreasing distress levels. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a pilot case series of 7 patients (2 female, 5 male) aged 4-16 (mean 9.7) years who previously were unable to complete UDS awake, with AAT prior to and during the UDS procedure. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure patient stress levels before and after AAT. RESULTS: We were able to successfully complete UDS testing with AAT in 6 of the 7 patients (85.7%) without the need for anesthesia. VAS scores decreased from before to after AAT (5.4-3.6, p = 0.020) but with discrepancy when compared to UDS success. DISCUSSION: Our study was the first to describe AAT during UDS. Our preliminary data found AAT to be feasible in UDS. Subjective distress may not correlate with procedural success. AAT in UDS may be more beneficial in certain populations, such as anxious children who previously were unable to tolerate UDS, and not in others such as severe neurodevelopmental conditions. Our study was limited by the small sample size, a single provider, single center, single therapy dog, inclusion of a specific population of patients, and no control group due to this being a pilot study. CONCLUSION: AAT for certain children undergoing UDS testing could help improve the ability to complete the testing without anesthesia. Further studies are needed to fully demonstrate its usefulness in UDS.

Humans

Antegrade dissection and re-entry vs retrograde strategy in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: Rationale and design of the ADRENALINE randomized study.

RATIONALE: While antegrade wiring (AW) is the most common initial strategy for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), difficult CTO lesions frequently require either antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR) or a retrograde strategy. Comparative data between ADR and the retrograde approach remain limited. DESIGN: The Antegrade Dissection vs Retrograde re-ENtry And Load of Interventionalist Effort (ADRENALINE) is a prospective, multicenter randomized study with a superiority design. It is planned to enroll 121 patients with difficult coronary CTO (J-CTO score &#x2265;2) referred for CTO-PCI in accordance with the hybrid algorithm. Subjects undergoing successful AW will be included in the observational arm. Patients with failed or unattempted AW will be randomized 1:1 to ADR or retrograde CTO crossing strategy (n = 74). All patients will undergo pre- and postprocedural laboratory testing (including cardiac troponin T and creatine kinase-MB), cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for late gadolinium enhancement, and health status assessment by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire and the Rose Dyspnea Scale. The co-primary endpoints are total procedure time and successful guidewire crossing. Additionally, the relationship between different recanalization strategies and stress among interventional cardiologists will be explored. CONCLUSION: ADRENALINE is the first randomized study of ADR vs retrograde strategy for difficult CTO PCI, assessing procedural outcomes, CMR-detected myocardial infarction, and 3-month quality of life. ENROLMENT STATUS: The first patient was enrolled on July 29, 2025. As of June 14, 2026, 45 patients (26 randomized, 19 observational) of the planned 121 patients have been enrolled. TRIALS REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov: Identifier, NCT06878729.

Humans

High-Flow Nasal Oxygen and the Risk of Gastric Insufflation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Supplemented by Narrative Synthesis.

High-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) generates positive airway pressure, raising concerns about gastric insufflation and aspiration risk. Although most studies report minimal or no gastric distension, some suggest significant changes. This systematic review and meta-analysis applied the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework to evaluate the effect of HFNO on gastric insufflation and related markers across clinical settings. We searched Medline, Embase, Emcare, and CINAHL through August 2025 for studies reporting qualitative or quantitative markers of gastric insufflation during HFNO use, including comet-tail artifacts, antral cross-sectional area, and gastric volume. Eligible designs included randomized trials, observational and volunteer studies, and case reports. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and certainty of evidence was rated with GRADE. Meta-analysis was performed for outcomes reported in two or more studies. Six randomized trials, five observational studies, two volunteer studies, one case series, and two case reports were included. Observational studies primarily assessed outcomes before and after HFNO intervention. Pooled analysis of four randomized controlled trials (RCTs; n = 375) showed HFNO significantly reduced gastric insufflation compared with face-mask ventilation during elective peri-intubation (risk ratios [RR] = 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19-0.52; P < .00001; I 2 = 0%), rated moderate-certainty. For antral cross-sectional area, pooled analysis of three RCTs (n = 318) found no significant difference between HFNO and face-mask ventilation (MD -0.33 cm 2 ; 95% CI, -0.72 to 0.05; P = .09; I 2 = 74%), rated moderate-certainty. Observational studies assessing pre- and post-HFNO changes showed no significant increase in antral cross-sectional area (MD 0.08 cm 2 ; 95% CI, -0.29 to 0.45; P = .67; I 2 = 0%) and no significant change in gastric liquid volume (MD -0.01 ml/kg; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.06; P = .80; I 2 = 0%), both rated low certainty. Nonpooled data suggested possible increases in critically ill patients, but the evidence was of very low certainty. A single study assessing microaspiration found HFNO reduced gastroesophageal reflux and prevented microaspiration compared with face-mask ventilation. No clinically significant aspiration events were reported across studies. Moderate-certainty evidence supports HFNO as safe regarding gastric insufflation and antral cross-sectional area in most elective and procedural contexts. Low-certainty evidence suggests no increase in gastric volume. Caution is warranted due to limited, low-to-very-low-certainty evidence at higher flow rates and among critically ill patients. Larger multicenter trials and robust observational studies are necessary to confirm safety in these settings.

Humans

Digital healthcare solutions in preoperative care: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Active participation in preoperative anesthesia preparation is crucial to ensure safe and efficient care. Compliance with preoperative instructions improves clinical outcomes, enhances patient satisfaction and optimizes use of healthcare resources. As digital communication becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare, interactive digital tools such as smartphone applications and Short Message Service (SMS) reminders may offer a valuable means of engaging patients in their own care. In this review, we evaluated the role of digital tools in guiding patients during their preoperative care pathway for anesthesia. METHODS: Following registration (CRD420250655119), we conducted a systematic review of studies evaluating the use of smartphone applications or SMS reminders designed to support preoperative preparation for anesthesia or procedural sedation in adult patients undergoing elective procedures. The primary outcome was compliance with preoperative instructions. Secondary outcomes included rate of late cancellations, patient satisfaction and cost-effectiveness. Studies were eligible if they reported at least one of these outcomes. RESULTS: Ten studies (1 RCT and 9 observational studies), including 11501 participants, were identified. Compliance with preoperative instructions was assessed in 8 studies, most of which reported higher compliance in patients receiving digital interventions across multiple instruction domains, although statistical significance was not consistently observed. Evidence suggested a beneficial effect on reducing late cancellations and improving patient satisfaction. However, results varied across study designs, and data on cost-effectiveness were limited. CONCLUSIONS: Digital tools for preoperative anesthesia guidance were associated with higher compliance and showed potential reduction of late cancellations and increase of patient satisfaction. However, the current evidence is predominantly observational and heterogeneous, limiting the strength of conclusions. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: With healthcare systems under pressure, digital technologies may offer a scalable and patient-centered care solution to support preoperative anesthesia preparation. Nonetheless, further high-quality research is needed to evaluate their long-term clinical, economic and equity implications.

Humans

Single-organ proteomics in Drosophila melanogaster larva.

The combination of genetic accessibility, organ complexity, evolutionary conservation, and cost-efficiency makes Drosophila melanogaster (Dm) a well-known model system for biomedical and fundamental biological research. Proteomic analysis of single organs enables the identification and quantification of proteins expressed in specific organs. This will help to uncover specific biological functions and unique protein profiles that are not detectable in whole-organism analyses. In this study we have isolated single organs form Dm larvae, and we have performed a deep proteomics mapping by following a minimal manipulation preparation procedure. The combined dataset across all organs comprised 9132 identified proteins. As anticipated, principal component analysis (PCA) revealed clear separation between the proteomes of most organs, confirming distinct protein profiles. These findings demonstrate the applicability of the sample preparation strategy for high-resolution proteomic characterization of individual organs in Drosophila. Given the extensive genetic tools available for this model organism, our approach has the potential to open new avenues for proteomic studies in Drosophila melanogaster and any other biological systems where the sample amount is limiting. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Drosophila melanogaster is a well-known model system for biomedical and fundamental biological research that serves as a valuable in vivo model organism due to its high degree of evolutionary conservation with higher vertebrates, tractable genetics, and logistical efficiency. However, the proteome of Drosophila at single organ level has been elusive to date, due to several factors like low sensitivity of previous generation mass spectrometers and sample preparation procedures, difficult isolation of some organs. In this study we have applied a compilation of advanced methods including minimal sample manipulation together with simple, straightforward and efficient protein extraction and digestion methods. Obtained peptides were minimally handled to be analyzed by applying specific and sensitive nLC methods coupled on-line to state-of-the-art MS/MS system. Altogether, the applied strategy allowed us to get the first single organ study to date for this animal. These datasets represent a significative resource for future genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic studies in Drosophila, as multi-omic integration requires deep proteomics to translate data into functional biochemistry, and serves as a critical bridge and an indispensable standalone resource across the genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic landscapes.

Animals

Obesity in obstetric anesthesia: A systematic review.

Maternal obesity presents complex challenges for anesthetic management, with implications spanning neonatal, cardiovascular, airway, neuraxial, and procedural domains. This review synthesizes evidence on how elevated maternal body mass index (BMI) impacts perioperative evaluations, risks, complications, and outcomes, in addition to anesthetic modalities and efficacy in the pregnant population. Given the increasing global prevalence of maternal obesity, anesthesiologists must refine clinical practices, employing tailored, evidence-based strategies to mitigate risks and enhance patient outcomes. This review aims to provide anesthesiologists and obstetricians with key considerations and best practices for managing obstetric anesthesia patients with obesity. Clinical recommendations herein are based on current research and evaluated using Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine for level of evidence and class of recommendation.

Humans

Bivalirudin Versus Heparin in Low and Non-Low Bleeding Risk Patients Undergoing Primary PCI for STEMI: The BRIGHT-4 Trial.

BACKGROUND: In the BRIGHT-4 trial, among 6,016 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a radial artery approach, procedural anticoagulation with bivalirudin plus a post-PCI high-dose infusion for 2 to 4 hours reduced the 30-day primary composite outcome of all-cause death or Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) types 3 to 5 bleeding, as well as death and bleeding individually, compared with heparin monotherapy. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether the benefits of bivalirudin apply principally to patients who are at low bleeding risk (LBR) as well as non-LBR. METHODS: In a prespecified analysis from BRIGHT-4, outcomes were examined by baseline bleeding risk, with LBR defined as a CRUSADE score <30. RESULTS: At baseline, 4,581 patients (76.1%) were categorized as LBR. Non-LBR patients had higher rates of the 30-day primary endpoint (8.6% vs 2.2%; HR: 4.08 [95% CI: 3.14-5.31]; P < 0.0001), driven by both greater mortality and BARC types 3 to 5 bleeding. In non-LBR patients, the primary outcome occurred in 8.1% of patients randomized to bivalirudin vs 9.2% of those randomized to heparin (difference: -1.1% [95% CI: -4.0% to 1.8%]; HR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.62-1.26]). In LBR patients, the primary outcome occurred in 1.4% of patients randomized to bivalirudin vs 2.9% of those randomized to heparin (difference: -1.5% [95% CI: -2.3% to -0.6%]; HR: 0.49 [95% CI: 0.32-0.75]) (Pabsolute interaction = 0.81; Prelative interaction = 0.04). The effects of bivalirudin compared with heparin in reducing all-cause death were as robust in LBR patients compared with non-LBR patients (Pabsolute interaction = 0.67; Prelative interaction = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI with radial artery access, procedural anticoagulation with bivalirudin plus a high-dose post-PCI infusion for 2 to 4 hours reduced the 30-day risk of all-cause death and major bleeding in patients at low bleeding risk as well as in patients at higher-risk of bleeding. (Bivalirudin With Prolonged Full Dose Infusion Versus Heparin Alone During Emergency PCI [BRIGHT-4; NCT03822975]).

Humans

Standardized visual overlays enhance laparoscopic instruction: A mixed-methods evaluation.

Effective communication during laparoscopic procedures is frequently undermined by spatial disorientation and inconsistent terminology between instructors and trainees. This study examined whether standardized visual overlays on endoscopic monitors could enhance communication and learning. We conducted a three-phase mixed-methods study: qualitative observation of 20 laparoscopic teaching cases; a randomized trial of 63 second-year medical students assigned to control, clock, or alphanumeric grid (AG) overlays during three trials of a standardized transfer task; and intraoperative implementation in 44 cases (30 AG, 14 clock) with post-case surveys and qualitative feedback. In simulation, the clock overlay produced the fastest completion times, whereas the AG yielded the lowest error scores, and both overlays outperformed the control. Intraoperatively, the AG was rated higher than the clock for communication clarity, spatial orientation, perceived operative efficiency, and trainee confidence. Standardized visual overlays, particularly the AG, appear to support intraoperative teaching by providing a shared spatial frame of reference.

Laparoscopy

Astigmatic vector outcomes after FS-LASIK versus SMILE for high myopic astigmatism: a single-center retrospective comparative cohort study without cyclotorsion compensation.

PURPOSE: To compare astigmatic correction vector outcomes between femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE, also termed Keratorefractive Lenticule Extraction, KLEx) without intraoperative cyclotorsion compensation in patients with high myopic astigmatism (-&#x2009;2.00 to&#x2009;-&#x2009;3.75 D), and to clarify procedure-specific correction tendencies under this non-standardized alignment protocol. METHODS: This single-center retrospective comparative cohort study enrolled 155 eyes (one eye randomly selected per patient) that underwent FS-LASIK (80 eyes) or SMILE/KLEx (75 eyes) for high myopic astigmatism correction from January 2023 to July 2024 in Beijing Fenglian Jiayue Lige Clinic. Intraoperative cyclotorsion compensation was intentionally disabled to isolate inherent procedural astigmatism correction characteristics. Standardized Alpins vectorial analysis was performed at 3&#xa0;months and 12&#xa0;months postoperatively. PRIMARY ENDPOINT: 12-month Alpins correction index (CI). Multivariable propensity score adjustment was applied to mitigate confounding by clinical treatment selection bias. Statistical multiplicity control was implemented for secondary vector and visual outcomes. RESULTS: Baseline demographic, refractive, corneal and ocular biometric parameters were balanced between groups after propensity matching. No statistically significant intergroup differences were detected in uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), residual cylinder, safety index or efficacy index at 3 and 12&#xa0;months (all P&#x2009;>&#x2009;0.05). Under the non-cyclotorsion-compensated protocol, significant intergroup differences were identified in the magnitude of surgically induced astigmatism (SIA), correction index (CI), and magnitude error (ME) at both follow-up timepoints (all P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001). Target induced astigmatism (TIA), difference vector (DV), index of success (IOS), and angle error (AE) magnitudes were comparable between groups (all P&#x2009;>&#x2009;0.05). The vector mean axis of DV differed significantly between groups at 3 and 12&#xa0;months (Watson-Williams circular test, all P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001). No reoperations were documented in clinic medical records for either cohort. No standardized dry eye questionnaires, tear film testing or corneal nerve density metrics were collected to quantify dry eye adverse events; only unstructured clinical notes were reviewed for complication screening. CONCLUSIONS: Under surgical alignment without cyclotorsion compensation, FS-LASIK and SMILE/KLEx both yielded acceptable visual and refractive safety/efficacy for high myopic astigmatism (-&#x2009;2.00 to&#x2009;-&#x2009;3.75 D) at 1-year follow-up, but demonstrated divergent astigmatism correction tendencies: FS-LASIK exhibited relative astigmatism overcorrection (vector mean DV:&#x2009;-&#x2009;0.35&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;0.43 D&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;91&#xb0;, CI&#x2009;>&#x2009;1), while SMILE/KLEx showed relative undercorrection (vector mean DV:&#x2009;-&#x2009;0.21&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;0.53 D&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;12&#xb0;, CI&#x2009;<&#x2009;1). These correction biases are specific to the study's manual limbal alignment protocol without cyclotorsion tracking and cannot be generalized to modern optimized surgical platforms equipped with automated cyclotorsion compensation. Residual refractive errors across both groups are likely multifactorial, including differential corneal stromal healing responses, divergent femtosecond/excimer laser tissue modification mechanisms, and uncorrected intraoperative ocular cyclotorsion.

Humans

Enhancement flavor quality in Zhao'an Baxian oolong tea through enhanced turning-over process.

A systematical investigation on the effects of turning-over intensity on the flavor formation of Zhao'an Baxian oolong tea (ZBT) was performed, through a comparative analysis of heavy turning-over (HT) and light turning-over (LT) treatments in this study. The tea samples were subjected to proteomic and metabolomic analyses, combined with quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) and electronic sensory (E-tongue/E-nose) evaluation. The results demonstrate that HT significantly reduced the content of bitter and astringent compounds, such as catechins and flavonol glycosides, while promoting the accumulation of umami-related amino acids. Concurrently, HT enhanced the biosynthesis of key floral and fruity volatiles, such as &#x3b2;-ocimene, geraniol, benzaldehyde, jasmone by activating stress-responsive metabolic pathways. These coordinated biochemical changes, driven by enzyme-catalyzed reactions in response to prolonged mechanical wounding and environmental stress, collectively improved the overall sensory profile of ZBT. These findings provide a mechanistic foundation for improving ZBT production, with clear implications for quality control and flavor-oriented product development.

Tea

DNM1L depletion leads to accelerated heteroplasmy shifting of m.10191C allele through ATG7-dependent pathways.

Nucleotide composition bias in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) makes the heavy strand prone to form a DNA secondary structure called a guanine quadruplex (G4). This secondary structure has been shown to inhibit polymerase processivity in vitro. We previously identified pathogenic mtDNA variants that lead to increased G4-forming propensity, including a T to C mutation at m.10191 (m.10191&#xa0;T&#xa0;>&#xa0;C) that causes Leigh syndrome. Cells treated with G4 binding agent (G4BA) berberine show a reduction in m.10191C pathogenic heteroplasmy levels. To help better understand the underlying mechanism behind berberine-induced heteroplasmy shift, we examined the relationship between mitochondrial fission and berberine-mediated shift. Here we show that knockdown of the fission factor DNM1L leads to an accelerated heteroplasmy shift towards the healthy mtDNA allele, lowering m.10191C by 10% in 3&#xa0;weeks, compared to the 5&#xa0;weeks required for berberine alone. The specific mechanism involves ATG7, as knockdown of ATG7 is able to partially delay this accelerated heteroplasmy shift. Taken together, we show that DNM1L knockdown is able to accelerate berberine-induced m.10191C heteroplasmy shifting through an autophagy-related mechanism.

Humans

Deciphering CD8+ T cell exhaustion in human cancers through single-cell and spatial transcriptomics.

Exhausted CD8+ T cells (Tex) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) represents a critical barrier limiting anti-tumor immune responses. Tex cells are characterized by upregulated inhibitory immune checkpoint receptors, reduced cytotoxicity, and functional heterogeneity. Their genomic features and regulatory networks remain poorly defined, and only a minority of patients respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), through high-resolution transcriptomic profiling, has revealed diverse Tex subpopulations, identified subpopulation-specific marker genes and regulatory pathways. Spatial transcriptomics has further mapped the spatial distribution of Tex and their interaction networks with immune cells, tumor cells, and stromal cells, elucidating the impact of spatial heterogeneity on Tex functionality. Current studies indicate that the exhausted state of Tex is dynamic and modifiable, with functional differences among subpopulations closely associated with tumor progression and therapeutic response. However, the genomic characteristics, epigenetic regulation, and spatial interaction mechanisms of Tex require further exploration. This review summarizes recent advances in high-resolution omics technologies for precisely dissecting Tex heterogeneity, functional features, and interactions with other cells. It emphasizes the central value of optimizing Tex-targeted tumor immunotherapy strategies, providing theoretical foundations and directional guidance for developing more effective anti-tumor immunotherapies.

Humans

Efficient homologous replacement and deletion of large genomic fragments through template-jumping prime editing in rice.

Homologous replacement of genomic sequences with large DNA fragments (>&#x2009;100&#x2009;bp) holds great potential for crop breeding, yet an efficient method to achieve such edits is lacking in plants. Here, in rice, we developed template-jumping prime editing (TJ-PE), a recently reported PE strategy for large targeted insertion, as an efficient tool for homologous replacement with DNA fragments ranging from dozens to hundreds of base pairs, and using TJ-PE, we replaced genomic fragments of up to 340&#x2009;bp with homologous fragments of the same length. In addition, our TJ-PE tool also enabled precise deletion of 944- to 2024-bp fragments in rice, with efficiencies of up to 34.6% for c. 2000-bp precise deletions. Collectively, this study expands the editing scope of PE in rice and establishes TJ-PE as a generalist tool for precise deletion and replacement of large DNA fragments.

Oryza