Review
Reproductive Biology
Brooke E. Barton, Jeffery A. Erickson, Stephanie Allred, Jenna M. Jeffries, Kalli K. Stephens, Mark Hunter, Kirby A. Woodall, Wipawee Winuthayanon
Summary: Contraception is a practice with a rich and complex history, and this review provides a comprehensive overview of current reversible hormonal and non-hormonal birth control methods. It also discusses the latest FDA-approved methods and novel approaches to hormonal delivery, as well as non-hormonal alternatives.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Munir Pirmohamed
Summary: In this Review, the current state of the pharmacogenomics field is discussed, along with clinically relevant drug-gene associations and the steps required for implementing pharmacogenomics into clinical practice. The role of pharmacogenomics in drug discovery and development is also considered. The variability in drug response between individuals, which can be attributed to genomic factors, is a global concern. Despite the availability and decreasing cost of genotyping technologies, challenges in implementing pharmacogenomics lie in adapting current clinical pathways and addressing the knowledge gap in healthcare professionals. Furthermore, pharmacogenomics shows promise in enhancing drug discovery and development outcomes.
NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Padmanee Sharma, Sangeeta Goswami, Deblina Raychaudhuri, Bilal A. Siddiqui, Pratishtha Singh, Ashwat Nagarajan, Jielin Liu, Sumit K. Subudhi, Candice Poon, Kristal L. Gant, Shelley M. Herbrich, Swetha Anandhan, Shajedul Islam, Moran Amit, Gayathri Anandappa, James P. Allison
Summary: Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) has significantly improved clinical outcomes and provided long-lasting benefits, including potential cure, for cancer patients. However, there are varying response rates and the need for predictive biomarkers to optimize patient selection. This review explores the underlying biology of anti-tumor immune response and resistance to ICT, discusses current challenges, and outlines strategies for subsequent clinical trials and combination therapies with ICT.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sergio Paniagua, Raquel Lebrero, Raul Munoz
Summary: This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the technology for biomethanation of synthesis gas derived from gasification of solid waste, summarizing its potential and areas for further research.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Susu Fang, Jiayang Li, Kangyu Zou, Honglei Shuai, Laiqiang Xu, Wentao Deng, Guoqiang Zou, Hongshuai Hou, Xiaobo Ji
Summary: This paper systematically introduces the preparation approaches of Zintl phases and Zintl anions to understand the originations of their attractive structures. The recent developments about their applications, especially as precursors for preparing functional materials, are thoroughly summarized. The remaining challenges and perspectives of Zintl phases are also discussed.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yasuhiro Endo, Masanori Fujita, Katsunori Ikewaki
Summary: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Western countries. Recent epidemiology studies have shown a U-shaped relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and CVD mortality, with increased mortality in patients with extremely high HDL-C levels. HDL-C raising therapy using nicotinic acids or CETP inhibitors has shown limited efficacy in reducing CVD events. As a result, the focus has shifted to evaluating HDL functionality as a novel biomarker for CVD risk. This review provides an overview of the current status and future perspectives on HDL functions, based on findings from basic research and clinical trials.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tilman Steinert, Tanja Henking
Summary: Patient autonomy and patients' rights have been major drivers of changes in legal frameworks. Views, conflicts, and requirements differ between countries and within countries, and will need to be balanced according to changing societal values in the future.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Eun Ryung Kim, Cheulmin Joe, Robert J. Mitchell, Man Bock Gu
Summary: In this review, we discuss recent developments in biosensors for healthcare, which are used in various fields like medicine, food, and environment. These biosensors include in vitro diagnosis biosensors, continuous monitoring biosensors, and wearable biosensors. In vitro diagnosis biosensors have expanded significantly lately, with the introduction of CRISPR/Cas methodologies and improvements to existing integrated biosensor devices. We also discuss the emerging groups of continuous monitoring and wearable biosensors, as well as the outlook for commercialization and future of biosensors.
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miguel de la Fuente, Laura Lombardero, Alfonso Gomez-Gonzalez, Cristina Solari, Inigo Angulo-Barturen, Arantxa Acera, Elena Vecino, Egoitz Astigarraga, Gabriel Barreda-Gomez
Summary: Enzymes have emerged as promising therapeutic tools for various pathologies, offering advantages such as specificity and affinity. However, challenges such as short in vivo half-life and immune system reactions need to be addressed. Monitoring serum immune response during treatment is crucial, with techniques like ELISA and microarrays being utilized. Research is ongoing, including the investigation of potential therapeutic alternatives like using ACE2 for treating COVID-19.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Jianyu Ye, Jieliang Chen
Summary: IFN therapy has unique advantages in treating chronic hepatitis B, but its efficacy is limited and side effects are common. To seek a cure for HBV, improving IFN therapy and combining it with other antiviral agents may be considered.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Luca Soraci, Fabrizia Lattanzio, Giulia Soraci, Maria Elsa Gambuzza, Claudio Pulvirenti, Annalisa Cozza, Andrea Corsonello, Filippo Luciani, Giovanni Rezza
Summary: Currently available COVID-19 vaccines have limitations in controlling the pandemic, and alternative R&D strategies and technological platforms are needed to improve long-lasting immunogenicity, reduce adverse events, and support rapid production.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dinh-Toi Chu, Suong-Mai Vu Ngoc, Hue Vu Thi, Yen-Vy Nguyen Thi, Thuy-Tien Ho, Van-Thuan Hoang, Vijai Singh, Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq
Summary: COVID-19 has had a significant impact on Southeast Asia, especially with the emergence of common virus variants leading to a notable increase in infections. The region continues to face challenges due to shortages of vaccines and medical resources, highlighting the need for more measures to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Laleh Shariati, Yasaman Esmaeili, Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard, Elham Bidram, Abbas Amini
Summary: Organoid technology is a powerful tool for personalized treatments and drug development, enabling the modeling of organ complexity and diseases. However, it also encounters challenges and limitations in its applications.
Review
Virology
Elnaz Khani, Bentelhoda Afsharirad, Taher Entezari-Maleki
Summary: This study reviewed the available evidence on virology and treatment approaches for monkeypox and provided guidance for patient care and future studies. Tecovirimat was found to be the most promising medication for monkeypox treatment, but the risk of resistance should be considered.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ping Yang, Yuanyuan Qin, Lisha Zeng, Yanqiu He, Yumei Xie, Xi Cheng, Wei Huang, Ling Cao
Summary: Histone lysine crotonylation was discovered in 2011 as a new type of post-translational modification. Significant progress has been made in understanding the role of histone and nonhistone crotonylation in reproduction, development, and disease. This review summarizes the latest research progress on crotonylation, including its regulatory factors and its association with diseases, providing insights for future research and potential therapeutic approaches.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ping Shih, Tung-liang Chiang, Chih-Da Wu, Bih-Ching Shu, For-Wey Lung, Yue Leon Guo
Summary: Exposure to ambient PM2.5 during pregnancy is significantly associated with delay in gross motor, fine motor, and personal-social development in infants.
DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shih-Feng Chen, Yu-Hui Chien, Pau-Chung Chen
Summary: Long-term exposure to PM2.5 exceeding a threshold was found to be associated with increased risk of mortality among dialysis patients.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tomoko Nishimura, Nagahide Takahashi, Akemi Okumura, Taeko Harada, Toshiki Iwabuchi, Chikako Nakayasu, Mohammad Shafiur Rahman, Satoshi Uchiyama, Manabu Wakuta, Yoko Nomura, Nori Takei, Atsushi Senju, Kenji J. Tsuchiya
Summary: This study aimed to explore early manifestations of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in females and investigate sex differences in cognitive and motor functions and adaptive behaviors. The results showed that males with high autistic traits experienced a temporary decline in expressive language around the age of 2 years, while females in the high-autistic-trait group showed a downward trend in the adaptive behavior communication domain after 3.5 years. These findings suggest that females and males with higher autistic traits may have different phenotypes in certain neurodevelopmental domains during infancy and early childhood.
PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Yue Leon Guo, Maria R. Ampon, Leanne M. Poulos, Sharon R. Davis, Brett G. Toelle, Guy B. Marks, Helen K. Reddel
Summary: This study estimated the contribution of obesity to breathlessness in Australian adults using the population attributable fraction (PAF). The results showed that obesity accounted for approximately a quarter of breathlessness symptoms and had a higher proportion in women.
Article
Pediatrics
Mika Sugiyama, Kenji J. Tsuchiya, Yusuke Okubo, Mohammad Shafiur Rahman, Satoshi Uchiyama, Taeko Harada, Toshiki Iwabuchi, Akemi Okumura, Chikako Nakayasu, Yuko Amma, Haruka Suzuki, Nagahide Takahashi, Barbara Kinsella-Kammerer, Yoko Nomura, Hiroaki Itoh, Tomoko Nishimura
Summary: This study explores the association between higher screen time at age 2 and neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 4, and whether outdoor play can mitigate this association. The findings suggest that more screen time is related to poorer communication skills, but frequent outdoor play can alleviate this effect. Outdoor play also has a mediating effect on daily living skills.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Masatoshi Yamashita, Kuriko Kagitani-Shimono, Yoshiyuki Hirano, Sayo Hamatani, Shota Nishitani, Akiko Yao, Sawa Kurata, Hirotaka Kosaka, Minyoung Jung, Tokiko Yoshida, Tsuyoshi Sasaki, Koji Matsumoto, Yoko Kato, Mariko Nakanishi, Masaya Tachibana, Ikuko Mohri, Kenji J. Tsuchiya, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Hidehiko Okazawa, Eiji Shimizu, Masako Taniike, Akemi Tomoda, Yoshifumi Mizuno
Summary: This study aims to correct site differences in MRI scanners and clarify brain structure and network characteristics of children with ADHD and ASD using large samples collected in a multi-centre collaboration. Additionally, the relationship between these characteristics and genetic, epigenetic, biochemical markers, and behavioral and psychological measures will be investigated.
Letter
Pediatrics
Kenji J. Tsuchiya, Yusuke Okubo, Tomoko Nishimura
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Po -Kai Chang, Hsiang-Hao Chuang, Ta-Chih Hsiao, Hsiao-Chi Chuang, Pau -Chung Chen
Summary: This study investigates the characteristics and transmission of pollutants in hospital operation rooms (ORs) through on-site measurements and numerical simulations. The results show that gaseous pollutants have lower air exchange rates (AERs) compared to particulate pollutants, and the AER of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) is higher than that of carbon dioxide (CO2). The emission factors (EF) of surgical smoke particles vary depending on the surgical procedure. Coarse particles are primarily influenced by drag forces, resulting in lower AER values. Additionally, smaller particles exhibit lower AER values, potentially due to stronger Brownian motion. The combination of measurement and simulation analysis allows for the evaluation of lung deposited surface area (LDSA) concentrations, providing accurate exposure concentrations for health risk assessments.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mu-Jean Chen, Yue Leon Guo, Pinpin Lin, Hung-Che Chiang, Pau-Chung Chen, Yu-Cheng Chen
Summary: The currently used air quality index (AQI) is criticized for its inability to capture the additive effects of air pollution on health risks and reflect non-threshold concentration-response relationships. In this study, we propose the air quality health index (AQHI) based on daily air pollution-mortality associations and compare its validity in predicting daily mortality and morbidity risks with the existing AQI.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samuel Luthi, Christopher Fairless, Erich M. Fischer, Noah Scovronick, Micheline De Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio Coelho, Yue Leon Guo, Yuming Guo, Yasushi Honda, Veronika Huber, Jan Kysely, Eric Lavigne, Dominic Roye, Niilo Ryti, Susana Silva, Ales Urban, Antonio Gasparrini, David N. Bresch, Ana M. Vicedo-Cabrera
Summary: Current research focuses on the impact of rising temperatures on heat-related mortality, but it is unclear how climate change will exacerbate the effects of extreme summer seasons on human health. This study combines empirical heat-mortality relationships with climate model data to predict future highly impactful summer seasons. The findings emphasize the urgent need for mitigation and adaptation measures to reduce the impact on human lives.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Cong Liu, Renjie Chen, Francesco Sera, Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera, Yuming Guo, Shilu Tong, Eric Lavigne, Patricia Matus Correa, Nicolas Valdes Ortega, Souzana Achilleos, Dominic Roye, Jouni J. K. Jaakkola, Niilo Ryti, Mathilde Pascal, Alexandra Schneider, Susanne Breitner, Alireza Entezari, Fatemeh Mayvaneh, Raanan Raz, Yasushi Honda, Masahiro Hashizume, Chris Fook Sheng Ng, Vania Gaio, Joana Madureira, Iulian-Horia Holobaca, Aurelio Tobias, Carmen Iniguez, Yue Leon Guo, Shih-Chun Pan, Pierre Masselot, Michelle L. Bell, Antonella Zanobetti, Joel Schwartz, Antonio Gasparrini, Haidong Kan
Summary: This study investigated the interactive effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) on daily mortality at a global level. The results showed a synergistic effect of PM2.5 and O3 on total, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality, particularly in high latitude regions and during cold seasons. This highlights the importance of coordinated control strategies for both pollutants.
BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Ippei Takahashi, Taku Obara, Mami Ishikuro, Keiko Murakami, Fumihiko Ueno, Aoi Noda, Tomomi Onuma, Genki Shinoda, Tomoko Nishimura, Kenji J. Tsuchiya, Shinichi Kuriyama
Summary: This study found that excessive screen time in 1-year-old children is associated with developmental delays in communication and problem-solving skills at the ages of 2 and 4.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ardha Ardea Prisilla, Yue Leon Guo, Yih-Kuen Jan, Chih-Yang Lin, Fu-Yu Lin, Ben-Yi Liau, Jen-Yung Tsai, Peter Ardhianto, Yori Pusparani, Chi-Wen Lung
Summary: This study aims to detect lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using deep learning algorithms. The results show that YOLOv5x performs the best in LDH detection, and using a dataset of 550 images with augmentation provides reliable detection in both augmented and non-augmented datasets.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Barshat Chaudhary, Rajendra Prasad Parajuli, Pitambar Dhakal
Summary: This study conducted a cross-sectional survey to determine the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in pigs raised in Western Nepal. The results showed a high prevalence of both protozoa and helminths parasites in the sampled pigs. Female pigs were found to have a higher infection rate of protozoa compared to males, while no difference was observed in helminths infection. The weight and gender of pigs, as well as the annual income and gender of managers/caretakers, were significantly associated with the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites.
VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Nagahide Takahashi, Tomoko Nishimura, Taeko Harada, Akemi Okumura, Toshiki Iwabuchi, Md Shafiur Rahman, Hitoshi Kuwabara, Shu Takagai, Noriyoshi Usui, Manabu Makinodan, Hideo Matsuzaki, Norio Ozaki, Hiroaki Itoh, Yoko Nomura, Jeffrey H. Newcorn, Kenji J. Tsuchiya
Summary: In this study, the relationship between perinatal inflammation and genetic risk for ADHD was examined in children aged 8-9. The results showed that perinatal inflammation and ADHD polygenic risk score (ADHD-PRS) were associated with ADHD symptoms, and there was an interaction between the two factors. The impact of perinatal inflammation on ADHD symptoms was particularly pronounced in children with a higher genetic risk for ADHD.
BRAIN, BEHAVIOR, & IMMUNITY - HEALTH
(2023)
