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Modification of the telomerase gene with human regulatory sequences resets mouse telomeres to human length
Virgin and photo-degraded microplastics induce the activation of human vascular smooth muscle cells
Bioinspired interfacial engineering for highly stretchable electronics
The impaired response of nasal epithelial cells to microplastic stimulation in asthma and COPD
Reactivatable stimulated emission depletion microscopy using fluorescence-recoverable nanographene
Abstract Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, a key optical super-resolution imaging method, has extended our ability to view details to resolution levels of tens of nanometers. Its resolution depends on fluorophore de-excitation efficiency, and increases with depletion laser power. However, high-power irradiation permanently turns off the fluorescence due to photo-bleaching of the fluorophores. As a result, there is a trade-off between spatial resolution and imaging time. Here, we overcome this limitation by introducing reactivatable STED (ReSTED) based on the photophysical properties of the nanographene dibenzo[hi,st]ovalene (DBOV). In contrast to the photo-induced decomposition of other fluorophores, the fluorescence of DBOV is only temporarily deactivated and can be reactivated by near-infrared light (including the 775 nm depletion beam). As a result, this fluorophore allows for hours-long, high-resolution 3D STED imaging, greatly expanding the applications of STED microscopy.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Rechallenge therapy versus tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for advanced metastatic colorectal cancer: a retrospective study
Lost opportunities: How gendered arrangements harm men
Traditional gendered arrangements—norms, roles, prejudices, and hierarchies—shape every human life. Associated harms are primarily framed as women’s issues due to more severe consequences women face. Yet, gendered arrangements also shape men ’s relationships, career paths, and health. Current work on gender equity overlooks men’s perspectives. Despite benefits they gain from out-ranking women, men’s position paradoxically entraps them in restrictive roles, compelling them to prioritize dominance. An inclusive framework challenges prevailing narratives by considering personal costs borne by men. Identifying with a man’s traditional role is a mixed privilege, as five gendered arrangements show for men who subscribe to them: 1. Masculine norms can restrict men’s choices and are associated with adverse health trajectories; 2. Some men’s disengagement from communal roles denies them positive outcomes associated with caring for others; 3. Hostile sexism fosters antipathy, fueling tension in some men’s interactions with women; 4. Benevolent sexism forces some men into scripted interactions, preventing genuine connections and burdening them with unrealistic breadwinner and protector roles; 5. Societal shifts in gender hierarchies can elicit threat responses in men, depending on intersections with social class and racial identities. Understanding costs to men calls for more empirical research. Gender equity for men, whose circumstances differ from those of women, would enable men to make informed choices and achieve better outcomes for themselves—paralleling the progress women have made in many areas of life. Striving for equity for all genders can ultimately enhance overall human well-being.
Harnessing macrophage-drug conjugates for allogeneic cell-based therapy of solid tumors via the TRAIN mechanism
Abstract Treatment of solid tumors remains challenging and therapeutic strategies require continuous development. Tumor-infiltrating macrophages play a pivotal role in tumor dynamics. Here, we present a Macrophage-Drug Conjugate (MDC) platform technology that enables loading macrophages with ferritin-drug complexes. We first show that macrophages actively take up human heavy chain ferritin (HFt) in vitro via macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1). We further manifest that drug-loaded macrophages transfer ferritin to adjacent cancer cells through a process termed ‘TRAnsfer of Iron-binding protein’ (TRAIN). The TRAIN process requires direct cell-to-cell contact and an immune synapse-like structure. At last, MDCs with various anti-cancer drugs are formulated with their safety and anti-tumor efficacy validated in multiple syngeneic mice and orthotopic human tumor models via different routes of administration. Importantly, MDCs can be prepared in advance and used as thawed products, supporting their clinical applicability. This MDC approach thus represents a promising advancement in the therapeutic landscape for solid tumors.
Author Correction: Self-other distinction modulates the sense of self-agency during joint actions
Dendritic excitations govern back-propagation via a spike-rate accelerometer
The corpus callosum in people with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
Abstract Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of genetic disorders that affect the adrenal glands. CAH manifests in abnormal levels of cortisol and androgens and is accompanied by white matter alterations. However, no CAH study has specifically targeted the corpus callosum, the brain’s largest white matter fiber tract. To bridge that gap in the literature, we investigated callosal morphology in 53 individuals with CAH and 53 matched controls (66 women, 40 men). In addition to calculating areas for seven callosal subsections, we estimated the callosal thickness at 100 equidistant points. All statistical analyses were conducted while co-varying for age and total brain volume and applying corrections for multiple comparisons. There were no significant effects of biological sex and no significant group-by-sex interactions. However, there was a significant effect of group, both for area measures and thickness estimates, indicating smaller dimensions within the callosal splenium and isthmus in people with CAH. Our findings corroborate previous studies highlighting white matter alterations in CAH and may suggest that callosal integrity is compromised due to potentially adverse effects of glucocorticoids, a standard treatment for both men and women with CAH.
Spatially mapping the tumour immune microenvironments of non-small cell lung cancer
Magnetic susceptibility components reveal different aspects of neurodegeneration in alpha-synucleinopathies
Endothelial AGGF1 promotes retinal angiogenesis by coordinating TNFSF12/FN14 signalling
Ultra-processed foods and plant-based alternatives impair nutritional quality of omnivorous and plant-forward dietary patterns in college students
Abstract The health benefits of a plant-based diet may be outweighed by an increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and plant-based alternatives. This study compares diet quality (intakes of protein, saturated fatty acids, sugar, fiber, and micronutrients) and nutritional status (prevalence of low holotranscobalamin and ferritin levels) among different dietary patterns: 22.5% vegans, 46.5% vegetarians, 31% omnivores in 142 first-year college students (20 ± 1.6 years, BMI 21.9 ± 3.1 kg/m², 83% female). Intakes of vitamin B12, folate, iron, zinc, and calcium were on average below reference values, especially in vegans and vegetarians. However, the prevalence of low holotranscobalamin and ferritin levels did not differ between the dietary groups, presumably due to supplementation. Irrespective of the diet, UPF contributed to 49% of daily energy intake. UPF exhibited a lower content of protein, fiber, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, folate, zinc and calcium compared to processed foods (all p < 0.001). Plant-based alternatives contained more fiber and less saturated fatty acids whereas the content of protein and micronutrients was lower compared with animal products (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, UPF consumption contributes to the inadequate intake of many micronutrients by young adults. This is further aggravated by plant-forward eating patterns including the consumption of plant-based alternatives.