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mRNA vaccines are leading a medical revolution. mRNA technologies utilize the host's own cells as bio-factories to produce proteins that serve as antigens. This revolutionary approach circumvents the complicated processes involved in traditional vaccine production and empowers vaccines with the ability to respond to emerging or mutated infectious diseases rapidly. Additionally, the robust cellular immune response elicited by mRNA vaccines has shown significant promise in cancer treatment. However, the inherent instability of mRNA and the complexity of tumor immunity have limited its broader application. Although the emergence of pseudouridine and ionizable cationic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) made the clinical application of mRNA possible, there remains substantial potential for further improvement of the immunogenicity of delivered antigens and preventive or therapeutic effects of mRNA technology. Here, we review the latest advancements in mRNA vaccines, including but not limited to target selection and delivery systems. This review offers a multifaceted perspective on this rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The mechanism of impurity absorption and heterophase inclusion in Ge-As-S glass was investigated. • Heterophase inclusions in Ge-As-S glass can be effectively suppressed by dynamic distillation and melting at the optimized melting temperature. • The average loss of purified fiber and unpurified one is 1.86 dB/m and 2.87 dB/m, respectively. About 1 dB/m decrease in the loss is due to the absence of the visible heterophase inclusion particles in the glass. Strong absorption from the impurities and background scattering induced by heterophase inclusions are major issue in the applications of Ge-As-S glass in mid-infrared (MIR). Here, we report that, the absorption of impurities sourced from raw materials can be removed effectively by oxygen getters and hydrogen getters under static vacuum distillation, leading to almost disappearance of the absorption at 3.11 μm due to S H, <4.08 ppm at 4.01 μm due to S H and < 11.03 ppm at 7.5 μm due to As-O, respectively, in Ge 10 As 28 S 62. The impurities of H 2 O and CO 2 can be further eliminated to near zero by dynamic distillation. On the other hand, the heterophase inclusions, originating from raw materials of sulfur, arsenic and germanium, the silica-container and deoxidizer of Mg, can be eliminated thoroughly by dynamic distillation and optimized melting temperature. We draw the fibers using unpurified and purified glasses and found that, comparing with the fiber loss of 2.87 dB/m at unpurified glass, the optical loss can be decreased to about 1.86 dB/m in purified glass without any visible particles or heterophase inclusions. All the results pave the way of developing low loss Ge-As-S glass fiber for high power laser delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two series chalcohalide glass varying on different cations and anions content was fabricated successfully. • The results show that the physics optics properties alter regularly with ion mole percentage. • A mono-index fiber loss of 1.91 dB/m, supercontinuum spectrum covering 1.01 ∼ 8.32 μm. Two series of novel chalcohalide glasses varying on different molar percentages of cations and anions were prepared successfully. We experimentally investigated the physical optics properties of the chalcohalide hybrid glass (Ge-As-S-Se-I) system. The results show that the short-wavelength cut-off edge (λ vis), linear refractive index (n 0), and zero-dispersion-wavelength (ZDW) regularly decrease with the increase of anionic iodine mole percentage. And the addition of cationic germanium enhances the glass transition temperature (T g), softening temperature (T p) and crystallization temperature (T x). Besides, a mono-index optical fiber was drawn successfully using the high temperature polymer as the protective layer, with a minimum loss of 1.91 dB/m at 2.6 μm. Supercontinuum (SC) covering 1.01 ∼ 8.32 μm was generated by pumping the 10-cm-long fiber at a femtosecond laser of 3.78 μm (∼150 fs, 1 kHz, 20 mW). This novel infrared (IR) glass shows great potential in many applications, such as defense military, spectroscopy, long-distance remote sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exceptionally rich fossil record available for the equid family has provided textbook examples of macroevolutionary changes. Horses, asses, and zebras represent three extant subgenera of Equus lineage, while the Sussemionus subgenus is another remarkable Equus lineage ranging from North America to Ethiopia in the Pleistocene. We sequenced 26 archaeological specimens from Northern China in the Holocene that could be assigned morphologically and genetically to Equus ovodovi , a species representative of Sussemionus . We present the first high-quality complete genome of the Sussemionus lineage, which was sequenced to 13.4× depth of coverage. Radiocarbon dating demonstrates that this lineage survived until ~3500 years ago, despite continued demographic collapse during the Last Glacial Maximum and the great human expansion in East Asia. We also confirmed the Equus phylogenetic tree and found that Sussemionus diverged from the ancestor of non-caballine equids ~2.3-2.7 million years ago and possibly remained affected by secondary gene flow post-divergence. We found that the small genetic diversity, rather than enhanced inbreeding, limited the species' chances of survival. Our work adds to the growing literature illustrating how ancient DNA can inform on extinction dynamics and the long-term resilience of species surviving in cryptic population pockets., Competing Interests: DC, SZ, MG, NZ, JW, QL, WS, XS, YG, YC, ZZ, WZ, SH, XW, HT, YL, WL, MY, JY, DW, LO, YJ No competing interests declared, (© 2022, Cai, Zhu, Gong et al.)

Objectives: To investigate the clinical utility of serum microRNA levels (miR-9-5p and miR-128-3p) in the diagnosis and prognosis of early-stage acute ischemic stroke (AIS)., Methods: We compared the differences in serum miR-9-5p and miR-128-3p levels between patients with AIS and healthy individuals (controls). The serum levels of miR-9-5p and miR-128-3p were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR, and the association of each miRNA with AIS was determined using receiver operator characteristic curve analysis. The predictive value of these indices in the diagnosis of early-stage AIS was evaluated in conjunction with that of computed tomography findings and neuron-specific enolase levels. The prognosis of patients with AIS was evaluated three months after their discharge from hospital using the modified Rankin scale, which classifies the prognosis as either favorable or poor. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation between miR-9-5p and miR-128-3p levels and patient prognosis., Results: The serum levels of miR-9-5p and miR-128-3p were upregulated in patients with AIS relative to those in healthy individuals. A pronounced correlation was identified between serum miR-9-5p and miR-128-3p levels and patient prognosis, with high levels of both miRNAs being associated with poor patient outcomes., Conclusion: Assessment of serum miR-9-5p and miR-128-3p levels is important for the early diagnosis and prognosis of AIS.

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of intravenous Tirofiban infusion after mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke., Methods: A consecutive series of patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent mechanical thrombectomy were included. The patients were categorized into two groups according to whether they received intravenous Tirofiban infusion after mechanical thrombectomy. Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and all-cause mortality were studied as safety outcomes; recanalization of target vessel evaluated by thrombolysis in cerebral infarct (TICI) scale, and neurological improvement evaluated by Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin scale (mRS) were studied as efficacy outcomes., Results: A total of 31 patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy were enrolled, among which 8 (25.81%) received a standard dose of intravenous Tirofiban infusion after mechanical thrombectomy. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups (all P>0.05). None (0.00%) of the patients suffered ICH in the Tirofiban group, while 3 (13.04%) suffered ICH in the control group (P=0.550); similar all-cause mortality rates were found in both groups (25.00% versus 17.39%, P=0.634). In the Tirofiban group, all patients achieved successful recanalization defined by TICI groups (25.00% versus 17.39%, P=0.634). In the und in both groups (25.00% versus 17.39%, P=0.634). In th4). In thle, and neurological improvement evaluated so, 'et al' is notned by 3-month mRS≤2, which were not statistically significant when compared to the control group (all P>0.05)., Conclusion: Intravenous Tirofiban infusion after mechanical thrombectomy is safe and effective in patients with acute ischemic stroke., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2021.)

Objective To clarify the regulation role of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand-death receptor 5 (TRAIL-DR5) in cell autophagy induced by suberoylanilidehydroxamic acid (SAHA) in ER-positive breast cancer cell MCF-7. Methods The logarithmic growth phase of MCF-7 cells were divided into control group, SAHA treatment group, TRAIL-DR5 siRNA group and SAHA combined with TRAIL-DR5 siRNA treatment group. Western blotting was used to verify the results of TRAIL-DR5 gene silencing. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to detect the mRNA levels of autophagy-related gene 9B (ATG9B), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3A (LC3A) and LC3B in the different groups. The expressions of beclin-1, ATG3, ATG5, ATG7, ATG12, ATG16, ATG4A, ATG4B, ATG9B, LC3II, cathepsin B (CTSB) in the breast cancer cells were detected by Western blotting. The level of CTSB in the breast cancer cell culture supernatant was analyzed by ELISA. Immunofluorescence cytochemical staining was used to determine the expression and distribution of LC3II in the breast cancer cells. Results TRAIL-DR5 siRNA transfection significantly decreased the levels of TRAIL-DR5 in MCF-7 cells. After the knock-down of TRAIL-DR5 gene in MCF-7, the mRNA and protein levels of the autophagy-related factors in breast cancer cells markedly decreased, and the protein level of CTSB also decreased. After SAHA treatment of MCF-7 cells, the level of LC3II increased; when knockdown of TRAIL-DR5 receptor, LC3II level was significantly lower than that in the SAHA-alone-treated cells. Conclusion Down-regulating the TRAIL-DR5 gene can inhibit cell autophagy induced by SAHA in ER-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells.