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Khabre desk
Recent reporting, analysis and explainers from the Biomedical Research desk.
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A bioRxiv preprint reports that a hepatitis B virus basal core promoter mutation increased viral activity in human-hepatocyte chimeric mice, with effects that varied by viral genotype. Analysis of human liver-tumour datasets also found distinct gene-expression profiles associated with the mutation.
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A bioRxiv preprint links NR2F1-related changes in retinoic-acid signalling in mouse retinas with foveal abnormalities seen on OCT in people with BBSOAS. The findings point to a retinal component of the syndrome’s visual pathology.
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A bioRxiv preprint associates a platelet-related circulating tumour-cell profile in breast cancer with poorer overall survival. It also proposes a CD40LG–ITGA5:ITGB1 signal involving monocytes as a candidate for further study.
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A bioRxiv preprint reports that clade B serpins are associated with transitional airway cells and goblet-cell differentiation in COPD. The findings combine tissue profiling with in-vitro cell models and point to a possible research target, not a tested treatment.
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A bioRxiv preprint reports that changes involving DNMT1 can reduce CTCF binding at the KMT2A gene and promote copy gains and rearrangements. The findings come from experimental molecular research, not a clinical study.
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A bioRxiv preprint reports that harmine plus exendin-4, given after low-dose anti-CD3 therapy, promoted remission in diabetic mice. Human cell experiments also showed effects on beta-cell function and immune responses.
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A bioRxiv preprint reports that the receptor GPR182 helps aortic endothelial cells take up LDL and promotes atherosclerotic plaque formation in multiple mouse models. Blocking the receptor with an antibody reduced aortic lipid uptake and disease progression under high-cholesterol conditions.
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A bioRxiv preprint reports a nano-ring-assisted system for continuously regenerating peritoneal dialysate. In canine models, it reduced circulating uremic toxins by approximately 10%, while an improved version sustained removal for four hours.
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A Nature Medicine study links levetiracetam use with longer survival in children with diffuse midline glioma and reports reduced tumour growth in mouse models. The findings point to a tumour-selective effect on GABAergic neuron-to-glioma synapses and require prospective clinical testing.
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A genome-wide association study involving more than one million people examined how genetic variation contributes to personality traits and may influence physical health, mental health and behaviour. The findings highlight genetic effects without separating them from the role of environment.
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A bioRxiv preprint uses spatial multi-omics and 3D imaging to map melanoma tumours treated with neoadjuvant immunotherapy. The study links organised immune structures, including tertiary lymphoid structures and germinal centres, with treatment response and disease-free survival.
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Nature Medicine has issued an Editorial Expression of Concern about a 2015 letter on EZH2 dependence in SWI/SNF-mutant cancers. The notice identifies similarities in several figure panels and says the original data are no longer available.
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A bioRxiv preprint reports that restoring several TDP-43 cryptic targets, including Unc13a, protected spinal motor neurons in a mouse model of early-stage ALS more effectively than targeting Unc13a alone.
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A bioRxiv preprint reports that transplanted hearts rapidly assimilated recipients’ biological age in mouse experiments and patient analyses. The effect was detected in graft tissue, not as a change in the recipient’s systemic biological age.
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A bioRxiv preprint describes a receptor-free electrochemical method for detecting cortisol using a defect-engineered graphene interface and a time-resolved measurement strategy. The researchers report low-nanomolar detection in artificial and biological interstitial fluids, supporting future work on continuous cortisol monitoring.
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A bioRxiv preprint describes two patient-derived anti-HPA-1a antibodies and finds that one induced platelet aggregation through coordinated binding to HPA-1a and FcγRIIa. The laboratory study provides a mechanistic explanation for functional differences among antibodies involved in fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.
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A bioRxiv preprint describes IL-2IT, a bispecific fusion protein designed to carry IL-2 to oxidation-specific epitopes at inflamed sites. In laboratory and in vivo models, the treatment showed greater Treg selectivity and benefits in psoriasis, colitis and atherosclerosis models.
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A medRxiv preprint identifies a possible manufacturing mechanism behind REP/CAP DNA sequences found in the liver of a patient treated with the rAAV gene therapy Zolgensma. The proposed mechanism involves the placement of the AAV P5 promoter in a manufacturing plasmid.
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A Nature Neuroscience study used a single high-density brain implant to decode attempted speech and upper-body gestures in parallel from people with paralysis. The outputs drove a virtual avatar and displayed speech as text, while context-inclusive training improved decoding across isolated and simultaneous tasks.
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Researchers report a framework that combines language-model extraction from clinical notes with structured EHR data to build computable patient trajectories. In a GLP-1 receptor agonist analysis, it tracked weight, HbA1c and note-derived outcomes over time.
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A small clinical trial gave ten women with advanced osteoporosis a single infusion of their own bone-marrow cells treated with fucose. The participants later experienced far fewer fractures from low-impact trauma, although the study had no control group.