Z-form nucleic acids (ZNAs) are left-handed DNA/RNA structures implicated in innate immunity and cell death, yet the endogenous force driving their formation in vivo had remained unclear. In this study, the research team identified oxidative DNA modification as a molecular trigger for nucleic acid conformational switching. They showed that oxidative lesions in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), particularly 8-oxoG formation, induced a transition from canonical B-DNA to Z-DNA. The resulting oxidized Z-mtDNA was sensed by the Zα domain of ZBP1, activating a ZBP1–MAVS–caspase-8 signaling pathway that drove hepatocyte apoptosis. The findings were highly relevant to acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver failure, in which the current therapy, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), rapidly loses efficacy beyond the early detoxification phase. The team demonstrated that APAP-induced oxidative stress promoted mtDNA oxidation and Z-DNA formation, thereby triggering the secondary hepatotoxicity that resisted NAC treatment. Importantly, pharmacological activation of the oxidative DNA repair enzyme OGG1 with TH10785 reversed Z-DNA back to B-DNA and achieved near-complete survival in delayed-treatment models. Together, these findings established oxidation-driven DNA conformational transition as a fundamental signaling mechanism and identified reversal of Z-DNA as a promising therapeutic strategy for acute liver failure.

Penile shortening and erectile dysfunction are common problems after radical pelvic surgery for prostate, bladder, or rectal cancer. A new review published in UroPrecision finds that penile traction therapy (PTT), a non-invasive mechanical treatment, may help preserve penile length and improve erectile function when started early after surgery. This review is part of the themed issue “Distinct Themes for the Advanced Practice Providers in Andrology”

Basilar trunk artery aneurysms are a rare and serious type of brain aneurysm with limited treatment data. A study finds that most patients can be successfully treated using minimally invasive procedures, with nearly nine in ten achieving good recovery. Based on one of the largest single-center analyses to date, this study highlights the effectiveness of modern endovascular techniques while pointing to higher risks in larger aneurysms, emphasizing the need for careful patient selection and follow-up.

In modern medical systems, drug therapy remains one of the most essential approaches for disease prevention and treatment. In particular, combination therapy has become a common strategy for improving therapeutic efficacy and reducing drug resistance in the treatment of complex diseases. However, the use of multiple drugs simultaneously significantly increases the risk of drug–drug interactions (DDIs), which may alter the pharmacological effects of drugs or even lead to adverse reactions, posing a threat to patient safety.

Dear Experts and Colleagues,

    We are pleased to invite you to present and participate in our first annual Experimental Therapeutics at Ruijin meeting, to be held on June 1st to 4th,  2026, at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Annual meeting will bring together leading investigators to share experiences in translating scientific discoveries into clinical success. We hope the event will provide every participant—faculty, students, and guests alike—with valuable insights and a stimulating exchange of ideas. The organizers are:

    H. Michael Shepard, PhD – Experimental Therapeutics Group, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai

    Baiyong Shen, MD – Professor and Chief Physician, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai

    Mone Zaidi, PhD – Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York

    We anticipate a high level of interest in this topic and will provide ample opportunity for meaningful interaction and discussion among participants. Some presentations will highlight programs with regulatory approval, while most will focus on those with preclinical or early clinical proof of concept.

    We sincerely hope you can join us for this exciting event in Shanghai.

    Time: June 1st to 4th, 2026

    Location: 1F Lecture Hall, Building 35, Translational Medicine Building, No. 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China

    Contact: ying.zhang@jueqianmed.com

Artificial Intelligence + Education: Theory and Practice in Application Development is a work in the field of AI applications in education that combines cutting-edge theory with practical value for frontline educational practice.

Optical skyrmions hold promise for robust information carriers, yet existing technologies are limited to narrow-band generation. Scientists in China and Singapore invented an on-chip platform using ferroelectric spherulites. This device breaks the bandwidth limit by generating stable skyrmions across the entire visible spectrum. The technique paves the way for high-capacity optical communications and topological quantum light sources.