SNARE-Mediated Membrane Fusion Probed Using a Synthetic Organelle in the Living Bacterium.

Studies on the mechanisms and regulation of functional assemblies of SNARE proteins mediating membrane fusion essentially make use of recombinant proteins and artificial phospholipid bilayers. We have developed an easy-to-use in vivo system reconstituting membrane fusion in living bacteria. It relies on the formation of caveolin-dependent intracytoplasmic cisternae followed by the controlled synthesis of members of the synaptic SNARE machinery.

Preservation and early evolution of scalidophoran ventral nerve cord.

Ecdysozoan worms (Nematoida + Scalidophora) are typified by disparate grades of neural organization reflecting a complex evolutionary history. The fossil record offers a unique opportunity to reconstruct the early character evolution of the nervous system via the exceptional preservation of extinct representatives. We focus on their nervous system as it appears in early and mid-Cambrian fossils.

Imaging G-Quadruplex Nucleic Acids in Live Cells Using Thioflavin T and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy.

Visualization of guanine-rich oligonucleotides that fold into G-quadruplex (G4) helical structures is of great interest in cell biology. There is a large body of evidence that suggests that these noncanonical structures form and play important biological roles. A promising recent development highlighted fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) as a robust technique for the direct and quantitative imaging of G4s in live cells.

Treatment adherence and effectiveness in patients treated with carfilzomib-based therapy combinations for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in Germany: interim results from the non-interventional CARO study.

Therapy adherence can significantly influence the outcome of cancer patients. The prospective, non-interventional CARO study (NCT02970747) investigated adherence, effectiveness, and safety of carfilzomib in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in the German real-world setting. In total, 359 patients were included at 69 sites.

Improved variant detection using long-read sequencing and optical mapping: Illustration in STRC-related hearing loss.

Biallelic loss-of-function variants in STRC contribute to mild-moderate hearing loss (DFNB16). Here, we report a female patient with mild hearing loss. Exome sequencing and MLPA analysis revealed STRC biallelic inactivation due to a nonsense and a CKMT1B-STRC deletion.

The early Cambrian is a non-feeding larva of a scalidophoran worm.

With its bag-like appearance, spiny ornament and single opening, is one of the most enigmatic animals of the early Cambrian Kuanchuanpu Formation ( 535 Ma) and has been at the heart of debates concerning the origin of two major animal lineages: the deuterostomes and the ecdysozoans. Although Ecdysozoa is now the most plausible option, key aspects of its palaeobiology have remained elusive. I suggest here that was the possible larval stage of one of the numerous scalidophoran worms that co-existed with it in the Kuanchuanpu biota, especially those with bilateral pairs of broad-based sclerites such as .

Infertility, IL-17, IL-33 and Microbiome Cross-Talk: The Extended ARIA-MeDALL Hypothesis.

Infertility, defined as the inability to obtain pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse, has increased in prevalence over the past decades, similarly to chronic, allergic, autoimmune, or neurodegenerative diseases. A recent ARIA-MeDALL hypothesis has proposed that all these diseases are linked to dysbiosis and to some cytokines such as interleukin 17 (IL-17) and interleukin 33 (IL-33). Our paper suggests that endometriosis, a leading cause of infertility, is linked to endometrial dysbiosis and two key cytokines, IL-17 and IL-33, which interact with intestinal dysbiosis.

Polymer material biodegradation in the deep sea. A review.

The phenomenon of marine plastic pollution is now well-established, with documented impacts on marine biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles. In order to mitigate this environmental impact, a significant amount of research has been conducted in recent years with the objective of developing biodegradable alternatives to conventional polymers and their composites in marine environments. The findings of this research significantly enhanced our understanding of biodegradation mechanisms and identified promising candidates.

Palbociclib in Combination with either Aromatase Inhibitors or Fulvestrant for Patients with Advanced HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer in Germany: Final Results of the Phase 2 Multicohort INGE-B Trial.

Introduction: The INGE-B trial (NCT02894398) aimed to confirm the efficacy and safety data from the PALOMA trials for patients treated first line (1L) with palbociclib (PAL) and letrozole or 1L and later line with PAL and fulvestrant. In addition, so far lacking evidence for efficacy and safety on the combination of PAL with anastrozole, exemestane (1L), or letrozole (later line) was investigated.

Methods: The prospective, multicenter, multicohort phase 2 trial INGE-B enrolled adult patients with locally advanced, inoperable, or metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer in Germany.

Iatrogenic emboli during mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: comparison between stent retriever technique and contact aspiration-a retrospective case-control study.

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is an effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion (LVO). While embolization to a new territory (ENT) after MT is well-documented, data on embolization in the same distal territory (EDT) are limited. Achieving modified Treatment In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) 3 reperfusion presents significant clinical benefits over mTICI 2b/2c, necessitating strategies to reduce both ENT and EDT.

Machine learning-based prediction models unleash the enhanced production of fucoxanthin in .

Introduction: The marine microalga is prolific producer of fucoxanthin, which is a xanthophyll carotenoid with substantial global market value boasting extensive applications in the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. This study presented a novel integrated experimental approach coupled with machine learning (ML) models to predict the fucoxanthin content in by altering the type and concentration of phytohormone supplementation, thus overcoming the multiple methodological limitations of conventional fucoxanthin quantification.

Methods: A novel integrated experimental approach was developed, analyzing the effect of varying phytohormone types and concentrations on fucoxanthin production in .

Endovascular treatment versus medical management for basilar artery occlusion with low-to-moderate symptoms (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale < 10).

Background: Patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) and low-to-moderate symptoms (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] < 10) are poorly represented in thrombectomy trials. Our objective is to compare thrombectomy and best medical management (BMT) in this population.

Methods: We compared data of all consecutive patients presenting with an initial NIHSS < 10 and acute symptomatic BAO included in two registries.

[May Coronary CT-Scan be used as a systematic screening tool for the global population to prevent acute coronary syndrome and ischemic heart failure?].

Coronary CT-Scan permits non-invasive visualization of all stages of coronary artery atherosclerosis allowing early therapeutic interventions, lifestyle changes and accurate follow-up all of which result in an improved prognosis. We discuss the possibility of a systematic coronary CT-scan in the global population at certain ages such as fifty or sixty years-old (or both). May this strategy decrease the onset of myocardial infarction or ischemic chronic heart failure thus improving quality (and quantity) of life? May it also reduce the medical costs for the individual and the society? Is it technically possible to deploy such a strategy? What would be the obstacles for its set up and what solutions might be proposed?

The root microlandscape of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Understanding the drivers of assemblages of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is essential to leverage the benefits of AMF for plant growth and health. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are heterogeneously distributed in space even at small scale. We review the role of plant distribution in driving AMF assemblages (the passenger hypothesis), using a transposition of the conceptual framework of landscape ecology.

Effect of noise on the performance of arthroscopic simulator.

Background: Noise is omnipresent in the operating room. The average noise in the operating room generally ranges between 60 and 65 dB and can sometimes exceed 100 dB, despite the ARS (Agence Régionale de Santé) and WHO (World Health Organization) recommending levels of 35 dB(A). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different kinds of background auditory stimuli on the performance of surgeons during an arthroscopic simulation task.

Molting in early Cambrian armored lobopodians.

Lobopodians represent a key step in the early history of ecdysozoans since they were the first animals to evolve legs within this clade. Their Cambrian representatives share a similar body plan with a typically cylindrical annulated trunk and a series of non-jointed legs. However, they do not form a monophyletic group and likely include ancestors of the three extant panarthropod lineages (Tardigrada, Onychophora, Euarthropoda).

Identification of immunoreactive antigens by phage display cDNA screen.

Human babesiosis is a malaria-like illness caused by protozoan parasites of the genus . is responsible for most cases of human babesiosis in the United States, particularly in the Northeast and the Upper Midwest. is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected deer ticks but also through the transfusion of blood components, particularly red blood cells.

Development and validation of a clinical breast cancer tool for accurate prediction of recurrence.

Given high costs of Oncotype DX (ODX) testing, widely used in recurrence risk assessment for early-stage breast cancer, studies have predicted ODX using quantitative clinicopathologic variables. However, such models have incorporated only small cohorts. Using a cohort of patients from the National Cancer Database (NCDB, n = 53,346), we trained machine learning models to predict low-risk (0-25) or high-risk (26-100) ODX using quantitative estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR)/Ki-67 status, quantitative ER/PR status alone, and no quantitative features.

Atmospheric dispersal shapes rapid bacterial colonization of Icelandic Lava Rocks.

Microorganisms released into the atmosphere by various disturbances can travel significant distances before depositing, yet their impact on community assembly remains unclear. To address this, we examined atmospheric and lithospheric bacterial communities in 179 samples collected at two distinct Icelandic volcanic sites: a small volcanic island Surtsey, and a volcanic highland Fimmvörðuháls using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Airborne microbial communities were similar between sites while significant differences emerged in the communities on lava rocks after 1-year exposure.