Intestinal absorption area is correlated with cardiovascular risk factors associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Background And Aim: This study aimed to evaluate if the intestinal permeability is associated with overweight/obesity with or without metabolic syndrome (MetS) and correlate intestinal permeability parameters with cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods And Results: This was a cross-sectional study that individuals were divided in three groups: 1) controls (n = 34), 2) overweight/obesity (n = 29), and 3) overweight/obesity + MetS (n = 29). Anthropometric and blood biochemical parameters were used to estimate cardiovascular risk factors.

Transmitted blood infections and emerging vector-borne diseases in blood donors in northern Portugal.

Background: Screening of transfusion-transmissible infectious agents of blood components is carried out in order to guarantee the safety of the transfusion process. The objective of this investigation was to characterize cases positive for transfusion-transmissible infectious agents in blood donations in the North of Portugal.

Method: Data from 2010 to 2022 of the Local Health Unit-Santo Antonio were used for this study.

High-fidelity annotated triploid genome of the quarantine root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii.

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) of the genus Meloidogyne are obligatory plant endoparasites that cause substantial economic losses to agricultural production and impact the global food supply. These plant parasitic nematodes belong to the most widespread and devastating genus worldwide, yet few measures of control are available. The most efficient way to control RKN is deployment of resistance genes in plants.

Chronic fat consumption affects metabolic aspects of murine physiology and influences ovarian follicle atresia.

Saturated fat has been linked to cardiovascular diseases, leading to an increase in polyunsaturated fat consumption. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of three fat sources (coconut oil, lard and soybean oil) on metabolic and reproductive parameters in heterogenic mice. Female Swiss mice (5-6 weeks old; n = 9/group) were divided into four experimental groups: control (CC), coconut oil (CO), lard (LA), and soybean oil (SO), and were orally given 0.

Disseminated sporotrichosis with osteoarticular involvement in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: a case report.

Sporotrichosis is caused by fungi belonging to the genus Sporothrix, and is generally acquired by traumatic inoculation. A 26-year-old man developed pustular lesions and a 6-kg weight loss after developing a lesion on his right hand 6 months previously. He was diagnosed with acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and disseminated sporotrichosis cultures of bone and muscle biopsy and blood samples grew Sporothrix schenckii.

Decoding Breast Cancer: Using Radiomics to Non-Invasively Unveil Molecular Subtypes Directly from Mammographic Images.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. The therapy used and its success depend highly on the histology of the tumor. This study aimed to explore the potential of predicting the molecular subtype of breast cancer using radiomic features extracted from screening digital mammography (DM) images.

Can Diet Alter the Intestinal Barrier Permeability in Healthy People? A Systematic Review.

Dietary factors can modify the function of the intestinal barrier, causing permeability changes. This systematic review analyzed evidence on the link between diet or dietary interventions and changes in intestinal barrier permeability (IBP) in healthy individuals. A systematic search for primary studies was conducted using the virtual databases EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Scopus.

Breast Cancer Molecular Subtype Prediction: A Mammography-Based AI Approach.

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among women, with molecular subtypes significantly influencing prognosis and treatment strategies. Currently, identifying the molecular subtype of cancer requires a biopsy-a specialized, expensive, and time-consuming procedure, often yielding to results that must be supported with additional biopsies due to technique errors or tumor heterogeneity. This study introduces a novel approach for predicting breast cancer molecular subtypes using mammography images and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies.

Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics reveal candidate genes associated with quality traits in Dioscorea alata.

Background: Quality traits are essential determinants of consumer preferences. Dioscorea alata (Greater Yam), is a starchy tuber crop in tropical regions. However, a comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis underlying yam tuber quality remains elusive.

Rice Husk, Brewer's Spent Grain, and Vine Shoot Trimmings as Raw Materials for Sustainable Enzyme Production.

Solid by-products with lignocellulosic structures are considered appropriate substrates for solid-state fermentation (SSF) to produce enzymes with diverse industrial applications. In this work, brewer's spent grain (BSG), rice husk (RH), and vine shoot trimmings (VSTs) were employed as substrates in SSF with CECT 2088 to produce cellulases, xylanases, and amylases. The addition of 2% (NH)SO and 1% KHPO to by-products had a positive effect on enzyme production.

Unzipped genome assemblies of polyploid root-knot nematodes reveal unusual and clade-specific telomeric repeats.

Using long-read sequencing, we assembled and unzipped the polyploid genomes of Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica and M. arenaria, three of the most devastating plant-parasitic nematodes.

The Stilbene Synthase Family in : A Genome-Wide Study and Functional Characterization in Response to Stress.

Peanut () and its wild relatives are among the few species that naturally synthesize resveratrol, a well-known stilbenoid phytoalexin that plays a crucial role in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. Resveratrol has received considerable attention due to its health benefits, such as preventing and treating various human diseases and disorders. Chalcone (CHS) and Stilbene (STS) Synthases are plant-specific type III Polyketide Synthases (PKSs) that share the same substrates and are key branch enzymes in the biosynthesis of flavonoids and stilbenoids, respectively.

Pediatric chronic kidney disease: blood cell count indexes as inflammation markers.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as a progressive decline of kidney functions. In childhood, the main triggering factors are congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) and glomerulopathies. Inflammatory responses present challenges for diagnosis and staging, which justifies studies on biomarkers/indexes.

Case of split notochord syndrome: a neonate with thoracic neuroenteric cyst, abdominal duodenal duplication cyst, malrotation and vertebral anomalies.

The authors describe a case of a male neonate with split notochord syndrome presenting with cervico-thoracic deformity, thoracic neuroenteric cyst, separate abdominal duodenal duplication cyst and concurrent intestinal malrotation. This combination of abnormalities is very rare. When these lesions are suspected, patients must be investigated carefully.

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Towards Dose Reduction through Image Quality Improvement.

Currently, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer worldwide. Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) has been widely accepted as a stand-alone modality to replace Digital Mammography, particularly in denser breasts. However, the image quality improvement provided by DBT is accompanied by an increase in the radiation dose for the patient.

Genome-wide association studies reveal novel loci controlling tuber flesh color and oxidative browning in Dioscorea alata.

Background: Consumers' preferences for food crops are guided by quality attributes. This study aimed at deciphering the genetic basis of quality traits, especially tuber flesh color (FC) and oxidative browning (OB) in Dioscorea alata, based on the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) approach. The D.

Gold nanoparticle intratesticular injections as a potential animal sterilization tool: Long-term reproductive and toxicological implications.

This study aimed to evaluate the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) animal sterilizing potential after intratesticular injections and long-term adverse reproductive and systemic effects. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into control and gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) groups. The rats received 200 µL of saline or AuNPs solution (16 µg/mL) on experimental days 1 and 7 (ED1 and ED7).

Engineering Resistance against Using a Truncated NLR (TNx) and a Defense-Priming Gene.

The association of both cell-surface PRRs (Pattern Recognition Receptors) and intracellular receptor NLRs (Nucleotide-Binding Leucine-Rich Repeat) in engineered plants have the potential to activate strong defenses against a broad range of pathogens. Here, we describe the identification, characterization, and in planta functional analysis of a novel truncated NLR (TNx) gene from the wild species (), with a protein structure lacking the C-terminal LRR (Leucine Rich Repeat) domain involved in pathogen perception. Overexpression of in tobacco plants led to a significant reduction in infection caused by , with a further reduction in pyramid lines containing an expansin-like B gene () potentially involved in defense priming.

Impact of ATP-citrate lyase catalytic activity and serine 455 phosphorylation on histone acetylation and inflammatory responses in human monocytic THP-1 cells.

ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) is a key enzyme provoking metabolic and epigenetic gene regulation. Molecularly, these functions are exerted by the provision of acetyl-coenzyme A, which is then used as a substrate for lipogenesis or as an acetyl-group donor in acetylation reactions. It has been demonstrated that ACLY activity can be positively regulated phosphorylation at serine 455 by Akt and protein kinase A.

FRET-FISH probes chromatin compaction at individual genomic loci in single cells.

Chromatin compaction is a key biophysical property that influences multiple DNA transactions. Lack of chromatin accessibility is frequently used as proxy for chromatin compaction. However, we currently lack tools for directly probing chromatin compaction at individual genomic loci.

Integrated Omic Approaches Reveal Molecular Mechanisms of Tolerance during Soybean and Interactions.

The root-knot nematode (RKN), , is a devastating soybean pathogen worldwide. The use of resistant cultivars is the most effective method to prevent economic losses caused by RKNs. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in resistance to RKN, we determined the proteome and transcriptome profiles from roots of susceptible (BRS133) and highly tolerant (PI 595099) genotypes 4, 12, and 30 days after RKN infestation.

Automatic Classification of Simulated Breast Tomosynthesis Whole Images for the Presence of Microcalcification Clusters Using Deep CNNs.

Microcalcification clusters (MCs) are among the most important biomarkers for breast cancer, especially in cases of nonpalpable lesions. The vast majority of deep learning studies on digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) are focused on detecting and classifying lesions, especially soft-tissue lesions, in small regions of interest previously selected. Only about 25% of the studies are specific to MCs, and all of them are based on the classification of small preselected regions.

Greener Strategy for Lupanine Purification from Lupin Bean Wastewaters Using a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer.

Lupanine is an alkaloid used in the pharma industry as a building block or precursor in the synthesis of sparteine and also explored for drug synthesis in the pharma industry as a chiral selector. This alkaloid is found in lupin bean processing wastewaters originated from the debittering process to make these beans edible. In this work, a computational chemistry approach was taken to design molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) selecting itaconic acid, a biobased building block, as a functional monomer that can provide higher affinities for lupanine.