Genomic Variability Survey in L., with Reference to Four Insular Populations from Eastern Europe.

Cosmopolitan in the western areas of Europe as well as on other continents, the Ilex genus is interesting for its genetic, phenotypic, and biogeographic variabilities. Its insular/local distribution, according to existing data on the periphery of the central and southern European areas, represents a suitable case study with reference to the adaptive plasticity or acclimatization of the L. species to new climatic conditions.

Quercetin Enhances 5-Fluorouracil-Driven Cytotoxicity Dose-Dependently in A375 Human Melanoma Cells.

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) represents a severe skin cancer with a rising incidence at present and limited treatment options. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is widely used, including for CM; however, the innate resistance of this cancer to conventional therapy remains problematic. Quercetin (QUE) is a flavonoid that can sensitize cancer cells to antitumor agents such as 5-FU.

Effectiveness of the BNT162b2 XBB.1.5-adapted vaccine against COVID-19 hospitalization related to the JN.1 variant in Europe: a test-negative case-control study using the id.DRIVE platform.

Background: Prior studies have reported lower effectiveness of XBB.1.5-adapted vaccines against hospitalization related to the Omicron JN.

The value of real world evidence and pragmatic trials in advanced prostate cancer- insights from the electronic Prostate Cancer Australian and Asian Database.

Prostate cancer is a common malignancy with an increasing incidence in ageing populations. However, older patients with prostate cancer are often underrepresented in traditional clinical trials. The electronic Prostate Cancer Australian and Asian Database (ePAD) is a multi-centre, multi-national prospective clinical registry, that records real world data from a broader population.

Repurposing Drugs and Synergistic Combinations as Potential Therapies for Inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 and Coronavirus Replication.

Drug repurposing can serve an important role in rapidly discovering medicament options for emerging microbial pandemics. In this study, a pragmatic approach is demonstrated for screening and testing drug combinations as potential broad-spectrum therapies against SARS-CoV-2 and other betacoronaviruses. Rapid cell-based phenotypic small molecule screens were executed using related common-cold-causing HCoV-OC43 betacoronavirus to identify replication inhibitors from a library of drugs approved by regulatory agencies for other indications.

The Impact of HIV on Early Brain Aging-A Pathophysiological (Re)View.

: This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how HIV alters normal aging trajectories in the brain, presenting the HIV-related molecular mechanisms and pathophysiological pathways involved in brain aging. The review explores the roles of inflammation, oxidative stress, and viral persistence in the brain, highlighting how these factors contribute to neuronal damage and cognitive impairment and accelerate normal brain aging. Additionally, it also addresses the impact of antiretroviral therapy on brain aging and the biological markers associated with its occurrence.

An immune suppressive tumor microenvironment in primary prostate cancer promotes tumor immune escape.

Background: Immunotherapy has demonstrated limited activity in prostate cancer to date. This likely reflects an immune suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), with previous studies suggesting low PD-L1 expression and a sparse immune cell infiltrate. We aimed to further characterise the immune TME in primary prostate cancer and correlate immune subset densities with clinical outcomes.

Zika virus remodels and hijacks IGF2BP2 ribonucleoprotein complex to promote viral replication organelle biogenesis.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection causes significant human disease that, with no approved treatment or vaccine, constitutes a major public health concern. Its life cycle entirely relies on the cytoplasmic fate of the viral RNA genome (vRNA) through a fine-tuned equilibrium between vRNA translation, replication, and packaging into new virions, all within virus-induced replication organelles (vROs). In this study, with an RNA interference (RNAi) mini-screening and subsequent functional characterization, we have identified insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) as a new host dependency factor that regulates vRNA synthesis.

Evocation of positive memories as complement to trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy for intimate partner violence against women.

Focusing on positive memories as a complement to trauma-focused interventions for intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) could contribute to enhancing the recovery from trauma with the development of a more integrated and emotionally modulated autobiographical narrative. To test the effectiveness of a trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) tailored for IPVAW that incorporates the evocation of positive memories. Female survivors of IPVAW entered a randomized controlled trial comparing trauma-focused CBT for IPVAW (CBT;  = 35) to a version that incorporates the evocation of positive memories (CBT-M+;  = 44) and to a waitlist (WL;  = 12) control group.

Spatial variations of nutrient and trace metal concentrations in macroalgae across blue carbon habitats of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea.

Macroalgae play a crucial role in blue carbon ecosystems, yet their elemental compositions in the Red Sea are not well documented. This study examined the concentrations of 22 elements in 161 macroalgae blade samples from 19 species (5 unidentified) across 3 phyla in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea. Macroalgae blades collected from coral reef habitats exhibited higher concentrations of K, As, and Sr compared to those from seagrass meadows, but had lower levels of total nitrogen (TN), Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Zn.

Enhancing Syslog Message Security and Reliability over Unidirectional Fiber Optics.

Standard log transmission protocols do not offer a robust way of segregating the log network from potential threats. A secure log transmission system and the realization of a data diode using affordable components are proposed. Unidirectional data flow prevents unauthorized access and eavesdropping, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive log data.

Neoadjuvant letrozole and palbociclib in patients with HR-positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer and Oncotype DX Recurrence Score ≥18: DxCARTES study.

Background: The effect of the addition of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 inhibitors to endocrine therapy in terms of molecular downstaging remains undetermined. Switching from a high-risk to a low risk Recurrence Score (RS) group could provide useful information to identify patients who might not require chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to assess the biological and clinical activity of letrozole plus palbociclib as neoadjuvant treatment for patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative early breast cancer with an initial Oncotype DX RS ≥18.

Clinical Impact of the Use of Ologen in Filtering Surgery Performed in Uncontrolled Glaucoma.

: To compare the efficacy and safety of trabeculectomy with a collagen matrix implant (Ologen) versus trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) versus trabeculectomy with both Ologen and MMC (OLO + MMC). This non-randomized study included 119 eyes of 101 patients with uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma who underwent trabeculectomy, either alone or combined with phacoemulsification. The data were initially recorded following a standard surgical protocol, using an electronic database with structured fields.

Retrospective Study of the Use of Heparins in Pregnant Women and Testing on the HCT 116 Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Line.

Introduction: Pregnant women manifest an increased risk of developing coagulation disorders. Unfractionated heparin (HEP) and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWHep) are considered as selective medication in the case of pregnancy which needs anticoagulant treatment. In addition to anticoagulant properties, HEP and its derivatives manifest other properties including anti-cancer potential.

Mathematical modeling of SARS-CoV-2 variant substitutions in European countries: transmission dynamics and epidemiological insights.

Background: Countries across Europe have faced similar evolutions of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants.

Materials And Methods: We used data from GISAID and applied a robust, automated mathematical substitution model to study the dynamics of COVID-19 variants in Europe over a period of more than 2 years, from late 2020 to early 2023. This model identifies variant substitution patterns and distinguishes between residual and dominant behavior.

Impact of Comorbidities and Drug Interactions in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Receiving Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitors.

Purpose: Androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) are widely prescribed in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Real-world frequencies and potential impacts of comorbidities and concomitant medication (conmed) interactions with ARPIs are not well described.

Methods: Patients receiving ARPIs for mCRPC were identified from the electronic Prostate Cancer Australian Database (ePAD).

Respiratory Viral Coinfections in Pediatric Patients in the Primary Care Setting: A Multicenter Prospective Study Within the COPEDICAT Network.

Acute respiratory viral infections pose a significant healthcare burden on the pediatric population globally, but data on the dissemination pattern in the community due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are scarce. We conducted a 2-year prospective multicenter study in Catalonia (Spain) that examined the prevalence and coinfection dynamics of respiratory viruses among 1276 pediatric patients from different age groups attending primary care. Coinfection analysis demonstrated complex patterns and revealed a coinfection rate of 23.

In-Host Flat-like Quasispecies: Characterization Methods and Clinical Implications.

The repeated failure to treat patients chronically infected with hepatitis E (HEV) and C (HCV) viruses, despite the absence of resistance-associated substitutions (RAS), particularly in response to prolonged treatments with the mutagenic agents of HEV, suggests that quasispecies structure may play a crucial role beyond single point mutations. Quasispecies structured in a flat-like manner (referred to as flat-like) are considered to possess high average fitness, occupy a significant fraction of the functional genetic space of the virus, and exhibit a high capacity to evade specific or mutagenic treatments. In this paper, we studied HEV and HCV samples using high-depth next-generation sequencing (NGS), with indices scoring the different properties describing flat-like quasispecies.

Genotyping Hepatitis B virus by Next-Generation Sequencing: Detection of Mixed Infections and Analysis of Sequence Conservation.

Our aim was to develop an accurate, highly sensitive method for HBV genotype determination and detection of genotype mixtures. We examined the preS and 5' end of the HBV X gene (5X) regions of the HBV genome using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The 1852 haplotypes obtained were subjected to genotyping via the Distance-Based discrimination method (DB Rule) using two sets of 95 reference sequences of genotypes A-H.