Brain-derived neurotrophic factor drives muscle adaptation similar to aerobic training in mice.

This study, in vivo and in vitro, investigated the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in skeletal muscle adaptations to aerobic exercise. BDNF is a contraction-induced protein that may play a role in muscle adaptations to aerobic exercise. BDNF is involved in muscle repair, increased fat oxidation, and mitochondrial biogenesis, all of which are adaptations observed with aerobic training.

Comparing Antibody Responses to Homologous vs. Heterologous COVID-19 Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in an Urban Bangladeshi Population.

Background: Vaccination has played a crucial role in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and reducing its severe outcomes. While over 90% of Bangladesh's population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, the comparative effectiveness of homologous versus heterologous booster strategies, along with the complex interplay of factors within the population, remains understudied. This study aimed to compare antibody responses between these booster approaches.

Assessing Links Between Alcohol Exposure and Firearm Violence: A Scoping Review Update.

Background: Firearm violence remains a leading cause of death and injury in the United States. Prior research supports that alcohol exposures, including individual-level alcohol use and alcohol control policies, are modifiable risk factors for firearm violence, yet additional research is needed to support prevention efforts.

Objectives: This scoping review aims to update a prior 2016 systematic review on the links between alcohol exposure and firearm violence to examine whether current studies indicate causal links between alcohol use, alcohol interventions, and firearm violence-related outcomes.

An engineered Palivizumab IgG2 subclass for synthetic gp130 and fas mediated signaling.

Recently, we phenocopied Interleukin (IL-)6 signaling using the dimerized single-chain variable fragment (scFv) derived from the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) IgG1-antibody Palivizumab (PLHFc) to activate a Palivizumab anti-idiotypic nanobody (AIP)-gp130 receptor fusion protein. Palivizumab was unable to activate STAT3 signaling, so we aimed to create a similar ligand capable of triggering this pathway. Here, we created three variants of the ligand called PLH0Fc, PLH4Fc and PLH8Fc by shortening the spacer region connecting PLH and Fc from 23 amino acids in PLHFc to 0 amino acids or expanding it by rigid linkers of 4 or 8 alpha helical loops, respectively.