Towards green, scalable peptide synthesis: leveraging DEG-crosslinked polystyrene resins to overcome hydrophobicity challenges.

Diethylene glycol dimethacrylate (DEG)-crosslinked polystyrene (PS) resin offers a promising alternative to traditional divinyl benzene (DVB)-PS resin for solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), particularly for challenging sequences with hydrophobic or bulky amino acids. DEG-PS resin's reduced hydrophobicity and enhanced flexibility improve synthesis efficiency, yielding peptides up to 28 residues with higher purities and yields compared to DVB-PS. In various syntheses, DEG-PS outperformed DVB-PS resin, with higher purities and yields for challenging peptides such as ABC analogue (73.

LXR regulation of adipose tissue inflammation during obesity is associated with dysregulated macrophage function.

Objective: Liver X receptors (LXRs) play essential roles in cholesterol homeostasis and immune response. In obesity, elevated cholesterol levels trigger proinflammatory responses; however, the specific contributions of LXRs to adipose tissue (AT) macrophage (ATM) phenotype and metabolic programming are not fully understood. In this study, we determine the role of LXR isoforms in diet-induced obesity AT inflammation and insulin resistance.

Peritoneal Catheters Malposition/Dysfunction and Their Approach with Catheterography and Radiologic Manipulation in Peritoneal Dialysis: A Minireview and Case Series.

Peritoneal catheter dysfunction is one of the most frequent complications of peritoneal dialysis. The malposition of a peritoneal catheter may cause one- or two-way obstruction with fluid outflow or inflow problems, large residual volumes, and, therefore, reduced ultrafiltration and sometimes abdominal pain. Standard procedures may often fail to solve the dysfunction.

Distribution and evidence of co-infection of the two microsporidian parasites and in complex in Northern and Central Italy.

complex is an endangered freshwater crayfish species in Europe and the assessment of the health status of its wild populations is essential for conservation purposes. The two microsporidia and have been reported to cause in complex a chronic parasitic infection, known as ‘porcelain disease’, which reduces population fitness and leads the host to death. Due to the similar macroscopic signs produced, molecular biology analyses are required to unambiguously distinguish between these microsporidia.

Mitigation of aflatoxin contamination of maize, groundnut, and sorghum by commercial biocontrol products in farmers' fields across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Togo.

Background: Aflatoxin contamination by section Flavi fungi poses a significant threat to food security and public health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Maize, groundnut, and sorghum are staple crops frequently contaminated with aflatoxins, sometimes at dangerous levels. Despite its detrimental effects, many farmers in SSA lack access to effective tools for mitigating aflatoxin contamination.

Machine learning and deep learning models for the diagnosis of apical periodontitis: a scoping review.

Objectives: To assess the existing literature on the use of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models for diagnosing apical periodontitis (AP) in humans.

Materials And Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework. The PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases were searched, focusing on articles using ML/DL approaches for AP diagnosis.

Clinical Effect of Descent in Infants with Bronchiolitis Diagnosed at Altitude: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Poirier, Anne, Amélie Basso, Sarah Bonnet-Ducrot, Ellen Katranji, Sophia Cherif-Alami, Sophie Chateigner-Coelsch, Manon Navarre, Cécile Ricard, and Corentin Tanné. Clinical Effect of Descent in Infants with Bronchiolitis Diagnosed at Altitude: A Prospective Multicenter Study. 00:00-00, 2024.

Glucose-Free Solutions Mediated Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Oxidative Stress-Related Damages in Peritoneal Dialysis: A Promising Solution.

Oxidative stress (OxSt) and inflammation are common in end-stage renal disease and dialysis patients; they are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease and mortality. In peritoneal dialysis (PD), OxSt and inflammation are even further increased compared to the already increased oxidative stress of their pre-dialysis phase. This is due to the high glucose-based solutions currently used, whose continuous contact with the peritoneal membrane can induce significant long-term morphological and functional changes (mesothelial to mesenchymal transition, thickening, neo-angiogenesis and fibrosis) of the peritoneal membrane.

The Role of Daily Dialysate Calcium Exposure in Phosphaturic Hormones in Dialysis Patients.

Managing mineral bone disease (MBD) could reduce cardiovascular risk and improve the survival of dialysis patients. Our study focuses on the impact of calcium bath exposure in dialysis patients by comparing peritoneal dialysis patients (PD, intervention group) and hemodialysis patients (HD, control group). We assessed various factors, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, PTH, vitamin D 25-OH, C-terminal telopeptide (CTX), and FGF-23 levels, as well as the calcium bath six hours before the blood sample and the length of daily calcium exposure.

The Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé reaction in its maturity: innovation and improvements since its 21st birthday (2019-2023).

The Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé (GBB) three-component reaction, discovered in 1998, is a very efficient strategy to assemble imidazo[1,2-]-heterocycles starting from amidines, aldehydes and isocyanides. This review aims to exhaustively describe innovative aspects of this reaction achieved during the last five years, and classifies them into five categories: synthetic methods, building blocks, scaffolds, biological activities and physical properties.

Effects of Mediterranean Diet or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction during Pregnancy on Fetal Brain Development Detected by Neurosonography: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial (IMPACT BCN).

Introduction: We investigated whether structured maternal lifestyle interventions based on Mediterranean diet or stress reduction influence fetal-infant neurodevelopment detected by detailed fetal neurosonography and Ages and Stages Questionnaires 3rd edition (ASQ) at 12 months old.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial (2017-2020), including 1,221 singleton pregnancies at high risk for small-for-gestational age. Participants were randomized into three groups at 19-23 weeks' gestation: Mediterranean diet intervention, stress reduction program, or usual care.

Effect of Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction during pregnancy on placental volume and perfusion: A subanalysis of the IMPACT BCN randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: The IMPACT BCN trial-a parallel-group randomized clinical trial where 1221 pregnant women at high risk for small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborns were randomly allocated at 19- to 23-week gestation into three groups: Mediterranean diet, Mindfulness-based Stress reduction or non-intervention-has demonstrated a positive effect of Mediterranean diet and Stress reduction in the prevention of SGA. However, the mechanism of action of these interventions remains still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Mediterranean diet and Stress reduction on placental volume and perfusion.

Exploring SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine-induced immunity in chronic myeloid leukemia patients: insights from real-world data in Brazil and the United States.

This study investigates COVID-19 outcomes and immune response in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, comparing effectiveness of various vaccine options. Data from 118 CML patients (85 in Brazil, 33 in the US) showed similar infection rates prior (14% Brazil, 9.1% US) and post-vaccination (24.

Oxidative stress reduction by icodextrin-based glucose-free solutions in peritoneal dialysis: Support for new promising approaches.

Background: Oxidative stress (OxSt) and inflammation are common in CKD and are known CV and mortality risk factors. In peritoneal dialysis (PD) OxSt and Inflammation even increase due to the use of glucose-based solutions.

Patients And Methods: This study analyzed in 15 PD patients the effect of 3 and 6 months of treatment with icodextrin-based glucose-free solutions on OxSt and inflammation, evaluating p22 protein expression (Western blot), NADPH oxidase subunit, essential for OxSt activation, MYPT-1 phosphorylation state, marker of RhoA/Rho kinase pathway (ROCK) activity, involved in the induction of OxSt (Western blot) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) production (fluorimetric assay).

Probable airborne transmission in a nosocomial Sars-CoV-2 outbreak with an high attack rate.

Throughout the current COVID-19 pandemic, preventing nosocomial COVID-19 outbreaks has been a significant challenge for hospitals. It is essential to understand the ways in which SARS-CoV-2 spreads in healthcare settings to apply proper infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. The objectives of this study are to report on the hospital's response to a COVID-19 cluster and the transmission dynamics in a hospital ward of Geriatrics, Rehabilitation and Long term care.

Targeting adrenergic receptors to mitigate invariant natural killer T cells-induced acute liver injury.

Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cell activation by α-galactosylceramide (αGC) potentiates cytotoxic immune responses against tumors. However, αGC-induced liver injury is a limiting factor for iNKT-based immunotherapy. Although adrenergic receptor stimulation is an important immunosuppressive signal that curbs tissue damage induced by inflammation, its effect on the antitumor activity of invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells remains unclear.

Can embryo production be estimated from semen variables in Senepol breed by using artificial intelligence?

Thoroughly analyzing the sperm and exploring the information obtained using artificial intelligence (AI) could be the key to improving fertility estimation. Artificial neural networks have already been applied to calculate zootechnical indices in animals and predict fertility in humans. This method of estimating the results of reproductive biotechnologies, such as embryo production (IVEP) in cattle, could be valuable for livestock production.

Pixel-level annotated dataset of computed tomography angiography images of acute pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism has a high incidence and mortality, especially if undiagnosed. The examination of choice for diagnosing the disease is computed tomography pulmonary angiography. As many factors can lead to misinterpretations and diagnostic errors, different groups are utilizing deep learning methods to help improve this process.

Acute Changes in Right Ventricular Function in Pediatric Patients with Pulmonary Valve Stenosis Undergoing Percutaneous Valvuloplasty: A Speckle-Tracking Study.

Introduction: Pulmonary valve stenosis determines multiple effects on the right ventricular dimension and function. Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty is the treatment of choice in severe pulmonary valve stenosis in patients of all ages. However, little is known regarding right ventricular function immediate changes after percutaneous balloon dilation.

Biomarker-directed, pembrolizumab-based combination therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: phase 2 KEYNOTE-495/KeyImPaCT trial interim results.

Although pembrolizumab confers clinical benefit in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), only a subset of patients will respond due to a heterogenous tumor microenvironment. KEYNOTE-495/KeyImPaCT is an ongoing biomarker-directed, adaptively randomized phase 2 study investigating first-line pembrolizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks) + lenvatinib (20 mg daily), anti-CTLA-4 quavonlimab (25 mg every 6 weeks) or anti-LAG-3 favezelimab (200 mg or 800 mg every 3 weeks) in advanced NSCLC. Patients were categorized by T-cell-inflamed gene expression profile (TcellGEP) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) status and randomly assigned 1:1:1 to receive pembrolizumab + lenvatinib, pembrolizumab + quavonlimab or pembrolizumab + favezelimab.