Cell Wall Dynamics in the parasitic plant () and rice pathosystem.

In the plant-plant pathosystem of rice () and the parasitic plant , cell walls from either plant are important defensive and offensive structures. Here we reveal cell wall dynamics in both and rice using simultaneous RNA sequencing. We used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to home in on cell wall modification processes occurring in interactions with a resistant rice cultivar (Nipponbare) compared to a susceptible one (IAC 165).

Global Genotype by Environment Prediction Competition Reveals That Diverse Modeling Strategies Can Deliver Satisfactory Maize Yield Estimates.

Predicting phenotypes from a combination of genetic and environmental factors is a grand challenge of modern biology. Slight improvements in this area have the potential to save lives, improve food and fuel security, permit better care of the planet, and create other positive outcomes. In 2022 and 2023 the first open-to-the-public Genomes to Fields (G2F) initiative Genotype by Environment (GxE) prediction competition was held using a large dataset including genomic variation, phenotype and weather measurements and field management notes, gathered by the project over nine years.

The role of musculoskeletal ultrasound in difficult-to-treat RA: Insights from a systematic literature review.

Difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2TRA) identifies patients with insufficient response to biological or targeted-synthetic disease-modifying drugs (b/ts DMARDs), heralding a more severe phenotype. Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) provides information on MSK inflammatory load and damage, being widely used in RA and inflammatory arthritides, yet the US patterns of D2TRA and correlation with clinical parameters have not been unanimously described so far. Here we investigated MSK-US patterns and their prognostic value in D2TRA through a systematic literature review (SLR) across MEDLINE (through PubMed), Scopus and Ovid (Embase) electronic databases.

Ultrasound as a tool for the diagnosis of spondylarthritis in women.

Objective: The journey to a diagnosis of spondyloarthritis (SpA) can be difficult for women, who often experience delays in receiving the correct diagnosis as their symptoms are frequently misinterpreted due to other conditions like osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, or other psychosomatic disorders. The purpose of this article is to examine the challenges in the diagnosis of SpA in women and the possible role of musculoskeletal ultrasound in early diagnosis and in avoiding misdiagnosis.

Methods: We have performed a narrative review of the currently available literature on the subject.

Outcome of 421 adult patients with Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated under an intensive program inspired by the GIMEMA LAL1913 clinical trial: a Campus ALL study.

The introduction of pediatric-inspired regimens in adult Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-ALL) has significantly improved patients' prognosis. Within the Campus ALL network we analyzed the outcome of adult Ph-ALL patients treated according to the GIMEMA LAL1913 protocol outside the clinical trial, to compare the real-life data with the study results. We included 421 consecutive patients, with a median age of 42 years.

Tailoring the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases by a better stratification and characterization of the clinical patient heterogeneity. Findings from a systematic literature review and experts' consensus.

Inflammatory rheumatic diseases are different pathologic conditions associated with a deregulated immune response, codified along a spectrum of disorders, with autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases as two-end phenotypes of this continuum. Despite pathogenic differences, inflammatory rheumatic diseases are commonly managed with a limited number of immunosuppressive drugs, sometimes with partial evidence or transferring physicians' knowledge in different patients. In addition, several randomized clinical trials, enrolling these patients, did not meet the primary pre-established outcomes and these findings could be linked to the underlying molecular diversities along the spectrum of inflammatory rheumatic disorders.

Retention Rate of Ixekizumab in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Real-World Study.

We aimed to examine the drug retention rate (DRR) of the interleukin-17 inhibitor ixekizumab in a real-world monocentric cohort of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients and to assess the predictors of drug discontinuation. Consecutive PsA patients who underwent treatment with ixekizumab from October 2019 to February 2023 were enrolled in this observational, retrospective, monocentric study. Clinical records were assessed at baseline and throughout the follow-up period.

The Retention Rate and Safety of JAK Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Real Word Data from a Monocentric Cohort.

: To date, the literature concerning real-world data on the retention rate and safety of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) is limited. To retrospectively evaluate the overall drug retention rate (DRR) of different JAKis in a monocentric cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). : Patients diagnosed with RA and treated with JAKis who were evaluated at our outpatient clinic from March 2017 to December 2023 were included in the study.

Circulating extracellular vesicles and small non-coding RNAs cargo in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies reveal differences across myositis subsets.

Objective: To investigate the epigenetic footprint of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) through characterization of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) and the expression of EV-derived small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, EVs were isolated by size-exclusion chromatography from plasma of patients with IIM and age- and sex-matched healthy donors (HD). EV-derived sncRNAs were sequenced and quantified using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).

Predicting gene expression responses to environment in using natural variation in DNA sequence.

The evolution of gene expression responses are a critical component of adaptation to variable environments. Predicting how DNA sequence influences expression is challenging because the genotype to phenotype map is not well resolved for regulatory elements, transcription factor binding, regulatory interactions, and epigenetic features, not to mention how these factors respond to environment. We tested if flexible machine learning models could learn some of the underlying regulatory genotype to phenotype map.

Climate biogeography of linking distribution models and individual variation.

Aim: Patterns of individual variation are key to testing hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying biogeographic patterns. If species distributions are determined by environmental constraints, then populations near range margins may have reduced performance and be adapted to harsher environments. Model organisms are potentially important systems for biogeographical studies, given the available range-wide natural history collections, and the importance of providing biogeographical context to their genetic and phenotypic diversity.

Adverse events related to drug-drug interactions in COVID-19 patients. A persistent concern in the post-pandemic era: a systematic review.

Introduction: Since COVID-19 patients are often polytreated, monitoring drug-drug interaction (DDIs) is necessary. We evaluated whether drugs used after the second COVID-19 pandemic wave were associated with DDI-related adverse events and the role of drug interaction checkers in identifying them.

Methods: The study (PROSPERO-ID: CRD42024507634) included: 1) consulting the drug interaction checkers Drugs.

Preventive versus curative photobiomodulation for oral mucositis in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: which approach is more effective?

Purpose: There is increasing evidence that photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is both an effective and safe approach in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for both prevention and management of oral mucositis (OM), but its use in clinical practice is still limited and the timing of application is under discussion. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate possible differences between patients treated either with preventive or curative PBM therapy.

Methods: The retrospective case series included 24 patients suffering from multiple myeloma who underwent the same conditioning and transplantation protocol.

New onset sarcoidosis following biologic treatment in patients with seronegative inflammatory arthritis: A case series and systematic literature review.

Objective: To report cases of new onset sarcoidosis upon biologic (bDMARDs) treatment administration in patients with seronegative inflammatory arthritis in a real-life cohort, alongside a systematic literature review (SLR) on this topic.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis on clinical records of patients with seronegative arthritis followed up in a monocentric cohort who underwent bDMARDs treatment due to the underlying rheumatic disease and described any newly diagnosed sarcoidosis in this cohort. Only ascertained cases with available radiological and/or histological documentation were considered.

Different Prognostic Role of Soluble PD-L1 in the Course of Severe and Non-Severe COVID-19.

Understanding the link between COVID-19 and patient immune characteristics is crucial. We previously demonstrated that high levels of the soluble Programmed Death-Ligand1 (sPD-L1) at the beginning of the infection correlated with low lymphocyte number and high C-reactive protein (CRP), longer length of stay (LOS), and death. This study investigated whether sPD-L1 can be a prognosis biomarker during COVID-19.

Is per-protocol kidney biopsy required in lupus nephritis?

Baseline kidney biopsy is recommended in lupus nephritis (LN). Biopsy allows to classify different forms of LN and differentiate other forms of renal involvement, such as tubulo-interstitial nephritis or thrombotic microangiopathy. The indications for repeat biopsy are more controversial.