Exploring the Impact of Amidation Status in -Diaminopimelic-Acid-Containing Disaccharide Peptidoglycan Fragments on Host Innate Immune Activation.

Bacterial peptidoglycan, the essential cell surface polymer that protects bacterial integrity, also serves as the molecular pattern recognized by the host's innate immune system. Although the minimal motifs of bacterial peptidoglycan fragments (PGNs) that activate mammalian NOD1 and NOD2 sensors are well-known and often represented by small canonical ligands, the immunostimulatory effects of natural PGNs, which are structurally more complex and potentially can simultaneously activate both the NOD1 and NOD2 signaling pathways in hosts, have not been comprehensively investigated. In particular, many bacteria incorporate additional structural modifications in peptidoglycans to evade host immune surveillance, resulting in diverse structural variations among natural PGNs that may influence their biological effects in hosts.

Ultrasound normalized local variance to assess metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Purpose: Increased prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) highlights a desire for screening with liver ultrasound normalized local variance (NLV). We aimed to assess variations in NLV values measured at different sampling depths and discuss common technical considerations in measuring liver NLV.

Methods: We retrospectively measured liver NLVs at variable depths on ultrasound images pre-recorded in 116 participants who underwent liver magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) and ultrasound to screen for MASLD.

Biochemical Characterization of Recombinant EntV Peptide to Elucidate Its Antihyphal and Antifungal Mechanisms against .

is a common opportunistic fungus in humans, whose morphological switch between yeast and hyphae forms represents a key virulence trait. Developing strategies to inhibit hyphal growth may provide insights into designs of novel antivirulent therapeutics. Importantly, the gut commensal bacterium, , secretes a bacteriocin EntV which has potent antivirulent and antifungal effects against in infection models; however, hampered by the challenges to access large quantities of bioactive EntV, the detailed understanding of its mechanisms on has remained elusive.

Correction: A closer look at ligand specificity for cellular activation of NOD2 with synthetic muramyl dipeptide analogues.

Correction for 'A closer look at ligand specificity for cellular activation of NOD2 with synthetic muramyl dipeptide analogues' by Christopher Adamson , , 2024, , 2212-2215, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3CC05807G.

Preconception counselling in women of reproductive age attending cardiology clinics in Scotland.

Background: Guidelines for the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) recommend preconception risk stratification and counselling in all women of childbearing age. We assessed the provision of preconception counselling (PCC) among women of reproductive age attending general cardiology outpatient clinics over a 12-month period in two large health boards in Scotland.

Methods And Results: Electronic health records were reviewed and data on patient demographics, cardiac diagnoses, medication use and the content of documented discussions regarding PCC were recorded.