ClaPEPCK4: target gene for breeding innovative watermelon germplasm with low malic acid and high sweetness.

Malic acid markedly affects watermelon flavor. Reducing the malic acid content can significantly increase the sweetness of watermelon. An effective solution strategy is to reduce watermelon malic acid content through molecular breeding technology.

Analysis of macular retinal thickness in polyarteritis nodosa using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To identify the macular retinal layer thickness changes in polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) patients without pathological findings appearing in color fundus photography (CFP), and to investigate the correlations with disease durations.

Methods: A total of 24 PAN patients who had been for 3 years or more and underwent SD-OCT were recruited from the UK Biobank, with exclusions for diabetes, eye disease, or abnormal CFP findings. Only the right eyes were included, with each PAN patient paired one-to-one with a control matched for age, sex, and ethnicity.

Survival and early outcomes following lung transplantation for interstitial lung disease associated with non-scleroderma connective tissue disease: a national cohort study.

Objectives: The progressive decline in interstitial lung disease associated with non-scleroderma connective tissue disease (ILD-NSCTD) is linked to poor prognosis and frequently results in respiratory failure. Lung transplantation (LTx) offers a viable treatment option, yet its outcomes in ILD-NSCTD remain contentious, particularly across different subtypes.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (n=11,610) and ILD-NSCTD (n=610) listed in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database who underwent lung transplantation between May 5, 2005, and December 31, 2022.

S100A8/A9 Promotes Dendritic Cell-Mediated Th17 Cell Response in Sjögren's Dry Eye Disease by Regulating the Acod1/STAT3 Pathway.

Purpose: To investigate the role of S100A8/A9 in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's dry eye disease (SjDED) and explore its potential mechanism of action.

Methods: S100A8/A9 expression was determined by western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Tear secretion, corneal fluorescein staining, and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to evaluate the effect of paquinimod, a S100A8/A9 inhibitor, on dry eye disease in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice.

Efficient and Rapid Enrichment of Extracellular Vesicles Using DNA Nanotechnology-Enabled Synthetic Nano-Glue.

Swift and efficient enrichment and isolation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial for enhancing precise disease diagnostics and therapeutic strategies, as well as elucidating the complex biological roles of EVs. Conventional methods of isolating EVs are often marred by lengthy and laborious processes. In this study, we introduce an innovative approach to enrich and isolate EVs by leveraging the capabilities of DNA nanotechnology.