Natural pigments and biogas recovery from cyanobacteria grown in treated wastewater. Fate of organic microcontaminants.

Cyanobacterial wastewater-based biorefineries are a sustainable alternative to obtain high-value products with reduced costs. This study aimed to obtain phycobiliproteins and carotenoids, along with biogas from a wastewater-borne cyanobacterium grown in secondary effluent from an urban wastewater treatment plant, namely treated wastewater. For the first time, the presence of contaminants of emerging concern in concentrated pigment extracts was assessed.

Efficient enzyme-free isolation of brain-derived extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have gained significant attention as pathology mediators and potential diagnostic tools for neurodegenerative diseases. However, isolation of brain-derived EVs (BDEVs) from tissue remains challenging, often involving enzymatic digestion steps that may compromise the integrity of EV proteins and overall functionality. Here, we describe that collagenase digestion, commonly used for BDEV isolation, produces undesired protein cleavage of EV-associated proteins in brain tissue homogenates and cell-derived EVs.

Microvascular abnormalities in skin capillaries of individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

This is the first study aimed to detect morphological abnormalities in vivo in the skin capillaries of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients (ALS). Videocapillaroscopy assessed subungueal capillaries in 28 ALS patients (cases) and 35 controls (p = 0.42).

The cellular prion protein does not affect tau seeding and spreading of sarkosyl-insoluble fractions from Alzheimer's disease.

The cellular prion protein (PrP) plays many roles in the developing and adult brain. In addition, PrP binds to several amyloids in oligomeric and prefibrillar forms and may act as a putative receptor of abnormal misfolded protein species. The role of PrP in tau seeding and spreading is not known.

Vermifiltration as a green solution to promote digestate reuse in agriculture in small-scale farms.

Digestates from low-tech digesters need to be post-treated to ensure their safe agricultural reuse. This study evaluated, for the first time, vermifiltration as a post-treatment for the digestate from a low-tech digester implemented in a small-scale farm, treating cattle manure and cheese whey under psychrophilic conditions. Vermifiltration performance was monitored in terms of solids, organic matter, nutrients, and pathogens removal efficiency.

A potential therapeutic strategy based on acute oxidative stress induction for wild-type NRF2/KEAP1 lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Extensive efforts have been conducted in the search for new targetable drivers of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC); to date, however, candidates remain mostly unsuccessful. One of the oncogenic pathways frequently found to be active in LUSC is NFE2L2 (NRF2 transcription factor), the levels of which are regulated by KEAP1. Mutations in NFE2L2 or KEAP1 trigger NRF2 activation, an essential protector against reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathological Change in Aged Non-Primate Mammals.

Human brain aging is characterized by the production and deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the form of senile plaques and cerebral amyloid angiopathy and the intracellular accumulation of hyper-phosphorylated tau (Hp-tau) to form neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and dystrophic neurites of senile plaques. The process progresses for years and eventually manifests as cognitive impairment and dementia in a subgroup of aged individuals. Aβ is produced and deposited first in the neocortex in most aged mammals, including humans; it is usually not accompanied by altered behavior and cognitive impairment.

Resource recovery and contaminants of emerging concern mitigation by microalgae treating wastewater.

This study aimed to investigate the recovery of agricultural biostimulants and biogas from microalgae treating wastewater, in the framework of a circular bioeconomy. To this end, municipal wastewater was treated in demonstrative raceway ponds, and microalgal biomass (Scenedesmus sp.) was then harvested and downstream processed to recover biostimulants and biogas in a biorefinery approach.

Amyloid-β Pathology Is the Common Nominator Proteinopathy of the Primate Brain Aging.

Senile plaques, mainly diffuse, and cerebral amyloid-β (Aβ) angiopathy are prevalent in the aging brain of non-human primates, from lemurs to non-human Hominidae. Aβ but not hyper-phosphorylated tau (HPtau) pathology is the common nominator proteinopathy of non-human primate brain aging. The abundance of Aβ in the aging primate brain is well tolerated, and the impact on cognitive functions is usually limited to particular tasks.

Cleavage site-directed antibodies reveal the prion protein in humans is shed by ADAM10 at Y226 and associates with misfolded protein deposits in neurodegenerative diseases.

Proteolytic cell surface release ('shedding') of the prion protein (PrP), a broadly expressed GPI-anchored glycoprotein, by the metalloprotease ADAM10 impacts on neurodegenerative and other diseases in animal and in vitro models. Recent studies employing the latter also suggest shed PrP (sPrP) to be a ligand in intercellular communication and critically involved in PrP-associated physiological tasks. Although expectedly an evolutionary conserved event, and while soluble forms of PrP are present in human tissues and body fluids, for the human body neither proteolytic PrP shedding and its cleavage site nor involvement of ADAM10 or the biological relevance of this process have been demonstrated thus far.

Protecting TiS Photoanodes for Water Splitting in Alkaline Media by TiO Coatings.

Titanium trisulfide (TiS) nanoribbons, when coated with titanium dioxide (TiO), can be used for water splitting in the KOH electrolyte. TiO shells can be prepared through thermal annealing to regulate the response of TiS/TiO heterostructures by controlling the oxidation time and growth atmosphere. The thickness and structure of the TiO layers significantly influence the photoelectrocatalytic properties of the TiS/TiO photoanodes, with amorphous layers showing better performance than crystalline ones.

Farnesyltransferase inhibition overcomes oncogene-addicted non-small cell lung cancer adaptive resistance to targeted therapies.

Drug-tolerance has emerged as one of the major non-genetic adaptive processes driving resistance to targeted therapy (TT) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the kinetics and sequence of molecular events governing this adaptive response remain poorly understood. Here, we combine real-time monitoring of the cell-cycle dynamics and single-cell RNA sequencing in a broad panel of oncogenic addiction such as EGFR-, ALK-, BRAF- and KRAS-mutant NSCLC, treated with their corresponding TT.

Putting the brakes on axonal branching.

In a recent study, Ziak et al. employed precise sparse labeling and spatiotemporally controlled genetic manipulations to uncover novel regulators of axon branching of layer 2/3 mouse callosal projection neurons. The authors elucidated a cell-autonomous signaling pathway wherein glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) restricts interstitial axon branching by modulating microtubule (MT) tyrosination status.

miR-519a-3p, found to regulate cellular prion protein during Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis, as a biomarker of asymptomatic stages.

Clinical relevance of miRNAs as biomarkers is growing due to their stability and detection in biofluids. In this, diagnosis at asymptomatic stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a challenge since it can only be made at autopsy according to Braak NFT staging. Achieving the objective of detecting AD at early stages would allow possible therapies to be addressed before the onset of cognitive impairment.

Historical review: The golden age of the Golgi method in human neuropathology.

Golgi methods were used to study human neuropathology in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s of the last century. Although a relatively small number of laboratories applied these methods, their impact was crucial by increasing knowledge about: (1) the morphology, orientation, and localization of neurons in human cerebral and cerebellar malformations and ganglionic tumors, and (2) the presence of abnormal structures including large and thin spines (spine dysgenesis) in several disorders linked to mental retardation, focal enlargements of the axon hillock and dendrites (meganeurites) in neuronal storage diseases, growth cone-like appendages in Alzheimer disease, as well as abnormal structures in other dementias. Although there were initial concerns about their reliability, reduced dendritic branches and dendritic spines were identified as common alterations in mental retardation, dementia, and other pathological conditions.

Neurodegeneration Biomarkers in Adult Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Patients Treated with Nusinersen.

The objective of this study is to evaluate biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders in adult SMA patients and their potential for monitoring the response to nusinersen. Biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders were assessed in plasma and CSF samples obtained from a total of 30 healthy older adult controls and 31 patients with adult SMA type 2 and 3. The samples were collected before and during nusinersen treatment at various time points, approximately at 2, 6, 10, and 22 months.

Fact-Checking Journalism: A Palliative Against the COVID-19 Infodemic in Ibero-America.

This study explores how fact-checkers understand information disorder in Ibero-America, in particular the COVID-19 disinformation. We conducted a quantitative content analysis of the LatamChequea Coronavirus alliance database and in-depth interviews with journalists from the network. Evidence found that one of the most prevalent disinformation topics was the government's restrictive measures, threatening to jeopardize the effectiveness of public health campaigns.

Differential induction of donor-reactive Foxp3 regulatory T cell via blockade of CD154 vs CD40.

Recently published studies in both murine models and a meta-analysis of non-human primate renal transplant studies showed that anti-CD154 reagents conferred a significant survival advantage over CD40 blockers in both animal models and across multiple organs. Here we sought to compare the induction of donor-reactive forkhead box P3+-induced regulatory T cells (Foxp3 iTreg) in mice treated with anti-CD154 versus anti-CD40 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Results indicated that while treatment with anti-CD154 mAb resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of donor-reactive CD4 Foxp3 iTreg following transplantation, treatment with anti-CD40 or Cd40 deficiency failed to recapitulate this result.

Olfactory Receptor OR2K2 Expression in Human Choroid Plexus as a Potential Marker in Early Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease.

Epithelial cells comprising the choroid plexus (CP) form a crucial barrier between the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid, thereby assuming a central position in brain homeostasis and signaling. Mounting evidence suggests that the impairment of CP function may be a significant contributor to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. CP function relies on the expression of specific receptors, and the potential involvement of olfactory receptors (ORs) and taste receptors (TASRs) in chemical surveillance within the CP is being investigated.

Effective connectivity of the locus coeruleus in patients with late-life Major Depressive Disorder or mild cognitive impairment.

Introduction: We compared effective connectivity from the locus coeruleus (LC) during the resting-state in patients with late-life Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), individuals with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), and Healthy Controls (HCs).

Participants: 23 patients with late-life MDD, 22 patients with aMCI, and 28 HCs.

Material And Methods: Participants were assessed in two time-points, 2 years apart.