Monocytic reactive oxygen species-induced T cell apoptosis impairs cellular immune response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine.

Background: We have recently shown that, during acute severe COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) induces a cascade of events resulting in T cell apoptosis. Indeed, by neutralizing the protease activity of its receptor, ACE2, S induces an increase in circulating Angiotensin II (AngII), resulting in monocytic release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and programmed T cell death.

Objective: Here, we tested whether SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines, known to cause the circulation of the vaccine antigen, S-protein receptor binding domain (RBD), might trigger the same cascade.

Imagine, Discover, Inspire: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference of the Trisomy 21 Research Society.

Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy 21 (T21) is present in a significant number of children and adults around the world and is associated with cognitive and medical challenges. Through research, the T21 Research Society (T21RS), established in 2014, unites a worldwide community dedicated to understanding the impact of T21 on biological systems and improving the quality of life of people with DS across the lifespan. T21RS hosts an international conference every two years to support collaboration, dissemination, and information sharing for this goal.

Posterior Cortical Atrophy Due to Alzheimer Disease in a Person With Down Syndrome: A Case Report.

Objectives: Atypical variants are rare in genetically determined Alzheimer disease (AD). This case describes a patient with Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer disease (DSAD) who presented with symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy (PCA).

Methods: We conducted a clinical and cognitive evaluation, genotyping, determination of AD biomarkers in CSF, structural MRI, [18F]FDG-PET, and tau-PET ([18F]PI2620) scans.

Next generation yellow fever vaccine induces an equivalent immune and transcriptomic profile to the current vaccine: observations from a phase I randomised clinical trial.

Background: Yellow fever (YF), a mosquito-borne acute viral haemorrhagic illness, is endemic to many tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and Central and South America. Vaccination remains the most effective prevention strategy; however, as repeated outbreaks have exhausted vaccine stockpiles, there is a need for improved YF vaccines to meet global demand. A live-attenuated YF vaccine candidate (referred to as vYF) cloned from a YF-17D vaccine (YF-VAX®) sub-strain, adapted for growth in Vero cells cultured in serum-free media, is in clinical development.

Enhancing deep visible-light photoelectrocatalysis with a single solid-state synthesis: Carbon nitride/TiO heterointerface.

Visible-light responsive, stable, and abundant absorbers are required for the rapid integration of green, clean, and renewable technologies in a circular economy. Photoactive solid-solid heterojunctions enable multiple charge pathways, inhibiting recombination through efficient charge transfer across the interface. This study spotlights the physico-chemical synergy between titanium dioxide (TiO) anatase and carbon nitride (CN) to form a hybrid material.

Advances in Brain Stimulation, Nanomedicine and the Use of Magnetoelectric Nanoparticles: Dopaminergic Alterations and Their Role in Neurodegeneration and Drug Addiction.

Recent advancements in brain stimulation and nanomedicine have ushered in a new era of therapeutic interventions for psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This review explores the cutting-edge innovations in brain stimulation techniques, including their applications in alleviating symptoms of main neurodegenerative disorders and addiction. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is an FDA-approved treatment for specific neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's Disease (PD), and is currently under evaluation for other conditions, such as Alzheimer's Disease.

Characterization of white matter hyperintensities in Down syndrome.

Introduction: In Down syndrome (DS), white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are highly prevalent, yet their topography and association with sociodemographic data and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers remain largely unexplored.

Methods: In 261 DS adults and 131 euploid controls, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging scans were segmented and WMHs were extracted in concentric white matter layers and lobar regions. We tested associations with AD clinical stages, sociodemographic data, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers, and gray matter (GM) volume.

Water-hydroxide trapping in cobalt tungstate for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis.

The oxygen evolution reaction is the bottleneck to energy-efficient water-based electrolysis for the production of hydrogen and other solar fuels. In proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), precious metals have generally been necessary for the stable catalysis of this reaction. In this work, we report that delamination of cobalt tungstate enables high activity and durability through the stabilization of oxide and water-hydroxide networks of the lattice defects in acid.

The EBI2 receptor is coexpressed with CCR5 in CD4 + T cells and boosts HIV-1 R5 replication.

Objective: CCR5, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), is used by most HIV strains as a coreceptor. In this study, we looked for other GPCR able to modify HIV-1 infection.

Design: We analyzed the effects of one GPCR coexpressed with CCR5, EBI2, on HIV-1 replicative cycle.

Correlating activities and defects in (photo)electrocatalysts using in-situ multi-modal microscopic imaging.

Photo(electro)catalysts use sunlight to drive chemical reactions such as water splitting. A major factor limiting photocatalyst development is physicochemical heterogeneity which leads to spatially dependent reactivity. To link structure and function in such systems, simultaneous probing of the electrochemical environment at microscopic length scales and a broad range of timescales (ns to s) is required.

Immune profiles of pre-frail people living with HIV-1: a prospective longitudinal study.

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) are at risk of frailty, which is predictive for death. As an overactivity of the immune system is thought to fuel frailty, we characterized the immune activation profiles linked to frailty.

Methods: We quantified twenty-seven activation markers in forty-six virological responders (four females and forty-two males; median age, 74 years; median duration of infection, 24 years; median duration of undetectability, 13 years), whose frailty was determined according to the Fried criteria.

Complementary probes for the electrochemical interface.

The functions of electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices rely on the dynamic junction between a solid and a fluid: the electrochemical interface (EI). Many experimental techniques have been developed to probe the EI, but they provide only a partial picture. Building a full mechanistic understanding requires combining multiple probes, either successively or simultaneously.

Improved Photoelectrochemical Performance of WO/BiVO Heterojunction Photoanodes via WO Nanostructuring.

WO/BiVO heterojunction photoanodes can be efficiently employed in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells for the conversion of water into molecular oxygen, the kinetic bottleneck of water splitting. Composite WO/BiVO photoelectrodes possessing a nanoflake-like morphology have been synthesized through a multistep process and their PEC performance was investigated in comparison to that of WO/BiVO photoelectrodes displaying a planar surface morphology and similar absorption properties and thickness. PEC tests, also in the presence of a sacrificial hole scavenger, electrochemical impedance analysis under simulated solar irradiation, and incident photon to current efficiency measurements highlighted that charge transport and charge recombination issues affecting the performance of the planar composite can be successfully overcome by nanostructuring the WO underlayer in nanoflake-like WO/BiVO heterojunction electrodes.

A Perovskite Photovoltaic Mini-Module-CsPbBr Photoelectrochemical Cell Tandem Device for Solar-Driven Degradation of Organic Compounds.

Recently, halide perovskites have been widely explored for high-efficiency photocatalysis or photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells. Here, in order to make an efficient photoanode electrode for the degradation of pollutants, concretely 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), nanoscale cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr) perovskite was directly formed on the surface of mesoporous titanium dioxide (meso-TiO) film using a two-step spin-coating process. This photoelectrode recorded a photocurrent of up to 3.

Skin lesions by Scedosporium apiospermum and Nocardia pulmonary infection in an oncologic patient: a case report.

Background: Fungal infections, other than candidiasis and aspergillosis, are an uncommon entity. Despite this, emerging pathogens are a growing threat. In the following case report, we present the case of an immunocompromised patient suffering from two serious opportunistic infections in the same episode: the first of these, Nocardia multilobar pneumonia; and the second, skin infection by Scedosporium apiospermum.

Simultaneous Surgical Approach with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in Patients with Concurrent Peritoneal and Liver Metastases of Colon Cancer Origin.

: Simultaneous liver resection and peritoneal cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) remains controversial today. The aim of the study was to analyze the postoperative outcomes and survival of patients with advanced metastatic colon cancer (peritoneal and/or liver metastases). Retrospective observational study from a prospective maintained data base.

Association of biological sex with clinical outcomes and biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome.

The study of sex differences in Alzheimer's disease is increasingly recognized as a key priority in research and clinical development. People with Down syndrome represent the largest population with a genetic link to Alzheimer's disease (>90% in the 7th decade). Yet, sex differences in Alzheimer's disease manifestations have not been fully investigated in these individuals, who are key candidates for preventive clinical trials.

The evolutionary process of invasion in the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).

The fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda) is one of the major agricultural pest insects. FAW is native to the Americas, and its invasion was first reported in West Africa in 2016. Then it quickly spread through Africa, Asia, and Oceania, becoming one of the main threats to corn production.

Caregiver knowledge of obstructive sleep apnoea in Down syndrome.

Background: Down syndrome (DS) population has a very high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), but this remains underdiagnosed. Hence, we aimed to evaluate caregiver's knowledge of OSA and related sociodemographic factors that could contribute to OSA screening patterns in this population.

Methods: An online survey though the LuMind IDSC Foundation focused on OSA diagnosis, treatments and the number of sleep studies performed.

Host-plant adaptation as a driver of incipient speciation in the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).

Background: Divergent selection on host-plants is one of the main evolutionary forces driving ecological speciation in phytophagous insects. The ecological speciation might be challenging in the presence of gene flow and assortative mating because the direction of divergence is not necessarily the same between ecological selection (through host-plant adaptation) and assortative mating. The fall armyworm (FAW), a major lepidopteran pest species, is composed of two sympatric strains, corn and rice strains, named after two of their preferred host-plants.

Rational Design of Carbon Nitride Photoelectrodes with High Activity Toward Organic Oxidations.

Carbon nitride (CN ) is a light-absorber with excellent performance in photocatalytic suspension systems, but the activity of CN photoelectrodes has remained low. Here, cyanamide-functionalized CN ( CN ) was co-deposited with ITO nanoparticles on a 1.8 Å thick alumina-coated FTO electrode.