Selected Ion Extraction of Peptides with Heavy Isotopes and Hydrogen Loss Reduces the Type II Error in Plasma Proteomics.

Naturally occurring peptides display a wide mass distribution after ionization due to the presence of heavy isotopes of C, H, N, O, and S and hydrogen loss. There is a crucial need for sensitive methods that collect as much information as possible about all plasma peptide forms. Statistical analysis of the delta mass distribution of peptide precursors from MS/MS spectra that were matched to 63,077 peptide sequences by X!TANDEM revealed Gaussian peaks representing heavy isotopes and hydrogen loss at integer delta mass values of -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, and +5 Da.

Interaction Mechanisms of Cold Atmospheric Plasmas with HIV Capsid Protein by Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

In recent years, plasma medicine has developed rapidly as a new interdisciplinary discipline. However, the key mechanisms of interactions between cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and biological tissue are still in the exploration stage. In this study, by introducing the reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, the capsid protein (CA) molecule of HIV was selected as the model to investigate the reaction process upon impact by reactive oxygen species (ROS) from CAP and protein molecules at the atomic level.

Pooled Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing Performs Within CLSI Standards for Validation When Measured Against Broth Microdilution and Disk Diffusion Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing of Cultured Isolates.

: While new methods for measuring antimicrobial susceptibility have been associated with improved patient outcomes, they should also be validated using standard protocols for error rates and other test metrics. The objective of this study was to validate a novel susceptibility assay for complicated and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs): pooled antibiotic susceptibility testing (P-AST). This assay was compared to broth microdilution (BMD) and disk diffusion (DD), following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines for assessment of error rates and agreement.

A modified vertical pressure bandage to prevent pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy.

Objective: Pharyngocutaneous Fistula (PCF) is one of the most common and challenging postoperative complications after Total Laryngectomy (TLE). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the modified Vertical Pressure Bandage (VPB) on the occurrence of Pharyngocutaneous Fistula (PCF) after Total Laryngectomy (TLE) for Head and Neck (H&N) cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with H&N cancer who underwent TLE at our hospital between January 2010 and January 2021.

ROS scavenging and corneal epithelial wound healing by a self-crosslinked tissue-adhesive hydrogel based-on dual-functionalized hyaluronic acid.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging is a viable approach to promote corneal epithelium wound healing. This study created a single-component hydrogel (HA Gel) with a novel dual-functionalized hyaluronic acid derivative (HA-GA-PBA) containing gallol and phenylboronic acid (PBA) moieties. Both of these moieties were dual-functional.

Predicting cisplatin tolerability in older adults with head and neck cancer - Insights for improved chemoradiation outcomes.

Purpose: Cumulative cisplatin doses of ≥ 200 mg/m improve survival in adults with head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) undergoing chemoradiation, but many older adults with HNSCC cannot receive this prognostically relevant dose due to toxicities. This study aims to develop predictive models to assess the likelihood of older adults with HNSCC receiving ≥ 200 mg/m cisplatin during chemoradiation.

Methods: 366 patients from the SENIOR database, an international cohort of adults ≥ 65 years with HNSCC, received definitive chemoradiation with single-agent cisplatin and were analyzed.

Enhancing Optical and Electrical Performances via Nanocrystalline Si-Based Thin Films for Si Heterojunction Solar Cells.

Silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells, as one of the most promising passivated contact solar cell technologies of the next generation, have the advantages of high conversion efficiency, high open-circuit voltage, low-temperature coefficient, and no potential-induced degradation. For the single-side rear-emitter SHJ solar cells, the n-type carrier selective layer, which serves as the light-incident side, plays a pivotal role in determining the performance of heterojunction devices. Consequently, a superior n-doped layer should exhibit high optical transmittance and minimal optical absorption, along with a substantial effective doping level to guarantee the formation of dark conductivity (σ) and electron-transport capacity.

Comparing Prescribing Behaviors and Clinician Experiences Between Multiplex PCR/Pooled Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing and Standard Urine Culture in Complicated UTI Cases.

We aimed to compare the prescribing behavior and clinical experience of urology providers when using the combined multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR)/Pooled Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (P-AST) diagnostic test versus the standard urine culture (SUC) in the same set of patients previously reported to have improved clinical outcomes with M-PCR/P-AST. We conducted a multi-centered, prospective, observational study (clinical trial registration: NCT05091931) with Western Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval (20214705). Adult subjects were split between the M-PCR/P-AST ( = 250) and SUC arms ( = 135).

Phlecarinatones H-N: Abietane-type diterpenoids from Phlegmariurus carinatus with proliferative inhibitory effect on U251 glioblastoma cells.

Thirteen abietane-type diterpenoids, including seven previously undescribed compounds and six known analogs, were isolated from the root and aerial parts of Phlegmariurus carinatus. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis (UV, IR, NMR, and HRESIMS) and quantum chemical calculations (calculated ECD or C NMR). Notably, these compounds exhibited high structural diversity.

Ring Size Effects on the Structures of Sandwich Compounds with a Stoichiometry of CHM (M = Ti-Ni).

Ring size effects on geometries and electronic structures were investigated for the (C H )M(C H ) ( = 4, 5, or 6; = 8, 7, or 6; + = 12; M = Ti-Ni) systems using density functional theory. The lowest-energy CHM structures for the early transition metals titanium, vanadium, and chromium are the experimentally known singlet (η-CH)Ti(η-CH), doublet (η-CH)V(η-CH), and singlet (η-CH)Cr, respectively. The likewise experimentally known singlet (η-CH)Ti, doublet (η-CH)V, and singlet (η-CH)Cr(η-CH) are the second-lowest-energy structures with only a small energy difference between the two vanadium structures.

Effects of probiotic supplementation with high-intensity interval training on cardiorespiratory endurance and metabolism in Middle-Aged Obese Women.

Introduction: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to improve chronic diseases. Probiotics have been found to have similar effects. However, the additive effects of HIIT in combination with probiotics supplementation are unclear.

Selective degradation of multimeric proteins by TRIM21-based molecular glue and PROTAC degraders.

Targeted protein degradation (TPD) utilizes molecular glues or proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) to eliminate disease-causing proteins by promoting their interaction with E3 ubiquitin ligases. Current TPD approaches are limited by reliance on a small number of constitutively active E3 ubiquitin ligases. Here, we report that (S)-ACE-OH, a metabolite of the antipsychotic drug acepromazine, acts as a molecular glue to induce an interaction between the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM21 and the nucleoporin NUP98, leading to the degradation of nuclear pore proteins and disruption of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking.

Hippocampal iron overload and spatial reference memory impairment: Insights from a rat model.

Background: Brain iron overload may induce neuronal death and lead to cognitive impairment. The hippocampus is a critical limbic structure involved in memory. This study aimed to investigate iron overload and its role in hippocampal damage and memory impairment using a rat model.

Retraction Note: MiR-15a-3p suppresses the growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer cell by targeting Twist1.

The article "MiR-15a-3p suppresses the growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer cell by targeting Twist1" by B. Fan, L.-P.

Ocular tear fluid biomarkers collected by contact lenses.

Purpose: To collect tear fluid biomarkers from contact lenses (CLs) and determine the impact of CL wear duration.

Methods: Rabbits were fitted with commercial etafilcon A CLs, which were collected after 1 min, 4 and 8 h (n = 4/time point). Tear fluid proteins and cytokines were extracted from the CLs and quantified.

Evaluation of salivary interleukin-17 and developmental endothelial locus-1 in patients with periodontitis with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Bidirectional positive relationship between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been recognized, interleukin 17 (IL-17) and developmental endothelial locus-1 (Del-1) are proposed to play roles in periodontitis and T2DM. This study aims to investigate the association of IL-17 and Del-1 in patients with periodontitis with and without T2DM by measuring their salivary levels.

Methods: A total of 80 participants were enrolled in a cross-sectional study and divided into healthy (H, n = 27), periodontitis (P, n = 29) and periodontitis with diabetes (PDM, n = 24) groups based on their periodontal and diabetic examination results.

Unlocking Lattice Oxygen on Selenide-Derived NiCoOOH for Amine Electrooxidation and Efficient Hydrogen Production.

In pursuit of advancing the electrooxidation of amines, which is typically encumbered by the inertness of C(sp)-H/N(sp)-H bonds, our study introduces a high-performance electrocatalyst that significantly enhances the production efficiency of vital chemicals and fuels. We propose a novel electrocatalytic strategy employing a uniquely designed (NiCo)Se-R electrocatalyst, which is activated through Se-O exchange and electron orbital spin manipulation. This catalyst efficiently generates M species, thus enabling the activation of lattice oxygen and streamlining the electrooxidation of amines.

Hippocampal-Sparing Radiation Therapy in Primary Sinonasal and Cutaneous Tumors of the Head and Neck.

Purpose: Patients with primary sinonasal and cutaneous head and neck (H&N) malignancies often receive meaningful radiation dose to their hippocampi, but this not a classic avoidance structure in radiation planning. We aimed to characterize the feasibility and tradeoffs of hippocampal-sparing radiation therapy (HSRT) for patients with primary sinonasal and cutaneous H&N malignancies.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively selected patients who were treated definitively for primary sinonasal or cutaneous malignancies of the H&N at an academic medical center.

An automatic variable laser power attenuator for continuous-wave quantum cascade lasers in cryogenic ion vibrational predissociation spectroscopy.

Cryogenic ion vibrational predissociation (CIVP) spectroscopy is an established and valuable technique for molecular elucidation in the gas phase. CIVP relies on tunable lasers, wherein among typical laser schemes, the application of mid-infrared continuous-wave quantum cascade laser (cw-QCL) is the most robust and elegant solution, as we have recently demonstrated. However, potential challenges arise from an inhomogeneous character across laser power tuning curves.

The forecasting of surface displacement for tunnel slopes utilizing the WD-IPSO-GRU model.

To quickly assess slope stability based on field displacement monitoring data, this paper constructs a hybrid optimization model that predicts surface displacement during tunnel excavation in base-overburden slopes. The model combines Wavelet Decomposition (WD) with a Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and the GRU's hyperparameters are optimized using an Improved Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (IPSO). The specific steps are as follows: First, the Wavelet Decomposition (WD) technique is applied to decompose the raw displacement data, extracting features at different time-frequency scales.