Targeted sputum sequencing for rapid and broad drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Purpose: Rapid detection of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) from clinical samples facilitates the timely provision of optimal treatment regimens for tuberculosis (TB) patients.

Methods: In November, 2023, the WHO released its second catalogue of resistance-conferring mutations in Mtb. Utilizing this information, we developed a single 17-plex PCR assay covering 16 key resistance genes and modified thermo-protection buffer to amplify 30 kbp DNA directly from sputum samples for nanopore sequencing.

New acorane-sesequiterpenes and anti-retinoblastoma constituents from the marine algicolous fungus Trichoderma harzianum NTU2180 guided by molecular networking strategy.

Background: Trichoderma species, known as biocontrol agents against plant diseases, contain diverse compounds, especially terpenoids, with various bioactivities. To facilitate the exploration of bioactive secondary metabolites of Trichoderma harzianum NTU2180, the OSMAC approach MS/MS molecular networking was applied in the current study.

Results: The feature-based molecular networking (FBMN) analysis showed that T.

ABA-mediated regulation of PME12 influences stomatal density, pore aperture, and heat stress response in Arabidopsis thaliana.

PME12-mutated plants displayed altered stomatal characteristics and susceptibility to ABA-induced closure. Despite changes in PME activity, the mutant exhibited enhanced thermotolerance. These findings suggest a complex interplay between pectin methylesterification, ABA response, and stomatal function, contributing to plant adaptation to heat stress.

Comparison of Adenoma Detection Rate Between Three-dimensional and Standard Colonoscopy: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background And Study Aim: Improvement of adenoma detection rate (ADR) effectively reduces the subsequent incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). Three-dimensional (3D) colonoscopy provided more anatomical details than standard two-dimensional (2D) colonoscopy and improved ADR in a simulation study. We aimed to compare the ADR between 2D and 3D colonoscopy.

Predictive modelling of hospital-acquired infection in acute ischemic stroke using machine learning.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are serious complication for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), often resulting in poor functional outcomes. However, no existing model can specifically predict HAI in AIS patients. Therefore, we employed the Gradient Boosting matching learning algorithm to establish predictive models for HAI occurrence in AIS patients and poor 30-day functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale > 2) in AIS patients with HAI by analyzing electronic health records from 6560 AIS patients.

Risk factors for falls in older adults with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

The study was to estimate the prevalence of falls with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and investigate the associated risk factors. The study design employed was cross-sectional. The participants for this study were recruited from a community-based diabetes specialist clinic.

Long-Range Temporal Correlations in Electroencephalography for Parkinson's Disease Progression.

Background: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) present progressive deterioration in both motor and non-motor manifestations. However, the absence of clinical biomarkers for disease progression hinders clinicians from tailoring treatment strategies effectively.

Objectives: To identify electroencephalography (EEG) biomarker that can track disease progression in PD.

Towards Next Generation Protein Sequencing.

Understanding the structure and function of proteins is a critical objective in the life sciences. Protein sequencing, a central aspect of this endeavor, was first accomplished through Edman degradation in the 1950s. Since the late 20 century, mass spectrometry has emerged as a prominent method for protein sequencing.

Dual Crystal-Liquid Thermal Transport Behavior in MAPbCl.

Phonon dynamics in organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites (OIHPs) exhibit inherent complexity driven by the intricate interactions between rotatable organic cations and dynamically disordered inorganic octahedra, mediated by hydrogen bonding. This study aims to address this complexity by investigating the thermal transport behavior of MAPbCl as a gateway to the OIHPs family. The results reveal that the ultralow thermal conductivity of MAPbCl arises from a synergistic interplay of exceptionally low phonon velocities, short phonon lifetimes, and phonon mean free paths approaching the Regel-Ioffe limit.

Comprehensive pathogen identification and antimicrobial resistance prediction from positive blood cultures using nanopore sequencing technology.

Background: Blood cultures are essential for diagnosing bloodstream infections, but current phenotypic tests for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) provide limited information. Oxford Nanopore Technologies introduces nanopore sequencing with adaptive sampling, capable of real-time host genome depletion, yet its application directly from blood cultures remains unexplored. This study aimed to identify pathogens and predict AMR using nanopore sequencing.

Changes in plasma biomarkers differentiate clinical stages of Alzheimer's disease using immunomagnetic reduction assays.

Background: Many groups have been using immunomagnetic reduction (IMR) for assaying plasma amyloid-β 1-40 (Aβ) peptide, Aβ peptide and total tau protein (T-Tau) in cognitively normal controls (NC), patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD). Tremendous results have been independently reported.

Objective: We used traditional knowledge databases (e.

Effects of Resilience and Personal Accomplishment on the Relationship Between Quality of Work Life and Turnover Intention Among Newly Employed Nurses.

Background: Turnover among newly employed nurses is an indicator of workforce stability in healthcare organizations. The factors influencing turnover intention in this group are complex and differ by generation. The relationships among variables including work-life quality, personal accomplishment, resilience, and turnover intention have been explored separately.

Developing Screen-Printing Processes for Silver Electrodes Towards All-Solution Coating Processes for Solar Cells.

In recent years, third-generation solar cells have experienced a remarkable growth in efficiency, making them a highly promising alternative energy solution. Currently, high-efficiency solar cells often use top electrodes fabricated by thermal evaporation, which rely on high-cost and high energy-consumption vacuum equipment, raising significant concerns for mass production. This study develops a method for fabricating silver electrodes using the screen-printing process, aiming to achieve solar cell production through an all-solution coating process.

Picornavirus Evolution: Genomes Encoding Multiple 2A Sequences-Biomedical and Biotechnological Utility.

Alignment of picornavirus proteinase/polymerase sequences reveals this family evolved into five 'supergroups'. Interestingly, the nature of the 2A region of the picornavirus polyprotein is highly correlated with this phylogeny. Viruses within supergroup 4, the , have complex 2A regions with many viruses encoding multiple 2A sequences.

Factor analysis of traditional Chinese medicine symptoms for identification of syndrome patterns associated with idiopathic short stature in children.

Objectives: Diagnosing idiopathic short stature (ISS) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) remains challenging partly because the symptoms and syndrome patterns vary among ISS patients and studies. We aimed to use factor analysis of TCM symptoms to identify syndrome patterns associated with ISS in children on the basis of TCM theory.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan, from October 1, 2014, to February 28, 2016.

Clinical characteristics and functional dependent risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with nephrotic syndrome.

Background: While an increased incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been reported in patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS), comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of ICH in this population remains elusive. This study explored the clinical features of ICH in a larger cohort of NS patients.

Methods: To compare the clinical characteristics of ICH in patients with and without NS, we conducted a multi-institutional retrospective cohort study using the data from Chang Gung Research Database of Taiwan from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2017.

B-cell Depletion Therapy in Pediatric Neuroinflammatory Disease.

Purpose Of Review: B-cell depletion therapy, including anti-CD20 and anti-CD19 therapies, is increasingly used for a variety of autoimmune and conditions, including those affecting the central nervous system. However, B-cell depletion therapy use can be complicated by adverse effects associated with administration and immunosuppression. This review aims to summarize the application of anti-CD20 and anti-CD19 therapies for the pediatric neurologist and neuroimmunologist.

Current landscape of mRNA technologies and delivery systems for new modality therapeutics.

Realizing the immense clinical potential of mRNA-based drugs will require continued development of methods to safely deliver the bioactive agents with high efficiency and without triggering side effects. In this regard, lipid nanoparticles have been successfully utilized to improve mRNA delivery and protect the cargo from extracellular degradation. Encapsulation in lipid nanoparticles was an essential factor in the successful clinical application of mRNA vaccines, which conclusively demonstrated the technology's potential to yield approved medicines.

The clinicopathological significance and prognostic impact of 14-3-3σ/stratifin expression on patients with surgically resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Introduction: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is the second most common primary liver cancer after hepatocellular carcinoma. Through data mining of publicly available iCCA transcriptomic datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus, we identified SFN as the most significantly up-regulated gene in iCCA compared to normal tissue, focusing on the Gene Ontology term "cell proliferation" (GO:0008283). SFN encodes the 14-3-3σ protein, also known as stratifin, which plays crucial roles in various cellular processes.

Gastric metastasis of small cell lung carcinoma: Three case reports and review of literature.

Background: Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is highly susceptible to metastasis in the early stages of the disease. However, the stomach is an uncommon site of metastasis in SCLC, and only a few cases of this type of metastasis have been reported. Therefore, SCLC gastric metastases have not been systematically characterized and are easily missed and misdiagnosed.