Utility of edible plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles as a novel delivery platform for vaccine antigen delivery.

Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (PENVs) contain various biomolecules that can be used as delivery cargoes, such as small compounds, small interfering RNAs, DNAs, and recombinant proteins. Edible PENVs are nontoxic, useful for oral administration, and easily prepared in high amounts from a variety of plants, vegetables, and fruits. In this study, we evaluated whether PENVs can be used as delivery cargoes for recombinant vaccine antigens.

Impaired Endothelial Function in Individuals With Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19: Effects of Combined Exercise Training.

Purpose: We investigated the presence of impaired endothelial function in individuals with post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease-2019 (PASC) compared to healthy individuals and explored the efficacy of combined exercise training in restoring or improving endothelial function in those with PASC.

Methods: Study I was a cross-sectional study which compared endothelial function between individuals with PASC (n = 29, mean age 22.9 ± 3.

Causal Effects From Kidney Function to Plasma Proteome: Integrated Observational and Mendelian Randomization Analysis With >50,000 UK Biobank Participants.

Purpose: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes detrimental systemic effects, including inflammation or apoptosis, which lead to substantial morbidity and mortality. However, the causal effect of reduced kidney function on systemic proteomic signatures is incompletely understood.

Methods: We performed an integrated Mendelian randomization (MR) and observational analyses to identify the causal association between kidney function and plasma protein levels, based on 1815 plasma protein profiles in 50,407 UK Biobank participants and the CKDGen Phase 4 genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis for the genetic instruments of eGFR.

Selenium vs Control for Graves Ophthalmopathy in a Selenium-Sufficient Area: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Graves ophthalmopathy significantly diminishes patients' quality of life due to its immune-mediated inflammatory effects on the orbital tissues. Selenium, with its antioxidative properties, has shown potential for improving Graves ophthalmopathy progression and quality of life (QOL); however, its effectiveness in selenium-sufficient regions is not well established.

Objective: To determine whether selenium supplementation improves QOL in patients with mild to moderate Graves ophthalmopathy in selenium-sufficient regions.

Pilin regions that select for the small RNA phages in type IV pilus.

Type IV pili (TFPs) serve as the primary receptor for phages in (PA), playing a key role in phage selection and determining the phage host range. We previously demonstrated that a fiersphage (PP7) selectively infects PA strains with group II (G2) TFP pilin. In this study, we expanded on this by profiling the host range of another fiersphage, (LeviOr01), which was able to infect several PA strains including PMM23.

Exogenous plasmid capture to characterize tetracycline-resistance plasmids in sprouts obtained from retail in Germany.

This study aimed to characterize antibiotic-resistance plasmids present in microorganisms from sprout samples using exogenous plasmid capture. Fresh mung bean sprouts were predominantly colonized by bacteria from the phyla and . To capture plasmids, a plasmid-free () CV601 strain, containing a green fluorescent protein gene for selection, was used as the recipient strain in exogenous plasmid capture experiments.

Formative versus reflective measurement models in nursing research: a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study in Korea.

Purpose: This study aimed to empirically verify the impact of measurement model selection on research outcomes and their interpretation through an analysis of children's emotional and social problems measured by the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) using both reflective and formative measurement models. These models were represented by covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) and partial least squares SEM (PLS-SEM), respectively.

Methods: This secondary data analysis evaluated children's emotional and social problems as both reflective and formative constructs.

Sign Reversal of Hall Conductivity in Polycrystalline FeRh Films via the Topological Hall Effect in the Antiferromagnetic Phase.

The intrinsic Berry curvature in ferromagnetic (FM) materials significantly influences Hall conductivity during the antiferromagnetic (AFM)-to-FM phase transition, as demonstrated through the anomalous Hall effect (AHE). First-principles calculations indicate negligible spin Hall conductivity in FeRh materials in the AFM phase due to time-reversal symmetry breaking. To date, the contribution of the Berry curvature to the spin Hall effect remains unexamined in the context of AHE measurements.

Frequency and Determinants of Flare and Persistently Active Disease in a Large Multinational Prospective Lupus Cohort.

Objective: In contrast to relapsing-remitting patterns, persistently active disease (PAD) is a disease activity pattern in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that is inadequately studied. We sought to identify the frequency and determinants of flare and PAD in SLE.

Methods: Flare was defined using the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI flare index), and PAD was defined as an SLEDAI-2K score of ≥4, excluding serology only, on two or more consecutive visits with a maximum six-month interval.

Strain-Enabled Band Structure Engineering in Layered PtSe for Water Electrolysis under Ultralow Overpotential.

This paper describes a simple design methodology to develop layered PtSe catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in water electrolysis operating under ultralow overpotentials. This approach relies on the transfer of mechanically exfoliated PtSe flakes to gold thin films on prestrained thermoplastic substrates. By relieving the prestrain, a tunable level of uniaxial internal compressive and tensile strain is developed in the flakes as a result of spontaneously formed surface wrinkles, giving rise to band structure modulations with overlapped values of the valence band maximum and conduction band minimum.

Chromosome-level genome assembly and improved annotation of onion genome (Allium cepa L.).

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is an economically valuable crop, but its large, repeat-enriched genome makes genome assembly difficult and limits molecular breeding and biological studies. Herein, we present a chromosomal-level reference genome assembly of the double-haploid onion line DHW30006, constructed by combining PacBio, Illumina, and Hi-C sequencing approaches.

Mortality patterns of SLE and the associated risk factors in Korean patients: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: To evaluate the mortality patterns of SLE and the associated risk factors in Koreans.

Methods: Using the National Health Insurance database spanning 2008 to 2018, incident cases of SLE in patients aged 10-79 years were included. We analysed the all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality, stratifying by sex and age.

Microvascular Resistance Reserve and Prognosis After Heart Transplantation.

Background: Impaired microcirculatory function after heart transplantation is associated with increased risk for acute cellular rejection. Microvascular resistance reserve (MRR) is a novel index for assessing microcirculatory function, irrespective of epicardial coronary artery stenosis, but it has not been validated in transplanted hearts.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of MRR in heart transplantation.

Enhanced thrombopoiesis supplies PD-L1 to circulating immune cells via the generation of PD-L1-expressing platelets in patients with lung cancer.

Background: The increased expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) on a subset of immune cells in the peripheral blood has been frequently observed in patients with cancer, suggesting a relationship with PD-L1 expression in tumor tissues. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying PD-L1 expression on various types of immune cells in the peripheral blood of patients with cancer.

Methods: PD-L1 expression on various immune cell populations was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 112 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using flow cytometry.

Comprehensive profiling of genetic and non-genetic factors that influence skin traits in Asian women from four countries.

Brightness, pore size, wrinkle, color, elasticity, moisture, transepidermal water loss, pH, and sebum represent skin traits that directly affect skin health and aesthetics, which vary substantially among ethnic groups and individuals. Although a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors influences these traits, accurate estimation of skin phenotypic determination in individuals of Asian countries remains to be determined. Here we established the Asian skin traits and genetics research (ASTAGR) cohort, comprised of 2,762 woman participants from four Asian countries (Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia).

Breaking barriers: Nitric oxide-releasing nanocomplexes for collagen degradation and enhanced αPD-L1 immunotherapy in deep tumor.

Overcoming the physical barrier of the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding tumors is a critical challenge in achieving effective immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). The dense ECM impedes the infiltration of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) into tumor tissues. To address this, we design a nanocomplex incorporating a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive nitric oxide (NO) prodrug around TANNylated αPD-L1.

Outcomes Post-laparoscopic Intervention for Accessory and Cavitated Uterine Masses: A Review and a Molecular Insight.

Background: Accessory and cavitated uterine masses (ACUM) are rare Mullerian anomalies, defined as an isolated accessory cavitated mass lined with endometrial epithelium.

Objectives: This article explores ACUM lesions from two aspects and integrates a case report of a successful laparoscopic-assisted intervention for ACUM in a 24-year-old woman with refractory dysmenorrhea with a review of current literature on laparoscopic surgical techniques. Unique to this case was the process of undergoing targeted genetic sequencing via the Find ITTM Panel Version 3.

Development of a deep neural network model based on high throughput screening data for predicting synergistic estrogenic activity of binary mixtures for consumer products.

A paradigm of chemical risk assessment is continuously extending from focusing on 'single substances' to more comprehensive approaches that examines the combined toxicity among different components in 'mixtures.' This change aims to account for the cocktail effect arising from the toxicological interactions in mixtures, which can lead to increased risks. More than 1000 potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been reported, and they can be included in different industrial and consumer chemical products and released to the environment as pollutants of emerging environmental concern.

Identifying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease subtypes using multi-trait genetics.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has a broad spectrum of clinical characteristics. The aetiology of these differences is not well understood. The objective of this study is to assess whether respiratory genetic variants cluster by phenotype and associate with COPD heterogeneity.

Climate change promotes harmful algal blooms in China's lakes and reservoirs despite significant nutrient control efforts.

The increasing frequency and magnitude of harmful algal blooms (HABs) threatens the integrity of aquatic ecosystem functioning and human health worldwide. Nutrient reduction strategies have been widely used to mitigate HABs, but their efficiency in light of on-going changes in climate remains unclear. Here, we assembled an 18-year (2005-2022) national water quality dataset for 97 lakes across China.

Lactobacilli-derived extracellular vesicles as synergistic biomolecules for colistin efficacy against Acinetobacter baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), a gram-negative bacterium resistant to antibiotics, presents substantial medical challenges, causing nosocomial infections with high fatality rates. Colistin (COL) is frequently employed as a last-line defense against these pathogens.

Ultrasound for skeletal muscle assessment in surgical oncology: A scoping review.

Background: Skeletal muscle wasting in cancer patients is associated with adverse outcomes. Ultrasound offers a non-invasive muscle assessment, but no previous review has focused on its application during perioperative period. This scoping review aims to map the current literature on the ultrasound use for skeletal muscle assessment in cancer patients during the perioperative period and identify knowledge gaps for future research.

Modulation of blood-tumor barrier transcriptional programs improves intratumoral drug delivery and potentiates chemotherapy in GBM.

Efficient drug delivery to glioblastoma (GBM) is a major obstacle as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-tumor barrier (BTB) prevent passage of the majority of chemotherapies into the brain. Here, we identified a transcriptional 12-gene signature associated with the BTB in GBM. We identified CDH5 as a core molecule in this set and confirmed its expression in GBM vasculature using transcriptomics and immunostaining of patient specimens.

Regiodivergent Alkylation of Pyridines: Alkyllithium Clusters Direct Chemical Reactivity.

Regiodivergent C-C bond-forming reactions are a powerful tool for constructing diverse molecular architectures from common precursors. While transition metal catalysis has dominated regioselective transformations, achieving similar precision with transition-metal-free methods remains an unmet challenge, particularly when using identical starting materials. In this work, we report a transition-metal-free, regiodivergent direct alkylation of electronically unbiased pyridines using 1,1-diborylalkanes as the sole alkylating agent.