The role of human intestinal mucus in the prevention of microplastic uptake and cell damage.

An increase in plastic waste and its release into the environment has led to health concerns over microplastics (MPs) in the environment. The intestinal mucosal layer is a key defense mechanism against ingested MPs, preventing the migration of particles to other parts of the body. MP migration through intestinal mucus is challenging to study due to difficulties in obtaining intact mucus layers for testing and numerous formulations, shapes, and sizes of microplastics.

TFEB triggers a matrix degradation and invasion program in triple-negative breast cancer cells upon mTORC1 repression.

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is frequently hyperactivated in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) associated with poor prognosis and is a therapeutic target in breast cancer management. Here, we describe the effects of repression of mTOR-containing complex 1 (mTORC1) through knockdown of several key mTORC1 components or with mTOR inhibitors used in cancer therapy. mTORC1 repression results in an ∼10-fold increase in extracellular matrix proteolytic degradation.

Homologous acetylenic acetogenins from Porcelia macrocarpa R.E. (Fries) displayed potent activity against amastigotes from Trypanosoma cruzi.

As part of our continuous study on the Annonaceae species Porcelia macrocarpa, in the present work, eight chemically related 2-alkyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-γ-lactones (1-8) were isolated. Their structures were characterised by NMR, MS, and VCD. Their antitrypanosomal activity was evaluated in vitro against intracellular amastigotes with EC values ranged from 13.

Gut microbiome strain-sharing within isolated village social networks.

When humans assemble into face-to-face social networks, they create an extended social environment that permits exposure to the microbiome of others, thereby shaping the composition and diversity of the microbiome at individual and population levels. Here we use comprehensive social network mapping and detailed microbiome sequencing data in 1,787 adults within 18 isolated villages in Honduras to investigate the relationship between network structure and gut microbiome composition. Using both species-level and strain-level data, we show that microbial sharing occurs between many relationship types, notably including non-familial and non-household connections.

Predictors of poor outcomes in juvenile dermatomyositis: what do we know? A narrative review.

Objective: Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare chronic systemic inflammatory disorder with a highly variable clinical course. It is important to identify the patients at risk of developing more severe disease. However, based on the existing literature, there is a lack of data regarding predictors of poor outcomes.