Rapid and Accurate Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections Using Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing: A Multicenter Comparative Study with Metagenomic Sequencing and Traditional Culture Methods.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) rank among the most prevalent bacterial infections globally. Traditional urine culture methods have significant limitations in detection time and sensitivity, prompting the need to evaluate targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) as a potential diagnostic tool.

Methods: The study included a discovery cohort of 400 suspected UTI patients (202 analyzed) and a validation cohort of 200 patients (110 analyzed).

RNA interference targeting β-N-acetylhexosaminidase genes impairs molting and development of Tetranychus urticae.

β-N-acetylhexosaminidases (HEXs) are key chitin-degrading enzymes in insects. Here, we identified TuHex1 and TuHex2 using insect orthologous genes by searching Tetranychus urticae genome and transcriptome database to investigate their roles in mite molting. TuHex1 and TuHex2 expression was induced by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), and inhibition of TuHex1 and TuHex2 expression by RNAi resulted in wrinkled cuticle or an inability to shed the old cuticle in nymphs, which may be due to a reduction in particle deposition in the exocuticle and lamellar structure in the endocuticle as revealed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

Involvement of Anion-Specific Effects in Changes in the Gelation and Thermodynamic Properties of Calcium Alginate Hydrogel.

The gelation process and hydrogel properties of calcium salt-induced alginate hydrogels are influenced by anion-specific effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of CaSO, CaI, and Ca(CHO) [calcium β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, CaHMB] on the gelation behavior of alginate hydrogels, using various mannuronic/guluronic acid (M/G) ratios to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of anion-specific effects. Here, at a high M/G ratio (2:1), the gelation time of CaSO, as a low-solubility calcium source, delayed the formation of the calcium alginate hydrogel.

Statin Therapy before Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Novel Bridge between Thrombin and Thrombomodulin for Enhanced Cardiovascular Protection.

Percutaneous coronary intervention administration of statins enhances the thrombin-thrombomodulin (TM) interaction, which is critical for the prevention of post-procedural cardiovascular complications. Atomic force microscopy showed that statins increased the single molecule rupture forces between thrombin and TM, suggesting a strengthened complex. This was supported by surface plasmon resonance, which showed an enhanced binding affinity under the statin treatment.

Protocol to study the role of medial entorhinal cortex-basolateral amygdala circuit in context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory in mice.

The medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) is crucial for context memory, yet its role in context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory remains to be investigated. Here, we present a protocol to evaluate the importance of projection neurons from the MEC to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) (MEC neurons) in mice during context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory using a conditioned place aversion (CPA) model. We describe steps for surgical procedure and behavioral experiments.

Inflammatory burden index as a prognostic marker in patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Background: Blood inflammation index has been shown to correlate with the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. However, few studies have compared the efficacy of existing blood inflammatory markers in predicting the prognosis of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the prognostic value of existing commonly used blood inflammatory index in patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy.

Structural Insights into the Substrate Recognition of Ginsenoside Glycosyltransferase Pq3-O-UGT2.

Ginsenosides are a group of tetracyclic triterpenoids with promising health benefits, consisting of ginseng aglycone attached to various glycans. Pq3-O-UGT2, an important UDP-dependent glycosyltransferase (UGT), catalyzes the production of Ginsenoside Rg3 and Rd by extending the glycan chain of Ginsenoside Rh2 and F2, respectively, with higher selectivity for F2. However, the mechanism underlying its substrate recognition remains unclear.

Understanding the electron pathway fluidity of Synechocystis in biophotovoltaics.

Biophotovoltaics offers a promising low-carbon footprint approach to utilize solar energy. It aims to couple natural oxygenic photosynthetic electrons to an external electron sink. This lays the foundation for a potentially high light-to-energy efficiency of the Biophotovoltaic process.

Molecular dynamics of photosynthetic electron flow in a biophotovoltaic system.

Biophotovoltaics (BPV) represents an innovative biohybrid technology that couples electrochemistry with oxygenic photosynthetic microbes to harness solar energy and convert it into electricity. Central to BPV systems is the ability of microbes to perform extracellular electron transfer (EET), utilizing an anode as an external electron sink. This process simultaneously serves as an electron sink and enhances the efficiency of water photolysis compared to conventional electrochemical water splitting.

[NMDA receptors in prelimbic cortex neurons projecting to paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus are associated with morphine withdrawal memory retrieval].

At present, the problem of drug addiction treatment mainly lies in the high relapse rate of drug addicts. Addictive drugs will bring users a strong sense of euphoria and promote drug seeking. Once the drug is withdrawn, there will be withdrawal symptoms such as strong negative emotions and uncomfortable physical reactions.

Gelation melioration of clam Meretrix meretrix surimi based on the interactions with different plant/animal proteins.

The effects and mechanisms of four exogenous proteins, soy protein isolate (SPI), pea protein isolate (PPI), egg white protein (EWP), and whey protein isolate (WPI), on the gelation of Meretrix meretrix (MM) surimi were investigated. The exogenous protein addition significantly increased the G* of samples to 1.36-1.

Gelation improvement of low-salt Chinese shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis) surimi gel by L-arginine.

In this study, the effect of L-arginine (L-Arg) on the gel properties of low-salt (NaCl, 0.5 % w/w) Chinese shrimp surimi gel (SSG) was investigated and the mechanism was explored. As the L-Arg concentration was raised from 0 to 0.

Encapsulation of melatonin in zein/pectin composite nanoparticles: Fabrication, characterization, and in vitro release property.

In this study, the encapsulation of melatonin (MT) in zein nanoparticles was investigated via anti-solvent co-precipitation method with pectin stabilization. Compared with MT-loaded zein nanoparticles (MT-Z NPs), 1.0 mg/mL pectin led to a 92.

Gelation properties and swallowing characteristics of heat-induced whey protein isolate/chia seed gum composite gels as dysphagia food.

Soft gels based on protein-polysaccharide composite systems play a crucial role in the dietary management of people with dysphagia. The effect of chia seed gum (CSG) on the gelling and swallowing properties of heat-induced whey protein isolate (WPI) gels (3.125-75 mg/mL) was investigated.

Modification of gel properties of Meretrix meretrix (clam) with polysaccharides: physical characterization and interaction mechanism.

Background: This study investigated the contribution of 11 polysaccharides (2%, w/w), including pectin (PC), κ-carrageenan (KC), ι-carrageenan (IC), gellan gum (GG), guar gum (GM), sodium alginate (SA), konjac gum (KG), gum arabic (GA), fucoidan (FC), locust bean gum (LBG), and curdlan (CD), to the gel and microstructural properties of Meretrix meretrix clam gel (MMG).

Results: The hardness, springiness and chewiness of MMG with KC, IC, GG, SA and FC addition increased by ~10%-250%, while PC, GM, KG and LBG groups decreased by ~0.6% to 69%.

Systems biology of electrogenic Pseudomonas putida - multi-omics insights and metabolic engineering for enhanced 2-ketogluconate production.

Background: Pseudomonas putida KT2440 has emerged as a promising host for industrial bioproduction. However, its strictly aerobic nature limits the scope of applications. Remarkably, this microbe exhibits high bioconversion efficiency when cultured in an anoxic bio-electrochemical system (BES), where the anode serves as the terminal electron acceptor instead of oxygen.

Prognostic impact of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy on elderly patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma: A propensity score matching study.

Background And Aim: Currently, the primary treatment modality for patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRA) is radical surgery combined with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (PAC). However, many elderly patients decline PAC due to concerns about their underlying physiological condition, and the impact of PAC on the prognosis of elderly patients remains uncertain.

Methods: We extracted data from the SEER database for CRA patients aged 75 and above between 2010 and 2019.

Projection neurons from medial entorhinal cortex to basolateral amygdala are critical for the retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory.

The medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) is crucial for contextual memory, yet its role in context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory remains unclear. This study investigated the role of the MEC and its projection neurons from MEC layer 5 to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) (MEC neurons) in context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory. Results show that context activates the MEC in morphine withdrawal mice, and the inactivation of the MEC inhibits context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory.

Rheological characterization of chia seed gum as a thickening agent used for dysphagia management.

Dysphagia has emerged as a serious health issue facing contemporary society. Consuming thickened liquids is an effective approach for improving the swallowing safety for dysphagia patients. The thickening effect of chia seed gum (CSG), a novel thickener, in different dispersing media (water, orange juice, and skim milk) was investigated.

Construction and characterization of alginate/calcium β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate hydrogels: Effect of M/G ratios and calcium ion concentration.

Calcium β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (CaHMB), a functional calcium salt, is used to maintain and improve muscle health. Here, a new hydrogel material prepared from alginate (ALG) with three M/G ratios (1:1, 2:1, and 1:2) and CaHMB (0-2 mg/mL) was investigated. CaHMB regulates the formation and properties of ALG hydrogels through chelation and hydrogen bonding.

[Penile cancer with perineural invasion is more prone to postoperative recurrence].

Objective: To explore the correlation between perineural invasion and postoperative recurrence in patients surgically treated for penile cancer.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data on 18 penile cancer patients surgically treated in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2021, 8 with postoperative recurrence (the recurrence group) and the other 10 without (the non-recurrence control group). We compared the two groups of patients in the age of onset, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stages, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) prognosis stages, surgical methods, perineural invasion and recurrence time.