Identification of serum tRNA-derived small RNAs biosignature for diagnosis of tuberculosis.

The tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are a new class of non coding RNAs, which are stable in body fluids and can be used as potential biomarkers for disease diagnosis. However, the exact value of tsRNAs in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is still unclear. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the performance of the serum tsRNAs biosignature to distinguish between active TB, healthy controls, latent TB infection, and other respiratory diseases.

Activation of locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons rapidly drives homeostatic sleep pressure.

Homeostatic sleep regulation is essential for optimizing the amount and timing of sleep for its revitalizing function, but the mechanism underlying sleep homeostasis remains poorly understood. Here, we show that optogenetic activation of locus coeruleus (LC) noradrenergic neurons immediately increased sleep propensity following a transient wakefulness, contrasting with many other arousal-promoting neurons whose activation induces sustained wakefulness. Fiber photometry showed that repeated optogenetic or sensory stimulation caused a rapid reduction of calcium activity in LC neurons and steep declines in noradrenaline/norepinephrine (NE) release in both the LC and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).

Head and neck automatic multi-organ segmentation on Dual-Energy Computed Tomography.

Background And Purpose: Deep-learning-based automatic segmentation is widely used in radiation oncology to delineate organs-at-risk. Dual-energy CT (DECT) allows the reconstruction of enhanced contrast images that could help with manual and auto-delineation. This paper presents a performance evaluation of a commercial auto-segmentation software on image series generated by a DECT.

In Vitro Biological Evaluation and In Silico Studies of a New Anthraquinone From Zingiber Cassumunar Roxb. in Type 2 Diabetes Management.

A novel diphenyl-anthraquinone compound, cassuquinone A (CA), was isolated from the rhizomes of Zingiber cassumunar. Structural elucidation was accomplished using detailed nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectroscopy-electrospray ionization techniques, revealing a symmetrical anthraquinone core with methoxylated aromatic rings. CA exhibited potent α-glucosidase (AR) inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ of 11.

Modeling ethanol/water adsorption in all-silica zeolites using the real adsorbed solution theory.

A comprehensive set of single-component and binary isotherms were collected for ethanol/water adsorption into the siliceous forms of 185 known zeolites using grand-canonical Monte Carlo simulations. Using these data, a systematic analysis of ideal/real adsorbed-solution theory (IAST/RAST) was conducted and activity coefficients were derived for ethanol/water mixtures adsorbed in different zeolites based on RAST. It was found that activity coefficients of ethanol are close to unity while activity coefficients of water are larger in most zeolites, indicating a positive excess free energy of the mixture.

RELT Is Upregulated in Breast Cancer and Induces Death in Breast Cancer Cells.

Background: Receptor Expressed in Lymphoid Tissues (RELT) is a TNFRSF member that has two paralogs, RELL1 and RELL2; the three proteins are collectively referred to as RELT family members (RELTfms).

Methods: We sought to evaluate RELT expression in cancerous cells by using real-time PCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The mechanism of RELT-induced cell death was assessed by western blotting, flow cytometry, luciferase assays, and morphology staining.

Unlocking new possibility of FeO@C@Ag nanostructures as an advanced SERS substrate for ultrasensitive detection of low-cross-section urea biomolecules.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is widely recognized as a powerful analytical technique, offering molecular identification by amplifying characteristic vibrational signals, even at the single-molecule level. While SERS has been successfully applied for a wide range of targets including pesticides, dyes, bacteria, and pharmaceuticals, it has struggled with the detection of molecules with inherently low Raman scattering cross-sections. Urea, a key nitrogen-containing biomolecule and the diamide of carbonic acid, is a prime example of such a challenging target.

Examining structure-activity relationships of ManNAc analogs used in the metabolic glycoengineering of human neural stem cells.

This study defines biochemical mechanisms that contribute to novel neural-regenerative activities we recently demonstrated for thiol-modified ManNAc analogs in human neural stem cells (hNSCs) by comparing our lead drug candidate for brain repair, "TProp," to a "size-matched" N-alkyl control analog, "But." These analogs biosynthetically install non-natural sialic acids into cell surface glycans, altering cell surface receptor activity and adhesive properties of cells. In this study, TProp modulated sialic acid-related biology in hNSCs to promote neuronal differentiation through modulation of cell adhesion molecules (integrins α6, β1, E-cadherin, and PSGL-1) and stem cell markers.

Quantitative Characterization of Partitioning Stringency in SELEX.

Maintaining stringent conditions in SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) is crucial for obtaining high-affinity aptamers. However, excessive stringency greatly increases the risk of SELEX failure. Controlling stringency has remained a technical challenge, largely dependent on intuition, due to the absence of a clear, quantitative measure of stringency.

Activating SERS Signals of Inactive Analytes: Creating an Energy Bridge between Metal/Molecule Energy Alignment via Metal/Semiconductor Transitions.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique, yet it faces challenges with certain probe molecules exhibiting weak or inactive signals, limiting their applicability. In a recent study, we investigated this phenomenon using a set of four probe molecules─chloramphenicol (CAP), 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), amoxicillin (AMX), and furazolidone (FZD)─deposited on Ag-based nanostructured SERS substrates. Despite being measured under identical conditions, CAP and 4-NP exhibited SERS activity, while AMX and FZD did not.

Comparative analysis of stomatal pore instance segmentation: Mask R-CNN vs. YOLOv8 on Phenomics Stomatal dataset.

This study conducts a rigorous comparative analysis between two cutting-edge instance segmentation methods, Mask R-CNN and YOLOv8, focusing on stomata pore analysis. A novel dataset specifically tailored for stomata pore instance segmentation, named PhenomicsStomata, was introduced. This dataset posed challenges such as low resolution and image imperfections, prompting the application of advanced preprocessing techniques, including image enhancement using the Lucy-Richardson Algorithm.

Performance analysis of dual-hop mixed RF-FSO systems combined with NOMA.

This paper investigates the performance of hybrid radio frequency/free space optical (RF/FSO) systems combined with non-orthogonal multiple access communications technology. We examine a scenario where the source and destination are separated by a large distance, with no direct link between them. The relay, denoted R, operates using the decode-and-forward (DF) protocol.

BDNF augmentation reverses cranial radiation therapy-induced cognitive decline and neurodegenerative consequences.

Cranial radiation therapy (RT) for brain cancers is often associated with the development of radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction (RICD). RICD significantly impacts the quality of life for cancer survivors, highlighting an unmet medical need. Previous human studies revealed a marked reduction in plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) post-chronic chemotherapy, linking this decline to a substantial cognitive dysfunction among cancer survivors.

Innovative Dual mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticle Therapy Targeting CRHBP and CFHR3 for Enhanced Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly disease requiring the identification of new therapeutic targets and strategies.

Methods: This study identified genes linked to HCC progression via differential analysis. Key genes were identified through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.

The State of Medical Education on Criminal Justice Health: A Systematic Review.

Background: The justice-involved population faces significant health disparities yet is often overlooked in medical education, resulting in medical providers having limited preparation to serve this community. The objective of this study is to understand the scope and context of medical education in correctional healthcare.

Methods: Literature was systematically reviewed for curriculum on correctional healthcare aimed at undergraduate or graduate medical learners in U.

Clinicopathologic Features of Breast Tumors in Germline TP53 Variant-Associated Li-Fraumeni Syndrome.

We present one of the largest cohorts of TP53-pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) associated with patients with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (n = 82) with breast tumors (19 to 76 y; median age: 35). Most had missense variants (77%), followed by large gene rearrangements (LGRs; 12%), truncating (6%), and splice-site (5%) variants. Twenty-one unique germline missense variants were found, with hotspots at codons 175, 181, 245, 248, 273, 334, and 337.

Toosendanin alleviates acute lung injury by reducing pulmonary vascular barrier dysfunction mediated by endoplasmic reticulum stress through mTOR.

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are severe clinical conditions with limited treatment options. Toosendanin (TSN), a triterpenoid compound with anti-inflammatory effects, has unclear efficacy in ALI.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate TSN's protective effects on ALI and the related mechanisms.

Flexible paper-based Ag dendritic SERS chips for rapid detection of thiram residues on pear skin.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful, highly efficient analytical technique capable of providing label-free, non-invasive, rapid, and ultrasensitive molecular detection down to the single-molecule level. Despite its advantages, SERS remains largely confined to laboratory settings due to the complexities of substrate fabrication and challenges in analyzing real-world samples. Developing flexible SERS substrates that achieve both high fabrication efficiency and high sensing performance, while being practical for field applications, is critical for advancing SERS toward broader, real-world use.

Why NIV setting definitions may be tricky: Trigger sensitivity.

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is widely used in children. The spontaneous/timed (S/T) mode is the most common used mode for home NIV. Different devices are available, and the manufacturers are free to name the modes and define the settings, with no regulation.

Machine learning-driven estimation of mutational burden highlights DNAH5 as a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer.

Background: Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB) have emerged as pivotal predictive biomarkers in determining prognosis and response to immunotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. While Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) stands as the gold standard for TMB assessment, carry substantial costs and demand considerable time commitments. Additionally, the heterogeneity among high-TMB patients remains poorly characterized.