Diagnostic Application of Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in the Treatment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in an African Pygmy Hedgehog.

Neoplastic diseases are common in African pygmy hedgehogs (), with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) being the most prevalent oral tumor. Traditional imaging techniques like computed tomography (CT) have limitations in accurately defining tumor extent and detecting metastasis. In this study, a hedgehog with a suspected oral tumor underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging, revealing a hypermetabolic lesion consistent with SCC and indications of metastatic activity.

First Investigation of the Spring Dietary Composition of Siberian Musk Deer () Using Next-Generation Sequencing.

Understanding the dietary composition of the Siberian musk deer () is critical for informing conservation efforts, particularly given the species' vulnerable status in the Republic of Korea and its limited ecological data. Previous dietary studies have relied on conventional methods with limitations in taxonomic precision, hindering comprehensive insights into their feeding ecology. To address this gap, we used Next-Generation Sequencing to analyze 16 fecal samples collected in April from Gangwon Province, the habitat of .

Infection status of Baylisascaris transfuga in captive Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) from three bile farms in South Korea, with molecular analyses.

Bears harbor various endoparasites that pose risks to humans and other animals. However, information on parasitic infections in Asiatic black bears in South Korea (Korea) is limited, and potential hazards still exist because of the close contact between bears and humans on bile farms. The present study was conducted to assess the gastrointestinal parasite infection status in captive Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) at bile farms in Korea.

Interplay between membranes and biomolecular condensates in the regulation of membrane-associated cellular processes.

Liquid‒liquid phase separation (LLPS) has emerged as a key mechanism for organizing cellular spaces independent of membranes. Biomolecular condensates, which assemble through LLPS, exhibit distinctive liquid droplet-like behavior and can exchange constituents with their surroundings. The regulation of condensate phases, including transitions from a liquid state to gel or irreversible aggregates, is important for their physiological functions and for controlling pathological progression, as observed in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

Insights into the Gut Microbial Diversity of Wild Siberian Musk Deer () in Republic of Korea.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the health and well-being of wildlife. However, its composition and diversity remain unexplored, particularly in threatened species such as the Siberian musk deer (SMD). This study aimed to elucidate the gut microbiota composition within different wild SMD communities for assessing their health status.

Role of gustatory neurons opposing TGF-β in regulating nictation behavior in .

The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway is implicated in various physiological processes, including neuronal functions. In the nematode , TGF-β plays an important role in behaviors like nictation, a behavior crucial for dispersal. Through forward mutagenesis screening, we identified -4, a cyclic nucleotide-gated channel, as a suppressor of nictation defects in -7 mutants.

A Bioinformatics Investigation of Hub Genes Involved in Treg Migration and Its Synergistic Effects, Using Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Immunotherapies.

This study aimed to identify hub genes involved in regulatory T cell (Treg) function and migration, offering insights into potential therapeutic targets for cancer immunotherapy. We performed a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis using three gene expression microarray datasets from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified to pathway enrichment analysis to explore their functional roles and potential pathways.

Comparative analysis of obstetric, perinatal, and neurodevelopmental outcomes following chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis.

Background: The risks of invasive prenatal tests are reported in previous studies such as miscarriage, fetal anomalies, and bleeding. However, few compare short-term and long-term outcomes between invasive tests. This study aims to investigate obstetric, perinatal, and children's neurodevelopmental outcomes following chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis in singleton pregnancy.

Mapping Changes in Glutamate with Glutamate-Weighted MRI in Forced Swim Test Model of Depression in Rats.

Chemical exchange saturation transfer with glutamate (GluCEST) imaging is a novel technique for the non-invasive detection and quantification of cerebral Glu levels in neuromolecular processes. Here we used GluCEST imaging and H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H MRS) to assess in vivo changes in Glu signals within the hippocampus in a rat model of depression induced by a forced swim test. The forced swimming test (FST) group exhibited markedly reduced GluCEST-weighted levels and Glu concentrations when examined using H MRS in the hippocampal region compared to the control group (GluCEST-weighted levels: 3.

Exogenous melatonin induces salt and drought stress tolerance in rice by promoting plant growth and defense system.

Due to global climate change, crops are certainly confronted with a lot of abiotic and biotic stress factors during their growth that cause a serious threat to their development and overall productivity. Among different abiotic stresses, salt and drought are considered the most devastating stressors with serious impact on crop's yield stability. Here, the current study aimed to elucidate how melatonin works in regulating plant biomass, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense system, as well as the expression of genes related to salt and drought stress in rice plants.

Various Endoscopic Approaches for Removal of Proventricular Foreign Bodies in Parrots-Three Case Reports.

Although the use of incision-free endoscopy for foreign body (FB) removal in dogs and cats has been extensively documented, its application in birds remains limited. Thus, we present the endoscopic removal of gastrointestinal (GI) FBs from psittacine birds, employing different patient positioning and anesthesia methods. Two blue-and-yellow macaws () and a Triton cockatoo () were examined.

Investigating the Potential of Perovskite Nanocrystal-Doped Liquid Scintillator: A Feasibility Study.

Liquid scintillators are extensively employed as targets in neutrino experiments and in medical radiography. Perovskite nanocrystals are recognized for their tunable emission spectra and high photoluminescence quantum yields. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using perovskites as an alternative to fluor, a substance that shifts the wavelengths.

Decomposition of Thermally Stable Fuel Using a Cerium-Modified Zeolite Catalyst and Endothermic Characteristics.

The increase in the speed of aircraft causes a thermal load in the system. A cooling system is needed to solve this. Proactively, research is being conducted to cool the thermal load through the endothermic reaction of aircraft fuel.

Yeast Hydrolysate Inhibits Lipid Accumulation via Regulation of Lipid Accumulation-Related Genes in a Model of High-Sugar Diet-Induced Obesity.

The increasing frequency of processed food consumption has led to the higher ingestion of sugar, increasing the risk of chronic diseases, such as obesity. Yeast hydrolysates (YHs) inhibit body fat accumulation. However, the action mechanism of YH in relation to high-sugar diet-induced obesity is still unclear.

CCR8 as a Therapeutic Novel Target: Omics-Integrated Comprehensive Analysis for Systematically Prioritizing Indications.

Target identification is a crucial process in drug development, aiming to identify key proteins, genes, and signal pathways involved in disease progression and their relevance in potential therapeutic interventions. While C-C chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8) has been investigated as a candidate anti-cancer target, comprehensive multi-omics analyzes across various indications are limited. In this study, we conducted an extensive bioinformatics analysis integrating genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics data to establish CCR8 as a promising anti-cancer drug target.

Intrinsically disordered region-mediated condensation of IFN-inducible SCOTIN/SHISA-5 inhibits ER-to-Golgi vesicle transport.

Newly synthesized proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are sorted by coat protein complex II (COPII) at the ER exit site en route to the Golgi. Under cellular stresses, COPII proteins become targets of regulation to control the transport. Here, we show that the COPII outer coat proteins Sec31 and Sec13 are selectively sequestered into the biomolecular condensate of SCOTIN/SHISA-5, which interferes with COPII vesicle formation and inhibits ER-to-Golgi transport.

Maternal vitamin D deficiency in early pregnancy and perinatal and long-term outcomes.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnant women. Some studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to obstetric complications such as gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the potential impact of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy on both perinatal and long-term outcomes.

Yeast-Hydrolysate-Derived 1-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic Acid Inhibits Fat Accumulation during Adipocyte Differentiation.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of yeast hydrolysate (YH) on lipogenesis, elucidate its mechanistic action, and identify the active compounds responsible for its anti-adipogenic effects. YH (2 mg/mL) significantly reduced Oil Red O-stained lipids. YH (2 mg/mL) also downregulated C/EBPβ and upregulated KLF2, both of which are early adipogenic factors.

Volunteer Plants' Occurrence and the Environmental Adaptability of Genetically Modified Fodder Corn upon Unintentional Release into the Environment.

The number of corn cultivars that have been improved using genetically modified technology continues to increase. However, concerns about the unintentional release of living-modified organisms (LMOs) into the environment still exist. Specifically, there are cases where LMO crops grown as fodder are released into the environment and form a volunteer plant community, which raises concerns about their safety.

Comprehensive Analysis for Anti-Cancer Target-Indication Prioritization of Placental Growth Factor Inhibitor (PGF) by Use of Omics and Patient Survival Data.

The expression of the placental growth factor (PGF) in cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment can contribute to the induction of angiogenesis, supporting cancer cell metabolism by ensuring an adequate blood supply. Angiogenesis is a key component of cancer metabolism as it facilitates the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to rapidly growing tumor cells. PGF is recognized as a novel target for anti-cancer treatment due to its ability to overcome resistance to existing angiogenesis inhibitors and its impact on the tumor microenvironment.

Homotypic SCOTIN assemblies form ER-endosome membrane contacts and regulate endosome dynamics.

The ER regulates the spatiotemporal organization of endolysosomal systems by membrane contact. In addition to tethering via heterotypic interactions on both organelles, we present a novel ER-endosome tethering mechanism mediated by homotypic interactions. The single-pass transmembrane protein SCOTIN is detected in the membrane of the ER and endosomes.