Reevaluating Anti-Inflammatory Therapy: Targeting Senescence to Balance Anti-Cancer Efficacy and Vascular Disease.

Modulating immune function is a critical strategy in cancer and atherosclerosis treatments. For cancer, boosting or maintaining the immune system is crucial to prevent tumor growth. However, in vascular disease, mitigating immune responses can decrease inflammation and slow atherosclerosis progression.

Prenatal cfDNA Sequencing and Incidental Detection of Maternal Cancer.

Background: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sequence analysis to screen for fetal aneuploidy can incidentally detect maternal cancer. Additional data are needed to identify DNA-sequencing patterns and other biomarkers that can identify pregnant persons who are most likely to have cancer and to determine the best approach for follow-up.

Methods: In this ongoing study we performed cancer screening in pregnant or postpartum persons who did not perceive signs or symptoms of cancer but received unusual clinical cfDNA-sequencing results or results that were nonreportable (i.

Bacteria Derived from Diamondback Moth, (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), Gut Regurgitant Negatively Regulate Glucose Oxidase-Mediated Anti-Defense Against Host Plant.

The ongoing interplay among plants, insects, and bacteria underscores the intricate balance of defense mechanisms in ecosystems. Regurgitant bacteria directly/indirectly impact plant immune responses, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we focus on the interaction between regurgitant bacteria, diamondback moth (DBM), and plant.

A New Caffeine Detection Method Using a Highly Multiplexed Smartphone-Based Spectrometer.

Smartphones equipped with highly integrated sensors are increasingly being recognized as powerful tools for rapid on-site testing. Here, we propose a low-cost, portable, and highly multiplexed smartphone-based spectrometer capable of collecting three types of spectra-transmission, reflection, and fluorescence-by simply replacing the optical fiber attached to the housing. Spectral analysis is performed directly on the smartphone using a custom-developed app.

Exogenous salicylic acid reduces cadmium content in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) shoots under cadmium stress.

Background: Consumption of leafy vegetables is a primary route of cadmium (Cd) exposure in the human body. Salicylic acid (SA) is a major stress signaling molecule that alleviates Cd toxicity in various plants. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of different SA concentrations on spinach growth, cadmium accumulation, and stress resistance physiology under cadmium stress (50 µmol/L).

Characterization of MPK family members in the genus Citrus (Rutaceae) and analysis of the function of AbMPK13 in the response to citrus canker in Atalantia buxifolia.

Citrus bacterial canker has deleterious effects on global citrus production. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade regulates plant defense against pathogen infection. Here, we identified 11 MAPKs in Atalantia buxifolia, a wild citrus species with high stress tolerance.

Effects of mindfulness-based intervention in preventing relapse in patients with remitted psychosis: a randomized controlled trial.

Stress is a key factor in psychotic relapse, and mindfulness offers stress resilience and well-being benefits. This study examined the effects of mindfulness-based intervention for psychosis (MBI-p) in preventing relapse at 1 year among patients with remitted psychosis in Hong Kong. MBI-p is a newly developed manual-based mindfulness protocol and was tested to have improved well-being and clinical outcomes in a pilot study with remitted psychosis patients.

Structure-activity relationship studies and design of a PTPN22 inhibitor with enhanced isozyme selectivity and cellular efficacy.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) lies downstream of the T cell receptor (TCR) and attenuates T cell signaling by dephosphorylating key effector proteins such as LCK, Zap70, and the intracellular region of the TCR. Recent evidence implicates PTPN22 as an exciting target for enabling immunotherapeutic efficacy against cancer. We carried out structural optimization of a benzofuran salicylic acid-based orthosteric PTPN22 inhibitor 8b, using a combination of crystal structure analysis, synthesis, matched molecular pairs analysis, and biochemical and cell-based assays.

Salicylic acid represses VdMYB31 expression to enhance grape resistance to Colletotrichum viniferum.

Grape (Vitis vinifera) production globally faces significant challenges from grape ripe rot (Colletotrichum viniferum). MYB transcription factors (TFs) play a crucial role in mediating plant responses to biotic stresses. However, their involvement in grapevine responses to ripe rot remains unclarified.

A rice rhizosphere plant growth-promoting Streptomyces corchorusii isolate antagonizes Magnaporthe oryzae and elicits defense responses in rice.

Aims: Rice blast, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, is one of the most devastating diseases of rice (Oryza sativa L.). The aim of this study was to investigate the biocontrol potential of rice rhizosphere actinomycetes against M.

Gene editing without ex vivo culture evades genotoxicity in human hematopoietic stem cells.

Gene editing the BCL11A erythroid enhancer is a validated approach to fetal hemoglobin (HbF) induction for β-hemoglobinopathy therapy, though heterogeneity in edit allele distribution and HbF response may impact its safety and efficacy. Here, we compare combined CRISPR-Cas9 editing of the BCL11A +58 and +55 enhancers with leading gene modification approaches under clinical investigation. Dual targeting of the BCL11A +58 and +55 enhancers with 3xNLS-SpCas9 and two single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) resulted in superior HbF induction, including in sickle cell disease (SCD) patient xenografts, attributable to simultaneous disruption of core half E-box/GATA motifs at both enhancers.

Accurate Intramyocardial Hemorrhage Assessment with Fast, Free-running, Cardiac Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping.

Purpose To evaluate the performance of a high-dynamic-range quantitative susceptibility mapping (HDR-QSM) cardiac MRI technique to detect intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) and quantify iron content using phantom and canine models. Materials and Methods A free-running whole-heart HDR-QSM technique for IMH assessment was developed and evaluated in calibrated iron phantoms and 14 IMH female canine models. IMH detection and iron content quantification performance of this technique was compared with the conventional iron imaging approaches, R2*(1/T2*) maps, using measurements from ex vivo imaging as the reference standard.

Transformation-based gene silencing and functional characterization of an ISC effector reveal how a powdery mildew fungus disturbs salicylic acid biosynthesis and immune response in the plant.

Obligate biotrophic powdery mildew fungi infect a wide range of economically important plants. These fungi often deliver effector proteins into the host tissues to suppress plant immunity and sustain infection. The phytohormone salicylic acid (SA) is one of the most important signals that activate plant immunity against pathogens.

The role of rhamnolipids in the growth and defense responses of passion fruit plants.

Unlabelled: Rhamnolipids (RLs) are bioactive compounds that have gained a lot of attention for their potential applications in agriculture. However, the exploration of RLs in passion fruit plants remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the role of RLs in passion fruit plants growth and defense responses.

An effector essential for virulence of necrotrophic fungi targets plant HIRs to inhibit host immunity.

Phytopathogens often secrete effectors to enhance their infection of plants. In the case of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a necrotrophic phytopathogen, a secreted protein named SsPEIE1 (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Plant Early Immunosuppressive Effector 1) plays a crucial role in its virulence. During the early stages of infection, SsPEIE1 is significantly up-regulated.

Recognition of a salivary effector by the TNL protein RCSP promotes effector-triggered immunity and systemic resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana.

Insects secret chemosensory proteins (CSPs) into plant cells as potential effector proteins during feeding. The molecular mechanisms underlying how CSPs activate plant immunity remain largely unknown. We show that CSPs from six distinct insect orders induce dwarfism when overexpressed in Nicotiana benthamiana.

SSA-ZP on Scalp Seborrheic Dermatitis: Regulating Sebum Levels and Scalp Barrier.

Background: The occurrence of scalp seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is closely related to the production of sebum and scalp barrier function. Supramolecular salicylic acid has the keratolytic and anti-inflammatory properties, and zinc pyrithione is an antifungal drug delivered as a microparticle to skin epithelia.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of 2% supramolecular salicylic acid (SSA) combined with 0.

Solid-State Fluorescent Carbon Dots with Hydrophobic Modification Induced Red Emission for White Light-Emitting Diodes.

Herein, we developed red solid-state fluorescent carbon dots (SSF-CDs) through a one-step solvothermal method, utilizing acetone as the carbonization solvent. Optical and structural characterization revealed that the sp domains in the core of the R-CDs were consistently interrupted and that the oxygen-containing groups on the surface were replaced by alkyl groups. This substitution mitigates excessive π-π interactions, thereby preventing quenching of fluorescence in the solid state.

Ectopic and transient expression of VvDIR4 gene in Arabidopsis and grapes enhances resistance to anthracnose via affecting hormone signaling pathways and lignin production.

Background: DIR (Dirigent) proteins play important roles in the biosynthesis of lignin and lignans and are involved in various processes such as plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, there is less information about VvDIR proteins in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L).

Results: In this study, we used bioinformatics methods to identify members of the DIR gene family in grapevine and identified 18 VvDIR genes in grapevine.

Differential Selectivity of Human and Mouse ABCC4/Abcc4 for Arsenic Metabolites.

Millions of people globally are exposed to the proven human carcinogen arsenic at unacceptable levels in drinking water. In contrast, arsenic is a poor rodent carcinogen, requiring >100-fold higher doses for tumor induction, which may be explained by toxicokinetic differences between humans and mice. The human ATP-binding cassette subfamily C (ABCC) transporter hABCC4 mediates the cellular efflux of a diverse array of metabolites, including the glutathione (GSH) conjugate of the highly toxic monomethylarsonous acid (MMA), monomethylarsenic diglutathione [MMA(GS)], and the major human urinary arsenic metabolite dimethylarsinic acid (DMA).