Genome-Wide Association Study and Genomic Predictions for Hydroxycinnamate Concentrations in Maize Stover.

Hydroxycinnamates, like ferulate (FA) and -coumarate (CA), are important components of maize cell walls, which influence pest resistance, ruminal digestibility, and biofuel production. Increasing their concentration has been linked to increased pest resistance, but also may lead to a decrease in nutritional value or bioethanol production efficiency. Therefore, improving forage quality or biofuel production without compromising plant resistance and a thorough understanding of the biosynthesis and deposition of these compounds is necessary, especially in stover, which is the feedstock for second-generation biofuel production and determines animal forage quality.

Assessing the success of breeding maize inbred lines with contrasting diferulate concentrations.

Background: The crosslinking of maize cell wall components, particularly mediated by the formation of ferulic acid dimers or diferulates, has been associated with important crop valorization traits such as increased pest resistance, lower forage digestibility, or reduced bioethanol production. However, these relationships were based on studies performed using diverse unrelated inbred lines and/or populations, so genetic background could interfere on these associations.

Results: In the present research, the success of a pedigree selection program aimed to obtain inbred lines from a common antecessor with contrasting diferulate concentration was evaluated.

Molecular signatures associated with venous thromboembolism in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Objectives: We aimed to identify molecular markers and signatures of leukemia microenvironment associated with VTE in childhood ALL, by dual-omics approach of gene expression (GEP) and DNA-methylation profiling.

Patients/methods: Eligible children were aged 1-21 years old with newly diagnosed ALL enrolled on the Dana Farber Cancer Institute 16-001 trial with available RNA sequencing data from bone marrow at diagnosis.

Effects of seed infection by Fusarium verticillioides on maize performance against Sesamia nonagrioides attack.

In maize (Zea mays L), the fungus Fusarium verticillioides can behave as a pathogen, but it is also able of asymptomatic colonization as an endophyte. Therefore, it would be of great value to identify metabolites and/or metabolic pathways implicated in mutualistic and pathogenic interactions. The objectives of the present study were: (i) to investigate the effect of seed colonization by F.

Cephalosporins for Outpatient Pyelonephritis in the Emergency Department: COPY-ED Study.

Study Objective: The primary objective of our study was to compare the effectiveness of oral cephalosporins versus fluroquinolones and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for the treatment of pyelonephritis in patients discharged home from the emergency department (ED).

Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study of 11 geographically diverse US EDs. Patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with pyelonephritis and discharged home from the ED between January 1, 2021 and October 31, 2023 were included.

Goal-Oriented Attentional Self-Regulation Training in Chronic Mild Traumatic Brain Injury is Linked to Microstructural Plasticity in Prefrontal White Matter.

Impaired attention is one of the most common, debilitating, and persistent consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which impacts overall cognitive and executive functions in these patients. Previous neuroimaging studies, trying to understand the neural mechanism underlying attention impairment post TBI, have highlighted the role of prefrontal white matter tracts in attentional functioning in mild TBI (mTBI). Goal-Oriented Attentional Self-Regulation (GOALS) is a cognitive rehabilitation training program that targets executive control functions in participants by applying mindfulness-based attention regulation and goal management strategies.

Pharmacological evaluation of a new nanoformulation in the erectile tissue of rabbits and humans.

The failure of achieving a penile erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse is known as erectile dysfunction (ED). The primary mediator for penile erection is nitric oxide (NO). ED is often associated with endothelial/nitrergic dysfunction characterized by a reduction of the bioavailability of NO.

Detection of systemic autoimmune diseases in an ongoing assessment program for hand arthralgias. A comparative analysis with inflammatory and non-inflammatory arthropathies.

Introduction: Arthralgias are prevalent in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD), emphasizing the need for early recognition. This study aimed to estimate SARD frequency and compare clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings among SARD, non-inflammatory arthralgia (NIA), and RA in patients with hand arthralgias.

Methods: A prospective evaluation program included individuals aged ≥18 with hand arthralgias.

Evaluation of Success and Complications Scores for Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: Insights from the Latin American Registry.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention is a complex procedure and is associated with considerable risk of complications. Several success and complication scores have been developed; however, data regarding their external validation in other populations such as Latin America are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the main predictors of success and complications in a broad cohort of procedures in the Latin American (LATAM) CTO registry.

Exploring optimal microscopic keyhole access to the skull base: an anatomical evaluation of transciliary supraorbital and transpalpebral orbitofrontal craniotomy approaches.

Purpose: The past two decades have witnessed the rise of keyhole microscopic minimally invasive surgeries, including the transciliary supraorbital approach (TCA) and transpalpebral approach (TPA), commonly known as the transorbital approach. This study aims to elucidate the nuances, specific indications, and advantages of each approach.

Methods: A series of dissections were conducted on five formalin-fixed, alcohol-preserved cadaver heads.

Intra-operative hypertension as a predictor of surgical outcomes in microvascular decompression surgery for trigeminal neuralgia.

Purpose: The trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) has traditionally been characterized by a sudden decrease in heart rate, asystole, or hypotension during the manipulation of the trigeminal nerve (MTN) or its branches. While this classical TCR is well-documented, there is limited literature on alternative forms of TCR, such as the development of intraoperative hypertension (HTN) or tachycardia, and the underlying pathogenesis. Furthermore, a gap exists in understanding the correlation between intraoperative blood pressure readings and postoperative outcomes, particularly regarding pain relief in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN).

Brain connectivity analysis in preictal phases of seizure induced by pentylenetetrazol in rats.

Abnormal patterns of brain connectivity characterize epilepsy. However, little is known about these patterns during the stages preceding a seizure induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). To investigate brain connectivity in male Wistar rats during the preictal phase of PTZ-induced seizures (60 mg/kg), we recorded local field potentials in the primary motor (M1) cortex, the ventral anterior (VA) nucleus of the thalamus, the hippocampal CA1 area, and the dentate gyrus (DG) during the baseline period and after PTZ administration.

First real-time imaging of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction by electrical impedance tomography.

Background: Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) with one-way endobronchial valves (EBV) has better outcomes when the target lobe has poor collateral ventilation, resulting in complete lobe atelectasis. High-inspired oxygen fraction (FO) promotes atelectasis through faster gas absorption after airway occlusion, but its application during BLVR with EBV has been poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the real-time effects of FO on regional lung volumes and regional ventilation/perfusion by electrical impedance tomography (EIT) during BLVR with EBV.

EDucated: The emergency medicine pharmacotherapy literature of 2023.

The purpose of this article is to summarize pharmacotherapy related emergency medicine (EM) literature indexed in 2023. Articles were selected utilizing a modified Delphi approach. The table of contents from pre-determined journals were reviewed and independently evaluated via the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system by paired authors.

Structure-property modeling of physicochemical properties of fractal trigonal triphenylenoids by means of novel degree-based topological indices.

Trigonal triphenylenoids (TTPs) are a fascinating class of organic molecules with unique structural and electronic properties. Their diverse applications, ranging from organic electronics to nonlinear optics, have spurred significant research interest in understanding their physicochemical behavior. Topological indices, mathematical descriptors derived from the molecular graph, offer valuable insights into the structural complexity and potential properties of TTPs.

The 2023 Latin America report of the Countdown on health and climate change: the imperative for health-centred climate-resilient development.

In 2023, a series of climatological and political events unfolded, partly driving forward the global climate and health agenda while simultaneously exposing important disparities and vulnerabilities to climate-related events. On the policy front, a significant step forward was marked by the inaugural Health Day at COP28, acknowledging the profound impacts of climate change on health. However, the first-ever Global Stocktake showed an important gap between the current progress and the targets outlined in the Paris Agreement, underscoring the urgent need for further and decisive action.

Effectiveness of a two-component nutritional strategy for blood pressure control in individuals with hypertension users of a public health system: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional strategy based on two components and adapted for the public health system on blood pressure, cardiometabolic features, self-care, qualify of life and diet quality in individuals with hypertension.

Methods: NUPRESS was an open-label, parallel-group, superiority randomized controlled clinical trial in which participants at least 21 years with hypertension and poorly controlled blood pressure were randomly assigned (1 : 1 allocation ratio) to either an individualized dietary prescription according to nutritional guidelines (control group, n  = 205); or a two-component nutrition strategy, including a goal-directed nutritional counseling and mindfulness techniques (NUPRESS [intervention] group, n  = 205). Primary outcomes were SBP (mmHg) after 24 weeks of follow up and blood pressure control, defined as either having SBP more than 140 mmHg at baseline and achieving 140 mmHg or less after follow-up or having SBP 140 mmHg or less at baseline and reducing the frequency of antihypertensive drugs in use after follow-up.

Comparing nurses attending a specialised mental health programme with and without substance use disorder: a retrospective, observational study in Spain.

Objectives: To analyse the differences between nurses with and without substance use disorders (SUDs) admitted to a specialised mental health programme.

Design: Retrospective, observational study.

Setting: Specialised mental health treatment programme for nurses in Catalonia, Spain.

Enhancing Intramolecular Ferromagnetic Coupling in Tetrathiafulvalene-Nitronyl Nitroxide-Based Compounds through Spin Polarization Mechanism.

Spin-polarized donor radicals based on tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives and nitronyl nitroxide (NN) radicals in which one-electron oxidation involves the HOMO instead of the SOMO are well known for exhibiting magnetoresistance. In particular, BTBN consists of one dibromo-TTF and one NN radical, which are linked by a phenyl coupler group. One of the key factors driving magnetoresistance is the presence of intramolecular ferromagnetic (FM) coupling between the oxidized π-donor (TTF⋅, D unit) and NN (R unit).

Analytical validation of NeXT Personal®, an ultra-sensitive personalized circulating tumor DNA assay.

We describe the analytical validation of NeXT Personal, an ultra-sensitive, tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assay for detecting residual disease, monitoring therapy response, and detecting recurrence in patients diagnosed with solid tumor cancers. NeXT Personal uses whole genome sequencing of tumor and matched normal samples combined with advanced analytics to accurately identify up to ~1,800 somatic variants specific to the patient's tumor. A personalized panel is created, targeting these variants and then used to sequence cell-free DNA extracted from patient plasma samples for ultra-sensitive detection of ctDNA.

Leveraging citizen science for monitoring urban forageable plants.

Urbanization brings forth social challenges in emerging countries such as Brazil, encompassing food scarcity, health deterioration, air pollution, and biodiversity loss. Despite this, urban areas like the city of São Paulo still boast ample green spaces, offering opportunities for nature appreciation and conservation, enhancing city resilience and livability. Citizen science is a collaborative endeavor between professional scientists and nonprofessional scientists in scientific research that may help to understand the dynamics of urban ecosystems.