Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for enhanced production of p-coumaric acid via L-phenylalanine biosynthesis pathway.

p-Coumaric acid (p-CA), an invaluable phytochemical, has novel bioactivities, including antiproliferative, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective effects, and is the main precursor of various flavonoids, such as caffeic acid, naringenin, and resveratrol. Herein, we report the engineering of Escherichia coli for de novo production of p-CA via the PAL-C4H pathway. As the base strain, we used the E.

Graphene Quantum Dots as Antifibrotic Therapy for Kidney Disease.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have received much attention for their biomedical applications, such as bioimaging and drug delivery. Additionally, they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We used GQDs to treat renal fibrosis and confirmed their ability to protect renal cells from excessive oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo.

Differential Regulatory Effects of Probiotics on Bone Metabolism by the Status of Bone Health and Delivery Route.

Probiotics are known to have favorable effects on human health. Nevertheless, probiotics are not always beneficial and can cause unintended adverse effects such as bacteremia and/or inflammation in immunocompromised patients. In the present study, we investigated the effects of probiotics on the regulation of bone metabolism under different health conditions and delivery routes.

Medication Burden and Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Death in Patients Treated with Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Key Points: A higher medication burden was associated with a higher risk of adverse events in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Medication burden can serve as a clinically relevant risk indicator for cardiovascular events and all-cause death in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Background: A high medication burden is associated with adverse outcomes.

Muramyl dipeptide potentiates lipoteichoic acid-induced nitric oxide production via TLR2/NOD2/PAFR signaling pathways.

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and peptidoglycan (PGN) are considered as key virulence factors of , which is a representative sepsis-causing Gram-positive pathogen. However, cooperative effect of LTA and PGN on nitric oxide (NO) production is still unclear despite the pivotal roles of NO in initiation and progression of sepsis. We here evaluated the cooperative effects of LTA (SaLTA) and muramyl dipeptide (MDP), the minimal structure of PGN, on NO production in both a mouse macrophage-like cell line, RAW 264.

Achieving Enhanced High-Temperature Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries via Salt-Inspired Interfacial Engineering.

Electrolyte additive engineering enables the creation of long-lasting interfacial layers that protect electrodes, thus extending the lifetime of high-energy lithium-ion batteries employing Ni-rich Li[NiCoMn]O (NCM) cathodes. However, batteries face various limitations if existing additives are employed alone without an appropriate combination. Herein, the study reports the development of a molecular-engineered salt-type multifunctional additive, lithium bis(phosphorodifluoridate) triethylammonium ethenesulfonate (LiPENS), that leverages the different functionalities of phosphorous, nitrogen, and sulfur-embedded motifs, as well as the classical additive vinylene carbonate (VC), to construct protective interfacial layers.

A vaccine platform targeting lung-resident memory CD4 T-cells provides protection against heterosubtypic influenza infections in mice and ferrets.

Lung tissue-resident memory T (T) cells induced by influenza vaccination are crucial for heterosubtypic immunity upon re-exposure to the influenza virus, enabling rapid and robust responses upon reactivation. To enhance the efficacy of influenza vaccines, we induce the generation of lung T cells following intranasal vaccination with a commercial influenza vaccine adjuvanted with NexaVant (NVT), a TLR3 agonist-based adjuvant. We demonstrate that intranasal immunization with the NVT-adjuvanted vaccine provides improved protection against influenza virus infections by inducing the generation of CD4 T cells in the lungs in a type I interferon-dependent manner.

Sex Differences in Procedural Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Bifurcation PCI.

Background And Objectives: The risk profiles, procedural characteristics, and clinical outcomes for women undergoing bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not well defined compared to those in men.

Methods: COronary BIfurcation Stenting III (COBIS III) is a multicenter, real-world registry of 2,648 patients with bifurcation lesions treated with second-generation drug-eluting stents. We compared the angiographic and procedural characteristics and clinical outcomes based on sex.

Impact of intravascular ultrasound for coronary bifurcations treated with last generations stents: insights from the BIFURCAT-ULTRA registry.

Background: Bifurcation lesions are associated with higher rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Aim: To investigate the impact of imaging-guided PCI in a real-world population with coronary bifurcation lesions.

Methods: From the ULTRA-BIFURCAT registry, we compared IVUS vs.

Optimal storage time and temperature of human oral samples to minimize microbiome changes: A scoping review.

Improper storage times and temperatures negatively impact the quality of biospecimens with oral microbiomes. This study aimed to determine the optimal storage time and temperature for maintaining the integrity of human dental plaque and saliva samples' microbial profiles. A comprehensive search yielded 5433 studies, with 12 meeting inclusion criteria.

Association between urine creatinine excretion and bone mineral density in chronic kidney disease: Results from the KNOW-CKD study.

Background: Decreased lean body mass or muscle mass is associated with decreased bone mineral density in individuals with preserved renal function. However, the association between muscle mass and bone mineral density in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is not well known. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between muscle mass estimated from urine creatinine (UCr) and bone mineral density in Korean CKD patients.

Piperonylic Acid Promotes Hair Growth by Activation of EGFR and Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway.

Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) are located at the bottom of the hair follicle and play a critical role in hair growth, shape, and cycle. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways are essential in promoting keratinocyte activation as well as hair follicle formation in DPCs. Piperonylic acid is a small molecule that induces EGFR activation in keratinocytes.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Association with Kidney and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Moderate to Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a potential indicator for cardio-metabolic risk. However, clinical implications of NAFLD in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are still elusive. We investigated to explore the association between NAFLD and adverse clinical outcomes among patients with CKD.

Deep learning-based analysis of EGFR mutation prevalence in lung adenocarcinoma H&E whole slide images.

EGFR mutations are a major prognostic factor in lung adenocarcinoma. However, current detection methods require sufficient samples and are costly. Deep learning is promising for mutation prediction in histopathological image analysis but has limitations in that it does not sufficiently reflect tumor heterogeneity and lacks interpretability.

Lipoteichoic Acid from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG as a Novel Intracanal Medicament Targeting Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm Formation.

The demand for safe and effective endodontic medicaments to control Enterococcus faecalis biofilms, a contributor to apical periodontitis, is increasing. Recently, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) of family Lactobacillaceae has been shown to have anti-biofilm effects against various oral pathogens. Preliminary experiments showed that LTA purified from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (Lgg.

Evaluation of cavitation phenomena in three-way globe valve through computational analysis and visualization test.

A three-way valve has a multi-port structure with three openings, which allows control of the fluid direction. However, owing to the complicated trim shape of the internal flow, an irregular fluid flow occurs, which hinders precise fluid flow control. In severe cases, cavitation induces mechanical damage owing to abrupt changes in the fluid direction.

Phase 1b/2a Study Assessing the Safety and Efficacy of Felzartamab in Anti-Phospholipase A2 Receptor Autoantibody-Positive Primary Membranous Nephropathy.

Introduction: Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is most often caused by autoantibodies to phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R). M-PLACE (NCT04145440) is an open-label, phase 1b/2a study that assessed the safety and efficacy of the fully human anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody felzartamab in high-risk anti-PLA2R+ PMN.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed PMN (cohort 1 [C1];  = 18) or PMN refractory to immunosuppressive therapy (IST) (cohort 2 [C2];  = 13) received 9 infusions of felzartamab 16 mg/kg in the 24-week treatment period, followed by a 28-week follow-up.