Glutamine is critical for the maintenance of type 1 conventional dendritic cells in normal tissue and the tumor microenvironment.

Proliferating tumor cells take up glutamine for anabolic processes, engendering glutamine deficiency in the tumor microenvironment. How this might impact immune cells is not well understood. Using multiple mouse models of soft tissue sarcomas, glutamine antagonists, as well as genetic and pharmacological inhibition of glutamine utilization, we found that the number and frequency of conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) is dependent on microenvironmental glutamine levels.

Glutamine availability regulates cDC subsets in tissue.

Unlabelled: Proliferating tumor cells take up glutamine for anabolic processes engendering glutamine deficiency in the tumor microenvironment. How this might impact immune cells is not well understood. Using multiple mouse models of soft tissue sarcomas, glutamine antagonists, as well as genetic and pharmacological inhibition of glutamine utilization, we found that the number and frequency of conventional dendritic cells (cDC) is dependent on microenvironmental glutamine levels.

Is the Transcription Factor NANOG Involved in Placental Aging?

Problem: Accelerated placental aging is linked to abnormal fetal growth, preeclampsia (PE), and preterm birth (PTB). NANOG, a transcription factor, is known for its role in cellular reprogramming, self-renewal, and clonogenic growth. Its expression is regulated by Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), which functions as both a transcriptional activator and repressor.

Serum ferritin measurements differ according to the assay used: implications for iron therapy in restless legs syndrome.

Study Objectives: Serum ferritin levels are used to determine the need for iron supplementation in patients with restless legs syndrome. The purpose of this study was to determine whether immunoassay measurement of serum ferritin yields varying levels according to different manufacturers' assays, with resultant variation in cutoff values.

Methods: We compared serum ferritin levels using 116 clinical samples assessed by the Beckman and Roche methods.

Substrate Selection Criteria in Regulated Intramembrane Proteolysis.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia encountered in an aging population. Characteristic amyloid deposits of Aβ peptides in the brain are generated through cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by γ-secretase, an intramembrane protease. Cryo-EM structures of substrate γ-secretase complexes revealed details of the process, but how substrates are recognized and enter the catalytic site is still largely ignored.

Contemporary diagnostic visual and automated polysomnographic REM sleep without atonia thresholds in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder.

Study Objectives: Accurate diagnosis of isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is crucial due to its injury potential and neurological prognosis. We aimed to analyze visual and automated REM sleep without atonia (RSWA) diagnostic thresholds applicable in varying clinical presentations in a contemporary cohort of patients with iRBD using submentalis (SM) and individual bilateral flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and anterior tibialis electromyography limb recordings during polysomnography.

Methods: We analyzed RSWA in 20 patients with iRBD and 20 age-, REM-, apnea-hypopnea index-matched controls between 2017 and 2022 for phasic burst durations, density of phasic, tonic, and "any" muscle activity (number of 3-second mini-epochs containing phasic or tonic muscle activity divided by the total number of REM sleep 3-second mini-epochs), and automated Ferri REM atonia index (RAI).

Sex-specific associations between daytime sleepiness, chronic diseases and mortality in obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is common in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and has been linked to adverse outcomes, albeit inconsistently. Furthermore, whether the prognostic impact of EDS differs as a function of sex is unclear. We aimed to assess the associations between EDS and chronic diseases and mortality in men and women with OSA.

A conceptual framework to develop a patient-reported experience questionnaire on the cystic fibrosis journey in France: the ExPaParM collaborative study.

Background: The objective of the study was to elaborate a conceptual framework related to the domains of patient experience along the cystic fibrosis (CF) journey from the patients and parents of children with CF to inform the design of a patient-reported experience questionnaire.

Method: A collaborative research group including patients and parents with clinicians and academic researchers was set up. They identified the situations along the CF care pathway from diagnosis to paediatric care, transition to adult care and adult follow-up, transfer to transplant centres and follow-up after transplantation.

Nutrition Alters the Stiffness of Adipose Tissue and Cell Signaling.

Adipose tissue is a complex organ composed of various cell types and an extracellular matrix (ECM). The visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is dynamically altered in response to nutritional regimens that lead to local cues affecting the cells and ECM. The adipocytes are in conjunction with the surrounding ECM that maintains the tissue's niche, provides a scaffold for cells and modulates their signaling.

Helical stability of the GnTV transmembrane domain impacts on SPPL3 dependent cleavage.

Signal-Peptide Peptidase Like-3 (SPPL3) is an intramembrane cleaving aspartyl protease that causes secretion of extracellular domains from type-II transmembrane proteins. Numerous Golgi-localized glycosidases and glucosyltransferases have been identified as physiological SPPL3 substrates. By SPPL3 dependent processing, glycan-transferring enzymes are deactivated inside the cell, as their active site-containing domain is cleaved and secreted.

Patient values and preferences regarding prognostic counseling in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder.

Study Objectives: Isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) carries a high lifetime risk for phenoconversion to a defined neurodegenerative disease (NDD) including Parkinson disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. We aimed to examine iRBD patient values and preferences regarding prognostic counseling.

Methods: One hundred thirteen iRBD patient participants enrolled in the Mayo Clinic iRBD Patient Registry were sent an email survey concerning their values and preferences concerning NDD prognostic counseling and their experiences following diagnosis with iRBD.

Nocturnal Pulse Event Frequency Is Reduced in Multiple System Atrophy.

Risk of sudden death in multiple system atrophy (MSA) is greatest during sleep with unknown mechanisms. We compared nocturnal pulse event frequency in 46 MSA patients and age-/sex-matched controls undergoing overnight pulse oximetry. Nocturnal oxyhemoglobin desaturation indices and pulse event indices (PEIs) were recorded, and relationships between pulse oximetry variables and survival were analyzed.

Cleavage of mitochondrial homeostasis regulator PGAM5 by the intramembrane protease PARL is governed by transmembrane helix dynamics and oligomeric state.

The intramembrane protease PARL acts as a crucial mitochondrial safeguard by cleaving the mitophagy regulators PINK1 and PGAM5. Depending on the stress level, PGAM5 can either stimulate cell survival or cell death. In contrast to PINK1, which is constantly cleaved in healthy mitochondria and only active when the inner mitochondrial membrane is depolarized, PGAM5 processing is inversely regulated.

Genome Sequencing of up to 6,000-Year-Old Citrullus Seeds Reveals Use of a Bitter-Fleshed Species Prior to Watermelon Domestication.

Iconographic evidence from Egypt suggests that watermelon pulp was consumed there as a dessert by 4,360 BP. Earlier archaeobotanical evidence comes from seeds from Neolithic settlements in Libya, but whether these were watermelons with sweet pulp or other forms is unknown. We generated genome sequences from 6,000- and 3,300-year-old seeds from Libya and Sudan, and from worldwide herbarium collections made between 1824 and 2019, and analyzed these data together with resequenced genomes from important germplasm collections for a total of 131 accessions.

Perioperative outcomes of patients with restless legs syndrome: a single-center retrospective review.

Study Objectives: There are multiple stressors in the perioperative period for patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) that may be implicated in the worsening of symptoms. Our primary objective was to compare the perioperative course of patients with RLS to patients without the diagnosis.

Methods: This was a single-center, matched-cohort, retrospective chart review of patients with RLS undergoing inpatient procedures from 2015-2019 matched 1:1 with patients without the diagnosis.

Collaborative research protocol to define patient-reported experience measures of the cystic fibrosis care pathway in France: the ExPaParM study.

Introduction: In France, the cystic fibrosis (CF) care pathway is coordinated by multidisciplinary teams from specialised CF centres or transplant centres. It includes the care provided at home or out of hospital, risk prevention in daily life and adjustments to social life, which together contribute to the person's quality of life. Patient experience is used to describe and evaluate the care and life of patients living with the disease.

Cognition and driving ability in isolated and symptomatic REM sleep behavior disorder.

Study Objectives: To analyze cognitive deficits leading to unsafe driving in patients with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), strongly associated with cognitive impairment and synucleinopathy-related neurodegeneration.

Methods: Twenty isolated RBD (iRBD), 10 symptomatic RBD (sRBD), and 20 age- and education-matched controls participated in a prospective case-control driving simulation study. Group mean differences were compared with correlations between cognitive and driving safety measures.

Abnormal rapid eye movement sleep atonia control in chronic post-traumatic stress disorder.

Study Objectives: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) share some common features including prominent nightmares and sleep disturbances. We aimed to comparatively analyze REM sleep without atonia (RSWA) between patients with chronic PTSD with and without dream enactment behavior (DEB), isolated RBD (iRBD), and controls.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we comparatively analyzed 18 PTSD with DEB (PTSD+DEB), 18 PTSD without DEB, 15 iRBD, and 51 controls matched for age and sex.

Objective sleep profile in LGI1/CASPR2 autoimmunity.

Study Objectives: Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and other sleep disturbances are frequent in leucine-rich, glioma inactivated protein 1-IgG (LGI1) and contactin-associated protein 2-IgG (CASPR2) autoimmunity, yet polysomnographic analyses of these disorders remain limited. We aimed to characterize clinical presentations and analyze polysomnographic manifestations, especially quantitative REM sleep without atonia (RSWA) in LGI1/CASPR2-IgG seropositive (LGI/CASPR2+) patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and polysomnographic features and quantitative RSWA between LGI1+/CASPR2+ patients and age-sex matched controls.

Genome-wide transcriptome signatures of ant-farmed epiphytes reveal key functions in a unique symbiosis.

Farming of fungi by ants, termites, or beetles has led to ecologically successful societies fueled by industrial-scale food production. Another type of obligate insect agriculture in Fiji involves the symbiosis between the ant and epiphytes in the genus (Rubiaceae) that the ants fertilize, defend, harvest, and depend on for nesting. All farmed form tubers (domatia) with preformed entrance holes and complex cavity networks occupied by .