Development of a tomato xylem-mimicking microfluidic system to study biofilm formation.

The bacterial wilt pathogen colonizes plant xylem vessels and blocks the flow of xylem sap by its biofilm (comprising of bacterial cells and extracellular material), resulting in devastating wilt disease across many economically important host plants including tomatoes. The technical challenges of imaging the xylem environment, along with the use of artificial cell culture plates and media in existing systems, limit the understanding of biofilm formation and its infection dynamics. In this study, we designed and built a microfluidic system that mimicked the physical and chemical conditions of the tomato xylem vessels, and allowed us to dissect responses to different xylem-like conditions.

Patient-Derived Xenograft Models for Ovarian Cancer.

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models play a crucial role for in vivo research. They maintain the original molecular characteristics of the human tumor and provide a more accurate tumor microenvironment, which cannot be replicated by in vitro models. This chapter describes four different transplantation methods, namely, intra-bursal, intrarenal capsule, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous, to develop PDX models for ovarian cancer research.

Armored TGFβRIIDN ROR1-CAR T cells reject solid tumors and resist suppression by constitutively-expressed and treatment-induced TGFβ1.

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy target receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is broadly expressed in hematologic and solid tumors, however clinically-characterized ROR1-CAR T cells with single chain variable fragment (scFv)-R12 targeting domain failed to induce durable remissions, in part due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we describe the development of an improved ROR1-CAR with a novel, fully human scFv9 targeting domain, and augmented with TGFβRIIDN armor protective against a major TME factor, transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ).

Methods: CAR T cells were generated by lentiviral transduction of enriched CD4 and CD8 T cells, and the novel scFv9-based ROR1-CAR-1 was compared with the clinically-characterized ROR1-R12-scFv-based CAR-2 in vitro and in vivo.

A rare case of overlapping thoracic outlet syndrome attributed to an anatomical variation in the anterior scalene muscle: Diagnostic challenges and treatment approaches.

Mixed thoracic outlet syndrome, which compresses arteries and nerves, is a rare disorder. Mixed thoracic outlet syndrome due to anatomical abnormalities of the anterior scalene muscle is even more sporadic. We report a case of mixed thoracic outlet syndrome in a patient with no history of trauma or vigorous exercise.

Balanced callose and cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis quorum-sensing signaling and pattern-triggered immunity.

The plant cell wall (CW) is one of the most important physical barriers that phytopathogens must conquer to invade their hosts. This barrier is a dynamic structure that responds to pathogen infection through a complex network of immune receptors, together with CW-synthesizing and CW-degrading enzymes. Callose deposition in the primary CW is a well-known physical response to pathogen infection.

Person-specific evidence has the ability to mobilize relational capacity: A four-step grounded theory developed in people with long-term health conditions.

Person-specific evidence was developed as a grounded theory by analyzing 20 selected case descriptions from interventions using the guided self-determination method with people with various long-term health conditions. It explains the mechanisms of mobilizing relational capacity by including person-specific evidence in shared decision-making. Person-specific self-insight was the first step, achieved as individuals completed reflection sheets enabling them to clarify their personal values and identify actions or omissions related to self-management challenges.

Stilbenoids as Promising Natural Product-Based Solutions in a Race against Mycotoxigenic Fungi: A Comprehensive Review.

Exposure to mycotoxins can pose a variety of adverse health effects to mammals. Despite dozens of mycotoxin decontamination strategies applied from pre- to postharvest stages, it is always challenging to guarantee a safe level of these natural toxic compounds in food and feedstuffs. In the context of the increased occurrence of drug-resistance strains of mycotoxin-producing fungi driven by the overuse of fungicides, the search for new natural-product-based solutions is a top priority.

Support of deep learning to classify vocal fold images in flexible laryngoscopy.

Purpose: To collect a dataset with adequate laryngoscopy images and identify the appearance of vocal folds and their lesions in flexible laryngoscopy images by objective deep learning models.

Methods: We adopted a number of novel deep learning models to train and classify 4549 flexible laryngoscopy images as no vocal fold, normal vocal folds, and abnormal vocal folds. This could help these models recognize vocal folds and their lesions within these images.

Rich d-Fructose-Containing Polysaccharide Isolated from Roots toward a Superior Antioxidant Biomaterial.

The presented study attempts to unveil and evaluate the antioxidant activity of a novel heteropolysaccharide separated from the roots of (denoted as PS-MSR). The molecular weight of PS-MSR is found to be 1.88 × 10 Da and contains two principal sugars, which are d-glucose and d-fructose, in the backbone.

Development of optimized protocol for culturing African swine fever virus field isolates in MA104 cells.

The goal of this study was to identify a candidate commercial cell line for the replication of African swine fever virus (ASFV) by comparing several available cell lines with various medium factors. In the sensitivity test of cells, MA104 and MARC-145 had strong potential for ASFV replication. Next, MA104 cells were used to compare the adaptation of ASFV obtained from tissue homogenates and blood samples in various infectious media.

Reconstruction of Large Anterior Skull Base Defects After Resection of Sinonasal Tumors With Intracranial Extension by Using Pedicled Double Flap Techniques.

Introduction: The use of surgical resection for large anterior skull base (ASB) tumors and sinonasal malignancies with intracranial extension will result in a large skull base defect. Reconstruction of large ASB defects using traditional techniques is high risk and may lead to postoperative cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leakage, meningitis, and an increase in mortality rate. The use of a pedicled double flap technique to reconstruct the ASB defect may decrease complications.

New cycloartane coronalyl acetate and other terpenoids with anti-inflammatory activity from the leaves of Vietnamese .

Phytochemical study on the methanolic extract of the leaves of Vietnamese plant Pierre ex Pit. has led to the isolation of a new cycloartane coronalyl acetate () together with six known ones, coronlolide methyl ester (), sootepin D (), coronalolide (), coronalolic acid (), sootepin G () and 23-deoxojessic acid (). Their structures were elucidated by a combination of 2 D NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectroscopies.

Combined Nasal Endoscopic and Subfrontal Craniotomy for Resection Tumors of Anterior Skull Base.

Objective: Sinonasal tumors invading anterior skull base is difficult to treat in Otorhinolaryngology and Neurosurgery. Treatment requires the collaboration of ear, nose and throat (ENT) and neurosurgeon to remove the tumor completely. This study was to evaluate the outcome of combined technique nasal endoscopic and subfrontal approach in case of sinonasal tumors involving anterior skull base.

Structural Characterization of Mannoglucan Isolated from and Its Antioxidant Activities.

A novel polysaccharide structure (PS-T80) was collected from biomass and characterized via a combination of chemical and spectral analyses. Employing high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), the average molecular weight is proven to be 7.4 × 10 Da.

Simulated Microgravity Induces the Proliferative Inhibition and Morphological Changes in Porcine Granulosa Cells.

Astronauts are always faced with serious health problems during prolonged spaceflights. Previous studies have shown that weightlessness significantly affects the physiological function of female astronauts, including a change in reproductive hormones and ovarian cells, such as granulosa and theca cells. However, the effects of microgravity on these cells have not been well characterized, especially in granulosa cells.

Myobontioids A-D and antifungal metabolites from the leaves of A. Gray.

A new sesquiterpene glucoside (), two new norsesquiterpenes (, ), and a new homomonoterpene (), named myobontioids A-D respectively, along with twelve known flavonoids and lignans () were isolated from A. Gray. Flavanones - specifically inhibited and at the concentrations of 125, 250 and 500 µg.

Strains Promote Plant Growth and Induce Resistance Against via Transient Regulation of Auxin Signaling and Archetypal Defense Pathways in Maize Plants.

Driven by climate change, ear rot (FER) caused by occurs frequently in maize worldwide. In parallel, legislative regulations and increasing environmental awareness have spurred research on alternative FER biocontrol strategies. A promising group of bacterial control agents is species due to their metabolic versatility.

Secondary metabolites from with their anti-inflammatory activity.

is hired as multiple remedies for treatment of insomnia, blood and circulatory disorders, asthma, dry cough, jaundice, seminal weakness, cardiac debility, and skin diseases in Vietnam. Our research discovered the phytochemical investigation of constituents from this herbal medicine resulted in the isolation of two new compounds (jatamansides A () and B ()) together with 16 known ones from the whole plant. Their structures were established by using spectroscopic techniques (multinuclear and multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, ultraviolet-visible), mass spectrometry, hydrolysis analysis, or comparing their NMR data to those reported in the literature.

Potentiation of plant defense by bacterial outer membrane vesicles is mediated by membrane nanodomains.

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are released from the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria during infection and modulate host immunity during host-pathogen interactions. The mechanisms by which OMVs are perceived by plants and affect host immunity are unclear. Here, we used the pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv.

Chemical Constituents from the Leaves of Pachyrhizus erosus Collected in Vietnam.

A phytochemical investigation of methanol extract from leaves of Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urban, a leguminous shrub distributed in Vietnam and other tropical and subtropical countries led to the isolation of a new prenylated chalcone, erosusone (1) and a new megastigmane glycoside epimer, 3-episedumoside F (9), together with thirteen known compounds including flavonoids (2-6), a 3-benzoxepine lactone (7), a pyridine-4,5-diol derivative (8), megastigmanes and megastigmane glycosides (10-15). Their structures were elucidated by means of high resolution-electrospray ionization (HR-ESI)-MS, one dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional NMR (2D-NMR) spectroscopy as well as comparison with the data reported in the literature.