Case report: Germline BRCA 2 mutation in primary peritoneal carcinoma: a rare malignancy.

Background: Primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) is a rare malignancy. Clinically, its histological morphology resembles that of epithelial ovarian tumors (EOC), often leading to misdiagnosis. Diagnosis and treatment of PPC are time-sensitive because of the rapidly progressive nature of the disease.

Exploring the Light-Emitting Agents in Luciferases by an Effective QM/MM Approach.

Bioluminescence is a fascinating natural phenomenon, wherein organisms produce light through specific biochemical reactions. Among these organisms, luciferase (RLuc) derived from the sea pansy is notable for its blue light emission and has potential applications in bioluminescent tagging. Our study focuses on RLuc8, a variant of RLuc with eight amino acid substitutions.

Molecular basis of Gabija anti-phage supramolecular assemblies.

As one of the most prevalent anti-phage defense systems in prokaryotes, Gabija consists of a Gabija protein A (GajA) and a Gabija protein B (GajB). The assembly and function of the Gabija system remain unclear. Here we present cryo-EM structures of Bacillus cereus GajA and GajAB complex, revealing tetrameric and octameric assemblies, respectively.

Electrochemical -Selective Semireductive Dicarboxylation of Aryl Alkynes with CO.

Herein, we report an electrochemical protocol for the dicarboxylation of aryl alkynes using CO. With a graphite rod as the cathode and Al as the sacrificial anode, a series of valuable butenedioic acids are obtained in moderate to excellent yields with an / ratio up to 50:1. This method features high -selectivity, high step and atom economy, easy scalability, and a nice substrate scope, which renders it appealing for promising applications in organic synthesis and materials chemistry.

Mononuclear Iron Pyridinethiolate Complex Promoted CO Photoreduction via Rapid Intramolecular Electron Transfer.

Designing earth-abundant metal complexes as efficient molecular photocatalysts for visible light-driven CO reduction is a key challenge in artificial photosynthesis. Here, we demonstrated the first example of a mononuclear iron pyridine-thiolate complex that functions both as a photosensitizer and catalyst for CO reduction. This single-component bifunctional molecular photocatalyst efficiently reduced CO to formate and CO with a total turnover number (TON) of 46 and turnover frequency (TOF) of 11.

Harnessing generative AI to decode enzyme catalysis and evolution for enhanced engineering.

Enzymes, as paramount protein catalysts, occupy a central role in fostering remarkable progress across numerous fields. However, the intricacy of sequence-function relationships continues to obscure our grasp of enzyme behaviors and curtails our capabilities in rational enzyme engineering. Generative artificial intelligence (AI), known for its proficiency in handling intricate data distributions, holds the potential to offer novel perspectives in enzyme research.

[The role of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes in age-related cardiovascular diseases].

Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) are the physical connection sites between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). As the compartments controlling substance and information communications between ER and mitochondria, MAMs were involved in the regulation of various pathophysiological processes, such as calcium homeostasis, mitochondrial morphology and function, lipid metabolism and autophagy. In the past decades, accumulating lines of evidence have revealed the pivotal role of MAMs in diverse cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Molecular Engineering of Copper Phthalocyanine for CO Electroreduction to Methane.

Efficient electrochemical CO reduction reaction (ECORR) to multi-electron reductive products remains a great challenge. Herein, molecular engineering of copper phthalocyanines (CuPc) was explored by modifying electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) (cyano, sulfonate anion) and electron-donating groups (EDGs) (methoxy, amino) to CuPc, then supporting onto carbon paper or carbon cloth by means of droplet coating, loading with carbon nanotubes and coating in polypyrrole (PPy). The results showed that the PPy-coated CuPc effectively catalysed ECORR to CH.

Enhancing luciferase activity and stability through generative modeling of natural enzyme sequences.

The availability of natural protein sequences synergized with generative AI provides new paradigms to engineer enzymes. Although active enzyme variants with numerous mutations have been designed using generative models, their performance often falls short of their wild type counterparts. Additionally, in practical applications, choosing fewer mutations that can rival the efficacy of extensive sequence alterations is usually more advantageous.

Harnessing Generative AI to Decode Enzyme Catalysis and Evolution for Enhanced Engineering.

Enzymes, as paramount protein catalysts, occupy a central role in fostering remarkable progress across numerous fields. However, the intricacy of sequence-function relationships continues to obscure our grasp of enzyme behaviors and curtails our capabilities in rational enzyme engineering. Generative artificial intelligence (AI), known for its proficiency in handling intricate data distributions, holds the potential to offer novel perspectives in enzyme research.

Enhancing Luciferase Activity and Stability through Generative Modeling of Natural Enzyme Sequences.

The availability of natural protein sequences synergized with generative artificial intelligence (AI) provides new paradigms to create enzymes. Although active enzyme variants with numerous mutations have been produced using generative models, their performance often falls short compared to their wild-type counterparts. Additionally, in practical applications, choosing fewer mutations that can rival the efficacy of extensive sequence alterations is usually more advantageous.

Relationships among body weight, lipids and bone mass in elderly individuals with fractures: A case-control study.

Background: The prevalence of osteoporosis and low bone mass is steadily rising each year. Low body weight is commonly linked to diminished bone mass and serves as a robust predictor of osteoporosis. Nonetheless, the connection between body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density, and lipid profiles among the elderly remains elusive.

[Comparison of curative effect between percutaneous compression plate and cannulated compression screw in the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in young and middle-aged patients].

Objective: To compare the efficacy of percutaneous compression plate and cannulated compression screw in the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in young and middle-aged patients.

Methods: From January 2015 to July 2020, 68 young and middle-aged patients with displaced femoral neck fracture were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 31 cases were fixed by percutaneous compression plate (PCCP), and 37 cases were fixed by cannulated compression screw (CCS).

Thyroidectomy using a single-port cervico-mental angle approach.

Background: Over the last two decades, several endoscopic thyroidectomy methods have been developed. However, there are some limitations in these procedures. To date, the optimal surgical approach for thyroid cancer has not yet been developed.

Cobalt Phthalocyanine Cross-Linked Polypyrrole for Efficient Electroreduction of Low Concentration CO To CO.

Immobilizing cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) onto the electrode surface is a significant approach to performing efficient electrochemical CO reduction reaction (ECO RR). Herein, sulfylphenoxy decorated CoPc cross-linked polypyrrole is prepared by in situ polymerization on the surface of carbon cloth. The synthesized N-rich catalyst exhibits above 95 % Faradaic efficiency toward CO (FE ) at -0.

Exploring the Role of Chemical Reactions in the Selectivity of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

A variety of diseases are associated with tyrosine kinase enzymes that activate many proteins via signal transduction cascades. The similar ATP-binding pockets of these tyrosine kinases make it extremely difficult to design selective covalent inhibitors. The present study explores the contribution of the chemical reaction steps to the selectivity of the commercialized inhibitor acalabrutinib over the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) and the interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase (ITK).

Natural Evolution Provides Strong Hints about Laboratory Evolution of Designer Enzymes.

Laboratory evolution combined with computational enzyme design provides the opportunity to generate novel biocatalysts. Nevertheless, it has been challenging to understand how laboratory evolution optimizes designer enzymes by introducing seemingly random mutations. A typical enzyme optimized with laboratory evolution is the abiological Kemp eliminase, initially designed by grafting active site residues into a natural protein scaffold.

Molecular Engineering of Metal Complexes for Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction: From Adjustment of Intrinsic Activity to Molecular Immobilization.

The electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (ECO RR) is one promising method for storing intermittent clean energy in chemical bonds and producing fuels. Among various kinds of catalysts for ECO RR, molecular metal complexes with well-defined structures are convenient for studies of their rational design, structure-reactivity relationships, and mechanisms. In this Review, we summarize the molecular engineering of several N-based metal complexes including Re/Mn bipyridine compounds and metal macrocycles, concluding with general modification strategies to devise novel molecular catalysts with high intrinsic activity.

pH regulates potassium conductance and drives a constitutive proton current in human TMEM175.

Human TMEM175, a noncanonical potassium (K) channel in endolysosomes, contributes to their pH stability and is implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Structurally, the TMEM175 family exhibits an architecture distinct from canonical potassium channels, as it lacks the typical TVGYG selectivity filter. Here, we show that human TMEM175 not only exhibits pH-dependent structural changes that reduce K permeation at acidic pH but also displays proton permeation.

Enhancing computational enzyme design by a maximum entropy strategy.

Although computational enzyme design is of great importance, the advances utilizing physics-based approaches have been slow, and further progress is urgently needed. One promising direction is using machine learning, but such strategies have not been established as effective tools for predicting the catalytic power of enzymes. Here, we show that the statistical energy inferred from homologous sequences with the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) principle significantly correlates with enzyme catalysis and stability at the active site region and the more distant region, respectively.

Electrostatic influence on IL-1 transport through the GSDMD pore.

A variety of signals, including inflammasome activation, trigger the formation of large transmembrane pores by gasdermin D (GSDMD). There are primarily two functions of the GSDMD pore, to drive lytic cell death, known as pyroptosis, and to permit the release of leaderless interleukin-1 (IL-1) family cytokines, a process that does not require pyroptosis. We are interested in the mechanism by which the GSDMD pore channels IL-1 release from living cells.

Metabolic Profiling Revealed Prediction Biomarkers for Infantile Hemangioma in Umbilical Cord Blood Sera: A Prospective Study.

Infantile hemangioma (IH), the most common benign tumor in infancy, mostly arises and has rapid growth before 3 months of age. Because irreversible skin changes occur in the early proliferative stage, early medical treatment is essential to reduce the permanent sequelae caused by IH. Yet there are still no early screening biomarkers for IH before its visible emergence.

Quantification of penile fat infiltration using the mDIXON Quant sequence: a pilot study on the correlation with penis hardness and erectile dysfunction.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine fat/water signal ratios using the mDIXON Quant sequence, quantitatively assess fat infiltration in the penis, and explore its possible relationship with penile hardness and erectile dysfunction.

Methods: Routine pelvic MRI with the mDIXON Quant sequence was performed in 62 subjects, including 22 people in the normal group, 20 people in the normal erectile hardness group, and 20 people in the erectile dysfunction (ED) group. The fat/water signal ratio in the penis was measured using the mDIXON Quant sequence.

[Research progress on soil aggregates and associated organic carbon in salinized soils].

Soil aggregate, as a basic component of soils, plays an important role in improving soil structure and enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. The special soil properties induced by salinization, such as high ion concentrations (mainly Na), shortage of organic material and bad condition of microbe, inhibit the formation and stability of soil aggregate. Therefore, it is important and meaningful to explore the dynamics of aggregate in salinized soils.

Diversity and functional characteristics of endophytic bacteria from two grass species growing on an oil-contaminated site in the Yellow River Delta, China.

Phragmites australis and Chloris virgata are native, dominant, salt-tolerant grass species that grow in the Yellow River Delta, China, and have potential applications in the phytoremediation of petroleum-polluted saline soil. The characteristics of endophytic bacterial communities of Phragmites australis and Chloris virgata and their functions in hydrocarbon degradation and plant growth promotion have been studied using both high-throughput sequencing and conventional microbial techniques. Through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we found five bacterial phyla that were dominant among the endophytic bacterial communities of the two grass species, including Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Tenericutes.