Spatiotemporal Cellular Dynamics of Germinal Center Reaction in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Lung-Draining Lymph Node Based on Imaging-Based Spatial Transcriptomics.

Although lymph node structures may be compromised in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, the extent and parameters of recovery in convalescing patients remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the nuances of lymphoid structural recovery and their implications for immunologic memory in nonhuman primates infected with SARS-CoV-2. To do so, we utilized imaging-based spatial transcriptomics to delineate immune cell composition and tissue architecture formation in the lung-draining lymph nodes during primary infection, convalescence, and reinfection from COVID-19.

Molecular evolutionary characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and the relatedness of epidemiological and socio-environmental factors.

After the first outbreak, SARS-CoV-2 infection continues to occur due to the emergence of new variants. There is limited information available on the comparative evaluation of evolutionary characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 among different countries over time, and its relatedness to epidemiological and socio-environmental factors within those countries. We assessed comparative Bayesian evolutionary characteristics for SARS-CoV-2 in eight countries from 2020 to 2022 using BEAST version 2.

Age-related antibody response to Orthopoxviruses and implications for public health measures: Insights from a South Korean study.

Background: After the eradication of smallpox, there have been no specific public health measures for any Orthopoxviruses (OPXVs). Therefore, it is necessary to countermeasure OPXV infections after Mpox (formerly monkeypox) occurrences, such as the latest global outbreak in 2022-2023. This study aimed to provide crucial insights for the development of effective public health policy making against mpox in populations residing in regions where the virus is not prevalent.

Spatial transcriptome atlas reveals pulmonary microstructure-specific COVID-19 gene signatures in cynomolgus macaques.

Characterizing the host response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the molecular level is necessary to understand viral pathogenesis and identify clinically relevant biomarkers. However, in humans, the pulmonary host response during disease onset remains poorly understood. Herein, we utilized a spatial transcriptome atlas to identify pulmonary microstructure-specific COVID-19 gene signatures during the acute phase of lung infection in cynomolgus macaques.

Clostridium ventriculi in a cynomolgus monkey with acute gastric dilatation and rupture: A case report.

Acute gastric dilatation (AGD) is one of the most prevalent and life-threatening diseases in nonhuman primates worldwide. However, the etiology of this syndrome has not been determined. Recently, sudden death occurred in a 7-year-old female cynomolgus monkey with a history of fecal microbiota transplantation using diarrheic stools.

Comparative spatial transcriptomic profiling of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Delta and Omicron variants infections in the lungs of cynomolgus macaques.

Recently emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variants are generally less pathogenic than previous strains. However, elucidating the molecular basis for pulmonary immune response alterations is challenging owing to the virus's heterogeneous distribution within complex tissue structure. Here, we revealed the spatial transcriptomic profiles of pulmonary microstructures at the SARS-CoV-2 infection site in the nine cynomolgus macaques upon inoculation with the Delta and Omicron variants.

Statins Enhance the Molecular Response in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia when Combined with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

Previous studies have suggested that statins can be repurposed for cancer treatment. However, the therapeutic efficacy of statins in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of 408 CML patients who underwent imatinib therapy.

Data on the potent fibrinolytic effects of the earthworm and the lugworm.

There is technology available for anti-thrombus with earthworms, but the procedure is complex and extracts protein with inferior purity. In order to develop a simplified process with a stronger purity of protease, we investigated the earthworm and lugworm. We purified water extracts cut off at 10 kDa of molecular weight using ultrafiltration because proteins are large biomolecules, or macromolecules, consisting of one or more long chains of amino acid residues.

Anti-inflammatory effects of the combined extracts of and and .

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of mixed extracts of (AJ) and (AC) (ratios of 1:2, 1:3, 1:5, 2:1, 3:1 and 5:1) on RAW264.7 macrophages and evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of the mixed extracts of AJ and AC by measuring IL-1, IL-6, and TNF using the ELISA kit assay. In particular, the formation of nitric oxide (NO) was found to decrease in the group treated with the combined extracts of AJ and AC at all ratios.

Evidence that 6q25.1 variant rs6931104 confers susceptibility to chronic myeloid leukemia through RMND1 regulation.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder. Our previous study reported novel loci as genetic markers associated with increased susceptibility to CML. The present study conducted an expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis to confirm that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at these loci affect the expression of candidate CML-susceptible genes.

HMGCLL1 is a predictive biomarker for deep molecular response to imatinib therapy in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Achieving a deep molecular response (DMR) to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) remains challenging and at present, there is no biomarker to predict DMR in this setting. Herein, we report that an HMGCLL1 genetic variant located in 6p12.1 can be used as a predictive genetic biomarker for intrinsic sensitivity to imatinib (IM) therapy.

Challenges in assessing pathogenicity based on frequency of variants in mismatch repair genes: an extreme case of a MSH2 variant and a meta-analysis.

The clinical interpretation of variants in mismatch repair (MMR) genes associated with Lynch syndrome can be confusing when the functional nature of the variant is not clearly defined. We report an extreme case where a polymorphism in the MSH2 gene which had a low minor allele frequency, was misclassified as a mutation based on low evidential methods in the database and previous publications. We expanded this experience to perform a systematic meta-analysis in order to investigate other variants that have potentially been misclassified.

Clinical application of catalytically cleavable fluorescence probe technology for multiplexing quantification of BCR-ABL1 fusion transcripts.

Background: Accurate measurement of BCR-ABL1 fusion transcripts is critical for therapeutic stratification in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Previous studies have reported the variable performance of the existing quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR). Here, we developed a one-step multiplex RQ-PCR method based on the catalytically cleavable fluorescence probe technology for quantification of BCR-ABL1 transcripts.

Flavonoids from the grains of C1/R-S transgenic rice, the transgenic Oryza sativa spp. japonica, and their radical scavenging activities.

The transgenic rice cultivar of Oryza sativa spp. japonica cv. Hwa-Young, C1/R-S transgenic rice (C1/R-S rice), is a flavonoid-rich cultivar of rice.

Potential role of the rice OsCCS52A gene in endoreduplication.

In eukaryotes, the cell cycle consists of four distinct phases: G1, S, G2 and M. In certain condition, the cells skip M-phase and undergo endoreduplication. Endoreduplication, occurring during a modified cell cycle, duplicates the entire genome without being followed by M-phase.

A putative novel transcription factor, AtSKIP, is involved in abscisic acid signalling and confers salt and osmotic tolerance in Arabidopsis.

We identified and functionally characterized the AtSKIP gene (At1g77180), an Arabidopsis homologue of SNW/SKIP, under abiotic stresses. Although the SNW/SKIP protein has been implicated as a critical transcription cofactor, its biological functions have yet to be reported in any plant. Recently, we have isolated Salt-tolerance genes (SATs) via the overexpression screening of yeast with a maize cDNA library.

Production of purple-colored creeping bentgrass using maize transcription factor genes Pl and Lc through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

Purple-colored transgenic creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) plants were developed for ornamental purpose by means of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Embryogenic creeping bentgrass calli were transformed with the pCAMBIA 3301 vector harboring maize (Zea mays) flavonoid/anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway transcription factor genes, Lc (Leaf color) and Pl (Purple leaf), individually and in combination, and three types of putative transgenic plants (Lc, Pl, and Lc + Pl) were generated.

Further characterization of a rice AGL12 group MADS-box gene, OsMADS26.

Plant MADS-box genes can be divided into 11 groups. Genetic analysis has revealed that most of them function in flowering-time control, reproductive organ development, and vegetative growth. Here, we elucidated the role of OsMADS26, a member of the AGL12 group.

Endosperm-specific expression of serotonin N-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase in rice.

Serotonin N-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (SHT) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of feruloylserotonin (FS) and 4-coumaroylserotonin (CS). These serotonin derivatives show strong antioxidant activity, making them valuable for both nutritional and pharmacological use in humans. Ectopic expression of SHT under the control of the endosperm specific-glutelin and prolamin promoters from rice was produced via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

Enhanced tolerance to heat stress in transgenic plants expressing the GASA4 gene.

We conducted a genetic yeast screen to identify Thermo-tolerance genes (TTOs) in maize kernel cDNA library. During the screening, we identified a maize clone (TTO6) that seemed to confer elevated heat tolerance in comparison to control cells. TTO6 cDNA (GenBank accession no.

Constitutively wilted 1, a member of the rice YUCCA gene family, is required for maintaining water homeostasis and an appropriate root to shoot ratio.

Increasing its root to shoot ratio is a plant strategy for restoring water homeostasis in response to the long-term imposition of mild water stress. In addition to its important role in diverse fundamental processes, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is involved in root growth and development. Recent extensive characterizations of the YUCCA gene family in Arabidopsis and rice have elucidated that member's function in a tryptophan-dependent IAA biosynthetic pathway.

Transgenic rice lines expressing maize C1 and R-S regulatory genes produce various flavonoids in the endosperm.

Flavonoids, compounds that possess diverse health-promoting benefits, are lacking in the endosperm of rice. Therefore, to develop transgenic lines that produce flavonoids, we transformed a white rice cultivar, Oryza sativa japonica cv. Hwa-Young, with maize C1 and R-S regulatory genes.

Effects of contralateral electroacupuncture on brain function: a double-blind, randomized, pilot clinical trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to ascertain the effects of contralateral acupuncture on brain function using blind-spot mapping.

Design And Participants: Forty (40) healthy volunteers in whom the right-side blind spot was larger than the left-side one-which indicates lower left-brain function-were randomly assigned into the following two groups in which electroacupuncture was applied to: (1) the contralateral ST36 acupuncture point (right side), and (2) the ipsilateral ST36 acupuncture point (left side).

Outcome Measure: Blind-spot perimetry length was the outcome measure.

A dominant negative mutant of cyclin-dependent kinase A reduces endoreduplication but not cell size or gene expression in maize endosperm.

Cells in maize (Zea mays) endosperm undergo multiple cycles of endoreduplication, with some attaining DNA contents as high as 96C and 192C. Genome amplification begins around 10 d after pollination, coincident with cell enlargement and the onset of starch and storage protein accumulation. Although the role of endoreduplication is unclear, it is thought to provide a mechanism that increases cell size and enhances gene expression.

Stimulation of the cell cycle and maize transformation by disruption of the plant retinoblastoma pathway.

The genome of the Mastreviruses encodes a replication-associated protein (RepA) that interacts with members of the plant retinoblastoma-related protein family, which are putative cell cycle regulators. Expression of ZmRb1, a maize retinoblastoma-related gene, and RepA inhibited and stimulated, respectively, cell division in tobacco cell cultures. The effect of RepA was mitigated by over-expression of ZmRb1.