Prevention of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Among Black or African American Children With and Without Sickle Cell Disease in the United States After Introduction of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, 2005 Through 2019.

Background: Administration of pneumococcal vaccines and oral penicillin prophylaxis has been recommended for children with sickle cell disease (SCD) to reduce the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Characterizing changes in IPD cases among children with SCD after 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) introduction could help inform the need for additional prevention measures.

Methods: Using data from Active Bacterial Core surveillance, we characterized IPD cases among Black or African American (Black) children aged less than 18 years with SCD, non-SCD IPD risk factors, and no IPD risk factors across three time periods (pre-PCV13 [2005-2009], early-PCV13 [2010-2014], and late-PCV13 [2015-2019]), and assessed proportion of IPD cases caused by serotypes in new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15, PCV20) recommended after 2019.

Oxidation Triggered Supramolecular Chirality.

Topochemical reactions normally occurring in the solid and crystalline state exhibit solvent-free and catalyst-free properties, with high atom economy properties, which have been widely applied in materials science and polymer synthesis. Herein, we explore the potential of topochemical reactions for controlling the emergence of supramolecular chirality and the precise fabrication of chiroptical materials. Boronic acid pinacol esters (BPin) were conjugated to naphthalimides containing an inherent chiral cholesteryl group linked by alkyl or benzene spacers.

Enhanced autophagy and cholesterol efflux in mouse mesenchymal stem cells infected with H37Rv compared to H37Ra.

Autophagy, metabolism, and associated signaling pathways play critical roles in bacterial survival within mammalian cells and influence the immunopathogenesis of infections. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are important host cells during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, yet how autophagy, metabolism, and related pathways are modulated in MSCs infected with the virulent H37Rv or the attenuated H37Ra strain of Mtb remains poorly understood. In this study, we utilized RNA-Seq screening, qRT-PCR, and Western Blotting to investigate the differences in these processes between H37Rv and H37Ra infections.

Microplastics/nanoplastics and neurological health: An overview of neurological defects and mechanisms.

The widespread use of plastic products worldwide has brought about serious environmental issues. In natural environments, it's difficult for plastic products to degrade completely, and so they exist in the form of micro/nanoplastics (M/NPs), which have become a new type of pollutant. Prolonged exposure to M/NPs can lead to a series of health problems in humans, particularly toxicity to the nervous system, with consequences including neurodevelopmental abnormalities, neuronal death, neurological inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Marine anoxia impede the transformation of dissolved organic carbon released by kelp into refractory dissolved organic carbon.

The transformation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) released by macroalgae into refractory dissolved organic carbon (RDOC) through microbial carbon pump (MCP) represents a crucial carbon sequestration process. This process mainly takes place in coastal areas, where it is likely affected by marine anoxia. The interactions between the components of DOC released by kelp and the community structure of heterotrophic bacteria both under normoxic and anoxic conditions were studied by three-dimensional fluorescence parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), Fourier Transform-Ion Cyclotron Resonance-Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing.

AI-boosted and motion-corrected, wireless near-infrared sensing system for continuously monitoring laryngeal muscles.

Neuromuscular diseases pose significant health and economic challenges, necessitating innovative monitoring technologies for personalizable treatment. Existing devices detect muscular motions either indirectly from mechanoacoustic signatures on skin surface or via ultrasound waves that demand specialized skin adhesion. Here, we report a wireless wearable system, Laryngeal Health Monitor (LaHMo), designed to be conformally placed on the neck for continuously measuring movements of underlying muscles.

Gain of function NOTCH3 variants cause familial partial lipodystrophy due to activation of senescence pathways.

Despite elucidation of the molecular genetic basis of several lipodystrophy syndromes, molecular defects in some ultra-rare subtypes of familial lipodystrophies remain unidentified. We analyzed whole exome sequencing (WES) data of four affected and two unaffected females from an undiagnosed autosomal dominant familial partial lipodystrophy (FPL) pedigree and identified only one novel heterozygous variant, p.Ala1603Tyr in NOTCH3 meeting the filtering criteria.

Transmission of Peripheral-blood α-Synuclein Fibrils Exacerbates Synucleinopathy and Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's Disease by Endothelial Lag3 Endocytosis.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder. The pathological feature of PD is abnormal alpha-synuclein (α-syn) formation and transmission. Recent evidence demonstrates that α-syn preformed fibrils (α-syn PFF) can be detected in the serum of PD patients.

Protein Kinase C-β Inhibition and Survival Signaling after Simulated Cardioplegic Ischemia/Reperfusion in Non-Diabetic and Diabetic Human Coronary Arterial Endothelial Cells.

Background: Cardioplegic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury poses substantial challenges during postoperative recovery, with diabetic patients particularly susceptible to adverse events. Using a model entailing the subjection of human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) to simulated cardioplegic I/R, we investigated the potential of protein kinase c β (PKC-β) inhibition to augment cellular survival in this context.

Study Design: HCAECs were isolated from harvested coronary arteries of diabetic (D) and nondiabetic (C) patients (N = 4 per group).

Dynamic parallel traction theoretical model for the application and validation in femoral neck fractures - a finite element analysis.

Study Objective: This study aims to validate the application effects of a novel theoretical model of dynamic parallel traction in the treatment of femoral neck fractures through three-dimensional finite element analysis. By simulating the femoral neck fracture model, we explore the promotional effect of dynamic parallel traction on fracture healing.

Method: A digital 3D femur model was constructed using high-resolution computed tomography data of the lower limbs of a 70-year-old elderly subject.

Machine Learning-Driven Methods for Nanobody Affinity Prediction.

Because of their high affinity, specificity, and environmental stability, nanobodies (Nbs) have continuously received attention from the field of biological research. However, it is tough work to obtain high-affinity Nbs using experimental methods. In the current study, 12 machine learning algorithms were compared in parallel to explore the potential patterns between Nb-ligand affinity and eight noncovalent interactions.

Flowable Oxygen-Release Hydrogel Inhibits Bacteria and Treats Periodontitis.

Periodontitis, the chronic inflammation of the periodontal tissues caused by bacteria in plaque, is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults in the world. Currently, periodontitis is effectively treated with mechanical cleaning and the use of antibiotics. However, these treatments only temporarily remove plaque, which can rapidly proliferate and multiply in periodontal pockets over time.

Predictive Value of Plasma D-Dimer for Cerebral Herniation Post-Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Background: Cerebral hernia is a serious complication after thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aims to explore the predictive value of emergency preoperative plasma D-dimer levels in cerebral herniation after successful thrombectomy.

Methods: Between January 2019 and December 2023, patients with AIS who received a successful thrombectomy in our single comprehensive stroke center were retrospectively enrolled.

Pattern-based quantum text watermarking: Securing digital content with next-Gen quantum techniques.

As pioneers of next-generation watermarking technologies, quantum methods offer advanced solutions for securing digital text copyright. Quantum text representation is a prerequisite for realizing quantum watermarking. Thus we propose a generalized quantum text representation (GQTR) model for English text.

Machine learning based anoikis signature predicts personalized treatment strategy of breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among women worldwide, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative prognostic tools to improve treatment strategies. Anoikis, a form of programmed cell death critical in preventing metastasis, plays a pivotal role in breast cancer progression.

Methods: This study introduces the Artificial Intelligence-Derived Anoikis Signature (AIDAS), a novel machine learning-based prognostic tool that identifies key anoikis-related gene patterns in breast cancer.

Effect of mulching and organic manure on maize yield, water, and nitrogen use efficiency in the Loess Plateau of China.

Current agricultural practices prioritize intensive food production, often at the expense of environmental sustainability. This approach results in greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater pollution due to over-fertilization. In contrast, organic agriculture promotes a more efficient use of non-renewable energy, improves soil quality, and reduces ecological damage.

Optimizing maize germination forecasts with random forest and data fusion techniques.

Traditional methods for detecting seed germination rates often involve lengthy experiments that result in damaged seeds. This study selected the Zheng Dan-958 maize variety to predict germination rates using multi-source information fusion and a random forest (RF) algorithm. Images of the seeds and internal cracks were captured with a digital camera.

Establishment of a genome-editing system to create fragrant germplasm in sweet sorghum.

Unlabelled: Sorghum, the fifth largest global cereal crop, comprises various types, such as grain, sweet, forage, and biomass sorghum, delineated by their designated end uses. Among these, sweet sorghum ( (L.) Moench) stands out for its unique versatility, exceptional abiotic stress tolerance and large biomass serving the multi-purpose of high-sugar forage, syrup, and biofuel production.

Identification of potential immune-related genes and infiltrations in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential inflammatory cytokines and chemokines markers for temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) diagnosis using a bioinformatics analysis.

Methods: The differentially expressed genes of mRNA (DEGs) and transcripts of lncRNA (DETs) were identified between TMJOA samples and normal controls curated from GSE205389 by the "DESeq. 2" R package.

Physical activity promotes the development of cognitive ability in adolescents: the chain mediating role based on self-education expectations and learning behaviors.

Cognitive ability plays a crucial role in adolescents' academic performance and subsequent career development. Although previous studies have demonstrated that physical activity, self-education expectations, and learning behaviors positively affect the cognitive development of adolescents, the extent of their influence and their mediating roles require further elucidation. This study is based on tracking survey data from 2,688 adolescents in Chinese households collected in 2018.

The Imbalance of Homeostasis in Neutrophil Extracellular Traps is Associated with Portal Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Decompensated Cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a challenging complication in liver cirrhosis, with no currently available sensitive diagnostic markers. This study aimed to investigate the potential of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and Deoxyribonuclease (DNase) as diagnostic indicators for PVT in chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related decompensated cirrhosis.

Methods: We analyzed 145 CHB-related decompensated cirrhosis patients from the Ditan study and 33 from the Changgung validation study, categorizing them based on PVT occurrence.

Therapeutic targeting of cGAS-STING pathway in lung cancer.

The presence of DNA in the cytosol triggers a protective response from the innate immune system. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) is an essential cytosolic DNA sensor that triggers a potent innate immune response. As a result of this signaling cascade reaction, type I interferon and other immune mediators activate an immune response.

Associations of systemic immune-inflammation index and systemic inflammation response index with maternal gestational diabetes mellitus: Evidence from a prospective birth cohort study.

Background: The role of inflammation in the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has recently become a focus of research. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), novel indices, reflect the body's chronic immune-inflammatory state. This study aimed to investigate the associations between the SII or SIRI and GDM.

The application of different biotechnologies in detecting the changes in MAM and their classic discoveries.

Mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM) has been studied as a novel target for explaining the mechanisms underlying the changes in cellular function and the process of multiple diseases. This structure is a complex of proteins, it tethers mitochondria to the endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum (ER/SR) and mediates the crosstalk of ions, lipids and metabolites between the two organelles. Different component proteins play distinctive ways in influencing the structure of MAM or the cellular signal transduction.