Diverse autoinhibitory mechanisms of FIIND-containing proteins: Insight into regulation of NLRP1 and CARD8 inflammasome.

Function-to-find domain (FIIND)-containing proteins, including NLRP1 and CARD8, are vital components of the inflammasome signaling pathway, critical for the innate immune response. These proteins exist in various forms due to autoproteolysis within the FIIND domain, resulting in full-length (FL), cleaved N-terminal (NT), and cleaved C-terminal (CT) peptides, which form autoinhibitory complexes in the steady state. However, the detailed mechanism remains elusive.

Analysis of seroprevalence and risk factors for syphilis and HIV among female sex workers and transgender individuals in different cities of Sindh, Pakistan.

Introduction: Co-infections of syphilis and HIV have been found to exacerbate the impact on sexual and reproductive health, especially among key population groups such as Female Sex Workers (FSWs) and Transgender Individuals (TGs). The data on the prevalence and determinants of syphilis and HIV in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh province, is limited. This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for HIV and syphilis infections among FSWs and TGs in different cities of Sindh, Pakistan.

Assessing cardiovascular disease risk and social determinants of health: A comparative analysis of five risk estimation instruments using data from the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network.

Background: Accurate assessment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is crucial for effective prevention and resource allocation. However, few CVD risk estimation tools consider social determinants of health (SDoH), despite their known impact on CVD risk. We aimed to estimate 10-year CVD risk in the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network Cohort Study (ECS) across multiple risk estimation instruments and assess the association between SDoH and CVD risk.

Measurement properties of instruments to assess insight in psychosis: A systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Insight in psychosis, defined as a patient's awareness and judgment of their mental illness, is a complex and evolving concept. Historically, the absence of insight was considered a defining characteristic of psychosis, but recent decades have seen the development of structured tools for its assessment. This systematic review aims to critically appraise the measurement properties of instruments used to assess insight in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum, bridging the gap between theoretical conceptualization and clinical practice.

Rspo3-mediated metabolic liver zonation regulates systemic glucose metabolism and body mass in mice.

The unique architecture of the liver consists of hepatic lobules, dividing the hepatic features of metabolism into 2 distinct zones, namely the pericentral and periportal zones, the spatial characteristics of which are broadly defined as metabolic zonation. R-spondin3 (Rspo3), a bioactive protein promoting the Wnt signaling pathway, regulates metabolic features especially around hepatic central veins. However, the functional impact of hepatic metabolic zonation, regulated by the Rspo3/Wnt signaling pathway, on whole-body metabolism homeostasis remains poorly understood.

Mutant KRAS and CK2 Cooperatively Stimulate SLC16A3 Activity to Drive Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Progression.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a lethal malignancy affecting the liver and biliary system. Enhanced understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying iCCA tumorigenesis and the discovery of appropriate therapeutic targets are imperative to improve patient outcomes. Here, we investigated the functions and regulations of solute carrier family 16 member 3 (SLC16A3), which has been reported to be a biomarker of poor prognosis in iCCA.

Usual prevention in unusual settings: A scoping review of place-based health interventions in public-facing businesses.

Place-based health interventions may help reach underserved populations. This scoping review summarizes the peer-reviewed literature on the type and effects of place-based health interventions in unconventional public-facing business settings (e.g.

Tumor localization strategies of multi-cancer early detection tests: a quantitative assessment.

Background: Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests may expand cancer screening. Characterizing diagnostic resolution approaches following positive MCED tests is critical. Two trials employed distinct resolution approaches: a molecular signal to predict tissue of origin (TOO) and an imaging-based diagnostic strategy.

The TRIM-NHL RNA-binding protein MEI-P26 modulates the size of Drosophila Type I neuroblast lineages.

The Drosophila TRIM-NHL RNA-binding protein (RBP), MEI-P26, has previously been shown to suppress tumor formation in the germline. Here we show that, in the Drosophila larval central brain, cell-type specific expression of MEI-P26 plays a vital role in regulating neural development. MEI-P26 and another TRIM-NHL RBP, Brain tumor (BRAT), have distinct expression patterns in Type I neuroblast (NB) lineages: While both proteins are expressed in NBs, BRAT is expressed in ganglion mother cells (GMCs) but not neurons whereas MEI-P26 is expressed in neurons but not GMCs.

Alteplase Purge Solution for Impella 5.5 Ventricular Assist Device Purge System Occlusion: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

The use of an alteplase (Activase) purge solution to address Impella ventricular assist device "thrombosis" or "purge system occlusion" has been mainly documented with earlier generation Impella devices (CP, 2.5, 5.0).

Macromolecular interactions and geometrical confinement determine the 3D diffusion of ribosome-sized particles in live cells.

The crowded bacterial cytoplasm is composed of biomolecules that span several orders of magnitude in size and electrical charge. This complexity has been proposed as the source of the rich spatial organization and apparent anomalous diffusion of intracellular components, although this has not been tested directly. Here, we use biplane microscopy to track the 3D motion of self-assembled bacterial genetically encoded multimeric nanoparticles (bGEMs) with tunable size (20 to 50 nm) and charge (-3,240 to +2,700 e) in live cells.

A tough soft-hard interface in the human knee joint driven by multiscale toughening mechanisms.

Joining heterogeneous materials in engineered structures remains a significant challenge due to stress concentration at interfaces, which often leads to unexpected failures. Investigating the complex, multiscale-graded structures found in animal tissue provides valuable insights that can help address this challenge. The human meniscus root-bone interface is an exemplary model, renowned for its exceptional fatigue resistance, toughness, and interfacial adhesion properties throughout its lifespan.

ERBB4 selectively amplifies TGF-β pro-metastatic responses.

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is well known to play paradoxical roles in tumorigenesis as it has both growth-inhibitory and pro-metastatic effects. However, the underlying mechanisms of how TGF-β drives the opposing responses remain largely unknown. Here, we report that ERBB4, a member of the ERBB receptor tyrosine kinase family, specifically promotes TGF-β's metastatic response but not its anti-growth response.

Endoplasmic Reticulum-Targeted Polymer-Manganese Nanocomplexes for Tumor Immunotherapy.

Manganese ions (Mn) are an immune activator that enhances the activation of both cGAS and STING proteins. The STING signaling activation and subsequential immune responses are predominantly associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Therefore, ER targeting of Mn in the subcellular compartments would promote the activation of STING signaling pathways.

Exosome's Implications in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: This study aims to conduct a mini review of published literature concerning the role of exosomes in the field of ophthalmology, with a specific focus on Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Methods: In this study, a comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify relevant publications. Additionally, trials submitted to clinicaltrials.

Association of Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy with Health Outcomes in Mothers and Children: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Immunization rates of maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy remain suboptimal, with concerns about potential harm to the mothers and their offspring. We conducted a population-based cohort study, using mother-child linked database in Korea: (a) maternal cohort between December 2019, and March 2022; (b) neonatal cohort between September 2020, and June 2021. Exposure was defined as influenza vaccination during pregnancy.

Indole-3-Lactic Acid Inhibits Doxorubicin-Induced Ferroptosis Through Activating Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor/Nrf2 Signalling Pathway.

The clinical application of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited due to its cardiotoxicity, which is primarily attributed to its interaction with iron in mitochondria, leading to lipid peroxidation and myocardial ferroptosis. This study aimed to investigate the role of the gut microbiota-derived metabolite, indole-3-lactic acid (ILA), in mitigating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). Cardiac function, pathological changes, and myocardial ferroptosis were assessed in vivo.

A CRISPR-Cas and Argonaute-Driven Two-Factor Authentication Strategy for Information Security.

The escalating growth in computing power and the advent of quantum computing present a critical threat to the security of modern cryptography. Two-factor authentication strategies can effectively resist brute-force attacks to improve the security of access control. Herein, we proposed a two-factor and two-authentication entity strategy based on the trans-cleavage activity of CRISPR-Cas and the "dual-step" sequence-specific cleavage of Argonaute.

3D Mechanical Response Stem Cell Complex Repairs Spinal Cord Injury by Promoting Neurogenesis and Regulating Tissue Homeostasis.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to acute tissue damage that disrupts the microenvironmental homeostasis of the spinal cord, inhibiting cell survival and function, and thereby undermining treatment efficacy. Traditional stem cell therapies have limited success in SCI, due to the difficulties in maintaining cell survival and inducing sustained differentiation into neural lineages. A new solution may arise from controlling the fate of stem cells by creating an appropriate mechanical microenvironment.

Recalcitrant Dermatomyositis Treated With Anifrolumab.

Dermatomyositis is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy which can present with distinctive skin features. Despite the many treatment modalities for the treatment of dermatomyositis some patients remain refractory to treatment. We present a case of a 38-year-old man with recalcitrant dermatomyositis who was successfully treated with the interferon α receptor 1-inhibiting monoclonal antibody anifrolumab.

Deep-Learning Generated Synthetic Material Decomposition Images Based on Single-Energy CT to Differentiate Intracranial Hemorrhage and Contrast Staining Within 24 Hours After Endovascular Thrombectomy.

Aims: To develop a transformer-based generative adversarial network (trans-GAN) that can generate synthetic material decomposition images from single-energy CT (SECT) for real-time detection of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) after endovascular thrombectomy.

Materials: We retrospectively collected data from two hospitals, consisting of 237 dual-energy CT (DECT) scans, including matched iodine overlay maps, virtual noncontrast, and simulated SECT images. These scans were randomly divided into a training set (n = 190) and an internal validation set (n = 47) in a 4:1 ratio based on the proportion of ICH.

The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on personal hygiene behavior and the frequency of peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Introduction And Aim: Peritonitis is a critical complication in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, making compliance with personal hygiene essential. This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic on hygiene behaviors and peritonitis incidence in PD patients.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-two PD patients were assessed for hygiene behaviors, demographic, and medical data.