Structures of Saccharolobus solfataricus initiation complexes with leaderless mRNAs highlight archaeal features and eukaryotic proximity.

The archaeal ribosome is of the eukaryotic type. TACK and Asgard superphyla, the closest relatives of eukaryotes, have ribosomes containing eukaryotic ribosomal proteins not found in other archaea, eS25, eS26 and eS30. Here, we investigate the case of Saccharolobus solfataricus, a TACK crenarchaeon, using mainly leaderless mRNAs.

CIROZ is dispensable in ancestral vertebrates but essential for left-right patterning in humans.

Four genes-DAND5, PKD1L1, MMP21, and CIROP-form a genetic module that has specifically evolved in vertebrate species that harbor motile cilia in their left-right organizer (LRO). We find here that CIROZ (previously known as C1orf127) is also specifically expressed in the LRO of mice, frogs, and fish, where it encodes a protein with a signal peptide followed by 3 zona pellucida N domains, consistent with extracellular localization. We report 16 individuals from 10 families with bi-allelic CIROZ inactivation variants, which cause heterotaxy with congenital heart defects.

Deriving a genetic regulatory network from an optimization principle.

Many biological systems operate near the physical limits to their performance, suggesting that aspects of their behavior and underlying mechanisms could be derived from optimization principles. However, such principles have often been applied only in simplified models. Here, we explore a detailed mechanistic model of the gap gene network in the embryo, optimizing its 50+ parameters to maximize the information that gene expression levels provide about nuclear positions.

Foot growth disorder after surgery of lower limb malignant bone tumor in a pediatric series.

Bakground: Child malignant bone tumors often develop near growth cartilage. The gold standard surgery consists in large segmental resection. This resection often requires the sacrifice of growth cartilage, leading to inequality of limb length.

First clinical utility of sensing Ultrasound Localization Microscopy (sULM): identifying renal pseudotumors.

Renal pseudotumors, which mimic tumors on imaging, pose diagnostic challenges that can lead to unnecessary interventions. Sensing ultrasound localization microscopy (sULM) is an advanced imaging technique that uses ultrasound imaging and microbubbles as sensors to visualize kidney functional units. This study aims to investigate whether sULM could differentiate between renal pseudotumors and tumors based on the presence of glomeruli.

A Multiyear Longitudinal Harmonization Study of Quality Controls in Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core Facilities.

Quality control procedures play a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability and consistency of data generated in mass spectrometry-based proteomics laboratories. However, the lack of standardized quality control practices across laboratories poses challenges for data comparability and reproducibility. In response, we conducted a harmonization study within proteomics laboratories of the Core for Life alliance with the aim of establishing a common quality control framework, which facilitates comprehensive quality assessment and identification of potential sources of performance drift.

Transcription factor clusters as information transfer agents.

Deciphering how genes interpret information from transcription factor (TF) concentrations within the cell nucleus remains a fundamental question in gene regulation. Recent advancements have revealed the heterogeneous distribution of TF molecules, posing challenges to precisely decoding concentration signals. Using high-resolution single-cell imaging of the fluorescently tagged TF Bicoid in living embryos, we show that Bicoid accumulation in submicrometer clusters preserves the spatial information of the maternal Bicoid gradient.

Impact of gender on self-assessment accuracy among fourth-year French medical students on faculty's online Objective Structured Clinical Examinations.

Background: Historically, women have been shown to underestimate their abilities, while men often assess themselves more accurately or overestimate. This study aims to determine self-assessment accuracy during online Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) according to gender.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted among fourth-year medical students at Paris Cité University during faculty training OSCEs, utilizing Zoom® software for remote participation.

Safety of baricitinib in vaccinated patients with severe and critical COVID-19 sub study of the randomised Bari-SolidAct trial.

Background: The Bari-SolidAct randomized controlled trial compared baricitinib with placebo in patients with severe COVID-19. A post hoc analysis revealed a higher incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs) among SARS-CoV-2-vaccinated participants who had received baricitinib. This sub-study aimed to investigate whether vaccination influences the safety profile of baricitinib in patients with severe COVID-19.

CD57 EMRA CD8 T cells in cancer patients over 70: associations with prior chemotherapy and response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.

Background: Immune ageing complicates cancer treatment in older individuals. While immunotherapy targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway can reinvigorate T cells, these cells tend to become senescent with age. This study investigates different CD8 T cell subsets usually associated with senescence, in cancer patients over 70 years old who are undergoing anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy, and examines the relationship between these senescent cells and prior chemotherapy exposure.

Snakebites in Cameroon by Species Whose Effects Are Poorly Described.

Snakes responsible for bites are rarely identified, resulting in a loss of information about snakebites from venomous species whose venom effects are poorly understood. A prospective clinical study including patients bitten by a snake was conducted in Cameroon between 2019 and 2021 to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a marketed polyvalent antivenom. Clinical presentation during the first 3 days of hospitalization was recorded following a standardized protocol.

New Insights in Paediatric Dermatopathology-2nd Edition.

Paediatric dermatology is still an expanding subspeciality, which is well illustrated by the growing number of books and articles that have been published on this subject in recent years [...

TANGO2-related rhabdomyolysis symptoms are associated with abnormal autophagy functioning.

Patients with pathogenic variants in the gene suffer from severe and recurrent rhabdomyolysis episodes precipitated by fasting. Autophagy functioning was analyzed , in primary skeletal myoblasts from TANGO2 patients, in basal and fasting conditions, and mutations were associated with reduced LC3-II levels upon starvation. In zebrafish larvae, inhibition induced locomotor defects which were exacerbated by exposure to atorvastatin, a compound known to cause rhabdomyolysis.

Impact on clinical guideline adherence of Orient-COVID, a clinical decision support system based on dynamic decision trees for COVID19 management: A randomized simulation trial with medical trainees.

Background: The adherence of clinicians to clinical practice guidelines is known to be low, including for the management of COVID-19, due to their difficult use at the point of care and their complexity. Clinical decision support systems have been proposed to implement guidelines and improve adherence. One approach is to permit the navigation inside the recommendations, presented as a decision tree, but the size of the tree often limits this approach and may cause erroneous navigation, especially when it does not fit in a single screen.

The backpack quotient filter: A dynamic and space-efficient data structure for querying -mers with abundance.

Genomic data sequencing is crucial for understanding biological systems. As genomic databases like the European Nucleotide Archive expand exponentially, efficient data manipulation is essential. A key challenge is querying these databases to determine the presence or absence of specific sequences and their abundance within datasets.

Description of Cohnella rhizoplanae sp. nov., isolated from the root surface of soybean (Glycine max).

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JJ-181, was isolated from the root surface of soybean. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, strain JJ-181 was grouped into the genus Cohnella, most closely related to Cohnella hashimotonis F6_2S_P_1 (98.85%) and C.

Prediction of the need of enteral nutrition during radiation therapy for head and neck cancers.

Introduction: Patients with a head and neck (HN) cancer undergoing radiotherapy risk critical weight loss and oral intake reduction leading to enteral nutrition. We developed a predictive model for the need for enteral nutrition during radiotherapy in this setting. Its performances were reported on a real-world multicentric cohort.

A new regulation mechanism for KCNN4, the Ca-dependent K channel, by molecular interactions with the Capump PMCA4b.

KCNN4, a Ca-activated K channel, is involved in various physiological and pathological processes. It is essential for epithelial transport, immune system and other physiological mechanisms but its activation is also involved in cancer pathophysiology as well as red blood cell disorders (RBC). The activation of KCNN4 in RBC leads to loss of KCl and water, a mechanism known as the "Gardos effect" described seventy years ago.

In silico biophysics and rheology of blood and red blood cells in Gaucher Disease.

Gaucher Disease (GD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency in the enzyme glucocerebrosidase, leading to the accumulation of glucosylceramide in various cells, including red blood cells (RBCs). This accumulation results in altered biomechanical properties and rheological behavior of RBCs, which may play an important role in blood rheology and the development of bone infarcts, avascular necrosis (AVN) and other bone diseases associated with GD. In this study, dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations are employed to investigate the biomechanics and rheology of blood and RBCs in GD under various flow conditions.

Facing stress and inflammation: From the cell to the planet.

As identified in 1936 by Hans Selye, stress is shaping diseases through the induction of inflammation. But inflammation display some yin yang properties. On one hand inflammation is merging with the innate immune response aimed to fight infectious or sterile insults, on the other hand inflammation favors chronic physical or psychological disorders.

AntiBody Sequence Database.

Antibodies play a crucial role in the humoral immune response against health threats, such as viral infections. Although the theoretical number of human immunoglobulins is well over a trillion, the total number of unique antibody protein sequences accessible in databases is much lower than the number found in a single individual. Training AI (Artificial Intelligence) models, for example to assist in developing serodiagnoses or antibody-based therapies, requires building datasets according to strict criteria to include as many standardized antibody sequences as possible.

Multi-stakeholder sessions on major innovation topics in rare disease clinical trials.

Background: The European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases aims to enhance the rare diseases research ecosystem by bringing together stakeholders such as research funders, institutions and patient organizations. Work Package 20 focuses on the validation, use and development of innovative methodologies for rare disease clinical trials. This paper reports on the outcomes of a retreat held in April 2023, where areas for innovation and educational needs in rare disease clinical trials were discussed in multi-stakeholder sessions.