Probing living cell dynamics and molecular interactions using atomic force microscopy.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as a powerful tool for studying biological interactions at the single-molecule level, offering unparalleled insights into receptor-ligand dynamics on living cells. This review discusses key developments in the application of AFM, highlighting its ability to capture nanomechanical properties of cellular surfaces and probe dynamic interactions, such as virus-host binding. AFM's versatility in measuring mechanical forces and mapping molecular interactions in near-physiological conditions is explored.

Impact of COVID-19 School Closures on White Matter Plasticity in the Reading Network.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children worldwide experienced school closures. Several studies have detected a negative impact on reading-related skills in children who experienced these closures during the early stages of reading instruction, but the impact on the reading network in the brain has not been investigated. In the current longitudinal study in a sample of 162 Dutch-speaking children, we found a short-term effect in the growth of phonological awareness in children with COVID-19 school closures compared to children without school closures, but no long-term effects one year later.

Is provisioning rate of parents and helpers influenced by the simulated presence of novel individuals?

Abstract: Cooperative behaviour is widespread in animals and is likely to be the result of multiple selective pressures. A contentious hypothesis is that helping enhances the probability of obtaining a sexual partner (i.e.

Design and synthesis of cyclic lipidated peptides derived from the C-terminus of Cx43 for hemichannel inhibition and cardiac endothelium targeting.

A peptide segment that is 10 residues long at the C-terminal (CT) region of Cx43 is known to be involved in interactions, both with the Cx43 protein itself and with other proteins, that result in hemichannel (HC) activity regulation. Previously reported mimetic peptides based on this region (, , ) have been revealed to be promising therapeutic agents in the context of cardiovascular diseases. In this work, novel approaches, such as C- and N-terminal modification and cyclization, to improve the proteolytic stability and bioavailability of the peptide are presented.

The Clinical Significance of HLA Compatibility Scores in Lung Transplantation.

Lung transplantation is a life-saving therapeutic option for many chronic end-stage pulmonary diseases, but long-term survival may be limited by rejection of the transplanted organ. Since HLA disparity between donor and recipient plays a major role in rejection, we performed a single center, retrospective observational cohort analysis in our lung transplant cohort (n = 128) in which we calculated HLA compatibility scores for B-cell epitopes (HLAMatchmaker, HLA-EMMA), T-cell epitopes (PIRCHE-II) and missing self-induced NK cell activation (KIR Ligand Calculator). Adjusted Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate the association between mismatched scores and time to development of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) post-transplant, time to first biopsy-proven acute rejection episode, freedom from CLAD, graft survival and overall survival.

Epidemiology, Controversies, and Dilemmas of Perioperative Nutritional Risk/Malnutrition: A Narrative Literature Review.

Current perioperative nutrition management is discouraging due to the under-recognition of clinical nutrition and the lagging development of clinical nutriology. This review aimed to identify and explore epidemiology, related adverse outcomes, controversies, and dilemmas of perioperative nutritional risk/malnutrition to call for further development of perioperative nutritional medicine. Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine disc, and Chongqing VIP Database were searched for articles published between January 1, 2014 and August 31, 2024 using the following MeSH terms: ("nutritional risk"[Title/Abstract] OR "malnutrition"[Title/Abstract] OR "undernutrition"[Title/Abstract]) AND ("surgery"[Title/Abstract] OR "surgical"[Title/Abstract] OR "operative"[Title/Abstract] OR "operation"[Title/Abstract]).

DFT Investigation of the Stereoselectivity of the Lewis-Acid-Catalyzed Diels-Alder Reaction between 2,5-Dimethylfuran and Acrolein.

Density functional theory (DFT) has been enacted to study the Diels-Alder reaction between 2,5-dimethylfuran (2,5-DMF), a direct product of biomass transformation, and acrolein and to analyze its thermodynamics, kinetics, and mechanism when catalyzed by a Lewis acid (LA), in comparison to the uncatalyzed reaction. The uncatalyzed reaction occurs via a typical one-step asynchronous process, corresponding to a normal electron demand (NED) mechanism, where acrolein is an electrophile whereas 2,5-DMF is a nucleophile. The small endo selectivity in solvents of low dielectric constants is replaced by a small exo selectivity in solvents with larger dielectric constants, such as DMSO.

Deciphering Pectin: A Comprehensive Overview of Its Origins, Processing, and Promising Utility.

Pectin is an acidic heteropolysaccharide, a natural high molecular weight compound primarily found in higher plants. It consists of four major structural domains: homogalacturonan (HG), rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II), rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I), and xylogalacturonan (XGA). Various methods are currently employed for pectin extraction, including acid extraction, microbial fermentation, microwave-assisted extraction, and ion extraction, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.

Optical cavity enhancement of visible light-driven photochemical reaction in the crystalline state.

Photochemical reactions enable the synthesis of energetically unfavorable compounds but often require irradiation with ultraviolet light, which potentially induces side reactions. Here, cavity strong coupling enhances the efficiency of an all-solid state photocyclization in crystals of 2,4-dimethoxy-β-nitrostyrene under irradiation with visible light. The exposure to visible light facilitates photocyclization by the transition to a lower polaritonic state, which is energetically lower than the original transition state.

The Brief International Cognitive Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS): Regression-based norms for German-speaking countries.

Background And Purpose: Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) is common and is associated with problems in employment, driving ability, and quality of life. Since cognitive impairment at time of diagnosis is predictive of disability progression, early assessment and annual monitoring is recommended. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) was introduced as a time-efficient screening tool that can easily be applied in standard clinical care.

Frankenstein matrices: Among-population life history variation affects the reliability and predictions of demographic models.

Population matrix models are routinely used to study the demography of wild populations and to guide management choices. When vital rates are unknown for a specific population or life history stage, researchers often replace them with estimates from other populations of the same species. Such 'hybrid' matrices might ignore among-population life history variation and lead to incorrect inferences.

Nutrient Digestibility in Zoo-Kept Tapirs (Tapirus spp) as Compared to Other Herbivores.

Tapirs are hindgut fermenters with a natural diet dominated by browse, with a certain proportion of wild fruit. By contrast, diets fed to tapirs in zoos are often dominated by domestic fruit and other sources of easily digestible carbohydrates, which have been linked to obesity and various health problems. We aimed at better understanding the digestive physiology of tapirs, measuring the digestive efficiency of 13 lowland (Tapirus terrestris) and five Malayan (Tapirus indicus) tapirs from five zoos on various zoo diets by recording intake and total faecal excretion.

Application of orthodontic force in autotransplanted teeth: a longitudinal study.

Objectives: To longitudinally follow up a cohort of patients with autotransplanted teeth, assessing how the timing of starting orthodontic treatment impacts root length.

Materials And Methods: Patients under 18 with at least one open-apex autotransplanted premolar (AP) replaced to a central incisor position were included. Root/crown ratio (RCR) was calculated on periapical radiographs taken at intervals of 3-6 months after transplantation.

EEG reveals brain network alterations in chronic aphasia during natural speech listening.

Aphasia is a common consequence of a stroke which affects language processing. In search of an objective biomarker for aphasia, we used EEG to investigate how functional network patterns in the cortex are affected in persons with post-stroke chronic aphasia (PWA) compared to healthy controls (HC) while they are listening to a story. EEG was recorded from 22 HC and 27 PWA while they listened to a 25-min-long story.

Navigating diabetes care inequities: an observational study linking chronic care model's structural elements to process and outcomes of type 2 diabetes care in Belgium.

Background: Although the Chronic Care Model (CCM) provides the essential structural components of practice organisation to deliver high-quality type 2 diabetes (T2D) care, little is known about which of its elements are most important, and the extent to which it may reduce social inequities in the quality of T2D care. This study aims to assess the association between the implementation of CCM's structural elements and the quality of T2D care processes and outcomes in Flanders (Belgium), paying specific attention to differences by patients' socioeconomic vulnerability.

Methods: We developed a longitudinal database combining information on primary care practices' CCM implementation, with individual-level health insurance and medical lab data.

Unexpected High Prevalence of Focal Facial Dermal Dysplasia (FFDD) Type IV Is Linked to a Founder Effect in the Belgian Population.

Focal facial dermal dysplasia (FFDD) type IV is a rare inherited facial defect caused by biallelic variants in CYP26C1. This study reports two novel Belgian FFDD type IV cases, both homozygous for a recurrent CYP26C1 frameshift variant, with a common 700 kb haplotype, indicating a founder effect.

Neratinib Efficacy in Patients With EGFR Exon 18-Mutant Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Findings From the SUMMIT Basket Trial.

Background: Activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene occur in 7% to 23% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A small proportion of these (3-5%) are exon 18 mutations. Neratinib, an irreversible pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), had activity in the phase II SUMMIT basket study.

Beyond COVID-19, the case for collecting, analysing and using sex-disaggregated data and gendered data to inform outbreak response: a scoping review.

Introduction: Understanding sex and gender differences during outbreaks is critical to delivering an effective response. Although recommendations and minimum requirements exist, the incorporation of sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis into outbreak analytics and response for informed decision-making remains infrequent. A scoping review was conducted to provide an overview of the extent of sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis in outbreak response within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Petroclival meningioma regression after combined oestrogen and nomegestrol acetate interruption.

Meningioma regression after progestin treatment interruption is already established. Zoely is a combined oral contraceptive including oestradiol and progestin (nomegestrol acetate). The effect of combined oestrogen with nomegestrol acetate on meningioma is currently unknown.

Effect of a physical activity and healthy eating lifestyle intervention in pregnancy on fetal growth trajectories: The DALI randomised controlled trial.

Background: Obesity during pregnancy is related to fetal overgrowth. Effective interventions that can mitigate this risk are needed.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a lifestyle intervention for pregnant women with obesity on fetal growth trajectories.

Lower perturbational complexity index after transcranial magnetic stimulation in schizophrenia patients.

Background: Informational integration and differentiation of the cortex can be tested by methods such as the perturbational complexity index (PCI) combined with TMS-induced activity perturbation. The PCI is obtained by stimulating the cortex with TMS and measuring the resulting spatiotemporal cortical responses with high-density EEG.

Methods: We have compared PCI between 26 patients with schizophrenia (15 males), 15 of them First Episode (FE) (7 males), and 22 healthy controls (12 males).

A tailored substrate-based approach using focal pulsed field catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation and advanced atrial substrate: Procedural data and 6-months success rates.

Background: Focal pulsed-field ablation (F-PFA) integrated in electroanatomical mapping (EAM) systems allows tailored lesion sets in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: To determine feasibility, safety and 6-months outcome of F-PFA for a tailored substrate-based catheter ablation (CA) approach in patients with AF and advanced atrial substrate.

Methods: Consecutive patients with AF and advanced atrial substrate treated by a F-PFA system (Cardiofocus) through contact-force sensing catheters integrated in EAM systems were prospectively enrolled.

Influence of surface treatments on highly translucent zirconia: Mechanical, optical properties and bonding performance.

Objectives: Highly translucent yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) has become more popular due to its enhanced aesthetics. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of traditional air abrasion and a new etching and cleaning agent, Multi Etchant, on the mechanical performance, optical properties, and bond strength of highly translucent zirconia.

Methods: Specimens of 6YSZ, 5YSZ, 4YSZ&5YSZ, and conventional 3YSZ were fabricated and underwent different surface treatments, including as milled, air abrasion, and Multi Etchant.