Association between clinical-biological characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 28-day mortality in patients with bloodstream infection.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection (KP BSI) is a severe clinical condition characterized by high mortality rates. Despite the clinical significance, accurate predictors of mortality in KP BSI have yet to be fully identified.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 90 cases of KP BSI.

Using apparent diffusion coefficient maps and radiomics to predict pathological grade in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Background: The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) has been reported as a quantitative biomarker for assessing the aggressiveness of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), but it has typically been used only with mean ADC values. This study aims to develop a radiomics model using ADC maps to differentiate UTUC grades by incorporating texture features and to compare its performance with that of mean ADC values.

Methods: A total of 215 patients with histopathologically confirmed UTUC were enrolled retrospectively and divided into training and test sets.

Reduced irradiation exposure areas enhanced anti-tumor effect by inducing DNA damage and preserving lymphocytes.

Background: Partial stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) targeting hypoxic regions of large tumors (SBRT-PATHY) has been shown to enhance the efficacy of tumor radiotherapy by harnessing the radiation-induced immune response. This approach suggests that reducing the irradiation target volume not only achieves effective anti-tumor effects but also minimizes damage to surrounding normal tissues. In this study, we evaluated the antitumor efficacy of reduced-tumour-area radiotherapy (RTRT) , and explored the relationship between tumor control and immune preservation and the molecular mechanisms underlying of them.

A PRA-Rab trafficking machinery modulates NLR immune receptor plasma membrane microdomain anchoring and blast resistance in rice.

Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors mediate pathogen effector-triggered immunity (ETI) in plants, and a subclass of NLRs are hypothesized to function at the plasma membrane (PM). However, how NLR traffic and PM delivery are regulated during immune responses remains largely unknown. The rice NLR PigmR confers broad-spectrum resistance to the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.

Elevated EBF2 in mouse but not pig drives the progressive brown fat lineage specification via chromatin activation.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is responsible for non-shivering thermogenesis, but it is absent in some mammals, including pigs. During development, BAT progenitors are derived from paired box 7 (Pax7)-expressing somitic mesodermal stem cells, which also give rise to skeletal muscle. However, the intrinsic mechanisms underlying the fate decisions between brown fat and muscle progenitors remain elusive.

ZmL75 is required for colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and for saline-alkali tolerance in maize.

Saline-alkali soil severely reduces the productivity of crops, including maize (Zea mays). Although several genes associated with saline-alkali tolerance have been identified in maize, the underlying regulatory mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report a direct link between colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and saline-alkali tolerance in maize.

The potential mechanisms and material basis of Fuzheng Jiedu decoction broad-spectrum inhibiting coronaviruses.

Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in preventing and treating COVID-19, and Fuzheng Jiedu decoction (FZJDD) was reported to be effective against COVID-19 in clinical trials. To investigate the potential mechanisms and material basis of FZJDD against SARS-CoV-2, we performed SARS-CoV-2 target protein inhibition analyses and a metabolite full spectrum analysis of FZJDD. Interestingly, FZJDD was found to block the binding of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein with the receptor ACE2 and inhibit the activity of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro.

Biological effects, properties and tissue engineering applications of polyhydroxyalkanoates: A review.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a group of polymers with a variety of monomers, which are extracted from microorganisms and plants. Due to its good biocompatibility, biodegradability, tunable mechanical property and piezoelectricity, PHAs have been widely used in biomedical fields, such as bone, cartilage, nerve, vascular and skin tissue engineering. This review focuses on the in vivo synthesis, metabolism and biological functions of PHA, and the applications of PHAs in the field of tissue engineering and commercial were also summarized and discussed.

Phosphorylation of the prokaryotic histone-like protein H-NS modulates bacterial virulence in Salmonella Typhimurium.

H-NS is a prokaryotic histone-like protein that binds to bacterial chromosomal DNA with important regulatory roles in gene expression. Unlike histone proteins, hitherto post-translational modifications of H-NS are still largely uncharacterized, especially in bacterial pathogens. Salmonella Typhimurium is a primary enteric pathogen and its virulence is mainly dependent on specialized type III secretion systems (T3SSs), which were evolutionarily acquired via horizontal gene transfer.

Real-time detection of gaseous isotopic water molecules via photoinduced associative ionization mass spectrometry: Direct identification realized by distinctive mass spectrum patterns.

The real-time detection of gaseous HO and its typical isotopic molecules, e.g., HO, DO, HDO, and HTO, is highly desirable in many fundamental scientific studies and practical monitoring, such as mechanistic studies of HO-involved chemical reactions and radiation risk warning of abnormal HTO emissions.

A comprehensive investigation of the impact of cross-linker backbone structure on protein dynamics analysis: A case study with Pin1.

Understanding protein structure is essential for elucidating its function. Cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) has been widely recognized as a powerful tool for analyzing protein complex structures. However, the effect of cross-linker backbone structure on protein dynamic conformation analysis remains less understood.

Discovery of a Natural Ent-Kaurene Diterpenoid Oridonin as an E3 Ligase Recruiter for PROTACs.

PROTACs have emerged as a therapeutic modality for the targeted degradation of proteins of interest (POIs). Central to PROTAC technology are the E3 ligase recruiters, yet only a few of them have been identified due to the lack of ligandable pockets in ligases, especially among single-subunit ligases. We propose that binders of partner proteins of single-subunit ligases could be repurposed as new ligase recruiters.

Effects of brown seaweed oligosaccharides on obesity and constipation managements.

Brown seaweed oligosaccharides (BSO) have demonstrated potential as nutraceuticals with cholesterol-lowering, anti-obesity, and anti-constipation properties. In this study, we initially examined how BSO impact body weight, blood lipid levels, and adipose tissue in a rat model of obesity induced by a high-fat diet. Our findings revealed that BSO administration significantly attenuated body weight gain, ameliorated dyslipidemia, and reduced visceral adiposity.

Application of Macrophage Subtype Analysis in Acute Lung Injury/Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common critical illness. Supportive therapy is still the main strategy for ALI/ARDS. Macrophages are the predominant immune cells in the lungs and play a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis, regulating metabolism, and facilitating tissue repair.

Tuning the Selectivity in the Nonoxidative Alkane Dehydrogenation Reaction by Potassium-Promoted Zeolite-Encapsulated Pt Catalysts.

The significance of the nonoxidative dehydrogenation of middle-chain alkanes into corresponding alkenes is increasing in the context of the world's declining demands on transportation fuels and the growing demand for chemicals and materials. The middle-chain alkenes derived from the dehydrogenation reaction can be transformed into value-added chemicals in downstream processes. Due to the presence of multiple potential reaction sites, the reaction mechanism of the dehydrogenation of middle-chain alkanes is more complicated than that in the dehydrogenation of light alkanes, and there are few prior studies on elucidating their detailed structure-reactivity relationship.

Computation-Aided Development of Next-Generation Extractants for Trivalent Actinide and Lanthanide Separation.

The chemical similarities between trivalent actinides [An(III)] and lanthanides [Ln(III)] present a significant challenge in differentiating and separating them, which is a key step toward closing the nuclear fuel cycle. However, the existing separation approaches commonly suffer from demerits such as inadequate separation factors, limited stripping efficiency, and undesired coextraction. In this study, a novel unsymmetrical phenanthroline-derived amide-triazine (Et-Tol-CyMe-ATPhen) extractant was first designed and then screened with theoretical computation.

Structure-Based Design of "Head-to-Tail" Macrocyclic PROTACs.

Macrocyclization is a compelling strategy for conventional drug design for improving biological activity, target specificity, and metabolic stability, but it was rarely applied to the design of PROTACs possibly due to the mechanism and structural complexity. Herein, we report the rational design of the first series of "Head-to-Tail" macrocyclic PROTACs. The resulting molecule exhibited pronounced Brd4 protein degradation with low nM DC values while almost totally dismissing the "hook effect", which is a general character and common concern of a PROTAC, in multiple cancer cell lines.

Identification and characterization of playing a positive role in the abiotic stress resistance of Chinese chestnut via an integrated strategy.

Chinese chestnut ( Blume) is an important economic forest tree species and mainly cultivated in mountainous areas and wastelands, subjecting it to various abiotic stresses. The protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) genes contributes largely to stress responses in plants. However, the characteristics and functions of genes in remain unknown.

Predicting epidermal growth factor receptor mutation status of lung adenocarcinoma based on PET/CT images using deep learning.

Background: The aim of this study is to develop deep learning models based on F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomographic (F-FDG PET/CT) images for predicting individual epidermal growth factor receptor () mutation status in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods: We enrolled 430 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer from two institutions in this study. The advanced Inception V3 model to predict EGFR mutations based on PET/CT images and developed CT, PET, and PET + CT models was used.

Predicting axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer using a multimodal radiomics and deep learning model.

Objective: To explore the value of combined radiomics and deep learning models using different machine learning algorithms based on mammography (MG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for predicting axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) in breast cancer (BC). The objective is to provide guidance for developing scientifically individualized treatment plans, assessing prognosis, and planning preoperative interventions.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical and imaging data from 270 patients with BC confirmed by surgical pathology at the Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between November 2022 and April 2024.

Investigating ocular biomarkers and differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and vascular cognitive impairment based on multimodal imaging.

Significance: The eye can be used as a potential monitoring window for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of neurological diseases. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) are common causes of cognitive impairment and may share many similarities in ocular signs. Multimodal ophthalmic imaging is a technology to quantify pupillary light reaction, retinal reflectance spectrum, and hemodynamics.

Molecularly Designed and Nanoconfined Polymer Electronic Materials for Skin-like Electronics.

Stretchable electronics have seen substantial development in skin-like mechanical properties and functionality thanks to the advancements made in intrinsically stretchable polymer electronic materials. Nanoscale phase separation of polymer materials within an elastic matrix to form one-dimensional nanostructures, namely nanoconfinement, effectively reduces conformational disorders that have long impeded charge transport properties of conjugated polymers. Nanoconfinement results in enhanced charge transport and the addition of skin-like properties.

Targeted Radionuclide Therapy Activates Prodrugs for Treating Metastasis.

Over 90% of cancer patients succumb to metastasis, yet conventional frontline therapy struggles to halt the progression of metastatic tumors. Targeted radionuclide therapy, which delivers radiation precisely to tumor sites, shows promise for treating metastasis. The rational design of a prodrug activation platform using radionuclides would be an ideal approach to synergize chemotherapy with targeted radionuclide therapy, yet it has not been established.