Directed evolution of diacylglycerol acyltransferases 2 promotes lipids and triglyceride accumulation.

Triacylglycerol (TAG) is a major component of plant-neutral lipids. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) plays an important role in plant oil accumulation by catalyzing the final step of the Kennedy pathway. In this study, ten DGAT2 sequences were originating from different oil crops into the TAG-deficient yeast strain H1246, to compare their enzyme activity of oil synthesis and filter out potential amino acid residue sites for directed evolution.

Innovative microbial activators for enhanced bioremediation of oil-contaminated soils: mechanistic insights.

This paper developed an efficient microbial activator formula and conducted an in-depth study on its efficacy and mechanism in promoting the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in oil-contaminated soil. A 60-day microbial remediation experiment conducted on oily soil revealed that the microbial activators significantly boosted the activities of dehydrogenase and catalase, subsequently speeding up the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil. The overall degradation rate reached as high as 71.

Recent advances in engineering non-native microorganisms for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable polymer that belongs to a group of polymers called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHB can be synthesized from renewable resources, making it a promising alternative to petroleum-derived plastics. It is also considered non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible, which makes it suitable for various applications in the medicine and biomedicine.

Valsartan Loaded Solid Self-Nanoemulsifying Delivery System to Enhance Oral Absorption and Bioavailability.

Valsartan (VST) is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist with low oral bioavailability. The present study developed a solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) to enhance the oral absorption and bioavailability of VST. VST-loaded liquid SNEDDS (VST@L-SNEDDS) was prepared by investigating the solubility of VST and constructing the pseudo-ternary phase diagrams.

Propagation of pathologic α-synuclein from kidney to brain may contribute to Parkinson's disease.

The pathogenesis of Lewy body diseases (LBDs), including Parkinson's disease (PD), involves α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation that originates in peripheral organs and spreads to the brain. PD incidence is increased in individuals with chronic renal failure, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here we observed α-Syn deposits in the kidneys of patients with LBDs and in the kidney and central nervous system of individuals with end-stage renal disease without documented LBDs.

Optimal network sizes for most robust Turing patterns.

Many cellular patterns exhibit a reaction-diffusion component, suggesting that Turing instability may contribute to pattern formation. However, biological gene-regulatory pathways are more complex than simple Turing activator-inhibitor models and generally do not require fine-tuning of parameters as dictated by the Turing conditions. To address these issues, we employ random matrix theory to analyze the Jacobian matrices of larger networks with robust statistical properties.

The Asgard archaeal origins of Arf family GTPases involved in eukaryotic organelle dynamics.

The evolution of eukaryotes is a fundamental event in the history of life. The closest prokaryotic lineage to eukaryotes, the Asgardarchaeota, encode proteins previously found only in eukaryotes, providing insight into their archaeal ancestor. Eukaryotic cells are characterized by endomembrane organelles, and the Arf family GTPases regulate organelle dynamics by recruiting effector proteins to membranes upon activation.

Functional genomic insights into Floricoccus penangensis ML061-4 isolated from leaf surface of Assam tea.

Floricoccus penangensis ML061-4 was originally isolated from the leaf surface of an Assam tea plant (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) from Northern Thailand. To assess the functions encoded by the F.

Identification of candidate genes involved in Zika virus-induced reversible paralysis of mice.

Zika virus (ZIKV) causes a variety of peripheral and central nervous system complications leading to neurological symptoms such as limb weakness. We used a mouse model to identify candidate genes potentially involved in causation or recovery from ZIKV-induced acute flaccid paralysis. Using Zikv and Chat chromogenic and fluorescence in situ RNA hybridization, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and ZIKV RT-qPCR, we determined that some paralyzed mice had infected motor neurons, but motor neurons are not reduced in number and the infection was not present in all paralyzed mice; hence infection of motor neurons were not strongly correlated with paralysis.

Topographic and morphometric characterization of the humerii nutrient foramina and their implications for fracture repair and healing.

Fractures of the humerus are common on the midshaft of the bone, often causing injury to the nutrient artery. Successful fracture repair and healing requires preservation of the blood supply to the long bones which is conveyed through the nutrient foramina (NF). The topography of long bone NF varies in different populations.

Comparative effectiveness of antipsychotic treatment strategies for relapse prevention in first-episode schizophrenia in Finland: a population-based cohort study.

Background: The best pharmacological treatment practices for relapse prevention in patients with first-episode schizophrenia are unclear. We aimed to assess different treatment strategies used before and after the first relapse, and their associations with subsequent relapse risk.

Methods: In this population-based cohort study, we enrolled individuals (aged ≤45 years) with first-episode schizophrenia who were hospitalised and subsequently relapsed between 1996 and 2014 from the nationwide Finnish Hospital Discharge Register.

Endosymbionts as hidden players in tripartite pathosystem of interactions and potential candidates for sustainable viral disease management.

The convoluted relationships between plants, viruses, and arthropod vectors housing bacterial endosymbionts are pivotal in the spread of harmful plant viral diseases. Endosymbionts play key roles in: manipulating host responses, influencing insect resistance to pesticides, shaping insect evolution, and bolstering virus acquisition, retention, and transmission. This interplay presents an innovative approach for developing sustainable strategies to manage plant diseases.

Improving Mental Health and Well-Being Through the Paradym App: Quantitative Study of Real-World Data.

Background: With growing evidence suggesting that levels of emotional well-being have been decreasing globally over the past few years, demand for easily accessible, convenient, and affordable well-being and mental health support has increased. Although mental health apps designed to tackle this demand by targeting diagnosed conditions have been shown to be beneficial, less research has focused on apps aiming to improve emotional well-being. There is also a dearth of research on well-being apps structured around users' lived experiences and emotional patterns and a lack of integration of real-world evidence of app usage.

Investigating the Relative Importance of Tear Homeostatic Signs for the Diagnosis of Dry Eye Disease.

Aim: Disease misdiagnosis is more likely if standardised diagnostic criteria are not used. This study systematically examined the effect on diagnosing dry eye disease (DED), when tests for evaluating tear film homeostasis were included/excluded from a multi-test protocol.

Method: For 1427 participants across five sites, data for the full suite of diagnostic tests defined in the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop II (TFOS DEWS II) Diagnostic Methodology report algorithm were evaluated; diagnostic sensitivity was calculated when individual signs were removed, and when different combinations of signs were required.

Optimization of genome editing by CRISPR ribonucleoprotein for high efficiency of germline transmission of Sox9 in zebrafish.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the first germline stem cells to emerge during early embryonic development and are essential for the propagation and survival of species. Genome editing creates mutagenesis possibilities in vivo, but the generation of precise mutations in PGCs is still challenging. Here, we report an optimized approach for highly efficient genome editing via introducing biallelic variations in early embryos in zebrafish.

Emerging Neuroimmune Mechanisms in Cancer Neuroscience.

It has become increasingly recognized that neural signals can profoundly influence the prognosis of various cancer types. In the past years, we have witnessed "cancer neuroscience," which primarily focuses on the complex crosstalk between tumors and neural signals, emerging as a new, multidisciplinary direction of biomedical science. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge of this research frontier, with an emphasis on the neuroimmune mechanisms enacted through the reciprocal interactions between tumors and the central or peripheral nervous system.

Metagenomic deciphers the mobility and bacterial hosts of antibiotic resistance genes under antibiotics and heavy metals co-selection pressures in constructed wetlands.

Both antibiotics and heavy metals exert significant selection pressures on antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs). This study aimed to investigate the co-selection effects of doxycycline (DC) and cadmium (Cd) on ARGs in constructed wetlands (CWs). The results demonstrated that under antibiotic and heavy metal co-selection pressures, single high concentration DC/Cd or double high, relative abundances of metagenomics assembled genomes all reached 55.

At early stages of heart development, the first and second heart fields are a continuum of lateral head mesoderm-derived, cardiogenic cells.

Pioneering work in the chicken established that the initial development of the heart consists of two stages: the quick assembly of a beating heart, followed by the recruitment of cells from adjacent tissues to deliver the mature in-and outflow tract. Cells to build the primitive heart were dubbed the first heart field (FHF) cells, cells to be recruited later the second heart field (SHF) cells. The current view is that these cells represent distinct, maybe even pre-determined lineages.

Analysis of Acute Cerebrovascular Accidents following Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures: A Comprehensive 17-year study involving 24,412 patients at a leading Tertiary care institution in the United Kingdom.

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to quantify the incidence of stroke following cardiac surgery over 17 years at our centre. Additionally, we evaluated the potential risk factors leading to postoperative stroke in these patients.

Methods: Patient characteristics and perioperative data were collected for 24,412 patients undergoing surgery at our centre between January 2005 and December 2021.

Biotransformation of Ganoderma lucidum and Hericium erinaceus for ex vivo gut-brain axis modulation and mood-related outcomes in humans: CREB/BDNF signaling and microbiota-driven synergies.

Background: The human gut microbiota plays a crucial role in various aspects of health, extending beyond digestion and nutrient absorption. Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) and Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane), traditional medicinal mushrooms, have garnered interest due to their potential to exert positive health effects. The aim of our study was to investigate the molecular impact of Reishi and Lion's Mane on mood regulation through the gut-brain axis.

A health economic evaluation of the multinational, randomized controlled CONVINCE trial - cost-utility of high-dose online hemodiafiltration compared to high-flux hemodialysis.

High-flux hemodialysis (HD) and high-dose hemodiafiltration (HDF) are established treatments for patients with kidney failure. Since HDF has been associated with improved survival rates compared to HD, we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of HDF compared to HD. Cost-utility analyses were performed from a societal perspective alongside the multinational randomized controlled CONVINCE trial.

Insights into the functional mechanisms of the sesquiterpene synthase GEAS and GERDS in lavender.

Lavenders are economically significant plants cultivated worldwide for their essential oils (EOs) containing sesquiterpenes. These EOs contribute to the cosmetic, personal hygiene, and pharmaceutical industries. The biosynthesis of lavender sesquiterpenes involves enzymes like sesquiterpene synthases GEAS and GERDS.

Genetic, metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of the cotton yellow anther trait.

In the fiber industry, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an important crop. One of the most important morphology traits of plants is the color of the anthers, is closely related to pollen fertility and stress resistance.