Associations of maternal night shift work during pregnancy with DNA methylation in offspring: a meta-analysis in the PACE consortium.

Background: Night shift work during pregnancy has been associated with differential DNA methylation in placental tissue, but no studies have explored this association in cord blood. We aimed to examine associations of maternal night shift work with cord blood DNA methylation.

Methods: A total of 4487 mother-newborn pairs from 7 studies were included.

Targeting signaling pathways in neurodegenerative diseases: Quercetin's cellular and molecular mechanisms for neuroprotection.

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, are complex and challenging due to their intricate pathophysiology and limited treatment options.

Methods: This review systematically sourced articles related to neurodegenerative diseases, neurodegeneration, quercetin, and clinical studies from primary medical databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science.

Results: Recent studies have included quercetin to impact the cellular and molecular pathways involved in neurodegeneration.

Locating Polyubiquitin Receptors on the 19S Regulatory Proteasome of by Cross-Linking Mass Spectrometry.

The effectiveness of state-of-the-art cross-linking strategies and mass spectrometry (MS) detection was explored in an important biological context, namely, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which is responsible for most of the regulated protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. The locations of possible binding sites on the 19S proteasome regulatory particle for Lys linked polyubiquitin chains were examined using cross-linking strategies and MS based detection by comparing two types of cross-linkers: a (bis)-sulfosuccinimidyl suberate (BS) and diethyl suberothioimidate (DEST). The well-established BS-based strategy produced 328 cross-linked peptides; however, no ubiquitin-19S cross-links were observed.

Functional classification of tauopathy strains reveals the role of protofilament core residues.

Distinct tau amyloid assemblies underlie diverse tauopathies but defy rapid classification. Cell and animal experiments indicate tau functions as a prion, as different strains propagated in cells cause unique, transmissible neuropathology after inoculation. Strain amplification requires compatibility of the monomer and amyloid template.

Chemical and temporal manipulation of early steps in protein assembly tunes the structure and intermolecular interactions of protein-based materials.

The Drosophila intrinsically disordered protein Ultrabithorax (Ubx) undergoes a series of phase transitions, beginning with noncovalent interactions between apparently randomly organized monomers, and evolving over time to form increasingly ordered coacervates. This assembly process ends when specific dityrosine covalent bonds lock the monomers in place, forming macroscale materials. Inspired by this hierarchical, multistep assembly process, we analyzed the impact of protein concentration, assembly time, and subphase composition on the early, noncovalent stages of Ubx assembly, which are extremely sensitive to their environment.

Implementation of artificial intelligence approaches in oncology clinical trials: A systematic review.

Introduction: There is a growing interest in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance various aspects of clinical trials. The goal of this systematic review is to assess the impact of implementing AI approaches on different aspects of oncology clinical trials.

Methods: Pertinent keywords were used to find relevant articles published in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, which described the clinical application of AI approaches.

Glow Discharge Optical Emission Coded Aperture Spectroscopy.

Glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES) allows fast and simultaneous multielemental analysis directly from solids and depth profiling down to the nanometer scale, which is critical for thin-film (TF) characterization. Nevertheless, operating conditions for the best limits of detection (LODs) are compromised in lieu of the best sputtering crater shapes for depth resolution. In addition, the fast transient signals from ultra-TFs do not permit the optimal sampling statistics of bulk analysis such that LODs are further compromised.

Intranasal delivery of metformin using metal-organic framework (MOF)-74-Mg nanocarriers.

Dosage tolerance is one of the translational challenges of using metformin (Met) in brain therapeutics. This paper presents metal-organic framework (MOF)-74-Mg nanocarriers (NCs) for intranasal (IN) delivery of brain-specific agents with a prolonged release time. We confirmed their excellent biocompatibility (5 mg/mL) and intrinsic fluorescence properties (370/500 nm excitation/emission peak) in Neuro-2A cells.

Spatiotemporal transcriptome and metabolome landscapes of cotton somatic embryos.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a developmental process related to the regeneration of tissue-cultured plants, which serves as a useful technique for crop breeding and improvement. However, SE in cotton is difficult and elusive due to the lack of precise cellular level information on the reprogramming of gene expression patterns involved in somatic embryogenesis. Here, we investigate the spatial and single-cell expression profiles of key genes and the metabolic patterns of key metabolites by integrated single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics (ST), and spatial metabolomics (SM).

Efficient Capture of ReO4- from Water by Imidazolium-Based Cationic Polymeric Nanotraps.

Rhenium represents an irreplaceable metal resource, which finds extensive applications in diverse fields, particularly in the aerospace and petrochemical industry. However, its remarkably low natural abundance and the lack of independent ore deposits pose significant challenges to its extraction and recovery processes. In this study, we present the highly efficient adsorption of perrhenate by a cationic polymeric nanotrap material, namely CPN-3VIm.

Emerging opportunities for intact and native protein analysis using chemical proteomics.

Chemical proteomics has advanced small molecule ligand discovery by providing insights into protein-ligand binding mechanism and enabling medicinal chemistry optimization of protein selectivity on a global scale. Mass spectrometry is the predominant analytical method for chemoproteomics, and various approaches have been deployed to investigate and target a rapidly growing number of protein classes and biological systems. Two methods, intact mass analysis (IMA) and top-down proteomics (TDMS), have gained interest in recent years due to advancements in high resolution mass spectrometry instrumentation.

Tuning Aromaticity, Stability and Radicaloid Character of Periacenes by Chemical BN Doping.

In this work, the stability, aromaticity and radical character of pristine and eleven BN-doped armchair 5 and zigzag 5, 6, and 7 periacenes, were chosen for studying the effect of different doping schemes to stabilize the periacene, and to direct the open-shell density into specific regions of the PAH sheets. Ab initio multireference methods and different DFT functionals were used to analyze the singlet triplet (ST) energy. Moreover, a range of descriptors were used to characterize the open-shell character and aromaticity of the different doped structures.

Olanzapine/Samidorphan Effects on Weight Gain: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis of Phase 2 and 3 Randomized Double-Blind Studies.

To evaluate weight change with a combination of olanzapine and samidorphan (OLZ/SAM) versus olanzapine by pooling data across clinical studies. This study was an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of clinical trial data. EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycInfo were searched for randomized clinical trials (≥12 weeks) in adults with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder in which weight change from baseline was the primary or secondary end point.

Proteomic characterization and comparison of the infective and adult life stage secretomes from Necator americanus and Ancylostoma ceylanicum.

More than 470 million people globally are infected with the hookworms Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Necator americanus, resulting in an annual loss of 2.1 to 4 million disability-adjusted-life-years. Current infection management approaches are limited by modest drug efficacy, the costs associated with frequent mass drug administration campaigns, and the risk of reinfection and burgeoning drug resistance.

Molecular Fragmentation and Recombination for the Synthesis of GFP Chromophore Analogues.

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) chromophores are widely studied as fluorescent moieties for sensing and imaging applications. Herein, we present a straightforward synthetic strategy that involves the reaction of glycine amides with 1,3-diketones to form imidazolones through an unusual molecular fragmentation and recombination pathway. Mechanistic investigations, including crossover experiments, inspired a competing strategy that incorporates exogenous ketones into the products, yielding fluorescent GFP chromophore analogues.

Solvent-Responsive Glass Transition Behavior of Polyelectrolyte Complexes.

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique physicochemical properties and potential applications as smart materials. Herein, the glass transitions of PECs solvated with varying alcohols are investigated in poly(diallyldimethylammonium)/poly(acrylic acid) (PDADMA/PAA) complexes by using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). Solvents with one or two hydroxyl groups are selected to examine the effect of PAA-solvent interactions on the glass transition temperature ( ).

Self-Diffusion of Star and Linear Polyelectrolytes in Salt-Free and Salt Solutions.

This work explored solution properties of linear and star poly(methacrylic acids) with four, six, and eight arms (PMAA, 4PMAA, PMAA, and 8PMAA, respectively) of matched molecular weights in a wide range of pH, salt, and polymer concentrations. Experimental measurements of self-diffusion were performed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and the results were interpreted using the scaling theory of polyelectrolyte solutions. While all PMAAs were pH sensitive and showed an increase in hydrodynamic radius ( ) with pH in the dilute regime, the of star polymers (measured at basic pH values) was significantly smaller for the star polyacids due to their more compact structure.

Comparative Studies on Bulky DNA Damage Binding by Nucleotide Excision Repair Proteins Using Surface Plasmon Resonance, Differential Scanning Fluorometry, and DNase I Footprinting.

Nucleotide excision repair is a crucial cellular mechanism that ensures genomic stability, thereby preventing mutations that can lead to cancer. The human XPC and its yeast ortholog Rad4 protein complexes are central to this process and were the focus of the study. We used surface plasmon resonance and differential scanning fluorimetry to study the binding characteristics of XPC and Rad4 when bound to the bulky cluster di-FAAF-containing 55-mer duplex DNA.

Synthesis of trans-Fused 3,6-Anhydro Hexofuranose Frameworks via Catalytic Hydrogenolysis Triggered Debenzylative Intramolecular Acetalation.

Presented herein is the chemical construction of unprecedented 3,4-trans-3,6-anhydro hexofuranose frameworks. The disfavored 3,6-anhydro hexofuranosides were effectively established by Pd-catalyzed debenzylative intramolecular acetalation for the first time. The critical roles of benzyl protection and Pd as catalyst were demonstrated.

Phenolic Resin-type Microporous Organic Polymers for High-Performance Carbon Capture.

Three new types of Si-centered porous organic polymer (Si-POPs) were successfully prepared using phenolic resin-type chemistry to form C-C bonds. This new family of microporous Si-POPs manifests as uniform, microporous, spherical particles with a high specific surface area. Notably, Si-POPs were engineered to possess varying numbers of hydroxyl (-OH) groups by altering the monomer in the synthetic process.

Electro-driven direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines to generate battery-grade lithium hydroxide.

As Li-ion batteries are increasingly being deployed in electric vehicles and grid-level energy storage, the demand for Li is growing rapidly. Extracting lithium from alternative aqueous sources such as geothermal brines plays an important role in meeting this demand. Electrochemical intercalation emerges as a promising Li extraction technology due to its ability to offer high selectivity for Li and its avoidance of harsh chemical regenerants.

Nanoscale Viscometry Reveals an Inherent Mucus Defect in Cystic Fibrosis.

The abnormally viscous and thick mucus is a hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF). How the mutated CF gene causes abnormal mucus remains an unanswered question of paramount interest. Mucus is produced by the hydration of gel-forming mucin macromolecules that are stored in intracellular granules prior to release.

Impact of Recent Translational and Therapeutic Developments on Clinical Course of BCR::ABL1-Positive and -Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Despite the study of BCR::ABL1-positive and -negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) providing seminal insights into cancer biology, tumor evolution and precision oncology over the past half century, significant challenges remain. MPNs are clonal hematopoietic stem cell-derived neoplasms with heterogenous clinical phenotypes and a clonal architecture which impacts the often-complex underlying genetics and microenvironment. The major driving molecular abnormalities have been well characterized, but debate on their role as disease-initiating molecular lesions continues.