Quantifying natural amyloid plaque accumulation in the continuum of Alzheimer's disease using ADNI.

Brain amyloid beta neuritic plaque accumulation is associated with an increased risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) [Pfeil, J., et al. in Neurobiol Aging 106: 119-129, 2021].

Genomic highlights of the phylogenetically unique halophilic purple nonsulfur bacterium, Rhodothalassium salexigens.

Rhodothalassium (Rts.) salexigens is a halophilic purple nonsulfur bacterium and the sole species in the genus Rhodothalassium, which is itself the sole genus in the family Rhodothalassiaceae and sole family in the order Rhodothalassiales (class Alphaproteobacteria). The genome of this phylogenetically unique phototroph comprises 3.

Spatio-temporal segregation between sensory relay and swallowing pre-motor population activities by optical imaging in the rat nucleus of the solitary tract.

The nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) contains neurons that relay sensory swallowing commands information from the oropharyngeal cavity and swallowing premotor neurons of the dorsal swallowing group (DSG). However, the spatio-temporal dynamics of the interplay between the sensory relay and the DSG is not well understood. Here, we employed fluorescence imaging after microinjection of the calcium indicator into the NTS in an arterially perfused brainstem preparation of rat (n = 8) to investigate neuronal population activity in the NTS in response to superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) stimulation.

Biallelic mutations in CDC20 cause female infertility due to oocyte maturation abnormality.

Oocyte maturation arrest (OMA) may occur at different stages, including the germinal vesicle (GV), metaphase I (MI), and metaphase II (MII). A total maturation arrest of human oocytes is rarely observed during fertilization (IVF). We have identified a case of infertile female for whom all oocytes fail to mature and are arrested at MI.

Evaluation of the evidence-based practices for the management of PCOS in the Latin America context: the consensus of the Latin American Association of Gynecological Endocrinology (ALEG).

Objectives: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex condition affecting approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. However, limited data are available regarding the specific characteristics and needs of women with PCOS in Latin America. This consensus sought to evaluate the evidence-based practices for the management of PCOS for Latin American populations, consolidate regional insights, identify eventual gaps in implementation and identify key research opportunities.

The silent pandemic of stress: impact on menstrual cycle and ovulation.

In the current age of technological advancement, stress has emerged as a silent pandemic affecting individuals, especially young generations, globally. Factors such as increased competition, social pressures fueled by social media and smartphones, and a sense of diminished control in the face of modern challenges contribute to rising stress levels. In addition to the negative implications on mental well-being, stress affects physiological processes such as the menstrual cycle.

Monocyte and Macrophage in Follicular Liquid: Predictive Markers of Embryo Quality in Women with Obesity and Infertility.

Background: Over the past five years, the pregnancy rate in assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs in Russia has remained relatively stable. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of monocyte and macrophage subsets in the blood and follicular fluid of infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive technology.

Methods: The study involved 45 women with a mean age of 35 ± 4.

SERT-Deficient Mice Fed Western Diet Reveal Altered Metabolic and Pro-Inflammatory Responses of the Liver: A Link to Abnormal Behaviors.

Background: The inheritance of the short allele, encoding the serotonin transporter (SERT) in humans, increases susceptibility to neuropsychiatric and metabolic disorders, with aging and female sex further exacerbating these conditions. Both central and peripheral mechanisms of the compromised serotonin (5-HT) system play crucial roles in this context. Previous studies on SERT-deficient (Sert) mice, which model human SERT deficiency, have demonstrated emotional and metabolic disturbances, exacerbated by exposure to a high-fat Western diet (WD).

The Role of Sulfatides in Liver Health and Disease.

Sulfatides or 3-O-sulfogalactosylceramide are negatively charged sulfated glycosphingolipids abundant in the brain and kidneys and play crucial roles in nerve impulse conduction and urinary pH regulation. Sulfatides are present in the liver, specifically in the biliary tract. Sulfatides are self-lipid antigens presented by cholangiocytes to activate cluster of differentiation 1d (CD1d)-restricted type II natural killer T (NKT) cells.

Use of the Adaptive Behaviour Dementia Questionnaire in a Down Syndrome Specialty Clinic.

Objective: To study the use of a dementia screening tool in our clinic cohort of adults with Down syndrome.

Study Design: A retrospective chart review of patients with Down syndrome was conducted to follow the use of the Adaptive Behaviour Dementia Questionnaire (ABDQ) in a dementia screening protocol. The ABDQ results for patients aged 40 years and older at a Down syndrome specialty clinic program were assessed.

Circulating neuropeptide Y dynamics and performance during exercise in heart failure patients with contemporary medical and device therapy.

High cardiac sympathetic drive and release of the sympathetic cotransmitter neuropeptide Y (NPY) are significant features of congestive heart failure (CHF), in which resting venous NPY levels are known to be associated with mortality. However, whether circulating NPY levels increase during exercise in CHF when they are already elevated is controversial. We sought to establish the dynamics of circulating NPY levels in CHF patients treated with contemporary medical therapy and devices in relationship to indices of performance linked to long-term prognosis.

Real-World Impact of Olaparib Exposure in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients Harboring Germline BRCA1-2 Pathogenic Variants.

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer arising in the context of BRCA predisposition may benefit from poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors. We analyzed real-world data on the impact of olaparib on survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients harboring germline BRCA mutations in Italy, where olaparib is not reimbursed for this indication.

Methods: Clinico/pathological data of pancreatic cancer patients with documented BRCA1-2 germline pathogenic variants who had received first-line chemotherapy for metastatic disease were collected from 23 Italian oncology departments and the impact of olaparib exposure on overall survival (OS) was analyzed.

Transcytosis of T4 Bacteriophage Through Intestinal Cells Enhances Its Immune Activation.

Interactions between bacteriophages with mammalian immune cells are of great interest and most phages possess at least one molecular pattern (nucleic acid, sugar residue, or protein structure) that is recognizable to the immune system through pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) receptors (i.e., TLRs).

Population-Level SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Cycle Threshold Values and Their Relationships with COVID-19 Transmission and Outcome Metrics: A Time Series Analysis Across Pandemic Years.

This study investigates the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values and key COVID-19 transmission and outcome metrics across five years of the pandemic in Jalisco, Mexico. Utilizing a comprehensive time-series analysis, we evaluated weekly median Ct values as proxies for viral load and their temporal associations with positivity rates, reproduction numbers (Rt), hospitalizations, and mortality. Cross-correlation and lagged regression analyses revealed significant lead-lag relationships, with declining Ct values consistently preceding surges in positivity rates and hospitalizations, particularly during the early phases of the pandemic.

Repurposing Drugs for Synergistic Combination Therapies to Counteract Monkeypox Virus Tecovirimat Resistance.

The ongoing monkeypox (mpox) disease outbreak has spread to multiple countries in Central Africa and evidence indicates it is driven by a more virulent clade I monkeypox virus (MPXV) strain than the clade II strain associated with the 2022 global mpox outbreak, which led the WHO to declare this mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The FDA-approved small molecule antiviral tecovirimat (TPOXX) is recommended to treat mpox cases with severe symptoms, but the limited efficacy of TPOXX and the emergence of TPOXX resistant MPXV variants has challenged this medical practice of care and highlighted the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. In this study we have used vaccinia virus (VACV) as a surrogate of MPXV to assess the antiviral efficacy of combination therapy of TPOXX together with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an FDA-approved immunosuppressive agent that we have shown to inhibit VACV and MPXV, or the N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) inhibitor IMP-1088.

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose Fails to Enhance Antibody Response to Omicron Variant in Reinfected Healthcare Workers.

The emergence of new variants and diverse vaccination regimens have raised uncertainty about vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2. This study aims to investigate the impact of Omicron primo-/reinfection and primary vaccination schedules on the immunogenicity of an mRNA-based booster dose over a six-month period. We conducted a prospective cohort study to assess the durability and level of antibodies of 678 healthcare workers fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Exogenous dsRNA-Mediated RNAi: Mechanisms, Applications, Delivery Methods and Challenges in the Induction of Viral Disease Resistance in Plants.

The increasing challenges posed by plant viral diseases demand innovative and sustainable management strategies to minimize agricultural losses. Exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) represents a transformative approach to combat plant viral pathogens without the need for genetic transformation. This review explores the mechanisms underlying dsRNA-induced RNAi, highlighting its ability to silence specific viral genes through small interfering RNAs (siRNAs).

Incidence of HBV Reactivation in Psoriasis Patients Undergoing Cytokine Inhibitor Therapy: A Single-Center Study and Systematic Review with a Meta-Analysis.

Background: Psoriasis patients who are seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) face an elevated risk of hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) when treated with cytokine inhibitors. This study aims to elucidate the risk in this population.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to assess the risk of HBVr in 73 psoriasis patients treated with cytokine inhibitors from 2013 to 2023.

Asian Perspective on Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Elimination.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections remain significant public health challenges in Asia, affecting millions and contributing to substantial morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of these infections varies across the region, with factors such as vaccination coverage, healthcare infrastructure, and sociocultural barriers influencing the epidemiology of both viruses. The persistent burden of chronic HBV, particularly in older populations, and the evolving HCV genotype landscape highlight the need for targeted, region-specific strategies.

Hospital-Based Surveillance of Respiratory Viruses Among Children Under Five Years of Age with ARI and SARI in Eastern UP, India.

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a leading cause of death in children under five globally. The seasonal trends and profiles of respiratory viruses vary by region and season. Due to limited information and the population's vulnerability, we conducted the hospital-based surveillance of respiratory viruses in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Activity of Various Cathepsin Proteases and Enrichment of Klotho Protein in the Urine and Urinary Extracellular Vesicles After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for causing the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. While mutations cause the emergence of new variants, the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain is unique among other strains. Various clinical parameters, the activity of cathepsin proteases, and the concentration of various proteins were measured in urine samples from COVID-19-negative participants and COVID-19-positive participants.

Detection and Phylogenetic Characterization of Influenza D in Swedish Cattle.

Increased evidence suggests that cattle are the primary host of Influenza D virus (IDV) and may contribute to respiratory disease in this species. The aim of this study was to detect and characterise IDV in the Swedish cattle population using archived respiratory samples. This retrospective study comprised a collection of a total 1763 samples collected between 1 January 2021 and 30 June 2024.

Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency Is a Risk Factor for Infants' Epigenetic Gestational Age Acceleration at Birth in Japan: A Cohort Study.

Background/objectives: The DNA methylation of neonatal cord blood can be used to accurately estimate gestational age. This is known as epigenetic gestational age. The greater the difference between epigenetic and chronological gestational age, the greater the association with an inappropriate perinatal fetal environment and development.

Associations of Maternal Prenatal Zinc Consumption with Infant Brain Tissue Organization and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes.

Background/objectives: While studies in rat pups suggest that early zinc exposure is critical for optimal brain structure and function, associations of prenatal zinc intake with measures of brain development in infants are unknown. This study aimed to assess the associations of maternal zinc intake during pregnancy with MRI measures of brain tissue microstructure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, as well as to determine whether MRI measures of the brain mediated the relationship between maternal zinc intake and neurodevelopmental indices.

Methods: Forty-one adolescent mothers were recruited for a longitudinal study during pregnancy.

Celiac Disease: A Transitional Point of View.

Celiac disease (CeD) is a chronic, lifelong, multifactorial, polygenic, and autoimmune disorder, characteristically triggered by exposure to the exogenous factor "gluten" in genetically predisposed individuals, with resulting duodenal inflammation and enteropathy, as well as heterogeneous multisystemic and extraintestinal manifestations. The immunopathogenesis of CeD is complex, favored by a peculiar human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genetic predisposition, leading to gluten presentation by antigen-presenting cells to CD4+ T helper (Th) cells, T cell-B cell interactions, and production of specific antibodies, resulting in the immune-mediated killing of enterocytes and, macroscopically, in duodenal inflammation. Here, the most relevant correlations between cellular and molecular aspects and clinical manifestations of this complex disease are reviewed, with final considerations on nutritional aspects for disease management.