Ferritin Outperforms Other Biomarkers in Predicting Bone Marrow Iron Stores in Hematological Patients.

Although iron deficiency anemia is common, interpreting iron laboratory test results can be challenging in patients with comorbidities. We aimed to study the accuracy of common iron biomarkers compared with bone marrow iron staining in a large retrospective dataset of hematological patients. We collected from 6610 patients (median age 66 years) results of iron staining, with their concurrent ferritin, transferrin saturation, soluble transferrin receptor, transferrin, hemoglobin, and mean red blood cell volume results from Helsinki University Hospital electronic health records.

Impact of Ligand Structure on Biological Activity and Photophysical Properties of NHC-Protected Au Nanoclusters.

N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-protected gold nanoclusters display high stability and high photoluminescence, making them well-suited for fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapeutic applications. We report herein the synthesis of two bisNHC-protected Au nanoclusters with π-extended aromatic systems. Depending on the position of the π-extended aromatic system, changes to the structure of the ligand shell in the cluster are observed, with the ability to correlate increases in rigidity with increases in fluorescence quantum yield.

Beyond , Pharmaceutical Molecule Production in Cell-Free Systems and the Use of Noncanonical Amino Acids Therein.

Throughout history, we have looked to nature to discover and copy pharmaceutical solutions to prevent and heal diseases. Due to the advances in metabolic engineering and the production of pharmaceutical proteins in different host cells, we have moved from mimicking nature to the delicate engineering of cells and proteins. We can now produce novel drug molecules, which are fusions of small chemical drugs and proteins.

Mitochondria complex III-generated superoxide is essential for IL-10 secretion in macrophages.

Mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) function modulates macrophage biology; however, mechanisms underlying mitochondria ETC control of macrophage immune responses are not fully understood. Here, we report that mutant mice with mitochondria ETC complex III (CIII)-deficient macrophages exhibit increased susceptibility to influenza A virus (IAV) and LPS-induced endotoxic shock. Cultured bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) isolated from these mitochondria CIII-deficient mice released less IL-10 than controls following TLR3 or TLR4 stimulation.

Miniaturized spectral sensing with a tunable optoelectronic interface.

Reconstructive optoelectronic spectroscopy has generated substantial interest in the miniaturization of traditional spectroscopic tools, such as spectrometers. However, most state-of-the-art demonstrations face fundamental limits of rank deficiency in the photoresponse matrix. In this work, we demonstrate a miniaturized spectral sensing system using an electrically tunable compact optoelectronic interface, which generates distinguishable photoresponses from various input spectra, enabling accurate spectral identification with a device footprint of 5 micrometers by 5 micrometers.

What emotions does music express? Structure of affect terms in music using iterative crowdsourcing paradigm.

Music is assumed to express a wide range of emotions. The vocabulary and structure of affects are typically explored without the context of music in which music is experienced, leading to abstract notions about what affects music may express. In a series of three experiments utilising three separate and iterative association tasks including a contextualisation with typical activities associated with specific music and affect terms, we identified the plausible affect terms and structures to capture the wide range of emotions expressed by music.

Diving into Unknown Waters: Water-Soluble Clickable Au Nanoclusters Protected with N-Heterocyclic Carbenes for Bio-Medical Applications.

The use of gold nanoclusters in biomedical applications has been steadily increasing in recent years. However, water solubility is a key factor for these applications, and water-soluble gold nanoclusters are often difficult to isolate and susceptible to exchange or oxidation in vivo. Herein, we report the isolation of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-protected atomically precise gold nanoclusters functionalized with triethylene glycol monomethyl ether groups.

Early precursor-derived pituitary gland tissue-resident macrophages play a pivotal role in modulating hormonal balance.

The pituitary gland is the central endocrine regulatory organ producing and releasing hormones that coordinate major body functions. The physical location of the pituitary gland at the base of the brain, though outside the protective blood-brain barrier, leads to an unexplored special immune environment. Using single-cell transcriptomics, fate mapping, and imaging, we characterize pituitary-resident macrophages (pitMØs), revealing their heterogeneity and spatial specialization.

Depressive Symptoms and Amyloid Pathology.

Importance: Depressive symptoms are associated with cognitive decline in older individuals. Uncertainty about underlying mechanisms hampers diagnostic and therapeutic efforts. This large-scale study aimed to elucidate the association between depressive symptoms and amyloid pathology.

Tuberculosis vaccines and therapeutic drug: challenges and future directions.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a prominent global health challenge, with the World Health Organization documenting over 1 million annual fatalities. Despite the deployment of the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and available therapeutic agents, the escalation of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains underscores the pressing need for more efficacious vaccines and treatments. This review meticulously maps out the contemporary landscape of TB vaccine development, with a focus on antigen identification, clinical trial progress, and the obstacles and future trajectories in vaccine research.

A Multipotent PROX1+ Tumor Stem/Progenitor Cell Population Emerges During Intestinal Tumorigenesis and Mediates Radioresistance in Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) progression is associated with an increase in PROX1+ tumor cells, which exhibit features of CRC stem cells and contribute to metastasis. Here, we aimed to provide a better understanding to the function of PROX1+ cells in CRC, investigating their progeny and their role in therapy resistance. PROX1+ cells in intestinal adenomas of ApcMin/+ mice expressed intestinal epithelial and CRC stem cell markers, and cells with high PROX1 expression could both self-renew tumor stem/progenitor cells and contribute to differentiated tumor cells.

CpG island methylator phenotype classification improves risk assessment in pediatric T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Current intensive treatment of pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) has substantial side-effects, highlighting a need for novel biomarkers to improve risk stratification. Canonical biomarkers such as genetics and immunophenotype are largely not used in pediatric T-ALL stratification. This study aimed to validate the prognostic relevance of DNA methylation CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) risk stratification in two pediatric T-ALL patient cohorts: the Nordic NOPHO ALL2008 T-ALL study cohort (n=192) and the Dutch DCOG ALL-10/ALL-11 validation cohorts (n=156).

Synthesis of a Transient Cationic Phosphaborene and its Trapping by Facile Aliphatic C-H Bond Activation.

The synthesis of a transient cationic phosphaborene [(Mes*)P=B(CAAC)]+ (Mes* = 2,4,6,-trit-tert-butylphenyl, CAAC = cyclic alkylamino carbene) by halide abstraction from the B-brominated analogue is reported. This species was found to undergo rapid and selective intramolecular aliphatic C-H bond activation to yield a phosphinoborenium cation, which undergoes facile deprotonation to give a cyclic base-stabilized phosphaborene. Computational investigation of the mechanism of C-H activation indicates a boron-centred activation route with an exceptionally low barrier of 8 kJ mol-1, followed by a nearly barrierless hydride migration from boron to phosphorus.

Molecular cytogenetic study of the fetal genome in idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss.

Objective: Despite numerous studies on the causes of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), nearly half of cases remain unidentified, which determines the research relevance. This study aims to investigate microchromosomal variations in the fetal genome associated with the development of idiopathic RPL.

Methods: The research was supported by the Centre for Molecular Medicine and the Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology and conducted over a period of 2 years.

Ascending aortic replacement versus aortic root replacement in patients with type A aortic dissection involving the aortic root.

Background: Extensive surgical resection of the thoracic aorta in patients with type A aortic dissection (TAAD) is thought to reduce the risk of late aortic wall degeneration and the need for repeat aortic operations.

Objectives: We evaluated the early and late outcomes after aortic root replacement and supracoronary ascending aortic replacement in patients with TAAD involving the aortic root.

Design: Retrospective, multicenter cohort study.

Amplifying Women's Voices in Menopause Research: The Importance of Inclusive Perspectives.

Menopause, a significant life transition for half the global population, intersects biological, cultural and social dimensions. Despite its universal occurrence, menopause research has historically been dominated by biomedical perspectives, often neglecting women's voices and diverse experiences. This article highlights the importance of including women's perspectives in menopause research to ensure relevance, accuracy and equity.

Association of prostate-specific antigen density with prostate cancer mortality after a benign systematic prostate biopsy result.

Objective: To assess the association between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density (PSAD) and prostate cancer mortality after a benign result on systematic transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study used data from the Finnish Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (FinRSPC) collected between 1996 and 2020. We identified men aged 55-71 years randomised to the screening arm with PSA ≥4.

Luteinizing hormone receptor knockout mouse: What has it taught us?

Luteinizing hormone (LH), along with its agonist choriongonadotropin (hCG) in humans, is the key hormone responsible for the tropic regulation of the gonadal function. LH and hCG act through their cognate receptor, the luteinizing hormone/choriongonadotropin receptor (LHCGR; more appropriately LHR in rodents lacking CG), located in the testis in Leydig cells and in the ovary in theca, luteal, and luteinizing granulosa cells. Low levels in LHCGR are also expressed in numerous extragonadal sites.

Microcystin shapes the phycosphere through community filtering and by influencing cross-feeding interactions.

The cyanobacterium causes harmful algal blooms that pose a major threat to human health and ecosystem services, particularly due to the prevalence of the potent hepatotoxin microcystin (MC). With their pronounced EPS layer, colonies also serve as a hub for heterotrophic phycosphere bacteria. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the genotypic plasticity in its ability to produce MC influences the composition and assembly of the phycosphere microbiome.

Ambiguous Genitalia Due to 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 Deficiency: Clinical, Genetic, and Functional Characterization of Two Novel Variants.

3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 deficiency (3βHSD2D) is a rare form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) with variable clinical presentation. We describe a 46, XY child with ambiguous genitalia and CAH without apparent adrenal insufficiency due to 2 novel heterozygous variants in the gene (c.779C > T/p.

Towards a sustainable set of European Core Health Indicators (ECHI).

Background: The European Core Health Indicators (ECHI) are a set of 88 indicators that provide a compact overview of the extensive field of European public health and healthcare. The ECHI set adds value to European Union health information systems (HIS) for both Member States and EU-associated countries and the European Commission by providing a solid, comparable information base on national public health and healthcare trends and developments. The indicators allow for learning by comparison and the list supports the organisation of national health information systems.

Microwave-assisted synthesis and and studies of pyrano[3,2-]quinoline-3-carboxylates as dual acting anti-cancer and anti-microbial agents and potential topoisomerase II and DNA-gyrase inhibitors.

A microwave-assisted method was utilized to synthesize novel pyranoquinolone derivatives as dual acting topoisomerase II/DNA gyrase inhibitors with apoptosis induction ability for halting lung cancer and staphylococcal infection. Herein, the designed rationale was directed toward mimicking the structural features of both topoisomerase II and DNA gyrase inhibitors as well as endowing them with apoptosis induction potential. The absolute configuration of the series was assigned using X-ray diffraction analysis.

Multi-target gene therapy AUP1602-C to improve healing and quality of life for diabetic foot ulcer patients: a phase I, open-label, dose-finding study.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a common and highly morbid complication of diabetes with high unmet medical needs. AUP1602-C, a topical four-in-one gene therapy medicinal product (GTMP), consisting of a strain that produces fibroblast growth factor-2, interleukin-4, and colony-stimulating factor-1, is a promising novel treatment for DFU.

Objectives: The aim of this first-in-human study was to investigate whether AUP1602-C is safe and effective in improving wound healing and quality of life (QoL) in patients with non-healing DFU (nhDFU), and to determine the recommended phase II dose.

Values of Life: 40 years of The Value of Life.

This special section brings together international scholars celebrating the 40 anniversary of John Harris' book, (1985), and John Harris and his contributions to the field of bioethics more generally.