The role of microRNA in the regulation of hepatic metabolism and energy-expensive processes in the hibernating dormouse.

The garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) is a fat-storing mammal that undergoes annual periods of hibernation to mitigate the effects of food scarcity, low ambient temperatures, and reduced photoperiod that characterize winter. Like other hibernating species, this animal suppresses its metabolic rate by downregulating nonessential genes and processes in order to prolong available energy stores and limit waste accumulation throughout the season. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, single-stranded, noncoding RNAs that bind to mRNA and mediate post-transcriptional suppression, making miRNA ideal for modulating widespread changes in gene expression, including global downregulation typified by metabolic rate depression.

Women Upward-Sex Differences in Uphill Performance in Speed Climbing, Ski Mountaineering, Trail Running, Cross-Country Skiing, and Cycling.

Introduction: Women have generally lower body size and lean- to fat-mass ratio, lower maximal anaerobic power due to a lower muscle mass, and fewer fast-twitch fibers, although they can show higher resistance to fatigue or greater metabolic flexibility than men. These factors are well known and explain the sex differences in endurance sports such as distance running (10%-12%). Several of these factors-particularly the differences in body composition and skeletal-muscle characteristics-may directly impact vertical displacement and uphill performance.

An improved matrix deposition technique for thin layer chromatography coupled to MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (TLC-MALDI).

Analytical thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a simple yet powerful chromatographic technique that is widely used for the qualitative characterization of complex mixtures such as plant extracts. For their qualitative and visual characterisation, a large number of more or less specific colour reactions are at hand and numerous reference substances are available as well. However, the identification of extract components by colour and the comparison of retention times is not straightforward.

Moderating role of digital media on environmental awareness and environmental beliefs to shape farmers' behavioral intentions towards sustainable agricultural land conservation practices.

The Green Revolution in Pakistan introduced intensive agricultural practices aimed at enhancing food security and economic growth. However, these measures have degraded the country's fertile agricultural land and exacerbated climate pollution due to farmers' overexploitation of resources in pursuit of higher yields. Addressing this issue requires identifying factors that can influence farmers' behavior toward adopting sustainable practices.

Targeting autophagy plus high-dose CDK4/6 inhibitors in advanced HR+HER2- breast cancer: A phase 1b/2 trial.

Background: The unmet needs of managing patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer who progress after cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) treatment remain unclarified.

Methods: This was a phase 1b/2, single-arm, open-label study that enrolled 29 patients with HR+/HER2- breast cancer who experienced first-line palbociclib treatment failure. The primary endpoint was the incidence of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT).

Safety of baricitinib in vaccinated patients with severe and critical COVID-19 sub study of the randomised Bari-SolidAct trial.

Background: The Bari-SolidAct randomized controlled trial compared baricitinib with placebo in patients with severe COVID-19. A post hoc analysis revealed a higher incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs) among SARS-CoV-2-vaccinated participants who had received baricitinib. This sub-study aimed to investigate whether vaccination influences the safety profile of baricitinib in patients with severe COVID-19.

One-Day Brentuximab-Bendamustine (120 mg/m2) Every 21 Days is a Feasible, Safe and Effective Treatment for Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Brentuximab vedotin (BV)-bendamustine (90 or 120 mg/m2 day 1 and 2) every 28 days is an effective treatment for relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R HL) but associated to high toxicity especially for elderly patients. We conducted in St Louis Hospital, Paris, between 2015 and 2021 a retrospective single-center analysis of 44 patients with R/R HL treated with one-day BV-bendamustine (120 mg/m2) every 21 days. Sixteen percent of patients were ≥ 60 years old (yo).

Nanopore Sequencing as a Cutting-Edge Technology for Medulloblastoma Classification.

Background: Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most prevalent embryonal malignant brain tumors. Current classification organizes these tumors into four molecular subgroups (WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4 MB). Recently, a comprehensive classification has been established, identifying numerous subtypes, some of which exhibit a poor prognosis.

White matter hyperintensities and their role in major depressive episodes: a cross-sectional study in adults under 65.

Objective: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are associated with Major Depressive Episodes (MDE) in individuals aged 65 and over. WMH are prevalent in adults under 65, yet the association between their volume and MDE in this population remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the association between WMH volume and MDE and its severity in patients < 65.

An overview of the nutritional quality and health benefits linked to the world diversity of citrus fruits/juices.

Citrus juices represent a nutrient-dense beverage due to the remarkable balance in their bioactive compounds (vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, and phytochemicals such as flavonoids and carotenoids). This review aims to examine the nutritional quality and the health benefits of citrus juice consumption linked to the world diversity of citrus fruits. This work provides heterogenous data found on the main citrus bioactive compounds, especially carotenoids and flavonoids, which are difficult to correlate to particular geographic areas.

Simplified Approach to Managing Newly Diagnosed Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Hypertension in Routine Clinical Practice.

Introduction: The aim of the observational SIMPLE study was to assess real-life effectiveness and safety of a single-pill combination (SPC) of perindopril arginine/amlodipine in a broad range of subjects with newly diagnosed mild-to-moderate hypertension treated in Canadian general practice.

Methods: Treatment-naïve participants aged 18-65 years with mild-to-moderate hypertension, whose physicians decided to initiate the perindopril/amlodipine SPC, were recruited from Canadian clinical practice from October 2017 to February 2019. Participants were followed at 3- (M3) and 6-month (M6) visits after treatment initiation.

Diagnostic and prognostic potential of left atrial strain in cardiovascular disease: a narrative review.

Left atrial strain (LAS) was recently introduced as a parameter that reflects on left atrial function. Consequently, changes in LAS can inform the development of cardiovascular diseases, hence providing a window for non-invasive and cost-effective testing of these diseases and their complications at early stages of development, potentially offering a segway towards preventive interventions. LAS has yet to be implemented into standard practice.

Ultrathin ALD Coatings of Zr and V Oxides on Anodic TiO Nanotube Layers: Comparison of the Osteoblast Cell Growth.

The current study investigates and compares the biological effects of ultrathin conformal coatings of zirconium dioxide (ZrO) and vanadium pentoxide (VO) on osteoblastic MG-63 cells grown on TiO nanotube layers (TNTs). Coatings were achieved by the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. TNTs with average tube diameters of 15, 30, and 100 nm were fabricated on Ti substrates (via electrochemical anodization) and were used as primary substrates for the study.

Association between gestational age and severe maternal morbidity in preterm delivery: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Objective: This study investigates whether early gestational age (GA) at delivery is associated with an increased risk for severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in women with preterm delivery.

Methods: This retrospective national cohort study based on the Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information database included mothers who gave birth between 22 and 37 weeks in metropolitan France in 2019 (in utero deaths and medical terminations of pregnancies were excluded). SMM was defined as a composite criterion consisting of the occurrence of at least one of the following events: death, severe preeclampsia, obstetric surgical complications, severe maternal diseases, and admission to the intensive care unit.

Property Tuning in N-Methylpyrrole Azo-Photoswitches via Modification of the Peripheral Substituents.

Differently substituted pyrrole-azo‑benzene molecular photoswitches were prepared in a straightforward synthetic way. Their fundamental properties were investigated by XRD analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, cyclic voltammetry, UV‑Vis absorption spectroscopy, Hyper-Rayleigh Scattering, and NMR spectroscopy; the experimental results were further corroborated by DFT calculations. Thermal robustness, the HOMO/LUMO levels, and the absorption properties were altered mostly by substituting the N‑methylpyrrole moiety and further fine-tuned by modifying the benzene substituents.

Outliers of Treatment Frequency in Retinal Vein Occlusion: 24-Month Comparative Analysis of Fight Retinal Blindness! Practitioners.

Background: We aimed to describe a 2-year outcome of eyes managed by practitioners benchmarked using a funnel plot by their frequency of treatment using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors for naive retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Methods: A multicentre, international, observational study of 29 doctors in 12 countries managing 1110 eyes with RVO commencing VEGF inhibitors between 1 January 2012-2022 tracked in the Fight Retinal Blindness! registry.

Results: We identified 3 outlying 'intensive' practitioners (managing 350/1110 eyes [32%]), 22 'typical' practitioners (604/1110, [54%]) and 4 outlying 'relaxed' practitioners (156/1110, [14%]) with respective 24-month outcomes in Branch and Central RVO including the primary outcome, mean adjusted change in visual acuity (VA) in BRVO: +16.

From spastic paraplegia to infantile neurodegenerative disorder: Expanding the phenotypic spectrum associated with biallelic SPAST variants.

Purpose: Heterozygous pathogenic variants in SPAST are known to cause Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia 4 (SPG4), the most common form of HSP, characterized by progressive bilateral lower limbs spasticity with frequent sphincter disorders. However, there are very few descriptions in the literature of patients carrying biallelic variants in SPAST.

Methods: Targeted Sanger sequencing, panel sequencing and exome sequencing were used to identify the genetic causes in 9 patients from 6 unrelated families with symptoms of HSP or infantile neurodegenerative disorder.

Feasibility and safety of ultra-low volume ventilation (≤ 3 ml/kg) combined with extra corporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCOR) in acute respiratory failure patients.

Background: Ultra-protective ventilation is the combination of low airway pressures and tidal volume (Vt) combined with extra corporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCOR). A recent large study showed no benefit of ultra-protective ventilation compared to standard ventilation in ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) patients. However, the reduction in Vt failed to achieve the objective of less than or equal to 3 ml/kg predicted body weight (PBW).

CD57 EMRA CD8 T cells in cancer patients over 70: associations with prior chemotherapy and response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.

Background: Immune ageing complicates cancer treatment in older individuals. While immunotherapy targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway can reinvigorate T cells, these cells tend to become senescent with age. This study investigates different CD8 T cell subsets usually associated with senescence, in cancer patients over 70 years old who are undergoing anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy, and examines the relationship between these senescent cells and prior chemotherapy exposure.

Multiplexed amplicon sequencing reveals the heterogeneous spatial distribution of pyrethroid resistance mutations in Aedes albopictus mosquito populations in southern France.

Background: The risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission is increasing in temperate climates with the colonization and proliferation of the Asian tiger mosquito vector Aedes albopictus and the rapid mass transport of passengers returning from tropical regions where viruses are endemic. The prevention of major Aedes-borne viruses heavily relies on the use of insecticides for vector control, mainly pyrethroids. In Europe, only deltamethrin is authorized.

Perioperative Changes in Serum Transaminases Levels Predicts Long-Term Survival Following Liver Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: We sought to define whether and how hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) as manifested by perioperative aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) levels impact long-term outcomes after curative-intent resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients And Methods: Intrasplenic injection of HCC cells was used to establish a murine model of HCC recurrence with versus without I/R injury. Patients who underwent curative resection for HCC were identified from a multi-institutional derivative cohort (DC) and separate external validation (VC) cohort.

Exploring the significance of different amendments to improve phytoremediation efficiency: focus on soil ecosystem services.

Phytoremediation is recognized as an environmentally, economically and socially efficient phytotechnology for the reclamation of polluted soils. To improve its efficiency, several strategies can be used including the optimization of agronomic practices, selection of high-performance plant species but also the application of amendments. Despite evidences of the benefits provided by different types of amendments on pollution control through several phytoremediation pathways, their contribution to other soil ecosystem functions supporting different ecosystem services remains sparsely documented.

From cells to recapture rates: responses and recovery of a wild fish after an experimental exposure to a widely used herbicide.

Freshwater environments are biodiversity hotspots under multiple pressures, including pesticide exposure. S-metolachlor, a widely used herbicide, can induce genotoxic, cytotoxic and physiological effects in captive fish, but we have a limited understanding of the effects of exposure to S-metolachlor in free-living vertebrates. We carried out an original field experiment using integrative approaches across biological levels and temporal scales.

Ecological and anthropogenic effects on the genomic diversity of lemurs in Madagascar.

Ecological variation and anthropogenic landscape modification have had key roles in the diversification and extinction of mammals in Madagascar. Lemurs represent a radiation with more than 100 species, constituting roughly one-fifth of the primate order. Almost all species of lemurs are threatened with extinction, but little is known about their genetic diversity and demographic history.