Immune evasion of Omicron variants JN.1, KP.2, and KP.3 to the polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies from COVID-19 convalescents and vaccine recipients.

The Omicron BA.2.86 subvariants, JN.

HIV co-infection is associated with increased HLA-DR expression by Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4 T cells in people with latent tuberculosis infection.

Infection with HIV is associated with dysregulated CD4 T cell responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and increased risk of developing tuberculosis. Mtb-specific CD4 T cells in people with HIV have diminished Th1 cytokine production capacity, thus we utilized a flow cytometry-based assay to measure CD40L expression by Mtb-specific CD4 T cells in a cytokine-independent manner. We evaluated the frequency and phenotype of Mtb-specific CD4 responses in Kenyan adults with latent Mtb infection and found that the majority of Mtb-specific CD4 T cells expressed CD40L in the absence of IFN-γ, regardless of HIV infection status.

Sensitivity-enhanced hydrogel digital RT-LAMP with in situ enrichment and interfacial reaction for norovirus quantification in food and water.

Low levels of human norovirus (HuNoV) in food and environment present challenges for nucleic acid detection. This study reported an evaporation-enhanced hydrogel digital reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (HD RT-LAMP) with interfacial enzymatic reaction for sensitive HuNoV quantification in food and water. By drying samples on a chamber array chip, HuNoV particles were enriched in situ.

Association of Epstein-Barr Virus and its clinical relevance in Human Papillomavirus-negative oral squamous cell carcinoma: A cohort study from South India.

Objective: The study assessed the prevalence and clinical implications of Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)-positive but Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-negative oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in a tertiary care hospital setting. The overall goal was to elucidate the potential impact of EBV on OSCC disease progression and prognosis.

Design: A total of 134 surgically resected and histopathologically confirmed OSCC tumor biopsies were collected from a tertiary care hospital.

Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference.

In 2017, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) published a Clinical Practice Guideline Update for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD). Since then, new lines of evidence have been published related to evaluating disordered mineral metabolism and bone quality and turnover, identifying and inhibiting vascular calcification, targeting vitamin D levels, and regulating parathyroid hormone. For an in-depth consideration of the new insights, in October 2023, KDIGO held a Controversies Conference on CKD-MBD: Progress and Knowledge Gaps Toward Personalizing Care.

Evaluating convalescent plasma therapy in severe COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Convalescent plasma (CP) therapy is a form of passive immunization which has been used as a treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CP therapy in patients with severe COVID-19.

Methodology: In this retrospective cohort study, 50 patients with severe COVID-19 treated with CP at Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, in 2019 were evaluated.

A Comprehensive Atlas of AAV Tropism in the Mouse.

Gene therapy with Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vectors requires knowledge of their tropism within the body. Here we analyze the tropism of ten naturally occurring AAV serotypes (AAV3B, AAV4, AAV5, AAV6, AAV7, AAV8, AAV9, AAVrh8, AAVrh10 and AAVrh74) following systemic delivery into male and female mice. A transgene expressing ZsGreen and Cre recombinase was used to identify transduction in a cell-dependent manner based on fluorescence.

The genus Nocardia as a source of new antimicrobials.

The genus Nocardia comprises over 130 species of soil-dwelling actinomycetes, many of which are opportunistic pathogens. Beyond their pathogenicity, Nocardia exhibits significant biosynthetic potential, producing an array of diverse antimicrobial secondary metabolites. This review highlights notable examples of these compounds and explores modern approaches to unlocking their untapped biosynthetic potential.

Targeting Acinetobacter baumannii resistance-nodulation-division efflux pump transcriptional regulators to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Regulatory elements controlling gene expression fine-tune bacterial responses to environmental cues, including antimicrobials, to optimize survival. Acinetobacter baumannii, a pathogen notorious for antimicrobial resistance, relies on efficient efflux systems. Though the role of efflux systems in antibiotic expulsion are well recognized, the regulatory mechanisms controlling their expression remain understudied.

Randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of forest walking compared to urban walking in enhancing mucosal immunity.

Scientific research on forest therapy's preventive medical and mental health effects has advanced, but the need for clear evidence for practical applications remains. We conducted an unblinded randomized controlled trial involving healthy men aged 40-70 to compare the physiological and psychological effects of forest and urban walking. Eighty-four participants were randomly assigned to either the forest or urban group, with 78 completing 90-min walks and analysis.

Imaging flow cytometry reveals the mechanism of equine arteritis virus entry and internalization.

The process of viral entry into host cells is crucial for the establishment of infection and the determination of viral pathogenicity. A comprehensive understanding of entry pathways is fundamental for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Standard techniques for investigating viral entry include confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, both of which provide complementary qualitative and quantitative data.

Berberine decorated zinc oxide loaded chitosan nanoparticles a potent anti cancer agent against breast cancer.

Breast cancer ranks as the second leading reason of cancer mortality among females globally, emphasizing the critical need for novel anticancer treatments. In current work, berberine-zinc oxide conjugated chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using various characterization techniques. The cytotoxic effects of CS-ZnO-Ber NPs on MCF-7 cells were assessed using the MTT assay.

Mechanisms of multidrug resistance caused by an Ipi1 mutation in the fungal pathogen Candida glabrata.

Multidrug resistance in the pathogenic fungus Candida glabrata is a growing global threat. Here, we study mechanisms of multidrug resistance in this pathogen. Exposure of C.

Estimation of microbiota and interleukin-1 beta in tears and conjunctival secretions of patients with ocular defects after using unilateral ocular prosthesis.

Statement Of Problem: Clinical studies evaluating the levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in tears and conjunctival secretions of patients with ocular defects after using ocular prostheses are lacking. Therefore, a comparative evaluation of IL-1β levels in the defective eye before and after placement of an ocular prosthesis is needed.

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical study was to compare the microbiota and IL-1β in tears and conjunctival secretions of patients with an ocular defect after using an ocular prosthesis.

Aberrant promoter methylation of CTHRC1 gene and its clinicopathological characteristics in head and neck cancer.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is genetically complex and difficult to treat. Detection in the early stage is challenging, leading to diagnosis at advanced stages with limited treatment options. This study examined the collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 gene (CTHRC1) as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in HNSCC.

Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Virus Mutations Effect On Tumor Doubling Time And Prognosis Of Solid Dominant Stage I Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: To analyze the impact of Kirsten-Rat-Sarcoma Virus (KRAS) mutations on tumor-growth as estimated by tumor-doubling-time (TDT) among solid-dominant clinical-stage I lung adenocarcinoma. Moreover, to evaluate the prognostic role of KRAS mutations, TDT and their combination in completely-resected pathologic-stage I adenocarcinomas.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective analysis, completely resected clinical-stage I adenocarcinomas presenting as solid-dominant nodules (consolidation-to-tumor ratio > 0.

Characterizing tumor-infiltrating group 1 innate lymphoid cells in PyMT breast tumors.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and continues to have a significant impact in cancer-associated deaths worldwide. Investigating the complex roles of infiltrating immune subsets within the tumor microenvironment (TME) will enable a better understanding of disease progression and reveal novel therapeutic strategies for patients with breast cancer. The mammary-specific expression of polyomavirus middle T oncoprotein (MMTV-PyMT) was first established in 1992 by William Muller and is the most commonly used genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) for breast cancer research.

Novel B7-H3 CAR T cells show potent antitumor effects in glioblastoma: a preclinical study.

Background: B7 homolog 3 (B7-H3), an overexpressed antigen across multiple solid cancers, represents a promising target for CAR T cell therapy. This study investigated the expression of B7-H3 across various solid tumors and developed novel monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting B7-H3 for CAR T cell therapy.

Methods: Expression of B7-H3 across various solid tumors was evaluated using RNA-seq data from TCGA, TARGET, and GTEx datasets and by flow cytometry staining.

"The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Incidental Pulmonary Hydatidosis masquerading as Constitutional Symptoms".

Hydatid disease, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, remains a significant health concern in endemic regions. This case report aims to highlight the diagnostic challenges of pulmonary hydatid cysts in non-endemic areas, presenting a unique case of an incidental pulmonary hydatid cyst in a 31-year-old lactating female discovered during evaluation of non-specific constitutional symptoms.

Colistin antibacterial activity, clinical effectiveness, and mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance.

Following a period of disuse owing to the emergence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, colistin has regained global attention as an antibiotic of last resort. The resurgence in its utilization has led to a concurrent increase in acquired resistance, presenting a significant challenge in clinical treatment. Predominantly, resistance mechanisms involve alterations in the lipid A component of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure.

Effects of Methylglyoxal on Intestine and Microbiome Composition in Aged Mice.

Background: Methylglyoxal (MGO), a highly reactive precursor of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), is endogenously produced and prevalent in various ultra-processed foods. MGO has emerged as a significant precursor implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. To date, the effects of dietary MGO on the intestine have been limited explored.

Nutrient control of splice site selection contributes to methionine addiction of cancer.

Objectives: Many cancer cells depend on exogenous methionine for proliferation, whereas non-tumorigenic cells can divide in media supplemented with the metabolic precursor homocysteine. This phenomenon is known as methionine dependence of cancer or methionine addiction. The underlying mechanisms driving this cancer-specific metabolic addiction are poorly understood.

Pollution profiles, pathogenicity, and toxicity of bioaerosols in the atmospheric environment of urban general hospital in China.

Airborne microorganisms in hospitals present significant health risks to both patients and employees. However, their pollution profiles and associated hazards in different hospital areas remained largely unknown during the extensive use of masks and disinfectants. This study investigated the characteristics of bioaerosols in an urban general hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and found that airborne bacteria and fungi concentrations range from 87±35 to 1037±275 CFU/m and 21±15 to 561±132 CFU/m, respectively, with the outpatient clinic and internal medicine ward showing the highest levels.

Cytoplasmic mRNA decay controlling inflammatory gene expression is determined by pre-mRNA fate decision.

The fidelity of immune responses depends on timely controlled and selective mRNA degradation that is largely driven by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). It remains unclear whether stochastic or directed processes govern the selection of an individual mRNA molecule for degradation. Using human and mouse cells, we show that tristetraprolin (TTP, also known as ZFP36), an essential anti-inflammatory RBP, destabilizes target mRNAs via a hierarchical molecular assembly.

Spatially restricted and ontogenically distinct hepatic macrophages are required for tissue repair.

Our understanding of the functional heterogeneity of resident versus recruited macrophages in the diseased liver is limited. A population of recruited lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs) has been reported to populate the diseased liver alongside resident Kupffer cells (KCs). However, the precise roles of these distinct macrophage subsets remain elusive.