Characteristics and Functions of , a Terpenoid Synthesis-Related Gene in Lamb.

Terpenoids, abundant and structurally diverse secondary metabolites in plants, especially in conifer species, play crucial roles in the plant defense mechanism and plant growth and development. In , terpenoids' biosynthesis relies on both the mevalonate (MVA) pathway and the 2-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, with 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl-4-diphosphate synthase (HDS) catalyzing the sixth step of the MEP pathway. In this study, we cloned and conducted bioinformatics analysis of the gene from .

Retrospective Analysis of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Retinopathy of Prematurity in a Single-Center Cohort in Romania and Comparison with National and European Data.

This study investigated and compared with European literature data the incidence, severity, and perinatal risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants admitted to the Premature Department of Mureş County Clinical Hospital over a two-year period (January 2022-December 2023). : ROP screening was performed in 96 infants (76.8%) according to professional guidelines.

Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Associated with Corticosteroid Use in a Patient with Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: A Case Report.

. Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a condition characterized by bilateral acute or subacute vision loss in seemingly healthy individuals. Depending on the disease stage and initial presentation, it is often diagnosed as optic neuritis.

Interdigital and Plantar Foot Infections: A Retrospective Analysis of Molecularly Diagnosed Specimens in the United States and a Literature Review.

Up to one-quarter of the United States population is affected by tinea pedis (athlete's foot). Tinea pedis of the web space (interdigital tinea pedis) is a common clinical presentation causing skin macerations and fissures. A "dermatophytosis complex" (i.

COVID-19 Vaccines Effectiveness and Safety in Trinidad and Tobago: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness and side effects of various COVID-19 vaccines, with a focus on Trinidad and Tobago. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines demonstrated the highest efficacy, particularly against COVID-19 variants, while Janssen and Sinopharm were comparatively less effective. mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca, were associated with more frequent and severe side effects, including soreness, fever, and cardiovascular issues.

Design of Interface ASIC with Power-Saving Switches for Capacitive Accelerometers.

High-precision, low-power MEMS accelerometers are extensively utilized across civilian applications. Closed-loop accelerometers employing switched-capacitor (SC) circuit topologies offer notable advantages, including low power consumption, high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and excellent linearity. Addressing the critical demand for high-precision, low-power MEMS accelerometers in modern geophones, this work focuses on the design and implementation of closed-loop interface ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits).

Genomic Rewilding of Domestic Animals: The Role of Hybridization and Selection in Wolfdog Breeds.

: The domestication of the grey wolf () and subsequent creation of modern dog breeds have significantly shaped the genetic landscape of domestic canines. This study investigates the genomic effects of hybridization and breeding management practices in two hybrid wolfdog breeds: the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (CSW) and the Saarloos Wolfdog (SAW). : We analyzed the genomes of 46 CSWs and 20 SAWs, comparing them to 12 German Shepherds (GSHs) and 20 wolves (WLFs), which served as their ancestral populations approximately 70-90 years ago.

Novel Reassortants of Oropouche Virus (OROV) Are Causing Maternal-Fetal Infection During Pregnancy, Stillbirth, Congenital Microcephaly and Malformation Syndromes.

Oropouche virus (OROV) is an orthobunyavirus endemic in the Brazilian Amazon that has caused numerous outbreaks of febrile disease since its discovery in 1955. During 2024, Oropouche fever spread from the endemic regions of Brazil into non-endemic areas and other Latin American and Caribbean countries, resulting in 13,014 confirmed infections. Similarly to other orthobunyaviruses, OROV can undergo genetic reassortment events with itself as well as other viruses.

Compound Heterozygous p.(R124C) (Classic Lattice Corneal Dystrophy) and p.(R124H) (Granular Corneal Dystrophy Type 2) in : Phenotype, Genotype, and Treatment.

(1) Background: The phenotypes of classic lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) and granular corneal dystrophy type 2 (GCD2) that result from abnormalities in gene () have previously been described. The phenotype of compound heterozygous classic LCD and GCD2, however, has not yet been reported. (2) Case report: A 39-year-old male (proband) presented to our clinic complaining of decreased vision bilaterally.

Roadmap for Designing Donor-π-Acceptor Fluorophores in UV-Vis and NIR Regions: Synthesis, Optical Properties and Applications.

Donor acceptor (D-π-A) fluorophores containing a donor unit and an acceptor moiety at each end connected by a conjugated linker gained attention in the last decade due to their conjugated system and ease of tunability. These features make them good candidates for various applications such as bioimaging, photovoltaic devices and nonlinear optical materials. Upon excitation of the D-π-A fluorophore, intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) occurs, and it polarizes the molecule resulting in the 'push-pull' system.

Atypical Metastases from Prostate Cancer: Alpha-Methylacyl-Coenzyme A Racemase (AMACR) as a Potential Molecular Target in Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-Negative Prostate Adenocarcinoma.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a high-prevalence disease usually characterized by metastatic spread to the pelvic lymph nodes and bones and the development of visceral metastases only in the late stages of disease. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) plays a key role in the detection of PCa metastases. Several PET radiotracers are used in PCa patients according to the stage and pathological features of the disease, in particular Ga/F-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligands.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Motivations, Expectations, and Systemic Factors Regarding Antimicrobial Use Amongst Community Members Seeking Care at the Primary Healthcare Level: A Scoping Review.

Background/objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Understanding the knowledge, attitudes, motivations, and expectations of community members regarding antimicrobial use is essential for effective stewardship interventions. This scoping review aimed to identify key themes relating to the critical areas regarding antimicrobial use among community members in primary healthcare (PHC), with a particular focus on LMICs.

Pharmacokinetic Analysis of an Isoniazid Suspension Among Spanish Children Under 6 Years of Age.

: Isoniazid (INH) remains a first-line drug for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) in young children. In 2010, the WHO recommended an increase in the daily dose of INH up to 10 (7-15) mg/kg. Currently, there are no INH suspensions available in Europe.

PLASMA: Partial LeAst Squares for Multiomics Analysis.

: Recent growth in the number and applications of high-throughput "omics" technologies has created a need for better methods to integrate multiomics data. Much progress has been made in developing unsupervised methods, but supervised methods have lagged behind. : Here we present the first algorithm, PLASMA, that can learn to predict time-to-event outcomes from multiomics data sets, even when some samples have only been assayed on a subset of the omics data sets.

Prevention and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism Associated with Amivantamab-Based Therapies in Patients with Lung Cancer-Provisional Clinical Opinion Based on Existing Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Improved efficacy has been shown for amivantamab and amivantamab-based combination therapies in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to established treatment options in clinical trials. However, a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) was observed in patients treated with amivantamab-based therapies, with considerable differences in VTE risk according to the line of systemic treatment, concomitant treatment with lazertinib, and intravenous vs. subcutaneous amivantamab administration.

Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging in Urothelial Cancer: Current Status and Future Directions.

: The role of molecular imaging in urothelial cancer is less defined than other cancers, and its utility remains controversial due to limitations such as high urinary tracer excretion, complicating primary tumour assessment in the bladder and upper urinary tract. This review explores the current landscape of PET imaging in the clinical management of urothelial cancer, with a special emphasis on potential future advancements including emerging novel non-F FDG PET agents, PET radiopharmaceuticals, and PET-MRI applications. : We conducted a comprehensive literature search in the PubMed database, using keywords such as "PET", "PET-CT", "PET-MRI", "FDG PET", "Urothelial Cancer", and "Theranostics".

SSTR2-Targeted Theranostics in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: While the clinical use of radiolabeled somatostatin analogs is well established in neuroendocrine tumors, there is growing interest in expanding their application to other somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2)-expressing cancers. This study investigates the potential utility of SSTR2-targeted theranostics in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: SSTR2 expression in HCC cell lines and clinical samples was evaluated using qRT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and a public dataset.

Analysis of Salivary Cytokines in Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Background/objectives: This cohort study aimed to establish a correlation between salivary cytokines and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature neonates. Additionally, we sought to identify a minimally invasive method for cytokine detection in this population.

Methods: We recruited premature neonates born at less than 34 weeks gestational age (GA), with no history of maternal or neonatal infections.

Body Composition in Preterm Infants: Current Insights and Emerging Perspectives.

In recent years, significant advancements in respiratory and nutritional care have markedly improved the survival rates of preterm infants and enhanced long-term health outcomes. Despite these improvements, emerging research highlights the lasting impacts of early growth patterns on an individual's health trajectory. Adults born prematurely face a higher incidence of health issues related to their early birth.

Natural Cyclic Peptides: Synthetic Strategies and Biomedical Applications.

Natural cyclic peptides, a diverse class of bioactive compounds, have been isolated from various natural sources and are renowned for their extensive structural variability and broad spectrum of medicinal properties. Over 40 cyclic peptides or their derivatives are currently approved as medicines, underscoring their significant therapeutic potential. These compounds are employed in diverse roles, including antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, immune modulators, and anti-inflammatory agents.

Nanoparticles for Biomedical Use Derived from Natural Biomolecules: Tannic Acid and Arginine.

: Tannic acid (TA) is a well-known natural phenolic acid composed of ten gallic acids linked to each other with ester bonding possessing excellent antioxidant properties in addition to antimicrobial and anticancer characteristics. Arginine (ARG) is a positively charged amino acid at physiological pH because of nitrogen-rich side chain. : Here, poly(tannic acid-co-arginine) (p(TA-co-ARG)) particles at three mole ratios, TA:ARG = 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3, were prepared via a Mannich condensation reaction between TA and ARG by utilizing formaldehyde as a linking agent.

Rasch-Built Overall Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disability Scale as a Novel Tool to Measure Disease Progression.

A valuable outcome measure to monitor amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease progression is crucial in clinical trials. Rasch-Built Overall Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disability Scale (ROADS) is a novel questionnaire assessing ALS disability. Currently, there are no studies on the relationship between ROADS and ALS survival.

Fetal Hemoglobin as a Predictive Biomarker for Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study in Portugal.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of vision impairment in preterm infants, with its pathogenesis linked to oxygen exposure. Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, commonly performed in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), reduce fetal hemoglobin (HbF) fraction, altering oxygen dynamics and potentially contributing to ROP. We aimed to investigate the relationship between RBC transfusions, HbF percentage, and ROP, evaluating HbF as a potential predictive biomarker.

Association of Circulating Neprilysin with BMI, Cardiovascular Health, and Kidney Function in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Pilot Study.

Background/objectives: Inadequate cardiovascular adaptation during pregnancy impairs endothelial function and vascular resistance, contributing to complications such as pre-eclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH). Neprilysin (NEP), a protease involved in vascular regulation, has been linked to PE, but its role in endothelial function and vascular adaptation remains unclear. This pilot study investigates the associations between soluble neprilysin (sNEP) and markers of vascular and renal function in high-risk pregnancies without PE.

Unveiling as a Novel Prognostic Biomarker for Prostate Cancer Recurrence: From Gene to Prognosis.

Prostate cancer is a major global health burden, with biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy affecting 20-40% of patients and posing significant challenges to prognosis and treatment. Emerging evidence suggests a critical role for differentially expressed in normal and neoplastic cell () domain-containing genes in oncogenesis; however, their implications in prostate cancer and BCR risk remain underexplored. This study systematically evaluated 151 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in domain-containing genes in 458 patients with prostate cancer and BCR, followed by validation in an independent cohort of 185 patients.