3'IsomiR Species Composition Affects Reliable Quantification of miRNA/isomiR Variants by Poly(A) RT-qPCR: Impact on Small RNA-Seq Profiling Validation.

Small RNA-sequencing (small RNA-seq) has revealed the presence of small RNA-naturally occurring variants such as microRNA (miRNA) isoforms or isomiRs. Due to their small size and the sequence similarity among miRNA isoforms, their validation by RT-qPCR is challenging. We previously identified two miR-31-5p isomiRs-the canonical and a 3'isomiR variant (3' G addition)-which were differentially expressed between individuals with azoospermia of different origin.

Agarose spot migration assay to measure the chemoattractant potential of extracellular vesicles: applications in regenerative medicine and cancer metastasis.

Background: The recruitment of effector cells is one of the novel functions described for extracellular vesicles (EVs) that needs further study. For instance, cell recruitment by mesenchymal stromal cell derived-EVs (MSC-EVs) is one of the features by which MSC-EVs may induce regeneration and ameliorate tissue injury. On the other hand, increasing evidence suggests that cancer EVs play an important role in the preparation of the pre-metastatic niche (PMN) by recruiting their primary tumour cells.

Intrinsic functional brain connectivity changes following aerobic exercise, computerized cognitive training, and their combination in physically inactive healthy late-middle-aged adults: the Projecte Moviment.

Lifestyle interventions have positive neuroprotective effects in aging. However, there are still open questions about how changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) contribute to cognitive improvements. The Projecte Moviment is a 12-week randomized controlled trial of a multimodal data acquisition protocol that investigated the effects of aerobic exercise (AE), computerized cognitive training (CCT), and their combination (COMB).

The reproductive status determines tolerance and resistance to in .

Sex and reproductive status of the host have a major impact on the immune response against infection. Our aim was to understand their impact on host tolerance or resistance in the systemic infection of . We measured host survival and bacillary load at time of death, as well as expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of immune genes (diptericin and drosomycin).

Systematic review of the role of calprotectin in cirrhosis.

Background: Calprotectin is a calcium-binding-S100-protein synthetized mainly in neutrophils which has been demonstrated to be an accurate biomarker of the presence of these cells. Gut barrier dysfunction in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD), in addition to the lack of noninvasive tools for diagnosis and prognosis of cirrhosis decompensations, has raised interest in this biomarker.

Aims: Our aim is to summarize the current evidence regarding the role of calprotectin in terms of its diagnostic and prognostic utility in ACLD.

Feasibility and impact of online HIV/STI screening addressed to men who have sex with men and transgender women users of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Spain (TESTATE PrEP): a study protocol for a non-blinded randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: The objectives of the study are: to design and implement a pilot intervention to offer self-sampling kits to detect HIV, (CT), (NG) and (TP) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and transgender women users of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as part of PrEP follow-up. To evaluate if the pilot intervention causes a reduction of the retention to PrEP follow-up among the target population. To analyse the capacity of the intervention to reduce the healthcare burden on the PrEP service.

Transcriptional and epigenetic changes after dietary and surgical weight loss interventions in an animal model of obesity.

Background: Identifying determinants that can predict response to weight loss interventions is imperative for optimizing therapeutic benefit. We aimed to identify changes in DNA methylation and mRNA expression of a subset of target genes following dietary and surgical interventions in high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese rats.

Methods: Forty-two adult Wistar Han male rats were divided into two groups: control rats (n = 7) and obese rats (n = 28), fed a HFD for 10 weeks (t10).

Single-cell multi-omics analysis of COVID-19 patients with pre-existing autoimmune diseases shows aberrant immune responses to infection.

In COVID-19, hyperinflammatory and dysregulated immune responses contribute to severity. Patients with pre-existing autoimmune conditions can therefore be at increased risk of severe COVID-19 and/or associated sequelae, yet SARS-CoV-2 infection in this group has been little studied. Here, we performed single-cell analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with three major autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or multiple sclerosis) during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Expanding a precision medicine platform for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: New patient-derived orthotopic xenografts, cell lines and tumor entities.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive soft-tissue sarcomas with a poor survival rate, presenting either sporadically or in the context of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). The histological diagnosis of MPNSTs can be challenging, with different tumors exhibiting great histological and marker expression overlap. This heterogeneity could be partly responsible for the observed disparity in treatment response due to the inherent diversity of the preclinical models used.

Dopamine pathway and Parkinson's risk variants are associated with levodopa-induced dyskinesia.

Background: Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) is a common adverse effect of levodopa, one of the main therapeutics used to treat the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous evidence suggests a connection between LID and a disruption of the dopaminergic system as well as genes implicated in PD, including and .

Objectives: To investigate the effects of genetic variants on risk and time to LID.

Safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant protein RBD fusion heterodimer vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.

In response to COVID-19 pandemic, we have launched a vaccine development program against SARS-CoV-2. Here we report the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a recombinant protein RBD fusion heterodimeric vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 (PHH-1V) evaluated in a phase 1-2a dose-escalation, randomized clinical trial conducted in Catalonia, Spain. 30 young healthy adults were enrolled and received two intramuscular doses, 21 days apart of PHH-1V vaccine formulations [10 µg (n = 5), 20 µg (n = 10), 40 µg (n = 10)] or control [BNT162b2 (n = 5)].

Impact of diesel exhaust particles on infections with Mycobacterium bovis BCG in in vitro human macrophages and an in vivo Galleria mellonella model.

There are strong suggestions for a link between pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and air quality. Diesel exhaust is one of the main contributors to pollution and it is reported to be able to modify susceptibility to lung infections. In this study we exposed THP-1 human macrophages and Mycobacterium bovis BCG to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs).

Curcumin as a hepatoprotective agent against chemotherapy-induced liver injury.

Despite significant advances in cancer therapeutics, chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of treatment for many tumors. Importantly, however, chemotherapy-induced toxicity, including hepatotoxicity, can lead to the interruption or discontinuation of potentially effective therapy. In recent years, special attention has been paid to the search for complementary therapies to mitigate chemotherapy-induced toxicity.

Selective loss of CD107a TIGIT+ memory HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cells in PLWH over a decade of ART.

The co-expression of inhibitory receptors (IRs) is a hallmark of CD8+ T-cell exhaustion (Tex) in people living with HIV-1 (PLWH). Understanding alterations of IRs expression in PLWH on long-term antiretroviral treatment (ART) remains elusive but is critical to overcoming CD8+ Tex and designing novel HIV-1 cure immunotherapies. To address this, we combine high-dimensional supervised and unsupervised analysis of IRs concomitant with functional markers across the CD8+ T-cell landscape on 24 PLWH over a decade on ART.

Chromatin factors: Ready to roll as biomarkers in metastatic colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most prevalent cancer globally and stands as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related fatalities in 2020. Survival rates for metastatic disease have slightly improved in recent decades, with clinical trials showing median overall survival of approximately 24-30 months. This progress can be attributed to the integration of chemotherapeutic treatments alongside targeted therapies and immunotherapy.

Peripheral α-synuclein isoforms are potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of isolated REM sleep behavior disorder.

Introduction: Isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (IRBD) represents an early manifestation of the synucleinopathies Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Aggregation of abnormal α-synuclein and its increased expression in the brain is crucial in the development of the synucleinopathies. Whereas α-synuclein gene (SNCA) transcripts are overexpressed in brain, a concomitant reduction occurs in blood of DLB patients.

Resilience characterized and quantified from physical activity data: A tutorial in R.

Consistent physical activity is key for health and well-being, but it is vulnerable to stressors. The process of recovering from such stressors and bouncing back to the previous state of physical activity can be referred to as resilience. Quantifying resilience is fundamental to assess and manage the impact of stressors on consistent physical activity.

Multimorbidity and Serological Response to SARS-CoV-2 Nine Months after 1st Vaccine Dose: European Cohort of Healthcare Workers-Orchestra Project.

Understanding antibody persistence concerning multimorbidity is crucial for vaccination policies. Our goal is to assess the link between multimorbidity and serological response to SARS-CoV-2 nine months post-first vaccine. We analyzed Healthcare Workers (HCWs) from three cohorts from Italy, and one each from Germany, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain.

Hygiene with wet wipes in bedridden patients to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection in cardiac surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

We assessed hygiene with wet wipes in bedridden patients with urinary catheters for catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention. CAUTIs occurred in 16.5% of the control group compared to 5.

Effect of Bypassing the Closest Stroke Center in Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Secondary Analysis of the RACECAT Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Prehospital transfer protocols are based on rapid access to reperfusion therapies for patients with ischemic stroke. The effect of different protocols among patients receiving a final diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is unknown.

Objective: To determine the effect of direct transport to an endovascular treatment (EVT)-capable stroke center vs transport to the nearest local stroke center.

Predictive signature of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer integrating mRNA expression, taxonomic subtypes, and clinicopathological features.

Background And Objective: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by cystectomy is the standard of care in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Pathological response has been associated with longer survival, but no currently available clinicopathological variables can identify patients likely to respond, highlighting the need for predictive biomarkers. We sought to identify a predictive signature of response to NAC integrating clinical score, taxonomic subtype, and gene expression.

Impact of Concurrent Genomic Alterations on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With ALK-Rearranged NSCLC.

Introduction: ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors have exhibited promising activity against advanced ALK-rearranged NSCLC. However, co-occurring genetic alterations, such as CDKN2A/B or TP53, may negatively affect the efficacy of targeted therapies.

Methods: From December 2017 to December 2022, this study cohort analyzed next-generation sequencing data of 116 patients with metastatic ALK-rearranged NSCLC from five Latin American cancer centers.