Genetic Predisposition to Hippocampal Atrophy and Risk of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Dementia.

Background: There is a paucity of evidence on the association between genetic propensity for hippocampal atrophy with cognitive outcomes. Therefore, we examined the relationship of the polygenic risk score for hippocampal atrophy (PRShp) with the incidence of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as the rates of cognitive decline.

Methods: Participants were drawn from the population-based HELIAD cohort.

Impact of Short-Chain Perfluoropropylene Oxide Acids on Biochemical and Behavioural Parameters in (Savigny, 1826).

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of persistent organic pollutants that pose a growing threat to environmental and human health. Soil acts as a long-term reservoir for PFAS, potentially impacting soil biodiversity and ecosystem function. Earthworms, as keystone species in soil ecosystems, are particularly vulnerable to PFAS exposure.

Changes in the Spatial Structure of Synchronization Connections in EEG During Nocturnal Sleep Apnea.

This study involved 72 volunteers divided into two groups according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): AHI>15 episodes per hour (ep/h) (main group, n=39, including 28 men, median AHI 44.15, median age 47), 0≤AHI≤15ep/h (control group, n=33, including 12 men, median AHI 2, median age 28). Each participant underwent polysomnography with a recording of 19 EEG channels.

A Series of 40 Congenital Lung Malformation Cases and the Informative Value of CPAM Lesion Ratios.

Introduction: In this single-center retrospective analysis, we present case data and insights gathered over the past eight years. Additionally, we computed postnatal, pre-therapy lesion-to-lung ratios of Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformations (CPAMs) to retrospectively assess potential outcome prediction using lesion-to-lung ratios.

Methods: Data were collected between 2015 and 2022.

Insights into the morphology-productivity relationship of filamentous fungi through small-scale cultivation and automated microscopy of Thermothelomyces thermophilus.

Filamentous fungi are a cornerstone in the biotechnological production of enzymes, proteins, and organic acids. However, challenges in understanding and controlling the relationship between morphology and productivity can limit their application. This study addresses these challenges using Thermothelomyces thermophilus, a promising thermophilic fungus known for the production of thermostable enzymes.

In silico optimization of a challenging bispecific antibody chromatography step.

Mechanistic modeling of chromatographic steps is an effective tool in biopharma process development that enhances process understanding and accelerates optimization efforts and subsequent risk assessment. A relatively new model for ion exchange chromatography is the colloidal particle adsorption (CPA) formalism, which promises improved separation of material and molecule-specific parameters. This case study demonstrates a straightforward CPA modeling workflow to describe an ion exchange chromatography polishing step of a knobs-into-holes construct bispecific antibody molecule.

Altered retinal vasculature in childhood cancer survivors: Data from the German CVSS-study.

Aims: Childhood cancer is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in later life. Retinal examination allows to non-invasively observe the vasculature of an end-organ. We observe alterations in long-term childhood cancer survivors (CCS).

Reversible Piezochromism of Platinum(II) and Palladium(II) Dimers in Molecular Single Crystals.

Transition metal complexes are well-known for their efficient light emission and are promising for applications ranging from bioimaging to light-emitting diodes. In solution, interactions between the metal centers of two complexes become possible and drastically change the photophysical properties. For real-world devices, solid-state materials consisting of these molecules are preferable.

Simple User-Friendly Reaction Format.

Utilizing the growing wealth of chemical reaction data can boost synthesis planning and increase success rates. Yet, the effectiveness of machine learning tools for retrosynthesis planning and forward reaction prediction relies on accessible, well-curated data presented in a structured format. Although some public and licensed reaction databases exist, they often lack essential information about reaction conditions.

Gold Nanorods Decorated by Conjugated Microporous Polymers for Infrared Responsive Cytostatic Drug Delivery.

Near-infrared (NIR) controlled drug delivery systems have drawn a lot of attention throughout the past few decades due to the deep penetration depth and comparatively minor side effects of the stimulus. In this study, we introduce an innovative approach for gastric cancer treatment by combining photothermal infrared-sensitive gold nanorods (AuNRs) with a conjugated microporous polymer (CMP) to create a drug delivery system tailored for transporting the cytostatic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). CMPs are fully conjugated networks with high internal surface areas that can be precisely tailored to the adsorption and transport of active compounds through the right choice of chemical functionalities.

Long-term safety and efficacy of ritlecitinib in adults and adolescents with alopecia areata and at least 25% scalp hair loss: Results from the ALLEGRO-LT phase 3, open-label study.

Background: ALLEGRO-LT is an ongoing, long-term, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 study of ritlecitinib in adults and adolescents with alopecia areata (AA).

Objectives: To evaluate ritlecitinib safety and efficacy through Month 24 in patients with AA and ≥25% scalp hair loss.

Methods: ALLEGRO-LT enrolled rollover patients who previously received study intervention in either ALLEGRO phase 2a or 2b/3 studies and de novo patients who had not received treatment in either study.

The Best of Both Worlds: ΔDFT Describes Multiresonance TADF Emitters with Wave-Function Accuracy at Density-Functional Cost.

With their narrow-band emission, high quantum yield, and good chemical stability, multiresonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) emitters are promising materials for OLED technology. However, accurately modeling key properties, such as the singlet-triplet (ST) energy gap and fluorescence energy, remains challenging. While time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT), the workhorse of computational materials science, suffers from fundamental issues, wave function-based coupled-cluster (CC) approaches, like approximate CC of second-order (CC2), are accurate but suffer from high computational cost and unfavorable scaling with system size.

Cardiac myosin binding protein C correlate with cardiac troponin I during an exercise training program in patients with HFrEF.

Background: Cardiac myosin binding protein C (cMyC) is an emerging new biomarker of myocardial injury rising earlier and cleared faster than cardiac troponins. It has discriminatory power similar to high-sensitive troponins in diagnosing myocardial infarction in patients presenting with chest pain. It is also associated with outcome in patients with acute heart failure.

Effects of Age and Sex on Systemic Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Function in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Systemic inflammation, aging, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) lead to varying degrees of cardiovascular dysfunction and impaired aerobic exercise capacity. This study evaluates the impact of inflammation and sex differences on coronary and peripheral vascular function and exercise capacity in older individuals with and without T2D.

Methods: Older individuals (aged≥65 years) underwent biochemical and tissue inflammatory phenotyping, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, and vascular reactivity testing.

Nephronectin Is Required for Vascularization in Zebrafish and Sufficient to Promote Mammalian Vessel-Like Structures in Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering.

Background: Organs and tissues need to be vascularized during development. Similarly, vascularization is required to engineer thick tissues. How vessels are formed during organogenesis is not fully understood, and vascularization of engineered tissues remains a significant challenge.

Ultrahigh Specific Strength by Bayesian Optimization of Carbon Nanolattices.

Nanoarchitected materials are at the frontier of metamaterial design and have set the benchmark for mechanical performance in several contemporary applications. However, traditional nanoarchitected designs with conventional topologies exhibit poor stress distributions and induce premature nodal failure. Here, using multi-objective Bayesian optimization and two-photon polymerization, optimized carbon nanolattices with an exceptional specific strength of 2.

Effect of sugar beet variety resistance on the disease epidemiology of Cercospora beticola.

Background: Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by Cercospora beticola, is the most destructive foliar disease in sugar beet. CLS is conventionally controlled with fungicide, but the emergence of fungicide-resistant populations reinforces the importance of developing and cultivating resistant varieties. Understanding the dynamics of CLS in different varieties is hence essential for sustainable CLS management.

Citrullinated Autoantigen-Specific T and B Lymphocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Focus on Follicular T Helper Cells and Expansion by Coculture.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by circulating anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) autoantibodies (ACPAs), resulting in inflammation of the joints and other organs. We have established novel assays to assess immune cell subpopulations, including citrullinated antigen-specific (CAS) autoreactive B and T lymphocytes, in patients with RA.

Methods And Results: We found that activated CD25 T cells were markedly increased in patients with RA compared to healthy controls.

DECIPHERING AND COUNTERING FORMIC ACID PERMEABILITY IN ZERO-GAP ELECTROLYZERS.

In recent years, formic acid (FA) has garnered attention as a compelling molecule for various chemical and everyday applications Additionally, with recent studies demonstrating direct FA generation through CO2 electrolysis, it can serve as a stable liquid hydrogen carrier. Nevertheless, FA-permeability via semi-permeable ion‑exchange membranes (FA-crossover) still constitutes a major issue in scalable polymer-electrolyte separated zero-gap electrolyzers, limiting the breakthrough of the technology to the larger-scale. Herein we present a holistic route towards understanding the mechanism of FA-crossover in zero-gap cells.

Structural Insights into Broad-Range Polyphosphate Kinase 2‑II Enzymes Applicable for Pyrimidine Nucleoside Diphosphate Synthesis.

Polyphosphate kinases (PPK) play crucial roles in various biological processes, including energy storage and stress responses, through their interaction with inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) and the intracellular nucleotide pool. Members of the PPK family 2 (PPK2s) catalyse polyP‑consuming phosphorylation of nucleotides. In this study, we characterised two PPK2 enzymes from Bacillus cereus (BcPPK2) and Lysinibacillus fusiformis (LfPPK2) to investigate their substrate specificity and potential for selective nucleotide synthesis.

Stay Connected to Be Diverse!

Plankton biodiversity is crucial for the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, influencing nutrient cycling, food web dynamics, and carbon storage. Global change and habitat destruction disrupt these ecosystems, reducing species diversity and ecosystem resilience. Connectivity between aquatic habitats supports biodiversity by enabling species migration, genetic diversity, and recovery from disturbances.

Lateral Atrial Expression Patterns Provide Insights into Local Transcription Disequilibrium Contributing to Disease Susceptibility.

Background: Transcriptional dysregulation, possibly affected by genetic variation, contributes to disease development. Due to dissimilarities in development, function, and remodeling during disease progression, transcriptional differences between the left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) may provide insight into diseases such as atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Lateral differences in atrial transcription were evaluated in CATCH ME (Characterizing Atrial fibrillation by Translating its Causes into Health Modifiers in the Elderly) using a 2-stage discovery and replication design.

Structural and Functional Characterization of the Aorta in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Changes in the phenotype and genotype in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are thought to involve the myocardium as well as extracardiac tissues. Here, we describe the structural and functional changes in the ascending aorta of obstructive patients with HCM.

Methods: Changes in the aortic wall were studied in a cohort of 101 consecutive patients with HCM undergoing myectomy and 9 normal controls.