FLUORESCENCE DETECTION OF DNA/RNA G-QUADRUPLEXES (G4s) BY TWICE-AS-SMART LIGANDS.

Fluorescence detection of DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) is a very efficient strategy to assess not only the existence and prevalence of cellular G4s but also their relevance as targets for therapeutic interventions. Among the fluorophores used to this end, turn-on probes are the most interesting since their fluorescence is triggered only upon interaction with their G4 targets, which ensures a high sensitivity and selectivity of detection. We reported on a series of twice-as-smart G4 probes, which are both smart G4 ligands (whose structure is reorganized upon interaction with G4s) and smart fluorescent probes (whose fluorescence is turned on upon interaction with G4s).

Emerging therapeutic approaches for Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders - a systematic review of current clinical trials.

Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders are prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders typically treated with behavioral techniques or pharmacological interventions, primarily antipsychotics. However, many patients do not achieve sufficient response to conventional treatments, underscoring the need for further research in this area. To provide a comprehensive overview of ongoing research activities, we systematically searched the clinical registries of the World Health Organization (WHO) and of the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) for currently planned or ongoing registered clinical studies.

Design and Characterization of Novel Naphthalimide Fluorescent Probe for HS Detection in Human Serum.

In this work, a novel fluorescent probe (compound 2) based on the Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism was designed and successfully applied to determine HS in human serum. Fluorophore 1,8-naphthalimide was chosen, while the azide group was the recognition group for HS determination. By introducing p-toluidine moiety on the imide part of the molecule, a donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated system was formed.

Pharmacokinetics of ethambutol and weight banded dosing in South African adults newly diagnosed with tuberculosis and HIV.

Ethambutol is used to treat tuberculosis (TB) in individuals living with HIV. Low concentrations of ethambutol have been reported in patients dosed with the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended first-line regimen. We analyzed the pharmacokinetics of ethambutol in 61 HIV-positive individuals diagnosed with drug-sensitive TB enrolled in the tuberculosis and highly active antiretroviral therapy (TB-HAART) study.

Long-read Transcriptomics of Caviid Gammaherpesvirus 1: Compiling a Comprehensive RNA Atlas.

Caviid gammaherpesvirus 1 (CaGHV-1), formerly known as the guinea pig herpes-like virus, is an oncogenic gammaherpesvirus with a sequenced genome but an as-yet uncharacterized transcriptome. Using nanopore long-read RNA sequencing, we annotated the CaGHV-1 genome and constructed a detailed transcriptomic atlas. Our findings reveal diverse viral mRNAs and non-coding RNAs, along with mapped promoter elements for each viral gene.

Internet as a Source of Public Health Information on Acupuncture for Pain Relief: Credibility Assessment and Readability Analysis.

Background: In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of patients seeking information from online health websites. As the information available on these websites can significantly impact the overall health of individuals in a society, it is vital for online health information to be presented in a manner that is readable and credible to the general public. To address this concern, the objective of the study was to examine and assess the credibility and readability of websites about acupuncture as a pain management approach.

Interaction between Uranyl Cations and Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles: Implications for Nuclear Wastewater Management.

Effective uranium (U) capture is required for the remediation of contaminated solutes associated with the nuclear fuel cycle, including fuel reprocessing effluents, decommissioning, or nuclear accident cleanup. Here, interactions between uranyl cations (UO ) and a Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) were investigated using two types of uranyl-bearing LDH colloids. The first (ULDH) was synthesized by coprecipitation with 10% of Mg substituted by UO .

Visual, Refractive, Functional, and Patient Satisfaction Outcomes After Implantation of a New Extended Depth-of-Focus Intraocular Lens.

Purpose: To describe the visual, refractive, functional, and patient satisfaction outcomes of the Bi-Flex POB-MA 877PEY (Elon, Medicontur Medical Engineering Ltd. Zsámbék, Hungary) extended depth-of-focus intraocular lens (EDoF IOL).

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal descriptive study.

Postoperative bile leak after hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery in malignant biliary obstruction: rates, treatments, and outcomes in a high-volume tertiary referral center.

Background: Biliary leakage is a serious complication of hepato-pancreato-biliary operations, increasing morbidity and mortality, and challenging clinicians.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the incidence of bilioenteric anastomotic leakage, treatment options, and their outcomes at a high-volume tertiary referral center.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the outcomes of patients who underwent biliary anastomosis formation between 2016 and 2021.

Antimicrobial risk assessment-Aggregating aquatic chemical and resistome emissions.

Urban water systems receive and emit antimicrobial chemicals, resistant bacterial strains, and resistance genes (ARGs), thus representing "antimicrobial hotspots". Currently, regional environmental risk assessment (ERA) is carried out using drug consumption data and threshold concentrations derived based on chemical-specific minimum inhibitory concentration values. A legislative proposal by the European Commission released in 2022 addresses the need to include selected ARGs besides the chemical concentration-based ERAs.

From Bayes to Darwin: Evolutionary search as an exaptation from sampling-based Bayesian inference.

Building on the algorithmic equivalence between finite population replicator dynamics and particle filtering based approximation of Bayesian inference, we design a computational model to demonstrate the emergence of Darwinian evolution over representational units when collectives of units are selected to infer statistics of high-dimensional combinatorial environments. The non-Darwinian starting point is two units undergoing a few cycles of noisy, selection-dependent information transmission, corresponding to a serial (one comparison per cycle), non-cumulative process without heredity. Selection for accurate Bayesian inference at the collective level induces an adaptive path to the emergence of Darwinian evolution within the collectives, capable of maintaining and iteratively improving upon complex combinatorial information.

Structure-activity relationship of modified amphiphilic cationic cyclodextrins for enhanced siRNA delivery.

The presence of multiple hydroxyl groups at positions C2, C3 and C6 on the cyclodextrin (CD) ring structure allows for extensive functionalisation, enabling the development of biomaterials with significant potential for therapeutic siRNA delivery. To identify structural modifications that enhance activity, a range of cationic amphiphilic CDs, including both β- and γ-CDs, were synthesised, compared and evaluated. Each CDs incorporated a C lipid chain on the primary face of the CD.

Experimental horizontal transfer of phage-derived genes to Drosophila confers innate immunity to parasitoids.

Metazoan parasites have played a major role in shaping innate immunity in animals. Insect hosts and parasitoid wasps are excellent models for illuminating how animal innate immune systems have evolved to neutralize these enemies. One such strategy relies on symbioses between insects and intracellular bacteria that express phage-encoded toxins.

Guselkumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in pediatric patients: results of the phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled PROTOSTAR study.

Background: No currently approved treatment for pediatric plaque psoriasis selectively targets interleukin (IL)-23. In adults, guselkumab (a selective IL-23 inhibitor targeting the p19 subunit) demonstrated substantial efficacy with a favorable safety profile in treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Objective: PROTOSTAR (NCT03451851) evaluated the efficacy and safety of guselkumab in pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

The evaluation of depression prevalence and its association with obesity phenotypes in a community-dwelling aged population.

Background: Depression is one of the most debilitating mental disorders and a risk factor for many other chronic diseases that are commonly seen in the geriatric population. It has been claimed in previous studies that depression can be associated with obesity in this age group, but there is no common consensus between their results.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the association between depression metabolic syndrome and obesity phenotypes in community-dwelling older adults living in the East of Iran.

The conflict between oral health and patient autonomy in dentistry: a scoping review.

Background: Respect for patient autonomy, the principle that patients are capable to make informed decisions about medical interventions, is fundamental in present-day medicine. However, if a patient's request is medically not indicated, the practitioner faces an ethical dilemma represented by the conflict of the principles of patient autonomy, beneficence, and maleficence. Adjacent to topics such as medical assistance in dying and healthy limb amputation, this ethical dilemma also manifests in the care of the maxillofacial region (the oral cavity and its surroundings), an area crucial to esthetic appearance, but also to everyday functions including mastication, speech, and facial expression, all of which are related to well-being.

Clinical importance of patient-reported outcome measures in severe asthma: results from U-BIOPRED.

Rationale: Knowledge about the clinical importance of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in severe asthma is limited.

Objectives: To assess whether and to what extent asthma exacerbations affect changes in PROMS over time and asthma-specific PROMs can predict exacerbations in adult patients with severe asthma in usual care.

Methods: Data of 421 patients with severe asthma (62% female; mean age 51.

Predicting the replicability of social and behavioural science claims in COVID-19 preprints.

Replications are important for assessing the reliability of published findings. However, they are costly, and it is infeasible to replicate everything. Accurate, fast, lower-cost alternatives such as eliciting predictions could accelerate assessment for rapid policy implementation in a crisis and help guide a more efficient allocation of scarce replication resources.