Chromosome-level assembly of basil genome unveils the genetic variation driving Genovese and Thai aroma types.

Basil, Ocimum basilicum L., is a widely cultivated aromatic herb, prized for its culinary and medicinal uses, predominantly owing to its unique aroma, primarily determined by eugenol for Genovese cultivars or methyl chavicol for Thai cultivars. To date, a comprehensive basil reference genome has been lacking, with only a fragmented draft available.

Genomic Resources for the Scuttle Fly : A Model Organism for Comparative Developmental Studies in Flies.

The order Diptera (true flies) holds promise as a model taxon in evolutionary developmental biology due to the inclusion of the model organism, , and the ability to cost-effectively rear many species in laboratories. One of them, the scuttle fly (Phoridae) has been used in evolutionary developmental biology for 30 years and is an excellent phylogenetic intermediate between fruit flies and mosquitoes but remains underdeveloped in genomic resources. Here, we present a chromosome-level assembly and annotation of and transcriptomes of 9 embryonic and 4 postembryonic stages.

Defining the Polycystin Pharmacophore Through HTS & Computational Biophysics.

Background And Purpose: Polycystins (PKD2, PKD2L1) are voltage-gated and Ca-modulated members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of ion channels. Loss of PKD2L1 expression results in seizure-susceptibility and autism-like features in mice, whereas variants in PKD2 cause autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Despite decades of evidence clearly linking their dysfunction to human disease and demonstrating their physiological importance in the brain and kidneys, the polycystin pharmacophore remains undefined.

Conservation of symmetry breaking at the level of chromatin accessibility between fly species with unrelated anterior determinants.

Establishing the anterior-posterior body axis is a fundamental process during embryogenesis, and the fruit fly, , provides one of the best-known case studies of this process. In Drosophila, localized mRNA of serves as anterior determinant (AD). Bicoid engages in a concentration-dependent competition with nucleosomes and initiates symmetry-breaking along the AP axis by promoting chromatin accessibility at the loci of transcription factor (TF) genes that are expressed in the anterior of the embryo.

SPIRIT-CONSORT-TM: a corpus for assessing transparency of clinical trial protocol and results publications.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) can produce valid estimates of the benefits and harms of therapeutic interventions. However, incomplete reporting can undermine the validity of their conclusions. Reporting guidelines, such as SPIRIT for protocols and CONSORT for results, have been developed to improve transparency in RCT publications.

Absence of mating behaviors in the female dogs neonatally treated with estrogen and progesterone.

This study aimed to develop a non-surgical method to neutralize reproduction in female dogs. Female Beagle puppies, aged 6 days, were treated with pellets designed to release estradiol benzoate (EB; 1.0 mg) and progesterone (P4; 5.

Mechanical Thrombectomy in Africa: A Challenging Future.

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has revolutionized the management of proximal large vessel occlusions (LVOs) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), improving long-term outcomes compared to standard treatments. However, despite its success in high-income countries, the widespread implementation of MT in Africa remains limited. With Africa experiencing one of the highest stroke burdens globally, this study examines the barriers impeding the adoption of MT in the region.

Clinical, immunophenotypic, and genomic findings of acute myeloid leukemia with RAM immunophenotype: Comparison with other CD56-positive acute leukemias.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with RAM immunophenotype is a newly recognized high-risk AML immunophenotypic subcategory characterized by blasts with bright expression of CD56 and weak to absent expression of CD45, HLA-DR, and CD38, as first described by the Children's Oncology Group (COG). The relationship between AML-RAM and other CD56-positive acute leukemias is unclear. The goal of this study is to characterize the clinicopathological characteristics of AML with RAM phenotype and compare them with other CD56 co-expressing acute leukemias.

CD58 expression does not impact response to inotuzumab ozogamicin in patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: CD58 loss has been described as a mechanism of resistance to blinatumomab and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, functioning as a modulator of response to T-cell activation.

Methods: Using flow cytometry, we evaluated the impact of CD58 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) on the probability of achieving measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity in patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with inotuzumab ozogamicin (InO).

Results: The odds ratio of achieving MRD negativity was 1.

Factors related to mean corpuscular volume in p.C282Y homozygotes.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to define the relationships between factors other than transferrin saturation (TS) to mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and macrocytosis (MCV > 100 fL) in p.C282Y (rs1800562) homozygotes.

Methods: We studied white post-screening participants with p.

The Role of Structural Flexibility in Hydrocarbon-Stapled Peptides Designed to Block Viral Infection via Human ACE2 Mimicry.

The COVID-19 pandemic drove a uniquely fervent pursuit to explore the potential of peptide, antibody, protein, and small-molecule based antiviral agents against severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The interaction between the SARS-CoV2 spike protein with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor that mediates viral cell entry was a particularly interesting target given its well described protein-protein interaction (PPI). This PPI is mediated by an α-helical portion of ACE2 binding to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein and thought to be susceptible to blockade through molecular mimicry.

Serum Vitamin D Level Correlates Significantly With Leptin and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in Overweight Postmenopausal Women With Hypertension.

Background: Association of serum vitamin D (vitD) with leptin (Lep) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is not precisely known in overweight hypertensive (OW-HT) postmenopausal (PMP) women. Hence, the present study was carried out to investigate the body mass index (BMI)-based correlation of serum vitD with Lep and TNF-α in OW-HT PMP women.

Methods: Women subjects in their early PMP (n = 346, age: 51 - 60 years) categorized into three groups had main inclusion criteria of specified range of age, BMI and blood pressure (BP).

The Clinical Utility of Anorectal Manometry: A Review of Current Practices.

Anorectal manometry (ARM) is a diagnostic test that utilizes pressure sensors to dynamically measure intraluminal anal and rectal pressures, thus providing an objective evaluation of anorectal functional parameters (tone, contractility, and relaxation), coordination and reflex activity, and sensation. ARM is a useful test for numerous indications including for the assessment and management of functional anorectal disorders such as fecal incontinence, functional defecatory disorders, and functional anorectal pain, preoperative assessment of anorectal function, and in facilitating/assessing response to biofeedback training. In addition, while many functional anorectal disorders present with overlapping symptoms (ie constipation, anorectal pain), ARM allows delineation of more specific disease processes and may guide treatment more effectively.

Evaluation of tension-band osteosynthesis for cubitus varus deformity in pediatric patients: A retrospective review.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of lateral closing wedge osteotomy with tension-band wire fixation for correcting cubitus varus deformity in pediatric patients. The primary objective was to assess the bone union rate, functional outcomes, and potential complications associated with this surgical approach.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 104 pediatric cases (ages 7-15) with post-traumatic cubitus varus deformity treated between January 2018 and December 2019 at the Pediatric Orthopedic Department.

CompLex: Legal systems through the lens of complexity science.

While "complexity science" has achieved significant successes in several interdisciplinary fields such as economics and biology, it is only a very recent observation that legal systems -from the way legal texts are drafted and connected to the rest of the corpus, up to the level of how judges and courts reach decisions under a variety of conflicting inputs- share several features with standard Complex Adaptive Systems. This review is meant as a gentle introduction to the use of quantitative tools and techniques of complexity science to describe, analyse, and tame the complex web of human interactions that the Law is supposed to regulate. We offer an overview of the main directions of research undertaken so far as well as an outlook for future research, and we argue that statistical physicists and complexity scientists should not ignore the opportunities offered by the cross-fertilisation between legal scholarship and complex-systems modelling.

Fabrication of a micropatterned shape-memory polymer patch with L-DOPA for tendon regeneration.

A scaffold design for tendon regeneration has been proposed, which mimics the microstructural features of tendons and provides appropriate mechanical properties. We synthesized a temperature-triggered shape-memory polymer (SMP) using the ring-opening polymerization of polycaprolactone (PCL) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a macroinitiator. We fabricated a micropatterned patch using SMP capillary force lithography, which mimicked a native tendon, for providing physical cues and guiding effects.

Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Immunogenicity of ABBV-154 in Adults With Glucocorticoid-Dependent Polymyalgia Rheumatica: A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: An unmet need exists for glucocorticoid-sparing treatments for patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). The antibody-drug conjugate ABBV-154 comprises adalimumab conjugated to a glucocorticoid receptor modulator. We evaluated ABBV-154 versus placebo in patients with glucocorticoid-dependent PMR.

Lip Augmentation in Patients with Fitzpatrick Skin Type V and VI: Use of a Validated Lip Fullness Scale and Determining Preinjection Lip Size Preference and Postinjection Patient Satisfaction.

There is limited literature assessing cosmetic lip size preferences in darker-skinned individuals. To measure preinjection lip augmentation preferences and postinjection satisfaction using the revised Lip Fullness Scale (LFS) in female participants with Fitzpatrick Skin Type V and VI. Females, aged 21 and over, with Fitzpatrick Skin Type V and VI desiring lip augmentation were recruited from a high-volume outpatient facial plastic surgery clinic.

Antiviral effects and mechanism of Qi pi pill against influenza viruses.

Background: Qi pi pill (QPP), which contains Renshen, Baizhu, Fuling, Gancao, Chenpi, Shanyao, Lianzi, Shanzha, Liushenqu, Maiya, and Zexie, was recommended for preventing and treating COVID-19 in Shandong Province (China). However, the mechanism by which QPP treats infectious diseases remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect of QPP in vitro and on acute influenza infection in mice, exploring its mechanism of action against influenza A virus (IAV).

Computerized Tomography for Diagnosing Traumatic Arthrotomies of the Ankle.

Background: Owing to the risk for septic arthritis, traumatic arthrotomies are an urgent surgical problem for the treating orthopaedic surgeon. Traditionally, diagnosis is with the saline load test (SLT), although in the awake patient is an invasive and potentially painful procedure. While computerized tomography (CT) has been shown to be a reliable diagnostic tool for traumatic arthrotomies of other joints, its role has only recently been investigated in the setting of ankle arthrotomy.

Learning Curve for Robotic Inguinal Hernia Repair With da Vinci Single-Port Robotic System.

Background: Transabdominal pre-peritoneal inguinal hernia repair using the da Vinci Single-Port robot (SP-TAPP) is currently performed in few centers. We aimed to define the learning curve for SP-TAPP by analyzing operative times.

Methods: The operative times of 122 SP-TAPP performed between 2019 and 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.

An international survey of patient blood management practices.

Background: The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) conducted a global survey of patient blood management (PBM) practices. It determined changes in PBM practices since the last survey.

Study Design And Methods: A working group of AABB's PBM Subsection and AABB staff designed the survey using the Qualtrics™ platform.

Service capacity and disability resource integration: A strategic survey of immigrant and refugee-serving agencies in Illinois.

Immigrants and refugees in the United States often face significant barriers in accessing social services, including mental health support, legal assistance, ESL or related education, housing, vocational training, workforce resources, transportation, and citizenship support. This article explores the strengths and challenges of community-based organizations welcoming centers (CBO WC) in Illinois that serve these populations, including people with disabilities, in culturally appropriate and inclusive ways. The Immigrant and Refugee-Led Capacity Development Network of Illinois, based at the University of Illinois Chicago, collaborated with the state's Office of Welcoming Centers to explore the service capacities of 17 CBO grantees.

NumSimEX: A method using EXX hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry to map the energetics of protein folding landscapes.

Hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry (HXMS) is a powerful tool to understand protein folding pathways and energetics. However, HXMS experiments to date have used exchange conditions termed EX1 or EX2 which limit the information that can be gained compared to the more general EXX exchange regime. If EXX behavior could be understood and analyzed, a single HXMS timecourse on an intact protein could fully map its folding landscape without requiring denaturation.