Liver organoids: Current advances and future applications for hepatology.

The creation of self-organizing liver organoids represents a significant, although modest, step toward addressing the ongoing organ shortage crisis in allogeneic liver transplantation. However, researchers have recognized that achieving a fully functional whole liver remains a distant goal, and the original ambition of organoid-based liver generation has been temporarily put on hold. Instead, liver organoids have revolutionized the field of hepatology, extending their influence into various domains of precision and molecular medicine.

Associations between breastfeeding and breast cancer risk through mammographic breast density in a cohort of Korean women.

Background: Mammographic breast density has been suggested to play a role as a mediator between the risk factors for breast cancer (BC) and BC risk. We investigated the extent to which never breastfeeding is a risk factor for BC and how this risk is further mediated by increased mammographic breast density.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 4 136 723 women aged ≥40 years who underwent mammographic screening between 2009 and 2010 and were followed up until 31 December 2020.

Dual regulation of stomatal development by brassinosteroid in Arabidopsis hypocotyls.

Stomata are epidermal pores that are essential for water evaporation and gas exchange in plants. Stomatal development is orchestrated by intrinsic developmental programs, hormonal controls, and environmental cues. The steroid hormone brassinosteroid (BR) inhibits stomatal lineage progression by regulating BIN2 and BSL proteins in leaves.

Integration of metabolomics and other omics: from microbes to microbiome.

Metabolomics is a cutting-edge omics technology that identifies metabolites in organisms and their environments and tracks their fluctuations. This field has been extensively utilized to elucidate previously unknown metabolic pathways and to identify the underlying causes of metabolic changes, given its direct association with phenotypic alterations. However, metabolomics inherently has limitations that can lead to false positives and false negatives.

PRMT1-mediated methylation regulates MLL2 stability and gene expression.

The interplay between multiple transcription factors precisely regulates eukaryotic transcription. Here, we report that the protein methyltransferases, MLL2/KMT2B and PRMT1, interact directly and act collectively to regulate gene expression. PRMT1 binds to the N-terminal region of MLL2, considered an intrinsically disordered region, and methylates multiple arginine residues within its RGG/RG motifs.

All Roads Lead to Rome: Pathways to Engineering Disease Resistance in Plants.

Unlike animals, plants are unable to move and lack specialized immune cells and circulating antibodies. As a result, they are always threatened by a large number of microbial pathogens and harmful pests that can significantly reduce crop yield worldwide. Therefore, the development of new strategies to control them is essential to mitigate the increasing risk of crops lost to plant diseases.

Belatacept and regulatory T cells in transplantation: synergistic strategies for immune tolerance and graft survival.

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) have been a cornerstone in solid organ transplantation for many years; however, their prolonged use is linked to significant adverse effects, most notably nephrotoxicity. Belatacept, a modified version of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 immunoglobulin with increased binding affinity for its ligand, has emerged as a viable alternative to traditional CNIs due to its lower toxicity profile. Despite these benefits, belatacept is associated with a higher rate of acute rejection, which presents a challenge for long-term graft survival.

Trends in nationwide incidence of uveitis in South Korea using the National Health Insurance claims database from 2010 to 2021.

Objectives: To investigate the population-based incidence of uveitis and the differences between anterior and non-anterior uveitis using the comprehensive Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database.

Methods: We extracted data of patients who visited the clinic and were diagnosed with uveitis (based on Korean Classification of Diseases) from 2010 to 2021. The incidence of uveitis, differences between the demographics, and the underlying co-morbidities of anterior uveitis, non-anterior uveitis, and control groups were investigated.

Molecular Characterization of Subdomain Specification of Cochlear Duct Based on Foxg1 and Gata3.

The inner ear is one of the sensory organs of vertebrates and is largely composed of the vestibule, which controls balance, and the cochlea, which is responsible for hearing. In particular, a problem in cochlear development can lead to hearing loss. Although numerous studies have been conducted on genes involved in the development of the cochlea, many areas still need to be discovered regarding factors that control the patterning of the early cochlear duct.

Design and evaluation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase degraders using a covalent fumarate handle.

Targeted protein degradation has emerged as a novel therapeutic paradigm in drug discovery. Despite the FDA approval of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors, the pursuit of compounds with enhanced potency and prolonged efficacy remains crucial to mitigate inevitable adverse effects. In this context, we endeavored to develop ALK degraders utilizing FDA-approved ALK inhibitors-crizotinib, ceritinib, brigatinib, and alectinib-as ALK binders, along with 4-methoxyphenylfumarate as a covalent handle to bind to RNF126 E3 ligase.

Highly Stretchable 3D Microelectrode Array for Noninvasive Functional Evaluation of Cardiac Spheroids and Midbrain Organoids.

Organoids are 3D biological models that recapitulate the complex structures and functions of human organs. Despite the rapid growth in the generation of organoids, in vitro assay tools are still limited to 2D forms. Thus, a comprehensive and continuous functional evaluation of the electrogenic organoids remains a challenge.

Radiation-Resistant Bacteria Deinococcus radiodurans-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Radioprotectors.

The increasing use of radiation presents a risk of radiation exposure, making the development of radioprotectors necessary. In the previous study, it is investigated that Deinococcus radiodurans (R1-EVs) exert the antioxidative properties. However, the radioprotective activity of R1-EVs remains unclear.

Transcriptomic landscapes of STING-mediated DNA-sensing reveal cellular response heterogeneity.

Transfection of plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding target genes is a routine tool in gene function studies and therapeutic applications. However, nucleic acid-sensing-mediated innate immune responses influence multiple intracellular signaling pathways. The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a crucial adapter protein for DNA sensors in mammalian cells.

Toxin production in bloom-forming, harmful alga Alexandrium pacificum (Group IV) is regulated by cyst formation-promoting bacteria Jannaschia cystaugens NBRC 100362.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by dinoflagellates like Alexandrium pacificum pose significant ecological and public health risks due to their production of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs). Bacterial populations, particularly Alexandrium cyst formation-promoting bacteria (Alex-CFPB), are known to significantly influence growth, encystment, toxin synthesis, the composition of toxic components, and bloom dynamics of these dinoflagellates. However, the role of Alex-CFPB in Alexandrium toxin synthesis and the mechanisms thereof are still unclear.

Association of Lupus Low Disease Activity State And Remission With Reduced Organ Damage And Flare in Systemic lupus erythematosus Patients With High Disease Activity.

Objective: High disease activity status (HDAS) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with adverse long-term outcomes. We examined the frequency of lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) and remission (REM) attainment in HDAS patients and whether their attainment was associated with improved patient outcomes.

Methods: Demographic, clinical and outcomes data, collected prospectively from a multinational cohort between 2013 and 2020, were analysed.

Comprehensive analysis of primary and secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities provides insights into metabolic profiling of different organs of Pimpinella brachycarpa Nakai.

Pimpinella brachycarpa Nakai is a perennial plant that has been widely used as a traditional medicine. However, the comprehensive analysis of primary and secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities in different organs (flowers, leaves, stems, and roots) has not been extensively studied. A comprehensive analysis using GC-qMS, GC-TOFMS, and HPLC metabolomic analyses identified 66 known metabolites in different organs of P.

Recent advances and factors affecting the adsorption of nano/microplastics by magnetic biochar.

The increase in nano/microplastics (NPs/MPs) from various everyday products entering aquatic environments highlights the urgent need to develop mitigation strategies. Biochar (BC), known for its excellent adsorption capabilities, can effectively target various harmful organic and inorganic pollutants. However, traditional methods involving powdered BC necessitate centrifugation and filtration, which can lead to the desorption of pollutants and subsequent secondary pollution.

Regulatory effects of extract and Diphlorethohydroxycarmalol on skin barrier function.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The pharmacological potential of marine organisms remains largely unexplored. commonly known as Pae, is extensively distributed over Asia. Its antioxidant, antibacterial, antiobesity, and anti-inflammatory properties are also being investigated.

Gonyaulax montresoriae sp. nov. (Dinophyceae) from the Adriatic Sea produces predominantly yessotoxin.

Yessotoxin is one of the shellfish toxins leading to mussel farm closures in the Adriatic Sea of Italy. Two putative Gonyaulax spinifera strains GSA0501 and GSA0602 are known as yessotoxins producers, but their identities have remained elusive since 2005. To address this gap, we established five Gonyaulax strains by incubating sediments from the Adriatic Sea and subsequently isolating single cells.

Intracellular gene transfer (IGT) events from the mitochondrial genome to the plastid genome of the subtribe ferulinae drude (Apiaceae) and their implications.

Background: Intracellular gene transfer (IGT) is a phenomenon in genome evolution that occurs between the nuclear and organellar genomes of plants or between the genomes of different organelles. The majority of the plastid genomes (plastomes) in angiosperms have a conserved structure, but some species exhibit unexpected structural variations.

Results: In this study, we focused on the Ferulinae, which includes Ferula, one of the largest genera in the Apiaceae family.

Aromadendrin Ameliorates Airway Inflammation in Experimental Mice with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Aromadendrin (ARO) is an active plant compound that exerts anti-inflammatory effects. However, its ameliorative effects on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the inhibitory effects of ARO on bronchial inflammation using an experimental model of COPD.

Curvature-Specific Coupling Electrode Design for a Stretchable Three-Dimensional Inorganic Piezoelectric Nanogenerator.

Structures such as 3D buckling have been widely used to impart stretchability to devices. However, these structures have limitations when applied to piezoelectric devices due to the uneven distribution of internal strain during deformation. When strains with opposite directions simultaneously affect piezoelectric materials, the electric output can decrease due to cancellation.

Advanced MicroRNA delivery for lung inflammatory therapy: surfactant protein A controls cellular internalisation and degradation of extracellular vesicles.

Introduction: Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are the first line of defence against pathogens that initiate an inflammatory response in the lungs and exhibit a strong affinity for surfactant protein A (SP-A). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising drug delivery platform due to their minimal cytotoxicity. However, precise targeting of specific cell types and the rapid lysosomal degradation of EVs within recipient cells remain persistent challenges.