Contact lenses for visual rehabilitation in post-keratoplasty eyes: A systematic review.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of contact lenses (CLs) in visual rehabilitation following keratoplasty.

Methods: Four databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched for studies published between January 2010 and July 2023. Visual outcomes, daily wearing duration, subjective comfort, rate and etiology of CL discontinuation, corneal endothelial cell density, central corneal thickness, and complications were extracted.

Mechanics of cell sheets: plectin as an integrator of cytoskeletal networks.

Epithelia are multicellular sheets that form barriers defining the internal and external environments. The constant stresses acting at this interface require that epithelial sheets are mechanically robust and provide a selective barrier to the hostile exterior. These properties are mediated by cellular junctions which are physically linked with heavily crosslinked cytoskeletal networks.

Chromosome-scale genome assembly reveals how repeat elements shape non-coding RNA landscapes active during newt limb regeneration.

Newts have large genomes harboring many repeat elements. How these elements shape the genome and relate to newts' unique regeneration ability remains unknown. We present here the chromosome-scale assembly of the 20.

Analysis of TEM micrographs with deep learning reveals APOE genotype-specific associations between HDL particle diameter and Alzheimer's dementia.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle diameter distribution is informative in the diagnosis of many conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, obtaining an accurate HDL size measurement is challenging. We demonstrated the utility of measuring the diameter of more than 1,800,000 HDL particles with the deep learning model YOLOv7 (you only look once) from micrographs of 183 HDL samples, including patients with dementia or normal cognition (controls).

MCC950 mitigates SIRT3-NLRP3-driven inflammation and rescues post-stroke neurogenesis.

Sustained activation of the SIRT3-NLRP3 inflammasome has been associated with worse outcomes after ischemic stroke. The objective of this study was to examine the potential mechanism by which the SIRT3-NLRP3 inflammasome affects neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in rats. Following tMCAO, significantly elevated levels of NLRP3, ASC, cleaved caspase 1, IL-1β, and IL-18 were observed in the ischemic subventricular zone.

Neomorphic leukemia-derived mutations in the TET2 enzyme induce genome instability via a substrate shift from 5-methylcytosine to thymine.

Ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes oxidize 5-methylcytosine (mC) in DNA, contributing to the regulation of gene transcription. Diverse mutations of TET2 are frequently found in various blood cancers, yet the full scope of their functional consequences has been unexplored. Here, we report that a subset of TET2 mutations identified in leukemia patients alter the substrate specificity of TET2 from acting on mC to thymine.

Enzymes in a human cytoplasm model organize into submetabolon complexes.

Enzyme-enzyme interactions are fundamental to the function of cells. Their atomistic mechanisms remain elusive mainly due to limitations of in-cell measurements. We address this challenge by atomistically modeling, for a total of ≈80 μs, a slice of the human cell cytoplasm that includes three successive enzymes along the glycolytic pathway: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), and phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM).

Organismal complexity strongly correlates with the number of protein families and domains.

In the pregenomic era, scientists were puzzled by the observation that haploid genome size (the C-value) did not correlate well with organismal complexity. This phenomenon, called the "C-value paradox," is mostly explained by the fact that protein-coding genes occupy only a small fraction of eukaryotic genomes. When the first genome sequences became available, scientists were even more surprised by the fact that the number of genes (G-value) was also a poor predictor of complexity, which gave rise to the "G-value paradox.

Transthyretin variants impact blood-nerve barrier and neuroinflammation in amyloidotic neuropathy.

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding transthyretin (TTR). Despite amyloid deposition being pathognomonic for diagnosis, this pathology in nervous tissues cannot fully account for nerve degeneration, implying additional pathophysiology for neurodegeneration, which, however, has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, neuroinflammation in ATTRv-PN was investigated by examining nerve morphometry, the blood-nerve barrier, and macrophage infiltration in the sural nerves of ATTRv-PN patients and the sciatic nerves of a complementary mouse system, i.

Fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 regulates satellite cell self-renewal and expansion during skeletal muscle repair.

Skeletal muscle regeneration in adults is predominantly driven by satellite cells. Loss of satellite cell pool and function leads to skeletal muscle wasting in many conditions and disease states. Here, we demonstrate that the levels of fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) were increased in satellite cells after muscle injury.

Screening of Oncogenic Proteins and Development of a Multiepitope Peptide Vaccine Targeting AKT1 and PARP1 for Breast Cancer by Integrating Reverse Vaccinology and Immune-Informatics Approaches.

Background: Breast cancer remains a significant global health challenge, requiring innovative therapeutic strategies. In silico methods, which leverage computational tools, offer a promising pathway for vaccine development. These methods facilitate antigen identification, epitope prediction, immune response modelling, and vaccine optimization, accelerating the design process.

Bioinformatics and immunoinformatics approaches in the design of a multi-epitope vaccine targeting CTLA-4 for melanoma treatment.

Melanoma, a highly aggressive skin cancer, remains a significant cause of mortality despite advancements in therapeutic strategies. There is an urgent demand for developing vaccines that can elicit strong and comprehensive immune responses against this malignancy. Achieving this goal is crucial to enhance the efficacy of immunological defense mechanisms in combating this disease.

Temporal Genomic Analysis of Homogeneous Tumor Models Reveals Key Regulators of Immune Evasion in Melanoma.

In this study, we find that Mif expression is associated with tumor growth and aggressiveness, specifically in tumors with low heterogeneity. These findings could facilitate the development of new strategies to treat patients with homogeneous, high MIF-expressing tumors that are unresponsive to immune checkpoint therapy.

Mammary Gland Reactive Stroma Characterization at Aging After Bisphenol A Exposure During Hormonal Susceptibility Windows.

Mammary glands development is influenced by endocrine signaling, which remodels epithelial and stromal compartments. Reactive stroma phenotype is observed when stromal disturbances occur, leading to changes in extracellular matrix composition and occurrence of reactive cell types. One of the triggers of these alterations is endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure, such as bisphenol A (BPA).

Suppression of TGA2-Mediated Salicylic Acid Defence by Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus C2 via Disruption of TCP7-Like Transcription Factor Activity in Tobacco.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a significant threat to tomato cultivation globally, transmitted exclusively by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. While previous research suggests that the TYLCV C2 protein plays a role in fostering mutualistic interactions between the virus and its insect vectors, the specific mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we show that the C2 protein interferes with the salicylic acid (SA) defence pathway by disrupting TCP7-like transcription factor-mediated regulation of TGA2 expression.

A Natural Autophagy Activator Castanea crenata Flower Alleviates Skeletal Muscle Ageing.

Background: Sarcopenia, characterized by a gradual decline in skeletal muscle mass and function with age, significantly impacts both quality of life and mortality. Autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining muscle health. There is growing interest in leveraging autophagy to mitigate muscle ageing effects.

The establishment of pulp polyp-derived mesenchymal stem cells with normal karyotype.

Background/purpose: Pulp polyp is often eliminated as dental waste. Pulp polyp cells were reported to have high proliferation activity which might be comprised of stem cells. However, little has been known on the presence of stem cells in the pulp polyp.

Spatial multi-omics characterizes GPR35-relevant lipid metabolism signatures across liver zonation in MASLD.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a metabolic disease that can progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), cirrhosis, and cancer. The zonal distribution of biomolecules in the liver is implicated in mediating the disease progression. Recently, G-protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35) has been highlighted to play a role in MASLD, but the precise mechanism is not fully understood, particularly, in a liver-zonal manner.

Biphasic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion over decades: a journey from measurements and modeling to mechanistic insights.

Glucose-stimulated insulin release from pancreatic β-cells is critical for maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. An abrupt increase in blood glucose concentration evokes a rapid and transient rise in insulin secretion followed by a prolonged, slower phase. A diminished first phase is one of the earliest indicators of β-cell dysfunction in individuals predisposed to develop type 2 diabetes.

Probing and imaging phospholipid dynamics in live cells.

Distinct phospholipid species display specific distribution patterns across cellular membranes, which are important for their structural and signaling roles and for preserving the integrity and functionality of the plasma membrane and organelles. Recent advancements in lipid biosensor technology and imaging modalities now allow for direct observation of phospholipid distribution, trafficking, and dynamics in living cells. These innovations have markedly advanced our understanding of phospholipid function and regulation at both cellular and subcellular levels.

The evolution of ovarian somatic cells characterized by transcriptome and chromatin accessibility across rodents, monkeys, and humans.

The ovary plays a crucial role in the reproductive system of female mammals by producing mature oocytes through folliculogenesis. Non-human model organisms are extensively utilized in research on human ovarian biology, thus necessitating the investigation of conservation and divergence in molecular mechanisms across species. In this study, we employed integrative single-cell analysis of transcriptome and chromatin accessibility to identify the evolutionary conservation and divergence patterns of ovaries among humans, monkeys, mice, rats, and rabbits.

Deciphering the dynamic single-cell transcriptional landscape in the ocular surface ectoderm differentiation system.

The ocular surface ectoderm (OSE) is essential for the development of the ocular surface, yet the molecular mechanisms driving its differentiation are not fully understood. In this study, we used single-cell transcriptomic analysis to explore the dynamic cellular trajectories and regulatory networks during the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into the OSE lineage. We identified nine distinct cell subpopulations undergoing differentiation along three main developmental branches: neural crest, neuroectodermal, and surface ectodermal lineages.

A biomarker framework for liver aging: the Aging Biomarker Consortium consensus statement.

In human aging, liver aging per se not only increases susceptibility to liver diseases but also increases vulnerability of other organs given its central role in regulating metabolism. Total liver function tends to be well maintained in the healthy elderly, so liver aging is generally difficult to identify early. In response to this critical challenge, the Aging Biomarker Consortium of China has formulated an expert consensus on biomarkers of liver aging by synthesizing the latest scientific literature, comprising insights from both scientists and clinicians.