Biological activities, biosynthetic capacity and metabolic interactions of lactic acid bacteria and yeast strains from traditional home-made kefir.

Given the widespread industrial and domestic use of probiotic blends based on combinations of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts to produce fermented foods or beverages that are supposed to provide health benefits, this study aimed to generate knowledge and concepts on biologically relevant activities, metabolism and metabolic interactions in yeast/LAB communities. For this, the postbiotic capabilities of three probiotic candidates, including two lactic acid bacteria (i.e.

Regulation of physiological and pathological condensates by molecular chaperones.

Biomolecular condensates are dynamic membraneless compartments that regulate a myriad of cellular functions. A particular type of physiological condensate called stress granules (SGs) has gained increasing interest due to its role in the cellular stress response and various diseases. SGs, composed of several hundred RNA-binding proteins, form transiently in response to stress to protect mRNAs from translation and disassemble when the stress subsides.

Imagine, Discover, Inspire: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference of the Trisomy 21 Research Society.

Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy 21 (T21) is present in a significant number of children and adults around the world and is associated with cognitive and medical challenges. Through research, the T21 Research Society (T21RS), established in 2014, unites a worldwide community dedicated to understanding the impact of T21 on biological systems and improving the quality of life of people with DS across the lifespan. T21RS hosts an international conference every two years to support collaboration, dissemination, and information sharing for this goal.

Aggressive Subtypes of Laryngeal Chondrosarcoma and their Clinical Behavior: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Laryngeal chondrosarcoma (CS) is a rare indolent malignant tumor. High-grade (G3), dedifferentiated (DD), and myxoid (MY) CSs are considered more aggressive subtypes due to their metastatic potential and relatively poor outcomes. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate treatment modalities and survival outcomes in patients affected by these rarer CS subtypes.

Targeted animal models for preclinical assessment of cellular and gene therapies in pancreatic and liver diseases: regulatory and practical insights.

Cellular and gene therapy (CGT) products have emerged as a popular approach in regenerative medicine, showing promise in treating various pancreatic and liver diseases in numerous clinical trials. Before these therapies can be tested in human clinical trials, it is essential to evaluate their safety and efficacy in relevant animal models. Such preclinical testing is often required to obtain regulatory approval for investigational new drugs.

Risk Factors for Anastomotic Leakage: A Comprehensive Single-Center Analysis of Colorectal Anastomoses for Ovarian and Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a major complication in colorectal surgery, particularly following rectal cancer surgery, necessitating effective prevention strategies. The increasing frequency of colorectal resections and anastomoses during cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for peritoneal carcinomatosis further complicates this issue owing to the diverse patient populations with varied tumor distributions and surgical complexities. This study aims to assess and compare AL incidence and associated risk factors across conventional colorectal cancer surgery (CRC), gastrointestinal CRS (GI-CRS), and ovarian CRS (OC-CRS), with a secondary focus on evaluating the role of protective ostomies.

Exploring Chronic Pain in Hemodialysis Patients: An Observational Study Based on the New IASP Classification for ICD-11.

Introduction: Pain is one of the most frequently reported symptoms in hemodialyzed (HD) patients, with prevalence rates between 33% and 82%. Risk factors for chronic pain in HD patients are older age, long-lasting dialysis history, several concomitant diseases, malnutrition, and others. However, chronic pain assessment in HD patients is rarely performed by specialists in pain medicine, with relevant consequences in terms of diagnostic and treatment accuracy.

Lateral decubitus: its influence on hemodynamic and respiratory function during retroperitoneal robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (R-RALP) in children.

Retroperitoneal robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (R-RALP) is the commonest urologic procedure performed in children, entailing retroperitoneal CO2 insufflation and lateral decubitus, whose effects on cardiopulmonary variables are poorly known. We, therefore, studied hemodynamic and respiratory changes due to CO2 insufflation and lateral decubitus in children undergoing R-RALP and their effects on regional tissue oxygenation. Between 1/2021 and 7/2024, children affected by ureteropelvic joint obstruction (UPJO) underwent a pyeloplasty by R-RALP at Necker Enfants Malades Hospital (Paris, France), using a standardized surgical technique and a lung-protecting anesthetic protocol aimed to prevent hypercarbia.

Intra-individual variability in ancient plasmodium DNA recovery highlights need for enhanced sampling.

Malaria has been a leading cause of death in human populations for centuries and remains a major public health challenge in African countries, especially affecting children. Among the five Plasmodium species infecting humans, Plasmodium falciparum is the most lethal. Ancient DNA research has provided key insights into the origins, evolution, and virulence of pathogens that affect humans.

Ultrasensitive detection and quantification of bovine Deltapapillomavirus in the semen of healthy horses.

BPV1, BPV2, BPV13, and BPV14 are all genotypes of bovine delta papillomaviruses (δPV), of which the first three cause infections in horses and are associated with equine sarcoids. However, BPV14 infection has never been reported in equine species. In this study, we examined 58 fresh and thawed commercial semen samples from healthy stallions.

The dynamics of higher-order novelties.

Studying how we explore the world in search of novelties is key to understand the mechanisms that can lead to new discoveries. Previous studies analyzed novelties in various exploration processes, defining them as the first appearance of an element. However, novelties can also be generated by combining what is already known.

Preclinical and clinical study on type 3 metabotropic glutamate receptors in Parkinson's disease.

Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are candidate drug targets for therapeutic intervention in Parkinson's disease (PD). Here we focused on mGlu3, a receptor subtype involved in synaptic regulation and neuroinflammation. mGlu3 mice showed an enhanced nigro-striatal damage and microglial activation in response to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP).

Thyroid disorders in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: a meta-analysis.

Background: Thyroid disorders have significant clinical sequelae, including impaired growth in children, metabolic abnormalities, and impaired cognitive function. However, available studies on burden of thyroid diseases in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), particularly its prevalence and its interaction with HIV related factors (like CD4 count), are controversial. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive summary and analysis on the extent of thyroid dysfunctions in this population.

From ex vivo to in vivo chimeric antigen T cells manufacturing: new horizons for CAR T-cell based therapy.

In the past decades, Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has achieved remarkable success, leading to the approval of six therapeutic products for haematological malignancies. Recently, the therapeutic potential of this therapy has also been demonstrated in non-tumoral diseases. Currently, the manufacturing process to produce clinical-grade CAR-T cells is complex, time-consuming, and highly expensive.

Current status and innovative developments of CAR-T-cell therapy for the treatment of breast cancer.

Breast cancer will overtake all other cancers in terms of diagnoses in 2024. Breast cancer counts highest among women in terms of cancer incidence and death rates. Innovative treatment approaches are desperately needed because treatment resistance brought on by current clinical drugs impedes therapeutic efficacy.

Early treatment discontinuation in patients with deficient mismatch repair or microsatellite instability high metastatic colorectal cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are recommended to treat patients with deficient mismatch repair/microsatellite instability high (dMMR/MSI-H) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Pivotal trials have fixed a maximum ICI duration of 2 years, without a compelling rationale. A shorter treatment duration has the potential to improve patients' quality of life and reduce both toxicity and cost without compromising efficacy.

Cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC with oxaliplatin for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis from recurrent fibrolamellar carcinoma.

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FHCC) is a rare variant of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), characterised by a poorer prognosis in later stages compared with conventional HCC due to a high rate of local recurrence, lymph node metastasis and peritoneal metastasis. Conventional chemotherapy is generally ineffective, making surgery the only potentially curative treatment. Currently, surgery is also indicated in cases of recurrence, always aiming for an R0 resection.

Machine learning to predict the decision to perform surgery in hepatic echinococcosis.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a significant public health issue, primarily affecting the liver. While several management strategies exist, there is a lack of predictive tools to guide surgical decisions for hepatic CE. This study aimed to develop predictive models to support surgical decision-making in hepatic CE, enhancing the precision of patient allocation to surgical or non-surgical management pathways.

Textbook outcome in liver surgery for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: defining predictors of an optimal postoperative course using machine learning.

Background: We sought to define textbook outcome in liver surgery (TOLS) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) by considering the implications of perioperative outcomes on overall survival (OS).

Methods: Using a multi-institutional database, TOLS for ICC was defined by employing novel machine learning (ML) models to identify perioperative factors most strongly predictive of OS ≥ 12 months. Subsequently, clinicopathologic factors associated with achieving TOLS were investigated.

Low-dose aspirin use in low-risk nulliparous pregnancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of low-dose aspirin in the prevention of adverse outcomes in low-risk, nulliparous singleton pregnancies.

Data Sources: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov, and ScienceDirect were searched from their inception to August 5, 2023.