Extracellular vesicle surface engineering with integrins (ITGAL & ITGB2) to specifically target ICAM-1-expressing endothelial cells.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are taken up by most cells, however specific or preferential cell targeting remains a hurdle. This study aims to develop an EV that targets cells involved in inflammation, specifically those expressing intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). To target these cells, we overexpress the ICAM-1 binding receptor "lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1" (LFA-1) in HEK293F cells, by sequential transfection of plasmids of the two LFA-1 subunits, ITGAL and ITGB2 (CD11a and CD18).

Healthcare performance of leprosy management in peripheral health facilities of Dhanusa and Mahottari, Nepal.

Background: The global elimination of leprosy transmission by 2030 is a World Health Organization (WHO) target. Nepal's leprosy elimination program depends on early case diagnosis and the performance of health workers and facilities. The knowledge and skills of paramedical staff (Leprosy Focal Person, LFP) and case documentation and management by health facilities are therefore key to the performance of health care services.

Identification and validation of a prognostic signature of drug resistance and mitochondrial energy metabolism-related differentially expressed genes for breast cancer.

Background: Drug resistance constitutes one of the principal causes of poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Although cancer cells can maintain viability independently of mitochondrial energy metabolism, they remain reliant on mitochondrial functions for the synthesis of new DNA strands. This dependency underscores a potential link between mitochondrial energy metabolism and drug resistance.

Serum cardiac and inflammatory biomarker levels following chemotherapy among female patients with breast cancer attending at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Chemotherapy is a well-established therapeutic approach for several malignancies, including breast cancer (BCa). However, the clinical efficacy of this drug is limited by cardiotoxicity. Assessing multiple cardiac biomarkers can help identify patients at risk of adverse outcomes from chemotherapy.

Women and birth partners' experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital.

Background: In the United Kingdom, induction of labour rates are rapidly rising, and around a third of pregnant women undergo the procedure. The first stage, cervical ripening, traditionally carried out in hospital, is increasingly offered outpatient - or 'at home'. The current induction of labour rates place considerable demand on maternity services and impact women's experiences of care, and at home cervical ripening has been suggested as potential solution for alleviating these.

Chromosome level genome assembly of 'Wanfeng' almond (Prunus dulcis).

We assembled a chromosome-level genome of Chinese native 'Wanfeng' almond, with a size of 288.53 Mb and a contig N50 of 30.48 Mb.

High-fidelity annotated triploid genome of the quarantine root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii.

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) of the genus Meloidogyne are obligatory plant endoparasites that cause substantial economic losses to agricultural production and impact the global food supply. These plant parasitic nematodes belong to the most widespread and devastating genus worldwide, yet few measures of control are available. The most efficient way to control RKN is deployment of resistance genes in plants.

Impact of operating parameters on the electrooxidation of methylene blue and ciprofloxacin: a comprehensive analysis and degradation pathway.

In recent decades, freshwater bodies have experienced significant stress due to the excessive disposal of dyes from textile industries and waste antibiotic discharges from pharmaceutical industries. The continuous disposal of these substances may harm the natural ecosystem and generate antibiotic resistance in living organisms. Conventional treatment facilities are inadequate in treating these contaminants effectively, leading to a focused interest in advanced technologies, such as electrooxidation.

Development of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-grafted coumarins as selective carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and tubulin polymerization inhibitors with potent anticancer activity.

This study presents the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a novel series of coumarin-based compounds (9a-t) as potential anticancer agents. The compounds were strategically designed to inhibit cancer-related carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoforms IX and XII and tubulin polymerization. Two approaches were employed for CA inhibition: utilizing the coumarin motif to occlude the CA active site entrance and incorporating zinc-binding groups (sulfonamide, carboxylic acid, and thiol) to interact with the catalytic zinc ion.

Crosslinked hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin nanoparticles for improved efficacy of venetoclax against triple negative breast cancer.

Bcl-2 protein plays an integral role in hijacking apoptosis and triggering chemoresistance in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The present study explored the therapeutic efficacy of Bcl-2 inhibitor i.e.

Comprehensive Extractables and Leachables Sensitization Analysis and Practical Application of a Risk-Based Approach to Sensitization Assessment for Parenteral Drug Products.

The Extractables and Leachables Safety Information Exchange (ELSIE) Consortium added to the sensitization potency analysis of Parris et al. (2023) by including the Product Quality Research Institute (PQRI) extractable and leachable dataset (Johnson et al., 2024; Product Quality Research Institute, 2021).

New N-Alkylketonetetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives exhibits antitumor effect by HA-CD44 interaction inhibition in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer.

Molecular interactions at the cell surface, in particular between hyaluronic acid (HA) and the cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) receptor, are crucial in several biological processes and diseases such as cancer. Thus, inhibition of the HA-CD44 interaction has become a promising therapeutic strategy. Etoposide was the only antitumor compound known to inhibit the binding of CD44 to HA, thereby disrupting key functions that drive malignancy.

Energetic constraints drive the decline of a sentinel polar bear population.

Human-driven Arctic warming and resulting sea ice loss have been associated with declines in several polar bear populations. However, quantifying how individual responses to environmental change integrate and scale to influence population dynamics in polar bears has yet to be achieved. We developed an individual-based bioenergetic model and hindcast population dynamics across 42 years of observed sea ice conditions in Western Hudson Bay, a region undergoing rapid environmental change.

An untargeted metabolomic analysis of acute AFB1 treatment in liver, breast, and lung cells.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a class 1 carcinogen and mycotoxin known to contribute to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), growth impairment, altered immune system modulation, and malnutrition. AFB1 is synthesized by Aspergillus flavus and is known to widely contaminate foodstuffs, particularly maize, wheat, and groundnuts. The mechanism in which AFB1 causes genetic mutations has been well studied, however its metabolomic effects remained largely unknown.

Net buffer load during regional citrate anticoagulated continuous renal replacement therapy.

Background: Regionally anticoagulated continuous renal replacement therapy with citrate is the first choice for critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. If citrate that reaches the patient exceeds the metabolic capacity, metabolic alkalosis will follow. Bicarbonate from the treatment fluids will also reach the patient and add to the bicarbonate load.

Chitosan-Functionalized Fluorescent Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticle Loaded with Methotrexate: Future Theranostics for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

Herein, fluorescent calcium carbonate nanoclusters encapsulated with methotrexate (Mtx) and surface functionalized with chitosan (25 nm) (@Calmat) have been developed for the imaging and treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). These biocompatible, pH-sensitive nanoparticles demonstrate significant potential for targeted therapy and diagnostic applications. The efficacy of nanoparticles (NPs) was evaluated in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cell lines.

Antiproliferative activity of a series of copper(II) complexes derived from a furan-containing -acylhydrazone: monomers, dimers, charge status, and cell mechanistic studies on triple negative breast cancer cells.

In this work, we evaluated the anticancer activity of compounds 1 (mononuclear) and 2 (dinuclear) copper(II) coordination compounds derived from the ligand 5-methylsalicylaldehyde 2-furoyl hydrazone (H2L) over MDA-MB-231 Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, and compared their activities with that of a newly synthesized, protonated, dinuclear analogue of 2 (complex 3). Here, we report the synthesis of compound 3 and it has been characterized in the solid state (X-ray diffraction, FTIR) and in solution (EPR, UV-Vis, ESI) as well as its electrochemical profile. Complexes 1-3 impaired cell viability from 0.

Effectiveness and Safety in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Who Switched from Warfarin to Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Medicare Population.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart rhythm abnormality, is linked to a higher risk of stroke. Traditionally, warfarin has been the primary anticoagulation treatment for reducing the stroke risk. The new standard of treatment by direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) offers greater benefits including improved efficacy and fewer adverse effects with reduced monitoring.

Multiparametric MRI-based machine learning system of molecular subgroups and prognosis in medulloblastoma.

Objectives: We aimed to use artificial intelligence to accurately identify molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma (MB), predict clinical outcomes, and incorporate deep learning-based imaging features into the risk stratification.

Methods: The MRI features were extracted for molecular subgroups by a novel multi-parameter convolutional neural network (CNN) called Bi-ResNet-MB. Then, MR features were used to establish a prognosis model based on XGBoost.

Moving towards single fraction peripheral lung stereotactic body radiation therapy: patient care during and after the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Single-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SF-SBRT) for peripheral lung tumors was reviewed. Medically inoperable peripheral lung tumors eligible for SF-SBRT 34 Gray were treated. Patient characteristics, treatment and toxicity parameters were retrospectively collected, and toxicities were evaluated.

Evolutionary insights into gut acidification: Invertebrate-like mechanisms in the basal vertebrate hagfish.

Acidification is a key component of digestion throughout metazoans. The gut digestive fluid of many invertebrates is acidified by the vesicular-type H+-ATPase (VHA). In contrast, vertebrates generate acidic gut fluids using the gastric H+/K+-ATPase (HKA); an evolutionary innovation linked with the appearance of a true stomach that greatly improves digestion, absorption, and immune function.

Effect of Remote Ischemic Conditioning on the Form and Function of Red Blood Cells in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is a simple and low-cost intervention that is thought to increase collateral blood flow through the vasodilatory effects of nitric oxide (NO) produced by the endothelium and red blood cells (RBCs). This study aims to investigate whether RIC affects RBC deformability and levels of NO and nitrite in patients with ischemic stroke.

Methods: This is a predefined substudy to the RESIST (Remote Ischemic Conditioning in Patients With Acute Stroke Trial) randomized clinical trial conducted in Denmark.

Chemical composition and insecticidal efficacy of two animals' horn and hoof crude extracts against lesser grains borer, (F.) [Coleoptera: Bostrichidae].

This research evaluated the profiling of bioactive compounds and insecticidal activities of the crude extracts of horns and hoofs of cow and goat against on wheat grains. Different concentrations (0.1, 0.