Prospective Analysis of Central Nervous System Infection Risks in Varicella-Zoster Virus Reactivation Cases: A Single-Center Prospective Study of 1030 Cases.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to analyze the risk factors of central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) and provide reference for the prevention and early diagnosis of VZV-associated CNS infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS A prospective study was conducted on 1030 patients with acute herpes zoster (HZ) admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to June 2023. According to clinical manifestations and auxiliary examinations, they were divided into HZ group of 990 patients and VZV-associated CNS infection group of 40 patients.

Assessment of myocardial infarctions knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among adults living in Riyadh Saudi Arabia - insights from cross-sectional study.

Globally, the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing, accounting for a third of all deaths worldwide including myocardial infarctions (MIs) which represent the most severe clinical manifestation of CAD and are among the most dangerous coronary events. Therefore, this study aims to assess the knowledge of symptoms and risk factors of MIs, as well as attitudes and beliefs regarding MIs and confidence in recognizing CAD symptoms in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between November 2023 and April 2024 to assess their knowledge and beliefs about CAD and MIs.

Iron-sulfur cluster redox chemistry and dimer dissociation in the outer mitochondrial membrane protein, mitoNEET.

The outer mitochondrial membrane protein known as mitoNEET was discovered when it was labeled by a photoaffinity derivative of the anti-diabetes medication, pioglitazone. The biological role for mitoNEET and its specific mechanism for achieving this remains an active subject for research. There is accumulating evidence suggesting that mitoNEET could be a component of mitochondrial FeS cofactor biogenesis.

Expression and purification of recombinant tilapia lake virus segment 4 protein and its in-vitro biological activity for potential use in vaccine development.

Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) disease is highly contagious and causes substantial mortality in tilapia. Currently, no effective treatments or commercial vaccines are available to prevent TiLV infection. In this study, TiLV segment 4 (S4) was cloned into the pET28a(+)vector and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3).

405 nm violet-blue light inactivates hepatitis C cell culture virus (HCVcc) in ex vivo human platelet concentrates and plasma.

Added safety measures coupled with the development and use of pathogen reduction technologies (PRT) significantly reduces the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) from blood products. Current approved PRTs utilize chemical and/or UV-light based inactivation methods. While the effectiveness of these PRTs in reducing pathogens are well documented, these can cause tolerable yet unintended consequences on the quality and efficacy of the transfusion products.

Soil application of dazomet combined with 1,3-dichloropropene against soilborne pests for tomato production.

There is a growing problem in China, whereby tomato replant disease is being affected by Fusarium spp., Meloidogyne spp., and Phytophthora spp.

Biopreservation and reversal of oxidative injury during blood storage by a novel curcumin-based gel formulation.

Blood storage lesion induces cytosolic and membrane changes driven in part by hemoglobin (Hb) oxidation reactions within red blood cells (RBCs). A novel gel formulation containing the antioxidant curcuminoids in a biocompatible solvent system was used to deliver curcumin into RBCs. Incubation of peroxide treated RBCs stored in PBS with curcumin gel led to a reduction in prooxidant ferrylHb and recovery in ATP.

Spatial and temporal analysis of West Nile virus infection in mosquito and human populations based on arboviral detection testing data.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic flavivirus which often causes asymptomatic infection in humans but may develop into a deadly neuroinvasive disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate variables potentially associated with human WNV infection using human and mosquito WNV surveillance and monitoring datasets, established over 20 years, from 2003 to 2022, across the province of Ontario, Canada. We combined climatic and geographic data, mosquito surveillance data (n = 3010 sites), blood donation arboviral detection testing data in the human population, and demographic and socio-economic data from Canadian population censuses.

Hydrothermal biochar enhances the photosynthetic efficiency and yield of alfalfa by optimizing soil chemical properties and stimulating the activity of microbial communities.

Hydrothermal biochar has demonstrated potential in enhancing crop growth by improving soil properties and microbial activity; however, its effectiveness varies with application rate, with excessive amounts potentially inhibiting plant growth. This study employed a pot experiment approach to compare varying application rates of hydrothermal biochar (ranging from 0 to 50 t/ha) and to analyze its effects on alfalfa biomass, photosynthetic efficiency, soil nutrient content, and microbial community composition. Biochar application increased alfalfa dry weight by 12.

Sponge exhalent metabolites influence coral reef picoplankton dynamics.

Coral reef sponges efficiently take up particulate and dissolved organic matter (DOM) from the water column and release compounds such as nucleosides, amino acids, and other dissolved metabolites to the surrounding reef via their exhalent seawater, but the influence of this process on reef picoplankton and nutrient processing is relatively unexplored. Here we examined the impact of sponge exhalent on the reef picoplankon community and subsequent alterations to the reef dissolved metabolite pool. We exposed reef picoplankton communities to a sponge exhalent water mixture (Niphates digitalis and Xestospongia muta) or filtered reef seawater (control) in closed, container-based dark incubations.

Evaluation of resistance and molecular detection of resistance genes to wheat stripe rust of 82 wheat cultivars in Xinjiang, China.

Wheat stripe rust is a fungal disease caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici.

From evidence to advice in France, Germany, and the UK: transparency, accountability, and participation in pandemic science advice.

Politicians often claim to be "following science" but their claims are, reasonably, disputed. To claim to be following the science can mean that scientific evidence affects or legitimates decisions. The evidence that politicians are following science often comes from formal systems of advice that translate science into advice.

Integrated analysis of rumen metabolomics and metataxonomics to understand changes in metabolic and microbial community in Korean native goats under heat stress.

Heat stress (HS) is an impactful condition in ruminants that negatively affects their physiological and rumen microbial composition. However, a fundamental understanding of metabolomic and metataxonomic mechanisms in goats under HS conditions is lacking. Here, we analyzed the rumen metabolomics, metataxonomics, and serum metabolomics of goats (n = 10, body weight: 41.

Identification of novel candidate genes for Ascochyta blight resistance in chickpea.

Ascochyta blight, caused by the necrotrophic fungus Ascochyta rabiei, is a major threat to chickpea production worldwide. Resistance genes with broad-spectrum protection against virulent A. rabiei strains are required to secure chickpea yield in the US Northern Great Plains.

Application of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to exhaled breath analysis for detecting helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most globally prevalent bacteria, closely associated with gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric ulcers and chronic gastritis. Current clinical methods primarily involve Carbon-13 and Carbon-14 urea breath test, both carrying potential safety risks.

Exhaled breath metabolites reveal postmenopausal gut-bone cross-talk and non-invasive markers for osteoporosis.

Background: Menopause driven decline in estrogen exposes women to risk of osteoporosis. Detection of early onset and silent progression are keys to prevent fractures and associated burdens.

Methods: In a discovery cohort of 120 postmenopausal women, we combined repeated quantitative pulse-echo ultrasonography of bone, assessment of grip strength and serum bone markers with mass-spectrometric analysis of exhaled metabolites to find breath volatile markers and quantitative cutoff levels for osteoporosis.

Infectious agent release and Pacific salmon exposure at Atlantic salmon farms revealed by environmental DNA.

The potential risk posed by infectious agents (IAs) associated with netpen aquaculture to wild fishes is determined based on the "release" of IAs from netpens into the environment, the "exposure" of the wild fish to those released agents, and the "consequence" for wild fish experiencing infection by those agents. Information available to characterize these three factors is often lacking, and the occurrence of transmission from aquaculture to wild fish as well as potential consequences of such transmission are difficult to observe. In this study, we utilized environmental DNA (eDNA) to characterize the release of dozens of IAs from, and exposure of Pacific salmon to, Atlantic salmon aquaculture.

Deep genetic divergences and few morphological changes support the cryptic speciation in Larimus breviceps (Sciaenidae, Acanthuriformes) from the western South Atlantic.

We evaluate the evidence of cryptic speciation in Larimus breviceps, a species widely distributed in the western South Atlantic, from the Greater Antilles to Santa Catarina in Brazil. Mitochondrial (COI, Cyt b, and Control Region) and nuclear (IGF1 and Tmo-4C4) sequences were obtained from populations in the western South Atlantic. The analysis revealed two genetically distinct, sympatric lineages with no gene flow, with L.

PLK1 overexpression suppresses homologous recombination and confers cellular sensitivity to PARP inhibition.

The overexpression of Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is associated with poor clinical outcomes in various malignancies, making it an attractive target for anticancer therapies. Although recent studies suggest PLK1's involvement in homologous recombination (HR), the impact of its overexpression on HR remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of PLK1 overexpression on HR using bioinformatics and experimental approaches.

Expression and relationship of PD-L1, CD24, and CD47 in hepatitis B virus associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is the new standard treatment for advanced or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, many patients still fail to respond. This study explored the expression and prognosis of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), cluster of differentiation 24 (CD24), and cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated HCC (HBV-associated HCC). We analyzed sequencing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and investigated the expression of PD-L1, CD24, and CD47 in HBV-associated HCC patients by immunohistochemistry and their relationship with prognosis and clinicopathological factors.

Probiotic treatment induces changes in intestinal microbiota but does not alter SCFA levels in peritoneal dialysis patients-a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

The gut microbiota alterations interact with the pathogenesis and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Probiotics have received wide attention as a potential management in CKD. We investigated the effects of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (LP N1115) on intestinal microbiota and related short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in end stage kidney disease patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) in a single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

ICEmST contributes to colonization of Salmonella in the intestine of piglets.

Salmonella enterica serovar 4,[5],12:i:- sequence type 34 (ST34) has recently become a global concern for public and animal health. The acquisition of mobile genetic element ICEmST, which contains two copper tolerance gene clusters, cus and pco, influences the epidemic success of this clone. Copper is used as a feed additive in swine at levels that potentially lead to selection pressure for Enterobacteriaceae; however, it remains unclear whether the copper tolerance system of ICEmST functions in vivo.

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing and galactomannan testing for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

To evaluate the diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and galactomannan (GM) testing in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and to compare mNGS with other diagnostic approaches (serum/bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)-GM and conventional microbiological tests (CMTs) including sputum smears and culture, BALF fungal culture, and bronchial brushing). In all, 237 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study, including 120 patients with IPA and 117 with non-IPA pulmonary infections treated at Henan Provincial People's Hospital between June 2021 and February 2024. The diagnostic performance of mNGS was compared to conventional diagnostic methods including serum GM, BALF-GM, sputum smear microscopy, sputum culture, bronchial brushings, and BALF culture.

Development of chimeric MrNV virus-like particles capable of binding to SARS-CoV-2-susceptible cells and reducing infection by pseudovirus variants.

SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, primarily targets lung tissue, leading to pneumonia and lung injury. The spike protein of this virus binds to the common receptor on susceptible tissues and cells called the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) of the angiotensin (ANG) system. In this study, we produced chimeric Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus virus-like particles, presenting a short peptide ligand (ACE2tp), based on angiotensin-II (ANG II), on their outer surfaces to allow them to specifically bind to ACE2-overexpressing cells called ACE2tp-MrNV-VLPs.

Effect of exogenous treatment with zaxinone and its mimics on rice root microbiota across different growth stages.

Enhancing crops productivity to ensure food security is one of the major challenges encountering agriculture today. A promising solution is the use of biostimulants, which encompass molecules that enhance plant fitness, growth, and productivity. The regulatory metabolite zaxinone and its mimics (MiZax3 and MiZax5) showed promising results in improving the growth and yield of several crops.