Photochemical Evolution of Alanine in Association with the Martian Soil Analog Montmorillonite: Insights Derived from Experiments Conducted on the International Space Station.

The (PSS) experiment was part of the European Space Agency's mission and was conducted on the International Space Station from 2014 to 2016. The PSS experiment investigated the properties of montmorillonite clay as a protective shield against degradation of organic compounds that were exposed to elevated levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in space. Additionally, we examined the potential for montmorillonite to catalyze UV-induced breakdown of the amino acid alanine and its potential to trap the resulting photochemical byproducts within its interlayers.

A first morphological and electrophysiological characterization of Fañanas cells of the mouse cerebellum.

Fañanas cells (FCs) are cerebellar glia of unknown function. First described more than a century ago, they have been almost absent from the scientific literature ever since. Here, we combined whole-cell, patch clamp recordings, near-UV laser photolysis, dye-loading and confocal imaging for a first characterization of FCs in terms of their morphology, electrophysiology and glutamate-evoked currents.

Long-term immune related adverse events.

Purpose Of Review: Long-term immune related adverse events (irAEs) are an increasing reality in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) but remain under-reported. With the number of ICI treated patients increasing, we here aimed to expose the current evidence on their clinical presentations and diagnosis criteria.

Recent Findings: First described in ICI validation trials, long term irAEs were further characterized through retrospective studies, providing clues on their frequency, clinical spectrum, risk factors and impact on patient's quality of life.

Cancer-associated thrombosis: what is new?

Purpose Of Review: The life expectancy of patients suffering from thrombosis associated with cancer has improved significantly, making them a chronic disease. Patients with thrombosis and cancer are fragile. Treated with anticoagulants, they remain at risk of complications.

Ectopic overexpression of DNA-/RNA-binding Alba proteins misregulates virulence gene homeostasis during asexual blood development.

Alba domain-containing proteins are ubiquitously found in archaea and eukaryotes. By binding to either DNA, RNA, or DNA:RNA hybrids, these proteins function in genome stabilization, chromatin organization, gene regulation, and/or translational modulation. In the malaria parasite , six Alba domain proteins PfAlba1-6 have been described, of which PfAlba1 has emerged as a "master regulator" of translation during parasite intra-erythrocytic development (IED).

Immune-Mediated Liver Injury From Checkpoint Inhibitor: An Evolving Frontier With Emerging Challenges.

Over the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the treatment of cancer, though they come with the risk of immune-related adverse (irAEs) events such as hepatotoxicity or Immune-mediated Liver Injury from Checkpoint Inhibitors (ILICI). ILICI is a serious irAE that, when severe, requires cessation of ICI and initiation of immunosuppression. Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTLs) play a central role in ILICI; however, they are just part of the picture as immunotherapy broadly impacts all aspects of the immune microenvironment and can directly and indirectly activate innate and adaptive immune cells.

Zinc finger protein 169 promotes tumor progress of hepatocellular cancer via up-regulating cyclin-dependent kinase 19.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks among the most prevalent types of cancer globally. Zinc finger protein 169 (ZNF169) holds significant importance as a transcription factor, yet its precise function in HCC remains to be elucidated. This study aims to examine the clinical importance, biological functions, and molecular pathways associated with ZNF169 in the development of HCC.

Predictors of Arrhythmia Recurrence After Cryoballoon Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: A Sub-Analysis of the Cryo Global Registry.

Introduction: Freedom from recurrences of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) is suboptimal after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PsAF). This sub-analysis from the Cryo Global Registry sought to investigate predictors of ablation success after PVI using cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for PsAF.

Methods And Results: ATA recurrence was defined as ≥ 30 s recurrence of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia after a 90-day blanking period and through 12-months.

Exploring the role of T cells in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases: Emerging therapeutic insights from the T Cells in the Brain symposium.

This proceedings article summarizes the inaugural "T Cells in the Brain" symposium held at Columbia University. Experts gathered to explore the role of T cells in neurodegenerative diseases. Key topics included characterization of antigen-specific immune responses, T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, microbial etiology in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and microglia-T cell crosstalk, with a focus on how T cells affect neuroinflammation and AD biomarkers like amyloid beta and tau.

[microRNAs: regulators of metamorphosis in insects].

In the animal kingdom, metamorphosis is a well-known developmental transition within various taxa (Cnidarians, Echinoderms, Molluscs, Arthropods, Vertebrates, etc.), which is characterized by the switching from a larval stage to an adult form through the induction of morpho-anatomical, physiological, behavioral, and/or ecological changes. Over the last decades, numerous studies have focused on the hormonal control of cellular processes underlying metamorphosis.

[Allelopathy: chemical communication between plants].

Today, weed control in agricultural systems is largely based on the use of synthetic pesticides. However, the use of these compounds is increasingly controversial among farmers and consumers, who point to their harmful properties for human health and the environment. In this context, the development of eco-friendly agricultural approaches and practices is becoming essential, and allelopathy represents a promising solution.

[The role of volatile organic compounds in plant-insect communication].

Insects and flowering plants are the most abundant and diverse multicellular organisms on Earth, accounting for 75% of known species. Their evolution has been largely interdependent since the so-called Angiosperm Terrestrial Revolution (100-50 Mya), when the explosion of plant diversity stimulated the evolution of pollinating and herbivorous insects. Plant-insect interactions rely heavily on chemical communication via volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

[The many ways flowers send signals to pollinators].

The evolutionary success of angiosperms, which make up more than 95 percent of the world's terrestrial flora, is largely based on their interactions with animal pollinators. Indeed, it is estimated that, on average, 87.5 percent of flowering plants are pollinated by animals.

[Gene coexpression networks: concepts and applications].

The advent of high-throughput omics data and the generation of new algorithms provide the biologists with the opportunity to explore living processes in the context of systems biology aiming at revealing the gene interactions, the networks underlying complex cellular functions. In this article, we discuss two methods for gene network reconstruction, WGCNA (Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis) developed by Steve Horvath and collaborators in 2008, and MIIC (Multivariate Information-based Inductive Causation) developed by Hervé Isambert and his team in 2017 and 2024. These two methods are complementary, WGCNA generating undirected networks in which most gene-to-gene interactions are indirect, while MIIC reveals direct interactions and some causal links.

Has AlphaFold3 achieved success for RNA?

Predicting the 3D structure of RNA is a significant challenge despite ongoing advancements in the field. Although AlphaFold has successfully addressed this problem for proteins, RNA structure prediction raises difficulties due to the fundamental differences between proteins and RNA, which hinder its direct adaptation. The latest release of AlphaFold, AlphaFold3, has broadened its scope to include multiple different molecules such as DNA, ligands and RNA.

Investing in equitable healthy aging: Why Africa must reform social pension schemes to improve Alzheimer's disease and dementia outcomes.

The eligibility criteria for social pension schemes in Africa hinder equitable and healthy aging. In 2019, women in 14 sub-Saharan African countries had an average life expectancy of 67 years but a healthy life expectancy of only 57 years, leaving them 5 years in poor health before receiving a pension at age 62. Men had a similar situation-a life expectancy of 62 years and a healthy life expectancy of 53 years, spending 10 years in poor health before becoming eligible for pensions at age 63.

Occurrence and management of thrombosis recurrence and bleeding in low-molecular-weight heparin-treated patients with cancer-associated thrombosis: a French nationwide cohort study.

Background: Rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence and bleeding remain high in patients with cancer who are prescribed anticoagulants (ACs) such as low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) after an initial VTE event.

Objectives: To identify patient characteristics associated with VTE recurrence and bleeding in patients receiving LMWH for cancer-associated VTE and to explore secondary AC management and clinical outcomes in these patients.

Methods: An observational study was conducted using nationwide French data for adults with active cancer who were hospitalized with VTE in 2013-2018 and were reimbursed for LMWH ≤ 30 days after hospital discharge.

IFN-γ licenses normal and pathogenic ALPK1/TIFA pathway in human monocytes.

Alpha-kinase 1 (ALPK1) is an immune receptor sensing the bacterial nucleotide sugar ADP-heptose. ALPK1 phosphorylates TIFA leading to its oligomerization and downstream NF-κB activation. Specific mutations in are associated with an autoinflammatory syndrome termed ROSAH and with spiradenoma (skin cancers with sweat gland differentiation).

Deep learning uncovers histological patterns of YAP1/TEAD activity related to disease aggressiveness in cancer patients.

Over the last decade, Hippo signaling has emerged as a major tumor-suppressing pathway. Its dysregulation is associated with abnormal expression of and -family genes. Recent works have highlighted the role of YAP1/TEAD activity in several cancers and its potential therapeutic implications.

Can non-human primates extract the linear trend from a noisy scatterplot?

Recent studies showed that humans, regardless of age, education, and culture, can extract the linear trend of a noisy scatterplot. Although this capacity looks sophisticated, it may simply reflect the extraction of the principal trend of the graph, as if the cloud of dots was processed as an oriented object. To test this idea, we trained Guinea baboons to associate arbitrary shapes with the increasing or decreasing trends of noiseless and noisy scatterplots, while varying the number of points, the noise level, and the regression slope.

A reproducible framework for monitoring the impact of randomized clinical trials on clinical practice using large-scale real-world data: application to gynaecological surgical trials using the French national healthcare database.

Background: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are fundamental to evidence-based medicine, but their real-world impact on clinical practice often remains unmonitored. Leveraging large-scale real-world data can enable systematic monitoring of RCT effects. We aimed to develop a reproducible framework using real-world data to assess how major RCTs influence medical practice, using two pivotal surgical RCTs in gynaecologic oncology as an example-the LACC (Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer) and LION (Lymphadenectomy in Ovarian Neoplasms) trials.

CD56 CD16 cells represent a distinct mature NK cell subset with altered phenotype and are associated with adverse clinical outcome upon expansion in AML.

Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare haematological cancer with poor 5-years overall survival (OS) and high relapse rate. Leukemic cells are sensitive to Natural Killer (NK) cell mediated killing. However, NK cells are highly impaired in AML, which promote AML immune escape from NK cell immune surveillance.

Desensitization With Imlifidase for HLA-Incompatible Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation: A Delphi International Expert Consensus.

Highly sensitized (HS) patients in need of kidney transplantation (KTx) typically spend a longer time waiting for compatible kidneys, are unlikely to receive an organ offer, and are at increased risk of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Desensitization using imlifidase, which is more rapid and removes total body immunoglobulin G (IgG) to a greater extent than other methods, enables transplantation to occur between HLA-incompatible (HLAi) donor-recipient pairs and allows patients to have greater access to KTx. However, when the project was launched there was limited data and clinical experience with desensitization in general and with imlifidase specifically.

Associations between degree of food processing and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a multicentre prospective cohort analysis in 9 European countries.

Background: Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has been linked with higher risk of mortality. This multi-centre study investigated associations between food intake by degree of processing, using the Nova classification, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

Methods: This study analyzed data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.

Primordial black holes and their gravitational-wave signatures.

In the recent years, primordial black holes (PBHs) have emerged as one of the most interesting and hotly debated topics in cosmology. Among other possibilities, PBHs could explain both some of the signals from binary black hole mergers observed in gravitational-wave detectors and an important component of the dark matter in the Universe. Significant progress has been achieved both on the theory side and from the point of view of observations, including new models and more accurate calculations of PBH formation, evolution, clustering, merger rates, as well as new astrophysical and cosmological probes.