Transcriptome dynamics in the Arabidopsis male germline during pollen-pistil interactions.

When pollen lands on a receptive stigma, it germinates and extends a tube inside the transmitting tissue of the pistil to deliver the sperm cells for double fertilization. The growth of the pollen tube triggers significant alterations in its gene expression. The extent to which these changes occur in the vegetative cell or extend to the sperm cells transported by the tube is unclear but important to determine since sperm cells are believed to acquire a competency for fertilization during pollen-pistil interactions.

Measuring health-related quality of life among university students: a scoping review protocol.

Background: Understanding university students' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) can help propose strategies that support targeted care for this population and identify issues affecting these individuals. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the commonly used instruments and possible study designs for the university population, enabling the standardization of interventions and instruments to evaluate the HRQoL of university students. We aim to conduct a scoping review to identify the main measurement instruments and key characteristics in studies using HRQoL measures among university students.

Forb diversity globally is harmed by nutrient enrichment but can be rescued by large mammalian herbivory.

Forbs ("wildflowers") are important contributors to grassland biodiversity but are vulnerable to environmental changes. In a factorial experiment at 94 sites on 6 continents, we test the global generality of several broad predictions: (1) Forb cover and richness decline under nutrient enrichment, particularly nitrogen enrichment. (2) Forb cover and richness increase under herbivory by large mammals.

Analysis of the 50-mile ultramarathon distance using a predictive XGBoost model.

Although the 50-mile ultramarathon is one of the most common race distances, it has received little scientific attention. The objective of this study was to assess how an athlete's age group, sex, nationality, and the race location, affect race speed. Utilizing a dataset with ultramarathon races from 1863 to 2022, a machine learning model based on the XGBoost algorithm was developed to predict the race speed based on the aforementioned variables.

The asthma diagnosis jigsaw puzzle: an adaptable teaching concept to facilitate the diagnosis of asthma in adults and children presenting to primary care.

The asthma diagnosis jigsaw puzzle is a clinical practice and teaching concept conceived in clinical practice and refined through an expert multidisciplinary consensus process by academics and clinicians with an interest in primary respiratory care. The concept incorporates guidance to facilitate the effective diagnosis of adults or children with asthma in primary care where misdiagnosis is common. The jigsaw puzzle metaphor teaches a problem-solving approach to diagnosis, introducing the concept of diagnosis over time and in no particular sequence.

Neurotransmitters' white matter mapping unveils the neurochemical fingerprints of stroke.

Distinctive patterns of brain neurotransmission frame determinant circuits for behavior. Understanding the relationship between their damage and the cognitive impairment provoked by brain lesions could provide insights into the pathophysiology and therapeutics of disabling disorders, like stroke. Yet, the challenges of neurotransmitter circuits mapping in vivo have hampered this investigation.

Spatial analysis of HPV infection and contextual factors associated with higher HPV prevalence.

Objectives: To identify areas with high rates of high-risk Papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection and associated contextual factors in the Centre Region of Portugal at the municipality level.

Study Design: We conducted an ecological study in 78 municipalities located in the Central Region of Portugal from March 2019 to December 2022.

Methods: We used data from the cervical cancer screening (CCS) program database after switching to primary HPV testing.

Skin mucus and blood plasma as non-lethal sources of malnutrition protein biomarkers in meagre (Argyrosomus regius).

Developing dietary formulations for aquaculture that meet nutritional requirements is essential to production, as nutrition is key for fish growth and health. However, novel dietary formulations may induce malnutrition, which is complex to evaluate and often requires animal sacrifice. Therefore, finding reliable non-lethal biomarkers to diagnose malnutrition in fish is important.

Engineered dendritic cells-derived extracellular vesicles for cancer immunotherapy.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a cell-free therapeutic approach, garnering increasing attention for their potential to enhance the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy. This interest is primarily driven by the biocompatibility and cell/tissue tropism inherent to EVs, but also due to their reconfigurable content. This, termed as cargo, may comprise bioactive molecules as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids that play a pivotal role in mediating intercellular communication.

Biogenic amines detection in food: Emerging trends in electrochemical sensors.

Amines are ubiquitous in living organisms and play essential roles in various physiological functions, including neurotransmission, hormonal regulation, cell signalling, and metabolism. In daily life, amines are found in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and foods. However, biogenic amines, formed through amino acid decarboxylation during food degradation, present a significant health risk, especially when combined with nitrites and nitrates in foods.

Current status of radiologist staffing, education and training in the 27 EU Member States.

This second article of a series of three publications summarises the radiologist situation regarding staffing as well as education and training as analysed by The European Union Radiation, Education, Staffing & Training (EU-REST) study. Despite certain limitations posed by the dependence on survey responses, the results demonstrate that, for both workforce and education/training, considerable heterogeneity exists between Member States, which will impact healthcare delivery and the level of knowledge, skills, and competencies available. The number of radiologists per million inhabitants varies from 51 to 270.

Toxicity of resin-matrix composites in a dental clinical setting.

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review to comprehensively explore the factors contributing to the resin-matrix composites' toxicity in patients. A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The bibliographic review was performed in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Central and Web of Science.

Metabolic regulation and oxidative stress attenuation in LPS-stimulated macrophages by flavonoids.

Periodontal disease, prevalent in 20% to 50% of the population, is a chronic multifactorial inflammation caused by a dysbiotic oral biofilm, with gingivitis and periodontitis being the most common forms. Flavonoids, such as myricetin and catechin, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, reducing nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. This study compared the effects of different flavonoids on viability and oxidative response of LPS-stimulated macrophages.

European Consensus on Malabsorption-UEG & SIGE, LGA, SPG, SRGH, CGS, ESPCG, EAGEN, ESPEN, and ESPGHAN: Part 2: Screening, Special Populations, Nutritional Goals, Supportive Care, Primary Care Perspective.

Malabsorption is a complex and multifaceted condition characterised by the defective passage of nutrients into the blood and lymphatic streams. Several congenital or acquired disorders may cause either selective or global malabsorption in both children and adults, such as cystic fibrosis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), coeliac disease (CD) and other enteropathies, lactase deficiency, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), autoimmune atrophic gastritis, Crohn's disease, and gastric or small bowel resections. Early recognition of malabsorption is key for tailoring a proper diagnostic work-up for identifying the cause of malabsorption.

Smoking status and vascular risk factors as predictors of disability in AQP4-NMOSD and MOGAD.

Background: Smoking and vascular risk factors (VRFs) are reported to have adverse effects in multiple sclerosis but data are limited in aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD). This study aimed to measure their impact on disability.

Methods: Smoking status was defined as never, past or current smokers and VRF comprised of ⩾1: hypertension, dyslipidemia, high body mass index or diabetes.

T cell branched glycosylation as a mediator of colitis-associated colorectal cancer progression: a potential new risk biomarker in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, established as a risk factor for Colorectal Cancer (CRC) development. Long-standing inflammation appears to play a central role in Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer (CAC). However, the molecular mechanism underlying CAC progression is still elusive.

Initiation of direct oral anticoagulation after reperfusion therapy in ischemic stroke in clinical practice: Results from Sits-International Stroke Registry.

Introduction: Data is limited on the safety of early initiation of direct oral anticoagulation (DOAC) treatment after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) receiving reperfusion therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated the timing of DOAC initiation and its association with safety and outcomes.

Materials And Methods: We included AIS patients receiving reperfusion therapy with AF diagnosis (prevalent or new) registered in the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke international registry during 2013-2024.

Benchmarking commercially available value-added fractions with potential for production via microalgae-based biorefineries: is it worth it?

The urgent need to mitigate climate change requires finding sustainable and efficient alternatives to fossil fuel-based materials. Biosequestration by microalgae has been suggested as a potential method for climate change mitigation due to its environmentally friendly nature and ability to produce high-value compounds. However, the large-scale application of microalgal biorefineries faces significant challenges, particularly in the harvest and processing stages, which are often costly and energy-intensive.

Spin excitations in nanographene-based antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 Heisenberg chains.

Antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chains exhibit two distinct types of excitation spectrum: gapped for integer-spin chains and gapless for half-integer-spin chains. However, in finite-length half-integer-spin chains, quantization induces a gap, requiring precise control over sufficiently long chains to study its evolution. Here we create length-controlled spin-1/2 Heisenberg chains by covalently linking Olympicenes-Olympic-ring-shaped magnetic nanographenes.

Sex as modifier of survival in patients with advanced urothelial cancer treated with pembrolizumab.

Gender- and sex-based disparities in response to immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has been reported in a variety of tumor types. Women have different anatomy with recurrent urinary tract infections, a different sex hormonal profile, and intrinsic differences in local and systemic immune systems and urobiome composition. Existing literature data in a pan-cancer context reveal contradictory results, and real-world evidence in urothelial carcinoma (UC) is lacking.

Osteomesopyknosis: A Bone-Sclerosing Disorder that May be Confused with Bone Metastases.

Sclerosing bone disorders encompass a range of genetic and acquired diseases. The potential for bone metastases is often a significant concern, especially when multiple discrete lesions are present. Several non-malignant disorders can also produce similar patterns of bone abnormalities.

Red colour of a painful ear: red ear syndrome in paediatric age.

A middle childhood boy with no disclosed medical history presented with paroxysmal episodes of pain in the left ear accompanied by redness of the earlobe over a 3-month period. The attacks occurred suddenly, lasted for hours and had a variable frequency. He denied experiencing a headache or other neurological symptoms and had previously attempted treatment with gabapentin, prednisolone, ibuprofen and topical lidocaine without success.