The Cellular and Transcriptomic Early Innate Immune Response to BCG Vaccination in Mice.

It is established that BCG vaccination results in the development of both a specific immune response to mycobacterial infections and a nonspecific (heterologous) immune response, designated as trained immunity (TRIM), to other pathogens. We hypothesized that local BCG immunization may induce an early immune response in bone marrow and spleen innate immunity cells. The early transcriptomic response of various populations of innate immune cells, including monocytes, neutrophils, and natural killer (NK) cells, to BCG vaccination was examined.

Priorities of the Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Population: An International Study on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.

Background/objectives: Overall priorities of the international pediatric-onset spinal cord injury (SCI) population are unknown. The purpose was to describe and compare Life and Health (L&H) domain overall priorities of European youth with SCI and their parents and caregivers (P&C).

Methods: A survey with a cross-sectional design, prepared by the PEPSCI Collaboration, was conducted in six European countries.

Small GTPase ARL4C Associated with Various Cancers Affects Microtubule Nucleation.

The changes in the level of small GTPase ARL4C are associated with the initiation and progression of many different cancers. The content of ARL4C varies greatly between different tissues, and the induction of ARL4C expression leads to changes in cell morphology and proliferation. Although ARL4C can bind alpha-tubulin and affect intracellular transport, the role of ARL4C in the functioning of the tubulin cytoskeleton remained unclear.

Development of Preliminary Criteria of Macrophage Activation Syndrome in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Associated with COVID-19 in Children.

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) can be regarded as a key factor determining the severity of multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 in children (MIS-C), and often requires treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) to avoid life-threatening complications. No reputable specific criteria for the diagnosis of MAS in MIS-C patients have yet been identified, and criteria currently used for the diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndromes, such as HLH-2004, MAS-2005, and MAS-2016, are not sufficient for MAS in MIS-C. Our goal in this study was to work out the criteria for the early diagnosis of MAS in MIS-C.

The Role of Sphingolipid Metabolism in Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer After Chemotherapy.

Background: The aim of our study was to determine the role of sphingolipids, which control proliferation and apoptosis, in the placenta of pregnant women with pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) after chemotherapy compared with healthy patients.

Methods: We analyzed (by the PCR method) the gene expression of key sphingolipid metabolism enzymes (sphingomyelinases (SMPD1 and SMPD3), acid ceramidase (ASAH1), ceramide synthases (CERS 1-6), sphingosine kinase1 (SPHK1), sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase 1 (SGPL1), and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors (S1PR1, S1PR2, and S1PR3)) and the content of subspecies of ceramides, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate in seven patients with PABC after chemotherapy and eight healthy pregnant women as a control group.

Results: We found a significant increase in the expression of genes of acid ceramidase (ASAH1), sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase 1 (SGPL1), sphingosine kinase (SPHK1), and ceramide synthases (CERS 1-3, 5, 6) in the samples of patients with PABC during their treatment with cytostatic chemotherapy.

Spectrum of Pathogenic Variants of the ATP7B Gene and Genotype-Phenotype Correlation in Eastern Eurasian Patient Cohorts with Wilson's Disease.

Wilson's disease (WD) (OMIM 277900) or hepatolenticular degeneration is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by impaired copper excretion with subsequent accumulation in the liver, brain, and other tissues of the body. The defects in copper metabolism are based on various pathogenic variants of the ATP7B gene encoding copper-transporting P-type ATPase. The aim of this work is to search for pathogenic variants of the ATP7B gene among Eastern Eurasian patient cohorts and to pick correlations between pathogenic variants, gender, age of onset of the disease, and the course of the disease.

Extracellular Vesicles from Plasma of Patients with Glioblastoma Promote Invasion of Glioblastoma Cells Even After Tumor Resection.

: Glioblastoma (GB) is a highly aggressive tumor, whose progression is mediated by secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which can pass the brain-blood barrier and be found in the plasma. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of the effects of EVs from the plasma of healthy donors (hEVs) and GB patients before (bEVs) and after (aEVs) tumor surgical resection on invasion of normal astrocytes and GB cells. : We performed the transwell invasion assay, analyzed MAP kinases activation by Western blotting, studied SNAI1/SNAI2 cellular localization by confocal microscopy, measured cadherins expression by flow cytometry, and analyzed secretion of cytokines, which regulate migration and inflammation, by immunoassay.

ACTH-like Peptides Compensate Rat Brain Gene Expression Profile Disrupted by Ischemia a Day After Experimental Stroke.

Ischemic stroke results from a disruption of cerebral blood flow. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) serves as the basis for the creation of synthetic peptides as neuroprotective agents for stroke therapy. Previously, using RNA-Seq we first revealed differential expressed genes (DEGs) associated with ACTH(4-7)PGP (Semax) and ACTH(6-9)PGP peptides under cerebral ischemia conditions.

Machine Learning Model Discriminate Ischemic Heart Disease Using Breathome Analysis.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) impacts the quality of life and is the most frequently reported cause of morbidity and mortality globally. To assess the changes in the exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in patients with vs. without ischemic heart disease (IHD) confirmed by stress computed tomography myocardial perfusion (CTP) imaging.

Proteins Associated with Neurodegenerative Diseases: Link to DNA Repair.

The nervous system is susceptible to DNA damage and DNA repair defects, and if DNA damage is not repaired, neuronal cells can die, causing neurodegenerative diseases in humans. The overall picture of what is known about DNA repair mechanisms in the nervous system is still unclear. The current challenge is to use the accumulated knowledge of basic science on DNA repair to improve the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Blood Lipid Polygenic Risk Score Development and Application for Atherosclerosis Ultrasound Parameters.

The present study investigates the feasibility of using three previously published genome-wide association studies (GWAS) results on blood lipids to develop polygenic risk scores (PRS) for population samples from the European part of the Russian Federation. Two population samples were used in the study - one from the Ivanovo region ( = 1673) and one from the Vologda region ( = 817). We investigated three distinct approaches to PRS development: using the straightforward PRS approach with original effect sizes and fine-tuning with PRSice-2 and LDpred2.

SGLT-2 Inhibitors' and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists' Influence on Neuronal and Glial Damage in Experimental Stroke.

SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) have demonstrated nephro- and cardioprotective effects, but their neuroprotective properties, especially concerning stroke severity, and mechanisms are not unambiguous. We aimed to study the influence of SGLT-2i with different selectivity and GLP-1RA on brain damage volume and neurological status in non-diabetic and diabetic rats and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Non-diabetic rats were divided into five groups (n = 10 each) and received empagliflozin, canagliflozin, or dulaglutide as study drugs and metformin as comparison drug.

Grapefruit-Derived Vesicles Loaded with Recombinant HSP70 Activate Antitumor Immunity in Colon Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo.

Stress protein HSP70 administered exogenously has demonstrated high potential as an efficient adjuvant in antitumor immune response. To enhance the antigen-presenting activity, bioavailability, and stability of exogenous recombinant human HSP70, we propose incorporating it into plant extracellular vesicles. Earlier, we found that grapefruit-derived extracellular vesicles (GEV) were able to store the protein with no loss of its major function, chaperone activity.

IL-4R and CXCR2 Contribute to Downregulating Neutrophil-Mediated Response in the Early Stage of Fungal Extract-Induced Allergic Airway Inflammation.

: Airborne exogenous antigen inhalation can induce neutrophil infiltration of the airways, while eosinophils migrate to the airways in allergic airway inflammation. During a bacterial infection, Th2-associated cytokine IL-4, by binding to the IL-4 receptor (IL-4R), can suppress neutrophil recruitment to the site of inflammation. In the present study, we estimated whether the IL-4-dependent suppression of neutrophil recruitment contributed to the development of an immune response in asthma.

Drug-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis: National Database Analysis.

Background/objectives: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) results in a progressive decline of lung function due to scarring. Drugs are among the most common causes of PF. The objective of our study was to reveal the structure of drugs involved in PF development.

Protective Effect of Silver Nanoparticles Against Cytosine Arabinoside Genotoxicity: An In Vivo Micronucleus Assay.

Cancer treatments have harmful side effects, including genotoxic ones. Our previous research discovered that a specific silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) formulation could reduce the genotoxic effects of an alkylating agent, cyclophosphamide. This study aims to evaluate if this protective effect is observed against an antimetabolite anticancer agent, cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C).

Valorizing Grape Pomace: A Review of Applications, Nutritional Benefits, and Potential in Functional Food Development.

Grape pomace (GP), a byproduct of winemaking, has gained significant attention as a sustainable and functional ingredient with applications in the food and nutraceutical industries. This review examines the potential of GP in meat products and analogs, functional foods, and nutraceuticals, highlighting its composition, health benefits, and role in enhancing nutritional and functional properties. Rich in dietary fiber, polyphenols, essential fatty acids, and bioactive compounds, GP exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gut health-promoting effects, making it suitable for various food applications.

Antiviral Potential of Extracts (Prepared by Repercolation) Against Influenza A (H1N1) Virus.

An antiviral effect of extracts prepared from aerial parts of nine species and from leaves of two species of the genus L. was investigated for potential antiviral activity toward influenza A (H1N1) virus. The toxicity of dry extracts was analyzed, and the most selective extract was identified in vitro.

Expanding the Genotypic and Phenotypic Spectrum of -Related Conditions: Three More Cases.

Introduction: Pathogenic variants in the gene are linked to a spectrum of syndromes that exhibit partial clinical overlap. Hemizygous loss-of-function variants are considered lethal in males, while heterozygous loss-of-function variants generally result in oro-facial-digital syndrome type 1. A reported phenotype, Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome type 2, was published once but remains controversial, with many specialists questioning its validity and arguing about its continued listing in the OMIM database.

Polymorphism of Genes Potentially Affecting Growth and Body Size Suggests Genetic Divergence in Wild and Domestic Reindeer () Populations.

: A combination of increased human presence in the Arctic zone alongside climate change has led to a decrease in the number of wild reindeer (). Studying the genetic potential of this species will aid in conservation efforts, while simultaneously promoting improved meat productivity in domestic reindeer. Alongside reducing feed costs, increasing disease resistance, etc.

The Finnic Peoples of Russia: Genetic Structure Inferred from Genome-Wide and Y-Chromosome Data.

Eastern Finnic populations, including Karelians, Veps, Votes, Ingrians, and Ingrian Finns, are a significant component of the history of Finnic populations, which have developed over ~3 kya. Yet, these groups remain understudied from a genetic point of view. In this work, we explore the gene pools of Karelians (Northern, Tver, Ludic, and Livvi), Veps, Ingrians, Votes, and Ingrian Finns using Y-chromosome markers (N = 357) and genome-wide autosomes (N = 67) and in comparison with selected Russians populations of the area (N = 763).

Effects of Gene-Lifestyle Interaction on Obesity Among Students.

Background: Obesity is a global health issue influenced primarily by genetic variants and environmental factors. This study aimed to examine the relationship between genetic and lifestyle factors and their interaction with obesity risk among university students.

Methods: A total of 658 students from the same university participated in this study, including 531 females (mean age (SD): 21.

Genetic Polymorphism of Y-Chromosome in Turkmen Population from Turkmenistan.

This study investigates the Y-chromosome genetic diversity of the Turkmen population in Turkmenistan, analyzing 23 Y-STR loci for the first time in a sample of 100 individuals. Combined with comparative data from Turkmen populations in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Russia, and Uzbekistan, this analysis offers insights into the genetic structure and relationships among Turkmen populations across regions across Central Asia and the Near East. High haplotype diversity in the Turkmen of Turkmenistan is shaped by founder effects (lineage expansions) from distinct haplogroups, with haplogroups Q and R1a predominating.

Transpiling Quantum Assembly Language Circuits to a Qudit Form.

In this paper, we introduce the workflow for converting qubit circuits represented by Open Quantum Assembly format (OpenQASM, also known as QASM) into the qudit form for execution on qudit hardware and provide a method for translating qudit experiment results back into qubit results. We present the comparison of several qudit transpilation regimes, which differ in decomposition of multicontrolled gates: as ordinary qubit transpilation and execution, with d=3 levels and single qubit in qudit, and with d=4 levels and 2 qubits per ququart. We provide several examples of transpiling circuits for trapped ion qudit processors, which demonstrate potential advantages of qudits.

Routing Algorithm Within the Multiple Non-Overlapping Paths' Approach for Quantum Key Distribution Networks.

We develop a novel key routing algorithm for quantum key distribution (QKD) networks that utilizes a distribution of keys between remote nodes, i.e., not directly connected by a QKD link, through multiple non-overlapping paths.