Urinary Microbiota of Healthy Prepubescent Girls and Boys-A Pilot Study.

Background: The urinary microbiota of healthy children has rarely been studied, and potential differences between boys and girls have not been addressed. Thus, this study aimed to compare the urinary microbiota of healthy prepubescent girls and boys.

Methods: We included healthy children aged between 4 and 10 years who were free of functional or organic urinary tract diseases and had no history of urinary tract infection.

Bacterial Diversity in Native Heart Valves in Infective Endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infectious disease caused by the hematogenous dissemination of bacteria into heart valves. Improving the identification of pathogens that cause IE is important to increase the effectiveness of its therapy and reduce the mortality caused by this pathology. Ten native heart valves obtained from IE patients undergoing heart valve replacements were analyzed.

Intra- and Interspecies Conjugal Transfer of Plasmids in Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Plasmid-mediated resistance is a significant mechanism that contributes to the gradual decrease in the efficacy of antibiotics from various classes, including carbapenems. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of transfer of carbapenemase-encoding plasmids from to and . Matings were performed on agar with subsequent isolation of transconjugant, recipient, and donor colonies.

Olivetol's Effects on Metabolic State and Gut Microbiota Functionality in Mouse Models of Alimentary Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 and 2, and Hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, or hypercholesterolemia, can cause serious complications, reduce quality of life, and lead to increased premature mortality. Olivetol, a natural compound, could be proposed as a promising therapeutic agent for preventing, treating, or alleviating metabolic complications of such pathological conditions.

Methods: In this study, the researchers conducted a broad parallel investigation of olivetol's effects on metabolic state and gut microbiota functionality in mouse models of alimentary obesity, diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2, and hypercholesterolemia.

Sesquiterpene Lactones as Promising Anti-Glioblastoma Drug Candidates Exerting Complex Effects on Glioblastoma Cell Viability and Proneural-Mesenchymal Transition.

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive brain cancers, characterized by active infiltrative growth and high resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Sesquiterpene triterpenoids (STLs) and their semi-synthetic analogs are considered as a promising source of novel anti-tumor agents due to their low systemic toxicity and multi-target pharmacological effects on key processes associated with tumor progression. The current review aims to systematize the knowledge on the anti-glioblastoma potential of STLs accumulated over the last decade and to identify key processes in glioblastoma cells that are most susceptible to the action of STLs.

Vascular Endothelium at the Molecular Level: From Fundamental Knowledge Toward Medical Implementation.

The concept of multiple physiologic roles played by a single layer of endothelium on the intimal face of blood vessels started gaining recognition in the 1960s [...

Evaluation of Different Few-Shot Learning Methods in the Plant Disease Classification Domain.

Early detection of plant diseases is crucial for agro-holdings, farmers, and smallholders. Various neural network architectures and training methods have been employed to identify optimal solutions for plant disease classification. However, research applying one-shot or few-shot learning approaches, based on similarity determination, to the plantdisease classification domain remains limited.

Investigating Aerobic Hive Microflora: Role of Surface Microbiome of Apis Mellifera.

This study investigated the surface microbiome of the honeybee (), focusing on the diversity and functional roles of its associated microbial communities. While the significance of the microbiome to insect health and behavior is increasingly recognized, research on invertebrate surface microbiota lags behind that of vertebrates. A combined metagenomic and cultivation-based approach was employed to characterize the bacterial communities inhabiting the honeybee exoskeleton.

Regulation of Stress-Induced Immunosuppression in the Context of Neuroendocrine, Cytokine, and Cellular Processes.

Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of stress-induced immunosuppression and developing reliable diagnostic methods are important tasks in clinical medicine. This will allow for the development of effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of conditions associated with immune system dysfunction induced by chronic stress. The purpose of this review is to conduct a comprehensive analysis and synthesis of existing data on the regulatory mechanisms of stress-induced immunosuppression.

Optimization of Conditions for Production of Soluble Poly(A)-Polymerase for Biotechnological Applications.

Poly(A) polymerase (PAP 1) from is the primary enzyme responsible for synthesizing poly(A) tails on RNA molecules, signaling RNA degradation in bacterial cells. In vitro, PAP 1 is used to prepare libraries for RNAseq and to produce mRNA vaccines. However, PAP 1's toxicity and instability in low-salt buffers complicate its expression and purification.

Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) in New World Monkeys (Primates) Reveals the Distribution of Repetitive Sequences in Cebinae and Callitrichinae.

The intraspecies and interspecies Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) between the closely related Cebidae species, capuchin monkeys (, ), and the tamarins () was performed to analyze their genomes. In particular, this approach determines balanced and unbalanced repetitive DNA sequence distribution and reveals dynamics during evolution. Capuchin monkeys are considered the most ancestral group with conserved syntenies compared to the hypothetical ancestral New World monkeys' karyotype.

Biological Functions and Clinical Significance of the ABCG1 Transporter.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are a large family of proteins that transport various substances across cell membranes using energy from ATP hydrolysis. ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 1 (ABCG1) is a member of the ABCG subfamily of transporters and performs many important functions, such as the export of cholesterol and some other lipids across the membranes of various cells. Cholesterol transport is the mechanism that links metabolism and the innate immune system.

Can Cryptogonimids of the Same Genus Influence Each Other's Level of Genetic Variation?

Trematodes of the genus are parasites that are common in East and Southeast Asia. These parasites are known to infect fish, thus impacting aquaculture significantly. An introspection into the dynamics of infection of these parasites has revealed possible co-infection in shared hosts.

Time Perception Test in IntelliCage System for Preclinical Study: Linking Depression and Serotonergic Modulation.

The link between serotonergic modulation and depression is under debate; however, serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are still the first-choice medicine in this condition. Disturbances in time perception are also reported in depression with one of the behavioral schedules used to study interval timing, differential-reinforcement-learning-of-low-rate, having been shown to have high predictive validity for an antidepressant effect. Here, we introduce an IntelliCage research protocol of an interval bisection task that allows more ecologically valid and less time-consuming rodent examination and provides an example of its use to confirm the previously reported acute effect of an SRI, clomipramine, on interval timing (increase in bisection point, D50).

The Role of Bitter-Tasting Substances in Salivation and Swallowing: Results of the Pilot Study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeine, vanillin, and epigallocatechin gallate on salivation and swallowing and to find ways to correct their negative effects. Solutions of these substances with an equivalent intensity of bitter taste were compared for this purpose. To compensate for their effect, solutions of adenosine monophosphate, saliva substitute, and their combination were used.

The cell colony development is connected with the accumulation of embryogenesis-related proteins and dynamic distribution of cell wall components in in vitro cultures of Fagopyrum tataricum and Fagopyrum esculentum.

Background: Due to the totipotency of plant cells, which allows them to reprogram from a differentiated to a dedifferentiated state, plants exhibit a remarkable regenerative capacity, including under in vitro culture conditions. When exposed to plant hormones, primarily auxins and cytokinins, explant cells cultured in vitro can undergo differentiation through callus formation. Protoplast culture serves as a valuable research model for studying these processes in detail.

Mortality and ocular parameters and diseases.

Background: To assess associations between mortality and major ocular parameters and diseases.

Methods: The population-based Ural Eye and Medical Study (UEMS) and Ural Very Old Study (UVOS) included 5899 individuals (age: 40+ years) and 1526 individuals (age: 85+ years), respectively. Cause-specific mortality was determined using the government regional information and analytical system.

Genomic and transcriptomic insights into vitamin A-induced thermogenesis and gene reuse as a cold adaptation strategy in wild boars.

Wild boars inhabit diverse climates, including frigid regions like Siberia, but their migration history and cold adaptation mechanisms into high latitudes remain poorly understood. We constructed the most comprehensive wild boar whole-genome variant dataset to date, comprising 124 samples from tropical to frigid zones, among which 47 Russian, 8 South Chinese and 3 Vietnamese wild boars were newly supplemented. We also gathered 75 high-quality RNA-seq datasets from 10 tissues of 6 wild boars from Russia and 6 from southern China.

L-Histidine-functionalized KIT-6 with embedded palladium nanoparticles as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for oxidation of sulfide to sulfoxide and amination of aryl halides.

Palladium nanoparticles were supported on L-H-functionalized KIT-6 (KIT-6@L-H-Pd) and evaluated using various characterization techniques such as TGA, FT-IR, SEM, XRD, EDS, and BET. KIT-6@L-H-Pd showed excellent catalytic performance as a recyclable nanocatalyst for the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and the amination of aryl halides. This approach offers multiple benefits, including the use of readily available and cost-effective materials, a straightforward procedure, short reaction durations, high yields, and a catalyst that is easy to separate and reuse.

Natural repeated backcrosses lead to triploidy and tetraploidy in parthenogenetic butterfly lizards (Leiolepis: Agamidae).

Obligatory parthenogenesis in vertebrates is restricted to squamate reptiles and evolved through hybridisation. Parthenogens can hybridise with sexual species, resulting in individuals with increased ploidy levels. We describe two successive hybridisations of the parthenogenetic butterfly lizards (genus Leiolepis) in Vietnam with a parental sexual species.

The parasitic fauna of the Chiloe wigeon Mareca sibilatrix (Anseriformes: Anatidae) from Ñuble region, Chile.

The Chiloe wigeon, Mareca sibilatrix (Anseriformes: Anatidae), is a native duck distributed mainly in Chile and Argentina. Although it is a common species in the Neotropical realm, studies on its parasitic fauna remain limited. This study aimed to gather additional data on host-parasite associations in M.

Characteristics of children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis and their association with treatment outcomes: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: There are few data on the treatment of children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant (MDR) or rifampicin-resistant (RR) tuberculosis, especially with more recently available drugs and regimens. We aimed to describe the clinical and treatment characteristics and their associations with treatment outcomes in this susceptible population.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Molecular allergy diagnosis enabling personalized medicine.

Allergic patients are characterized by complex and patient-specific IgE sensitization profiles to various allergens, which are accompanied by different phenotypes of allergic disease. Molecular allergy (MA) diagnosis establishes the patient's IgE reactivity profile at a molecular allergen level and has moved allergology into the "Precision Medicine" era. Molecular allergology started in the late 1980s with the isolation of the first allergen-encoding DNA sequences.

Breaking barriers in targeted Therapy: Advancing exosome Isolation, Engineering, and imaging.

Exosomes have emerged as promising tools for targeted drug delivery in biomedical applications and medicine. This review delves into the scientific advancements, challenges, and future prospects specifically associated with these technologies. In this work, we trace the research milestones that led to the discovery and characterization of exosomes and extracellular vesicles, and discuss strategies for optimizing the synthetic yield and the loading of these particles with various therapeutics.

ORAL MANIFESTATIONS IN JUVENILE SCLERODERMA: CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

Juvenile scleroderma (JS) is a rare chronic connective tissue disorder characterized by stiffening of the skin and soft tissues, including the oral cavity and perioral tissues, leading to fibrosis and a large spectrum of internal organs involvement, cosmetic defects, and early infant disability. The aim of this study was to investigate the histomorphological features of lesions of oral mucosa tissues in children with juvenile scleroderma (JS). 39 JS patients (9 with juvenile systemic sclerosis - JSS and 20 with juvenile scleroderma of head-JSH aged from 5 to 17 years were observed with dental examination and morphological investigation of the dental mucosa.