Three new diterpenes from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza and their cytotoxicity.

Two undescribed oxazole-containing diterpenoids (1-2) and a new diterpenoid (3) were isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Their structures were elucidated by extensive HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of 1 and 3 were confirmed by comparison of the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Compound 1 represents the first example of an abietane diterpenoid with a benzo[d]oxazole unit fused in the ring B of the abietane skeleton.

Biophysical interactions between self-sufficient cytochrome P450 from and ilaprazole.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), metabolized by cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes, are widely used to inhibit gastric acid secretion. This study investigated CYP116B46, a self-sufficient monooxygenase with a reductase domain, to elucidate its interaction with ilaprazole, a PPI. Binding assays and docking simulations indicate that CYP116B46 serves as a suitable model for studying PPI metabolism.

The Bifidogenic Effect of 2'Fucosyllactose Is Driven by Age-Specific Species, Demonstrating Age as an Important Factor for Gut Microbiome Targeted Precision Medicine.

Background: The human gut microbiota develops in concordance with its host over a lifetime, resulting in age-related shifts in community structure and metabolic function. Little is known about whether these changes impact the community's response to microbiome-targeted therapeutics. Providing critical information on this subject, faecal microbiomes of subjects from six age groups, spanning from infancy to 70-year-old adults (n = six per age group) were harvested.

Differential Responses of Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas Species to Multispecies Interactions in the Phyllosphere.

The leaf surface, known as the phylloplane, presents an oligotrophic and heterogeneous environment due to its topography and uneven distribution of resources. Although it is a challenging environment, leaves support abundant bacterial communities that are spatially structured. However, the factors influencing these spatial distribution patterns are not well understood.

Backward swimming in elongated-bodied abyssal demersal fishes: Synaphobranchidae, Macrouridae, and Ophidiidae.

The deep-sea demersal fish fauna is characterized by a prevalence of elongated-body forms with long tapering tails. Using baited camera landers at depths of 4500-6300 m in the Pacific Ocean, we observed multiple instances of backward swimming using reverse undulation of the slender body in four species: the cutthroat eel Ilyophis robinsae, abyssal grenadier Coryphaenoides yaquinae, and cusk-eels Bassozetus sp. and Barathrites iris.

Comparative Analysis of Transcriptomic and Proteomic Expression between Two Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Subtypes.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is frequently diagnosed late and has poor survival. The two predominant subtypes of NSCLC, adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), are currently differentially diagnosed using immunohistochemical markers; however, they are increasingly recognized as very different cancer types suggestive of potential for new, more targeted therapies. There are extensive efforts to find more precise and noninvasive differential diagnostic tools.

A Nanotheranostic Agent for Synergistic Antitumor Chemo/Phototherapy Prepared by Paclitaxel-Induced Self-Assembly of PEGylated Human Serum Albumin with Prolonged Circulation.

The integration of different therapies to enhance the efficacy and minimize adverse reactions has become popular recently. This approach leverages the complementary mechanisms of action of different treatments, which can lead to better therapeutic outcomes and reduced side effects. Human serum albumin (HSA) exhibits excellent drug loading ability and is often used for biomimetic tumor delivery in multidrug nanocarriers.

Beyond despair: Leveraging ecosystem restoration for psychosocial resilience.

Ecosystem restoration has historically been viewed as an ecological endeavor, but restoration possesses significant, yet largely untapped, potential as a catalyst for personal and social transformation. We highlight the opportunity for restoration to enhance community resilience by increasing agency and collective action and countering the pervasive perception that we are powerless witnesses to environmental decline. In this perspective, we take a "bright spots" approach and highlight successful examples of ecosystem restoration that have helped to nurture a sense of place, foster optimism, and cultivate stronger and more diverse social networks.

Electrochemical stability of electrospun silicon/carbon nanofiber anode materials: a review.

Silicon (Si) is regarded as a promising anode material owing to its high specific capacity and low lithiation potential. The large volume change and the pulverization of silicon during the lithiation/delithiation process hinder its direct energy storage application. This review focuses on the electrospun silicon/carbon (Si/C) nanofiber anode materials for lithium-ion batteries for long-term stable energy storage.

Synthetic translational coupling system for accurate and predictable polycistronic gene expression control in bacteria.

Precise and predictable genetic elements are required to address various issues, such as suboptimal metabolic flux or imbalanced protein assembly caused by the inadequate control of polycistronic gene expression in bacteria. Here, we devised a synthetic biopart based on the translational coupling to control polycistronic gene expression. This module links the translation of genes within a polycistronic mRNA, maintaining their expression ratios regardless of coding sequences, transcription rate, and upstream gene translation rate.

Unearthing the secrets of Australia's most enigmatic and cryptic mammal, the marsupial mole.

The marsupial moles are arguably Australia's most enigmatic marsupials. Almost indistinguishable from placental (eutherian) moles, they provide a striking example of convergent evolution. Exploring the genome of the southern marsupial mole, we provide insights into its unusual biology.

Ethnogenetic analysis reveals the Bronze Age genetic affiliation of Yashkuns with West Eurasians.

Focusing on the Yashkun population of Gilgit-Baltistan, an administrative territory in northern Pakistan, our study investigated mtDNA haplotypes as indicators of ancient gene flow and genetic diversity. Genomic DNA was extracted and evaluated for quality using agarose gel electrophoresis. The complete control region of mtDNA (nt 16024-576) was amplified via PCR, and sequencing was performed using the Big Dye Terminator Kit on an Applied Biosystems Genetic Analyzer.

IUPHAR themed review: The gut microbiome in schizophrenia.

Gut microbial dysbiosis or altered gut microbial consortium, in schizophrenia suggests a pathogenic role through the gut-brain axis, influencing neuroinflammatory and neurotransmitter pathways critical to psychotic, affective, and cognitive symptoms. Paradoxically, conventional psychotropic interventions may exacerbate this dysbiosis, with antipsychotics, particularly olanzapine, demonstrating profound effects on microbial architecture through disruption of bacterial phyla ratios, diminished taxonomic diversity, and attenuated short-chain fatty acid synthesis. To address these challenges, novel therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiome, encompassing probiotic supplementation, prebiotic compounds, faecal microbiota transplantation, and rationalised co-pharmacotherapy, show promise in attenuating antipsychotic-induced metabolic disruptions while enhancing therapeutic efficacy.

The diagnostic performance comparison between T2 mapping and Dixon against the activity of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of T2 mapping and Dixon in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy's disease activity.

Methods: Published studies were collected by systematically searching the databases PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Medline, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, and WANFANG. The sensitivities, specificities, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were confirmed.

Hearing modulation affects Alzheimer's disease progression linked to brain inflammation: a study in mouse models.

Background: Recent studies have identified hearing loss (HL) as a primary risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) onset. However, the mechanisms linking HL to AD are not fully understood. This study explored the effects of drug-induced hearing loss (DIHL) on the expression of proteins associated with AD progression in mouse models.

Effective multicolor visual biosensor for ochratoxin A detection enabled by DNAzyme catalysis and gold nanorod etching.

A novel detection technique is introduced that offers sensitive and reliable ochratoxin A (OTA) detection. The method leverages the etching of gold nanorods (AuNRs) stabilized by hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) using the oxidized form of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl benzidine sulfate (TMB), creating a susceptible multicolor visual detection system for OTA. The visual detection is enabled by Mg-assisted DNAzyme catalysis combined with the catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) signal amplification strategy.

Luminescence Properties of Samarium-Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles and Cytotoxicity Assessment on SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells.

Samarium-doped nanohydroxyapatite is a biomaterial with nerve regeneration activity and bioimaging. In this work, Sm/HAp; (Ca Sm (PO)(OH)) (0 ≤ ≤ 1) was synthesized using the hydrothermal method and thermally treated from 200 to 800 °C. The samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and luminescence spectroscopy.

Rapid and high accuracy identification of culture medium by CNN of Raman spectra.

Culture media are widely used for biological research and production. It is essential for the growth of microorganisms, cells, or tissues. It includes complex components like carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

Evidence of a Catalytic Dyad in F-Dependent Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase from .

F-dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (FGD) catalyzes the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) to 6-phosphogluconolactone, using cofactor F as the hydride transfer acceptor. Our previous pH dependence studies suggested that E109 serves as an active site acid, donating a proton to the N-1 position of F, while leaving the role of H40 unanswered, which was previously suggested to serve as the active site base. This work utilizes thermodynamic and kinetic studies to elucidate additional mechanistic details concerning the roles of H40 and E13.

Development and functions of the area opaca of the chick embryo.

Before radial symmetry-breaking of the blastoderm, the chick embryo is distinctly divided into a central area pellucida and a surrounding region, the area opaca. In this review, we focus on the area opaca and its functions. First, we survey current knowledge about how the area opaca is formed during the intrauterine period and how it sets up its initial tissue structure.

Simulating Genetic Mixing in Strongly Structured Populations of the Threatened Southern Brown Bandicoot ().

Genetic mixing aims to increase the genetic diversity of small or isolated populations, by mitigating genetic drift and inbreeding depression, either by maximally increasing genetic diversity, or minimising the prevalence of recessive, deleterious alleles. However, few studies investigate this beyond a single generation of mixing. Here, we model genetic mixing using captive, low-diversity recipient population of the threatened Southern brown bandicoot () over 50 generations and compare wild populations across south-eastern Australia as candidate source populations.

Surface-based analysis of early cortical gyrification and thickness alterations in treatment-Naïve, first-episode depressive patients during emerging adulthood.

Background: Extensive research, predominantly in adults, has highlighted structural brain variations among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, emerging adults, who undergo significant cortical reshaping and are highly vulnerable to depression, receive relatively little attention, despite reporting a higher prevalence of childhood trauma experiences. This study examines cortical gyrification and thickness in emerging adults with first-episode, treatment-naïve MDD, with the objective of investigating their association with childhood trauma.

Confirming the occurrence of two fiddler crabs, Tubuca dussumieri (H. Milne Edwards, 1852) and T. coarctata (H. Milne Edwards, 1852) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Ocypodidae), in Hong Kong by DNA barcoding and morphology.

The Indo-West Pacific region has a rich fiddler crab fauna. In East Asia, some species of fiddler crabs, such as Tubuca coarctata (H. Milne Edwards, 1852) and T.

Microbiological analysis of donor human milk over seven years from the Hearts Milk Bank (United Kingdom).

When maternal milk is unavailable, donor human milk (DHM) from human milk banks (HMBs) is the optimal alternative, as recommended by the World Health Organisation. The microbiota of DHM could contain opportunistic pathogens, which means rigorous microbiological screening for DHM, prior to pasteurisation, is recommended to safeguard recipients. Here, an analysis of 6863 DHM samples from 1419 donors at the Hearts Milk Bank between 2017 and 2023 showed approximately 70.

An undocumented source of plastic contamination in sensitive estuarine environments.

The degradation of plastic infrastructure installed along estuaries and coastal environments may constitute a significant source of plastic contamination. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of plastic infrastructure and the extent of surface degradation of these plastics in a case study system, the Swan and Canning Estuary, Western Australia. The severity of cracks, chips, deformation, and material loss were used to estimate a novel degradation index for the plastic components on structures.