Non-Invasive Determination of the Paternal Inheritance in Pregnancies at Risk for β-Thalassaemia by Analyzing Cell-Free Fetal DNA Using Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing.

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has been widely adopted for the screening of chromosomal abnormalities; however, its adoption for monogenic disorders, such as β-thalassaemia, has proven challenging. Haemoglobinopathies are the most common monogenic disorders globally, with β-thalassaemia being particularly prevalent in Cyprus. This study introduces a non-invasive prenatal haplotyping (NIPH) assay for β-thalassaemia, utilizing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from maternal plasma.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for T3 Tumors in the Era of Precision Medicine-Biology Is Still King.

Clinical T3 (cT3) breast cancer (BC) presents a challenge for achieving cosmetically acceptable breast conservation, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is commonly used for cytoreduction in these high-risk cancers. MammaPrint risk-of-recurrence and BluePrint molecular subtyping genomic signatures have demonstrated high accuracy in predicting chemotherapy benefits. Here, we examined the utility of MammaPrint/BluePrint for predicting pathological Complete Response (pCR) rates to NAC among 404 patients diagnosed with cT3 early-stage BC.

Plasma GlycA, a Glycoprotein Marker of Chronic Inflammation, and All-Cause Mortality in Cirrhotic Patients and Liver Transplant Recipients.

Low-grade chronic inflammation may impact liver disease. We investigated the extent to which circulating GlycA, a glycoprotein biomarker of low-grade inflammation, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) are altered in patients with cirrhosis and liver transplant recipients (LTRs) and examined their associations with all-cause mortality. Plasma GlycA (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and hs-CRP (nephelometry) were assessed in 129 patients with cirrhosis on the waiting list for liver transplantation and 367 LTRs (TransplantLines cohort study; NCT03272841) and compared with 4837 participants from the population-based PREVEND cohort.

Dissemination of IncQ1 Plasmids Harboring NTE-IId in a Brazilian Hospital.

KPC is a clinically significant serine carbapenemase in most countries, and its rapid spread threatens global public health. transmission is commonly mediated by Tn transposons. The gene has also been found in (NTE).

Crown Gall Induced by a Natural Isolate of () Containing a Tumor-Inducing Plasmid.

Crown gall disease in plants is caused by "Agrobacteria", bacteria belonging to the family, which carry a tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid. Unexpectedly, we found evidence that a natural isolate from a rose crown gall, called NBC51/LBA8980, was a bacterium that did not belong to the family. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that this bacterium contained three large DNA circles with rRNA and tRNA genes, representing one chromosome and two chromids, respectively, and two megaplasmids, including a Ti plasmid.

Invasion of Chicken Intestinal Cells Is Higher for Lesion Strains Compared to Cloacal Strains in an Organoid Model.

Some strains of can cause spondylitis and bacterial osteomyelitis. Translocation and bacteremia are pivotal to the pathogenesis and clinical disease. Virulence typing to distinguish extra-intestinal disease of lesion from cloacal strains remains difficult.

Pan-Cancer Upregulation of the Transcription Factor.

Background: The human transcription factor controls cell cycle progression and genome stability, and it has been correlated to the onset and progression of many tumor types.

Methods: In our study, we collected all recent sequence and quantitative transcriptomics data about , testing its presence across vertebrate evolution and its upregulation in cancer, both in bulk tissue contexts (by comparing the TCGA tumor dataset and the GTEx normal tissue dataset) and in single-cell contexts.

Results: is significantly and consistently upregulated in all tested tumor types, as well as in tumor cells within a cancer microenvironment.

Effects of Hyaluronic Acid on Three Different Cell Types of the Periodontium in a Novel Multi-Culture Cell Plate: An Exploratory Study.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has received considerable attention in the reconstruction of lost periodontal tissues. HA has been proposed to play a role in cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and cell-matrix as well as cell-cell interactions. Although various studies have been conducted, further research is needed to expand our knowledge based on HA such as its effects on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation.

HBV cccDNA: The Molecular Reservoir of Hepatitis B Persistence and Challenges to Achieve Viral Eradication.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health issue, with an estimated 254 million people living with chronic HBV infection worldwide as of 2022. Chronic HBV infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Current treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogs is effective in the suppression of viral activity but generally requires lifelong treatment.

The Introduction of the Global Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Healthcare (TCIH) Research Agenda on Antimicrobial Resistance and Its Added Value to the WHO and the WHO/FAO/UNEP/WOAH 2023 Research Agendas on Antimicrobial Resistance.

: Given the magnitude and urgency of the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) problem and the insufficiency of strategies to reduce antimicrobial use, there is a need for novel strategies. Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Healthcare (TCIH) provides strategies and solutions that contribute to reducing (inappropriate) antimicrobial use, preventing or treating infections in both human and veterinary medicine, and may contribute to promoting the health/resilience of humans and animals and reducing AMR. The aims of this study were to present the core results of a global TCIH research agenda for AMR and its added value to two existing global AMR research agendas published in 2023.

Sources and Transmission Routes of Carbapenem-Resistant : Study Design and Methodology of the SAMPAN Study.

: The global spread of carbapenem-resistant (CRPA) warrants collaborative action. Guidance should come from integrated One Health surveillance; however, a surveillance strategy is currently unavailable due to insufficient knowledge on the sources and transmission routes of CRPA. The aim of the SAMPAN study ("A Smart Surveillance Strategy for Carbapenem-resistant ") is to develop a globally applicable surveillance strategy.

A Longer Duration of Intravenous Antibiotic Treatment for Patients with Early Periprosthetic Joint Infections Is Not Associated with a Lower Failure Rate.

Background: In recent years, many studies have demonstrated the efficacy of an early switch to oral antibiotics after surgical treatment in orthopedic-related infections. However, large analyses on periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are lacking.

Material And Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational multicenter study in patients diagnosed with an early post-operative PJI, defined as one occurring <3 months after the index arthroplasty and treated with debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR).

Pharmacokinetic Analysis of an Isoniazid Suspension Among Spanish Children Under 6 Years of Age.

: Isoniazid (INH) remains a first-line drug for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) in young children. In 2010, the WHO recommended an increase in the daily dose of INH up to 10 (7-15) mg/kg. Currently, there are no INH suspensions available in Europe.

Vertical Movement of Head, Withers, and Pelvis of High-Level Dressage Horses Trotting in Hand vs. Being Ridden.

Prior to international competitions, dressage horses are evaluated for fitness to compete while trotting in hand on a firm surface. This study compares the kinematics of experienced dressage horses trotting under fitness-to-compete conditions vs. performing collected and extended trot when ridden on a sand-fiber arena surface.

A New, Easy-to-Learn, Fear-Free Method to Stop Purring During Cardiac Auscultation in Cats.

Background: Purring in cats can interfere with cardiac auscultation. If the produced noise is loud enough, purring makes it impossible to perform a meaningful auscultation as it is much louder than heart sounds and murmurs. Our study introduced and tested a new, simple, fear-free, cat-friendly method to stop purring during auscultation.

The Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Novel Subunit Vaccine in the Prevention of -Caused Diarrhoea in Neonatal Calves.

()-caused calf diarrhoea (scours) is widespread and leads to calf mortality in cattle industries worldwide. A recent discovery of a glycopeptide epitope on the parasite recognized by a monoclonal antibody has led to the development of a new vaccine. It was designed for cows to pass on passive immunity to their neonatal calves.

Correction: Alaei et al. Therapeutic Potential of Targeting the Cytochrome P450 Enzymes Using Lopinavir/Ritonavir in Colorectal Cancer: A Study in Monolayers, Spheroids and In Vivo Models. 2023, , 3939.

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PROTAC-Mediated GSPT1 Degradation Impairs the Expression of Fusion Genes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Background: Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional small molecules that utilize the ubiquitin-proteasome system to selectively degrade target proteins. This innovative technology has shown remarkable efficacy and specificity in degrading oncogenic proteins and has progressed through various stages of preclinical and clinical development for hematologic malignancies, including adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the application of PROTACs in pediatric AML remains largely unexplored.

Wish-Granting Interventions Promote Positive Emotions in Both the Short and Long Term in Children with Critical Illnesses and Their Families.

Background: Wish-granting interventions are recognized as positive experiences for children with critical illness and their families. While the positive effects have been shown in the immediate and short term, data on their long-term effects are lacking.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of wish-granting interventions on children and parents during and post intervention-both in the weeks after, and up to 5 years after-and to examine any differences between these two groups.

Cell Mechanisms of Post-Mortem Excitability of Skeletal Muscle.

The excitability of skeletal muscle is a less-known post-mortem supravital phenomenon in human bodies, and it can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval. We conducted a field study in the Netherlands to investigate the applicability of muscle excitability (SMR) by mechanical stimulation for estimating the post-mortem interval in daily forensic practice. Knowledge concerning the post-mortem cell mechanisms accounting for the post-mortem excitability of skeletal muscle is lacking.

Redox Metabolism and Autonomic Regulation During Aging: Can Heart Rate Variability Be Used to Monitor Healthy Longevity?

The functionality of redox metabolism is frequently named as an important contributor to the processes of aging and anti-aging. Excessive activation of free radical reactions accompanied by the inability of the antioxidant defense (AOD) mechanisms to control the flow of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to the persistence of oxidative stress, hypoxia, impaired mitochondrial energy function and reduced ATP potential. From a long-term perspective, such changes contribute to the development of chronic diseases and facilitate aging.

Association of Corticosteroid Inhaler Type with Saliva Microbiome in Moderate-to-Severe Pediatric Asthma.

: Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are common inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) inhaler devices. The difference in formulation and administration technique of these devices may influence oral cavity microbiota composition. We aimed to compare the saliva microbiome in children with moderate-to-severe asthma using ICS via MDIs versus DPIs.

Likes, Shares, and Symptoms: The Hidden Toll of Early Adolescents' Social Media Use on Well-Being.

Social media use has rapidly increased over the past decade, especially among young people. To obtain more insight into the potential negative associations with problematic social media use in Dutch early adolescents, we assessed its relation to self-reported well-being. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 585 students in their final year of primary school (11-12 years old) who completed a questionnaire during school hours.

The Effects of Filter Ventilation and Expanded Tobacco on the Tar, Nicotine and Carbon Monoxide Yields from Cigarettes Sold in Australia.

Cigarette brand variant names and characteristics such as the taste and feel of the smoke can mislead consumers into believing some products are less harmful. We assessed the characteristics of three common cigarette variants sold in Australia, "gold", "blue" and "red", to determine which characteristics differed by color, and which affected tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide (TNCO) yields. TNCO yields, physical parameters, expanded tobacco and filter ventilation were measured in cigarette color variants from eight brands.

Correction: Kuklane et al. A Database of Static Thermal Insulation and Evaporative Resistance Values of Dutch Firefighter Clothing Items and Ensembles. 2022, , 1813.

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