Digestion of food proteins: the role of pepsin.

The nutritive value of a protein is determined not only by its amino acid composition, but also by its digestibility in the gastrointestinal tract. The interaction between proteins and pepsin in the gastric stage is the first step and plays an important role in protein hydrolysis. Moreover, it affects the amino acid release rates and the allergenicity of the proteins.

The divide expand consolidate scheme for unrestricted second order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory ground state energies.

The linear scaling divide-expand-consolidate (DEC) framework is expanded to include unrestricted Hartree-Fock references. By partitioning the orbital space and employing local molecular orbitals, the full molecular calculation can be performed as independent calculations on individual fragments, making the method well-suited for massively parallel implementations. This approach also incorporates error control through the fragment optimization threshold (FOT), which maintains precision and consistency throughout the calculations.

Ag(I)-promoted fragment coupling of peptide thioamides.

Despite advances in solid phase peptide synthesis and peptide ligation, challenges remain in the assembly of polypeptides through coupling of peptide fragments. Herein we describe a new method for peptide fragment coupling employing the Ag(I)-promoted transformation of peptide thioamides. This process proceeds an isoimide-tethered intermediate, which undergoes an O-N acyl transfer to generate the polypeptide.

Deep learning and generative artificial intelligence in aging research and healthy longevity medicine.

With the global population aging at an unprecedented rate, there is a need to extend healthy productive life span. This review examines how Deep Learning (DL) and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) are used in biomarker discovery, deep aging clock development, geroprotector identification and generation of dual-purpose therapeutics targeting aging and disease. The paper explores the emergence of multimodal, multitasking research systems highlighting promising future directions for GenAI in human and animal aging research, as well as clinical application in healthy longevity medicine.

Using Transcriptomic Signatures to Elucidate Individual and Mixture Effects of Inorganic Arsenic and Manganese in Human Placental Trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo Cells.

Prenatal exposure to the toxic metal inorganic arsenic (iAs) is associated with adverse pregnancy and fetal growth outcomes. These adverse outcomes are tied to physiological disruptions in the placenta. While iAs co-occurs in the environment with other metals such as manganese (Mn), there is a gap in the knowledge of the effects of metal-mixtures on the placenta.

Tailoring Exercise Prescription for Effective Diabetes Glucose Management.

Context: Physical activity, exercise, or both are a staple of lifestyle management approaches both for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). While the current literature supports both physical activity and exercise for improving glycemic control, reducing cardiovascular risk, maintaining proper weight, and enhancing overall well-being, the optimal prescription regimen remains debated.

Evidence Acquisition: We searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases for relevant studies on exercise, insulin sensitivity, and glycemic control in people with T1DM and T2DM.

Pinch-off dynamics of emulsion filaments before and after polymerization of the internal phase.

The capillary break-up of complex fluid filaments occurs in many scientific and industrial applications, particularly in bio-printing where both liquid and polymerized droplets exist in the fluid. The simultaneous presence of fluid and solid particles within a carrier fluid and their interactions lead to deviations in the filament break-up from the well-established capillary breakup dynamics of single-phase liquids. To examine the significance of the dispersed phase and the internal interactions between liquid droplets and solid particles, we prepare emulsions through photopolymerization and conduct experimental investigations into the pinch-off dynamics of fluid filaments, focusing on the impact of varying concentrations of liquid droplets (before polymerization) and polymerized droplets.

Non-invasive electron paramagnetic resonance imaging detects tumor redox imbalance induced by ferroptosis.

Targeting ferroptosis, cell death caused by the iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxides, and disruption of the redox balance are promising strategies in cancer therapy owing to the physiological characteristics of cancer cells. However, the detection of ferroptosis using imaging remains challenging. We previously reported that redox maps showing the reduction power per unit time of implanted tumor tissues via non-invasive redox imaging using a novel, compact, and portable electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) device could be compared with tumor tissue sections.

Graphical Model Selection to Infer the Partial Correlation Network of Allelic Effects in Genomic Prediction With an Application in Dairy Cattle.

We addressed genomic prediction accounting for partial correlation of marker effects, which entails the estimation of the partial correlation network/graph (PCN) and the precision matrix of an unobservable m-dimensional random variable. To this end, we developed a set of statistical models and methods by extending the canonical model selection problem in Gaussian concentration, and directed acyclic graph models. Our frequentist formulations combined existing methods with the EM algorithm and were termed Glasso-EM, Concord-EM and CSCS-EM, whereas our Bayesian formulations corresponded to hierarchical models termed Bayes G-Sel and Bayes DAG-Sel.

MOMENT registry: Patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer harboring exon 14 skipping treated with systemic therapy.

exon 14 ex14) skipping occurs in 3-4% of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. Low frequency of this alteration necessitated open-label, single-arm trials to investigate MET inhibitors. Since broad MET biomarker testing was only recently introduced in many countries, there is a lack of historical real-world data from patients with ex14 skipping NSCLC receiving conventional therapies.

Chlorhexidine Compared with Povidone-Iodine in Intravitreal Injection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Povidone-iodine (PI) is the standard antiseptic for intravitreal injections (IVIs), while chlorhexidine (CHX) is a potential alternative. The efficacy of PI versus CHX in preventing endophthalmitis remains debated, with studies showing mixed results. To compare the effectiveness of using PI compared with CHX in IVI procedures regarding endophthalmitis rates, culture-positive endophthalmitis rates, and changes in visual acuity.

Longer disease progression milestone-free time in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treated versus not treated with intravenous edaravone: results from an administrative claims analysis.

To estimate time-to-progression milestones in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS) treated versus not treated with intravenous (IV) edaravone (Radicava IV, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America [MTPA], hereafter "IV edaravone") in a real-world setting. IV edaravone is US FDA approved for the treatment of ALS and was shown in clinical trials to slow the rate of physical functional decline. This retrospective observational analysis included PALS continuously enrolled in Optum's Clinformatics Data Mart between 8 August 2017 and 31 December 2021.

Informational Sources About Breastfeeding Associated with Breastfeeding Initiation: Insights into Racial Disparities.

Breastfeeding provides essential nutrition and disease protection for infants while reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and breast cancer in mothers. Despite these benefits, significant racial and ethnic disparities exist in breastfeeding initiation, particularly among Black women. This study examines racial differences in the receipt of breastfeeding information from varying sources and their association with breastfeeding initiation.

Assessing longitudinal prenatal knowledge and skills retention among community birth attendants enrolled in a novel school.

Objective: Guatemala has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in Central America. A total of 60% of births in Guatemala are attended by traditional Mayan birth attendants, or comadronas. Their prevalence in these communities makes them a valuable resource to bridge home births with safe prenatal care.

Hospital Safety-Net Burden is Associated with Perioperative Outcomes in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Multistate Retrospective Analysis, 2015-2020.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a widely performed surgical procedure in the United States, but disparities in THA outcomes related to hospital-level factors, such as safety-net burden, are underexplored. This study expands on previous research by analyzing multicenter, multistate data from 2015 to 2020 to investigate the impact of hospital safety-net burden-defined as the proportion of services billed to Medicaid and uninsured patients-on THA outcomes. This study is a retrospective analysis using data from the State Inpatient Databases for Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Washington, New Jersey, and North Carolina.

A real-world analysis of antidepressant medications in US veterans aged 60 years and older: a comparative analysis.

To compare the safety and efficacy of antidepressants (AD) among older adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) by assessing treatment change, augmentation and hospitalization rates. This retrospective study analyzed data from the Veterans Affairs (VA) database, including 142,138 patients aged ≥60 years diagnosed with MDD. Patients prescribed bupropion, citalopram, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, paroxetine, sertraline, or venlafaxine were included.

Bat Viral Shedding: A Review of Seasonal Patterns and Risk Factors.

Bats act as reservoirs for a variety of zoonotic viruses, sometimes leading to spillover into humans and potential risks of global transmission. Viral shedding from bats is an essential prerequisite to bat-to-human viral transmission and understanding the timing and intensity of viral shedding from bats is critical to mitigate spillover risks. However, there are limited investigations on bats' seasonal viral shedding patterns and their related risk factors.

Hypnotherapy for Smoking Cessation, Sleep, Pain, and the Potential of Hypnosis Apps.

This issue of the provides a systematic review of hypnotherapy for smoking cessation as well as a systematic review of hypnosis apps. These reviews are followed by articles that examine hypnotherapy for sleep disturbances in patients with multiple sclerosis, and provide results from a randomized clinical trial of immersive virtual reality to reduce pain and anxiety in individuals undergoing orthopedic surgery. In addition, an important new study, with findings that suggest a "general factor" may best account for hypnotizability is presented.

Indirect treatment comparison of lanadelumab and a C1-esterase inhibitor in pediatric patients with hereditary angioedema.

To compare the efficacy and safety of lanadelumab versus other approved long-term prophylaxis (LTP) treatments in patients with pediatric hereditary angioedema (HAE) aged <12 years. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies of LTP in patients with HAE aged <12 years. Two studies met the inclusion criteria in an indirect treatment comparison of efficacy and safety data in pediatric HAE patients.

Secondhand vape exposure regulation of CFTR and immune function in cystic fibrosis.

Secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) is a public health threat for people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and other lung diseases. Primary smoking reduces CFTR channel function, the causative defect in CF. We reported that SHSe worsens respiratory and nutritional outcomes in CF by disrupting immune responses and metabolic signaling.

Food availability has direct and delayed effects on structural growth and body reserves in garter snakes.

Phenotypic plasticity in body growth enables organisms to cope with unpredictable paucities in resource availability. Growth traits influence survival and reproductive success, and thereby, population persistence, and early-life resource availability may govern lifetime patterns in growth, reproductive success, and survival. The influence of early-life environment is decidedly consequential for indeterminately growing ectotherms, which rely on available resources and ambient temperatures to maximize fitness throughout life.

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration Among Primiparous Black Women.

Social determinants of health account for racial inequities in breastfeeding rates in the United States. There is a gap in the role of neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) as it relates to breastfeeding disparities. Using longitudinal data from the Black Women's Health Study, we assessed associations of NSES with breastfeeding initiation and duration in a cohort of primiparous U.

High Cirrhosis Surgical Volume Centers have Reduced Postoperative Mortality in Patients with Cirrhosis Undergoing Major Surgery.

Patients with cirrhosis have increased surgical risk and require care team expertise. We explored the association between center cirrhosis surgical volume and post-operative mortality in a large VA dataset. In this retrospective cohort study of 14,500 major surgeries in patients with cirrhosis, we found in adjusted analysis that high-volume centers (>16 surgeries in past year) had a 36% reduced hazard of post-operative mortality through 90 days versus low-volume centers (<9 surgeries in past year; hazard ratio 0.

Assessing the State of Published Research Concerning COVID-19 and Transgender and Nonbinary People in the United States via a Scoping Review: Lessons Learned for Future Public Health Crises.

Transgender and nonbinary people (TNB) experienced a disproportionate burden of poor health and socioeconomic outcomes resulting from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, largely driven by increased vulnerability due to pervasive structural discrimination. To characterize the extent and nature of TNB inclusivity within COVID-19 research, we conducted a scoping review of studies published in English from 2019-2022 reporting COVID-19 pandemic impacts on TNB individuals in the United States. We searched PubMed (PubMed.