First part. A 45-year-old man with severe pneumonia, disseminated cytomegalovirus infection, and agammaglobulinemia.

A 45-year-old male patient presented with a persistent cough lasting four months, accompanied by fever and significant weight loss. A chest computed tomography revealed cryptogenic pneumonia, and subsequent investigations identified a positive cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral load in bronchoalveolar lavage. A transbronchial biopsy confirmed intranuclear basophilic inclusions indicative of CMV infection.

Generation of chimeric forms of rhesus macaque rhadinovirus expressing KSHV envelope glycoproteins gH and gL for utilization in an NHP model of infection.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a human gammaherpesvirus associated with Kaposi's sarcoma and B cell malignancies. Like all herpesviruses, KSHV contains conserved envelope glycoproteins (gps) involved in virus binding, entry, assembly, and release from infected cells, which are also targets of the immune response. Due to the lack of a reproducible animal model of KSHV infection, the precise functions of the KSHV gps during infection are not completely known.

Early detection and management of hearing loss to reduce dementia risk in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: findings from the treating auditory impairment and cognition trial (TACT).

Background: Age-related hearing loss and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) independently increase dementia risk. The Ageing and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders randomised controlled trial (RCT) found hearing aids reduce cognitive decline in high-risk older adults with poor hearing.

Methods: This pilot RCT in London memory clinics randomised people with MCI (aged ≥55, untreated hearing loss defined as Pure Tone Average 0.

Unleashing the innate ability of Escherichia coli to produce D-Allose.

D-allose is a rare monosaccharide, found naturally in low abundances. Due to its low-calorie profile and similar taste to sucrose, D-allose has the potential to become an ideal sugar substitute. D-allose also displays unique properties and health benefits that can be applied to various fields, including food and medicine.

Transcriptomic response of an algal species (raphidocelis subcapitata) exposed to 22 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of chemicals of concern for both human and environmental health because of their ubiquitous presence in the environment, persistence, and potential toxicological effects. Despite this, ecological hazard data are limited to a small number of PFAS even though there are over 4000 identified PFAS. Traditional toxicity testing will likely be inadequate to generate necessary hazard information for risk assessment.

Phenotypic variability and the gender paradox in the R363C variant of Fabry disease.

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal disease caused by variants in the gene. Although Fabry disease is X-linked, gene variants in females can exhibit a wide range of symptoms, challenging the traditional view of Fabry as an X-linked recessive disease. A family is presented here with a 36-year-old female who is symptomatic with chronic kidney disease and her oligosymptomatic 70-year-old father, both of whom have a heterozygous and hemizygous GLA pathogenic variant, respectively, c.

RSK1 is an exploitable dependency in myeloproliferative neoplasms and secondary acute myeloid leukemia.

Myeloid malignancies are heterogenous disorders characterized by distinct molecular drivers but share convergence of oncogenic signaling pathways and propagation by ripe pro-inflammatory niches. Here, we establish a comprehensive transcriptional atlas across the spectrum of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) through RNA-sequencing of 158 primary samples encompassing CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and CD14+ monocytes. Supported by mass cytometry (CyTOF) profiling, we reveal aberrant networks of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling and NFκB-mediated hyper-inflammation.

Idiopathic Retroperitoneal Fibrosis-Related Hydronephrosis: Evaluation of Comprehensive Management and Prediction of Inflammatory Markers for Stent-Free Outcomes.

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of comprehensive management and predictable inflammatory markers for idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (iRPF)-related hydronephrosis outcomes.

Methods: Patients with iRPF-related hydronephrosis underwent surgical (ureteral stent and/or nephrostomy tube placement) and medical (corticosteroid-based multiple immunosuppressants) management were classified according to stent-indwelling outcomes. Univariate analysis of clinical profiles was conducted to screen possible predictors of hydronephrosis remission.

Chimeric antigen receptor macrophages (CAR-M) sensitize HER2+ solid tumors to PD1 blockade in pre-clinical models.

We previously developed human CAR macrophages (CAR-M) and demonstrated redirection of macrophage anti-tumor function leading to tumor control in immunodeficient xenograft models. Here, we develop clinically relevant fully immunocompetent syngeneic models to evaluate the potential for CAR-M to remodel the tumor microenvironment (TME), induce T cell anti-tumor immunity, and sensitize solid tumors to PD1/PDL1 checkpoint inhibition. In vivo, anti-HER2 CAR-M significantly reduce tumor burden, prolong survival, remodel the TME, increase intratumoral T cell and natural killer (NK) cell infiltration, and induce antigen spreading.

Prognostic significance of immune reconstitution following CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma.

Immune deficits after CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy can be long-lasting, predisposing patients to infections and non-relapse mortality. In B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), the prognostic impact of immune reconstitution (IR) remains ill-defined, and detailed cross-product comparisons have not been performed to date. In this retrospective observational study, we longitudinally characterized lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulin levels in 105 B-NHL patients to assess patterns of immune recovery arising after CD19 CAR-T.

A fundamental rheological approach to determine the optimum water absorption capacity of a model gluten-free dough system: soy flour dough.

Background: Determining the optimum water absorption capacity of gluten-free flours for an improved breadmaking process has been a challenge because there is no standard method. In the present study, large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) tests were performed to explore the impact of different levels of added water on non-linear viscoelastic response of soy flour dough in comparison to wheat flour dough at a consistency of 500 BU.

Results: Among the LAOS parameters, large strain modulus (G') and large strain rate viscosity (η') were found to better probe the impact of added water amount on non-linear viscoelastic properties of soy flour dough.

Tartaric acid, an effective additive to improve the surface properties and bio-corrosion resistance of HA-coated magnesium-based implants.

In this research, tartaric acid was used to enhance the hydroxyapatite coating on AZ31 Mg alloy substrate through post-treatment and direct addition methods, and the corrosion resistance and biological activity of the samples were investigated. The parameters of concentration, immersion time, and pH of the coating solution were optimized by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Direct Current (DC) Polarization techniques. According to EIS results in the post-treatment method, tartaric acid with a concentration of 1 g/L, pH = 9 and immersion time of 2 min, increased the corrosion resistance of hydroxyapatite coating from 3630 to about 18,763 Ω.

Comparative study of conventional and process intensification by reactive distillation designs for glycerol carbonate production from glycerol and diethyl carbonate.

Glycerol carbonate (GC) can be produced from glycerol (GL), a low-value byproduct in the biodiesel industry. In this work, continuous processes of GC production via transesterification from crude GL and diethyl carbonate (DEC) were developed using Aspen Plus. Two cases were considered, and their process performances were compared.

COping with Rheumatic Stressors (CORS) questionnaire: validated German translation and cross-cultural adaptation for patients with axSpA.

Background: Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases, including axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), may suffer from stressors like pain and functional impairments leading to limitations in their self-perceived health status. The COping with Rheumatic Stressors (CORS) questionnaire was developed to analyze how patients cope with these stressors. The CORS is currently not available in German.

Interaction between riluzole treatment and dietary glycemic index in the disease progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: We examined whether riluzole treatment modifies the associations between the dietary glycemic index (GI) and load (GL) and disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: Sporadic ALS patients in the Multicenter Cohort Study of Oxidative Stress who completed a baseline food frequency questionnaire were included (n = 304). Interactions between baseline riluzole treatment and GI/GL on functional decline and tracheostomy-free survival were examined using linear regression and Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for covariates.

Multi-Antigen Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) mRNA Vaccine Induces Humoral and Cell-Mediated Responses in Mice.

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) causes lethal hemorrhagic disease (HD) in Asian and African elephants in human care and the wild. It is the leading cause of death for young Asian elephants in North American and European zoos despite sensitive diagnostic tests and improved treatments. Thus, there is a critical need to develop an effective vaccine to prevent severe illness and reduce mortality from EEHV-HD.

Association of Combined Effect of Metals Exposure and Behavioral Factors on Depressive Symptoms in Women.

This study investigates the combined effects of environmental pollutants (lead, cadmium, total mercury) and behavioral factors (alcohol consumption, smoking) on depressive symptoms in women. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018 cycle, specifically exposure levels of heavy metals in blood samples, were used in this study. The analysis of these data included the application of descriptive statistics, linear regression, and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) to explore associations between environmental exposures, behavioral factors, and depression.

YAP regulates periosteal expansion in fracture repair.

Bone fracture repair initiates by periosteal expansion. The periosteum is typically quiescent, but upon fracture, periosteal cells proliferate and contribute to bone fracture repair. The expansion of the periosteum is regulated by gene transcription; however, the molecular mechanisms behind periosteal expansion are unclear.

Comparison of two techniques to blind end jejunum and ileum for jejunocaecostomy in horses.

Background: Jejunocaecostomy (JC) is frequently required to bypass diseased ileum as a side-to-side (SS) anastomosis with blind end closure of the small intestine. The effects of the blind end closure method on the performance of the anastomosis have not been studied.

Objectives: To compare handsewn and stapled blind end closures of the ileum and jejunum.

Benchmarking Alzheimer's disease prediction: personalised risk assessment using polygenic risk scores across various methodologies and genome-wide studies.

Background: The success of selecting high risk or early-stage Alzheimer's disease individuals for the delivery of clinical trials depends on the design and the appropriate recruitment of participants. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) show potential for identifying individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our study comprehensively examines AD PRS utility using various methods and models.

Solvatomorphic diversity dictates the stability and solubility of metal-organic polyhedra.

The reaction between molybdenum(ii) acetate and 5-aminoisophthalic acid (HIso-NH) afforded [MoO(μ-O)(Iso-NH)], a novel molybdenum(v) metal-organic polyhedron (MOP) with a triangular antiprismatic shape stabilized by intramolecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The synthesis conditions, particularly the choice of solvent and reaction time, led to the precipitation of the Mo(v)-MOP in five distinct crystalline forms. These forms vary in their packing arrangements, co-crystallized solvent molecules, and counter-cations, with three phases containing dimethylammonium (dma) and the other two containing diethylammonium (dea).

Acromegaly: diagnostic challenges and individualized treatment.

Introduction: Acromegaly is due in almost all cases to a GH-secreting pituitary tumor. GH and IGF-1 excesses lead to its multi-system clinical manifestations and comorbidities. Acromegaly is under-diagnosed and typically presents with advanced disease.