Can microbiota gut-brain axis reverse neurodegenerative disorders in human?

The trillions of microbial populations residing in the gut have recently shown that they can be used as a remedy for various diseases. The gut microbiota-brain-axis interface is one unique pathway that the microbiota demonstrates its medicinal value. This medicinal value is further seen when there is a decline in gut microbial diversity (dysbiosis).

Circulating monocytes upregulate CD52 and sustain innate immune function in cirrhosis unless acute decompensation emerges.

Background & Aims: Infectious complications determine the prognosis of cirrhosis patients. Their infection susceptibility relates to the development of immuneparesis, a complex interplay of different immunosuppressive cells and soluble factors. Mechanisms underlying the dynamics of immuneparesis of innate immunity remain inconclusive.

Dissection of type 2 diabetes: a genetic perspective.

Diabetes is a leading cause of global mortality and disability, and its economic burden is substantial. This Review focuses on type 2 diabetes, which makes up 90-95% of all diabetes cases. Type 2 diabetes involves a progressive loss of insulin secretion often alongside insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

A triad of somatic mutagenesis converges in self-reactive B cells to cause a virus-induced autoimmune disease.

The unexplained association between infection and autoimmune disease is strongest for hepatitis C virus-induced cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (HCV-cryovas). To analyze its origins, we traced the evolution of pathogenic rheumatoid factor (RF) autoantibodies in four HCV-cryovas patients by deep single-cell multi-omic analysis, revealing three sources of B cell somatic mutation converged to drive the accumulation of a large disease-causing clone. A method for quantifying low-affinity binding revealed recurring antibody variable domain combinations created by V(D)J recombination that bound self-immunoglobulin G (IgG) but not viral E2 antigen.

'Entanglement of nursing care': A theoretical proposition to understand the complexity of nursing work and division of labour.

Ongoing challenges in the provision of care, driven by growing care complexity and nursing shortages, prompt us to reconsider the basis for efficient division of nursing labour. In organising nursing work, traditionally the focus has been on identifying nursing tasks that can be delegated to other less expensive and less highly educated staff, in order to make best use of scarce resources. We argue that nursing care activities are connected and intertwined.

Imported seafood is a reservoir of Enterobacteriaceae carrying CTX-M-encoding genes of high clinical relevance.

We determined the frequency, genotypes, phenotypes, and mobility of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-encoding genes in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from retail seafood products. Overall, 288 samples of fresh shrimps, catfish and seabass imported from Asia were collected from three supermarket chains in the UK (96 each). After enrichment in MacConkey broth supplemented with cefotaxime, total DNA was screened for the presence of CTX-M, SHV and TEM by real-time PCR.

Quantification of heavy metal exposure in a British population cohort links total mercury levels in plasma with skin tissue-specific changes in mitochondrial-related gene expression.

Heavy metals in our direct environment have profound effects on human health and while some are essential for life, others can be toxic. In vivo studies often focus on clinical features caused by overexposure to, or by deprivation of a heavy metal. However, to understand the cellular impact of heavy metals on health, studies in healthy volunteers before symptom onset are needed.

Using damage functions to map heritage climatology at a global scale.

This paper investigates heritage climatology through global analysis of damage functions for collections, aiming to learn about the reliability of these functions and the field itself. It addresses the growing interest in geospatial analysis of climate hazards for cultural heritage, proposing parameters that refine climate-related deterioration processes. Using global daily climate data from 1991 to 2020, the study assesses damage functions reliant on temperature and relative humidity inputs, including damage functions for paper and metals, alongside indices for humidity fluctuations and mould growth.

Microplastic ingestion by an aquatic ciliate: Functional response, modulation, and reduced population growth.

Microplastic particles are ubiquitous in aquatic environments and are considered a major threat to the large range of heterotrophic organisms that involuntarily consume them. However, there is current uncertainty around the mechanisms underpinning microplastic uptake by aquatic consumers and the consequences for both the fate of the microplastics and the growth potential of consumer populations. We performed a feeding experiment, exposing a model freshwater ciliate, Tetrahymena pyriformis, to six different microplastic concentrations and measured microplastic uptake and population growth over the course of several generations.

Assessment of residential renewable energy investment under dynamic market environment: Aspect from household benefits.

The adoption of residential renewable energy is pivotal for achieving the 'Net Zero' goal, yet financial assessments of household investments in this area remain complex due to dynamic market conditions. This study introduces a novel closed-form financial valuation framework for residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, explicitly addressing the uncertainties of electricity market price fluctuations (market risk) and energy policy changes (policy risk) using Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM). A case study in France demonstrates the framework's application, revealing that the discount rate is the most influential factor in solar PV valuation, followed by system lifespan and policy-driven Feed-in Tariff (FiT) rates.

Synthesis and biological assessment of BUB1B inhibitors for the treatment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) presents substantial therapeutic challenges due to its molecular heterogeneity, limited response to conventional therapies, and widespread drug resistance. Recent advancements in molecular research have identified novel targets, such as BUB1B, which has been identified through global transcriptomic profiling and gene co-expression network analysis as critical in ccRCC progression. In this study, we synthesized 40 novel derivatives of TG-101209 to modulate BUB1B expression and activity, leading to the induction of apoptosis in Caki-1 cells.

Therapeutic impacts of recalling and processing positive autobiographical memories on posttrauma health: An open-label study.

The processing of positive memories technique (PPMT) entails detailed narration and processing of specific positive autobiographical memories (AM) and has shown promise in improving posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. We examined whether participants receiving PPMT reported decreases in PTSD and depressive symptom severity, negative affect levels/reactivity, posttrauma cognitions, and positive emotion dysregulation, as well as increases in positive affect levels/reactivity and the number of retrieved positive AMs across four PPMT sessions. Individuals (N = 70) recruited from the community completed surveys at baseline (pre-PPMT), each PPMT session, and after completing all four PPMT sessions.

Predictions of adolescents' responses to the Youth Self-Report from parental attachment interviews collected during pregnancy: a 17-year longitudinal study.

This study investigated the influence of parents' Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) responses prior to the birth of a first child, on self-reported mental health symptoms of the first-born child in mid-adolescence. The sample comprised 51 first-born children aged 16 years, their mothers and fathers from a low-risk community urban sample, White, British and 70% middle class. AMothers' responses to the AAI were the strongest predictor of their adolescent children's self-reported mental health symptoms.

Development and Validation of a Novel Model to Discriminate Idiosyncratic Drug-Induced Liver Injury and Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Background And Aim: Discriminating between idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is critical yet challenging. We aim to develop and validate a machine learning (ML)-based model to aid in this differentiation.

Methods: This multicenter cohort study utilised a development set from Beijing Friendship Hospital, with retrospective and prospective validation sets from 10 tertiary hospitals across various regions of China spanning January 2009 to May 2023.

Trends in Mortality Due to Cardiovascular Diseases Among Patients With Parkinson's Disease in the United States: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Parkinson disease (PD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) present significant health burdens, particularly among older adults. Patients with PD have an elevated risk of CVD-related mortality. Analyzing mortality trends in this population may help guide focused interventions.

Robust, Fluorine-Free Superhydrophobic Films on Glass via Epoxysilane Pretreatment.

Durable and fluorine-free superhydrophobic films were fabricated by a simple two-step process involving the pretreatment of glass substrates with an epoxysilane, which acted as an adhesive. The next step involved the aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition of a simple mixture of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and SiO nanoparticles (NPs). Various parameters were studied, such as deposition time as well as PDMS and SiO loadings.

Theoretical investigation of the AΠ-XΣ, BΣ-XΣ, CΣ-XΣ, and EΠ-XΣ transitions of the CO molecule.

The spectrum of carbon monoxide is important for astrophysical media, such as planetary atmospheres, interstellar space, exoplanetary and stellar atmospheres; it also important in plasma physics, laser physics and combustion. Interpreting its spectral signature requires a deep and thorough understanding of its absorption and emission properties. A new accurate spectroscopic model for the ground and electronically-excited states of the CO molecule computed at the aug-cc-pV5Z CASSCF/MRCI+Q level is reported.

Value attributes of advanced therapy medicinal products: a documentary analysis of comments received from stakeholders during reimbursement decisions to England's national institute of health and care excellence.

Objectives: Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are transformative healthcare interventions, however, there has been limited research exploring their value. The objective of this study was to conduct a thematic analysis as part of a documentary analysis to identify value attributes of ATMPs.

Methods: As part of the NICE assessment processes in England, stakeholders are invited to provide comments on the technology.

Clonal analysis of SepSecS-specific B and T cells in autoimmune hepatitis.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare chronic inflammatory liver disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies, including those targeting O-phosphoseryl-tRNA:selenocysteine-tRNA synthase (SepSecS), also known as soluble liver antigen (SLA). Anti-SepSecS antibodies have been associated with a more severe phenotype, suggesting a key role for the SepSecS autoantigen in AIH. To analyze the immune response to SepSecS in patients with AIH at the clonal level, we combined sensitive high-throughput screening assays with the isolation of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and T cell clones.

Mitigating triplet loss in 2D WSe/non-fullerene heterostructures using halogenated acceptors.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) can be combined with organic semiconductors to form hybrid van der Waals heterostructures. Specially, non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) stand out due to their excellent absorption and exciton diffusion properties. Here, we couple monolayer tungsten diselenide (ML-WSe) with two well performing NFAs, ITIC, and IT-4F (fluorinated ITIC) to achieve hybrid architectures.

Inflammatory Potential of the Diet and Risk of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Association between dietary factors and the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been studied extensively. However, identification of deleterious dietary patterns merits further study.

Aim: To investigate the risk of developing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) according to the inflammatory score of the diet (ISD) in the multinational European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort.

Proteomic profiling of the large-vessel vasculitis spectrum identifies shared signatures of innate immune activation and stromal remodelling.

Background: Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and giant cell arteritis (GCA), the most common forms of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV), can result in serious morbidity. Understanding the molecular basis of LVV should aid in developing better biomarkers and treatments.

Methods: Plasma proteomic profiling of 184 proteins was performed in two cohorts.

Ectopic Thyrotropin-Secreting Tumor in the Nasopharynx Causing Central Hyperthyroidism.

We report a 31-year-old man with diarrhea and tachycardia. Diagnostic workup confirmed raised free thyroid hormones with unsuppressed thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Laboratory assay and medication interference were excluded.

Sub-Saharan Africa's Contribution to Clinical Trials in International Acute Coronary Syndromes and Heart Failure Guidelines.

Background: There is a growing burden of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and heart failure (HF) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), yet outcomes remain poor compared to high-income countries. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) international guidelines are pivotal to the delivery of evidence-based care; however, their representation of populations from SSA remains unclear.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the representation of populations from SSA in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that inform ESC ACS and HF guidelines.

Valvular Heart Disease-Related Mortality Between Middle- and High-Income Countries During 2000 to 2019.

Background: Valvular heart disease (VHD) management has evolved rapidly in recent decades, but disparities in health care access persist among countries with varying socioeconomic backgrounds.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate global mortality trends from VHD and assess the difference between middle- and high-income countries.

Methods: We obtained mortality data from the World Health Organization Mortality Database for VHD and its subgroups (rheumatic valvular disease [RVD], infective endocarditis [IE], aortic stenosis [AS], and mitral regurgitation [MR]) from 2000 to 2019.