Structural insights into temperature-dependent dynamics of METPsc1, a miniaturized electron-transfer protein.

The design of protein-metal complexes is rapidly advancing, with applications spanning catalysis, sensing, and bioremediation. We report a comprehensive investigation of METPsc1, a Miniaturized Electron Transfer Protein, in complex with cadmium. This study elucidates the impact of metal coordination on protein folding and structural dynamics across temperatures from 100 K to 300 K.

AI-Driven Drug Discovery for Rare Diseases.

Rare diseases (RDs), affecting 300 million people globally, present a daunting public health challenge characterized by complexity, limited treatment options, and diagnostic hurdles. Despite legislative efforts, such as the 1983 US Orphan Drug Act, more than 90% of RDs lack effective therapies. Traditional drug discovery models, marked by lengthy development cycles and high failure rates, struggle to meet the unique demands of RDs, often yielding poor returns on investment.

A case report of hepatic inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in a pediatric patient: diagnostic challenges and management strategies.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to present a case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) of the liver in a 4-year-old girl. We will discuss the diagnostic challenges, the role of the radiologist in differential diagnosis, treatment modalities, and clinical outcomes.

Methods: A case report of a 4-year-old girl with IMT of the liver is presented.

An integral renewal equation approach to behavioural epidemic models with information index.

We propose an integral model describing an epidemic of an infectious disease. The model is behavioural in the sense that the force of infection includes the information index that describes the opinion-driven human behavioural changes. The information index contains a memory kernel to mimic how the individuals maintain memory of the past values of the infection.

Large Language Model Ability to Translate CT and MRI Free-Text Radiology Reports Into Multiple Languages.

Background High-quality translations of radiology reports are essential for optimal patient care. Because of limited availability of human translators with medical expertise, large language models (LLMs) are a promising solution, but their ability to translate radiology reports remains largely unexplored. Purpose To evaluate the accuracy and quality of various LLMs in translating radiology reports across high-resource languages (English, Italian, French, German, and Chinese) and low-resource languages (Swedish, Turkish, Russian, Greek, and Thai).

Smartwatch ECG and artificial intelligence in detecting acute coronary syndrome compared to traditional 12-lead ECG.

Background: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) require prompt diagnosis through initial electrocardiograms (ECG), but ECG machines are not always accessible. Meanwhile, smartwatches offering ECG functionality have become widespread. This study evaluates the feasibility of an image-based ECG analysis artificial intelligence (AI) system with smartwatch-based multichannel, asynchronous ECG for diagnosing ACS.

Improving Multiscale Fuzzy Entropy Robustness in EEG-Based Alzheimer's Disease Detection via Amplitude Transformation.

This study investigates the effectiveness of amplitude transformation in enhancing the performance and robustness of Multiscale Fuzzy Entropy for Alzheimer's disease detection using electroencephalography signals. Multiscale Fuzzy Entropy is a complexity measure particularly sensitive to intra- and inter-subject variations in signal amplitude, as well as the selection of key parameters such as embedding dimension () and similarity criterion (), which often result in inconsistent outcomes when applied to multivariate data, such as electroencephalography signals. To address these challenges and to generalize the possibility of adopting Multiscale Fuzzy Entropy as a diagnostic tool for Alzheimer's disease, this research explores amplitude transformation preprocessing on electroencephalography signals in Multiscale Fuzzy Entropy calculation across varying parameters.

Anemia and Mineral Bone Disorder in Kidney Disease Patients: The Role of FGF-23 and Other Related Factors.

Anemia and mineral and bone disorder (MBD) are significant complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The erythropoietin (Epo) pathway plays a key role in both of these processes in CKD. Another molecule that plays an important role in CKD-MBD is fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23, whose main role is to maintain serum phosphate levels in the normal range, acting via its co-receptor Klotho; however, its activity may also be related to anemia and inflammation.

Subunits Med12 and Med13 of Mediator Cooperate with Subunits SAYP and Bap170 of SWI/SNF in Active Transcription in .

SAYP and Bap170, subunits of the SWI/SNF remodeling complex, have the ability to support enhancer-dependent transcription when artificially recruited to the promoter on a transgene. We found that the phenomenon critically depends on two subunits of the Mediator kinase module, Med12 and Med13 but does not require the two other subunits of the module (Cdk8 and CycC) or other subunits of the core part of the complex. A cooperation of the above proteins in active transcription was also observed at endogenous loci, but the contribution of the subunits to the activity of a particular gene differed in different loci.

Plastic-Degrading Microbial Consortia from a Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Plastic waste pollution has become a global crisis, with millions of tons of plastic expected to accumulate in landfills and in natural environments, posing a serious threat to wildlife and human health. As current recycling methods remain inefficient, there is an urgent need for innovative enzymatic solutions to break down plastics and enable a circular economy approach. In this study, we explore the plastic-degrading potential of microorganisms enriched from activated sludge (AS) sourced from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)-a known microplastic-contaminated industrial niche.

Zeolite Additives for Flexible Packaging Polymers: Current Status Review and Future Perspectives.

Zeolites are interesting inorganic additives that could be employed for plastic packaging applications. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are intensively used for packaging as they provide great performance at low cost, even though they have poor environmental sustainability and may be more valorized. Biodegradable polymers may therefore represent a more eco-friendly alternative, but still, they have limited applications due to their generally inferior properties.

In Vitro and In Silico Biological Activities Investigation of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Schott Leaves Collected in Algeria.

This investigation aimed to assess the in vitro and in silico biological properties of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract obtained from leaves of Schott collected in Algeria. The phytochemical screening data disclosed that flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, saponins, and anthocyanins were abundant. High levels of total phenolics, total flavonoids and flavonols (523.

The Genus Is at Least as Well Supported as , , and . Comment on Moreyra et al. African Mountain Thistles: Three New Genera in the - Group. 2023, , 3083.

Moreyra and co-authors, in their recent paper published in , presented a desperately needed Hyb-Seq phylogeny of the genus . Through their findings, they provided a critical assessment of an earlier proposal of ours to separate sect. and into the genera and , respectively.

The Application of Stress Modifiers as an Eco-Friendly Approach to Alleviate the Water Scarcity in Ajwain ( L.) Plants.

Stress modifiers are recognized as biostimulants providing beneficial effects on various plant species. However, the specific potential of modulators such as melatonin, chitosan, humic acid, and selenium in enhancing the resistance of ajwain ( L.) plants to water scarcity remains an open question.

Role of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Celiac Disease and Diabetes: Focus on the Intestinal Mucosa.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are a family of enzymes essential for numerous cellular processes, such as cell growth, inflammation, differentiation, immune-mediated responses and oncogenic transformation. The aim of this review is to review the literature concerning the role of several PTPs-PTPN22, PTPN2, PTPN6, PTPN11, PTPσ, DUSP2, DUSP6 and PTPRK-at the level of the intestinal mucosa in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease (CeD) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) in both in vitro and in vivo models. The results revealed shared features, at the level of the intestinal mucosa, between these diseases characterized by alterations of different biological processes, such as proliferation, autoimmunity, cell death, autophagy and inflammation.

A Review on Mitotane: A Target Therapy in Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) are rare and aggressive malignancies of adrenal cortex, associated with largely unknown mechanisms of biological development and poor prognosis. Currently, mitotane is the sole approved drug for treating advanced adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) and is being utilized more frequently as postoperative adjuvant therapy. Although it is understood that mitotane targets the adrenal cortex and disrupts steroid production, its precise mechanism of action requires further exploration.

Tip efficiency of a customized lingual appliance: Performance of wires with two different ligatures.

Tip control in lingual orthodontics may be challenging because of the presence of a vertical slot and the particular configuration of the customized appliances. The aim of this in vitro experimental study was to investigate the role of the ligature-wire-slot system in achieving better tip control. A set of customized lingual brackets was obtained for a dedicated typodont made of extracted human teeth.

Prevalence of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Italy: a nationwide survey.

Purpose: The availability of care recommendations has improved survival and delayed the progression of clinical signs in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The aim of the study was to perform a nationwide survey investigating the prevalence, age distribution, and functional status of Duchenne muscular dystrophyin Italy.

Methods: The survey was performed by collecting data from all 31 reference centers for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Italy using a structured form.

Mild-Temperature Catalyzed Hydrosilylation for Simplified Carbohydrate Functionalization of Porous Silicon Nanoparticles.

Porous silicon is one of the most explored nanostructured materials in various biomedical applications owing to its remarkable properties. However, its inherent chemical instability mandates a robust surface modification procedure, and proper surface bioengineering is essential to ensure its effectiveness in the biomedical field. In this study, we introduce a one-pot functionalization strategy that simultaneously stabilizes porous silicon nanoparticles and decorates their surface with carbohydrates through hydrosilylation chemistry, combining mild temperatures and a Lewis acid catalyst.

Whipped chickpea aquafaba as a fat replacer in ice cream: Effect on sensory and physicochemical properties.

Whipped chickpea aquafaba (WAF) exhibits foaming, emulsifying, and gelling properties, making it a potential ingredient for replacing cream in ice cream formulations. The aim of this study was to use WAF in combination with whey protein isolate (WPI) to produce low-fat coffee ice cream with 50% (L50) and 80% (L80) milk cream replacement. The melting rate, color, texture, volatile compounds, and sensory attributes were analyzed to explore the physical, chemical, and sensory properties of the low-fat ice creams compared to their full-fat counterparts.

Muscle PGC-1α Overexpression Drives Metabolite Secretion Boosting Subcutaneous Adipocyte Browning.

Muscle and adipose tissue (AT) are in mutual interaction through the integration of endocrine and biochemical signals, thus regulating whole-body function and physiology. Besides a traditional view of endocrine relationships that imply the release of cytokines and growth factors, it is becoming increasingly clear that a metabolic network involving metabolites as signal molecules also exists between the two tissues. By elevating the number and functionality of mitochondria, a key role in muscle metabolism is played by the master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), that induces a fiber type shift from glycolytic to oxidative myofibers.

Urinary Catheterization Management in Older Adults with Hip Fracture: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Urinary catheterization is a common procedure in the perioperative management of patients with hip fracture. However, decisions on its insertion or removal are often variable. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence on urinary catheterization management in older patients with hip fracture by thoroughly reviewing the implementation of structured programs.

Kidney cancer: From tumor biology to innovative therapeutics.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) constitutes the most frequent kidney cancer of the adult population and one of the most lethal malignant tumors worldwide. RCC often presents without early symptoms, leading to late diagnosis. Prognosis varies widely based on the stage of cancer at diagnosis.

Acute kappa opioid receptor blocking disrupts the pro-cognitive effect of cannabidiol in neuropathic rats.

Cannabidiol has been shown to ameliorate neuropathic pain and its affective components. Previous studies highlighted the pharmacological interaction between the CBD and opioid system, particularly the MOR, but the understanding of the interaction between CBD and kappa opioid receptor (KOR), physiologically stimulated by the endogenous opioid dynorphin, remains elusive. We assessed the pharmacological interactions between CBD and nor-BNI, a selective KOR antagonist in a rat neuropathic pain model.