Unveiling the role of epigenetic mechanisms and redox signaling in alleviating multiple abiotic stress in plants.

Anthropogenic activities and subsequent global climate change instigate drastic crop productivity and yield changes. These changes comprise a rise in the number and severity of plant stress factors, which can arise simultaneously or sequentially. When abiotic stress factors are combined, their impact on plants is more substantial than that of a singleton stress factor.

Inflammation-induced loss of CFTR-expressing airway ionocytes in non-eosinophilic asthma.

Background And Objective: Severe asthma is a heterogeneous disease with subtype classification according to dominant airway infiltrates, including eosinophilic (Type 2 high), or non-eosinophilic asthma. Non-eosinophilic asthma is further divided into paucigranulocytic or neutrophilic asthma characterized by elevated neutrophils, and mixed Type 1 and Type 17 cytokines in the airways. Severe non-eosinophilic asthma has few effective treatments and many patients do not qualify for biologic therapies.

Therapeutic potential of 18-β-glycyrrhetinic acid-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles on cigarette smoke-induced in-vitro model of COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is strongly linked to cigarette smoke, which contains toxins that induce oxidative stress and airway inflammation, ultimately leading to premature airway epithelial cell senescence and exacerbating COPD progression. Current treatments for COPD are symptomatic and hampered by limited efficacy and severe side effects. This highlights the need to search for an optimal therapeutic candidate to address the root causes of these conditions.

Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of a Multi-Antigen Subunit Vaccine in Mice.

There is an urgent need for an effective TB vaccine capable of controlling both acute and chronic infection in populations with diverse genetic backgrounds. In this study, we characterised the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a novel protein-in-adjuvant subunit vaccine. The protein component is a fusion protein of three different antigens, which we termed CysVac5: CysD, a major component of the sulfate activation pathway that is highly expressed during the chronic stage of infection, is fused with two major secreted mycobacterial antigens, Ag85B and MPT83.

The impact of airborne particulate matter-based pollution on the cellular and molecular mechanisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Inhalation of particulate matter (PM), one of the many components of air pollution, is associated with the development and exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is one of the leading causes of global mortality and morbidity, with a paucity of therapeutic options and a significant contributor to global health expenditure. This review aims to provide a mechanistic understanding of the cellular and molecular pathways that lead to the development of COPD following chronic PM exposure.

Antioxidant genes in cancer and metabolic diseases: Focusing on Nrf2, Sestrin, and heme oxygenase 1.

Reactive oxygen species are involved in the pathogenesis of cancers and metabolic diseases, including diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver disease. Thus, inhibiting the generation of free radicals is a promising strategy to control the onset of metabolic diseases and cancer progression. Various synthetic drugs and natural product-derived compounds that exhibit antioxidant activity have been reported to have a protective effect against a range of metabolic diseases and cancer.

The Correlation Between Neutrophil Elastase and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in Endothelial Dysfunction of Preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious inflammatory process that is unique to pregnancy, occurring at or after the 20th week of pregnancy, and leading to maternal and neonatal illness and systemic disruptions. Placental hypoxia leads to increased levels of cytokines and inflammatory syncytiotrophoblast microvillus membrane microparticles (STBM) which activates neutrophils leading to oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia. The mechanisms that cause PE in people remain unknown.

Efficacy of albumin use in decompensated cirrhosis and real-world adoption in Australia.

The current treatment approach to patients with liver cirrhosis relies on the individual management of complications. Consequently, there is an unmet need for an overall therapeutic strategy for primary and secondary prevention of complications. The clinical potential of long-term albumin infusions supported by recent clinical trials has expanded its indications and holds promise to transform the management and secondary prevention of cirrhosis-related complications.

Circulating CD31 Angiogenic T cells are reduced in prediabetes and increase with exercise training.

Aims: To investigate circulating angiogenic cells in adults with prediabetes and the effect of a structured exercise program.

Methods: A cohort of adults with overweight/obesity and either normal glucose (NG) or prediabetes were randomised to receive exercise (Exercise) (as twice weekly supervised combined high intensity aerobic exercise and progressive resistance training, and once weekly home-based aerobic exercise) or an unsupervised stretching intervention (Control) for 12 weeks. Circulating angiogenic T cells, muscle strength, and cardiovascular disease risk factors, including blood lipids, arterial stiffness, central haemodynamic responses, and cardiorespiratory fitness (VOpeak) in those with prediabetes (n = 35, 16 Control, 19 Exercise) and NG (n = 37, 17 Control, 20 Exercise) were analysed at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.

Assessment of health technology acceptability for remote monitoring of patients with COVID-19: A measurement model for user perceptions of pulse oximeters.

Objective: This study aims to develop a measurement model for health technology acceptability using a theoretical framework and a range of validated instruments to measure user experience, acceptance, usability, health and digital health literacy.

Methods: A cross-sectional evaluation study using a mixed-methods approach was conducted. An online survey was administered to patients who used a pulse oximeter in a virtual hospital setting during COVID-19.

Oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acid promotes colitis and colitis-associated tumorigenesis in mice.

Background And Aims: Human studies suggest that a high intake of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) is associated with an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). PUFA is highly prone to oxidation. To date, it is unclear whether unoxidized or oxidized PUFA is involved in the development of IBD.

Effects of Chemically and Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Shelf Life and Sensory Quality of Minced Fish ().

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chemically and green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the shelf life and sensory quality of fish meat. In this study, ZnO-NPs were synthesized by employing the colloidal chemistry (CZnO-NPs) and green synthesis (GZnO-NPs) methods, and they were also characterized to assess their morphology. The synthesized ZnO-NPs, ZnO, and zinc acetate (ZnA) were used for the preservation and fortification of fish () meat at 20 mg/kg of Zn.

Neurological eponyms? Take your Pick.

The neuropsychiatrist Arnold Pick (1851-1924) lent his name to a disease, but in his centenary year, it is timely to ask whether this and the many other eponyms that populate neurology are more help than hindrance. Here, I survey some neurological eponyms, propose criteria for judging their helpfulness (and unhelpfulness) and consider their future prospects in our increasingly mechanistic, contemporary neurological practice.

HIV-1-DNA/RNA and immunometabolism in monocytes: contribution to the chronic immune activation and inflammation in people with HIV-1.

Background: Among people living with HIV-1 (PHIV), immunological non-responders (INR) experience incomplete immune recovery despite suppressive antiretroviral treatment (ART), facing more severe non-AIDS events than immunological responders (IR) due to higher chronic immune activation and inflammation (cIA/I). We analyzed the HIV-1 reservoir and immunometabolism in monocytes as a source of cIA/I.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in which 110 participants were enrolled: 25 treatment-naïve; 35 INR; 40 IR; and 10 healthy controls.

Immune checkpoints are suppressed during pregnancy following influenza A virus infection.

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection is a major health risk during pregnancy. Although vaccination and antiviral agents are widely used and reduce IAV-induced symptoms, they are not sufficient to control IAV infections in pregnancy, especially during pandemics. Respiratory viruses like IAV exploit immune alterations that occur during pregnancy, including the upregulation of immune checkpoint proteins (ICPs) like programmed death ligand-1 (PDL1), programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4).

Lactam Truncation Yields a Dihydroquinazolinone Scaffold with Potent Antimalarial Activity that Targets PfATP4.

The emergence of resistance against current antimalarial treatments has necessitated the need for the development of novel antimalarial chemotypes. Toward this goal, we recently optimised the antimalarial activity of the dihydroquinazolinone scaffold and showed it targeted PfATP4. Here, we deconstruct the lactam moiety of the tricyclic dihydroquinazolinone scaffold and investigate the structure-activity relationship of the truncated scaffold.

Intranasal Self-Adjuvanted Lipopeptide Vaccines Elicit High Antibody Titers and Strong Cellular Responses against SARS-CoV-2.

Despite concerted efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, the persistent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 demands continued research into novel vaccination strategies to combat the virus. In light of this, intranasally administered peptide vaccines, particularly those conjugated to an immune adjuvant to afford so-called "self-adjuvanted vaccines", remain underexplored. Here, we describe the synthesis and immunological evaluation of self-adjuvanting peptide vaccines derived from epitopes of the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 covalently fused to the potent adjuvant, PamCys, that targets toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2).