Walking or hanging: the role of habitat use for body shape evolution in lacertid lizards.

Differences in habitat use impose ecological constraints which in turn lead to functional and morphological differences through adaptation. In fact, a convergent evolutionary pattern is evident when species exhibit similar responses to similar environments. In this study we examine how habitat use influences the evolution of body shape in lizards from the family Lacertidae.

Multi-omics profiling reveals altered mitochondrial metabolism in adipose tissue from patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its more severe form steatohepatitis (MASH) contribute to rising morbidity and mortality rates. The storage of fat in humans is closely associated with these diseases' progression. Thus, adipose tissue metabolic homeostasis could be key in both the onset and progression of MASH.

The dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist G49 mimics bariatric surgery effects by inducing metabolic rewiring and inter-organ crosstalk.

Bariatric surgery is effective for the treatment and remission of obesity and type 2 diabetes, but pharmacological approaches which exert similar metabolic adaptations are needed to avoid post-surgical complications. Here we show how G49, an oxyntomodulin (OXM) analog and dual glucagon/glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GCGR/GLP-1R) agonist, triggers an inter-organ crosstalk between adipose tissue, pancreas, and liver which is initiated by a rapid release of free fatty acids (FFAs) by white adipose tissue (WAT) in a GCGR-dependent manner. This interactome leads to elevations in adiponectin and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), causing WAT beiging, brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation, increased energy expenditure (EE) and weight loss.

Cell Death Regulation by Smed-foxO in the Planarian Schmidtea mediterranea.

The planarian Schmidtea mediterranea shows nutrient-dependent whole-body plasticity. Starvation leads to body size reduction, while feeding triggers growth. The balance of cell proliferation and cell death controls cell number, driving organismal body size.

Quantitative Analysis of the Carpal Tunnel and Its Inner Structures in Primates.

To explore the anatomical factors potentially involved in the high incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in humans, we have quantified the anatomical variations of the carpal tunnel and its inner structures in humans, non-hominoid primates (monkeys), and hominoid primates (apes). In specimens of six humans, eight monkeys, and three apes, we assessed the size of the carpal tunnel, the tendons of the digit flexor muscles, and the median nerve. We compared the size of the carpal tunnel normalized by the wrist size, and the size of the median nerve and the tendons of the digit flexors normalized by the size of the carpal tunnel.

Impact of Collaborative Nursing Care on Health Outcomes of Mental Health Day Hospital Users: A Mixed Methods Study.

Introduction: Given that recovery-oriented care focuses on empowering individuals with mental health challenges, collaborative care can be an effective tool for nurses in mental health day hospitals.

Aim: To deepen knowledge about the impact of collaborative nursing care for improving health outcomes of mental health day hospital users.

Methods: A sequential and transformative mixed methods study was designed.

Neuregulin 4 Downregulation Alters Mitochondrial Morphology and Induces Oxidative Stress in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Neuregulin 4 (Nrg4) is an adipokine that belongs to the epidermal growth factor family and binds to ErbB4 tyrosine kinase receptors. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, the downregulation of expression enhances inflammation and autophagy, resulting in insulin resistance. Here, we searched for the causes of this phenotype.

A Fast Method to Monitor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Mechanisms.

Methionine residues within the kinase domain of Src serve as unique NMR probes capable of distinguishing between distinct conformational states of full-length Src, including alternative drug-inhibited forms. This approach offers a rapid method to differentiate between various inhibition mechanisms at any stage of drug development, eliminating the need to resolve the structure of Src-drug complexes. Using selectively C-methyl-enriched methionine, spectra can be acquired in under an hour, while natural abundance spectra with comparable information are achievable within a few hours.

The Excess of Carriers in Rare Disorders Suggests a Nonpathogenic Effect for Most Variants of Uncertain Significance.

Functional annotation and interpretation of genetic variants are a critical step in genetic diagnosis, as it may lead to personalized therapeutic options and genetic counseling. While the number of confirmed pathogenic genetic variants in an individual is relatively low, the number of variants of uncertain significance (VOUS) can be considerably higher, increasing the number of potential carriers of genetic disorders. Thus, reducing uncertainty and assessing the real effect of VOUS are crucial for clinical and medical genetics.

Quantitative Analysis of the Brachialis and Triceps Brachii Insertion Sites on the Proximal Epiphysis of the Ulna in Modern Hominid Primates and Fossil Hominins.

In several species of hominid primates with different types of locomotor behavior, we quantitatively studied the insertion sites of the brachialis and triceps brachii on the proximal epiphysis of the ulna. Our main objective was to evaluate the possibility of using the anatomical features of these insertion sites to infer the locomotor behavior of different species of fossil hominins. We measured the area of these muscle insertion sites using 3D bone meshes and obtained the value of each insertion site relative to the total size of the two insertion sites for each of the species studied.

Regulation of Mitochondrial and Peroxisomal Metabolism in Female Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are widespread metabolic disorders that significantly impact global health today, affecting approximately 17% of adults worldwide with obesity and 9.3% with T2D. Both conditions are closely linked to disruptions in lipid metabolism, where peroxisomes play a pivotal role.

H3K9me3 demethylation by JMJD2B is regulated by pirfenidone resulting in improved NASH.

NASH is characterized by hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation; and JMJD2B-a histone demethylase-upregulation has been linked to its progression. Pirfenidone (PFD) is an antifibrotic agent with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects recognized to decrease NASH symptoms. Herein, our aim was to investigate PFD-induced epigenetics mechanisms involving JMJD2B and histone modifications in experimental NASH.

NRN1 genetic variability and methylation changes as biomarkers for cognitive remediation therapy response in schizophrenia.

Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) demonstrates potential in enhancing cognitive function in schizophrenia (SZ), though the identification of molecular biomarkers remains challenging. The Neuritin-1 gene (NRN1) emerges as a promising candidate gene due to its association with SZ, cognitive performance and response to neurotherapeutic treatments. We aimed to investigate whether NRN1 genetic variability and methylation changes following CRT are related to cognitive improvements.

Family of Quasi-Isotropic Mn and Mn Complexes Exhibiting Slow Relaxation of the Magnetization.

Slow relaxation of magnetization has been studied for a family of mononuclear Mn complexes and one ferromagnetic dinuclear system, all of them presenting very weak anisotropy. Complexes with formula [{NiL1Mn(HO)(MeOH)}{NiL1}](ClO) (), [Mn{NiL1}](ClO) (), [Mn{NiL2}](ClO) (RR-L2, RR, SS-L2, SS), [Mn{NiL3}](ClO) (RR-L3, RR, SS-L3, SS) and (μ-N)[NiMn(L1)(N)] () are derived from compartmental Schiff bases, in which the Ni environment is square planar and thus diamagnetic. All of the systems have been structurally and magnetically characterized.

Sex-specific association between schizophrenia polygenic risk and subclinical schizophrenia-related traits.

Background: According to the dimensional view of psychiatric disorders, psychosis is expressed as a continuum in the general population. However, the investigation of the putative genetic aetiological continuity between its clinical and subclinical phenotypes has yielded mixed results. We aimed to replicate previous findings regarding the association of polygenic risk for schizophrenia with subclinical traits (i.

Anabolic deficits and divergent unfolded protein response underlie skeletal and cardiac muscle growth impairments in the Yoshida hepatoma tumor model of cancer cachexia.

Cancer cachexia manifests as whole body wasting, however, the precise mechanisms governing the alterations in skeletal muscle and cardiac anabolism have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we explored changes in anabolic processes in both skeletal and cardiac muscles in the Yoshida AH-130 ascites hepatoma model of cancer cachexia. AH-130 tumor-bearing rats experienced significant losses in body weight, skeletal muscle, and heart mass.

Extracellular Vesicles of the Probiotic Nissle 1917 Reduce PepT1 Levels in IL-1β-Treated Caco-2 Cells via Upregulation of miR-193a-3p.

PepT1, a proton-coupled oligopeptide transporter, is crucial for intestinal homeostasis. It is mainly expressed in small intestine enterocytes, facilitating the absorption of di/tri-peptides from dietary proteins. In the colon, PepT1 expression is minimal to prevent excessive responses to proinflammatory peptides from the gut microbiota.

The Role of Water Networks in Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor Dissociation and Kinetic Selectivity.

In search of new opportunities to develop Trypanosoma brucei phosphodiesterase B1 (TbrPDEB1) inhibitors that have selectivity over the off-target human PDE4 (hPDE4), different stages of a fragment-growing campaign were studied using a variety of biochemical, structural, thermodynamic, and kinetic binding assays. Remarkable differences in binding kinetics were identified and this kinetic selectivity was explored with computational methods, including molecular dynamics and interaction fingerprint analyses. These studies indicate that a key hydrogen bond between Gln and the inhibitors is exposed to a water channel in TbrPDEB1, leading to fast unbinding.

No Switching Cooperativity between Coordinated Azo Ligands on Complexes Having {M(phosphane-κ)} (M = Pd, Pt) Scaffolds.

A series of square-planar palladium and platinum compounds with -blocking phosphanes and terminal azobenzene ligands [M(dppp)(azo)](OTf) (azo = CN(CH)-N═N-(CH)CN (), CN(CH)-N═N-(CH) ()) and [{M(tpbz)}(azo)](OTf) (azo = CN(CH)-N═N-(CH) ()) have been synthesized and fully characterized. Similarly to the uncoordinated ligands, the new coordination compounds have shown to be photochemically active with respect to their trans-to-cis isomerization process. Their cis-to-trans back spontaneous reaction have been studied as a function of solvent, temperature and pressure and the corresponding activation parameters determined in order to investigate the mechanism of these transformations.

Dinuclear enantiopure Ln complexes with (-) and (-) 2-phenylbutyrate ligands. Luminescence, CPL and magnetic properties.

The reaction of Ln(NO)·6HO (Ln = Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Tm and Yb) with the respective enantiopure ()-(-)-2-phenylbutyric or ()-(+)-2-phenylbutyric acid (/-2-HPhBut) and 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Bphen) allows the isolation of chiral dinuclear compounds of the formula [Ln(μ-/-2-PhBut)(/-2PhBut)(Bphen)] where Ln = Nd (R/S-Nd-a), Sm (R/S-Sm-a), Eu (R/S-Eu-a), Tb (R/S-Tb-a and R/S-Tb-b), Dy (R/S-Dy-a and R/S-Dy-b), Tm (R/S-Tm-b) and Yb (R/S-Yb-b). Single crystal X-ray diffraction was performed for compounds S-Eu-a and S-Tm-b. Powder crystal X-ray diffraction was performed for all complexes.