Polymeric-based neoantigen nanovaccine synergizes with PD-1/PD-L1 modulators, reprogramming the melanoma microenvironment.

Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 are targets of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies that have shown promise in cancer treatment. However, their effectiveness is often hindered by resistance mechanisms such as poor tumor immunogenicity, T-cell exhaustion, insufficient T-cell infiltration, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Overcoming these barriers requires strategies to enhance tumor immunogenicity and modulate the TME.

Five-Ce:Nd:YAG-rod solar laser approach with TEM-mode collection efficiency of 51.7 W/m.

One of the major goals of solar-pumped lasers is to improve -mode collection and conversion efficiencies. Several studies have explored multi-rod designs with the aim of enhancing laser output and thermal management by distributing the absorbed solar energy across multiple rods. In this work, we introduced a concept comprising four Fresnel lenses with a total collection area of 3.

Clove Oil-Based Nanoemulsion Containing Amphotericin B as a Therapeutic Approach to Combat Fungal Infections.

Candidiasis, primarily caused by , and sporotrichosis, mainly caused by , are skin fungal infections that pose serious threats to global health. The is a great concern in immunocompromised individuals, and while cause sporotrichosis, an infection commonly found in cats, this disease can be transmitted to humans through scratches or bites. Existing treatments for these fungal infections often cause problems related to resistance and significant side effects.

Optimized microfluidic blow spinning process for single-step manufacturing of crosslinked chitosan nanofilaments using a quality-by-design approach.

Nanofibrous patches composed of chitosan (CS) present promising solutions for wound healing by supporting cell growth and enabling controlled drug release. This study introduces a new single-step microfluidic blow-spinning process that blends CS with polyethylene oxide (PEO) and crosslinks it with tripolyphosphate (TPP) using a series of laminar flow chips integrated into a blow-spinning apparatus. The microfluidic mixing between PEO and CS solutions at different concentrations was simulated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

First detection of JC polyomavirus in vaginal secretions from nonpregnant women: Exploring sexual transmission as a potential route of infection.

Objectives: JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) is a ubiquitous human virus responsible for asymptomatic lifelong persistent infection. Profound immunosuppression, or prolonged treatment with specific immunomodulatory molecules, may result in the development of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). The main mode of JCPyV transmission remains uncertain.

Cellulose-Based Colorimetric Test Strips for SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for rapid, cost-effective tools to monitor transmission and immune response. We developed two novel paper-based colorimetric biosensors using glutaraldehyde as a protein dye-its first use in this context. Glutaraldehyde reacts with amino groups to generate a brown color, enabling detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Can early weaning in the previous lactation of beef cows affect the metabolism and postnatal development of female offspring?

This study aimed to compare the effects of early weaning (EW; 150 days) and conventional weaning (CW; 240 days) during early pregnancy on the postnatal metabolism, development, and productive performance of female calves born from secondiparous (SEC) and multiparous (MULT) cows. Fifty-five Nelore female calves were evaluated: 25 from EW cows (10 SEC, 15 MULT) and 30 from CW cows (15 SEC, 15 MULT). From 90 to 150 days of age, all calves received creep feed (5 g/kg body weight [BW]).

Three-Dimensional-Printed Isoniazid Chewable Gels for On-Demand Latent Tuberculosis Treatment in Children.

: Pediatric drug administration is hindered by difficulties in swallowing conventional medications and the unpalatable taste of many drugs. Among diseases highlighting the need for improved pediatric delivery, tuberculosis (TB) stands out. One form of the disease is latent TB infection (LTBI), which is concerning in children.

SLE-DAS enables an accurate definition of severe lupus disease activity: derivation and validation in a post hoc study of anifrolumab phase II and III studies.

Objectives: This study aimed to derive and validate a cut-off for severe disease activity (SDA) using the SLE Disease Activity Score (SLE-DAS) and compare its accuracy and impact on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) with the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group 2004 (BILAG-2004) and SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K).

Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis of pooled placebo arm data from the MUSE (A Phase II, Randomized Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of MEDI-546 in Subjects with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), TULIP-1 and TULIP-2 (Treatment of Uncontrolled Lupus via the Interferon Pathway) trials, including 438 patients with moderate-to-severe SLE. SLE-DAS was scored retrospectively, and a cut-off for SDA was derived using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves against the BILAG-2004 numerical score >11 as gold standard.

Enhancing Drought Tolerance in Through Biofertilization with Marine Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB).

The duration, frequency, and intensity of drought events in the Mediterranean region pose increasing threats to conventional crop production. Consequently, eco-friendly and sustainable development approaches should aim to address future food production goals. Halophytes, such as J.

Role of SNHGs in Adverse Prognostic Factors in Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Objective: This study aims to summarize the main findings in the literature regarding the family of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs), specifically SNHGs, in cervical cancer.

Methods: The study was conducted following the PRISMA protocol, using the PICOS framework for the search strategy. The research sources included PubMed, ScienceDirect, Lilacs, and Medline.

Exosomes enriched with miR-124-3p show therapeutic potential in a new microfluidic triculture model that recapitulates neuron-glia crosstalk in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD), a complex neurodegenerative disease associated with ageing, is the leading cause of dementia. Few people with early AD are eligible for the novel Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug treatments. Accordingly, new tools and early diagnosis markers are required to predict subtypes, individual stages, and the most suitable personalized treatment.

Exploring the potential of lipid elicitors to enhance plant immunity.

Lipids besides being components of membranes and storage molecules are also involved in signalling processes and have proven to be vital components in plant defence mechanisms. Over the past decades, the intricate lipid-signalling pathways that underlie the establishment of defence responses have been extensively studied. These molecules can act directly as signalling agents in plant defence or serve as precursors in a plethora of biosynthetic pathways, leading to the production of phytohormones and other signalling agents.

Brazilian Guidelines on evaluation and clinical management of Nephrolithiasis: Brazilian Society of Nephrology.

The prevalence of nephrolithiasis has been increasing in recent years, affecting appro-ximately 10% and 15% of the population. Kidney stone disease is associated with syste-mic comorbidities such as cardiovascular dis-ease, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. The first Nephrolithiasis Guideline by the Brazilian Society of Nephrology was published in 2002, and since then, the accumulation of new clinical studies and guidelines has justified a review of the subject.

Three-Dimensional Microscopic Characteristics of the Human Uterine Cervix Evaluated by Microtomography.

To analyze the microscopic anatomy of the human uterine cervix in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images obtained by microtomography (microCT). Human uterine cervixes surgically removed for benign gynecologic conditions were immersed in formalin and iodine solution for more than 72 h and images were acquired by microtomography. In total, 10 cervical specimens were evaluated.

Unraveling rosmarinic acid anticancer mechanisms in oral cancer malignant transformation.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is expected to rise ca. 40 % by 2040. Rosmarinic acid (RA) has been recognized for its anticancer properties, although its role in OSCC has been neglected.

Detection of Bagaza Virus in Europe: A Scoping Review.

The Bagaza virus (BAGV) belongs to the genus (Ntaya serocomplex) and emerged in Europe, Spain, in 2010. The natural transmission cycle of this virus is perpetuated by spp. mosquitoes and viraemic birds.

Measuring Minerals in Pseudocereals Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry: What Is the Optimal Digestion Method?

Pseudocereals have gained attention due to their adaptability to different climates, high nutritional value, and suitability for gluten-free and plant-based diets. However, a challenge lies in the necessary adaptations in the diet pathways, mainly due to the lack of matrix-matching metrological tools. To address this problem, we developed a classification system to support laboratory decisions without shaped Proficiency Testing (PT) or Certified/Standard References Material.

Salicylate-Elicited Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Directly Triggers Degradation of C-Myc in Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Aspirin has consistently shown preventive effects in some solid cancers, notably colorectal cancer. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this positive effect have remained elusive. In this study, we used an azoxymethane-induced mouse model of colon carcinogenesis to identify aspirin-associated molecular alterations that could account for its cancer-preventive effect.

Ecotoxicity of the non-dioxin-like PCB-153 in the model marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum.

Despite the ban on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in developed countries since the 1930s, their persistence and use endured in developing countries, with reported toxic effects on various organisms. PCB congener 153 (PCB-153, 2, 2', 4, 4', 5, 5'-hexachlorobiphenyl) is notably prevalent in marine biota. However, its mode of action and impact on primary marine diatoms are not well documented.

Kabuki and CHARGE syndromes: overlapping symptoms and diagnostic challenges.

Kabuki syndrome is a rare congenital malformation with typical facial features, skeletal anomalies, delayed neuropsychomotor development and growth, and cardiac, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and dental anomalies. One of the main differential diagnoses is CHARGE syndrome, standing for and characterized by Coloboma of the eye, Heart defects, Atresia of the nasal choanae, Restricted intellectual development, Genitourinary malformations, and Ear anomalies. Because these syndromes have similar characteristics, distinguishing them may be challenging.

Off-The-Shelf Multivalent Nanoconjugate Cancer Vaccine Rescues Host Immune Response against Melanoma.

Tumor-associated antigen-based cancer vaccines suffer from limited clinical success compared to alternative immunotherapies in melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The anti-tumor potential of a multivalent nanoconjugate cancer vaccine platform - a cross-linked star-shaped polyglutamate carrier (StCl) with marked lymphotropic character conjugated with melanoma-associated peptide antigens is evaluated through redox-responsive linkers. The co-delivery of melanoma-associated peptide antigens by the nanoconjugate platform induced significant effector immune responses in a mouse melanoma model.