Environmental cues in different host niches shape the survival fitness of Staphylococcus aureus.

The ability of Staphylococcus aureus to adapt and thrive in diverse host niches adds to the challenge in combating this ubiquitous pathogen. While extensive research has been pursued on the adaptive mechanisms of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in various infection models, a comprehensive analysis of its fitness across different host niches is lacking.

A Marine-Derived Steroid from sp., 3,12-Dioxochola-4,6-dien-24-oic Acid, Enhances Skin Re-Epithelialization and Tissue Repair.

The discovery of bioactive natural compounds from microbes holds promise for regenerative medicine. In this study, we identified and characterized a steroid-like compound, 3,12-dioxochola-4,6-dien-24-oic acid (DOCDA), from a crude extract of sp. DOCDA significantly promoted wound healing by enhancing HaCaT cell invasion and migration.

Lipid metabolism in cancer stem cells: reprogramming, mechanisms, crosstalk, and therapeutic approaches.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a highly plastic subpopulation of tumor cells with capabilities for self-renewal, therapy resistance, and metastasis. Recent evidence highlights lipid metabolic reprogramming as a central mechanism supporting these malignant traits. This review synthesizes current findings on key lipid metabolic processes in CSCs-including lipid uptake via CD36, intracellular storage in lipid droplets, de novo fatty acid synthesis by fatty acid synthase (FASN), fatty acid oxidation (FAO) regulated by carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), and cholesterol biosynthesis through the mevalonate pathway.

Normative data for age-specific skeletal muscle area based on computed tomography in Korean population.

Background: Sarcopenia, a progressive loss of muscle mass and function, increases health risks in older adults, especially in rapidly ageing populations like Korea. Computed tomography (CT) imaging at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) level is a gold standard for assessing skeletal muscle area (SMA) and indices (SMIs), yet age- and sex-specific reference values are limited. This multicentre study aimed to establish these values for improved sarcopenia diagnosis.

Development of a web-based high-throughput marker design program: CAPS (cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence) Maker.

Background: Genetic markers are crucial for breeding crops with desired agronomic traits, and their development can be expedited using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics tools. Numerous tools have been developed to design molecular markers, enhancing the convenience, accuracy, and efficiency of molecular breeding. However, these tools primarily focus on genetic variants within short user-input sequences, despite the availability of extensive omics data for genomic variants.

Deciphering the Genetic Complexity of Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma: Insights and Effective Strategies.

Understanding the genetics of susceptibility to classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is considerably limited compared to other cancers due to the rare Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) tumor cells, which coexist with the predominant non-malignant microenvironment. This article offers insights into genetic abnormalities in cHL, as well as nucleotide variants and their associated target genes, elucidated through recent technological advancements. Oncogenomes in HRS cells highlight the survival and proliferation of these cells through hyperactive signaling in specific pathways (.

Utilising raw psycho-physiological data and functional data analysis for estimating mental workload in human drivers.

Recent studies have focused on accurately estimating mental workload using machine learning algorithms and extracting features from physiological measures. However, feature extraction leads to the loss of valuable information and often results in binary classifications that lack specificity in the identification of optimum mental workload. This study investigates the feasibility of using raw physiological data (EEG, facial EMG, ECG, EDA, pupillometry) combined with Functional Data Analysis (FDA) to estimate the mental workload of human drivers.

Age-specific heterogeneity of genetic susceptibility to cardiovascular disease might have opposite outcomes depending on the presence of prediabetes.

Examining age-specific heterogeneity of susceptibility to cardiovascular disease is also essential in individuals without prediabetes to determine its relative size and direction compared to those with prediabetes. Of particular interest, age-specific heterogeneity in genetic susceptibility may exhibit opposite directions depending on the presence or absence of prediabetes.

Regulatory role of Echinochrome A in cancer-associated fibroblast-mediated lung cancer cell migration.

Echinochrome A (Ech A), a marine biosubstance isolated from sea urchins, is a strong antioxidant, and its clinical form, histochrome, is being used to treat several diseases, such as ophthalmic, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a component of the tumor stroma and induce phenotypes related to tumor malignancy, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stemness, through reciprocal interactions with cancer cells. Here, we investigated whether Ech A modulates the properties of CAFs and alleviates CAF-induced lung cancer cell migration.

RNA Polymerase Subunits and Ribosomal Proteins: An Overview and Their Genetic Impact on Complex Human Traits.

Accurate gene expression is fundamental for sustaining life, enabling adaptive responses to routine tasks and management of urgent cellular environments. RNA polymerases (RNAP I, RNAP II, and RNAP III) and ribosomal proteins (RPs) play pivotal roles in the precise synthesis of proteins from DNA sequences. In this review, we briefly examined the structure and function of their constituent proteins and explored to characterize these proteins and the genes encoding them, particularly in terms of their expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) associated with complex human traits.

Bayesian colocalization of GWAS and eQTL signals reveals cell type-specific genes and regulatory variants for susceptibility to subtypes of ischemic stroke.

A colocalization analysis of genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) was conducted to pinpoint target genes and their regulatory nucleotide variants for subtypes of ischemic stroke. We utilized GWAS data from prominent meta-analysis consortia (MEGASTROKE and GIGASTROKE) and single-cell eQTL data in brain and blood tissues to enhance accuracy and minimize noise inherent in bulk RNA-seq. Employing Bayesian colocalization methods, we identified ten shared loci between GWAS and eQTL signals, targeting five eGenes.

Anti-Melanogenic Activity of Undecylprodigiosin, a Red Pigment Isolated from a Marine sp. SNA-077.

Bioassay and HPLC-UV guided fractionations of the crude extract of marine-derived sp. SNA-077 have led to the isolation of a red pigment, undecylprodigiosin . The chemical structure of undecylprodigiosin was revealed by the interpretation of NMR and mass spectroscopic (MS) data.

Generating PET scan patterns in Alzheimer's by a mathematical model.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. The cause of the disease is unknown, and it has no cure. Symptoms include cognitive decline, memory loss, and impairment of daily functioning.

The discovery of an anti-inflammatory monoterpenoid, neoroseoside from the Zea mays.

A new monoterpenoid, neoroseoside (1), along with two previously reported compounds, 2″-O-α-l-rhamnosyl-6-C-fucosylluteolin (2) and farobin A (3) were isolated from the Zea mays. The structure of compound 1 was determined through the analysis spectroscopic data, including mass spectrometry (MS), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. The absolute configurations of 1 were deduced from the comparing the values of optical rotations and from the interpretation of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra.

Investigating the safety profiles of exogenous melatonin and associated adverse events: A pharmacovigilance study using WHO-VigiBase.

Melatonin, a pineal hormone that modulates circadian rhythms, sleep, and neurotransmitters, is widely used to treat sleep disorders. However, there are limited studies on the safety of melatonin. Therefore, we aimed to present the overall patterns of adverse events (AEs) following melatonin administration and identify potential safety signals associated with melatonin.

Predicting Driver's mental workload using physiological signals: A functional data analysis approach.

This study investigates the impact of advanced driver-assistance systems on drivers' mental workload. Using a combination of physiological signals including ECG, EMG, EDA, EEG (af4 and fc6 channels from the theta band), and eye diameter data, this study aims to predict and categorize drivers' mental workload into low, adequate, and high levels. Data were collected from five different driving situations with varying cognitive demands.

Sustainable production of natural products using synthetic biology: Ginsenosides.

Synthetic biology approaches offer potential for large-scale and sustainable production of natural products with bioactive potency, including ginsenosides, providing a means to produce novel compounds with enhanced therapeutic properties. Ginseng, known for its non-toxic and potent qualities in traditional medicine, has been used for various medical needs. Ginseng has shown promise for its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, and it has been used as a potential agent to boost immunity against various infections when used together with other drugs and vaccines.

Synergistic toxicity with copper contributes to NAT2-associated isoniazid toxicity.

Anti-tuberculosis (AT) medications, including isoniazid (INH), can cause drug-induced liver injury (DILI), but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify genetic factors that may increase the susceptibility of individuals to AT-DILI and to examine genetic interactions that may lead to isoniazid (INH)-induced hepatotoxicity. We performed a targeted sequencing analysis of 380 pharmacogenes in a discovery cohort of 112 patients (35 AT-DILI patients and 77 controls) receiving AT treatment for active tuberculosis.

Breast cancer malignancy is governed by regulation of the macroH2A2/TM4SF1 axis, the AKT/NF-κB pathway, and elevated MMP13 expression.

The histone variant, macroH2A (mH2A) influences gene expression through epigenetic regulation. Tumor suppressive function of mH2A isoforms has been reported in various cancer types, but few studies have investigated the functional role of mH2A2 in breast cancer pathophysiology. This study aimed to determine the significance of mH2A2 in breast cancer development and progression by exploring its downstream regulatory mechanisms.

Hedgehog signalling is involved in acquired resistance to KRAS inhibitors in lung cancer cells.

Although KRAS inhibitors have shown promising activity in lung adenocarcinomas harbouring KRAS, acquired resistance to these therapies eventually occurs in most patients. Re-expression of KRAS is thought to be one of the main causes of acquired resistance. However, the mechanism through which cancer cells re-express KRAS is not fully understood.

Health-promoting behavior among undergraduate students in the COVID-19 era: Its association with problematic use of social media, social isolation, and online health information-seeking behavior.

Objective: To examine the association between problematic use of social media, online health information-seeking, social isolation, and health-promoting behaviors among Korean undergraduate students.

Methods: In total, 178 undergraduate students participated in this study. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed.