Characterization of a hyaluronic acid utilization locus and identification of hyaluronate lyases in human gut bacterium Enterococcus faecalis F1221.

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a linear glycosaminoglycan, serves as a key structural constituent of extracellular matrices, participating in diverse biological processes across both normal physiological and pathological contexts. While the gut microbiota exerts a pivotal influence on HA utilization within the human body, current scientific literature indicates a limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this interaction. In this study, a gut bacterium Enterococcus faecalis F1221 has been isolated, which demonstrated the ability to degrade HA.

A case-control study on the individualized use of opioid analgesics based on single-nucleotide polymorphism.

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between gene polymorphism and the efficacy and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of opioid analgesics, improve medication safety, and promote personalized medication.

Methods: First, the method of evidence-based medicine retrieval and evaluation was adopted to systematically summarize the opioid analgesic drug ADR and efficacy-related gene loci currently recommended by guidelines, authoritative genetic information databases, and low-bias clinical trial studies. The gene loci with strong correlation evaluation were selected as target genes for testing.

Correction: Research progress on nanomaterial-empowered electrochemical biosensors for the detection of cardiac troponin I.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D5RA04555J.].

Combination Therapy Against Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Association Between Efficacy and White Blood Cell Count.

Background: Numerous studies suggest that hyperactivation of the immuno-inflammatory system, as reflected in cytokine levels, is associated with more severe symptoms in mood and anxiety disorders and weaker response to treatment. Here we examined whether the efficacy of a combination of bright light therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and medication is associated with another immuno-inflammatory index, white blood cell count, before and/or after treatment, in a retrospective observational study.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 467 inpatients with major depressive, bipolar, or generalized anxiety disorder who were treated with combination therapy for at least one week at Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital between April 2022 and April 2024.

Sclareol can effectively ameliorate Feline calicivirus induced lung injury via the inhibition of inflammation and apoptosis.

Caliciviridae are important pathogens of humans and animals that cause significant and sometimes lethal diseases; however, despite substantial research efforts, specific antiviral treatments for Caliciviridae viruses are lacking. Sclareol is a labdane-type diterpenoid natural fragrance compound with a wide array of biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. This study revealed that sclareol has a good antiviral effect against Feline calicivirus (FCV) (a surrogate for human norovirus).

Limited Regulation of Canopy Water Use Efficiency by Stomatal Behavior Under Drought Propagation.

Water use efficiency (WUE) is a critical ecosystem function and a key indicator of vegetation responses to drought, yet its temporal trajectories and underlying drivers during drought propagation remain insufficiently understood. Here, we examined the trajectories, interdependencies and drivers of multidimensional WUE metrics and their components (gross primary production (GPP), evapotranspiration, transpiration (T), and canopy conductance (Gc)) using a conceptual drought propagation framework. We found that even though the carbon assimilation efficiency per stomata increases during drought, the canopy-level WUE (represented by transpiration WUE (TWUE)) declines, indicating that stomatal regulation operates primarily at the leaf level and cannot offset the drought-induced reduction in WUE at the canopy scale.

Research progress on nanomaterial-empowered electrochemical biosensors for the detection of cardiac troponin I.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a prevalent and high-risk type of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and a major threat to global human health. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of CVD is important to protect life and health. Cardiac troponin (cTnI) is considered the best biomarker for diagnosing AMI because of its high specificity and sensitivity to acute cardiomyocyte injury.

HOXC8 impacts lung tumorigenesis by preventing pyroptotic cell death through the suppression of caspase-1 expression.

Homeobox C8 (HOXC8) is a transcription factor preferentially overexpressed in a large percentage of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). To investigate the function of HOXC8 in NSCLC, we showed that knockdown of HOXC8 led to massive NSCLC cell death in a mechanism of pyroptosis because both YVAD, a caspase-1 (CASP1) inhibitor, and disulfiram, which prevents gasdermin D (GSDMD) pore formation, blocked cell death caused by HOXC8 depletion. Intriguingly, ASC, a key component of canonic inflammasome, was dispensable for pyroptosis occurring in HOXC8-depleted cells.

The RING-finger ubiquitin E3 ligase RFEL1 targets wheat NPR3 for degradation to confer broad-spectrum resistance against biotrophic fungal pathogens.

Broad-spectrum resistance (BSR) is highly sought after for the effective management of crop diseases. However, genes suitable for developing BSR remain scarce. In this study, we demonstrate the development of BSR to wheat yellow rust (YR), powdery mildew (PM), and leaf rust (LR) diseases elicited by three biotrophic fungal pathogens using a newly defined module, namely, RFEL1-NPR3.

The Effects of Heat Treatment Temperatures on the Properties of 316L Stainless Steel Produced via Laser Powder Bed Fusion.

316L stainless steel (316L SS) exhibits excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility, but the rapid melting and solidification of the laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) process reduce the properties of the newly formed parts. This study aims to enhance the mechanical properties of PBF-LB/M PBF-LB/M-formed 316L SS parts by investigating the effects of various heat treatment temperatures. The results show that an appropriate heat treatment temperature can improve the microstructure and mechanical properties of the formed parts.

Human disease variants of KATNIP fail to support CILK1 activation and control of primary cilia.

Pathogenic variants in KATNIP (encoding katanin-interacting protein) are linked to Joubert syndrome, a prototypical ciliopathy. KATNIP is a scaffold protein that binds and potentiates ciliogenesis-associated kinase 1 (CILK1) activation and function to control cilia length and frequency. We previously showed that of the three predicted 'domains of unknown functions' (DUFs) in KATNIP, the DUF2 domain alone supports binding to CILK1 without activating CILK1.

Synthesis, redox exfoliation, and magnetic nanoparticle decoration of VSe and SnSe nanosheets.

Nanostructures exfoliated from layered van der Waals materials have attracted attention based upon their thickness-dependent optical and electronic properties. While magnetism has been observed in such 2D materials, available approaches to modulate or enhance their magnetic response remain limited. Thus, the magnetic response of 2D materials is of particular interest.

Genetically Encoded Near-Infrared Photocatalysis for Proximity Labeling of Subcellular Proteome.

The spatial organization of proteins in eukaryotic cells plays essential roles in cellular functions. Genetically encoded proximity labeling methods offer spatially resolved and proteome-wide mapping of protein localization, yet existing techniques are limited to blue light activation, which has limited tissue penetration and causes a high cellular background. Here, we report the development of a near-infrared photocatalytic proximity labeling method, FLAPP, based on the engineered fluorogen-activating protein dL5**.

Significant reduction in manual annotation costs in ultrasound medical image database construction through step by step artificial intelligence pre-annotation.

This study investigates the feasibility of reducing manual image annotation costs in medical image database construction by utilizing a step by step approach where the Artificial Intelligence model (AI model) trained on a previous batch of data automatically pre-annotates the next batch of image data, taking ultrasound image of thyroid nodule annotation as an example. The study used YOLOv8 as the AI model. During the AI model training, in addition to conventional image augmentation techniques, augmentation methods specifically tailored for ultrasound images were employed to balance the quantity differences between thyroid nodule classes and enhance model training effectiveness.

Recent Advances in Monitoring Technologies for Cardiac Troponin I: A Pivotal Biomarker in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality rates globally, presenting a severe threat to human health and life. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most common and extremely severe disorders within CVDs, causing an estimated 17.5 million deaths each year.

DEAD-box protein SMA1 activates immunity likely through the formation of nuclear condensates with EDS1 in Arabidopsis.

Plants have developed an elaborate immune system to effectively combat diverse pathogens, mainly through intricate signaling pathways. However, more studies will be required to have a better understanding of the activation mechanism of plant immune responses. Here, we report the biological function of SMA1, a nuclear-localized DEAD-box RNA helicase, in plant disease immunity.

Comprehensive analysis of clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of retinoblastoma caused by gene mutation: a case series.

This study aimed to summarize the clinical and genetic characteristics of retinoblastoma associated with newly identified RB1 gene mutations. We retrospectively analyzed 15 pediatric patients diagnosed with retinoblastoma caused by RB1 mutations. A total of 25 affected eyes were examined (8 males, 7 females).

Enabling Flexible and Tunable Structural Color Films Based on Rapid Ethanol-Induced Nanosphere Rearrangement for Anti-Counterfeiting and Dynamic Marking.

Structural colors epitomize a profound relationship where optical precision and architectural finesse converge in the emission of unfathomable iridescent shades, transcending the limitations of traditional pigmentation. Fueled by prodigious applications in flexible displays, intelligent sensing, and anticounterfeit labels, structural color materials emerge superior. The swift production of colors enabled by straightforward solvent-mediated dynamic self-assembly represents a peak achievement in contemporary research.