Taxonomic revision of the critically endangered big-headed turtles (Reptilia: Testudines: Platysternidae Gray, 1869), with description of a new species.

The big-headed turtle ( ), currently the only extant member of the genus and the family Platysternidae, has undergone severe population declines driven by poaching, illegal trade, and habitat loss, leading to its classification as Critically Endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Despite its conservation status, persistent taxonomic ambiguities and unresolved phylogenetic relationships have hindered effective protection and management. This study integrated evidence from genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), mitochondrial DNA sequences ( , ), and morphological data to reconstruct the phylogeny and phylogeography of and revise its taxonomy.

Efficient degradation mechanism of fomesafen by earthworms and gut degrading bacteria synthetic community.

Fomesafen (FSA), a diphenyl ether herbicide, causes toxicity to non-target organisms and subsequent crops. Vermi-remediation is advocated as an effective remediation method, but there has been no research on the isolation and mechanism of FSA-degradation strains from earthworm gut. In this study, three ecotypes of earthworms- Eisenia foetida (epigeic), Metaphire guillelmi (anecic), and Aporrectodea caliginosa (endogenic), were used to investigate the degradation mechanism of FSA in soil-plant-earthworm systems for the first time.

Photosynthetic Electron Transport in Winter Wheat: Responses to Low-Temperature and Weak-Light Condition.

Spring low temperatures are a serious natural threat to wheat production in the Huang-Huai wheat region, and they are often accompanied by weak light environments during the day. To elucidate the response patterns and adaptation mechanisms of winter wheat leaves to low-temperature and weak-light environments, we simultaneously measured prompt chlorophyll a fluorescence, delayed chlorophyll a fluorescence, and modulated 820 nm light reflection; moreover, we analyzed the effects of low temperature and weak light treatment for different duration (2 h and 4 h) on the donor-side activity of photosystem II (PSII), the degree of PSII unit dissociation, the efficiency of light energy absorption and capture by PSII, electron transfer to Q and PSI terminal, PSI activity and cyclic electron transport activity in isolated wheat leaves under controlled conditions. The results, which were corroborated using the three methods, revealed that in low-temperature and weak-light environments, the degree of PSII unit dissociation, and the efficiency of light energy absorption, capture, and electron transfer to Q decreased, while the donor-side activity remained unaffected.

Long Non-Coding RNA Promotes CCL5 Secretion and Cell Migration of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells via PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Purpose: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that seriously endangers human health. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to exhibit strong regulatory functions in cell physiology and maturation of dendritic cells (DCs). Hence, this study tried to reveal the underlying roles of one lncRNA, , in modulating DC functions and its involvement with CCL5 secretion in SLE pathogenesis.

Intercepting the complement amplification loop through podocyte MC5R signaling ameliorates membranous nephropathy.

Melanocortin therapy has demonstrated potential in improving membranous nephropathy in human patients. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, in a heterologous mouse model of THSD7A-associated membranous nephropathy, various melanocortin agents, including repository corticotropin injection, the nonsteroidogenic pan-melanocortin receptor agonist NDP-MSH, and the selective melanocortin 5 receptor (MC5R) agonist PG-901, attenuated proteinuria, and ameliorated glomerulopathy.

Natural variation in the promoter of TaHY5 enhances anthocyanin biosynthesis via upregulated transcription of TaF3H and TaANS in purple grain wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Purple grain wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has attracted increasing attention owing to its high anthocyanin content that is beneficial to human health; however, the molecular mechanisms governing its pigmentation remain poorly characterized. In this study, two anthocyanin-related structural genes, TaF3H (TraesCS1D02G319700) and TaANS (TraesCS6D02G004300), and one transcription factor (TF) gene, TaHY5 (TraesCS6B02G209600), were significantly upregulated in purple grain wheat.

Comparative Analysis of Heat Exposure-Induced Molecular Changes in Two Turtle Species with Contrasting Thermal Adaptations.

Global climate change has heightened heat stress, threatening amphibian and reptile survival, including turtles. Although turtle species vary in heat tolerance, the molecular mechanisms behind these differences are not well understood. This study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to heat stress (32°C) versus normal temperature (25°C) in eight tissues (brain, heart, intestine, liver, lung, muscle, spleen, and stomach) of two turtle species: Platysternon megacephalum (low heat tolerance) and Trachemys scripta elegans (high heat tolerance) using RNA-seq.

Overlooked Pneumonia-Like Lung Cancer with Elevated Neutrophils and Typical Pneumonia Imaging findings.

Background: Pneumonia-type lung cancer is a specific type of lung cancer with low incidence, lack of clinical specificity, and strong imaging similarity to pneumonia, which can be easily misdiagnosed as a lung infection.

Methods: We report a special case of a patient who was misdiagnosed as Mycoplasma pneumonia by routine blood tests, bronchoscopy, NGS of alveolar lavage fluid and combined with the patient's lung CT imaging features, and then was definitively diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma by percutaneous lung puncture.

Results: The patient's solid shadow in the right lower lung remained unabsorbed after aggressive anti-infection, and finally the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma was finally clarified by percutaneous lung puncture.

Proanthocyanidin-Driven Multifunctional Injectable Hydrogel as an Effective Skin Dressing for Atopic Dermatitis.

Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) often experience symptoms of skin dryness, coinfection, oxidative damage, immune dysfunction, and inflammatory response. Clinical recommendations typically include antibiotics, glucocorticoids, and immunosuppressants, but frequent use of these medications can lead to drug resistance and adverse side effects. Herein, a pH/ROS-responsive injectable dual network hydrogel (HCFP) was developed by cross-linking oxidized hyaluronic acid, quaternized chitosan, and proanthocyanidins (PA) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Gut microbiota as a predictive tool for outcomes in IgA nephropathy.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by the deposition of glycosylation-deficient IgA1 in the glomeruli and has been linked to the gut-kidney axis. This study aimed to determine if baseline differences in gut microbiota could predict therapeutic responses in IgAN patients. We analyzed fecal microbiomes of 55 biopsy-confirmed IgAN patients and followed them for over 6 months.

Trypanosoma dionisii in China: ecology and tentative epidemiology.

Background: Trypanosoma dionisii, one of several species that parasitizes Chiroptera worldwide, was first reported in a 30 year-old pregnant woman in China. It is important to improve our understanding of ecological and epidemiological patterns to identify potential transmission vectors and to estimate the risk of T. dionisii infection in the local population as well as in various species of domestic and wild animals.

Rapid identification of Litopenaeus vannamei pathogenic bacteria: a combined approach using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and deep learning.

Pathogenic bacterial infections are one of the leading causes of mortality in Litopenaeus vannamei, seriously affecting the economic efficiency of the shrimp aquaculture industry. However, traditional pathogen detection methods, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), have drawbacks, including complex procedures and long processing times. Raman spectroscopy provides valuable biomolecular feature information and, when combined with deep learning, enables the detection of pathogens.

The Global Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Parasitic Coinfection in People Living with Viruses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Coinfection with parasites and viruses can exacerbate disease transmission, outcomes and therapy. This study searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and JSTOR databases for publications on the prevalence of parasitic coinfection in people living with viruses from 1 January 2005 to 30 April 2022, and 356 studies were included and systematically reviewed. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the global prevalence of and factors potentially associated with parasitic infection (helminths and protozoa) in virus-infected people, and the infection burden was estimated.

Neoadjuvant anlotinib/sintilimab plus chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer (NeoSACT): Phase 2 trial.

Tumor angiogenesis contributes to immune evasion, and vascular normalization enhances immunotherapy response by reshaping the tumor microenvironment. This phase 2 trial evaluates neoadjuvant anlotinib (antiangiogenic), sintilimab (programmed cell death protein 1 [PD-1] inhibitor), and chemotherapy in 29 patients with stage II-III triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The primary endpoint, pathological complete response (pCR), is achieved in 69.

Overcoming therapeutic resistance in driver-negative NSCLC: Immunomodulatory mechanisms and clinical efficacy of Camrelizumab-chemotherapy combination in a real-world cohort.

Background: Driver gene-negative advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibits inherent resistance to conventional therapies, representing a significant treatment challenge. The limited efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy alone underscores the need for resistance-mitigating strategies. Camrelizumab, a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, may overcome resistance mechanisms by restoring immune surveillance and enhancing chemosensitivity through immunogenic cell death (ICD) and T-cell activation.

Neodymium-modified Mg-Zn-Zr magnesium alloy as a biodegradable osteogenic implant.

Magnesium alloy is considered as one of the most promising biodegradable orthopedic implant material. However, the degradation rates and osteogenic property are difficult to control, which is detrimental to bone integration after implantation. Here, we report a neodymium (Nd) modification strategy for the improvement of osteogenic performance.

Divergent synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubstituted benzenes from 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid.

Based on our previous explorations of -diiodoarene/NaH as a novel aryne-generation system, herein we present an efficient route for the divergent synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubstituted benzenes. Since carboxylic acid could be converted into a lot of functional groups, in this protocol, the readily available and inexpensive 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) was employed as the starting material for the preparation of diverse aryne precursors. With this aryne-generation toolbox, a series of transformations were achieved between various nucleophiles and these aryne precursors, producing 5-iodo-1,3-disubstituted benzenes as valuable intermediates.

Changes of Microbiome in Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Objectives: We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of high-throughput sequencing studies to assess changes in microbiome alpha, beta diversity, and composition differences in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched to include original studies. The effect size estimates with a 95% confidence interval were combined using a random effects model.

Efferocytosis and Its Role in Rheumatic Diseases.

Efferocytosis, the process through which phagocytes clear apoptotic cells (ACs), has rapidly emerged as an expanding field of research. This multistep process involves recognizing, binding, internalizing, and degrading ACs. Efferocytosis clears ACs, preventing their secondary necrosis, generating anti-inflammatory mediators, and promoting the resolution of inflammation.

Temporal trend in non-melanoma skin cancer mortality in China, 1992-2021: an analysis for the global burden of disease study 2021.

Introduction: Non - melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is a widespread malignant neoplasm affecting the skin globally. In China, over the past 30 years, the prevalence and incidence of NMSC have changed significantly, yet mortality rate (MR) data is scarce. The aim is to assess the MR data of NMSC patients worldwide from 1992 to 2021, analyze its temporal trends, and provide valuable epidemiological information for future prevention and management strategies of NMSC.

Protective Effect of Obeticholic Acid on Sepsis-Induced Liver Dysfunction via Regulating Bile Acid Homeostasis.

Abnormal bile acid (BA) pool may play an important role in inducing liver damage in sepsis. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a main negative feedback regulator of BA metabolism. This study aims to explore the protective effect and mechanism of the FXR agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) on liver dysfunction when sepsis occurs.

Characterization of Extrachromosomal Circular DNA in Primary and Cisplatin-Resistant High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

Background: Cisplatin resistance is a major cause of tumor recurrence and mortality in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) has emerged as a critical factor in tumor evolution and drug resistance. However, the specific contribution of eccDNA to cisplatin resistance in HGSOC remains unclear.

Decoding the complexity of coding and non-coding RNAs across maize anther development at the isoform level.

Anther is a key male reproductive organ that is essential for the plant life cycle, from the sporophyte to the gametophyte generation. To explore the isoform-level transcriptional landscape of developing anthers in maize (Zea mays L.), we analyzed Iso-Seq data from anthers collected at 10 developmental stages, together with strand-specific RNA-seq, CAGE-seq, and PAS-seq data.

Differential Sensitivity of Photosynthetic Electron Transport to Dark-Induced Senescence in Wheat Flag Leaves.

Background: In winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), delayed senescence of the flag leaf is linked to the duration of photosynthesis and grain yield. In different wheat cultivars, various components of the photosynthetic apparatus may display differences during senescence. Furthermore, previous studies related to senescence mostly used a limited number of cultivars, making it difficult to investigate the patterns and reasons for different appearance of damage to electron transport among various cultivars.