adhesin-derived peptide mediates strong pull-off forces in aqueous high-ionic-strength environments.

In this letter, the pull-off forces of adsorbed films of four Bap1-inspired peptides in various solvents were investigated on negatively charged mica substrates using the surface forces apparatus (SFA), complemented with dynamic light scattering (DLS) for characterizing the aggregation behavior of peptides in solution. Bap1-inspired peptides consisted of the 57 amino acid wild-type sequence (WT); a scrambled version of the WT used to investigate the impact of the primary amino acid sequence in pull-off forces (Scr); a ten amino acid sequence rich in hydrophobic content (CP) of the WT sequence, and an eight amino acid sequence (Sh1) that corresponds to the pseudo-repeating sequence in the 57 AA. SFA results showed remarkable pull-off forces for CP, particularly in the presence of salts: measured pull-off forces were 26.

A magneto-responsive nanomesh biosensor for simultaneous mechanical stimulation and electrochemical detection.

Mechanical cues are critical regulators of cell fate and behavior through the orchestrated and continual conversion of physical forces into biochemical responses. However, due to the poor compatibility between mechanical and biochemical techniques, existing methods are often limited in characterizing the occurring biochemical signals during mechanical stimulation. Herein, this work presents a magneto-responsive nanomesh (MRnM) biosensor capable of mechanically stimulating cells in vitro and tissues in vivo and simultaneously detecting the triggered biomolecules.

The NMDAR/TRPM4 death complex is a major promoter of disease progression in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by cognitive decline and neuronal degeneration. The formation of amyloid β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are key morphological features of AD pathology. However, the specific molecules responsible for the cell destruction triggered by amyloid β and tau proteinopathies in AD has not yet been identified.

Molecular architecture of language-related cortical areas revealed by integrative proteomic and connectome analyses.

Background: Protein expression asymmetry between brain hemispheres is hypothesized to influence functional connectivity, yet its role in language-related networks remains poorly understood. Additionally, how such molecular differences relate to brain reorganization in glioma requires further exploration.

Methods: We performed label-free tandem mass spectrometry on 13 left-hemispheric language-related Brodmann areas (BAs) and their right-hemispheric counterparts from 10 donor brains, identifying protein signatures across 6 language-related functional modules.

Folic acid fortification and late-onset colorectal cancer risk: A systematic assessment of the worldwide evidence.

Concerns have been raised about potential hazards associated with folic acid fortification. This study aimed to explore associations between diverse folic acid fortification policies (mandatory vs. no mandatory fortification) and global late-onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC) incidence rates.

Intravenous lidocaine as an adjuvant to propofol sedation for elderly patients undergoing same-visit bidirectional endoscopy: protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Same-visit bidirectional endoscopic procedures under sedation are frequently performed in elderly patients. However, the optimal sedation regimen for elderly patients remains uncertain. This study seeks to evaluate the hypothesis that intravenous lidocaine, when used as an adjunct to propofol sedation, reduces the incidence of sedation-related adverse events during these procedures.

Efficient super-resolution Bayesian eletromagnetic brain imaging.

Electromagnetic source imaging at superresolution presents a significant challenge, requiring the estimation of several thousand parameters of complex brain activity from a limited number of sensor data. Sparse Bayesian learning offers robustness in reconstructing complex sources compared to classical methods. However, existing Bayesian approaches for super-resolution brain imaging suffer from 1) computational inefficiency due to numerous hyperparameters and iterations, and 2) reliance on arbitrary thresholds for determining active brain sources.

Self-Constrained Clustering Ensemble.

Existing clustering ensemble methods typically fuse all base clusterings in one shot under unsupervised settings, making it difficult to distinguish the quality of individual base clusterings and to exploit latent prior knowledge; consequently, their adaptability to data distributions and overall performance are limited. To address these issues, this paper proposes the Self-Constrained Clustering Ensemble (SCCE) algorithm. SCCE treats the pseudo-labels automatically generated from current clustering results as self-supervised signals and performs metric learning to obtain a linear transformation that enlarges inter-class distances while compressing intra-class distances.

Immune imbalance underlying depressive symptoms in COPD patients: a study based on BDNF, PD-1, MMP-9, and inflammatory cytokines.

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is frequently accompanied by a high prevalence of depressive symptoms, particularly during acute exacerbations (AECOPD). However, the immunoinflammatory mechanisms underlying AECOPD-associated depression remain poorly elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the potential roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and key inflammatory cytokines-interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-α)-in mediating depressive symptoms among hospitalized AECOPD patients.

A Study on the Risk Factors of Abnormal Mental Health Status in General Physical Examination Population.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the mental health status of the general population and its risk factors.

Patients And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 10278 individuals aged 12 and above who underwent health examinations were included. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires, the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), and the Stress Self-Assessment Questionnaire-53 (SSQ-53), to collect general information, mental health status, and stress level information.

Refining Prognosis and Treatment Strategies Beyond the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage in Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Lung Metastases: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Lung metastasis is the most common site of extrahepatic spread in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated with significantly poorer outcomes. Current guidelines classify these patients as Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C, recommending systemic therapy alone. However, this one-size-fits-all approach may overlook potential benefits in selected patients.

Comprehensive analysis of [F]MFBG biodistribution normal patterns and variability in pediatric patients with neuroblastoma.

Purpose: [F]-meta-fluorobenzylguanidine ([F]MFBG) PET/CT is a promising imaging modality for neural crest-derived tumors, particularly neuroblastoma. Accurate interpretation necessitates an understanding of normal biodistribution and variations in physiological uptake. This study aimed to systematically characterize the physiological distribution and variability of [F]MFBG uptake in pediatric patients to enhance clinical interpretation and differentiate normal from pathological uptake.

Ocular post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder after keratoplasty.

Purpose: Epstein-Barr virus associated post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) is a common condition after solid-organ or allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplants. But ocular involvement after keratoplasty remains a rare finding, and can be easily misdiagnosed.

Observations: We report a case of a 59-year-old man who presented with masquerade uveitis of right eye 4 months post penetrating keratoplasty and was ultimately diagnosed with ocular PTLD.

Individualized supplement of water-soluble vitamins: the influence of inflammation and renal function on circulating concentrations in critically digestive disease patients.

Background: Existing studies have shown the association of circulating vitamin and disease outcome. The study aimed to elucidate individual response of plasma water-soluble vitamins after supplement by PN in critically digestive disorder patients.

Methods: We measured the plasma levels of nine water-soluble vitamins (i.

Integrating bioinformatics analysis, machine learning, and experimental validation to identify pyroptosis-related genes in the diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute liver failure.

Background: Sepsis is frequently combined with acute liver failure (ALF), a critical determinant in the mortality of septic patients. Pyroptosis is a significant form of programmed cell death that plays an important role in the inflammatory response. Research has been conducted to elucidate the relationship between pyroptosis, sepsis, and ALF, but the mechanism of action remains unclear.

PGC1α regulates the mitochondrial metabolism response to cyclic stretch, which inhibits neointimal hyperplasia.

Neointimal hyperplasia occurs in the context of vascular injury, such as stent intervention or balloon angioplasty. However, the role of mechanical forces in this process remains to be studied. In this study, a rat carotid artery intimal injury model was established.

Regulatory Plasticity and Metabolic Trade-offs Drive Adaptive Evolution of Alternative Flagellar Configurations in .

Evolutionary constraints governing flagellar number in bacterial pathogens remain poorly understood. While related species are hyperflagellated, maintains strict monoflagellation through the FleQ-FleN regulatory circuit. Here, we demonstrate that FleN dosage is essential for maintaining monoflagellation and bacterial fitness.

The global burden of fractures and its underlying etiologies: results from and further analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Unlabelled: Fractures can result in decreased quality of life and care requirements, all of which significantly affect patients and their families. Our results revealed that the global incident, prevalent, and YLDs cases of fractures have risen in both sexes. Policies that prioritize avoiding fractures at different anatomical sites should be developed.

Molecular mechanisms and horticultural implications of temperature-induced color variation in mushrooms.

Cap color is a critical commercial trait in mushrooms, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its temperature-induced variation remain poorly understood. This study integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic approaches to identify key metabolites and genes associated with the transition of cap color from white to wine-red under different temperature conditions. Metabolomic analysis identified 1913 metabolites, with flavonoid derivatives such as quercetin-3-O-glucoside and kaempferol-based compounds accumulating preferentially in wine-red mushrooms at high temperatures.

Spatiotemporal evolution of HCV burden among women of reproductive age: a multinational age-period-cohort analysis.

Objective: To study the epidemiology and trends of HCV infection among women aged 15-49, this research aims to inform public health strategies and reduce its global impact by addressing maternal and child transmission risks.

Design: This research analyzed GBD data (1990-2021) on HCV in women aged 15-49, examining ASIR, ASPR, ASMR, and ASDR trends by region and age. APC and Bayesian models predicted future trajectories to guide public health policies.

Excessive ultra-processed foods exposure aggravates ulcerative colitis via macrophage ferroptosis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory disease with global prevalence, is increasingly associated with environmental exposure to modern dietary hazards, particularly ultra-processed foods (UPFs) containing oxidized phytosterols. While industrial food processing techniques and repeated oil reuse are known to amplify formation of phytosterol oxidation products, their biological impacts on intestinal inflammation remain unexplored. This study focuses on 7-ketositosterol (KS), the most abundant phytosterol oxide found in UPFs, and its role in UC.

BloodProST: prediction of blood-secretory proteins through self-training.

Accurate identification of proteins secreted into the bloodstream is essential for discovering diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. A significant challenge is the scarcity of experimentally validated blood-secretory proteins, limiting labeled datasets required for robust model training. To address this issue, we propose BloodProST, a novel machine-learning framework leveraging a self-training strategy to reliably predict blood-secretory proteins.

Conformations and sequence determinants in the lipid binding of an adhesive peptide derived from biofilm.

Unlabelled: Surface adhesion is critical to the survival of pathogenic bacteria both in natural niches and during infections, often via forming matrix-embedded communities called biofilms. We previously identified a 57-amino acid peptide (Bap1-57aa) as a key contributor to biofilm adhesion of the pandemic pathogen to various surfaces including lipid membranes. Here, we combine biophysical, computational, and genetic approaches to elucidate the molecular mechanism.

Anti-Thrombotic Effects of Fibrinolytic Enzyme in Zebrafish.

Objectives: This study investigated the antithrombotic properties of a fibrinolytic enzyme (CFE) purified from the culture supernatant of using a zebrafish thrombosis model.

Methods: A phenylhydrazine-induced thrombosis model was employed to evaluate the in vivo thrombolytic efficacy and mechanisms of CFE.

Results: CFE significantly attenuated thrombogenesis by inhibiting erythrocyte aggregation in the caudal vessels, reducing staining intensity (3.