Femtosecond-laser-induced optical confinement with ping-pong motion.

We introduce a novel method using a kilohertz (kHz) amplified 800 nm laser for the first experimental confinement of microparticles within a single beam. This study demonstrates that high-energy kHz pulses can confine 1-μm-radius polystyrene beads in water within ∼26 μm. This approach utilizes the unique properties of high-energy pulsed lasers, distinct from continuous-wave and megahertz pulsed lasers traditionally used in optical trapping.

Assessment of Passive Smoking in Children With Asthma Using Urinary Cotinine Levels and Its Association With Asthma Severity.

Introduction Passive smoking can exacerbate asthma symptoms in children. Although cotinine levels offer an accurate measure of passive smoking, their use in clinical, forensic, and medicolegal documentation remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate passive smoking in children with asthma by measuring urinary cotinine levels and to explore the forensic and medicolegal implications of documenting such exposure.

Clinical and translational study of ivosidenib plus nivolumab in advanced solid tumors harboring IDH1 mutations.

Background: Cancers that do not respond to immunotherapy typically harbor a non-T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME), characterized by the absence of type I/II interferon (IFN) signaling and CD8 T cell infiltration. We previously reported somatic mutations were enriched in non-T cell-inflamed tumors across tumor types. Consistent with this, mutant IDH1 (mIDH1) has been demonstrated to drive immune exclusion through metabolic reprogramming of the TME, and IDH inhibition enhanced anti-tumor immunity in preclinical models.

Repurposed clindamycin suppresses pyroptosis in tumor-associated macrophages through Inhibition of caspase-1.

Background: The metastatic microenvironment is often rich in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In uveal melanoma (UM), high levels of TAMs positively correlate with tumor progression and poorer prognosis. We hypothesize that the immunomodulation of TAMs can remodel the UM tumor microenvironment and make it more susceptible to therapeutic interventions.

Comprehensive heavy metal remediation mechanisms with insights into CRISPR-Cas9 and biochar innovations.

Heavy metal contamination of the environment is a serious issue, and more efficient and effective bioremediation techniques are needed. This review introduces current heavy metal bioremediation techniques, with focus on phytoremediation and microbial remediation, and recent developments in biochar and CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Phytoremediation employs the natural process of plants to accumulate and detoxify metals as an eco-friendly and sustainable technique.

Role of Micro RNA Expression as Biomarker in Breast Cancer.

Background: The most common cancer in women is breast cancer (BC). MicroRNA-21 was one of the first oncomiRs to be found at elevated levels in a number of malignancies, including gliomas, BC, and colorectal cancer (miR-21). MiRNA is associated with processes such as apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and proliferation, which are known features of cancer.

Interplay between circadian rhythm, ageing and neurodegenerative disorder.

Circadian rhythm, as a homeostatic tool of biological life, plays a vital role in regulating human physiology, metabolism, endocrinology, and emotional and cognitive behaviour. A disrupted circadian rhythm, marked by age-related alterations such as decreased variation in sleep-wake patterns and instability in the timing of these patterns, can worsen age-related problems such as increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Advancing age is associated with anomalies in the redox balance, gradual alterations in physiological functions and deregulation of various metabolic pathways.

Mapping the Connection Between Circadian Rhythms, Metabolism, and Neurodegeneration: Exploring Therapeutic Strategies.

Circadian rhythms are crucial for essential physiological functions such as metabolism, sleep-wake cycles, hormone balance, and cognitive abilities, which are regulated by the central Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) and peripheral clocks. Disruptions to circadian rhythms, which may be caused by aging, lifestyle factors, and environmental influences, are linked to metabolic disorders and Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDs). This review examines the reciprocal relationship between circadian control and metabolism, highlighting the molecular processes that maintain circadian rhythms and how these processes change with age.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence-Driven Digital Pathology and Genomics to Establish Patient-Derived Organoids as a Novel Alternative Model for Drug Response in Head and Neck Cancer.

Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) are emerging as advanced 3D novel alternative method (NAM) preclinical models, offering significant advantages over traditional cell lines and monolayer cultures for therapeutic development. In this study, we established PDOs from surgically resected fresh tissues of human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) across anatomical sites, tumor T-categories, and sample types. These PDOs faithfully recapitulate the tumor's pathology, mutational profile, and drug response.

Heme drives cardiac endothelial senescence in sepsis via STING activation.

Sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction is a major contributor to sepsis-related mortality, and many patients continue to experience long-term cardiac complications after recovery. Here, we demonstrate that cardiac senescence is a key feature of sepsis-associated cardiac dysfunction, with endothelial cells identified as the predominant senescent population in septic cardiac tissue. Yet, the pathogenic drivers of endothelial senescence in sepsis remain poorly characterized.

Groundwater Quality Assessment in the Foothills of the Kumaun Himalaya, India.

Access to clean and pollutant-free drinking water is a fundamental human necessity and is underscored by the United Nations as the sixth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-6). In this context, the present study aims to assess the physicochemical quality of groundwater in the Kumaun foothills region of Uttarakhand, India. A total of 20 groundwater samples were analyzed for key parameters including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), turbidity, nitrate, fluoride, alkalinity, sulfate, magnesium, calcium, and chloride content.

Exogenous Ubiquitin Differentially Modulates the Phenotype and Function of M1 and M2 Macrophages.

Background: Unresolved inflammation is a major predictor of heart failure following myocardial infarction. Exogenous ubiquitin (eUB) is shown to decrease inflammatory response and confer cardioprotection in mice 3 days post-ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Here, we hypothesized that eUB differentially modulates the phenotype and function of M1 and M2 macrophages.

Copper(II)-mediated metalloradical activation: denitrogenative/decarboxylative annulation to 3-arylimidazo[1,2-]pyridines using tetrazolo[1,5-]pyridines and cinnamic acids.

A new approach involving copper(II)-based metalloradical activation has been explored for the synthesis of diverse 3-arylimidazo[1,2-]pyridines denitrogenative/decarboxylative intermolecular annulation of tetrazolo[1,5-]pyridines with cinnamic acids using trifluoroacetic acid and cesium carbonate in -xylene. The reaction is facile and is assumed to proceed a copper-nitrene species.

Tyrosine Peptides Alleviates Multifaceted Toxicity Linked to Expanded CGG Repeats in Fragile X‑Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome.

Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)/Fragile X-associated Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (FXPOI) are conditions caused by an elevated level of CGG repeats in the 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR) of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. These trinucleotide extended RNA repeats [r-(CGG)] produce toxic homopolymeric proteins in neuronal cells via repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation or formation of RNA foci. A promising therapeutic approach for such conditions involves identifying potent modulators, particularly those with high binding affinity and selectivity toward these expanded RNA repeats.

Effectiveness of expanded prenatal screening among consanguineous couples of Afghan descent.

Objective: The American College of Medical Genetics recommends extensive carrier screening among consanguineous couples, yet limited information is available regarding its performance among specific populations. We describe the potential utility of a large expanded carrier screening panel (>500 genes) for Afghan couples with consanguinity.

Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients who reported consanguinity and had genetic counseling consultation between 2010 and 2021 at our institution.

Evaluation of radon emanation coefficient in different types of building materials of different grain sizes.

In the present study, the emanation coefficient was calculated for different types of building materials using active and passive methods. Active measurement was carried out using a scintillation detector connected to the sample containing a small chamber (volume ∼ 1582.5 c.

Genetic parameters estimate of milk yield and composition of Bhadawari buffalo in India.

The objective of this research was to determine the genetic parameters of the test day milk yield and milk constituents (fat, Solid-not-fat, total solid, protein, and lactose) in Bhadawari buffaloes maintained at the ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Data on 2593 lactation records from 93 Bhadawari buffaloes, descended from 16 sires and 43 females were analyzed which covered a period of eight-years (2014 to 2021). In estimating the genetic parameters of all the traits under consideration, the Bayesian approach and Restricted Maximum Likelihood method were employed.

Different Mechanisms in Doxorubicin-Induced Neurotoxicity: Impact of BRCA Mutations.

The genotoxic drug doxorubicin (Dox) remains one of the most powerful chemotherapeutic options available for a wide range of cancers including breast, ovarian, and other cancers. However, emerging evidence links Dox treatment with chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment, a condition that is popularly referred to as Dox-induced neurotoxicity or "chemobrain", which limits the use of the drug. There are no specific treatments for Dox-induced neurotoxicity, only interventions to mitigate the neurotoxic effects of the drug.

Elucidating Antibody Conjugation and Orientation Dynamics on Phenylalanine-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles: The Role of Lipid Coating and Other Physiological Conditions.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with antibodies offer significant potential to advance biomedical applications due to their unique optical properties and the specificity of antibody-antigen interactions. A critical aspect of optimizing these AuNP-based systems is the effective adsorption of antibodies on the nanoparticle surface. Recent research has focused on developing new strategies to enhance antibody loading and orientation, with the aim of improving antibody activity.

Repurposing Oseltamivir Against CG Repeat Mediated Toxicity in Huntington's Disease and Spinocerebellar Ataxia Using Cellular and Model.

Huntington's disease (HD) and Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA) are debilitating neurological disorders triggered by the expansion of CG sequences within the specific genes (HTT and ATXN, respectively). These are characterized as poly glutamine (polyQ) disorders, which are marked by widespread neurodegeneration and metabolic irregularities across systemic, cellular, and intracellular levels. This study aimed to identify small molecules that specifically interact with and target the toxic CG repeat RNA.

A hybrid learning network with progressive resizing and PCA for diagnosis of cervical cancer on WSI slides.

Current artificial intelligence (AI) trends are revolutionizing medical image processing, greatly improving cervical cancer diagnosis. Machine learning (ML) algorithms can discover patterns and anomalies in medical images, whereas deep learning (DL) methods, specifically convolutional neural networks (CNNs), are extremely accurate at identifying malignant lesions. Deep models that have been pre-trained and tailored through transfer learning and fine-tuning become faster and more effective, even when data is scarce.

Exploring the Genetic Orchestra of Cancer: The Interplay Between Oncogenes and Tumor-Suppressor Genes.

Cancer is complex because of the critical imbalance in genetic regulation as characterized by both the overexpression of oncogenes (OGs), mainly through mutations, amplifications, and translocations, and the inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs), which entail the preservation of genomic integrity by inducing apoptosis to counter the malignant growth. Reviewing the intricate molecular interplay between OGs and TSGs draws attention to their cell cycle, apoptosis, and cancer metabolism regulation. In the present review, we discuss seminal discoveries, such as Knudson's two-hit hypothesis, which framed the field's understanding of cancer genetics, leading to the next breakthroughs with next-generation sequencing and epigenetic profiling, revealing novel insights into OG and TSG dysregulation with opportunities for targeted therapy.

Attenuation of c-Myc expression in breast cancer by hesperidin-mediated stabilization of its promoter proximal G quadruplex region.

Hesperidin, a citrus flavanone, demonstrates significant potential as an anticancer agent by targeting the c-Myc G-quadruplex (G4) silencer element (Pu-27), a key epigenetic regulator of c-Myc expression. Molecular docking analysis revealed a strong interaction with Pu-27 (binding energy: -48.344 kcal/mol), forming hydrogen bonds across five critical regions.