Sortase-mediated surface display of a chimeric immunogen on Bacillus subtilis: a chicken necrotic enteritis vaccine candidate.

The application of sortase-mediated surface display technology on Bacillus subtilis represents a novel approach in protein engineering. We developed and evaluated a recombinant chimeric protein (R-anz) integrating truncated forms of three Clostridium perfringens toxins (CPA, NetB, ZMP) displayed on B. subtilis.

Evaluation of the Wondfo G6PD/Hb Test for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: preliminary performance, matrix equivalence, and usability.

Background: Current treatment guidelines for radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria recommend the use of 8-aminoquinolines, which can result in life-threatening complications in people with glucose-6-phsophate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Testing for this condition is recommended prior to administering such drugs. The Wondfo G6PD/Hb Test (Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co.

Deciphering the role of monoacylglycerol lipases (MAGL) under abiotic stress and lipid metabolism in soybean (Glycine max L.).

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is involved in the last step of triacylglycerol breakdown by hydrolysing the monoacylglycerol (MAG) to free fatty acid and glycerol. In the present study, 21 and 38 MAGL genes were identified in Glycine max (cultivated soybean) and Glycine soja (wild) genomes, respectively. Gene-specific association performed using whole genome resequencing data by mixed linear model showed a significant association with total seed oil, linolenic, and oleic acid content.

Deciphering coulombic loss in lithium-ion batteries and beyond.

Lithium-ion batteries are pivotal for modern energy storage, yet accurately predicting their lifespan remains a critical challenge. While descriptors like coulombic efficiency are widely used to assess battery longevity, the unclear physical origins of coulombic losses cause semi-quantitative correlation with capacity, complicating battery development. Here, we combine high-precision leakage current and open-circuit-voltage measurements with charge conservation principles to explore microscopic charge consumptions at electrode-electrolyte interfaces across diverse chemistries.

Integrated artificial intelligence in healthcare and the patient's experience of care.

Healthcare is plagued with many problems that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can ameliorate or sometimes amplify. Regardless, AI is changing the way we reason towards solutions, especially at the frontier of public health applications where autonomous and co-pilot AI integrated systems are now rapidly adopted for mainstream use in both clinical and non-clinical settings. In this regard, we present empirical analysis of thematic concerns that affect patients within AI integrated healthcare systems and how the experience of care may be influenced by the degree of AI integration.

The SRG rat as a novel host for an orthotopic patient-derived xenograft model of breast cancer brain metastasis.

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models are essential for understanding the pathophysiology and developing treatment strategies for breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM). While immunodeficient mouse models allow for human BCBM growth, their small size limits host survival, neurological imaging and therapeutic interventions. This study evaluated the immunodeficient SRG rat (Sprague Dawley Rag2-/-; Il2rg-/-) as a new intermediate-sized host for orthotopic modeling of human BCBM.

De novo Genome Assembly and Annotation of 12 Fungi Associated with Fruit Tree Decline Syndrome in ON, Canada.

Apple and stone fruit trees are vital components of Ontario's agricultural landscape. However, since 2016, these trees have been facing alarming mortality rates, exhibiting symptoms collectively referred to as Fruit Tree Decline (FTD) and Rapid Apple Decline (RAD). Despite its widespread occurrence, the exact cause of FTD and RAD remains elusive, with various pathogenic fungi and viruses implicated, along with abiotic stressors such as drought, winter injury and nutrient deficiency.

Building Mental Health Care Literacy in Oncology Nurses: Impact of an Effective Training Program.

Background: This study evaluates the effectiveness of a training program on mental health literacy (MHL) outcomes among participating nurses.

Method: A mixed method approach was used. Quantitative data were collected with pre- and posttraining MHL assessment surveys.

Spindle morphology changes between meiosis and mitosis driven by CK2 regulation of the Ran pathway.

The transition from meiotic divisions in the oocyte to embryonic mitoses is a critical step in animal development. Despite negligible changes to cell size and shape, following fertilization the small, barrel-shaped meiotic spindle is replaced by a large zygotic spindle that nucleates abundant astral microtubules at spindle poles. To probe underlying mechanisms, we applied a drug treatment approach using Ciona eggs and found that inhibition of casein kinase 2 (CK2) caused a shift from meiotic to mitotic-like spindle morphology with nucleation of robust astral microtubules, an effect reproduced in Xenopus egg cytoplasmic extracts.

Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis: lesson learned to develop better nonhuman primate models.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder with a complex etiology, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is considered the leading cause. While understanding the role of EBV infection in the pathogenesis of MS in human subjects is crucial, animal models, particularly nonhuman primates (NHPs), would provide an ideal controlled environment for testing EBV hypotheses and identifying potential therapeutic targets. Here in this Review we address clinically relevant questions regarding the link between EBV infection and MS to inform the development and refinement of virally induced NHP models.

Successful management of recurrent thrombosis of prosthetic mitral valve induced by eosinophilia secondary to parasitic infection.

Acute prosthetic heart valve thrombosis (PHVT) is a severe complication affecting patients who have undergone heart valve replacement surgery. We present a case of acute recurrent PHVT associated with parasite-induced eosinophilia. A man in his early 50s with rheumatic heart disease underwent mechanical mitral valve replacement 5 years ago and received well-managed anticoagulation with regular follow-up visits.

The GmDREB5 from soybean enhanced salt tolerance by upregulating the transcription levels of NtP5CS and NtSODFe in transgenic tobacco.

Background: Salt stress is a significant challenge that disrupts soybean growth, development, yield, and quality. A few DREB genes in the soybean have been reported to activate downstream genes in response to abiotic stresses; however, the functions of many soybean DREB, including DREB5, remain uncharacterized. This study aimed to determine the expression of the GmDREB5 and its effects on the transcription of the NtP5CS and NtSODFe in tobacco's response to salt stress.

From Docking and Molecular Dynamics to Experimental Discovery: Exploring the Hydrophobic Landscapes of Heparanase to Design Potent Inhibitors.

Heparanase (HPSE), a glycoside hydrolase that cleaves heparan sulfate chains, plays a crucial role in cancer progression by remodeling the extracellular matrix and facilitating tumor metastasis. This study employed a computational design approach to develop novel HPSE inhibitors using aminoglycoside paromomycin and neomycin analogs. These analogs feature a defined -sulfation sequence combined with either charged or hydrophobic groups.

Integrated treatment-decision algorithms for childhood TB: modelling diagnostic performance and costs.

Background: To improve childhood tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, treatment-decision algorithms (TDAs) with and without chest X-ray (CXR) were developed for children under age 10. We aimed to model diagnostic performance and costs of implementing TDAs in primary healthcare (PHC) and district hospital (DH) settings in Uganda.

Methods: We developed decision-tree models following the TDA pathway from evaluation to treatment-decision.

Development of a questionnaire to screen for chronic obstructive respiratory diseases in low- and middle-income countries.

Spirometry is the keystone to diagnosing chronic obstructive respiratory diseases (CORD), but it is unavailable in Vietnam. The study aims to develop a questionnaire to screen patients requiring spirometry.This cross-sectional study included consecutive volunteers visiting District 10 and District 12 hospitals in Vietnam.

Prevalence of frailty among older patients with acute ischemic stroke and its association with short-term functional outcome: a cohort study in Vietnam.

Background: Among older adults with acute illnesses, frailty is common and strongly associated with poorer prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of pre-stroke frailty and its association with short-term functional outcomes in older patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods: We included consecutive AIS patients aged ≥ 60 years admitted to a hospital in Vietnam.

Association of Total Body Surface Area and Body Part With Mental Health Outcomes in Pediatric Burn Patients.

Introduction: Burn injuries in children are associated with negative impacts on psychological and emotional well-being, yet specific risk indicators are not well researched. We hypothesize that children with greater total body surface area (TBSA) burned and burns in highly visible and functionally significant body parts are more likely to experience negative mental health outcomes compared to their counterparts.

Materials And Methods: Database review of 178 pediatric burn patients (median age: 13 ± 2.

Electrons and Their Multiple Kinetic Fates in an Ionic Liquid.

Ionic liquids (ILs) for electrochemical, nuclear, and solar energy applications operate under harsh conditions, where electrons and transient radical species can form. This communication discusses why anions such as bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (TfN) are reduced at the electron-rich electrode whereas in laser photoionization or pulse radiolysis studies, where electrons are ejected from species in the bulk, we often detect long-lived electrons in cavities that interact with IL cations instead. This work argues that bulk excess electrons generated photolytically or radiolytically follow kinetically favored pathways.

Isolation, structural elucidation, and integrated biological and computational evaluation of antidiabetic labdane diterpenes from rhizomes.

The phytochemical investigation of the EtOAc-soluble extract of the rhizomes of (Berg.) Roscoe led to the isolation of five labdane-type diterpenes, including a previously undescribed norditerpene, zedolabdin A (CZ1), and four known compounds (CZ2-CZ5). The structures of these compounds were elucidated using NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and IR spectroscopy, supported by comparisons with literature data.

Eosinophilic myocarditis due to parasitic infection: A case-based minireview.

Eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) is a rare inflammatory condition of the heart, often associated with eosinophilic infiltration. While its causes range from allergies to autoimmune and infectious diseases, parasitic infections are an uncommon but critical etiology. This mini-review focuses on a case of EM in a 47-year-old male from Vietnam, linked to , , and infections.

Arterial spin labeling perfusion MRI differentiates between radiation necrosis and tumor in brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery.

Background: Accurate differentiation between radiation necrosis (RN) and tumor in brain metastases (BM) treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) can be challenging, but it is important because an accurate diagnosis impacts clinical management. In this study, we evaluated the utility of arterial spin labeling perfusion MRI (ASL-MRI) to accomplish this task.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 45 patients with 52 previously irradiated BM who had ASL-MRI prior to surgical resection.

Melioidosis Presenting as Chronic Pneumonia With Soft Tissue Abscess in a Diabetic Patient Initially Treated for Tuberculosis: A Case Report From Vietnam.

A 46-year-old diabetic Vietnamese engineer presented with a 2-month fever and left foot swelling. Chest imaging showed bilateral nodules with right apical cavitation, prompting empirical anti-tuberculosis therapy. Despite positive Xpert MTB/RIF and 1 month of treatment, his condition worsened.

Physiologic, Genetic and Epigenetic Determinants of Water Deficit Tolerance in Fruit Trees.

Fruits are increasingly recognized as an important part of a healthy diet. Fruit crops represent a wide range of woody perennial species grown in orchards. Water availability is a primary environmental factor limiting fruit crop growth and productivity.

Dengue Infections Among Household Contacts of Symptomatic Index Cases: Implications for Community-Based Intervention Studies.

Background: Dengue is a global health concern, with half of the world's population at risk and no antiviral treatment available. This Phase 0 study investigated dengue infections among household contacts (HHCs) of dengue index cases (ICs) and assessed the feasibility of conducting a Phase 2 trial for a novel antiviral.

Methods: Participants were enrolled in Nha Trang, Vietnam, from April 2022 to February 2023.

Calculating Strain Energy Release Rate, Stress Intensity Factor and Crack Propagation of an FGM Plate by Finite Element Method Based on Energy Methods.

In the field of crack mechanics, predicting the direction of a crack is important because this will evaluate whether, when the crack propagates, it penetrates into important areas and whether the structure is dangerous or not. This paper will refer to three theories that predict the propagation direction of cracks: a theory of maximum tangential normal stress, a theory of maximum energy release, and a theory of minimum strain energy density. At the same time, the finite element method (FEM)-ANSYS program will be used to calculate stress intensity factors (SIFs), strain energy release rate (J-integral), stress field, displacement near a crack tip, and crack propagation phenomenon based on the above theories.