Hepatocyte KCTD17-mediated SERPINA3 inhibition determines liver fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease. Available therapies show inconsistent results on fibrosis, probably due to heterogeneity in disease trajectory or incomplete understanding of molecular determinants. Here we identified increased KCTD17 levels in patients with MASH, and in dietary rodent models of MASH-such as those fed a diet high in palmitate, sucrose and cholesterol coupled with fructose-containing drinking water or a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet-which showed an inverse correlation with the expression of serine protease inhibitor a3k (SERPINA3 in humans, Serpina3k in mice).

Encoding the glucose identity by discrete hypothalamic neurons via the gut-brain axis.

Animals need daily intakes of three macronutrients: sugar, protein, and fat. Under fasted conditions, however, animals prioritize sugar as a primary source of energy. They must detect ingested sugar-specifically D-glucose-and quickly report its presence to the brain.

Autophagy-Regulating, Photothermal Polydopamine-Coated, and Photodynamic Zirconium/Porphyrin-Framed Metal-Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Doxorubicin Therapy in Colon Cancer.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have immense potential for biomedical applications. This paper reports the development of multifunctional zirconium-based metal-organic framework (ZrMOF) nanohybrids, featuring a photodynamic porphyrin-framed zirconium cluster with photothermal polydopamine (PD) coating. The PD-coated ZrMOF (PD/ZrMOF) nanohybrids exhibit enhanced colloidal stability and biocompatibility.

Automated diagnosis for extraction difficulty of maxillary and mandibular third molars and post-extraction complications using deep learning.

Optimal surgical methods require accurate prediction of extraction difficulty and complications. Although various automated methods related to third molar (M3) extraction have been proposed, none fully predict both extraction difficulty and post-extraction complications. This study proposes an automatic diagnosis method based on state-of-the-art semantic segmentation and classification models to predict the extraction difficulty of maxillary and mandibular M3s and possible complications (sinus perforation and inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury).

TRIM22 functions as a scaffold protein for autophagy initiation.

Tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins are increasingly recognized as important regulators of autophagy under various physiological and pathological conditions. TRIM22 has been previously shown to mediate autophagosome-lysosome fusion, but its potential role in earlier stages of autophagy remained unexplored. In this study, we investigated the function of TRIM22 in autophagy initiation.

A depression-associated protein FKBP5 functions in autophagy initiation through scaffolding the VPS34 complex.

Common variants in the FKBP5 gene have been implicated in recurrence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and response to antidepressant treatment. Although the relationship between FKBP5 and MDD has been revealed through several studies, the detailed molecular mechanisms by which FKBP5 regulates responsiveness to antidepressants have not been fully understood. Here, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of FKBP5 in autophagy initiation and its potential role in the antidepressant response.

ESCRT-III: a versatile membrane remodeling machinery and its implications in cellular processes and diseases.

The endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) machinery is an evolutionarily conserved cytosolic protein complex that plays a crucial role in membrane remodeling and scission events across eukaryotes. Initially discovered for its function in multivesicular body (MVB) formation, the ESCRT complex has since been implicated in a wide range of membrane-associated processes, including endocytosis, exocytosis, cytokinesis, and autophagy. Recent advances have elucidated the ESCRT assembly pathway and highlighted the distinct functions of the various ESCRT complexes and their associated partners.

Preliminary research on tailored fluid therapy in pigs: comparing customized ionic solutions with Hartmann's solution.

Background: Fluid therapy in veterinary medicine is pivotal for treating various conditions in pigs; however, standard solutions, such as Hartmann's solution, may not optimally align with pig physiology. This study explored the development and efficacy of a customized fluid therapy tailored to the ionic concentrations of pig blood, aiming to enhance treatment outcomes and safety in both healthy and diseased pigs.

Results: The study involved two experiments: the first to assess the safety and stability of customized fluids in healthy pigs, and the second to evaluate the efficacy in pigs with clinical symptoms of dehydration.

Analysis of blood composition by porcine breeding cycle.

Background: Pigs for biomedical research are administered commercial fluids made for human consumption when they receive intravenous (IV) fluid therapy. Although pigs and humans have slightly different bodily fluid compositions, the composition shift happens at the same rate as their rapid growth.

Objective: The study aimed to analyse the composition of porcine blood according to breeding cycle using a portable blood analyser and provides data for developing customized IV fluids for pigs.

TRIM22 facilitates autophagosome-lysosome fusion by mediating the association of GABARAPs and PLEKHM1.

Tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins are a large family of E3 ubiquitin ligases implicated in antiviral defense systems, tumorigenesis, and protein quality control. TRIM proteins contribute to protein quality control by regulating the ubiquitin-proteasome system, endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation, and macroautophagy/autophagy. However, the detailed mechanisms through which various TRIM proteins regulate downstream events have not yet been fully elucidated.

Optimization of electrochemical regeneration of intercalated MXene for the adsorptive removal of ciprofloxacin: Prospective mechanism.

2D-TiCT MXene nanosheets intercalated with sodium ions (SI-TiCT) were synthesized and utilized in simultaneous adsorption and electrochemical regeneration with ciprofloxacin (CPX). The primary focus of this study is to investigate the long-term stability of SI-Ti3C2Tx MXene and to propose the underlying regeneration mechanisms. The successful synthesis of TiAlC, TiCT MXene, and SI-TiCT MXene was confirmed using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.

Antioxidant Effects of Myo-Inositol Improve the Function and Fertility of Cryopreserved Boar Semen.

During cryopreservation, sperm undergoes structural and molecular changes such as ice crystal formation, DNA fragmentation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to decreased sperm quality after thawing. Antioxidants play a crucial role in preventing these damages, both in vivo and in vitro. One potent antioxidant is myo-inositol, known for its protective effects on sperm against ROS.

BattleSound: A Game Sound Benchmark for the Sound-Specific Feedback Generation in a Battle Game.

A haptic sensor coupled to a gamepad or headset is frequently used to enhance the sense of immersion for game players. However, providing haptic feedback for appropriate sound effects involves specialized audio engineering techniques to identify target sounds that vary according to the game. We propose a deep learning-based method for sound event detection (SED) to determine the optimal timing of haptic feedback in extremely noisy environments.

Protective effect of TPP-Niacin on microgravity-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction of retinal epithelial cells.

Adverse effects of spaceflight on the human body are attritubuted to microgravity and space radiation. One of the most sensitive organs affected by them is the eye, particularly the retina. The conditions that astronauts suffer, such as visual acuity, is collectively called a spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS); however, the underlying molecular mechanism of the microgravity-induced ocular pathogenesis is not clearly understood.

Autophagy: Guardian of Skin Barrier.

Autophagy is a major degradation pathway that removes harmful intracellular substances to maintain homeostasis. Various stressors, such as starvation and oxidative stress, upregulate autophagy, and the dysregulation of autophagy is associated with various human diseases, including cancer and skin diseases. The skin is the first defense barrier against external environmental hazards such as invading pathogens, ultraviolet rays, chemical toxins, and heat.

Development of Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers: From CSF- to Blood-Based Biomarkers.

In the 115 years since the discovery of Alzheimer's disease (AD), our knowledge, diagnosis, and therapeutics have significantly improved. Biomarkers are the primary tools for clinical research, diagnostics, and therapeutic monitoring in clinical trials. They provide much insightful information, and while they are not clinically used routinely, they help us to understand the mechanisms of this disease.

Intersection between Redox Homeostasis and Autophagy: Valuable Insights into Neurodegeneration.

Autophagy, a main degradation pathway for maintaining cellular homeostasis, and redox homeostasis have recently been considered to play protective roles in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in neurons can induce mitochondrial damage and protein aggregation, thereby resulting in neurodegeneration. Oxidative stress is one of the major activation signals for the induction of autophagy.

Identification of Cathepsin D as a Plasma Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease.

Although Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, there are still no drugs available to treat or prevent AD effectively. Here, we examined changes in levels of selected proteins implicated in the pathogenesis of AD using plasma samples of control subjects and patients with cognition impairment. To precisely categorize the disease, fifty-six participants were examined with clinical cognitive tests, amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scan, and white matter hyperintensities scored by magnetic resonance imaging.

A cone-beam computed tomography study of the prevalence and location of the second mesiobuccal root canal in maxillary molars.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the incidence and location of the second mesiobuccal root (MB2) canal in maxillary molars with the aid of various measuring points and lines using cone-beam computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: A total of 205 images of patients who underwent cone-beam CT examinations between 2011 and 2015 as part of their dental diagnosis and treatment were included. There were 76 images of the maxillary first molar and 135 images of the maxillary second molar.

Inflammasome-mediated Inflammation by Malassezia in human keratinocytes: A comparative analysis with different strains.

Malassezia species are associated with several common dermatologic conditions including pityriasis versicolor, seborrhoeic dermatitis, folliculitis, and atopic dermatitis and dandruff. However, its causal role remains to be established. We intended to explore the role of inflammasome activation in human keratinocytes in response to three different Malassezia species.

Contribution of Autophagy-Notch1-Mediated NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation to Chronic Inflammation and Fibrosis in Keloid Fibroblasts.

Keloid is a representative chronic fibroproliferative condition that occurs after tissue injury. Emerging evidence showed that activation of NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in the pro-inflammatory response in injured tissues. However, the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in keloid progression remains unclear.

Cep215 is essential for morphological differentiation of astrocytes.

Cep215 (also known as Cdk5rap2) is a centrosome protein which is involved in microtubule organization. Cep215 is also placed at specific subcellular locations and organizes microtubules outside the centrosome. Here, we report that Cep215 is involved in morphological differentiation of astrocytes.