Interactions between bacterial vaginosis-associated microbiota and Trichomonas vaginalis modulate parasite-induced pathogenicity and host immune responses.

Background: Trichomoniasis, caused by Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv), is the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection (STI). Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterized by a reduction in health-associated Lactobacillus and an overgrowth of anaerobes. Both BV-associated bacteria (BVB) and Tv are linked to adverse gynecologic outcomes.

Correction: Lin et al. Induction of HO-1 by Mevastatin Mediated via a Nox/ROS-Dependent c-Src/PDGFRα/PI3K/Akt/Nrf2/ARE Cascade Suppresses TNF-α-Induced Lung Inflammation. 2020, , 226.

In the original publication [...

Taiwanese green propolis suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation and induces Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to reduce periodontal pathogen-induced endothelial inflammation.

Objective: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with systemic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), a key periodontal pathogen, contributes to vascular endothelial dysfunction through its virulence factors. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Taiwanese green propolis (TGP) against Pg-derived lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS)-induced endothelial inflammation, focusing on its modulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways.

GOBeacon: An ensemble model for protein function prediction enhanced by contrastive learning.

Accurate prediction of protein function is fundamental to understanding biological processes, with computational methods becoming increasingly essential as experimental methods struggle to keep pace with the rate of newly discovered proteins. Despite significant advances in machine learning approaches, existing methods often fail to capture the complex relationships between protein structure, evolution, and function, leading to limited prediction accuracy. The challenge lies in effectively integrating diverse biological data types while maintaining computational efficiency.

Trichomonas vaginalis extracellular vesicles activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and TLR3-mediated inflammatory cascades in host cells.

Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is a flagellated parasite that causes trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI), with over 275 million cases annually. TV has been shown to secrete extracellular vesicles (TV-EVs) to regulate intercellular communication between parasites and host immune response; however, the mechanisms by innate immunity against TV-EVs are largely unknown. Herein, we aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms of inflammation induced by TV-EVs and identify novel proteins modulating the immune response in host cells.

Immunomodulatory roles of autophagic flux and IFIT in human ectocervical cells upon Trichomonas vaginalis infection.

Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Despite its high prevalence, the mechanisms underlying Tv-induced inflammatory responses remain poorly understood. Herein, we investigated the signaling pathways mediating Tv-induced inflammation in ectocervical cells (Ects).

Mevastatin-Induced HO-1 Expression in Cardiac Fibroblasts: A Strategy to Combat Cardiovascular Inflammation and Fibrosis.

Mevastatin (MVS) is known for its anti-inflammatory effects, potentially achieved by upregulating heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an enzyme involved in cytoprotection against oxidative injury. Nonetheless, the specific processes by which MVS stimulates HO-1 expression in human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) are not yet fully understood. In this study, we found that MVS treatment increased HO-1 mRNA and protein levels in HCFs.

Prior Bariatric Surgery Predicts Lower Life-Threatening Morbidity in Patients Admitted for Acute Allergic Reaction and Anaphylaxis: a Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of the U.S. Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2005-2018.

Purpose: Acute allergic reactions may occur in susceptible individuals following exposure to various allergens. Obesity is linked to allergic reactions, and weight loss from bariatric surgery may attenuate the severity of certain conditions such as airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma. This retrospective observational study investigates associations between prior bariatric surgery and lower risk for life-threatening conditions in patients hospitalized with acute allergic reactions and anaphylaxis.

Explainable machine learning model for identifying key gut microbes and metabolites biomarkers associated with myasthenia gravis.

Diagnostic markers for myasthenia gravis (MG) are limited; thus, innovative approaches are required for supportive diagnosis and personalized care. Gut microbes are associated with MG pathogenesis; however, few studies have adopted machine learning (ML) to identify the associations among MG, gut microbiota, and metabolites. In this study, we developed an explainable ML model to predict biomarkers for MG diagnosis.

Enhancing missense variant pathogenicity prediction with protein language models using VariPred.

Computational approaches for predicting the pathogenicity of genetic variants have advanced in recent years. These methods enable researchers to determine the possible clinical impact of rare and novel variants. Historically these prediction methods used hand-crafted features based on structural, evolutionary, or physiochemical properties of the variant.

Machine learning strategy for identifying altered gut microbiomes for diagnostic screening in myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular junction disease with a complex pathophysiology and clinical variation for which no clear biomarker has been discovered. We hypothesized that because changes in gut microbiome composition often occur in autoimmune diseases, the gut microbiome structures of patients with MG would differ from those without, and supervised machine learning (ML) analysis strategy could be trained using data from gut microbiota for diagnostic screening of MG. Genomic DNA from the stool samples of MG and those without were collected and established a sequencing library by constructing amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and completing taxonomic classification of each representative DNA sequence.

Intestinal microbiota analysis of different Blastocystis subtypes and Blastocystis-negative individuals in Taiwan.

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are the most common infectious diseases among Southeast Asian migrant workers in Taiwan, especially for infections with Blastocystis hominis. However, little is known about the impact of Blastocystis subtypes (STs) on the gut microbiota.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the prevalence of intestinal parasites in a teaching hospital in Northern Taiwan in the period of 2015-2019.

Impact of prior bariatric surgery on outcomes of hospitalized patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a propensity score-matched analysis of the U.S. nationwide inpatient sample.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects young women, has many different manifestations, and the disease severity can wax and wane.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the association between prior bariatric surgery and SLE outcomes.

Setting: A population-based, retrospective study using data from the U.

Participation of lipopolysaccharide in hyperplasic adipose expansion: Involvement of NADPH oxidase/ROS/p42/p44 MAPK-dependent Cyclooxygenase-2.

Obesity is a world-wide problem, especially the child obesity, with the complication of various metabolic diseases. Child obesity can be developed as early as the age between 2 and 6. The expansion of fat mass in child age includes both hyperplasia and hypertrophy of adipose tissue, suggesting the importance of proliferation and adipogenesis of preadipocytes.

Translational Medicine in Uremic Vascular Calcification: Scavenging ROS Attenuates p-Cresyl Sulfate-Activated Caspase-1, NLRP3 Inflammasome and Eicosanoid Inflammation in Human Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells.

We formerly proved that uremic vascular calcification (UVC) correlates tightly with oxidative elastic lamina (EL) injury and two cell fates (apoptosis and osteocytic conversion) in smooth muscle cells (SMC) of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and eliminating p-cresyl sulfate (PCS)-activated intracellular ROS ameliorates the MAPK signaling pathway in a human arterial SMC (HASMC) model. Nonetheless, whether ROS scavenger attenuates PCS-triggered inflammasome activation and eicosanoid inflammation in the UVC process remains unknown. Patients with lower extremity amputation were categorized into CKD and normal control group according to renal function.

HO-1 Upregulation by Kaempferol via ROS-Dependent Nrf2-ARE Cascade Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Intercellular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 Expression in Human Pulmonary Alveolar Epithelial Cells.

Lung inflammation is a pivotal event in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a key antioxidant enzyme that could be induced by kaempferol (KPR) and exerts anti-inflammatory effects. However, the molecular mechanisms of KPR-mediated HO-1 expression and its effects on inflammatory responses remain unknown in human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAEpiCs).

Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 attenuates angiotensin II-induced IL-6/Jak2/Stat3-associated inflammation by inhibiting NADPH oxidase- and mitochondria-derived ROS in human aortic smooth muscle cells.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common inflammatory vascular disease. Angiotensin II (Ang II) involves in AAA progression by promoting the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, the degradation of extracellular matrices, and the generation of ROS to lead to vascular inflammation. Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) is known to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.

Analysis of 180 Genetic Variants in a New Interactive FX Variant Database Reveals Novel Insights into FX Deficiency.

Coagulation factor X (FX), often termed as Stuart-Prower factor, is a plasma glycoprotein composed of the γ-carboxyglutamic acid (GLA) domain, two epidermal growth factor domains (EGF-1 and EGF-2), and the serine protease (SP) domain. FX plays a pivotal role in the coagulation cascade, activating thrombin to promote platelet plug formation and prevent excess blood loss. Genetic variants in FX disrupt coagulation and lead to FX or Stuart-Prower factor deficiency.

Analysis of 272 Genetic Variants in the Upgraded Interactive FXI Web Database Reveals New Insights into FXI Deficiency.

Coagulation Factor XI (FXI) is a plasma glycoprotein composed of four apple (Ap) domains and a serine protease (SP) domain. FXI circulates as a dimer and activates Factor IX (FIX), promoting thrombin production and preventing excess blood loss. Genetic variants that degrade FXI structure and function often lead to bleeding diatheses, commonly termed FXI deficiency.

Dissecting the Transcriptomes of Multiple Metronidazole-Resistant and Sensitive Strains Identified Distinct Genes and Pathways Associated with Drug Resistance and Cell Death.

is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Metronidazole (MTZ) is the mainstay of anti-trichomonal chemotherapy; however, drug resistance has become an increasingly worrying issue. Additionally, the molecular events of MTZ-induced cell death in remain elusive.

Vaginal Microbiota of the Sexually Transmitted Infections Caused by and in Women with Vaginitis in Taiwan.

The three most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are (CT), (GC) and (TV). The prevalence of these STIs in Taiwan remains largely unknown and the risk of STI acquisition affected by the vaginal microbiota is also elusive. In this study, a total of 327 vaginal swabs collected from women with vaginitis were analyzed to determine the presence of STIs and the associated microorganisms by using the BD Max CT/GC/TV molecular assay, microbial cultures, and 16S rRNA sequencing.

Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Molecule-2 Ameliorates Particulate Matter-Induced Aorta Inflammation via Toll-Like Receptor/NADPH Oxidase/ROS/NF-B/IL-6 Inhibition.

Particulate matter (PM), a major air pollutant, may be associated with adverse cardiovascular effects. Reactive oxygen species- (ROS-) dependent proinflammatory cytokine production, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), is a possible underlying mechanism. Carbon monoxide- (CO-) releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) which liberates exogenous CO can exert many beneficial effects, particularly anti-inflammation and antioxidant effects.