Design of peptide-based PAC1 antagonists combining molecular dynamics simulations and a biologically relevant cell-based assay.

The PACAP receptor PAC1 is a G-coupled family B1 GPCR for which the highest-affinity endogenous peptide ligands are the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptides PACAP38 and PACAP27, and whose most abundant endogenous ligand is PACAP38. PACAP action at PAC1 is implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders, atherosclerosis, pain chronification, and protection from neurodegeneration and ischemia. As PACAP also interacts with two related receptors, VPAC1 and VPAC2, highly selective ligands, both agonists and antagonists, for PAC1 have been sought.

Development and Validation of a Pathomics-Based Prognostic Model for Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma Undergoing First-Line EGFR-TKI Therapy.

Background: Accurate prognostic prediction is crucial for personalized treatment of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) receiving epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This study aims to develop and validate a pathomics-based prognostic model for EGFR-TKI-treated patients with LUAD.

Patients And Methods: Data from 122 patients with LUAD who underwent first-line EGFR-TKI therapy were retrospectively analyzed.

Retraction notice to "Pituitary tumor transforming gene 1 promotes proliferation and malignant phenotype in osteosarcoma via NF-κB signaling" [J Orthopaed Sci 29 (2024) 306-314].

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/article-withdrawal).

Manufacturing Process Analysis and Tea Chemical Component Characterization on Ann Tea Quality Formation.

Ann tea is a traditional Chinese dark tea produced in Anhui Province, and it is beloved by consumers for its pleasant flavor and health attribute. Here, the detailed manufacturing process was investigated, and samples from key processing steps were chemical characterized. During the manufacturing process, about 15% of catechins and monosaccharide were significantly reduced and transformed to polymers, such as theanine-glucose, procyanidin dimer, and theasinensins.

High-Performance Wide-Temperature Zinc-Ion Batteries with K/CN Co-Intercalated Ammonium Vanadate Cathodes.

NHVO (NVO) is considered a promising cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity. However, its practical application is limited by irreversible deamination, structural collapse, and sluggish reaction kinetics during cycling. Herein, K and CN co-intercalated NVO (KNVO-CN) nanosheets with expanded interlayer spacing are synthesized for the first time to achieve high-rate, stable, and wide-temperature cathodes.

Cardiomyopathy Screening Adherence Among Medicaid-Enrolled Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer.

Background: Childhood cancer survivors face increased risks of adverse cardiovascular outcomes due to treatment exposures. National guidelines recommend periodic cardiomyopathy screening for survivors exposed to anthracyclines or radiation. We examined the receipt of and the adherence to guideline-recommended cardiomyopathy testing (echocardiogram, multigated acquisition scan, magnetic resonance imaging) among Medicaid-enrolled childhood cancer survivors.

Analysis of the Differences in Rhizosphere Microbial Communities and Pathogen Adaptability in Chili Root Rot Disease Between Continuous Cropping and Rotation Cropping Systems.

In chili cultivation, obstacles to continuous cropping significantly compromise crop yield and soil health, whereas crop rotation can enhance the microbial environment of the soil and reduce disease incidence. However, its effects on the diversity of rhizosphere soil microbial communities are not clear. In this study, we analyzed the composition and characteristics of rhizosphere soil microbial communities under chili continuous cropping (CC) and chili-cotton crop rotation (CR) using high-throughput sequencing technology.

CAF-Driven Mechanotransduction via Collagen Remodeling Accelerates Tumor Cell Cycle Progression.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) restructure collagen hydrogels via actomyosin-driven fibril bundling and crosslinking, increasing polymer density to generate mechanical stress that accelerates tumor proliferation. Conventional hydrogel models lack spatial heterogeneity, thus obscuring how localized stiffness gradients regulate cell cycle progression. To address this, we developed a collagen hydrogel-based microtissue platform integrated with programmable microstrings (single/double tethering), enabling real-time quantification of gel densification mechanics and force transmission efficiency.

Health Care Setting and Minimally Adequate Depression Treatment Among Publicly Insured Children.

Importance: The prevalence of depression among children and adolescents has increased, yet many do not receive adequate treatment. The rise of telemental health care highlights the need to examine how delivery setting changes are associated with depression care.

Objective: To estimate the association between service delivery setting (telehealth vs clinic-only care) and the receipt of mental health treatment among publicly insured children and adolescents with depression.

Perceived discrimination, patient-provider communication, and quality of life among breast cancer survivors: a mediation analysis.

Purpose: Breast cancer is common among women in the US and can impact survivors' quality of life (QoL). Perceived discrimination, defined as unfair treatment based on group membership, is often associated with poorer QoL, while effective patient-provider communication is often linked to better QoL. However, whether communication can mitigate the negative effects of discrimination remains unclear.

Hydroxyl safflower yellow A regulates bone-fat balance in osteoporosis by SphK1/S1P/S1PR signaling pathway.

Osteoporosis is hallmarked by marrow adiposity, whereas the involvement of sphingosine kinase-1(SphK1)/sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)/sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors(S1PR) mediated signaling in adipocyte/osteoblast lineage commitment remains elusive. While Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) attenuates estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss, its pharmacological mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Our investigations in ovariectomized (OVX) murine models revealed that SphK1 ablation diminished osteoblast-specific markers (Procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide [PINP], Osteocalcin [OCN], Osteoprotegerin [OPG]), disrupted trabecular microarchitecture, and exacerbated adipose conversion through suppression of SphK1/S1PR2 coupled with Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) upregulation.

3D-Printed Customized Endoprosthetic Reconstruction Following Resection of Metatarsal Malignancy: Case Series and Review of Reconstructive Strategies.

Background: Malignant tumors of the metatarsals are relatively rare, presenting unique challenges in limb salvage surgery and functional reconstruction because of their critical role in weightbearing and foot biomechanics. This study aims to provide a basic assessment of the clinical outcomes of 3D-printed customized metatarsal endoprosthesis for the reconstruction of bone defects following the resection of metatarsal malignancy.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 6 patients with malignant metatarsal tumors who underwent tumor resection and reconstruction using 3D-printed customized endoprostheses.

Clinical Application of 3D-Printed Custom Hemipelvic Prostheses With Re-Entrant Chiral Structure in Reconstruction After Pelvic Tumor Resection.

Objectives: Pelvic reconstruction with conventional 3D-printed prostheses faces a critical trade-off, where achieving sufficient porosity for optimal bone ingrowth often compromises essential mechanical stability. To address this challenge, this study evaluates the clinical outcomes of 3D-printed hemipelvic prostheses incorporating re-entrant chiral structure (RCS), a novel negative Poisson's ratio design, in patients undergoing pelvic reconstruction following tumor resection.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 15 patients (eight females and seven males; mean age: 39.

Reversible Self-Coiling of Microfibers with Tailored Surfaces via Elastocapillarity.

Coiled microfibers, ubiquitous in nature, serve as critical building blocks with capabilities including stimuli responsiveness, mechanical reinforcement, and protective functions. Despite their potential, replicating nature's control over microfiber coiling has remained a challenge, particularly when attempting to achieve reversible coiling. In this study, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) network microfibers are produced and reactive ion etching (RIE) is employed to induce a differential interfacial energy that drives spontaneous self-coiling in fluidic environments.

Absolute Length Distribution of Human Telomeres with Single-Molecule Techniques.

Human telomeres exhibit progressive shortening with each replication cycle. This phenomenon plays a critical role in the onset of senescence and the development of cancers. The measurement of absolute telomere length (TL) is not only serving as a marker of aging, but also holds substantial medical relevance.

Targeted regulation of properties and microbial communities in tobacco continuous cropping obstacle soils using different types of biochar.

Continuous cropping obstacle (CCO) is a widespread and intractable issue in crops cultivation. As a green, low-carbon and environmentally friendly material for improving soil quality, biochar has been applied in agricultural production. This study utilized agricultural solid waste to prepare three types of biochar materials (RB: rice straw biochar, PB: pig manure biochar, SB: sludge biochar) and applied them to the improvement of tobacco soil after 15 years of continuous cropping, aiming to investigate their ameliorative effects on soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities.

Functional insights into 4-coumarate-CoA ligase and caffeic acid O-methyltransferase genes involved in lignin biosynthesis in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata).

Lignin biosynthesis is vital for plant growth and development. In model plants, 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL) and caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) are key regulators of lignin content and composition. However, their functions in gymnosperms, especially conifers, remain largely unexplored.

Effect of myofibrillar protein structure changes mediated by NaCl on the binding capacity of volatile compounds in Cantonese sausage.

Sodium chloride (NaCl) has an indispensable effect on Cantonese sausage flavor, while its mechanism is far from clear. This study examined how NaCl affects the flavor of Cantonese sausage by altering myofibrillar protein (MP) structure and its binding to key volatile compounds. The results showed that NaCl concentration most affected the esters in Cantonese sausage.

On-chip nonvolatile and erasable silicon waveguide filter based on a low-loss phase-change material.

Silicon waveguide filters are considered an indispensable component for on-chip optical signal processing, spectrum analysis, and neural networks, where its filtering function is determined after fabrication. Electro-optical tuning or thermo-optical tuning can only slightly change the filter spectrum. We propose a nonvolatile and erasable silicon waveguide filter based on the low-loss phase change material SbSe.

A common structural mechanism for RNA recognition by the SF3B complex in mRNA splicing and export.

The SF3B complex plays a critical role in branch point adenosine recognition during pre-mRNA splicing. Its largest subunit SF3B1 is frequently mutated in cancers, leading to aberrant alternative splicing. Besides its function in pre-mRNA splicing, the SF3B complex also binds mature or intronless mRNAs to facilitate their nuclear export.

Macrophage Response to Avirulent and Virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Anti-TB Effects of Exosome Treatment.

Tuberculosis (TB) returned as the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent in 2023. Human-macrophages and their secreted exosomes play important roles in combating invading Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). However, panoramic analysis of the underlying immune mechanism for infected macrophages, package mechanism and anti-TB effect of Mtb treated exosomes remain understood.

6-Hydroxynicotinic Acid From Cucumis melo Inhibits Prehaustorium Formation in Phelipanche aegyptiaca via Disruption of Auxin Signalling Pathway.

Phelipanche aegyptiaca, a root holoparasitic weed, severely threatens agricultural productivity due to its detrimental effects. This species relies on a specialised organ, namely the haustorium, to extract nutrients from its host plants. The germination and haustorium formation of P.

CRISPR screening reveals that RNA helicase DDX41 triggers ribosome biogenesis and cancer progression through R-loop-mediated RPL/RPS transcription.

The RNA helicase DDX41 is a DEAD-box helicase that is well known as a virus sensor in dendritic cells and a tumor suppressor that is frequently mutated in myeloid neoplasms. However, the functions and relevance of DDX41 in solid tumors remain largely unexplored. In this study, through in vivo CRISPR screening, we demonstrate that DDX41 is highly expressed in various solid tumor types and promotes tumorigenicity in liver cancer.

Physician Billing for Advance Care Planning Among Medicare Fee-For-Service Beneficiaries, 2016-2021.

Introduction: In 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services started reimbursing practitioners for their time spent providing advance care planning (ACP) with patients. This study assessed utilization of this policy by examining trends in ACP billing across medical specialties from 2016 to 2021 and differences in ACP service volume by metropolitan status.

Methods: The authors analyzed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment files (2016-2021) from 6 specialty groups using corresponding Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes to derive trends in the percentage of practitioners billing any ACP visit.

Mannose receptor targeted PLGA nanoparticles ofEucommia ulmoidespolysaccharide through the MAPK and NF-κB pathway to enhance the immune activity of BMDCs.

Mannosylated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulating Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides (EOPP) were developed as a targeted immunomodulatory delivery system. In vitro evaluations confirmed that EOPP exhibited low cytotoxicity toward spleen lymphocytes while significantly increasing their proliferation and cytokine secretion (IL-6 and IFN-γ). When co-delivered with ovalbumin (MN-EOPP/OVA), the system further enhanced the secretion of TNF-α, IL-12, IL-6, and IFN-γ by immune cells and induced cytoskeletal remodeling and maturation in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs).