Biofortification of tomatoes with beta-carotene through targeted gene editing.

Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most severe micronutrient-related health issues worldwide. Tomatoes, a widely cultivated crop for their adaptability, nutritional value, and lycopene content (a beta-carotene precursor), are ideal candidates for biofortification. In this study, CRISPR-mediated knockout mutants (cr-SlLCYe and cr-SlBCH) were generated to enhance the precursor supply to the β-carotene biosynthetic pathway and reduce its degradation.

Multiparametric MRI-Based Machine Learning Radiomics Prognostic Models for Multifocal Hepatocellular Carcinoma Beyond Milan Criteria: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: To develop machine learning radiomics models for preoperative risk stratification of multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma (MHCC) beyond Milan criteria.

Methods: Patients with pathologically proven MHCC beyond Milan criteria between January 2015 and January 2019 were retrospectively included. Radiomic features were extracted from tumor, peritumor, and tumor-peritumor regions using multiparametric MRI (mpMRI).

Single-cell transcriptome analysis identifies MIF as a novel tumor-associated neutrophil marker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic cancer is a common cause of cancer mortality, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common subtype. Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) have been recognized as potential therapeutic targets. In this study, we utilized bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‒seq) to identify seven distinct subtypes of neutrophils in PDAC.

Text-Guided Visual Representation Optimization for Sensor-Acquired Video Temporal Grounding.

Video temporal grounding (VTG) aims to localize a semantically relevant temporal segment within an untrimmed video based on a natural language query. The task continues to face challenges arising from cross-modal semantic misalignment, which is largely attributed to redundant visual content in sensor-acquired video streams, linguistic ambiguity, and discrepancies in modality-specific representations. Most existing approaches rely on intra-modal feature modeling, processing video and text independently throughout the representation learning stage.

Muscle-building interventions improve glucose metabolism in elderly type 2 diabetic patients with sarcopenic obesity.

Background: Among all the elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) of different body compositions, patients with sarcopenic obesity exhibited the most severe degree of insulin resistance despite possessing a normal body weight. It is well-established that interventions encompassing resistance training alone or in combination with whey protein supplementation, referred to hereafter as muscle-building interventions, are effective for increasing muscle mass and function in the elderly population. However, the impact of these muscle-building interventions on glucose metabolism in elderly T2DM patients with sarcopenic obesity remains unclear.

Identification of childhood-onset lupus nephritis through integrative bioinformatics: otoferlin as a novel biomarker.

Background: Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) exhibits a higher incidence of lupus nephritis (LN) compared to adult-onset SLE (aSLE). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive.

Methods: Gene expression datasets from childhood-onset (GSE65391) and adult-onset (GSE72798) LN patients were obtained.

The role, regulation and application of plant fruit trichomes.

Trichomes, hair-like specialized epidermal structures on the surface of most plant organs, play key roles in plant defense against herbivores, reducing water loss, and shielding plants from UV radiation, among other functions. Controlling trichome development and the biosynthesis of trichome-derived specialized metabolites is a common defensive strategy adopted by plants to protect themselves from environmental stresses. However, trichomes exhibit distinctive functions in different plant tissues.

Hyperbranched Poly(citric acid) Mitigated Iron Overload Damage via Iron Chelation and Antioxidation.

Iron overload (IO) is a condition of excessive iron deposition in various organs, which can cause pathological changes. In the treatment of IO, iron chelators have toxic side effects, and antioxidants cannot decrease iron deposition. Herein, a biodegradable hyperbranched poly(citric acid) (PCA) was synthesized, and the therapeutic effects of PCA on IO were investigated based on liver and bone tissue iron injury mouse models.

TSPAN7 inhibits pancreatic cancer progression by suppressing DNA double-strand break repair and enhances sensitivity to immunochemotherapy.

Tetraspanin 7 (TSPAN7) plays a crucial role in cancer progression; however, its correlation with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. This study aimed to analyse TSPAN7 expression and prognostic value in PDAC by integrating data from public databases and our PDAC cohort. We evaluated the effect of TSPAN7 on PDAC cell proliferation and apoptosis using cell-based assays and mouse xenograft models.

Development and validation of a prognostic staging system for primary plasma cell leukemia.

Background: The existing risk models for multiple myeloma (MM) are suboptimal for the stratification of patients with primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL), a rare and peculiar MM. In this study, we aimed to develop a staging system for pPCL defined as the presence of ≥ 5% circulating plasma cells (CPC) according to the new diagnostic criteria, utilizing one of the largest series of patients with pPCL.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 340 patients with pPCL (the training cohort) from 25 centers nationwide in China.

Quantification of nitrate in simulated high-level liquid waste by Raman spectroscopy.

A rapid analysis technique for determining nitrate in simulated high-level radioactive liquid waste (HLLW) was investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The concentration of nitrate can be quantified by the sharp and strong Raman peak height at 1047 cm and peak area in the range of 1020-1070 cm from the spectrum. The maximum Raman peak intensity and peak area of water in the range of 3000-3700 cm were chosen as the internal standards.

SlWRKY75 functions as a differential regulator to enhance drought tolerance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

Drought poses a significant threat to global food security, necessitating innovations in crop drought tolerance strategies. In this study, we identified a specific transcription factor (TF), SlWRKY75, that exerts opposing regulatory functions in above- and below-ground plant tissues in the tomato. Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, two homozygous cr-wrky75 mutant lines were generated to explore the biological functions of SlWRKY75.

Progress of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, ranking among the highest in both incidence and mortality rates. Traditional Chinese medicine, with a history spanning thousands of years, has demonstrated unique efficacy and advantages in the prevention and treatment of CRC, playing a pivotal role at all levels of China's healthcare system. This article provides a comprehensive analysis and summary of traditional Chinese medicine's contributions to CRC prevention, antitumor therapy, palliative care for advanced tumors, perioperative rehabilitation, and postoperative functional recovery.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of the Hermonassa cecilia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Hermonassa cecilia is a Lepidoptera pest primarily distributed in East Asia, belonging to the subfamily Noctuinae, which includes species that typically target and damage the underground parts of plants. However, there is limited information available on the life history and genomic resources of H. cecilia to date.

Exploring novel insecticide candidates: Targeting Na,K -ATPase in Drosophila melanogaster through computational and experimental approaches.

Pest infestations have been posing a serious and persistent threat to agricultural production. Traditional insecticides are currently confronted with a multitude of problems. The discovery of novel insecticide targets and the screening of active molecules can offer an entirely new direction for surmounting the limitations of traditional insecticides and lay a solid foundation for the development of highly effective insecticides with distinctive mechanisms of action.

Exosomes as immunomodulators in autoimmune inflammation: implications for primary Sjögren's disease.

Primary Sjögren's disease (pSD) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by exocrine gland dysfunction and lymphocytic infiltration, leading to dry mouth and eyes. Increasing evidence implicates extracellular vesicles, particularly exosomes, as critical mediators of immune regulation in pSD. This review outlines the biogenesis, molecular composition, and immunomodulatory functions of exosomes, and summarizes their emerging roles in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and potential treatment of pSD.

Systemic inflammation as a mediator in the link between obesity and depression: Evidence from a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Obesity and depression are major public health issues with a complex, bidirectional relationship potentially involving systemic inflammation.

Methods: Using a diverse sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (n = 11,324; weighted population = 456,457,366), we examined the associations between obesity, systemic inflammation, and depression. Obesity was classified by Body Mass Index (BMI), depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and systemic inflammation was measured using markers like Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI), and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII).

Targeting Glutamate transport: A breakthrough in mitigating sepsis lung injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can result from various factors, including sepsis, one of the high-risk causes of ALI/ARDS. Recent research emphasizes the role of Glutamate metabolism in ALI/ARDS. Our study found a strong correlation between the difference in serological Glutamate levels of arterial vs venous blood and the progression of lung injury.

SlHDZIV3 and SlHDZIV9 Are Two Positive Regulators in the Formation of Tomato Trichomes.

Trichomes serve as the first line of defense for plants against biotic and abiotic stress. The HD-ZIP IV family plays conserved roles in regulating the development of trichomes in different species, but its specific regulatory mechanism in tomato is not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrate that SlHDZIV3 and SlHDZIV9 are positive regulators of trichome development in tomato, and they function in a partially redundant yet distinct manner.

A high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly for the agricultural pest Mythimna separata.

The oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata, poses a persistent challenge to agricultural pest management due to its strong migratory abilities and polyphagous feeding behavior. In this study, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly using Illumina, PacBio HiFi, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The final assembly spans 714.

[Effect of moxibustion combined with chemotherapy on immune checkpoints in tumor tissue of breast cancer-bearing mice].

Objectives: To observe the effects of moxibustion combined with chemotherapy on immune checkpoints including programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain (TIM-3) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) in the tumor tissue of breast cancer-bearing mice, so as to explore the effect and mechanisms of moxibustion combined with chemotherapy on breast cancer.

Methods: Forty BALB/c female mice were randomly divided into model, chemotherapy, moxibustion and combination groups, with 10 mice in each group. 4T1 tumor cells were inoculated into the fat pad under the left fourth nipple of the mice to establish the breast cancer-bearing mice model.

Adsorption and Detection of Toxic Gases on CuO-Modified SnS Monolayers: A DFT Study.

The emission of toxic gases such as NO, NO, SO, and CO from industrial activities, transportation, and energy production poses significant threats to the environment and public health. Traditional gas sensors often lack high sensitivity and selectivity. To address this, our study uses first-principles density functional theory (DFT) to investigate CuO-SnS monolayers for improved gas sensor performance.

Dissecting the high-risk property of 1q gain/amplification in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

1q gain/amplification (1q+) is the most common cytogenetic abnormality (CA), with a frequency of 30-50% in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Although accumulating evidence supports 1q+ as a "high-risk" CA (HRCA), several issues remain to be addressed to understand its true prognostic property. We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 934 patients with NDMM from three centers in China, who had baseline data available for 1q+ [including 1q21 gain (3 copies) and amplification (> 3 copies)] detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in isolated CD138 cells, and who received first-line treatment with novel agents including proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, or both.

Evolution of Gene and Its Significance to Temperature Adaptation in Rodents.

Adaptive thermogenesis comprises shivering thermogenesis dependent on skeletal muscles and non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) mediated by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Although the thermogenic function of was adopted early in some placental mammals, positive selection predominantly occurred in the ancestral branches of small-bodied species. Some previous studies have revealed that rodents living in northern or high mountain regions adapt to cold environments by increasing NST, whereas those living in tropical and subtropical regions that are not exposed to cold stress express low concentrations of , indicating that may have evolved to adapt to ambient temperatures.