Flying seed-inspired sensors for remote environmental monitoring on Earth and beyond.

Exploring mobility beyond traditional robotic systems such as walking, swimming, and jumping, flight through dispersal, gliding, or hovering remains an untapped frontier for advanced stimulus-responsive and -sensing materials. Nature-inspired engineering has been a foundational aspect of robotic innovations, and biohybrid and biomimetic flying seeds are now becoming a significant example of this concept. By mimicking the aerodynamic properties and dispersal mechanisms of natural seeds, semi- and fully artificial systems are being designed for environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, and disease management applications that require wide-area coverage.

Predicting non-covalent interactions between antioxidants in biological membranes through molecular dynamics.

The synergistic association of different polyphenols has gained much interest in the food industry to develop efficient antioxidant cocktails, reducing the concentration of active agents and subsequently potential toxicity. The theoretical description and prediction of such processes are of central interest in this development. This study aims at benchmarking the performance of molecular dynamics (MD) to predict the formation of non-covalent complexes between π-conjugated antioxidants, including two prototypes (quercetin and vitamin E), in a pure 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) lipid bilayer.

Impact of myotomy length on per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) outcomes for achalasia: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Introduction: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been established as a safe and effective intervention for Type I and II achalasia. Studies have shown that short POEM is non-inferior to long POEM, with some evidence of decreased incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This meta-analysis aims to systematically review and analyze randomized controlled trials (RCTs) data comparing clinical and safety outcomes for long and short POEM procedures while further investigating differences in GERD and other long-term clinical outcomes.

Proficiency in Esophageal Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy: A Meta-Analysis of Learning Curves.

Introduction: Our analysis examines the learning curve of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) training using procedure duration as a key indicator of proficiency.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science from inception until November 2024 for studies evaluating the learning curve of POEM. We divided the data into 0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cumulative procedure phases of learning.

Monitoring Treatment Response in Rectal Cancer through Circulating Tumor Cell Dynamics: A Pilot Clinical Study.

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are increasingly recognized as a minimally invasive biomarker with significant potential in oncologic monitoring and prognostication. This study aimed to assess the dynamics of CTC levels in patients with rectal cancer undergoing multimodal treatment and evaluate their potential role in therapeutic decision-making.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study of 56 patients with histologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma.

Key considerations and recommendations for recruiting older adults in physical activity studies.

Background: Despite substantial evidence supporting the benefits of physical activity (PA) for older adults, participation rates remain low due to physical, psychological, social, and institutional barriers. Recruiting older adults for PA studies thus presents significant challenges, particularly for socially vulnerable populations and those facing digital literacy limitations in technology-assisted PA interventions. The present study aimed to articulate and establish a consensus among multidisciplinary and multinational PA experts regarding key considerations and requirements for designing and implementing recruitment of older adults for PA studies.

Serotonin type 6 receptor inverse agonists and neutral antagonists inhibit defecation: relevance to intestinal motility disorders.

The serotonergic system plays a crucial role in numerous physiological processes in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, serotonin has been implicated in the control of motility and visceral pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Here, we investigated the impact of blocking differently activated conformational states of the type 6 serotonin receptor (5-HT) upon intestinal motility and diarrhea in both non-stressed and stressed mice.

Cytidine and dCMP Deaminases-Current Methods of Activity Analysis.

Cytidine deaminase (CDA) and deoxycytidine monophosphate deaminase (DCTD) play crucial roles in pyrimidine metabolism, affecting DNA synthesis, cell cycle progression, and the efficacy of numerous nucleoside analog-based chemotherapeutics. Given their significance, accurate and sensitive measurement of their enzymatic activity is paramount for both fundamental biochemical research and clinical applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the methodologies used to assess CDA and DCTD activity, both established and emerging.

High Prevalence of Autosomal Recessive Alport Syndrome in Roma Population of Eastern Slovakia.

Alport syndrome (AS) predominantly presents with X-linked inheritance worldwide. However, the epidemiological landscape remains poorly characterized, particularly among ethnic minority groups like the Roma minority in Slovakia. Our study aimed to investigate the inheritance patterns of AS in this region and determine whether a distinct pattern predominates.

Structural and functional insights into the selective inhibition of mutant tau aggregation by purpurin and oleocanthal in frontotemporal dementia.

Tau aggregation driven by microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) mutations is central to frontotemporal dementia pathology, yet no disease-modifying therapies effectively target mutant tau. Here, we identify purpurin (PUR) and oleocanthal (OLC) as selective inhibitors of mutant tau aggregation using peptide models spanning the R2R3 interface. Biophysical and cellular assays demonstrated that both compounds more effectively inhibit the aggregation of mutant tau peptides compared to wild-type, with PUR preferentially targeting V287I and N279K variants, and OLC showing broader inhibitory activity.

Rootlets-based registration to the PAM50 spinal cord template.

Spinal cord functional MRI studies require precise localization of spinal levels for reliable voxel-wise group analyses. Traditional template-based registration of the spinal cord uses intervertebral discs for alignment. However, substantial anatomical variability across individuals exists between vertebral and spinal levels.

Transition to online psychological support - Barriers, stereotypes and challenges from the perspective of service providers.

Objectives: This qualitative study, which provides practical insights for the field, described the transition process of psychological service providers towards online care provision. We aimed to describe the process of professionals' adaptation to new methods of distant psychological care, including its main facilitating and complicating elements.

Methods: We used a qualitative approach, specifically evaluation design, employing reflexive thematic analyses conducted by the software ATLAS.

Effectiveness of creative arts therapies/expressive arts therapy for psychosocial outcomes in adults with oncological disease: an umbrella review protocol.

This umbrella review will evaluate the effectiveness of creative arts therapies (CAT)-encompassing art, drama, dance/movement, and music therapies-compared to standard non-creative treatments, in enhancing psychosocial outcomes for adults with oncological diseases. Using the JBI methodology for umbrella reviews, we will conduct systematic searches across MEDLINE, Open Dissertations, ProQuest Central, Epistemonikos, and PsycINFO databases, without restrictions on publication year or language. Eligible studies will include systematic reviews of quantitative evidence assessing CAT interventions' effects on psychosocial outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and quality of life.

GastroGPT: Development and controlled testing of a proof-of-concept customized clinical language model.

Background And Study Aims: Current general-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs) demonstrate limited efficacy in clinical medicine, often constrained to question-answering, documentation, and literature summarization roles. We developed GastroGPT, a proof-of-concept specialty-specific, multi-task, clinical LLM, and evaluated its performance against leading general-purpose LLMs across key gastroenterology tasks and diverse case scenarios.

Methods: In this structured analysis, GastroGPT was compared with three state-of-the-art general-purpose LLMs (LLM-A: GPT-4, LLM-B: Bard, LLM-C: Claude).

Development of a Triethylborane Mediated Giese Cyclization/Aldol Reaction Cascade for the Total Synthesis of Ganoapplanin.

We present our synthetic endeavors towards the meroterpenoid ganoapplanin. This natural product was isolated from a fungus in 2016 and was found to be an inhibitor for T-type voltage-gated calcium channels. Our synthetic approach is based on a powerful intramolecular Giese cyclization/intermolecular aldol cascade to link the northern aromatic to the southern terpenoid fragment.

Personality Traits, Burnout, Workplace Bullying and Sleep Quality Among Midwives: A Pilot Study.

Aim: The work of midwives is often mentally and physically exhausting. We sought to determine whether an association exists between personality traits, burnout syndrome, bullying in the workplace, and sleep quality. Additionally, we aimed to assess whether personality traits, dimensions of burnout, and sleep quality differ between a group of bullied and non-bullied midwives.

Biochemical Analysis of Recombinant Pea Seed Coat-Specific Polyphenol Oxidase (PPO) in Relation to Various Phenolic Substrates.

The seed coat serves as the primary protective barrier, offering mechanical and chemical defense for the embryo. It contains various metabolites, including phenolic compounds, which can be oxidized by polyphenol oxidase (PPO) to form oligomers. In this study, we heterologously expressed a 515 amino acid protein derived from wild pea (), omitting its N-terminal signal sequence, and analyzed its biochemical properties.

Minimal residual disease and prognostic significance of circulating tumour cells in early-stage colorectal cancer.

Aim: The recurrence rate of colorectal cancer remains high even after radical surgery. Existing criteria for administering adjuvant treatment lack sufficient precision, often leading to undertreatment or overtreatment. This study investigates circulating tumour cells (CTCs) as a potential prognostic biomarker to improve the accuracy of patient selection.

The Role of Neopterin and Interleukin-6 Detection in Saliva and Plasma in Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients: A Prospective Study.

Objectives: The incidence of oral and oropharyngeal cancer is continually rising and affects increasingly younger patients. Consequently, many studies focus on early diagnosis using appropriate biomarkers. Neopterin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are promising predictive and prognostic markers of immune response activation, both systemic and local, due to the anatomical proximity of malignancies to the salivary glands.

De-escalated Teclistamab dosing in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: Czech myeloma group real-world evidence analysis.

Teclistamab, a BCMA×CD3 bispecific antibody, demonstrates high efficacy in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). However, optimal dosing strategies outside clinical trials remain undefined. Thus, we performed a retrospective, multicentre analysis of 73 RRMM patients treated with teclistamab monotherapy at Czech Myeloma Group centres between 2023 and 2025.

Hydrophobic residues in the α-synuclein NAC domain drive seed-competent fibril formation and are targeted by peptide inhibitors.

Alpha-synuclein (αSyn) is a 14-kDa intrinsically disordered protein that aggregates into insoluble fibrils in synucleinopathies, including Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, and Parkinson's disease, contributing to neurotoxicity and disease progression. The ability of these fibrils to seed further aggregation of native protein is central to αSyn pathology. Here, we examined the broader non-amyloid component (NAC) domain, focusing on how residues flanking the hydrophobic 68-71 (GAVV) motif of αSyn (residues 8-11 in NAC35) modulate nucleation, stability, and pathological seeding.

Public perception of new plant breeding techniques for sustainable production of feed and food in the Czech Republic.

A survey was conducted among 1,676 Czech citizens in the autumn of 2024 to explore their attitudes toward different methods of crop improvement, which are based on the modification of genetic information. The study focused on three techniques: classical mutagenesis, insertion of foreign genetic material, and genome editing. The findings revealed that a significant part of the general public was unfamiliar with these technologies and their legal status.

Physical Training Protocols for Improving Dyspnea and Fatigue in Long COVID: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

This study aimed to evaluate physical training protocols for alleviating long COVID symptoms, especially dyspnea and fatigue, through a systematic review with meta-analysis. Data were collected from EMBASE, LILACS, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and grey literature (Google Scholar, medRxiv). Studies evaluating dyspnea and/or fatigue before and after physical rehabilitation, using validated questionnaires, were included.