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Stage 4 colon cancer (CC) presents a significant global health challenge due to its poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Tetraspanins, the transmembrane proteins involved in crucial cancer processes, have recently gained attention as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. However, their spatial expression and potential roles in stage 4 CC tissues remain unknown. Using the GeoMx digital spatial profiler, we profiled all 33 human tetraspanin genes in 48 areas within stage 4 CC tissues, segmented into immune, fibroblast, and tumor compartments. Our results unveiled diverse gene expression patterns across different primary tumor sub-regions. CD53 exhibited distinct overexpression in the immune compartment, hinting at a potential role in immune modulation. TSPAN9 was specifically overexpressed in the fibroblast compartment, suggesting involvement in tumor invasion and metastasis. CD9, CD151, TSPAN1, TSPAN3, TSPAN8, and TSPAN13 displayed specific overexpression in the tumor compartment, indicating potential roles in tumor growth. Furthermore, our differential analysis revealed significant spatial changes in tetraspanin expression between patient-matched stage 4 primary CC and metastatic liver tissues. These findings provide spatially resolved insights into the expression and potential roles of tetraspanins in stage 4 CC progression, proposing their utility as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. Understanding this landscape is beneficial for tailoring therapeutic strategies to specific sub-tumor regions in the context of stage 4 CC and liver metastasis. Full article

A 63-year-old symptomatic female with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and diastolic disfunction was admitted to the hospital. What is the best way to manage this patient? This study is a literature review that was performed to answer this question. The following PubMed search strategy was used: ‘Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy’ [All Fields] OR ‘apical myectomy’ [All Fields], NOT ‘animal [mh]’ NOT ‘human [mh]’ NOT ‘comment [All Fields]’ OR ‘editorial [All Fields]’ OR ‘meta-analysis [All Fields]’ OR ‘practice-guideline [All Fields]’ OR ‘review [All Fields]’ OR ‘pediatrics [mh]’. The natural history of the disease has a benign prognosis; however, a watchful strategy was associated with the risk of adverse cardiovacular events. Contrastingly, transapical myectomy was associated with low surgical risk and acceptable outcomes. In our case, the patient underwent transapical myectomy with an unconventional post-operative period. Control echocardiography showed marked left ventricular (LV) cavity enlargement: LV end-diastolic volume, 74 mL; LV ejection fraction, 65%; and LV stroke volume index increased to 27 mL/m². The patient was discharged 7 days after myectomy. At 6 months post-operation, the patient was NYHA Class I, with a 6 min walk test score of 420 m. Therefore, transapical myectomy may be considered as a feasible procedure in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and progressive heart failure. Full article

Seryl-tRNA synthetases (SerRSs), members of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family, interact with diverse proteins, enabling SerRSs to enhance their role in the translation of the genetic message or to perform alternative functions in cellular processes beyond translation. Atypical archaeal SerRS interacts with arginyl-tRNA synthetase and proteins of the ribosomal P-stalk to optimize translation through tRNA channeling. The complex between yeast SerRS and peroxin Pex21p provides a connection between translation and peroxisome function. The partnership between Arabidopsis SerRS and BEN1 indicates a link between translation and brassinosteroid metabolism and may be relevant in plant stress response mechanisms. In Drosophila, the unusual heterodimeric mitochondrial SerRS coordinates mitochondrial translation and replication via interaction with LON protease. Evolutionarily conserved interactions of yeast and human SerRSs with m³C32 tRNA methyltransferases indicate coordination between tRNA modification and aminoacylation in the cytosol and mitochondria. Human cytosolic SerRS is a cellular hub protein connecting translation to vascular development, angiogenesis, lipogenesis, and telomere maintenance. When translocated to the nucleus, SerRS acts as a master negative regulator of VEGFA gene expression. SerRS alone or in complex with YY1 and SIRT2 competes with activating transcription factors NFκB1 and c-Myc, resulting in balanced VEGFA expression important for proper vascular development and angiogenesis. In hypoxia, SerRS phosphorylation diminishes its binding to the VEGFA promoter, while the lack of nutrients triggers SerRS glycosylation, reducing its nuclear localization. Additionally, SerRS binds telomeric DNA and cooperates with the shelterin protein POT1 to regulate telomere length and cellular senescence. As an antitumor and antiangiogenic factor, human cytosolic SerRS appears to be a promising drug target and therapeutic agent for treating cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and possibly obesity and aging. Full article

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of laser therapy on leukopoiesis recovery after irradiation with ionizing radiation. A dose of ionizing radiation was used that induced the hematological form of radiation sickness, reducing the number of blood cells. Subsequently, mice were treated with non-ionizing laser radiation. Based on the examination of the peripheral blood, the study found that laser therapy significantly impacted the number of eosinophils and basophils two weeks after irradiation. Laser therapy also led to the faster reparation of the lymphocyte lineage of white blood cells (WBCs). The research showed that the examined therapeutic laser had a long-term radioreparative effect on gamma-irradiated mice, improving the absolute counts of different lines of WBCs. The results of this study could have implications for the treatment of radiation sickness in humans. Full article

Several dermal substitutes are available on the market, but there is no precise indication that helps surgeons choose the proper one. Few studies have tried to compare different xenogeneic bioengineered products, but no objective bio-parametric comparison has been made yet. Fifteen patients who underwent skin reconstruction with Integra^® or Pelnac^® were retrospectively evaluated. After at least 12 months of follow-up, an objective and quantitative assessment of several skin biophysical properties, such as color, texture, elasticity, hydration, glossiness and trans-epidermal water loss, were measured with non-invasive skin measurement devices. The grafted skin showed a reduction of the superficial hydration level and a tendency to lower values of trans-epidermal water loss with both dermal substitutes. Melanic and hemoglobin pigmentation were higher in comparison to the donor site in both groups, while a melanic pigmentation increase versus the surrounding skin was seen just with Integra^®. Finally, the skin was found to be more elastic when reconstructed with Integra^®. The skin barrier appeared to be intact in both groups. Hence, these substitutes are valuable means of skin regeneration. Integra^® seems to be more advantageous for reconstructing areas that need more skin flexibility. Full article

Splenic cysts are rare benign lesions of the spleen, often asymptomatic and incidentally discovered during imaging studies. While many splenic cysts remain asymptomatic and do not require intervention, surgical management becomes essential in cases of symptomatic cysts, large cysts, or when malignancy cannot be ruled out. Laparoscopic surgery has emerged as a minimally invasive and effective approach for treating splenic cysts, offering advantages such as shorter hospital stays, reduced postoperative pain, and faster recovery. In this case report, we describe our experience with laparoscopic surgery for a symptomatic splenic cyst in a young patient. Full article

Previous transplantation studies and the concept of ‘nephron underdosing’ support the idea that the kidney plays a crucial role in the development of essential hypertension. This suggests that there are genetic factors in the kidney that can either elevate or decrease blood pressure. The kidney normally maintains arterial pressure within a narrow range by employing the mechanism of pressure-natriuresis. Hypertension is induced when the pressure-natriuresis mechanism fails due to both subtle and overt kidney abnormalities. The inheritance of hypertension is believed to be polygenic, and essential hypertension may result from a combination of genetic variants that code for renal tubular sodium transporters or proteins involved in regulatory pathways. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) are the major regulators of renal sodium reabsorption. Hyperactivity of either the RAAS or SNS leads to a rightward shift in the pressure-natriuresis curve. In other words, hypertension is induced when the activity of RAAS and SNS is not suppressed despite increased salt intake. Sodium overload, caused by increased intake and/or reduced renal excretion, not only leads to an expansion of plasma volume but also to an increase in systemic vascular resistance. Endothelial dysfunction is caused by an increased intracellular Na⁺ concentration, which inhibits endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase and reduces NO production. The stiffness of vascular smooth muscle cells is increased by the accumulation of intracellular Na⁺ and subsequent elevation of cytoplasmic Ca⁺⁺ concentration. In contrast to the hemodynamic effects of osmotically active Na⁺, osmotically inactive Na⁺ stimulates immune cells and produces proinflammatory cytokines, which contribute to hypertension. When this occurs in the gut, the microbiota may become imbalanced, leading to intestinal inflammation and systemic hypertension. In conclusion, the primary cause of hypertension is sodium overload resulting from kidney dysregulation. Full article

We aim to investigate the myopic control effect of high-concentration atropine (ATR) and dual-focus contact lenses (DFCLs). A retrospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 182 eyes in 91 individuals who used high-concentration ATR (0.125%) and another 70 eyes in 35 individuals who used DFCLs were enrolled in the ATR and DFCL groups, respectively. The primary outcomes were spherical equivalent refraction (SER) progression and axial length (AXL) elongation. The generalized estimate equation was utilized to yield the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of cycloplegic SER progression and AXL elongation between groups. According to the multivariable analysis, the change in cycloplegic SER progression was similar between the DFCL and ATR groups (aOR: 1.305, 95% CI: 0.247–2.515, p = 0.803). The DFCL group demonstrated a numerically higher rate of AXL elongation compared to the ATR group (aOR: 1.530, 95% CI: 0.980–1.894, p = 0.051). In the subgroup analysis, cycloplegic SER progression was insignificant between ATR and DFCL users in different subgroups (all p > 0.05). The DFCL patients with moderate astigmatism and high AXL (both p < 0.001) presented a high risk of AXL elongation. In conclusion, DFCL usage demonstrated similar myopic control of cycloplegic SER and AXL compared to high-concentration ATR, while DFCLs showed lower AXL control, mainly in patients with moderate astigmatism and high AXL. Full article

The aim of this study was to explore adherence to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) reporting standards in abstracts of randomized controlled trials on glaucoma. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on the aforementioned abstracts, indexed in MEDLINE/PubMed between the years 2017 and 2021. In total, 302 abstracts met the inclusion criteria and were further analyzed. The median score of CONSORT-A items was 8 (interquartile range, 7–10) out of 17 (47.0%). Most analyzed studies were conducted in a single center (80.5%) and the abstracts were predominantly structured (95.0%). Only 20.5% of the abstracts adequately described the trial design, while randomization and funding were described by 6.0% of the abstracts. Higher overall scores were associated with structured abstracts, a multicenter setting, statistically significant results, funding by industry, a higher number of participants, and having been published in journals with impact factors above four (p < 0.001, respectively). The results of this study indicate a suboptimal adherence to CONSORT-A reporting standards, especially in particular items such as randomization and funding. Since these factors could contribute to the overall quality of the trials and further translation of trial results into clinical practice, an improvement in glaucoma research reporting transparency is needed. Full article

We have previously shown in model studies that rapid quenches of systems of monomers interacting to form polymer chains can fix nonequilibrium chemistries with some lifelike properties. We suggested that such quenching processes might have occurred at very high rates on early Earth, giving an efficient mechanism for natural sorting through enormous numbers of nonequilibrium chemistries from which the most lifelike ones could be naturally selected. However, the model used for these studies did not take account of activation barriers to polymer scission (peptide bond hydrolysis in the case of proteins). Such barriers are known to exist and are expected to enhance the quenching effect. Here, we introduce a modified model which takes activation barriers into account and we compare the results to data from experiments on quenched systems of amino acids. We find that the model results turn out to be sensitive to the width of the distribution of barrier heights but quite insensitive to its average value. The results of the new model are in significantly better agreement with the experiments than those found using our previous model. The new parametrization of the model only requires one new parameter and the parametrization is more physical than the previous one, providing a chemical interpretation of the parameter p in our previous models. Within the model, a characteristic temperature $T_c$ emerges such that if the temperature of the hot stage is above $T_c$ and the temperature of the cold stage is below it, then the ‘freezing out’, in a quench, of a disequilibrium ensemble of long polymers is expected. We discuss the possible relevance of this to models of the origin of life in emissions from deep ocean rifts. Full article

Microalgae are recognized for their versatility in providing renewable energy, biopharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals, attributed to their sustainable, renewable, and cost-effective nature. Genetic engineering has proven highly effective in enhancing microalgae production. PCR-based genotyping is the primary method for screening genetically transformed microalgae cells. Recently, we developed a novel PCR method, namely Squash-PCR, and employed it for the molecular analysis of industrially important fungi and yeasts. In this study, we successfully implemented the Squash-PCR technique in 12 industrially significant algae species. This approach offers a quick and reliable means of obtaining DNA templates directly from squashed algal cells, eliminating the need for time-consuming and labor-intensive cultivation and genomic DNA extraction steps. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of Squash-PCR in detecting and characterizing target genes of interest in 12 different algae species. Overall, this study establishes the Squash-PCR method as a valuable tool for molecular studies in algae, enabling researchers to rapidly screen and manipulate genetic traits in diverse algal species. Full article

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease, linked to local and systemic inflammation and predisposing patients to a higher risk of associated comorbidities. Cytokine levels are not widely available for disease progression monitoring due to high costs. Validated low-cost and reliable markers are needed for assessing disease progression and outcome. This study aims to assess the reliability of blood-count-derived inflammatory markers as disease predictors and to identify prognostic factors for disease severity. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into three study groups according to disease severity measured by the Body Surface Area (BSA) score: mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis. White blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (d-NLR), systemic immune index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI) positively were correlated with disease severity (p < 0.005). d-NLR, NLR, and SII are independent prognostic factors for mild and moderate psoriasis (p < 0.05). d-NLR is the only independent prognostic factor for all three study groups. Moderate psoriasis is defined by d-NLR values between 1.49 and 2.19. NLR, PLR, d-NLR, MLR, SII, SIRI, and AISI are useful indicators of systemic inflammation and disease severity in psoriasis. Full article

I-123 is preferential over I-131 for diagnostic SPECT imaging after a thyroidectomy to determine the presence and size of residual thyroid tissue for radioiodine ablation. Scattering degrades the quality of I-123 SPECT images, primarily due to the penetration of high-energy photons into the main photopeak. The objective of this study was to quantitatively and qualitatively investigate the impact of two widely used window-based scatter correction techniques, the dual energy window (DEW) and triple energy window (TEW) techniques, in I-123 postsurgical SPECT/CT thyroid imaging using an anthropomorphic phantom with small sizes of remnants and anatomically correct surrounding structures. For this purpose, non-scatter-corrected, DEW and TEW scatter-corrected SPECT/CT acquisitions were performed for 0.5–10 mL remnants within a phantom, with 0.5–12.6 MBq administered activities within the remnants, and without and with background-to-remnant activity ratios of 5% and 10%. The decrease in photons, the noise and non-uniformity in the background region due to scatter correction were measured, as well as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) from small remnants. The images were also visually evaluated by two experienced nuclear medicine physicians. Scatter correction decreased photons to a higher extent in larger regions than smaller regions. Larger remnants yielded higher SNR and CNR values, particularly at lower background activities. It was found from the quantitative analysis and the qualitative evaluation that TEW scatter correction performed better than DEW scatter correction, particularly at higher background activities, while no significant differences were reported at lower background activities. Scatter correction should be applied in I-123 postsurgical SPECT/CT imaging to improve the image contrast and detectability of small remnants within the background. Full article

The biological activity of Galium verum herba was exerted on various tumor cell lines with incredible results, but their potential effect on malignant melanoma has not been established yet. Therefore, the current study was structured in two directions: (i) the investigation of the phytochemical profile of diethyl ether (GvDEE) and butanol (GvBuOH) extracts of G. verum L. and (ii) the evaluation of their biological profile on A375 human malignant melanoma cell line. The GvDEE extract showed an FT-IR profile different from the butanol one, with high antioxidant capacity (EC₅₀ of GvDEE = 0.12 ± 0.03 mg/mL > EC₅₀ of GvBuOH = 0.18 ± 0.05 mg/mL). The GvDEE extract also showed antimicrobial potential, especially against Gram-positive bacteria strains, compared to the butanol extract, which has no antimicrobial activity against any bacterial strain tested. The results regarding the antitumor potential showed that both extracts decreased A375 cell viability largely (69% at a dose of 55 µg/mL of the GvDEE extract). Moreover, both extracts induce nuclear fragmentation by forming apoptotic bodies and slight chromatin condensation, which is more intense for GvDEE. Considering the results, one can state that the Galium verum herba possesses antitumor effects on the A375 human malignant melanoma cell line, a promising phytocompound for the antitumor approach to skin cancer. Full article

Background: Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in men range from 0.9 to 2.4/1000 individuals in younger men to 7.7/1000 in those over 85, significantly impacting their quality of life. Preventive strategies include autovaccines, but limited evidence exists for males. Methods: A prospective monocentric, open-label observational study was conducted from August 2018 to August 2021, with follow-up until August 2023 including patients with recurrent UTIs treated with immunotherapy. We evaluated the incidence rate of UTIs per year, the incidence rate of episodes after two or three rounds of the autovaccine, and quality of life measured with the IPSS-QoL questionnaire. Results: A total of 49 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria. The mean age was 72 years (±15), and the median 61. The evolution of UTIs number of episodes after the autovaccine rounds: −37.74% for the first round from 5.3 to 3.3; −33.33% for the second round from 3.3 to 2.2; −45.45% for the third round from 2.2 to 1.2. The mean IPSS score improved from 10.69 to 7.27 after the treatment (32%). The mean QoL subscore enhancement was from 4.22 to 1.92 (54%). With a mean follow-up of 3 years, only nine patients required retreatment. Conclusion: Autovaccine treatment significantly reduced the number of UTI episodes, with a cumulative effect observed after multiple rounds of treatment, demonstrating an enhancement in QoL and with sustained effectiveness and a low need for retreatment. Full article

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Notably, the incidence of lung cancer among never-smokers, predominantly women, has been rising in recent years. Among the various implicated risk factors, human papilloma virus (HPV) may play a role in the development of NSCLC in a certain subset of patients. The prevalence of high-risk HPV-DNA within human neoplastic lung cells varies across the world; however, the carcinogenetic role of HPV in NSCLC has not been completely understood. Bloodstream could be one of the routes of transmission from infected sites to the lungs, along with oral (through unprotected oral sex) and airborne transmission. Previous studies reported an elevated risk of NSCLC in patients with prior HPV-related tumors, such as cervical, laryngeal, or oropharyngeal cancer, with better prognosis for HPV-positive lung cancers compared to negative forms. On the other hand, 16% of NSCLC patients present circulating HPV-DNA in peripheral blood along with miRNAs expression. Typically, these patients have a poorly differentiated NSCLC, often diagnosed at an advanced stage. However, HPV-positive lung cancers seem to have a better response to target therapies (EGFR) and immune checkpoint inhibitors and show an increased sensitivity to platinum-based treatments. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the role of HPV in NSCLC development, especially among patients with a history of HPV-related cancers. It also examines the diagnostic and prognostic significance of HPV, investigating new future perspectives to enhance cancer screening, diagnostic protocols, and the development of more targeted therapies tailored to specific cohorts of NSCLC patients with confirmed HPV infection. Full article

Chia seeds offer therapeutic properties that aid in the prevention of a variety of ailments, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and other risk factors. Arsenite, a common environmental chemical, has been identified as a reproductive toxin owing to its negative effects on male reproductive health. It has been shown to inhibit spermatogenesis and generate androgenic effects in men. The primary goal of this research was to look into the effect of Salvia hispanica on testicular toxicity caused by sodium arsenite in male rats. A set of 36 male albino rats was allocated to a negative control cohort. The individuals in this group were given a basic meal and orally given distilled water for a duration of 28 days. The other five groups were given a regular meal and received intra-peritoneal injections of sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂) at a concentration of 4 mg/kg body weight that was diluted in a 0.9% NaCl solution. The injections were administered consecutively, with two doses given within a two-day period. Subsequently, the rats were categorized into several groups using the following classification: Group 2 consisted of a positive control cohort, in which the rats were given a typical baseline diet. Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 were given a basic diet that included varying proportions of ground chia seeds, namely 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% per 100 g of the diet. After the trial was completed, the rats were euthanized, and further biological examination was conducted. The measurements of the reproductive organs were documented and reported. The research assessed the following characteristics: sperm count, motility, progressive motility, and normal morphology. The research included examining serum sex hormones, namely luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone. An evaluation of the activity of antioxidant enzymes was performed in the tissue of the testicles. There were statistically significant improvements in the sperm parameters, serum sex hormone levels, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as GPX, SOD, and CAT, in the therapy groups. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) exhibited a noteworthy decrease (p ≤ 0.05) when compared to the positive control group. Salvia hispanica seeds have demonstrated a significant level of effectiveness in reducing sodium arsenite-induced testicular toxicity, which leads to the conclusion. The flavonoid content and antioxidant properties of Salvia hispanica seeds may be to blame for the observed behavior. These indicated characteristics may have therapeutic significance in treating testicular harm induced by arsenite exposure. Full article

Deciphering the origins of life on a molecular level includes unravelling the numerous interactions that could occur between the most important biomolecules being the lipids, peptides and nucleotides. They were likely all present on the early Earth and all necessary for the emergence of cellular life. In this study, we intended to explore conditions that were at the same time conducive to chemical reactions critical for the origins of life (peptide–oligonucleotide couplings and templated ligation of oligonucleotides) and compatible with the presence of prebiotic lipid vesicles. For that, random peptides were generated from activated amino acids and analysed using NMR and MS, whereas short oligonucleotides were produced through solid-support synthesis, manually deprotected and purified using HPLC. After chemical activation in prebiotic conditions, the resulting mixtures were analysed using LC-MS. Vesicles could be produced through gentle hydration in similar conditions and observed using epifluorescence microscopy. Despite the absence of coupling or ligation, our results help to pave the way for future investigations on the origins of life that may gather all three types of biomolecules rather than studying them separately, as it is still too often the case. Full article