Browse Articles

Allogeneic CD19 CAR T cells armed with an anti-rejection CD70 CAR overcome antigen escape and evade alloimmune responses

Differential KEAP1/NRF2 mediated signaling widens the therapeutic window of redox-targeting drugs in SCLC therapy

Abstract Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients frequently experience a remarkable response to first-line therapy. Follow up maintenance treatments aim to control residual tumor cells, but generally fail due to cross-resistance, inefficient targeting of tumor vulnerabilities, or dose-limiting toxicity, resulting in relapse and disease progression. Here we show that SCLC cells, similar to their cells of origin, pulmonary neuroendocrine cells, exhibit low activity in pathways protecting against reactive oxygen species (ROS). When exposed to a thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1) inhibitor, these cells quickly exhaust their ROS-scavenging capacity, regardless of their molecular subtype or resistance to first-line therapy. Importantly, unlike non-cancerous cells, SCLC cells cannot adapt to drug-induced ROS stress due to the suppression of ROS defense mechanisms by multiple layers of gene regulation. By exploiting this difference in oxidative stress management, we safely increase the therapeutic dose of TXNRD1 inhibitors in vivo by pharmacological activation of the NRF2 stress response pathway. This results in improved tumor control without added toxicity to healthy tissues. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of TXNRD1 inhibitors for maintenance therapy in SCLC.

All-solid passive organic optical limiter via coordination-bond anchoring strategy

Associations between soil microbiomes and carbon stabilization under long-term no-till farming systems in the Argentine Pampas

Abstract Soil microbial communities play a key role in carbon (C) cycling in agroecosystems; however, their long-term responses to contrasting management practices remain poorly understood in agricultural soils. In this study, we evaluated the effects of more than 20 years of no-till farming (NTF) and conventional tillage (CT) on soil physicochemical properties, bacterial and fungal community composition, and inferred functions related to C and nutrient cycling in the Argentine Pampas. We show that NTF increased total organic carbon (TOC) stocks in surface soils and promoted edaphic conditions associated with C stabilization, including higher cation exchange capacity and structural stability. Bacterial communities exhibited high functional redundancy and were primarily structured along sodium-related parameters, whereas fungal communities were more sensitive to management, with NTF favoring ligninolytic and symbiotic fungi that contribute to necromass formation and long-term carbon stabilization. In contrast, CT enriched opportunistic fungal guilds associated with disturbance and short-term nutrient turnover. Phylogenetic analyses revealed community assembly dominated by environmental filtering in both microbial domains. Overall, these results highlight the central role of fungi as mediators of soil C stabilization and suggest that conservation practices such as NTF enhance microbiome contributions to ecosystem services and climate change mitigation in intensively managed agroecosystems.

Circadian disruption of brain temperature and heart rate in two periods after intracerebral hemorrhage surgery: a retrospective study

Evaluation of the surface lipoprotein assembly modifier (Slam) as a vaccine candidate against Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection

Multi-objective optimization for 3D heterogeneous WSN deployment using an enhanced Genghis Khan shark algorithm

Abstract Heterogeneous three-dimensional (3D) wireless sensor network (WSN) deployment requires balancing sensing coverage, communication connectivity, and deployment cost under coupled K -coverage and C -connectivity constraints. This setting yields a constrained mixed discrete optimization landscape where many conventional multi-objective methods lose diversity or handle feasibility inconsistently. We formulate heterogeneous 3D WSN deployment as a constrained multi-objective problem and propose the Enhanced Multi-Objective Genghis Khan Shark Optimizer (EnMOGKSO). The core novelty is the integration of leader-pursuit dynamics with (i) dual archive-guided selection (elite and neighborhood memories), (ii) bounded external archive diversity control, and (iii) feasibility-first environmental selection for fragmented feasible regions. On the Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC) 2020 suite, EnMOGKSO obtains the best Friedman mean ranks in hypervolume (HV) (2.04) and inverted generational distance (IGD) (2.38), with statistically significant differences against most competitors ( $$p<0.05$$ , Wilcoxon/Friedman). In heterogeneous 3D WSN deployment, EnMOGKSO yields higher coverage/connectivity values (typically coverage means around 11–12 and connectivity around 7) than weaker baselines (often coverage 5–7 and connectivity 4–5), with higher but stable deployment cost. Overall, the results indicate a stronger convergence-diversity balance and more reliable feasibility-aware search under tight constraints, with practical applicability to 3D monitoring tasks such as industrial facilities, smart buildings, and environmental sensing.

Protective role of sodium propionate against glycerol or fractionated doses of gamma rays-induced acute kidney injury via ATF5-induced mitophagy in rats

Abstract Acute kidney injury (AKI), whether induced by nephrotoxins like glycerol or by gamma radiation, is characterized by severe oxidative stress and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction. We investigated the protective mechanism of sodium propionate (SP) against AKI in a rat model. Six experimental groups were established: (I) control rats were given saline; (II) rats were administered SP (37.5 mg/kg, p.o.) for two weeks; (III) rats were given an intramuscular injection of glycerol 10 mL/kg body weight; (IV) rats were given glycerol followed by SP treatment for two weeks; (V) rats were exposed to fractionated gamma-radiation (8 Gy; delivered as 2 Gy x 4 times); and (VI) γ-irradiated rats were treated with SP for two weeks. In comparison to AKI rats, SP treatment significantly preserved renal function, reduced serum urea and creatinine, and improved histopathological features. Biochemically, SP reduced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation (malondialdehyde MDA, protein carbonyl PC, and lipofuscin) while restoring antioxidant defenses as reduced glutathione (GSH) and methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MSRA). SP restored mitophagy flux by increasing microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3II/LC3I) ratio and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK-1) levels, promoting p62 clearance, and downregulating the mitochondrial stress marker, activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5), relative to the untreated AKI groups. These findings demonstrate that SP confers protection against AKI by attenuating oxidative stress and re-establishing mitochondrial quality control through re-establishment of autophagic flux. Hence, SP represents a promising candidate for therapeutic intervention in nephrotoxin- and γ-radiation-induced renal injury.

Psychological and sociodemographic contexts of attitudes towards new genomic techniques (NGT) foods and products in Poland

Amine-functionalized copper-coordinated cryogels for efficient removal of Acid Blue 113 from water

Abstract A macroporous Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) [Poly(HEMA-GMA)] cryogel functionalized with Poly(L-lysine) (PLL) and Cu(II) ions was developed for the efficient removal of the anionic dye Acid Blue 113 from water. The cryogel was synthesized via free-radical cryopolymerization of HEMA and GMA at − 20 °C, followed by covalent grafting of PLL through epoxy ring-opening reactions and subsequent coordination of Cu(II) ions with PLL amine groups. SEM analysis confirmed a highly interconnected macroporous structure, while BET analysis revealed specific surface areas ranging from 6.45 to 7.85 m 2 g −1 and average pore diameters between 36 and 41 nm. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated strong pH dependence, with maximum adsorption at pH 4.0. The Poly(HEMA-GMA)-PLL-Cu(II) cryogel exhibited a high adsorption capacity of 501.6 mg g −1 and reached equilibrium within 30 min, indicating rapid adsorption kinetics. Kinetic data were best described by the pseudo-second-order model, while equilibrium data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm, suggesting monolayer adsorption on homogeneous active sites. Additionally, the Cu(II)-containing cryogel exhibited notable antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These findings demonstrate that the developed cryogel combines high adsorption capacity, rapid kinetics, and antimicrobial functionality, making it a promising material for advanced wastewater treatment applications.

The relationship between executive functions, decision-making, and changes in symptoms of gambling disorder in online sports bettors

Abstract Deficits in executive functions (EFs) and impulsive decision-making are well-established cognitive mechanisms underlying gambling disorder (GD), though there are some inconsistent findings. This study investigated the relationship between changes in GD symptoms in online sports bettors and specific EFs as well as decision-making processes over time. A subsample of online sports bettors ( n  = 54, mean age = 33, 96% male) from a larger study underwent an in-person assessment. Initial GD symptom severity was measured online according to DSM-5 criteria and was low to mild in most participants. All other assessments took place an average of 443 days later, during the in-person assessment. We analyzed cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between three facets of EFs (response inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory) and four decision-making facets (delay discounting, probability discounting for gains and losses, and loss aversion) and GD symptom severity and changes over time. Cross-sectional results showed that higher GD symptom severity was associated with poorer working memory and reduced loss aversion. Reduced loss aversion was also associated with greater symptom increase over time. However, these associations were not statistically significant after correction for multiple testing, so they should be interpreted with caution. No other significant relationships were found. These findings provide preliminary evidence that reduced loss aversion is one cognitive factor in disordered gambling among online sports bettors, a population with heterogeneous profiles of EFs and decision-making. Further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the role of specific cognitive processes in the development and progression of GD to better inform treatment strategies.

The impact of e-cigarette use on cognitive function, emotional intelligence, and dementia risk in adolescents and young adults

Abstract The increasing prevalence of e-cigarette use among adolescents and young adults has raised concerns about its potential association with cognitive and behavioral functions. While nicotine exposure is known to affect brain development, its associations with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms, emotional intelligence (EQ), and dementia risk remain unclear. This study primarily examined the association between e-cigarette use and cognitive impairment assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Secondary analyses explored associations with ADHD symptom tendencies and emotional intelligence. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in Lat Krabang District, Bangkok, Thailand, with 232 participants aged 18–25 years, equally divided into e-cigarette users (n = 116) and non-smokers (n = 116). Data were collected using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1, 18 items), the Emotional Quotient Test, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Statistical analyses compared cognitive function, EQ levels, and dementia risk between the two groups. No significant differences were found in ADHD symptom tendencies and EQ levels between e-cigarette users and non-smokers. However, e-cigarette users exhibited a significantly higher proportion of dementia risk compared to non-smokers. Notably, individuals with no intention to quit within one month had a sixfold increased dementia risk, while those without plans to quit within six months had a fourfold increased risk. No other personal factors significantly influenced dementia risk. While e-cigarette use was not significantly associated with ADHD symptom tendencies or EQ levels, it was associated with a higher likelihood of dementia risk. These findings suggest potential neurocognitive concerns related to e-cigarette use; however, causal inferences cannot be made due to the cross-sectional design. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify these relationships.

Extracurricular physical activity and academic performance among Chinese adolescents with high body mass index: a longitudinal mediation analysis

Genomic investigation of Mycobacterium bovis in bulk unpasteurized dairy products in Ardabil Province, Iran

A diagnostic stewardship bundle approach to facilitate same-day optimal antimicrobial therapy in gram-negative sepsis: a quasi-experimental study

​​GIS-based AHP multi-criteria mapping of potential solar PV power plant development: a case study in the vicinity of Holy Sites, Saudi Arabia

Ranking water-scarcity management strategies using the TOPSIS method

Prebiotic xylooligosaccharides ameliorate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease via modulating gut microbiota and metabolites

Physicochemical properties of gutta-percha cones before and after a rapid disinfection protocol and its clinical relevance

Associations between antihypertensive drug-related gene polymorphisms and cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive patients: a gene-drug interaction study

Abstract Antihypertensive therapy is pivotal in preventing cardiovascular events, yet treatment efficacy varies significantly among individuals due to genetic polymorphisms.This study aimed to investigate the association between specific antihypertensive drug-related gene polymorphisms, the use of corresponding sensitive drugs, and the risks of stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) in a community-based hypertensive population. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 29,662 hypertensive patients from primary care centers in Changsha County, China. Seven gene loci (ACE(I/D), CYP2C9*3,AGTR1(1166 A > C), CYP2D6*10,ADRB1(1165G > C), CYP3A5*3, and NPPA(2238T > C))were genotyped.Patients were stratified into sensitive or non-sensitive genotype groups. Logistic regression and interaction analysis were employed to assess gene-drug interactions on cardiovascular outcomes. The prevalence of stroke and CHD was 2.8% and 19.5%, respectively. Carriers of sensitive genotypes for AGTR1, CYP2D6*10, and ADRB1 taking sensitive drugs exhibited a significantly lower risk of stroke (ORs: 0.39, 0.67, 0.68; all P  < 0.01). Similarly, sensitive genotype carriers for CYP2D6*10, CYP3A5*3, and NPPA taking sensitive drugs had a reduced risk of CHD (ORs: 0.92, 0.88, 0.53; all P  < 0.05). A significant additive interaction was identified between AGTR1(1166 A > C) and sensitive drug use on CHD risk (AP = 0.08). Pharmacogenomics-guided antihypertensive therapy is associated with a reduced risk of stroke and CHD in hypertensive patients. The interaction between AGTR1(1166 A > C) genotype and drug use underscores the potential of personalized medicine in optimizing cardiovascular disease prevention strategies in primary care.