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High density lipoprotein particle size and function associate with new cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and patients with CKD have markedly higher CVD mortality compared to healthy controls. However, the relationship between specific lipoprotein profiles and new CV events in patients with advanced CKD and cardiovascular burden is unknown. We profiled the distribution of High density lipoprotein (HDL) size, particle concentration, and cholesterol and triglyceride content of the baseline plasma of 325 subjects with moderate CKD followed for 2.5 years using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. We used Cox regression models controlled for various clinical factors to characterize the role of specific HDL profiles in predicting CV events in this high-risk population. The cholesterol uptake capacity of HDL from peripheral tissues- cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) and HDL oxidation were also quantified using standardized assays. Patients with new CV events demonstrated increased HDL size, large HDL particle numbers, and CEC. Increased HDL particle size [HR = 2.56, p = 0.002], large HDL particle numbers [HR = 1.41, p = 0.001], HDL-cholesterol levels [HR = 1.03, p = 0.008], and CEC [HR = 1.46, p = 0.03] associated with CV events. Our study demonstrates that higher HDL particle size associated with new CV events in the CKD population with a high cardiovascular burden independent of CEC and HDL cholesterol. Collectively, the data strongly associate altered lipoprotein metabolism, particularly HDL metabolism, and new CV events in patients with established CKD and CVD, allowing us to risk stratify and potentially reduce mortality and morbidity in this high-risk population.

Study of the effect of dryness and storage on Ceratonia siliqua L. stem extracts and evaluation of their insecticidal activity

Abstract Vector-borne diseases continue to transmit many dangerous pathogens to humans. After decades of continuous use of insecticides, many types of vectors have shown the ability to build resistance to them. This has necessitated the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives in the form of bioinsecticides. Plants contain a wide range of phytochemicals with specific targeting, rapid biodegradability, environmental sustainability and a variety of medicinal properties, making them a valuable source of biologicals. Moreover, this has led to the development of highly effective new drugs. This study aimed to identify the active ingredients in Ceratonia siliqua L., gathered from two consecutive fruiting seasons which were then divided into C. siliqua fresh (CSF), dry (CSd), and old (stored) stem (CSO) extracts Ceratonia siliqua. Metabolomics profiling was performed using UPLC/MS and multivariate data analysis. The UPLC/MS study resulted in the tentative identification of 54 secondary metabolites. These compounds included flavonoids, phenolic acids, withanolides, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, etc. CSd showed the highest number of identified components followed by CSO and CSF. The % identification was nearly equal in the negative ion mode for the three extracts while for the positive ion mode it followed the order of CSF > CSd > CSO. After several exposure periods, the plant methanol extracts in this research showed significant insecticidal activity against mosquito larvae, Cx. pipiens, and housefly larvae M. domestica. (CSd) demonstrated the highest insecticidal activity (100 MO%) against Cx. pipiens (LC50 = 0.09 and 0.07 mg/ml) following 24- and 48-hour post-treatments at 1.0 mg/ml. The (CSF) was the most effective on M. domestica larvae (LC50 = 2.32 and 1.80 mg/ml), 24 and 48 h post-treatment with 25 mg/ml concentration. Both CSd and CSF extracts were the most effective at killing mosquito and house fly larvae, followed by the CSO extract. Therefore, C. siliqua extracts may serve as an effective bio-agent for specific vector-borne infection control.

Double prenylation of budding yeast Ykt6 regulates cell wall integrity and autophagy

The impact of perioperative positive fluid balance on postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing open hepatectomy: A retrospective single center cohort study

Background Low central venous pressure (CVP) or fluid restriction strategies are frequently employed during liver parenchymal resection to minimize intraoperative blood loss. However, both hypovolemia and excessive fluid administration can impair organ perfusion, increasing the risk of renal dysfunction and acute kidney injury (AKI). This study explores the relationship between perioperative fluid management strategies and renal outcomes in patients undergoing hepatectomy. Method A retrospective single-center cohort study was conducted involving 691 patients who underwent an open hepatectomy. Patients were categorized by positive fluid balance: <1 Liter, 1-2 Liters, and >2 Liters. Propensity score was used for matching among the groups. The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) was compared. Multivariable logistic regression analyzed the correlation between fluid balance and AKI risk. Result The overall incidence of AKI was 11.58%, with the highest occurrence in the group with a fluid balance greater than 2 Liters. This group demonstrated a significantly higher relative risk of developing AKI compared to those with positive fluid balances of <1 Liter and 1-2 Liters (adjusted RR 1.85, p = 0.042, 95% CI 1.02-3.38). An increase in fluid balance was associated with a higher incidence rate ratio for AKI (p = 0.016). Additionally, an operating time >5 hours, blood loss >1000 ml, and Child-Turcotte-Pugh class B and C were significantly associated with an increased risk of post-hepatectomy AKI. Conclusion Maintaining a fluid balance of 1-2 liters during hepatectomy is crucial to reducing the risk of postoperative AKI, while balances above 2 liters significantly increase it. Prolonged operating times, high blood loss, and advanced liver disease also elevate AKI risk, emphasizing the need for careful fluid management.

Author Correction: Oxidative stress index-based scoring for prediction of long-term prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer with liver metastases

Substrate recognition and cleavage-site preferences of Lon protease

How circuits for habits are formed within the basal ganglia

Recent findings show that stereotyped movement sequences (habits) need the cortex in the learning phase, but after learning, the cortex can be inactivated, and the movement still be performed flawlessly. The motor program is dependent on the sensorimotor part of the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) and on synaptic plasticity in the thalamostriatal synapses. New findings from several laboratories have revealed a highly precise spatially interactive organization within the basal ganglia [DLS, substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), and the thalamostriatal parafascicular nucleus (PF)] and with precise input from the cortex. The DLS-SNr-PF-DLS loop is subdivided into many parallel loops. I now propose that these parallel loops can act to reinforce the activity of the different striatal projection neurons in the DLS that take part and that the synaptic transmission in DLS becomes potentiated each time the motor sequence is performed successfully, if rewarded through a dopamine burst. It is argued that after learning the DLS-SNr-PF-DLS loop can operate in isolation.

Study on optimization measures for water level fluctuation of large water conveyance aqueducts

This paper addresses the issue of water surface fluctuations in aqueducts caused by the Karman Vortex Street phenomenon, which significantly impacts the structural stability and water delivery efficiency of the aqueducts. Based upon existing research findings, a representative three-dimensional fluid dynamics model is developed to optimize the transition section and tail pier structure of the aqueduct, with the objective of reducing water level fluctuations and improving hydraulic stability.The research focuses on improving the symmetry of both the transition section and the tail pier, optimizing the tail pier structure, and analyzing its wave attenuation effect. The experimental results demonstrate that a conical tail pier performs better than a platform-shaped tail pier in eliminating water surface fluctuations, significantly reducing turbulent energy dissipation at the exit transition section, maintaining a relatively stable Froude number, and achieving a stable flow pattern. Furthermore, by comparing the total head loss at the outlet tapering section, it is found that a shorter (e.g.,15-meter) conical tail pier results in lower head loss than a longer (e.g.,35-meter) conical tail pier, indicating that a compact conical tail pier is more effective. This suggests that shorter tail piers are generally more effective in reducing head loss and improving flow stability. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing tail pier selection in aqueduct design.This study highlights the crucial role of tail pier structure in reducing water surface fluctuations caused by the Karman Vortex Street phenomenon, thereby providing theoretical support and practical guidance for improving the structural stability and water delivery efficiency of aqueducts.

Mutational profiling using liquid biopsy to guide targeted therapy in patients with metastatic cancer

ST3GAL1 regulates cancer cell migration through crosstalk between EGFR and neuropilin-1 signaling

Correction: Sound garden: How snakes respond to airborne and groundborne sounds

The law of flowing water grouting travel and sedimentary plugging under the influence of many factors

Abstract Engineers face significant challenges in determining the grouting parameters and evaluation criteria for environments with flowing water, which has become an urgent matter of concern. Due to the intricate nature of grouting flow and diffusion in practical grouting engineering, numerous fluid-related issues cannot be effectively resolved solely through theoretical analysis or the direct application of fundamental equations. Therefore, it is necessary to employ experimental methods to visually assess and explain these phenomena. In this study, a unique dynamic water grouting test equipment based on 3D printing was designed to evaluate the dynamic grouting travel in cracked rock with flowing water. The influences of fractal dimension, water flow rate, grouting flow rate, and water–cement ratio on the grouting diffusion properties of fractured rock with flowing water were extensively explored. The test demonstrates that the migration and diffusion of grout in the finite boundary fracture can be split into two stages, namely, the circumferent diffusion stage without lateral boundary and the boundary diffusion stage. According to each working circumstance, the diffusion patterns in the process of grouting water plugging are categorized into three types: cross-section, comet, and elongated streamline. A stagnant flow zone was developed in the valley region of the fracture, in which additional particles were deposited. High shear stress was distributed toward the apex area, where few particles were deposited. The experimental results corroborated these observations. The study of the range of grouting diffusion and transport patterns in 3D rough fissures can provide useful insights and guidance for the selection of grouting parameters in grouting engineering practice.

Utility of binding protein fusions to immunoglobulin heavy chain constant regions from mammalian and avian species

Correction: Individual and community-level determinants of knowledge of obstetric danger signs among women in Southern Ethiopia: A multi-level mixed effect negative binomial analysis

Author Correction: Improved control of multi terminal direct current voltage source converters using proportional integral and lead lag controllers

Carbohydrate deacetylase, a key enzyme in oxidative chitin degradation, is evolutionarily linked to amino acid deacetylase

A human iPSC-derived midbrain neural stem cell model of prenatal opioid exposure and withdrawal: A proof of concept study

A growing body of clinical literature has described neurodevelopmental delays in infants with chronic prenatal opioid exposure and withdrawal. Despite this, the mechanism of how opioids impact the developing brain remains unknown. Here, we developed an in vitro model of prenatal morphine exposure and withdrawal using healthy human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived midbrain neural progenitors in monolayer. To optimize our model, we identified that a longer neural induction and regional patterning period increases expression of canonical opioid receptors mu and kappa in midbrain neural progenitors compared to a shorter protocol (OPRM1, two-tailed t-test, p =  0.004; OPRK1, p =  0.0003). Next, we showed that the midbrain neural progenitors derived from a longer iPSC neural induction also have scant toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression, a key player in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome pathophysiology. During morphine withdrawal, differentiating neural progenitors experience cyclic adenosine monophosphate overshoot compared to cell exposed to vehicle (p =  0.0496) and morphine exposure conditions (p, =  0.0136, 1-way ANOVA). Finally, we showed that morphine exposure and withdrawal alters proportions of differentiated progenitor cell fates (2-way ANOVA, F =  16.05, p <  0.0001). Chronic morphine exposure increased proportions of nestin positive progenitors (p =  0.0094), and decreased proportions of neuronal nuclear antigen positive neurons (NEUN) (p =  0.0047) compared to those exposed to vehicle. Morphine withdrawal decreased proportions of glial fibrillary acidic protein positive cells of astrocytic lineage (p =  0.044), and increased proportions of NEUN-positive neurons (p <  0.0001) compared to those exposed to morphine only. Applications of this paradigm include mechanistic studies underscoring neural progenitor cell fate commitments in early neurodevelopment during morphine exposure and withdrawal.

A synthesis and quantification method for endogenous metabolites dimethylguanidino valeric acid

Differential association of EphA2 intracellular regions in biased signaling

Change in the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among young Indians aged 15–24 years between 2015–16 and 2019–21: Insights from nationally representative surveys

Globally, the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among adults in low- and middle-income countries is on the rise. However, the data on young people remains scarce. In this context, we analyzed data from two national-level cross-sectional surveys—NFHS–4, which included 272,966 individuals, and NFHS–5, which included 250,213 individuals—to assess changes in the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among young Indians aged 15–24 years. Between 2015–2016 and 2019–2021, the prevalence of prehypertension increased significantly (p <  0.001), rising from 38.9% to 44.5% among men and from 21.1% to 26.9% among women. While hypertension prevalence among men increased from 5.2% to 6.2%, it remained stable at approximately 4.0% among women over the same period. Most states, with a few exceptions, exhibited an increase in prehypertension prevalence across both genders, and more than two-thirds of states also showed an increase in hypertension prevalence among men. High BMI was found to be strongly associated with both prehypertension and hypertension. The rising prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among young Indians aged 15–24 years is concerning and underscores the urgent need to develop targeted preventive strategies for this age group.