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A meta-analysis in the efficiency along with safety of accelerated partial breast irradiation vs . whole-breast irradiation pertaining to early-stage breast cancer.
The use of PBS resulted in a maximal partial current density toward NH3 (J NH 3 ) and NH3 formation rate (r NH 3 ) up to 133.5 mA cm-2 and 1.74×10-7  mol s-1  cm-2 in 1.0 m KNO3 at -1.25 V.Bacterial outer membrane (OM) is a self-protective and permeable barrier, while having many non-negligible negative effects in industrial biotechnology. Our previous studies revealed enhanced properties of Halomonas bluephagenesis based on positive cellular properties by OM defects. This study further expands the OM defect on membrane compactness by completely deleting two secondary acyltransferases for lipid A modification in H. bluephagenesis, LpxL and LpxM, and found more significant advantages than that of the previous lpxL mutant. Deletions on LpxL and LpxM accelerated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production by H. bluephagenesis WZY229, leading to a 37% increase in PHB accumulation and 84-folds reduced endotoxin production. Enhanced membrane permeability accelerates the diffusion of γ-butyrolactone, allowing H. bluephagenesis WZY254 derived from H. bluephagenesis WZY229 to produce 82wt% poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-23mol%4-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB-co-23mol%4HB)) in shake flasks, showing increases of 102% and 307% in P(3HB-co-4HB) production and 4HB accumulation, respectively. The 4HB molar fraction in copolymer can be elevated to 32 mol% in the presence of more γ-butyrolactone. In a 7-l bioreactor fed-batch fermentation, H. bluephagenesis WZY254 supported a 84 g l-1 dry cell mass with 81wt% P(3HB-co-26mol%4HB), increasing 136% in 4HB molar fraction. This study further demonstrated that OM defects generate a hyperproduction strain for high 4HB containing copolymers.Disruption of morphogenesis, an essential process in organismal development, can lead to disruption of biological processes, reduction in fitness, or even death of an organism. The roles of lethal giant larvae (Lgl) protein in maintaining tissue organization have been studied extensively in mammals, but little is known about this gene's roles in promoting correct tissue morphogenesis in insects. In this study, we identified an Lgl ortholog in Locusta migratoria. RT-qPCR results revealed that LmLgl was constitutively expressed during third, fourth, and fifth instar nymphs. Furthermore, LmLgl showed highest expression in the ovary followed by wing pads, midgut, hindgut, Malpighian tubules, and foregut of the third-instar nymphs. To examine the role of LmLgl in L. migratoria development, RNA interference was performed during nymphal stages. Silencing of LmLgl increased body size but decreased bodyweight by 9.0%. Histological sections of the midgut revealed abnormal large masses of disordered epithelial cells in dsLmLgl-injected nymphs. In addition, downregulation of LmLgl transcript levels significantly altered the morphological structure in midgut, resulting in the formation of tumor-like structures. Our results indicated that LmLgl may act as a tumor-suppressor gene, which plays an essential role in maintaining a normal morphological structure in the midgut of L. migratoria. Our results also suggest that LmLgl may be explored as a potential target for developing dsRNA-based biological pesticides for managing insect pests.
Group 2 pulmonary hypertension (PH) has no approved PH-targeted therapy. Metabolic remodelling, specifically a biventricular increase in pyruvate kinase muscle (PKM) isozyme 2 to 1 ratio, occurs in rats with group 2 PH induced by supra-coronary aortic banding (SAB). We hypothesize that increased PKM2/PKM1 is maladaptive and inhibiting PKM2 would improve right ventricular (RV) function.

Male, Sprague-Dawley SAB rats were confirmed to have PH by echocardiography and then randomized to treatment with a PKM2 inhibitor (intraperitoneal shikonin, 2mg/kg/day) versus 5% DMSO (n=5/group) or small interfering RNA-targeting PKM2 (siPKM2) versus siRNA controls (n=7/group) by airway nebulization.

Shikonin-treated SAB rats had milder PH (PAAT 32.1±1.3 vs 22.1±1.2ms, P=.0009) and lower RV systolic pressure (RVSP) (31.5±0.9 vs 55.7±1.9mmHg, P<.0001) versus DMSO-SAB rats. siPKM2 nebulization reduced PKM2 expression in the RV, increased PAAT (31.7±0.7 vs 28.0±1.3ms, P=.025), lowered RVSP (30.6±2.6 vs 42.0±4.0mm Hg, P=.032) and reduced diastolic RVFW thickness (0.69±0.04 vs 0.85±0.06mm, P=.046). Both shikonin and siPKM2 regressed PH-induced medial hypertrophy of small pulmonary arteries.

Increases in PKM2/PKM1 in the RV contribute to RV dysfunction in group 2 PH. Chemical or molecular inhibition of PKM2 restores the normal PKM2/PKM1 ratio, reduces PH, RVSP and RVH and regresses adverse PA remodelling. PKM2 merits consideration as a therapeutic cardiac target for group 2 PH.
Increases in PKM2/PKM1 in the RV contribute to RV dysfunction in group 2 PH. Chemical or molecular inhibition of PKM2 restores the normal PKM2/PKM1 ratio, reduces PH, RVSP and RVH and regresses adverse PA remodelling. PKM2 merits consideration as a therapeutic cardiac target for group 2 PH.Coordinated action among various organelles maintains cellular functions. For instance, mitochondria and lysosomes are the main organelles contributing to cellular metabolism and provide energy for cardiomyocyte contraction. They also provide essential signalling platforms in the cell that regulate many key processes such as autophagy, apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and cell death. Often, abnormalities in mitochondrial or lysosomal structures and functions bring about cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Although the communication between mitochondria and lysosomes throughout the cardiovascular system is intensely studied, the regulatory mechanisms have not been completely understood. Thus, we summarize the most recent studies related to mitochondria and lysosomes' role in CVDs and their potential connections and communications under cardiac pathophysiological conditions. Further, we discuss limitations and future perspectives regarding diagnosis, therapeutic strategies and drug discovery in CVDs.Biosensors are powerful tools for modern basic research and biomedical diagnostics. Their development requires substantial input from the chemical sciences. Sensors or probes with an optical readout, such as fluorescence, offer rapid, minimally invasive sensing of analytes with high spatial and temporal resolution. The near-infrared (NIR) region is beneficial because of the reduced background and scattering of biological samples (tissue transparency window) in this range. In this context, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have emerged as versatile NIR fluorescent building blocks for biosensors. Here, we provide an overview of advances in SWCNT-based NIR fluorescent molecular sensors. We focus on chemical design strategies for diverse analytes and summarize insights into the photophysics and molecular recognition. Furthermore, different application areas are discussed-from chemical imaging of cellular systems and diagnostics to in vivo applications and perspectives for the future.
Curved surgical instruments are being developed to expand the workspace of straight surgical instruments. They are required to have a small diameter and high stiffness.

We developed a double-spring pre-curved cannula (DSPC) for electrocauterization, which has curved movements controlled solely by translational motion, and high stiffness via wire tension. It comprises a straight extension spring, pre-curved flat spring and braided high-modulus polyethylene line. A handheld device was designed for intuitive DSPC manipulation. The cannula has a 3.9mm diameter and serves as a protective tube such that the electrode can safely reach the lesion.

Experimental results demonstrate that the DSPC has ideal curvature and maximum stiffness of 1.38N/mm. In a cadaveric study, the DSPC reached the inferior glenohumeral ligament, which conventional surgical instruments cannot access, and surgeons successfully performed electrocauterization.

The designed DSPC is effective for future use in forceps, curettes and surgical robots.
The designed DSPC is effective for future use in forceps, curettes and surgical robots.
Aquaporin-2 (AQP2) shuttling between intracellular vesicles and the apical plasma membrane is pivotal in arginine vasopressin-mediated urine concentration and is dysregulated in multiple diseases associated with water balance disorders. Children and adults with acute pyelonephritis have a urinary concentration defect and studies in children revealed increased AQP2 excretion in the urine. This study aimed to analyse AQP2 trafficking in response to acute pyelonephritis.

Immunofluorescence analysis was used to evaluate subcellular localization of AQP2 and AQP2-S256A (mimicking non-phosphorylated AQP2 on serine 256) in cells stimulated with bacterial lysates and of AQP2 and pS256-AQP2 in a mouse model at day 5 of acute pyelonephritis. Western blotting was used to evaluate AQP2 levels and AQP2 phosphorylation on S256 upon incubation with bacterial lysates. Time-lapse imaging was used to measure intracellular cAMP levels in response to incubation with bacterial lysates.

In cell cultures, lysates from both urophritis.
To describe the effect of adaptations to a person-centred care with short oral regimens on retention in care for rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

The study included people with RR-TB registered in the programme between 01 October 2016 and 18 April 2021. From 19 November 2019, the programme implemented a trial investigating the safety and effectiveness of short oral RR-TB regimens. During the trial, person-centred care was adapted. We included the data from people living with RR-TB treated in the period before and after the care model was adapted and applied Kaplan-Meier statistics to compare rates of retention in care.

Of 236 patients registered in the RR-TB programme, 146 (61.9%) were registered before and 90 (38.1%) after the model of care was adapted. Before adaptations enhancing person-centred care, pre-treatment attrition was 23.3% (n=34/146), whilst under the adapted care model it was 5.6% (n=5/90). Attrition on treatment was 22.3% (n=25/112) before adaptations, whilst during the study period none of the participants were lost-to-follow-up on treatment and 3.3% died (n=3/90).

As person-centred care delivery and treatment regimens were adapted to better fit-specific contextual challenges and the needs of the target population, retention in care improved amongst people with RR-TB in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
As person-centred care delivery and treatment regimens were adapted to better fit-specific contextual challenges and the needs of the target population, retention in care improved amongst people with RR-TB in Kandahar, Afghanistan.The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare explosive strength and underpinning contractile, hypertrophic, and neuromuscular activation characteristics of long-term maximum strength-trained (LT-MST; ie, ≥3 years of consistent, regular knee extensor training) and untrained individuals. Sixty-three healthy young men (untrained [UNT] n = 49, and LT-MST n = 14) performed isometric maximum and explosive voluntary, as well as evoked octet knee extension contractions. Torque, quadriceps, and hamstring surface EMG were recorded during all tasks. Quadriceps anatomical cross-sectional area (QACSAMAX ; via MRI) was also assessed. Maximum voluntary torque (MVT; +66%) and QACSAMAX (+54%) were greater for LT-MST than UNT ([both] p less then 0.001). Absolute explosive voluntary torque (25-150 ms after torque onset; +41 to +64%; [all] p less then 0.001; 1.15≤ effect size [ES]≤2.36) and absolute evoked octet torque (50 ms after torque onset; +43, p less then 0.001; ES = 3.07) were greater for LT-MST than UNT.
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