Search

Rice blast is one of the most devastating biotic stresses that limits rice productivity. The North Eastern Hill (NEH) region of India is considered to be one of the primary centres of diversity for both rice and pathotypes of Magnaporthe grisea. Therefore, the present study was carried out to elucidate the genetic basis of leaf and neck blast resistance under Meghalaya conditions. A set of 80 diverse genotypes (natural population) and 2 F2 populations involving resistant parent, a wildtype landrace, LR 5 (Lal Jangali) and susceptible genotypes Sambha Mahsuri SUB 1 (SMS) and LR 26 (Chakhao Poireiton) were used for association analysis of reported major gene-linked markers with leaf and neck blast resistance to identify major effective genes under local conditions. Genotyping using twenty-five gene-specific markers across diverse genotypes and F2 progenies revealed genes Pi5 and Pi54 to be associated with leaf blast resistance in all three populations. Genes Pib and qPbm showed an association with neck blast resistance in both natural and LR 5 × SMS populations. Additionally, a set of 184 genome-wide polymorphic markers (SSRs and SNPs), when applied to F2-resistant and F2-susceptible DNA bulks derived from LR 5 × LR 26, suggested that Pi20(t) on chromosome 12 is one of the major genes imparting disease resistance. Markers snpOS318, RM1337 and RM7102 and RM247 and snpOS316 were associated with leaf blast and neck blast resistance, respectively. The genotypes, markers and genes will help in marker-assisted selection and development of varieties with durable resistance.

Enhancing the marker repository and the development of breeder-friendly markers in chickpeas is important in relation to chickpea genomics-assisted breeding applications. Insertion–deletion (InDel) markers are widely distributed across genomes and easily observed with specifically designed primers, leading to less time, cost, and labor requirements. In light of this, the present study focused on the identification and development of InDel markers through the use of double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADSeq) data from 20 chickpea accessions. Bioinformatic analysis identified 20,700 InDel sites, including 15,031 (72.61%) deletions and 5669 (27.39%) insertions, among the chickpea accessions. The InDel markers ranged from 1 to 25 bp in length, while single-nucleotide-length InDel markers were found to represent the majority of the InDel sites and account for 79% of the total InDel markers. However, we focused on InDel markers wherein the length was greater than a single nucleotide to avoid any read or alignment errors. Among all of the InDel markers, 96.1% were less than 10 bp, 3.6% were between 10 and 20 bp, and 0.3% were more than 20 bp in length. We examined the InDel markers that were 10 bp and longer for the development of InDel markers based on a consideration of the genomic distribution and low-cost genotyping with agarose gels. A total of 29 InDel regions were selected, and primers were successfully designed to evaluate their efficiency. Annotation analysis of the InDel markers revealed them to be found with the highest frequency in the intergenic regions (82.76%), followed by the introns (6.90%), coding sequences (6.90%), and exons (3.45%). Genetic diversity analysis demonstrated that the polymorphic information content of the markers varied from 0.09 to 0.37, with an average of 0.20. Taken together, these results showed the efficiency of InDel marker development for chickpea genetic and genomic studies using the ddRADSeq method. The identified markers might prove valuable for chickpea breeders.

Orexin-A is a neuropeptide product of the lateral hypothalamus that acts on two receptors, OX1R and OX2R. The orexinergic system is involved in feeding, sleep, and pressure regulation. Recently, orexin-A levels have been found to be negatively correlated with renal function. Here, we analyzed orexin-A levels as well as the incidence of SNPs in the hypocretin neuropeptide precursor (HCRT) and its receptors, HCRTR1 and HCRTR2, in 64 patients affected by autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) bearing truncating mutations in the PKD1 or PKD2 genes. Twenty-four healthy volunteers constituted the control group. Serum orexin-A was assessed by ELISA, while the SNPs were investigated through Sanger sequencing. Correlations with the main clinical features of PKD patients were assessed. PKD patients showed impaired renal function (mean eGFR 67.8 ± 34.53) and a statistically higher systolic blood pressure compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Additionally, orexin-A levels in PKD patients were statistically higher than those in healthy controls (477.07 ± 69.42 pg/mL vs. 321.49 ± 78.01 pg/mL; p < 0.001). Furthermore, orexin-A inversely correlated with blood pressure (p = 0.0085), while a direct correlation with eGFR in PKD patients was found. None of the analyzed SNPs showed any association with orexin-A levels in PKD. In conclusion, our data highlights the emerging role of orexin-A in renal physiology and its potential relevance to PKD. Further research is essential to elucidate the intricate mechanisms underlying orexin-A signaling in renal function and its therapeutic implications for PKD and associated cardiovascular complications.

Background: We retrospectively evaluated the usefulness of an elevated glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio (GLR) as a sensitive prognostic biomarker of disease-specific survival in 338 patients who underwent surgical resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods: The optimal GLR cutoff value was determined using the method of Contal and O’Quigley. Patient demographics, clinical information, and imaging data were analyzed to identify preoperative predictors of long-term survival outcomes. Results: Elevated GLR correlated significantly with aggressive tumor biologic behaviors, such as a high carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 level (p = 0.003) and large tumor size (p = 0.011). Multivariate analysis identified (1) GLR > 92.72 [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.475, p < 0.001], (2) CA 19-9 level > 145.35 (HR = 1.577, p = 0.068), and (3) symptoms (p = 0.064) as independent predictors of long-term, cancer-specific survival. These three risk factors were used to group patients into groups 1 (0 factors), 2 (1–2 factors), and 3 (3 factors), which corresponded to significantly different 5-year overall survival rates (50.2%, 34.6%, and 11.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusions: An elevated preoperative GLR is associated with aggressive tumor characteristics and is an independent predictor of poor postoperative prognosis in patients with PDAC. Further prospective studies are required to verify these findings.

The utilization of heterosis is of great significance in improving rice yield. To explore the physiological and genetic basis for high yield in indica–japonica hybrid rice, Zheyou18 (z18) and Yongyou12 (y12) were used as materials and compared with indica hybrid rice, Zheyou12 (z12); japonica hybrid rice, Liangyoupeijiu (LYPJ); and the conventional lines zhe04B (04B) and zhehui818 (h818) under seedling growth vigor, functional leaf morphology, chlorophyll content, yield component, panicle trait, and InDel heterosis analysis. Z18 and y12 showed the largest increase in plant height 6 d and 9 d after germination; the root dry weight of z18 was 31.2% and 42.0% higher than its parents on the 12th d. The length of functional leaves ranked in the middle, while the width was the largest, resulting in z18 and y12 having the largest leaf area. Yield components showed that z18 and y12 had the highest number of primary branches, spikelets, and grains, and grain yield, which was 58.1 g in z18, increased by 29.8% and 8.7%, respectively, in comparison with h818 and LYPJ. The InDel genetic distance was significantly positively correlated with single spike weight, with r reaching 0.771, making it the only consistent and most correlated among the seven traits. Therefore, we speculated that as the InDel genetic distance expands, heterosis mainly manifests in the increase in single spike weight. This study comprehensively explored the physiological mechanism of yield improvement in indica–japonica-hybrid rice and used InDel genetic distances to study the genetic basis of heterosis, which will be helpful for future rice yield improvement.

Smoking significantly elevates the risk of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. This risk is attributed to the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke that damage lung tissue and impair lung function. Current research on the impact of smoking on gene expression in specific lung cells is limited. This study addresses this gap by analyzing gene expression profiles at the single-cell level from 43,539 lung endothelial cells, 234,349 lung epithelial cells, 189,843 lung immune cells, and 16,031 lung stromal cells using advanced machine learning techniques. The data, categorized by different lung cell types, were classified into three smoking states: active smoker, former smoker, and never smoker. Each cell sample encompassed 28,024 feature genes. Employing an incremental feature selection method within a computational framework, several specific genes have been identified as potential markers of smoking status in different lung cell types. These include B2M, EEF1A1, and TPT1 in lung endothelial cells; FTL and MT-ATP8 in lung epithelial cells; HLA-B and HLA-C in lung immune cells; and HSP90B1 and LCN2 in lung stroma cells. Additionally, this study developed quantitative rules for representing the gene expression patterns related to smoking. This research highlights the potential of machine learning in oncology, enhancing our molecular understanding of smoking’s harm and laying the groundwork for future mechanism-based studies.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subpopulation within tumors that promote cancer progression, metastasis, and recurrence due to their self-renewal capacity and resistance to conventional therapies. CSC-specific markers and signaling pathways highly active in CSCs have emerged as a promising strategy for improving patient outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic targets associated with CSCs of solid tumors across various cancer types, including key molecular markers aldehyde dehydrogenases, CD44, epithelial cellular adhesion molecule, and CD133 and signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, and Sonic Hedgehog. We discuss a wide array of therapeutic modalities ranging from targeted antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, and near-infrared photoimmunotherapy to advanced genetic approaches like RNA interference, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, aptamers, antisense oligonucleotides, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, CAR natural killer cells, bispecific T cell engagers, immunotoxins, drug-antibody conjugates, therapeutic peptides, and dendritic cell vaccines. This review spans developments from preclinical investigations to ongoing clinical trials, highlighting the innovative targeting strategies that have been informed by CSC-associated pathways and molecules to overcome therapeutic resistance. We aim to provide insights into the potential of these therapies to revolutionize cancer treatment, underscoring the critical need for a multi-faceted approach in the battle against cancer. This comprehensive analysis demonstrates how advances made in the CSC field have informed significant developments in novel targeted therapeutic approaches, with the ultimate goal of achieving more effective and durable responses in cancer patients.

Gal-3 plays an important role in cell survival, mRNA splicing, and cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions. Depending on its cellular localization and cancer type, Gal-3 may have tumour-suppressive or tumour-promoting activities. Given the promising diagnostic role of Gal-3 in the urine of PCa patients found in our previous study, its concordant gene and protein expression levels, and its involvement in PCa-related biological processes (e.g., morphogenesis of the prostate gland epithelium), we aimed to investigate this protein immunohistochemically in tumour and normal prostate tissues. Gal-3 protein expression was evaluated in 48 tumour prostate tissues, eight normal prostate tissues and 14 adjacent-normal prostate tissues. Decreased Gal-3 staining was detected in tumour tissues compared with normal tissues. Although Gal-3 staining was decreased in tumour tissues with GS 5-8 and pT2 and pT3 stages compared with normal prostate tissue, no correlation was found between Gal-3 expression and PCa progression. In the present study, the pattern of cellular localization differed between groups, as Gal-3 was predominantly excluded from the nucleus in tumour tissues. Furthermore, Gal-3 had no significant effect on survival and relapse in these PCa patients. This work confirms Gal-3 as a promising marker for PCa diagnosis.

(1) Background: The number of horses suffering from chronic respiratory diseases, resembling human asthma, is increasing but there is still a lack of reliable and accurate methods to detect these disorders. Numerous studies have found elevated plasma concentrations of one of the myokines, namely, myostatin (MSTN), in people suffering from severe asthma. MSTN normally inhibits myoblast proliferation and differentiation through autocrine or paracrine signals. Therefore, given the pathogenesis of asthma, we hypothesize that MSTN could be a useful biomarker of equine asthma. Thus, this study aimed to compare the concentration of MSTN in the blood plasma of fully healthy and asthmatic horses. (2) Methods: A total of 61 horses were clinically examined to confirm or exclude the occurrence of equine asthma, including bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cytology performed on 49 horses. This study included three groups of horses, two of which were clinically healthy, and one of which was asthmatic. (3) Results: The mean circulatory MSTN concentration determined using the ELISA method in asthmatic horses was significantly higher than that in clinically healthy young Thoroughbred racehorses (p < 0.05), but it did not differ as compared to the group of healthy, adult leisure horses. (4) Conclusions: The obtained results did not unambiguously support our original hypothesis that MSTM may be a reliable marker for the early diagnosis of equine asthma. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the plasma MSTN concentration in equine asthma patients, and therefore further studies are needed to confirm our novel findings.

Seed weight is an important target trait in pomegranate breeding and culture. Expansins act by loosening plant cell walls and cellulosic materials, permitting turgor-driven cell enlargement. However, the role of expansin genes (EXPs) in pomegranate seed weight remains elusive. A total of 29 PgrEXPs were identified in the ‘Dabenzi’ genome. These genes were classified into four subfamilies and 14 subgroups, including 22 PgrEXPAs, 5 PgrEXPBs, 1 PgrEXPLA, and 1 PgrEXPLB. Transcriptome analysis of PgrEXPs in different tissues (root, leaf, flower, peel, and seed testa) in ‘Dabenzi’, and the seed testa of the hard-seeded pomegranate cultivar ‘Dabenzi’ and soft-seeded cultivar ‘Tunisia’ at three development stages showed that three PgrEXPs (PgrEXPA11, PgrEXPA22, PgrEXPA6) were highly expressed throughout seed development, especially in the sarcotesta. SNP/Indel markers of these PgrEXPs were developed and used to genotype 101 pomegranate accessions. The association of polymorphic PgrEXPs with seed weight-related traits (100-seed weight, 100-kernel weight, 100-sarcotesta weight, and the percentage of 100-sarcotesta to 100-seed weight) were analyzed. PgrEXP22 was significantly associated with 100-seed weight and 100-sarcotesta weight and is a likely candidate for regulating seed weight and sarcotesta development in particular. This study provides an effective tool for the genetic improvement of seed weight in pomegranate breeding programs.

Helminth parasites cause debilitating—sometimes fatal—diseases in humans and animals. Despite their impact on global health, mechanisms underlying host–parasite interactions are still poorly understood. One such mechanism involves the exchange of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are membrane-enclosed subcellular nanoparticles. To date, EV secretion has been studied in helminth parasites, including EV protein content. However, information is highly heterogeneous, since it was generated in multiple species, using varied protocols for EV isolation and data analysis. Here, we compared the protein cargo of helminth EVs to identify common markers for each taxon. For this, we integrated published proteomic data and performed a comparative analysis through an orthology approach. Overall, only three proteins were common in the EVs of the seven analyzed species. Additionally, varied repertoires of proteins with moonlighting activity, vaccine antigens, canonical and non-canonical proteins related to EV biogenesis, taxon-specific proteins of unknown function and RNA-binding proteins were observed in platyhelminth and nematode EVs. Despite the lack of consensus on EV isolation protocols and protein annotation, several proteins were shown to be consistently detected in EV preparations from organisms at different taxa levels, providing a starting point for a selective biochemical characterization.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system, especially from progenitor or mature B-cells, T-cells, or natural killer (NK) cells. NHL is the most common hematological malignancy worldwide and also the fourth most frequent type of cancer among pediatric patients. This cancer can occur in children of any age, but it is quite rare under the age of 5 years. In recent decades, available medicines and therapies have significantly improved the prognosis of patients with this cancer. However, some cases of NHL are treatment resistant. For this reason, immunotherapy, as a more targeted and personalized treatment strategy, is becoming increasingly important in the treatment of NHL in pediatric patients. The objective of the following review is to gather the latest available research results, conducted among pediatric and/or adult patients with NHL, regarding one immunotherapy method, i.e., chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. We focus on assessing the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy, which mainly targets B cell markers, CD19, CD20, and CD22, their connections with one another, sequential treatment, or connections with co-stimulatory molecules. In addition, we also evaluate the safety, aftermath (especially neurotoxicities) and limitations of CAR-T cell therapy.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a disorder that impairs the formation of the relationship between mother and child, and reduces the quality of life for affected women to a functionally significant degree. Studying markers associated with PPD can help in early detection, prevention, or monitoring treatment. The purpose of this paper is to review biomarkers linked to PPD and to present selected theories on the pathogenesis of the disease based on data from biomarker studies. The complex etiology of the disorder reduces the specificity and sensitivity of markers, but they remain a valuable source of information to help clinicians. The biggest challenge of the future will be to translate high-tech methods for detecting markers associated with postpartum depression into more readily available and less costly ones. Population-based studies are needed to test the utility of potential PPD markers.

Purpose: Recent years have seen a clear link established between elevated ferritin levels and COVID-19 prognosis. However, the impact of heightened ferritin levels on the prognosis of individuals with severe ischemic heart disease remains uncertain. Methods: We utilized the MIMIC IV database to identify a cohort of ischemic heart disease patients who underwent serum ferritin testing. We conducted regression analyses, employed the overlap propensity score weighting model, and utilized the restricted cubic splines model to comprehensively investigate the associations between serum ferritin levels and clinical outcomes. Results: Our cohort included 1173 patients with diagnosed ischemic heart disease, categorized into high and low serum ferritin groups. After meticulous adjustment for confounding factors in a fully adjusted model, the hazard ratios (HRs) for 90-day and 1-year mortality were 1.63 (95% CI: 1.27–2.09) and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.19–1.86), respectively, in the high-ferritin group compared to the low-ferritin group. Subsequent analyses with propensity score weighting confirmed these results. Remarkably, restricted cubic spline analysis revealed an almost linear relationship between log-transformed serum ferritin levels and the risk of both 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality. Moreover, incorporating ferritin into conventional severity of illness scores significantly improved the area under the curve for both 90-day and 1-year mortality. Conclusions: This study provides compelling evidence regarding the prognostic significance of serum ferritin in predicting 90-day and one-year mortality rates among patients diagnosed with ischemic heart disease.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of conditions including central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol, hyperglycaemia, and hypertension with a prevalence rate of 20–25% of the world’s adult population. Metabolic syndrome is often characterized by insulin resistance, which some have suggested is a major supportive connection between physical inactivity and MS. Various studies suggest that moderately elevated iron and ferritin levels are associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome and are markers of insulin resistance. Increased body iron stores are associated with the development of glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and insulin resistance syndrome (IRS). This is a hospital-based cross-sectional observational study, which was conducted in the department of internal medicine of a tertiary care hospital in northern India. The study was conducted from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2020 and included 100 patients and 100 controls. All subjects in the age group of 35–65 years were enrolled and investigated as per the study design. Metabolic syndrome patients were diagnosed according to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel-III (NCEP ATP-III) with BMI > 23 kg/m2. All baseline investigations were undertaken, including serum ferritin levels. Insulin resistance (IR) was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment IR (HOMA-IR) formula. We found a positive association between an increase in serum ferritin with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its clinical parameter. The serum ferritin level was positively correlated with the level of insulin resistance and inversely correlated with the insulin level of the patients.

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection has been shown as a potential risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This prospective research aimed to investigate whether EBV infection markers changed during the six-month follow-up period in 133 RA patients (80 newly diagnosed on methotrexate (MTX)—RA-A, and 53 on biologic therapy—RA-B) and whether it was related to a disease outcome. Reduction of disease activity and inflammation was obtained. A significant decline in seroprevalence and titer for anti-VCA-IgM (p = 0.022 and p = 0.026) and anti-EA(D)-IgM (p = 0.022 and p = 0.006) in RA-A, and in seroprevalence and titer of anti-EA(D)-IgG in the RA-B subgroup (p = 0.021 and p = 0.006) were detected after the follow-up. A lower titer of anti-EBNA1-IgG could be considered a significant marker of RA remission in all RA patients regardless of age and gender (OR = 0.99, 95% CI OR = 0.98–0.99, p = 0.038), and also in RA-B patients separately (OR = 0.988, 95% CI OR = 0.98–0.99, p = 0.041). This study supported the basic hypothesis that the immune response to EBV infection is involved in the RA pathogenesis, at the beginning of the disease or during the RA evolution. Moreover, the potential influence of MTX or TNF-alpha inhibitors on the impairment of the host to control EBV infection was indirectly refuted.

Background: Stem cells have been associated with self-renewing and plasticity and have been investigated in various odontogenic lesions in association with their pathogenesis and biological behavior. We aim to provide a systematic review of stem cell markers’ expression in odontogenic tumors and cysts. Methods: The literature was searched through the MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE via OVID, Web of Science, and CINHAL via EBSCO databases for original studies evaluating stem cell markers’ expression in different odontogenic tumors/cysts, or an odontogenic disease group and a control group. The studies’ risk of bias (RoB) was assessed via a Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. Meta-analysis was conducted for markers evaluated in the same pair of odontogenic tumors/cysts in at least two studies. Results: 29 studies reported the expression of stem cell markers, e.g., SOX2, OCT4, NANOG, CD44, ALDH1, BMI1, and CD105, in various odontogenic lesions, through immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence, polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, microarrays, and RNA-sequencing. Low, moderate, and high RoBs were observed in seven, nine, and thirteen studies, respectively. Meta-analysis revealed a remarkable discriminative ability of SOX2 for ameloblastic carcinomas or odontogenic keratocysts over ameloblastomas. Conclusion: Stem cells might be linked to the pathogenesis and clinical behavior of odontogenic pathologies and represent a potential target for future individualized therapies.

Tiller number is an important trait associated with yield in rice. Tiller number in Korean japonica rice was analyzed under greenhouse conditions in 160 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between the temperate japonica varieties Odae and Unbong40 to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs). A genetic map comprising 239 kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) and 57 cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence markers was constructed. qTN3, a major QTL for tiller number, was identified at 132.4 cm on chromosome 3. This QTL was also detected under field conditions in a backcross population; thus, qTN3 was stable across generations and environments. qTN3 co-located with QTLs associated with panicle number per plant and culm diameter, indicating it had pleiotropic effects. The qTN3 regions of Odae and Unbong40 differed in a known functional variant (4 bp TGTG insertion/deletion) in the 5ʹ UTR of OsTB1, a gene underlying variation in tiller number and culm strength. Investigation of variation in genotype and tiller number revealed that varieties with the insertion genotype had lower tiller numbers than those with the reference genotype. A high-resolution melting marker was developed to enable efficient marker-assisted selection. The QTL qTN3 will therefore be useful in breeding programs developing japonica varieties with optimal tiller numbers for increased yield.

Enhancing the marker repository and the development of breeder-friendly markers in chickpeas is important in relation to chickpea genomics-assisted breeding applications. Insertion-deletion (InDel) markers are widely distributed across genomes and easily observed with specifically designed primers, leading to less time, cost, and labor requirements. In light of this, the present study focused on the identification and development of InDel markers through the use of double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADSeq) data from 20 chickpea accessions. Bioinformatic analysis identified 20,700 InDel sites, including 15,031 (72.61%) deletions and 5669 (27.39%) insertions, among the chickpea accessions. The InDel markers ranged from 1 to 25 bp in length, while single-nucleotide-length InDel markers were found to represent the majority of the InDel sites and account for 79% of the total InDel markers. However, we focused on InDel markers wherein the length was greater than a single nucleotide to avoid any read or alignment errors. Among all of the InDel markers, 96.1% were less than 10 bp, 3.6% were between 10 and 20 bp, and 0.3% were more than 20 bp in length. We examined the InDel markers that were 10 bp and longer for the development of InDel markers based on a consideration of the genomic distribution and low-cost genotyping with agarose gels. A total of 29 InDel regions were selected, and primers were successfully designed to evaluate their efficiency. Annotation analysis of the InDel markers revealed them to be found with the highest frequency in the intergenic regions (82.76%), followed by the introns (6.90%), coding sequences (6.90%), and exons (3.45%). Genetic diversity analysis demonstrated that the polymorphic information content of the markers varied from 0.09 to 0.37, with an average of 0.20. Taken together, these results showed the efficiency of InDel marker development for chickpea genetic and genomic studies using the ddRADSeq method. The identified markers might prove valuable for chickpea breeders.

Rice blast is one of the most devastating biotic stresses that limits rice productivity. The North Eastern Hill (NEH) region of India is considered to be one of the primary centres of diversity for both rice and pathotypes of Magnaporthe grisea . Therefore, the present study was carried out to elucidate the genetic basis of leaf and neck blast resistance under Meghalaya conditions. A set of 80 diverse genotypes (natural population) and 2 F 2 populations involving resistant parent, a wildtype landrace, LR 5 (Lal Jangali) and susceptible genotypes Sambha Mahsuri SUB 1 (SMS) and LR 26 (Chakhao Poireiton) were used for association analysis of reported major gene-linked markers with leaf and neck blast resistance to identify major effective genes under local conditions. Genotyping using twenty-five gene-specific markers across diverse genotypes and F 2 progenies revealed genes Pi5 and Pi54 to be associated with leaf blast resistance in all three populations. Genes Pib and qPbm showed an association with neck blast resistance in both natural and LR 5 × SMS populations. Additionally, a set of 184 genome-wide polymorphic markers (SSRs and SNPs), when applied to F 2 -resistant and F 2 -susceptible DNA bulks derived from LR 5 × LR 26, suggested that Pi20(t) on chromosome 12 is one of the major genes imparting disease resistance. Markers snpOS318, RM1337 and RM7102 and RM247 and snpOS316 were associated with leaf blast and neck blast resistance, respectively. The genotypes, markers and genes will help in marker-assisted selection and development of varieties with durable resistance.

The functions of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) neuropeptide encoded by the CARTPT gene vary from modifying behavior and pain sensitivity to being an antioxidant. Putative CART peptide receptor GPR160 was implicated recently in the pathogenesis of cancer. However, the exact role of CART protein in the development of neoplasms remains unclear. This systematic review includes articles retrieved from the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Medline Complete databases. Nineteen publications that met the inclusion criteria and describe the association of CART and cancer were analyzed. CART is expressed in various types of cancer, e.g., in breast cancer and neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The role of CART as a potential biomarker in breast cancer, stomach adenocarcinoma, glioma and some types of NETs was suggested. In various cancer cell lines, CARTPT acts an oncogene, enhancing cellular survival by the activation of the ERK pathway, the stimulation of other pro-survival molecules, the inhibition of apoptosis or the increase in cyclin D1 levels. In breast cancer, CART was reported to protect tumor cells from tamoxifen-mediated death. Taken together, these data support the role of CART activity in the pathogenesis of cancer, thus opening new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in neoplastic disorders.

In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is associated with high mortality and poor neurological outcomes. Our objective was to assess whether the lactate-to-albumin ratio (LAR) can predict the outcomes in patients after IHCA. We retrospectively screened 75,987 hospitalised patients at a university hospital between 2015 and 2019. The primary endpoint was survival at 30-days. Neurological outcomes were assessed at 30 days using the cerebral performance category scale. 244 patients with IHCA and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were included in this study and divided into quartiles of LAR. Overall, there were no differences in key baseline characteristics or rates of pre-existing comorbidities among the LAR quartiles. Patients with higher LAR had poorer survival after IHCA compared to patients with lower LAR: Q1, 70.4% of the patients; Q2, 50.8% of the patients; Q3, 26.2% of the patients; Q4, 6.6% of the patients (p = 0.001). Across increasing quartiles, the probability of a favourable neurological outcome in patients with ROSC after IHCA decreased: Q1: 49.2% of the patients; Q2: 32.8% of the patients; Q3: 14.7% of the patients; Q4: 3.2% of the patients (p = 0.001). The AUCs for predicting 30-days survival using the LAR were higher as compared to using a single measurement of lactate or albumin. The prognostic performance of LAR was superior to that of a single measurement of lactate or albumin for predicting survival after IHCA.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a rare yet devastating complication following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Early and accurate diagnosis of PJI is paramount in order to maximize the chances of successful treatment. However, we are yet to identify a single “gold standard” test for the diagnosis of PJI. As a result, the diagnosis of PJI is often challenging. Currently, the 2018 ICM definition of PJI is the only validated diagnostic criteria available. This article will review the importance of serum and synovial biomarkers in the diagnosis of PJI. In addition, it will provide a brief overview of the emerging modalities for the identification of infections in this setting.

Doubled haploid (DH) technology is an efficient strategy for producing completely homozygous lines for breeding programs. Mutations in the MATRILINEAL (MTL) phospholipase trigger intraspecific haploid induction in cereals. Although an in vivo haploid induction system based on OsMTL-edited plants has been established in rice (Oryza sativa), DH technology is still limited by other factors, such as haploid identification, which is one of the essential steps required for DH technology. In the study, we addressed this technical challenge by integrating specific molecular and phenotypic markers into rice haploid inducers. We first generated large fragment insertion or deletion mutations within the OsMTL gene and designed a pair of primers flanking the mutational sites to be used as the specific and universal molecular markers between wild-type and Osmtl plants. Next, we screened for hairy leaf as a single dominant trait and integrated it into specific molecular marker-based haploid inducers using the cross and self-cross method. When crossing cytoplasmic male sterile lines with these haploid inducers, we utilized the specific InDel marker and hairy leaf phenotypic marker to identify putative haploids (or double haploids). These putative haploids were further confirmed through ploidy and phenotypic analysis, demonstrating the high efficiency of haploid identification using these markers. The haploid induction rate (HIR) of the developed specific molecular and phenotypic marker-based haploid inducers ranged from 3.7% to 12.5%. We have achieved successful integration of distinct molecular and phenotypic markers into rice haploid inducers. Our advanced marker-based system has significantly enhanced the accuracy of haploid identification, thereby expediting the adoption of DH technology in rice breeding.

Delivery drones typically perform delivery by suspending the parcel vertically or landing the drone to drop off the package. However, because of the constrained landing area and the requirement for precise navigation, delivering items to customers who reside in multi-story apartment complexes poses a unique challenge. This research paper proposes a novel drone delivery system for multi-story apartment buildings with balconies that employ two methods for Vertical Grid Screening (VGS), i.e., Grid Screening (GS) and Square Screening (SS), to detect unique markers to identify the precise balcony that needs to receive the product. The developed drone has a frame size of 295 mm and is equipped with a stereo camera and a ranging sensor. The research paper also explores the scanning and trajectory methods required for autonomous flight to accurately approach the marker location. The proposed machine learning system is trained on a YOLOv5 model for image recognition of the marker, and four different models and batch sizes are compared. The 32-batch size with a 960 × 1280 resolution model provides an average of 0.97 confidence for an extended range. This system is tested outdoors and shows an accuracy of 95% for a planned trajectory with 398 ms detection time as a solution for last-mile delivery in urban areas.

Lung cancer (LC) represents the leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality worldwide. LC onset is strongly related to genetic mutations and environmental interactions, such as tobacco smoking, or pathological conditions, such as chronic inflammation. Despite advancement in knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in LC, this tumor is still characterized by an unfavorable prognosis, and the current therapeutic options are unsatisfactory. TGF-β is a cytokine that regulates different biological processes, particularly at the pulmonary level, and its alteration has been demonstrated to be associated with LC progression. Moreover, TGF-β is involved in promoting invasiveness and metastasis, via epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) induction, where TGF-β is the major driver. Thus, a TGF-β-EMT signature may be considered a potential predictive marker in LC prognosis, and TGF-β-EMT inhibition has been demonstrated to prevent metastasis in various animal models. Concerning a LC therapeutic approach, some TGF-β and TGF-β-EMT inhibitors could be used in combination with chemo- and immunotherapy without major side effects, thereby improving cancer therapy. Overall, targeting TGF-β may be a valid possibility to fight LC, both in improving LC prognosis and cancer therapy, via a novel approach that could open up new effective strategies against this aggressive cancer.

(1) Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome are associated with decreased vitamin D. In contrast, high pro-neurotensin (pro-NT) levels are linked with an increased risk of T2DM and cardiovascular disease. We aimed to determine the validity of pro-NT and 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 levels as predictors for T2DM complications; (2) Methods: One hundred T2DM, and one hundred healthy volunteers participated in this case-control study. Their Pro-NT and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels were evaluated using the ELISA technique; (3) Results: Pro-NT and 25 (OH) vitamin D3 have significant validity and accuracy in T2DM prediction, 84.5%, and 90.5%, respectively (p = 0.001). At a value of 124 Pmol/L, Pro-NT showed 81% sensitivity and 88% specificity in predicting T2DM. At a value of 16.5, 25-Hydroxy vitamin D3 had 78.4% sensitivity and 68.3% specificity in predicting T2DM complications. At a value of >158 pmol/L, Pro-NT predicted T2DM complications with 67.6% sensitivity and 56.0% specificity; (4) Conclusions: 25 (OH) Vit D3 and Pro-NT could identify T2DM patients and predict T2DM complications. More extensive research is required to adequately validate this novel perspective with a large population study.

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is a chronic glomerular disease in children, characterized by severe proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and/or presence of edema and hyperlipidemia. The pathogenesis, however, has not been yet established. The clinical course of the disease is characterized by frequent relapses. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, that apart from its involvement in the immune system, was found to be playing a vital role in various cells’ functioning, including renal tissue. It is desirable to look for new predictors of INS. Our study aimed to evaluate IL-15 as a potential marker in the early diagnosis of the disease. The cohort participating in the study consisted of patients hospitalized in Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Zabrze, from December 2019 to December 2021, including study group with INS (n = 30) and control group (n = 44). Results: The concentration of IL-15 in both serum and urine was significantly elevated in patients with INS, compared to healthy controls. The cytokine might serve as a marker of the disease, however, further research on larger study groups is needed.

Objective: Acute hydrocephalus is a common complication in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Several ventricular indices have been introduced to enable measurements of ventricular morphology. Previously, researchers have showed their diagnostic value for various neurological disorders. In this study, we evaluated the association between ventricular indices and the clinical course, occurrence of complications and outcome of SAH. Methods: A total of 745 SAH patients with available early admission computed tomography scans were included in the analyses. Six ventricular indices (bifrontal, bicaudate, ventricular and third ventricle ratios and Evans’ and Huckman’s indices) were measured. Primary endpoints included the occurrence of cerebral infarctions, in-hospital mortality and a poor outcome at 6 months. Secondary endpoints included different adverse events in the course of SAH. Clinically relevant cut-offs for the indices were determined using receiver operating curves. Univariate analyses were performed. Multivariate analyses were conducted on significant findings in a stepwise backward regression model. Results: The higher the values of the ventricular indices were and the older the patient was, the higher the WFNS and Fisher’s scores were, and the lower the SEBES score was at admission. Patients with larger ventricles showed a shorter duration of intracranial pressure increase > 20 mmHg and required decompressive craniectomy less frequently. Ventricular indices were independently associated with the parameters of inflammatory response after SAH (C-reactive protein in serum and interleukin-6 in cerebrospinal fluid and fever). Finally, there were independent correlations between larger ventricles and all the primary endpoints. Conclusions: The lower risk of intracranial pressure increase and absence of an association with vasospasm or systemic infections during SAH, and the poorer outcome in individuals with larger ventricles might be related to a more pronounced neuroinflammatory response after aneurysmal bleeding. These observations might be helpful in the development of specific medical and surgical treatment strategies for SAH patients depending on the initial ventricle measurements.

African swine fever is a contagious viral disease that has been spreading through Europe and Asia since its initial report from Georgia in 2007. Due to the large genome size of the causative agent, the African swine fever virus (ASFV), the molecular epidemiology, and virus evolution are analyzed by employing different markers. Most of these markers originate from single nucleotide polymorphisms or disparities in the copy number of tandem repeat sequences observed during the comparisons of full genome sequences produced from ASFVs isolated during different outbreaks. Therefore, consistent complete genome sequencing and comparative analysis of the sequence data are important to add innovative genomic markers that contribute to the delineation of ASFV phylogeny and molecular epidemiology during active circulation in the field. In this study, the molecular markers currently employed to assess the genotype II ASFVs circulating in Europe and Asia have been outlined. The application of each of these markers to differentiate between ASFVs from related outbreaks is described to implement a guideline to their suitability for analyzing new outbreaks. These markers do not signify the complete repertoire of genomic differences between ASFVs, but will be beneficial when analyzing the first outbreaks in a new region or a large number of samples. Furthermore, new markers must be determined via complete genome sequence analyses for enabling in-depth insights into the molecular epidemiology of ASFV.

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) causes severe economic problems due to reduced grain quality and yield. Fine mapping was carried out to identify genes associated with PHS; the detected quantitative trait locus (QTL) was narrowed down to 50 Kbp using F3:4 populations, four polymorphic insertion and deletion (InDel) markers, and two cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers. In one region, five candidate genes were detected, and the SNP and InDel in each gene (Os01g0111400 and Os01g0111600) were confirmed to show the differences and resulting amino acid changes between parent plants. Based on haplotype, expression, and co-segregation analysis, the InDel in Os01g0111600 was confirmed to be associated with the PHS trait. The results of this study could be applied to improve the PHS tolerance of Japonica rice varieties, and they also improved our understanding of the genetic basis underlying PHS tolerance.

The paper deals with the issue of the mixed-reality usage in the design of production systems, its changes during expansion, or technological changes in the production, where it is necessary to flexibly and quickly verify the integration of a new machine into the existing layout and eliminate collision situations even before the installation of a physical machine in production. This is realized through Vumark’s design methodology, which was verified and applied in the conditions of the production environment of the Innovation and Prototyping Centre in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Kosice. The individual parts of the paper describe the Vumark deployment procedure in the production area and the software and hardware resources that the user can apply. Three production machines and one robotic device selected from the Factory design software database were chosen for the experiment. The chosen method enables us to verify during the experiment several variants of deployment the machines in the layout and thus to find the optimal location in a very short time. The experiment showed that the chosen method is applicable in practice and brings savings of time, costs, and energy especially when changing the layout or replacing the machine in the production hall.

C. oleifera is an economically important oilseed crop and medical plant. However, as a characteristic honey resource, the standard protocol used to identify the composition of C. oleifera honey has not been established yet. Previously, distinctive flavonoid has been shown as an effective marker to trace the botanical origin of honey. In this study, we examined the flavonoid types in C. oleifera honey and nine other monofloral honeys by using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and compared the differences and identified eight distinct flavonoids in C. oleifera honey. Then, comparing the 8 flavonoids with the 14 flavonoids common to C. oleifera honey and nectar, two distinct flavonoids were identified in C. oleifera honey and nectar. Finally, we identified kaempferitrin as the distinct flavonoid marker in C. oleifera honey using the degree of influence of the partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model on C. oleifera honey and ployfloral honey.

The roles of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of severe malaria have been widely studied, and the role of IL-10 in the pathogenesis of severe malaria remains unclear. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the difference in IL-10 levels between patients with severe malaria and those with non-severe malaria. The search for relevant studies was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Embase from 1 February 2022 to 12 February 2022. The quality of the included studies was assessed according to the guidelines of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology. The random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled effect. In all, 1215 studies were identified, and 19 were included in the quantitative syntheses. The results showed that patients with severe malaria had a higher IL-10 level than those with non-severe malaria (p = 0.03, pooled standardized mean difference: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.08–1.40, I2: 97.22%, 19 studies/21 sub studies). The meta-analysis results demonstrated increased IL-10 levels in patients with severe malaria compared with those with non-severe malaria. However, with the heterogeneity of the meta-analysis results, further studies are required to confirm the changes in the IL-10 levels according to the severity of malaria and to investigate whether a combination of other severity parameters with IL-10 levels could be an alternative marker for severe malaria.

S100A6, also known as calcyclin, is a calcium-binding protein belonging to the S100 protein family. It was first identified and purified more than 30 years ago. Initial structural studies, focused mostly on the mode and affinity of Ca2+ binding and resolution of the resultant conformational changes, were soon complemented by research on its expression, localization and identification of binding partners. With time, the use of biophysical methods helped to resolve the structure and versatility of S100A6 complexes with some of its ligands. Meanwhile, it became clear that S100A6 expression was altered in various pathological states and correlated with the stage/progression of many diseases, including cancers, indicative of its important, and possibly causative, role in some of these diseases. This, in turn, prompted researchers to look for the mechanism of S100A6 action and to identify the intermediary signaling pathways and effectors. After all these years, our knowledge on various aspects of S100A6 biology is robust but still incomplete. The list of S100A6 ligands is growing all the time, as is our understanding of the physiological importance of these interactions. The present review summarizes available data concerning S100A6 expression/localization, interaction with intracellular and extracellular targets, involvement in Ca2+-dependent cellular processes and association with various pathologies.

Depression (MDD) is a leading psychiatric entity worldwide, with a high impact on individual life and public health. In recent years, efforts have been made to elucidate its biological underpinnings. MDD biomarker research provides promise for a better understanding of the biochemical processes involved in its pathogenesis. Oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS) and lipid disturbances are reported as major factors favoring the occurrence of depression. A total of 29 patients with MDD and 30 healthy volunteers were examined using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Blood and urine were collected to search for potential MDD biomarkers. O&NS parameters and β-amyloid were assessed in the urine, while cholesterol fractions were assessed in the blood. The group of depressed patients was characterized by higher concentrations of urine superoxide dismutase (SOD), 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), tryptophan (TRY), and serum triglycerides (TGA), along with lower levels of serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Elevated urine 3-NT and decreased serum HDL, considered together, were found to have the greatest potential as markers of depression. The study supports the importance of oxidative stress and cholesterol disturbances in MDD. Further research is required to assess their clinical usefulness as markers.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most lethal genitourinary malignancy. Obesity is a risk factor for RCC development. The role of adipokines in the relationship between obesity and RCC requires confirmatory evidence in the form of a systematic review and meta-analysis, specifically for visfatin, omentin-1, nesfatin-1 and apelin. A search of databases up to July 2022 (PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus) for studies reporting the association of these selected adipokines with RCC was conducted. A total of 13 studies fulfilled the selection criteria. Only visfatin (p < 0.05) and nesfatin-1 (p < 0.05) had a significant association with RCC. Meanwhile, apelin and omentin-1 showed no association with RCC. The meta-analysis results of nesfatin-1 showed no association with early-stage (OR = 0.09, 95% CI = −0.12–0.29, p = 0.41), late-stage (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.07–1.89, p = 0.23) and low-grade (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 0.37–8.27, p = 0.48) RCC. However, nesfatin-1 showed an association with a high grade of the disease (OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.13–0.61, p = 0.001) and poorer overall survival (OS) (HR = 3.86, 95% CI = 2.18–6.85; p < 0.01). Apelin showed no association with the risk of RCC development (mean difference = 21.15, 95% CI = −23.69–65.99, p = 0.36) and OS (HR = 1.04, 95% Cl = 0.45–2.41; p = 0.92). Although the number of studies evaluated was limited, analysis from this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that visfatin and nesfatin-1 were elevated. In summary, these adipokines may play a role in the development and progression of RCC and hence may have potential diagnostic and prognostic capabilities for RCC.

Background: procalcitonin is a valuable marker in the diagnosis of bacterial infections; however, the impairment of renal function can influence its diagnostic precision. The objective of this study is to evaluate the differential behaviour of procalcitonin, as well as its usefulness in the diagnosis of postoperative pulmonary infection after cardiac surgery, depending on the presence or absence of impaired renal function. Materials and methods: A total of 805 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation (CBP) were prospectively recruited, comparing the behaviour of biomarkers between the groups with and without postoperative pneumonia and according to the presence or absence of renal dysfunction. Results: Pulmonary infection was diagnosed in 42 patients (5.21%). In total, 228 patients (28.32%) presented postoperative renal dysfunction. Procalcitonin was significantly higher in infected patients, even in the presence of renal dysfunction. The optimal procalcitonin threshold differed markedly in patients with renal dysfunction compared to patients without renal dysfunction (1 vs. 0.78 ng/mL p < 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin increased significantly when the procalcitonin threshold was adapted to renal function. Conclusions: Procalcitonin is an accurate marker of postoperative infection in cardiac surgery, even in the presence of renal dysfunction. Renal function is an important determinant of procalcitonin levels and, therefore, its diagnostic thresholds must be adapted in the presence of renal dysfunction.

The determination of the authenticity of extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) has become more interesting in recent years. Italy is the first country in Europe in terms of number of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) oils, which connects consumers to a feeling of tradition and thus to higher quality standards. This work focused on the consideration of the inorganic content as a possible marker of EVOOs. Ten vegetable oils (VOs), eight Italian EVOOs and seven not Italian EVOOs were analyzed. After pretreatment by acid mineralization, Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sb, Se and Zn were determined by ICP-OES. The electrochemical properties of a selected group of EVOOs and other vegetal oils of different botanical origin were investigated by voltammetry. Carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) were prepared. The features observed in the voltammograms reflect the reactions of electroactive compounds, which are present in the oils. A chemometric treatment of the results was performed to assess the possibility to distinguish (i) the region of provenience considering the inorganic profile; and (ii) the plant species from which each oil was obtained on the basis of the current profile registered during voltammetric analysis. Inorganic composition seems to be a useful marker for the assessment of the geographical origin of an EVOO. The EVOO-CPEs voltammetry seems to have a good ability to distinguish the plant species of origin. This method could be useful to monitor the conservation status of the oils, as the redox profile is linked to the oxidative degradation state.

Background: The high-temperature requirement A 1 (HtrA1) is a multidomain secretory protein with serine-protease activity, expressed in many tissues, including placenta, where its expression is higher in the first trimester, suggesting an association of this serine protease in early phases of human placenta development. In this study, we evaluated maternal serum HtrA1 levels in the first and third trimester of gestation. In particular, we evaluated a possible role of HtrA1 as an early marker of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the first trimester of gestation. Methods: We evaluated HtrA1 serum levels in the third trimester (36–40 weeks) in normal pregnancies (n = 20) and GDM pregnancies (n = 20) by using ELISA analysis. Secondly, we performed the same analysis by using the first trimester sera (10–12 weeks) of healthy pregnant women that will develop a normal pregnancy (n = 210) or GDM (n = 28) during pregnancy. Results: We found that HtrA1 serum levels in the third trimester were higher in pregnancies complicated by GDM. Interestingly, higher HtrA1 serum levels were also found in the first trimester in women developing GDM later during the second–third trimester. No significant differences in terms of maternal age and gestational age were found between cases and controls. Women with GDM shown significantly higher pre-pregnancy BMI values compared to controls. Moreover, the probability of GDM occurrence significantly increased with increasing HtrA1 levels and BMI values. The ROC curve showed a good accuracy in predicting GDM, with an AUC of 0.74 (95%CI: 0.64–0.92). Conclusions: These results suggest an important role of HtrA1 as an early predictive marker of GDM in the first trimester of gestation, showing a significative clinical relevance for prevention of this disease.

Acute phase response is a nonspecific reaction to disturbances in homeostasis during which the production of some Acute Phase Proteins (APPs) is stimulated; they are sensitive but nonspecific markers of systemic inflammatory processes. The major positive APP in dogs is the C-reactive protein (CRP). The dynamic of its concentration changes fast, rising and decreasing rapidly with the onset and removal of the inflammatory stimulus. It increases within the first 4–24 h after the stimulus and reaches up to a 50–100-fold increase of the baseline level. It has been documented that this APP’s concentration is elevated during several diseases, such as pyometra, panniculitis, acute pancreatitis, polyarthritis, sepsis, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, and neoplasia in dogs. In clinical practice, canine CRP is mostly measured to detect and monitor systemic inflammatory activity and the efficacy of treatments, because it is a more sensitive marker than shifts in leukocyte counts. Blood serum CRP concentration is becoming a part of routine biochemistry panels in many countries. In this article, changes in CRP concentration and its clinical application in healthy and diseased dogs are discussed.

Camellia is the largest genus in the family Theaceae. Due to phenotypic diversity, frequent hybridization, and polyploidization, an understanding of the phylogenetic relationships between Camellia species remains challenging. Comparative chloroplast (cp) genomics provides an informative resource for phylogenetic analyses of Camellia. In this study, 12 chloroplast genome sequences from nine Camellia species were determined using Illumina sequencing technology via de novo assembly. The cp genome sizes ranged from 156,545 to 157,021 bp and were organized into quadripartite regions with the typical angiosperm cp genomes. Each genome harbored 87 protein-coding, 37 transfer RNA, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes in the same order and orientation. Differences in long and short sequence repeats, SNPs, and InDels were detected across the 12 cp genomes. Combining with the complete cp sequences of seven other species in the genus Camellia, a total of nine intergenic sequence divergent hotspots and 14 protein-coding genes with high sequence polymorphism were identified. These hotspots, especially the InDel (~400 bp) located in atpH-atpI region, had sufficient potential to be used as barcode markers for further phylogenetic analysis and species identification. Principal component and phylogenetic analysis suggested that regional constraints, rather than functional constraints, strongly affected the sequence evolution of the cp genomes in this study. These cp genomes could facilitate the development of new molecular markers, accurate species identification, and investigations of the phylogenomic relationships of the genus Camellia.

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is a chronic disease affecting children in early childhood. It is characterized by proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema and hyperlipidemia. To date, the diagnosis is usually established at an advanced stage of proteinuria. Therefore, new methods of early INS detection are desired. This study was designed to assess brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a potential marker in the early diagnosis of INS. The study group included patients with a diagnosis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (n = 30) hospitalized in Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Zabrze, from December 2019 to December 2021. Our study shows that serum BDNF concentration decreased and urine BDNF concentration increased in a group of patients with INS, compared with healthy controls. Such outcomes might be related to loss of the BDNF contribution in podocyte structure maintenance. Moreover, we anticipate the role of BDNF in urine protein concentration increase, which could be used as a direct predictor of urine protein fluctuations in clinical practice. Moreover, the ROC curve has also shown that serum BDNF and urine BDNF levels might be useful as an INS marker.

Smoking significantly elevates the risk of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. This risk is attributed to the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke that damage lung tissue and impair lung function. Current research on the impact of smoking on gene expression in specific lung cells is limited. This study addresses this gap by analyzing gene expression profiles at the single-cell level from 43,539 lung endothelial cells, 234,349 lung epithelial cells, 189,843 lung immune cells, and 16,031 lung stromal cells using advanced machine learning techniques. The data, categorized by different lung cell types, were classified into three smoking states: active smoker, former smoker, and never smoker. Each cell sample encompassed 28,024 feature genes. Employing an incremental feature selection method within a computational framework, several specific genes have been identified as potential markers of smoking status in different lung cell types. These include B2M , EEF1A1 , and TPT1 in lung endothelial cells; FTL and MT-ATP8 in lung epithelial cells; HLA-B and HLA-C in lung immune cells; and HSP90B1 and LCN2 in lung stroma cells. Additionally, this study developed quantitative rules for representing the gene expression patterns related to smoking. This research highlights the potential of machine learning in oncology, enhancing our molecular understanding of smoking's harm and laying the groundwork for future mechanism-based studies.

Epilepsy is reported in 29–52% of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) and has an important role in the natural history of this tumor and patients’ life quality. Although GBM is less epileptogenic than lower-grade gliomas, seizures are usually more difficult to control with common antiseizure medications; drug resistance is found in 20% of cases. Recent studies suggest that seizures at the onset of GBM could be a possible favorable independent prognostic factor in patients. Moreover, a growing body of evidence shows that many molecular mechanisms that influence epileptogenesis often regulate GBM growth and invasiveness, sometimes favoring or counteracting the tumor, respectively. The better-characterized players include glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid, aquaporin-4, and hypoxia-activated molecules. However, currently available data on the molecular basis of epileptogenesis, tumorigenesis, and their relationship is incomplete or discordant and further research is urgently needed on this topic.

Schizophrenia is a long-term mental disease, associated with functional impairment. Therefore, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis and implement the proper treatment. Biomarkers may be a potential tool for these purposes. Regarding advances in biomarker studies in psychosis, the current symptom-based criteria seem to be no longer sufficient in clinical settings. This narrative review describes biomarkers of psychosis focusing on the biochemical (peripheral and central), neurophysiological, neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings as well as the multimodal approach related with them. Endophenotype markers (especially neuropsychological and occulomotor disturbances) can be currently used in a clinical settings, whereas neuroimaging glutamate/glutamine and D2/D3 receptor density changes, as well as immunological Th2 and PRL levels, seem to be potential biomarkers that need further accuracy tests. When searching for biochemical/immunological markers in the diagnosis of psychosis, the appropriate time of body fluid collection needs to be considered to minimize the influence of the stress axis on their concentrations. In schizophrenia diagnostics, a multimodal approach seems to be highly recommended.

The corneal endothelium is the inner corneal mono-layered epithelium, fundamental for preserving corneal hydration and transparency. However, molecular mechanisms that regulate corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs), in particular regarding their proliferative capacity, have been only partially elucidated. CEnCs are quiescent in vivo and they easily undergo endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EnMT) in vitro. This study aims to analyze CEnCs behavior and expression in vitro, either in sub-confluent growing (S) or confluent (C) CEnCs cultures. Primary rabbit and human CEnCs were cultured and used for RT-PCR, immunofluorescence or western blot analysis. These methods allowed identifying a novel molecular marker, LAP2, that is upregulated in S while downregulated in C human or rabbit CEnCs. Those results were observed for several subsequent passages in culture and this, together with the correlation between ki67 and LAP2 expression, suggested LAP2 as a novel possible indicator for culture ageing. Finally, treatment with FGF and TGFβ in rCEnCs highlighted how LAP2 can vary as the cells regulate their proliferative state. In conclusion, we have identified a novel marker for CEnCs, LAP2, that regulates its expression depending on the cells sub/confluent state and that correlates with CEnCs proliferation.

Ovarian endometriosis may increase the risk of malignancy. Several studies have suggested atypical endometriosis as the direct precursor of endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer. We performed an advanced, systematic search of the online medical databases PubMed and Medline. The search revealed n = 40 studies eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. Of these, n = 39 were finally included. The results from included studies are characterized by high heterogeneity, but some consistency has been found for altered expression in phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mTOR pathway, ARID1a, estrogen and progesterone receptors, transcriptional, nuclear, and growth factors in atypical endometriosis. Although many targets have been proposed as biomarkers for the presence of atypical endometriosis, none of them has such strong evidence to justify their systematic use in clinical practice, and they all need expensive molecular analyses. Further well-designed studies are needed to validate the evidence on available biomarkers and to investigate novel serum markers for atypical endometriosis.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and retroviral therapy are both known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It remains an open question whether HIV or ARV leads to increased arterial inflammation. The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in endothelial activation by measuring VCAM-1 levels among HIV-infected patients who were and were not treated with antiretroviral therapy. It is a retrospective study that included 68 HIV-infected patients, 23 of whom were never antiretroviral-treated, 15 who were ART-treated for no longer than a year, and 30 who were ART-treated for longer than a year. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of the concentration of VCAM-1. The results show a statistically lower VCAM-1 level (p = 0.007) in patients treated with ART longer than a year (1442 ng/mL) in comparison to treatment-naïve patients (2392 ng/mL). The average VCAM-1 level in patients treated no longer than a year (1552 ng/mL) was also lower than in treatment-naïve patients, but with no statistical significance (p = 0.096). Long-term antiretroviral therapy was associated with the decline of VCAM-1 concentration. That may suggest the lowering of endothelial activation and the decreased risk of the development of cardiovascular disease among ARV-treated patients. However, VCAM-1 may not be a sufficient factor itself to assess this, since simultaneously there are a lot of well-known cardiovascular-adverse effects of ART.

Whereas the lack of biomarkers in penile cancer (PeCa) impedes the development of efficacious treatment protocols, preliminary evidence suggests that c-MET and associated signaling elements may be dysregulated in this disorder. In the following study, we investigated whether c-MET and associated key molecular elements may have prognostic and therapeutic utility in PeCa. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from therapy-naïve patients with invasive PeCa was used for tissue microarray (TMA) analysis. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the expression of the proteins c-MET, PPARg, β-catenin, snail, survivin, and n-MYC. In total, 94 PeCa patients with available tumor tissue were included. The median age was 64.9 years. High-grade tumors were present in 23.4%, and high-risk HPV was detected in 25.5%. The median follow-up was 32.5 months. High expression of snail was associated with HPV-positive tumors. Expression of β-catenin was inversely associated with grading. In both univariate COX regression analysis and the log-rank test, an increased expression of PPARg and c-MET was predictive of inferior disease-specific survival (DSS). Moreover, in multivariate analysis, a higher expression of c-MET was independently associated with worse DSS. Blocking c-MET with cabozantinib and tivantinib induced a significant decrease in viability in the primary PeCa cell line UKF-PeC3 isolated from the tumor tissue as well as in cisplatin- and osimertinib-resistant sublines. Strikingly, a higher sensitivity to tivantinib could be detected in the latter, pointing to the promising option of utilizing this agent in the second-line treatment setting.