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The progressing industrialization of oceans mandates reliable, accurate and automatable subsea survey methods. Close-range photogrammetry is a promising discipline, which is frequently applied by archaeologists, fish-farmers, and the offshore energy industry. This paper presents a robust approach for the reliable detection and identification of photogrammetric markers in subsea images. The proposed method is robust to severe image degradation, which is frequently observed in underwater images due to turbidity, light absorption, and optical aberrations. This is the first step towards a highly automated work-flow for single-camera underwater photogrammetry. The newly developed approach comprises several machine learning models, which are trained by 10,122 real-world subsea images, showing a total of 338,301 photogrammetric markers. The performance is evaluated using an object detection metrics, and through a comparison with the commercially available software Metashape by Agisoft. Metashape delivers satisfactory results when the image quality is good. In images with strong noise, haze or little light, only the novel approach retrieves sufficient information for a high degree of automation of the subsequent bundle adjustment. While the need for offshore personnel and the time-to-results decreases, the robustness of the survey increases.

Marine invertebrate stem cells (MISCs) represent a distinct category of pluripotent and totipotent cells with remarkable abilities for self-renewal and differentiation into multiple germ layers, akin to their vertebrate counterparts. These unique cells persist throughout an organism’s adult life and have been observed in various adult marine invertebrate phyla. MISCs play crucial roles in numerous biological processes, including developmental biology phenomena specific to marine invertebrates, such as senescence, delayed senescence, whole-body regeneration, and asexual reproduction. Furthermore, they serve as valuable models for studying stem cell biology. Despite their significance, information about MISCs remains scarce and scattered in the scientific literature. In this review, we have carefully collected and summarized valuable information about MISC detection by perusing the articles that study and detect MISCs in various marine invertebrate organisms. The review begins by defining MISCs and highlighting their unique features compared to vertebrates. It then discusses the common markers for MISC detection and in vitro techniques employed in invertebrate and vertebrates investigation. This comprehensive review provides researchers and scientists with a cohesive and succinct overview of MISC characteristics, detection methods, and associated biological phenomena in marine invertebrate organisms. We aim to offer a valuable resource to researchers and scientists interested in marine invertebrate stem cells, fostering a better understanding of their broader implications in biology. With ongoing advancements in scientific techniques and the continued exploration of marine invertebrate species, we anticipate that further discoveries will expand our knowledge of MISCs and their broader implications in biology.

In the realm of biomedical advancement, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are revolutionizing our capacity to diagnose, monitor, and predict disease progression. However, the comprehensive exploration and clinical application of EVs face significant limitations due to the current isolation techniques. The size exclusion chromatography, commercial precipitation reagents, and ultracentrifugation are frequently employed, necessitating skilled operators and entailing challenges related to consistency, reproducibility, quality, and yields. Notably, the formidable challenge of extracellular vesicle isolation persists when dealing with clinical samples of limited availability. This study addresses these challenges by aiming to devise a rapid, user-friendly, and high-recovery EVs isolation technique tailored for blood samples. The NTI-EXO precipitation method demonstrated a 5-fold increase in the recovery of serum EVs compared to current methodologies. Importantly, we illustrate that a mere two drops of blood (∼100 µL) suffice for the recovery of enriched EVs. The integrity and quality of these isolated EVs were rigorously assessed for the size, purity, and contaminants. This method was validated through the successful isolation of EVs from organ transplant recipients to detect disease-specific exosomal markers, including LKB1, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and PD-L1. In conclusion, NTI-EXO method can be used for small clinical samples, thereby advancing discoveries in the EV-centric domain and propelling the frontiers of biomedical research and clinical applications.

ABSTRACT One hundred eighty pairs of tissues of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) were tested by the transcriptome sequencing in order to explore etiology factors. The chi‐square test and correlation analysis demonstrated that the relative expression levels of keratin 17 (KRT17) and collagen type I α1 chain (COL1A1) were significantly higher in EC with diabetes. Expression of KRT17 was correlated with blood glucose (r = 0.204, p = 0.001) and tumor size (r = −0.177, p = 0.038) in patients. COL1A1 correlated with age (r = −0.170, p = 0.029) and blood glucose levels (r = 0.190, p = 0.015). Experimental results of qRT‐PCR: KRT17 and COL1A1 genes were highly expressed in ESCC (p

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the variants of the growth hormone receptor (GHR), growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), pituitary-specific transcription factor-1 (PIT1), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A (STAT5) genes and their effect on growth performance and dressing percentage (DP) parameters. Materials and Methods: A total of 401 DNA samples from Sumba Ongole (SO) cattle were utilized for the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method, of which 200 samples were used for the study of DP association and 74 samples were used to investigate growth performance. The SO cattle growth performance includes the following: birth weight, weaning weight at 205 days of age, weaning average daily gain (ADG), yearling weight at 365 days of age, and post-weaning ADG. Results: The GHR, GHRH, PIT1, and STAT5A genes showed polymorphism. The highest polymorphism information content value was shown in the STAT5A gene. The highest DP value was found in the SO cattle population with the CC genotype (STAT5A), and the lowest DP value was found in the SO cattle population with the GG genotype (GHR). The GHR and STAT5A genotypes were highly associated (p < 0.05) with the DP parameter. Based on locus combination analysis, the highest DP value was found in the SO cattle population with AG|CC genotype (GHR|STAT5A) (57.85%), AG|BB|CC genotype (GHR|GHRH|STAT5A) (57.85%), and AA|BB|BB|CC genotype 18 (GHR|GHRH|PIT1|STAT5A) (56.02%). Conclusion: All investigated genes in this study were polymorphic but were not associated with several growth parameters. The GHR and STAT5A genes can be proposed as genetic markers for the high DP trait in SO cattle in Indonesia, especially the AA genotype (GHR) and CC genotype (STAT5A). [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(1.000): 85-92]

Abstract Objective Tumors are highly heterogeneous, and within their parenchyma, a small population of tumor-stem cells possessing differentiation potential, high oncogenicity, and self-renewal capabilities exists. These cells are pivotal in mediating tumor development, chemotherapy resistance, and recurrence. Ovarian cancer shares characteristics with tumor stem cells, making it imperative to investigate molecular markers associated with these cells. Methods Stem cell-related genes were collected, and molecular subtypes were established based on gene expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas using the R package tool “ConsensusClusterPlus.” Multi-gene prognostic markers were identified using LASSO regression analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis was employed to gain insights into the potential molecular mechanisms of these identified markers. The robustness of these prognostic markers was analyzed across different cohorts, and their clinical independence was determined through multivariate Cox analysis. A nomogram was constructed to assess the model’s clinical applicability. Immunohistochemistry was performed to validate the expression of hub genes. Results Utilizing 49 tumor stem cell-related genes associated with prognosis, 362 ovarian cancer samples were divided into two distinct clusters, revealing significant prognostic disparities. A seven-gene signature (GALP, CACNA1C, COL16A1, PENK, C4BPA, PSMA2, and CXCL9), identified through LASSO regression, exhibited stability and robustness across various platforms. Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed the signature’s independence in predicting survival in patients with ovarian cancer. Furthermore, a nomogram combining the gene signature demonstrated strong predictive abilities. Immunohistochemistry results indicated significantly elevated GALP, CACNA1C, COL16A1, PENK, C4BPA, PSMA2, and CXCL9 expression in cancer tissues. Conclusion The seven-gene signature holds promise as a valuable tool for decision-making and prognosis prediction in patients with ovarian cancer.

The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in serum glypican 4 (GPC4) and clusterin (CLU) levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as well as their correlation with sex hormones and metabolic parameters. A total of 40 PCOS patients and 40 age-matched healthy women were selected. Serum GPC4 and CLU levels were compared between the PCOS and control groups, and binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relative risk of PCOS at different tertiles of serum GPC4 and CLU concentrations. Stepwise linear regression was used to identify the factors influencing serum GPC4 and CLU levels in PCOS patients. Serum GPC4 (1.82 ± 0.49 vs 1.30 ± 0.61 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and CLU (468.79 ± 92.85 vs 228.59 ± 82.42 μg/mL, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in PCOS patients than in healthy women after adjustment for body mass index (BMI). In the PCOS group, serum GPC4 was positively correlated with follicle-stimulating hormone, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride, and CLU (P < 0.05), whereas serum CLU was positively correlated with BMI, FPG, FINS, and HOMA-IR (P < 0.05). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that HOMA-IR was independently associated with serum GPC4, and BMI and HOMA-IR were independently associated with CLU (P < 0.05). Serum GPC4 and CLU levels were significantly higher in PCOS patients than in healthy women, suggesting that GPC4 and CLU may be markers associated with insulin resistance in women with PCOS.

Abstract Global population aging poses a tremendous burden on the health care system worldwide. Frailty is associated with decreased physical reserve and is considered an important indicator of adverse events in the older population. Therefore, there is growing interest in the early diagnosis and intervention of frailty, but the cellular mechanisms responsible for frailty are still not completely understood. Chronic inflammation is related to decreased physical function and increased disease risk. Additionally, multiple human and animal studies suggest that inflammation probably plays the largest role in contributing to frailty. Some inflammatory markers have been proposed to predict physical frailty. However, there are still large gaps in knowledge related to the clinical application of these markers in frail patients. Therefore, understanding the biological processes and identifying recognized and reliable markers are urgent and pivotal tasks for geriatricians. In the present review, we broadly summarize the inflammatory markers that may have potential diagnostic and therapeutic use, thereby translating them into health care for older people with frailty in the near future.

Background. The development of genetic certificates and nomenclatural standards for newly released cultivars of Malus domestica Borkh. (apple tree) ensures an opportunity to preserve the original and authentic genetic and morphological information on domestic cultivars promising for the south of Russia. The purpose of this study was to develop genetic certificates and nomenclatural standards for 7 apple-tree cultivars developed at the North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Wine-making (NCFSCHVW), five of which were released jointly with the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK).Materials and methods. The materials included apple-tree cultivars resistant or immune to scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter) from the NCFSCHVW collection stock. Conventional herbarization and DNA fingerprinting methods were used. For cultivar certification, an improved technique of DNA sampling and 12 microsatellite markers were applied.Results. Unique DNA profile certificates and nomenclatural standards were produced for 7 apple-tree cultivars: ‘Vasilisa’, ‘Karmen’, ‘Krasny Yantar’, ‘Soyuz’ and ‘Rassvet’ (with the Rvi6 gene) released jointly by the NCFSCHVW and VNIISPK, plus ‘Zolotoye Letneye’ and ‘Feya’ developed at the NCFSCHVW. The apple-tree herbarium specimens were placed for perpetual storage in the WIR Herbarium of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR).Conclusion. The results obtained are promising for identification and authenticity verification of new domestic apple-tree cultivars during their reproduction and cultivation.

ABSTRACT: The single-step genomic model has become the golden standard for routine evaluation in livestock species, such as Holstein dairy cattle. The single-step genomic model with direct estimation of marker effects has been proven to be efficient in accurately accounting for millions of genotype records. For diverse applications including frequent genomic evaluation updates on a weekly basis, estimates of the marker effects from the single-step evaluations play a central role in genomic prediction. In this study we focused on exploring the marker effect estimates from the single-step evaluation. Phenotypic, genotypic, and pedigree data were taken from the official evaluation for German dairy breeds in April 2021. A multilactation random regression test-day model was applied to more than 242 million test-day records separately for 4 traits: milk, fat, and protein yields, and somatic cell scores (SCS). Approximately one million genotyped Holstein animals were considered in the single-step genomic evaluations including ∼21 million animals in pedigree. Deregressed multiple across-country breeding values of Holstein bulls having daughters outside Germany were integrated into the national test-day data to increase the reliability of genomic breeding values. To assess the stability and bias of the marker effects of the single-step model, test-day records of the last 4 yr were deleted, and the integrated bulls born in the last 4 yr were truncated from the complete phenotypic dataset. Estimates of the marker effects were shown to be highly correlated, with correlations ∼0.9, between the full and truncated evaluations. Regression slope values of the marker-effect estimates from the full on the truncated evaluations were all close to their expected value, being ∼1.03. Calculated using random regression coefficients of the marker effect estimates, drastically different shapes of the genetic lactation curve were seen for 2 markers on chromosome 14 for the 4 test-day traits. The contribution of individual chromosomes to the total additive genetic variances seemed to follow the polygenic inheritance mode for protein yield and SCS. However, chromosome 14 was found to make an exceptionally large contribution to the total additive genetic variance for milk and fat yields because of markers near the major gene DGAT1. For the first lactation test-day traits, we obtained ∼0 correlations of chromosomal direct genomic values between any pair of the chromosomes; no spurious correlations were found in our analysis, thanks to the large reference population. For trait milk yield, chromosomal direct genomic values appeared to have a large variation in the between-lactation correlations among the chromosomes, especially between first and second or third lactations. The optimal features of the random regression test-day model and the single-step marker model allowed us to track the differences in the shapes of genetic lactation curves down to the individual markers. Furthermore, the single-step random regression test-day model enabled us to better understand the inheritance mode of the yield traits and SCS (e.g., variable chromosomal contributions to the total additive genetic variance and to the genetic correlations between lactations).

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and fatal malignancies worldwide. Following an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), cancer cells enter an oxidative stress state. As a result, these cells experience an increase in antioxidant activity to counteract oxidative stress. The thioredoxin (TRX) system is a ubiquitous mammalian antioxidant system that neutralizes ROS and maintains intracellular reduction oxidation (redox) balance, which is essential for HCC growth. However, the role of TRX protein in HCC remains largely unknown. Hence, we aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of serum TRX in patients with HCC. A total of 50 patients were consecutively recruited in this observational study. They were classified into three groups: an HCC group (25 patients), a cirrhosis group (15 patients with liver cirrhosis on top of chronic HCV infection), and a control group (10 healthy individuals). Serum TRX levels were measured using ELISA. Results Higher serum TRX levels were detected in the HCC group than in the cirrhosis and control groups (140.96 ± 12.70 vs 88.33 ± 10.34 vs 73.10 ± 13.22 ng/mL, respectively; P

Background: The genetic improvement in growth and food habit domestication of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) have made breakthroughs in past decades, while the relevant work on disease resistance were rarely carried out. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, which are well known as their numbers and high polymorphisms, have been used as candidate genes to mine disease-resistant-related molecular markers in many species. Methods and results: In present study, we developed and characterized 40 polymorphic and biallelic InDel markers from the major histocompatibility complex genes of largemouth bass. The minor allele frequency, observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity and polymorphic information content of these markers ranged from 0.0556 to 0.5000, 0.1111 to 0.6389, 0.1064 to 0.5070, and 0.0994 to 0.3750, respectively. Three loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, while linkage disequilibrium existed at none of these loci. Conclusion: These InDel markers might provide references for the further correlation analysis and molecular assisted selection of disease resistance in largemouth bass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on the application range of nitrous oxide as a hold-up time marker in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). This compound has been suggested a decade ago to be used as unretained marker, something that the field of SFC was missing for a long time, since its beneficial properties make it an ideal candidate as hold-up time marker. Determination of the hold-up volume and actual volumetric flow rates have always been problematic in SFC due to the compressibility of carbon dioxide and one part of this is the difficulty of hold-up time measurements. Depending on the mobile phase, different methods have been used to measure the hold-up time with varying results. Nitrous oxide and other molecules have been compared in different conditions, mobile phases and stationary phases. In all cases, nitrous oxide gave the lowest elution times. However, detection was difficult in mobile phases containing 10% or more of organic modifier, because most solvents mask the signal of nitrous oxide. Interestingly, the choice of stationary phase also had a slight effect on detection, while different pressure and temperature settings affected each compound in a different manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amylose and resistant starch (RS) possess diverse health benefits besides serving as an important component in the starch industry. This study analyzed 48 subtropically‐adapted maize inbreds at multiple locations and characterized for specific starch genes using markers specific to SNPs. Significant variation for amylose (0.3–66.4%), RS (1.8–38.0%), and total starch (65.5–75.1%) is observed. Amylose showed a positive correlation with RS (r = 0.79**). Molecular analysis using 29 markers produced 40 alleles with an average major allele frequency of 0.84. Gene diversity, polymorphism information content (PIC), and genetic dissimilarity are 0.23, 0.19, and 0.33, respectively. The genotypes are categorized into six major clusters based on the markers, and high amylose and RS lines are assigned to cluster‐A and cluster‐B. The alleles associated with Sbe2b (84 bp Del) and Sbe1a (SNP “A”) showed positive correlations with amylose and RS. Additionally, allele “A” linked to the Sucrose transporter6 (Sut6) displayed a positive correlation with RS. Considering Sbe2b, Sbe1a and Sut6 genes, six haplotypes are observed, of these, hap‐A possessed the highest amylose and RS. The promising inbreds can be used as donors, while the validated markers for Sbe2b, Sbe1a and Sut6 genes can be effectively utilized for the improvement of amylose and RS through molecular breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Tumors are highly heterogeneous, and within their parenchyma, a small population of tumor-stem cells possessing differentiation potential, high oncogenicity, and self-renewal capabilities exists. These cells are pivotal in mediating tumor development, chemotherapy resistance, and recurrence. Ovarian cancer shares characteristics with tumor stem cells, making it imperative to investigate molecular markers associated with these cells. Methods: Stem cell-related genes were collected, and molecular subtypes were established based on gene expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas using the R package tool "ConsensusClusterPlus." Multi-gene prognostic markers were identified using LASSO regression analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis was employed to gain insights into the potential molecular mechanisms of these identified markers. The robustness of these prognostic markers was analyzed across different cohorts, and their clinical independence was determined through multivariate Cox analysis. A nomogram was constructed to assess the model's clinical applicability. Immunohistochemistry was performed to validate the expression of hub genes. Results: Utilizing 49 tumor stem cell-related genes associated with prognosis, 362 ovarian cancer samples were divided into two distinct clusters, revealing significant prognostic disparities. A seven-gene signature (GALP, CACNA1C, COL16A1, PENK, C4BPA, PSMA2, and CXCL9), identified through LASSO regression, exhibited stability and robustness across various platforms. Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed the signature's independence in predicting survival in patients with ovarian cancer. Furthermore, a nomogram combining the gene signature demonstrated strong predictive abilities. Immunohistochemistry results indicated significantly elevated GALP, CACNA1C, COL16A1, PENK, C4BPA, PSMA2, and CXCL9 expression in cancer tissues. Conclusion: The seven-gene signature holds promise as a valuable tool for decision-making and prognosis prediction in patients with ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a critical prognostic factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). Due to the potential influence of immune system on CRC progression, investigation into lymphocyte subsets as clinical markers has gained attention. The objective of this study was to assess the capability of lymphocyte subsets in evaluating the lymph node status and prognosis of CRC. Methods: Lymphocyte subsets, including T cells (CD3+), natural killer cells (NK, CD3- CD56+), natural killer-like T cells (NK-like T, CD3+ CD56+), CD38+ NK cells (CD3- CD56+ CD38+) and CD38+ NK-like T cells (CD3+ CD56+ CD38+), were detected by flow cytometry. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the risk factors of LNM. The prognostic role of parameters was evaluated by survival analysis. Results: The proportion of CD38+ NK cells within the NK cell population was significantly higher in LNM-positive patients (p <0.0001). However, no significant differences were observed in the proportions of other lymphocyte subsets. Poorer histologic grade (odds ratio [OR] =4.76, p =0.03), lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (OR =22.38, p <0.01), and CD38+ NK cells (high) (OR =4.54, p <0.01) were identified as independent risk factors for LNM. Furthermore, high proportion of CD38+ NK cells was associated with poor prognosis of CRC patients (HR=2.37, p =0.03). Conclusions: It was demonstrated that the proportion of CD38+ NK cells was a marker overexpressed in LNM-positive patients compared with LNM-negative patients. Moreover, an elevated proportion of CD38+ NK cells is a risk factor for LNM and poor prognosis in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The increase in the number of horses suffering from chronic respiratory diseases prompted us to undertake research on markers useful in the quick and accurate diagnosis of asthma in horses. Recent studies provide evidence for the usefulness of one myokine in the diagnosis of human asthma, namely, myostatin. Myostatin is an extracellular cytokine mostly expressed in skeletal muscles and known to play a crucial role in the negative regulation of muscle mass and function. Therefore, our aim was to compare the concentration of myostatin in the blood plasma of completely healthy and asthmatic horses. The research was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, horses with severe asthma were selected, and in the second stage, the myostatin level was determined in horses classified as asthmatic or healthy (controls). The experimental results did not provide a clear answer as to whether myostatin can be used as a reliable marker confirming the occurrence of equine asthma. Its level in horses suffering from asthma and healthy horses of similar age and use did not differ statistically, but was significantly higher compared to that in young race horses. Thus, further studies are needed to confirm our findings in a larger population of horses. (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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Worldwide, atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhytmia in all subtypes of cardiomyopathies (CMP). Genetic testing of CMP genes is a standard aspect of clinical management in affected families. Aim: To determine the association of selected genetic markers of patients with cardiomyopathies and atrial fibrillation in the region of eastern Slovakia. Patients and methods: After signing informed consent, clinical data and a venous blood sample were obtained from all study participants for genetic analysis. After analyzing the genetic results, allele and genotype frequencies were calculated in the patient group and in the control group. Our case-control study was conducted in a group of 85 individuals from the region of eastern Slovakia, of which 43.53% were patients with CMP and AF with an average age of 62.65 ± 11.01 years. The group was dominated by men (64.71%) and there were more frequent patients with dilated CMP and at the same time with persistent AF. Results: Representation of potentially risky alleles associated with AF was higher in the case of rs13143308 and rs2220427 in patients with CMP and AF compared to the control group. The potentially risky T allele of the genetic variant rs3853445 dominated in the control group (73% vs. 68%). After evaluating the allelic and genotypic distributions, an analysis of associations of genetic models of variants rs13143308, rs2220427 and rs3853445 with location in the 4q25 locus in relation to cardiomyopathy associated with AF was carried out. None of these analyses confirmed a significant association of the respective genetic model in relation to CMP associated with AF. The p-value of the odds ratio (OR) calculations was higher than 0.05 in all cases Conclusion: By analyzing the selected genetic markers rs13143308, rs2220427 and rs3853445 located in the 4q25 locus, we failed to statistically confirm their association with cardiomyopathy and related atrial fibrillation. Thus, we can conclude that the basic limitation of our study was the size of the research sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulinoma is an excessive insulin-released beta cell tumor. Pancreas cancer is one of the deadliest malignant neoplasms. Exosomes are secreted cell membrane vesicles containing a large number of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of exosomes on two cell lines of benign and malignant character. For the first time, exosomes were isolated from pancreatic island-derived progenitor cells (PID-PCs) and applied to INS-1 and MiaPaCa-2 cells. In addition, exosomes isolated from PID-PC, MiaPaca-2, and INS-1 cells were characterized in order to compare their sizes with other previously isolated exosomes. Alix, TSG101, CD9, and CD81 were analyzed. The size and concentration of exosomes and the cell viability were detected. The cells were marked with HSP90, HSF-1, Kaspaz-8, Active-Kaspaz-3, Beclin, and p-Bcl-2. The cell cytotoxicity and insulin levels kit were measured. Alix in all exosomes, and PID-PC, MiaPaca-2 cell lysates; TSG101 in PID-PC and MiaPaca-2 cell lysates; CD9 in INS-1 exosomes were detected. The dimensions of isolated exosomes were 103.6 ± 28.6 nm, 100.7 ± 10 nm, and 147.2 ± 12.3 nm for PID-PCs, MiaPaca-2, and INS-1 cells. The cell viability decreased and HSP90 increased in the MiaPaca-2 cells. The HSF-1 was higher in the control MiaPaca-2 cell compared to the control INS-1 cell, and the exosome-treated MiaPaca-2 cell compared to the exosome-treated INS-1 cell. Beclin and p-Bcl-2 were decreased in the exosome-treated MiaPaca-2 cells. The insulin level in the cell lysates increased compared to cell secretion in INS-1 cells. In conclusion, exosomes isolated from the PID-PC caused cell death in the MiaPaca-2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The IC50 value determined for MiaPaca-2 cells has no effect on cell viability in INS-1 cells, which best mimics pancreatic beta cells and can be used instead of healthy pancreatic beta cells. Isolated exosomes can kill cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis (OA) through identification of serum diagnostics. We conducted multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry analysis of 107 peptides in baseline sera of two cohorts: the Foundation for National Institutes of Health (NIH) (n = 596 Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade 1–3 knee OA participants); and the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project (n = 127 multi-joint controls free of radiographic OA of the hands, hips, knees (bilateral KL=0), and spine). Data were split into (70%) training and (30%) testing sets. Diagnostic peptide and clinical data predictors were selected by random forest (RF); selection was based on association (p < 0.05) with OA status in multivariable logistic regression models. Model performance was based on area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and precision-recall (PR) curves. RF selected 23 peptides (19 proteins) and body mass index (BMI) as diagnostic of OA. BMI weakly diagnosed OA (ROC-AUC 0.57, PR-AUC 0.812) and only symptomatic OA cases. ACTG was the strongest univariable predictor (ROC-AUC 0.705, PR-AUC 0.897). The final model (8 serum peptides) was highly diagnostic (ROC-AUC 0.833, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.751, 0.905; PR-AUC 0.929, 95% CI 0.876, 0.973) in the testing set and equally diagnostic of non-symptomatic and symptomatic cases (AUCs 0.830–0.835), and not significantly improved with addition of BMI. The STRING database predicted multiple high confidence interactions of the 19 diagnostic OA proteins. No more than 8 serum protein biomarkers were required to discriminate knee OA from non-OA. These biomarkers lend strong support to the involvement and cross-talk of complement and coagulation pathways in the development of OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the variants of the growth hormone receptor (GHR), growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), pituitary-specific transcription factor-1 (PIT1), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A (STAT5) genes and their effect on growth performance and dressing percentage (DP) parameters. Materials and Methods: A total of 401 DNA samples from Sumba Ongole (SO) cattle were utilized for the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method, of which 200 samples were used for the study of DP association and 74 samples were used to investigate growth performance. The SO cattle growth performance includes the following: birth weight, weaning weight at 205 days of age, weaning average daily gain (ADG), yearling weight at 365 days of age, and post-weaning ADG. Results: The GHR, GHRH, PIT1, and STAT5A genes showed polymorphism. The highest polymorphism information content value was shown in the STAT5A gene. The highest DP value was found in the SO cattle population with the CC genotype (STAT5A), and the lowest DP value was found in the SO cattle population with the GG genotype (GHR). The GHR and STAT5A genotypes were highly associated (p < 0.05) with the DP parameter. Based on locus combination analysis, the highest DP value was found in the SO cattle population with AG|CC genotype (GHR|STAT5A) (57.85%), AG|BB|CC genotype (GHR|GHRH|STAT5A) (57.85%), and AA|BB|BB|CC genotype 18 (GHR|GHRH|PIT1|STAT5A) (56.02%). Conclusion: All investigated genes in this study were polymorphic but were not associated with several growth parameters. The GHR and STAT5A genes can be proposed as genetic markers for the high DP trait in SO cattle in Indonesia, especially the AA genotype (GHR) and CC genotype (STAT5A). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are recognized for their intrinsic capacity for self‐renewal and differentiation into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes, making them pivotal entities within the field of bone research. Tescalcin (TESC) is known to play a role in specific cellular processes related to proliferation and differentiation. However, the precise involvement of TESC in the regulation of BMSCs remains unclear. The present study was designed to verify the functional implications of TESC in BMSCs. Methods: An adenovirus vector was engineered to downregulate TESC expression, and the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway was activated using BML‐284. The assessment of mRNA was conducted by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). The assessment of protein expression was conducted by Western blotting and immunofluorescence techniques (IF), respectively. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and activity assays were performed to verify ALP changes, while Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining and quantitative analysis were employed to assess mineralization capacity. Results: Initially, we observed an upregulation of TESC expression during osteogenic differentiation. Subsequently, TESC knockdown was demonstrated to decrease the osteogenic‐related genes expression and diminish BMSCs mineralization. Concomitantly, we identified the inhibition of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling following the TESC knockdown. Furthermore, the administration of BML‐284 effectively activated the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, successfully rescuing the compromised TESC‐mediated osteogenic differentiation. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that TESC knockdown exerts an inhibitory effect on the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs through the modulation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. This study unveils a novel target with potential applications for enhancing the regenerative potential of BMSCs in the realm of regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long noncoding RNAs have been shown to be involved in a myriad of physiological and pathological pathways. To date, malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is considered an extremely aggressive cancer. One reason for this is the late diagnosis of the disease, which can occur within 30–40 years of asbestos exposure. There is an immense need for the development of new, sensitive, inexpensive and easy methods for the early detection of this disease other than invasive methods such as biopsy. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of circulating lncRNAs in mesothelioma patient plasma to identify potential biomarkers. Ten previously identified lncRNAs that were shown to be aberrantly expressed in mesothelioma tissues were selected as candidates for subsequent validation. The expression of the ten selected candidate lncRNAs was verified via quantitative PCR (qPCR) in human plasma samples from mesothelioma patients versus healthy controls. The expression levels of circulating GAS5, SNHG8 and MALAT1 were significantly greater in plasma samples from patients than in those from controls. The ROC analysis of both MALAT1 and SNHG8 revealed 88.89% sensitivity and 66.67% specificity. The sensitivity of these markers was greater than that of GAS5 (sensitivity 72.22% and specificity 66.67%). The regression model for GAS5 was statistically significant, while that for SNHG8 and MALAT1 was not significant due to the small sample size. The area under the curve (AUC) of the three ROC curves was acceptable and significant: 0.7519 for GAS5, 0.7352 for SNHG8 and 0.7185 for MALAT1. This finding confirmed their ability to be used as markers. The three lncRNAs were not affected by age, sex or smoking status. The three lncRNAs showed great potential as independent predictive diagnostic biomarkers. Although the prediction model for MALAT1 did not significantly differ, MALAT1 was significantly expressed in patients more than in controls (p = 0.0266), and the recorded sensitivity and specificity were greater than those of GAS5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The identification of effective tumor markers is of paramount importance for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The present study endeavors to identify efficacious serological markers that can differentiate patients with early-stage ESCC from those with benign esophageal lesions and healthy controls (HC). Cystatin-SN (CST1), an active cysteine protease inhibitor belonging to the Cystatin (CST) superfamily, is implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammation and tumorigenesis. The objective of this investigation is to assess the diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic potential of serum CST1 in ESCC. Methods: In our prior RNA sequencing and screening endeavors, we have identified ten genes that are up-regulated in relation to esophageal cancer. Subsequently, we have verified the gene CST1 from the transcriptome data of the The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database. Following this, we conducted an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to ascertain the expression levels of CST1 in serum samples from clinical cohorts. Results: The study revealed a significant elevation in serum CST1 levels among patients with early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) (7.41 ± 4.32 ng/ml) compared to those with esophageal benign lesions (4.67 ± 2.43 ng/ml) (p < 0.0001) and healthy controls (4.87 ± 2.77 ng/ml) (p < 0.0001). The diagnostic sensitivity of CST1 for ESCC was 75.68% (specificity 70.83%, AUC 0.775). Combination of CST1 and SCC-Ag exhibited the AUC up to 0.819. Additionally, serum CST1 levels exhibited a significant decrease at 1-2 weeks post-surgery (4.49 ± 3.31 ng/ml) compared to pre-surgery levels (7.68 ± 3.71 ng/ml) (p<0.0001). Survival analysis demonstrated a strong association between high (844/415-1543 d) or low (1490/645-1710 d) serum CST1 levels at diagnosis and overall survival time (p < 0.001). Furthermore, multivariate regression analysis confirmed CST1 (p=0.024, HR=2.023, 95%CI 1.099-3.725) as an independent prognostic factor. Conclusion: Serum CST1 has the potential to function as a diagnostic indicator for distinguishing early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) from individuals with benign esophageal lesions and healthy individuals. Additionally, it could serve as a prognostic predictor and therapeutic efficacy indicator for patients with ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hematoma expansion (HE) is common in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and associated with a worse outcome. Imaging makers and shorter time from symptom onset are both associated with HE, but prognostic scores based on these parameters individually have not been satisfactory. We hypothesized that a score including both imaging markers of expansion, and time of onset, would improve prediction. Methods: Patients with supratentorial ICH within 6 h after onset were consecutively recruited from six centers between January 2018 and August 2022. Three markers were used: hypodensities, the blend sign, and the island sign. We first defined frequency of imaging markers (FIM) as the relationship between the number of imaging markers and onset-to-CT time (OCT). The time-adjusted FIM was defined as the ratio of the number of imaging markers to the onset-to-initial imaging time. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the relationship between FIM and HE. Receiver operating curve analysis was used to identify potential threshold values of FIM that optimally predict HE. In addition, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPVs and NPVs), and the area under the curve (AUC) of the optimal cut-off in predicting HE were calculated. Results: In total, 1488 patients were eligible for inclusion, of whom 418 had incident HE. Multivariate analysis showed that age, male sex, baseline Glasgow Coma Scale score, presence of intraventricular hemorrhage, and FIM were independent predictors of HE (odds ratio (OR) = 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.97–0.99; OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.28–2.35; OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.83–0.92; OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.28–0.62; OR = 7.82, 95% CI = 5.86–10.42, respectively). The optimal cut-off point for FIM in predicting HE was 0.63, with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and AUC values of 0.69, 0.89, 0.71, 0.88, and 0.83, respectively. Conclusion: The FIM adjusted for time since symptom onset is a significant predictor of HE. Its use may allow improved prediction of those patients with ICH who develop HE, and the score may be clinically applicable in the management of patients with ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nucleosome assembly protein 1-like 1 (NAP1L1) is suggested to have an oncogenic role in several tumors based on its overexpression. However, its diagnostic and prognostic role in gastric cancer remains unclarified. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic utility of NAP1L1 in gastric cancer patients. A total of 85 patients [mean (SD) age: 60.9 (1.6) years, 49.4% were males] with newly-diagnosed gastric cancer and 40 healthy individuals [mean (SD) age: 60.7 (1.7) years, 52.5% were males] were included. Data on patient demographics (age, gender), TNM stages and tumor size, and the serum NAP1L1 levels were recorded. Serum NAP1L1 levels were significantly higher in gastric cancer patients than in control subjects [12 (9.5–13.8) vs. 1.8 (1.5–2.4) ng/mL, p < 0.001]. Also, certain tumor characteristics such as tumor size of >4 vs. <4 cm (p < 0.001), M1 vs. M0 stage (p < 0.001), N2 vs. N0 and N1 stage (p < 0.001), and T4 vs. lower T stage (p < 0.001) were associated with significantly higher serum NAP1L1 levels in gastric cancer patients. Our findings revealed for the first time that serum levels for NAP1L1 were overexpressed in the gastric cancer, as also correlated with the disease progression. NAP1L1 seems to be a potential biomarker for gastric cancer, providing clinically important information on early diagnosis and risk stratification. This study aimed to investigate serum levels for nucleosome assembly protein 1-like 1 (NAP1L1) in patients with gastric cancer in relation to healthy controls and tumor pathology. It was demonstrated for the first time that serum levels for NAP1L1 were overexpressed in the gastric cancer, as also correlated with the disease progression. These findings seem to implicate the potential role of serum NAP1L1 as a distinct diagnostic and prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer, offering clinically important information on early diagnosis and risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy and time in the detection of fractures on pediatric foot radiographs marked without and with localization cues. Method: One-hundred randomly selected foot radiographic examinations that were performed on children (<18 years old) after injury and with at least 4 weeks of follow-up were included. Blinded to history and diagnosis, 4 readers (one each: medical student, pediatrician, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, and pediatric musculoskeletal radiologist) retrospectively and independently reviewed each examination twice (without and with cue, at least 1 month apart, and after randomization). Each reader recorded the presence or absence of a fracture, fracture location, diagnostic confidence, and the total (interpretation) time spent on each study. Diagnostic accuracy, reader confidence, and interpretation time were compared between examinations without and with cues. Results: Our study included 59 examinations without and 41 with fractures (21 phalangeal, 18 metatarsal, and 2 tarsal fractures). Localization cues improved inter-reader agreement (κ=0.36 to 0.64), overall sensitivity (68 to 72%), specificity (66 to 73%), and diagnostic accuracy (67 to 73%); thus, overcalled and missed rates also improved from 34 to 27% and 32 to 28%, respectively. Reader confidence improved with cue (49 to 61%, p<0.01) with higher incremental improvement with younger children (30% for 1–6 years; 14% for 7–11 years; and 10% for 12–17 years). Interpretation time decreased by 40% per examination (40±22 s without to 24±13 s with cues, p<0.001). Conclusion: Localization cues improved diagnostic accuracy and reader confidence, reducing interpretation time in the detection of pediatric foot fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The evidence of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the pathogenesis of malaria is inconsistent. This study aimed to synthesize the evidence of blood levels of SOD in patients with malaria and determine the association of blood levels of SOD with the severity of malaria. Results: A total of 1874 articles were retrieved from database searches and 28 studies were included in the review. The blood levels of SOD were lower in individuals with malaria compared with those without malaria infection (p < 0.01, Cohen's d: −2.06, 95% CI: −2.99 to −1.14), I2: 98.96%, 2181 malaria cases/1186 uninfected cases). There were no differences in blood levels of SOD between severe and nonsevere malaria patients (p = 0.09, Cohen's d: −1.57, 95% CI: −3.39 to 0.26), I2: 96.02%, 69 severe malaria cases/256 nonsevere malaria cases). Innovation and Conclusion: The blood levels of SOD were lower in malaria patients compared with those without malaria infection. Further studies will be required to determine the extent to which SOD might prevent Plasmodium infections during pregnancy. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 40, 222–235. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glypican 2 (GPC2) is a member of the glypican gene family and is expressed in multiple kinds of cancer. However, the function and mechanism of GPC2 in colorectal cancer remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify the role of GPC2 on tumor cell proliferation and survival in colorectal cancer. Ten pairs of colon cancer and matched normal colon tissues were collected in this research. GEPIA was used to analysis the GPC2 gene expression profile in TGCA data base. RT-qPCR and western blot assay were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expressions. CCK-8, Flow cytometry and colon formation assay were applied to evaluate cell viability. IHC staining was performed to evaluate the protein expression in tissues. The function of GPC2 in vivo was verified by an animal model of colon cancer. Through the bioinformatics analysis and qRT-PCR validation, we found that GPC2 was upregulated in the colon cancer tissues and cells. GPC2 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo was confirmed by the results of CCK-8, colony formation assays, and tumor xenograft models. Moreover, by the analysis of flow cytometry assay and gain-or-loss function experiments, we discovered that CEP164 was highly associated with the expression state of GPC2, and mediated G2/M-phase arrest in GPC2-downregulated tumor cells. GPC2 might be a novel oncogenic gene in colorectal cancer, suggesting that it could be a considerable marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrots are highly susceptible to root-knot nematodes (RKN) which reduce their marketability due to deformation of roots. Hence, there is a need to identify resistant sources against RKN to accelerate resistance breeding programmes in carrot. In the current study, forty-eight carrot accessions were screened by artificial inoculation of nematodes to locate the lines resistant to Meloidogyne incognita. Among all, Acc- 88 was found to be immune to M. incognita followed by Acc-72, Acc-145 and KSP-123 which showed a moderately resistant reaction. Acc -113B was highly susceptible while the other 44 lines showed a susceptible reaction towards M. incognita. The accessions were validated for the Mj gene using linked molecular markers conferring resistance to RKN. The immune line, Acc-88 amplified at 266 bp proving the presence of resistance allele and Acc-113B generated the product size of the susceptible allele revealing a polymorphic difference with the ESSR0110 marker. The Mj resistance locus carrying Acc-88 has the potential to introgress RKN resistance in susceptible varieties of carrot. The validated ESSR0110 co-dominant molecular marker is promising because it could effectively distinguish resistant and susceptible individuals, thus helps the breeder to develop stable source resistance to root knot nematode. This finding is the first report on identification of immune linse and linked molecular marker in tropical carrot against M. incognita. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peculiarities of the genetic structure of the population of Holstein cattle bred in Ukraine were studied by beta-casein and tumor necrosis factor alpha loci. Using the methods of allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) and PCR with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis, polymorphism of the beta-casein gene (CSN2) by allelic variants A1 and A2 and of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) by SacI-polymorphism in the promoter region of the gene (–824 A>G marker mutation) and RsaI-polymorphism in the fourth exon were analyzed. It was proven that both loci are polymorphic in the studied cattle population. For each of the polymorphic loci, the main genetic and population parameters of the Holstein cow population were established. For the CSN2 locus, a significant predominance of the frequency of the A2 allele over A1 was established (0.78 vs. 0.22). For the SacI- and RsaI-polymorphisms of TNF-α, maximal (1.980 and 1.988) values of the locus polymorphism level (the number of effective alleles) were detected. For both mutations in the TNF-α gene, actual parity in the frequency values of the corresponding alleles was established (0.55 and 0.45 for the SacI-polymorphism; 0.54 and 0.46 for the RsaI-polymorphism). For the RsaI-polymorphism in the TNF-α fourth exon, a deviation from the state of genetic equilibrium according to Hardy–Weinberg was recorded in the studied population of animals, and a significant excess of heterozygous individuals was detected (25%). Based on the results of the analysis of milk productivity parameters of individuals with different CSN2 locus genotypes, it was established that individuals with the A2A2 genotype are characterized by higher values of standard milk production as compared with individuals with the A1A1 genotype (p = 0.042). For the SacI- and RsaI-polymorphism of the TNF-α gene, there were no significant differences in the parameters of standard milk productivity for two lactations between individuals with different genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the value of serum Neutrophil Gelatinase- Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) levels to predict the severity of the disease and to identify its correlation with White Blood Cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in acute pancreatitis (AP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study sample included 86 AP-diagnosed patients in the study group and 77 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers with no comorbidity in the control group. The WBC, CRP, hs-CRP, and NGAL levels were examined at the time and 24 hours after diagnosis. RESULTS: Between the control group and the study group, a significant difference with and without necrosis in terms of NGAL averages (p=0.003) at the time of admission was observed. The mean level of the 24th-hour NGAL in the study group with necrosis (132.7±11.7 ng/ml) was found to be higher than the mean of the 24th-hour NGAL (117.5±22.6 ng/ml) in the study group without necrosis (p=0.032). Additionally, a significant difference was observed between the control group and the study group with and without necrosis in terms of CRP averages evaluated at admission. When the correlation of NGAL levels with WBC, CRP, and hs-CRP levels at the admission (r=0.224, p=0.038) and at the 24th h (r=0.389, p<0.001) are evaluated, weak correlations between NGAL and WBC levels were identified, but no correlation between NGAL and CRP and hs-CRP levels were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The usability of serum NGAL levels to predict the development of necrotizing pancreatitis in the early period was evaluated. Serum NGAL levels were found to be higher in the study group than in the control group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the mean values of 0th and 24th h NGAL values in any of the groups with/without pancreatic necrosis and the total study group was observed. More research is needed on the subject, with larger sampling sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral roots are a major component of root system architecture, and lateral root count (LRC) positively contributes to yield under drought in chickpea. To understand the genetic regulation of LRC, a biparental mapping population derived from two chickpea accessions having contrasting LRCs was genotyped by sequencing, and phenotyped to map four major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) contributing to 13–32% of the LRC trait variation. A single- nucleotide polymorphism tightly linked to the locus contributing to highest trait variation was located on the coding region of a gene (CaWIP2), orthologous to NO TRANSMITTING TRACT/WIP domain protein 2 (NTT/WIP2) gene of Arabidopsis thaliana. A polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) in the CaWIP2 promoter showed differentiation between low versus high LRC parents and mapping individuals, suggesting its utility for marker-assisted selection. CaWIP2 promoter showed strong expression in chickpea apical root meristem and lateral root primordia. Expression of CaWIP2 under its native promoter in the Arabidopsis wip2wip4wip5 mutant rescued its rootless phenotype to produce more lateral roots than the wild-type plants, and led to formation of amyloplasts in the columella. CaWIP2 expression also induced the expression of genes that regulate lateral root emergence. Our study identified a gene-based marker for LRC which will be useful for developing drought-tolerant, high-yielding chickpea varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and fatal malignancies worldwide. Following an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), cancer cells enter an oxidative stress state. As a result, these cells experience an increase in antioxidant activity to counteract oxidative stress. The thioredoxin (TRX) system is a ubiquitous mammalian antioxidant system that neutralizes ROS and maintains intracellular reduction oxidation (redox) balance, which is essential for HCC growth. However, the role of TRX protein in HCC remains largely unknown. Hence, we aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of serum TRX in patients with HCC. A total of 50 patients were consecutively recruited in this observational study. They were classified into three groups: an HCC group (25 patients), a cirrhosis group (15 patients with liver cirrhosis on top of chronic HCV infection), and a control group (10 healthy individuals). Serum TRX levels were measured using ELISA. Results: Higher serum TRX levels were detected in the HCC group than in the cirrhosis and control groups (140.96 ± 12.70 vs 88.33 ± 10.34 vs 73.10 ± 13.22 ng/mL, respectively; P < 0.001). TRX was independently associated with the presence of HCC (P < 0.001). Regarding the detection of HCC, TRX at a cut-off value of 114 ng/mL had superior diagnostic performance to AFP with an AUC of 1.000, sensitivity of 100%, and specificity of 100%, whereas AFP at a cut-off value of 20.5 ng/mL had an AUC of 1.000, sensitivity of 100%, and specificity of 47%. Conclusion: Thioredoxin has the potential to be an HCC diagnostic marker. The clinical significance of thioredoxin in HCC requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global population aging poses a tremendous burden on the health care system worldwide. Frailty is associated with decreased physical reserve and is considered an important indicator of adverse events in the older population. Therefore, there is growing interest in the early diagnosis and intervention of frailty, but the cellular mechanisms responsible for frailty are still not completely understood. Chronic inflammation is related to decreased physical function and increased disease risk. Additionally, multiple human and animal studies suggest that inflammation probably plays the largest role in contributing to frailty. Some inflammatory markers have been proposed to predict physical frailty. However, there are still large gaps in knowledge related to the clinical application of these markers in frail patients. Therefore, understanding the biological processes and identifying recognized and reliable markers are urgent and pivotal tasks for geriatricians. In the present review, we broadly summarize the inflammatory markers that may have potential diagnostic and therapeutic use, thereby translating them into health care for older people with frailty in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of "lung governing skin and hair" has always occupied an important position in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine. However, in western medicine, the close correlation between the lungs and the skin in health and disease has not been established. The difference between these two medical views has triggered an urgent need for the scientific interpretation and clinical application of the theory of "lung governing skin and hair" in western medicine. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the application of "lung governing skin and hair" in chinese medicine and the correlation between the lung and the skin in western medicine from the connotation and history of " lung governing skin and hair" in Chinese medicine. In addition, we will discuss the common pathologic biomarkers of lung and skin diseases in western medicine and the co-morbidities between lung and skin, with the aim to provide new ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of lung and skin diseases and modern research, as well as providing a direction for the integration of the theory of "lung governing skin and hair" into the clinical practice of western medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The single-step genomic model has become the golden standard for routine evaluation in livestock species, such as Holstein dairy cattle. The single-step genomic model with direct estimation of marker effects has been proven to be efficient in accurately accounting for millions of genotype records. For diverse applications including frequent genomic evaluation updates on a weekly basis, estimates of the marker effects from the single-step evaluations play a central role in genomic prediction. In this study we focused on exploring the marker effect estimates from the single-step evaluation. Phenotypic, genotypic, and pedigree data were taken from the official evaluation for German dairy breeds in April 2021. A multilactation random regression test-day model was applied to more than 242 million test-day records separately for 4 traits: milk, fat, and protein yields, and somatic cell scores (SCS). Approximately one million genotyped Holstein animals were considered in the single-step genomic evaluations including ∼21 million animals in pedigree. Deregressed multiple across-country breeding values of Holstein bulls having daughters outside Germany were integrated into the national test-day data to increase the reliability of genomic breeding values. To assess the stability and bias of the marker effects of the single-step model, test-day records of the last 4 yr were deleted, and the integrated bulls born in the last 4 yr were truncated from the complete phenotypic dataset. Estimates of the marker effects were shown to be highly correlated, with correlations ∼0.9, between the full and truncated evaluations. Regression slope values of the marker-effect estimates from the full on the truncated evaluations were all close to their expected value, being ∼1.03. Calculated using random regression coefficients of the marker effect estimates, drastically different shapes of the genetic lactation curve were seen for 2 markers on chromosome 14 for the 4 test-day traits. The contribution of individual chromosomes to the total additive genetic variances seemed to follow the polygenic inheritance mode for protein yield and SCS. However, chromosome 14 was found to make an exceptionally large contribution to the total additive genetic variance for milk and fat yields because of markers near the major gene DGAT1. For the first lactation test-day traits, we obtained ∼0 correlations of chromosomal direct genomic values between any pair of the chromosomes; no spurious correlations were found in our analysis, thanks to the large reference population. For trait milk yield, chromosomal direct genomic values appeared to have a large variation in the between-lactation correlations among the chromosomes, especially between first and second or third lactations. The optimal features of the random regression test-day model and the single-step marker model allowed us to track the differences in the shapes of genetic lactation curves down to the individual markers. Furthermore, the single-step random regression test-day model enabled us to better understand the inheritance mode of the yield traits and SCS (e.g., variable chromosomal contributions to the total additive genetic variance and to the genetic correlations between lactations). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objective: Water deficit stress is a serious threat to food security worldwide. Association mapping is a suitable method to identify the location of quantitative traits based on linkage disequilibrium, which is highly effective in describing complex genetic traits. This study aimed to evaluate the population structure and the SNP markers association morphological traits of spring wheat genotypes under water deficit stress conditions. Material and Methods: In this research, genome-wide association mapping was done for 111 spring wheat genotypes. Phenotyping evaluation was done in the form of a simple lattice design with two replications in the agricultural year 2020-2021 under non stress and water deficit stress conditions in the experimental field of Gachsaran Rain-fed Agricultural Research Station in Iran. Genotyping of the samples was done using SNP markers (15 K SNP array) in Trait-Genetic company in Germany. Each genotype was evaluated using 15 thousand SNP markers. The obtained SNP data were filtered in terms of MAF indices (minor allele frequency) and missing data (Missing data >10%). From each of the 21 pairs of bread wheat homologous chromosomes, seven SNP markers with no missing data and with suitable distribution were selected (147 markers in total) to determine the structure of the studied population (Q matrix) using STRUCTURE 2.3 software and the number of groups (K) was identified. The studied traits were flag leaf area, number of nodes, first internode length, number of tiller per plant, number of fertile tillers per plant, number of infertile tiller per plant, and spike weight. Genome-wide association mapping using TASSEL 5.0 software and the general linear model (GLM) method with Q matrix and decomposition into principal components with more than 80% justification (PCA) with 52 components was used. Results: The results of the analysis of variance showed that there was an acceptable genetic variation in terms of all studied traits and also the reaction of genotypes was different in facing water deficit stress. In the water deficit stress condition, chromosome 2A had the maximum significant correlation with 39 and chromosome 5A had the minimum association marker with the trait with four. In the of water stress conditions, three bread wheat genomes (A, B, and D) accounted for 53, 36, and 11% of the frequency of marker-trait association, respectively. A and D genomes of bread wheat under water deficit stress conditions ratio to non-stress conditions assigned a more prominent role for the examined traits. In total in the non-stress and water deficit stress condition 180 and 111 marker trait association (MTA) were identified respectively. In the water deficit stress conditions, the number of correlations with markers for flag leaf area, first internode length, tiller of number per plant, and spike weight were 17, 24, 10 and 19, respectively. In the water deficit stress condition, the frequency of significant marker association more significant than in non-stress condition for traits of first internode and fertile tiller of number per plant. Three bread wheat genomes showed an unequal contribution for the studied traits in terms of the number of identified marker-trait associations (MTA). Also, genome A had a significant contribution to grain yield under water stress conditions with 74% of significant correlations between the marker and the spike weight trait. Conclusion: Finally, the MTAs identified in the present study can be used in the development of wheat breeding programs under water deficit conditions especially gene pyramiding or markerassisted selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DBS has been shown to be an effective intervention for neurological disorders. However, the intervention is complex and many aspects have not been understood. Various clinical situations have no solution and follow trial and error approaches. Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions, which gives rise to abnormal movements and postures. Status dystonicus (SD) represents a life-threatening condition that requires urgent assessment and management. Electrophysiological markers for risk of symptom worsening and SD related patterns of evolution in patients treated with long-term deep brain stimulation (DBS), and specially under the effect of withdrawal and renewals of simulation are needed. To this end, we study the variability of neural synchronization as a mechanism for symptom generation under successive perturbations to a system, i.e. withdrawals and renewals of neuromodulation, through computational simulation of clinical profiles under different plasticity conditions. The simulation shows that the neuroplasticity makeup influences the variability of oscillation synchronization patterns in virtual "patients". The difference between the effect of different electrophysiological signatures is remarkable and under a certain condition (equal medium long term potentiation and long term depression) the situation resembles that of a stable equilibrium, putatively making the sudden worsening or change less likely. Stability of variability can only be observed in this condition and is clearly distinct from other scenarios. Our results demonstrate that the neuroplasticity makeup affects the variability of the oscillatory synchrony. This i) informs the shaping of the electrophysiological makeup and ii) might serve as a marker for clinical behavior. • Variability of electrophysiological data is useful information for DBS patient management. • Modelling variability data sheds light on physiological signatures usually not accessible with in vivo data. • Risks associated with changes to neuromodulation can be elucidated via variability analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has emerged as a prognostic predictive marker in various diseases, but its role in traumatic brain injury (TBI) has not been fully elucidated. This study aims to evaluate the role of PLR as a prognostic predictive marker in adults with TBI. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items in the Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Guidelines 2020. A comprehensive search was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Crossref, OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, Library of Congress, and Jisc Library Hub Discover database to identify relevant studies published up to February 2023. Both prospective and retrospective observational studies written in English or Indonesian were included in the study. No restrictions were placed on the year and country of publication and duration of follow-up. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and the risk of bias was estimated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Research (Ro-BANS) tool. A narrative synthesis was also conducted to summarize the findings. Results: We retrieved 1644 references using the search strategy, and 1623 references were excluded based on screening the title and abstract. The full text was retrieved for 20 articles and subjected to the eligibility criteria, of which 16 were excluded from the study. Four papers with a total of 1.467 sample sizes were included in the review. The median of NOS for study quality was 8-9, with the risk of selection bias using the Ro-BANS tool being low in all studies except for the blinding outcome assessments, which are all unclear. The study finding suggests that the PLR has the potential as an independent prognostic predictive marker in adult patients with TBI. In three studies, a high level of admission PLR may independently predict an increasing mortality risk in 30 days and adverse outcomes measured by the Glasgow outcome scale in 6 months following TBI. However, one study shows that PLR may have limited value as a predictor of mortality or favorable neurological outcomes compared to other hematological parameters. Further studies were needed to establish the clinical utility of PLR and fill the present gaps. Conclusion: This systematic review provides evidence supporting the utilization of PLR as a prognostic predictive marker in adult patients with TBI. The PLR can mainly be utilized, especially in rural practice, as PLR is a simple, low-cost, and routinely performed hematological examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image segmentation is a complex mathematical problem, especially for images that contain intensity inhomogeneity and tightly packed objects with missing boundaries in between. For instance, Magnetic Resonance (MR) muscle images often contain both issues, making muscle segmentation especially difficult. In this paper we propose a novel intensity correction and a semi-automatic active contour-based segmentation approach. The approach uses a geometric flow that incorporates a Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) edge detector and a geodesic distance penalty term from a set of markers and antimarkers. We test the proposed scheme on MR muscle segmentation and compare with some state-of-the-art methods. To help deal with the intensity inhomogeneity in this kind of image, a new approach to estimate the bias field using a fat fraction image, called Prior Bias-Corrected Fuzzy C-means (PBCFCM), is introduced. Numerical experiments show that the proposed scheme leads to significantly better results than compared ones. The average dice values of the proposed method are 92.5%, 85.3%, 85.3% for quadriceps, hamstrings and other muscle groups while other approaches are at least 10% worse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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'UAM14-122-17-7 and UAM14-123-18-3' (Reg. no. NGVU-22-39 and NGVU-22-40, respectively) are medium maturity group, high-yielding, Striga-resistance, large brown seeded cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.] cultivars developed and released in 2022 by the Cowpea Breeding Program of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi. The two cultivars UAM14-122-17-7 and UAM14-123-18-3 were developed by crossbreeding with marker-assisted selection (MAS) from a three-way cross between BOSADP, IT99K-573-1-1 and YAMISRA '(BOSADP × IT99K-573-1-1) × YAMISRA'. The parents, BOSADP and YAMISRA, are photosensitive local landraces popularly grown in northeast Nigeria because of their large seed size and suitability for intercropping. BOSADP has brown seed coat colour, while YAMISRA has white seed coat colour with black hilum; both are highly susceptible to Striga gesnerioides. The other parent, IT99K-573-1-1' is an improved cultivar bred at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). It was derived from an F5 selection from the cross IT93K-596-9-12 × IT86D-880. Thus, IT99K-573-1-1 has a wide genetic background that carries the B301 (Striga resistance) gene. It is a semi-erect medium maturing cultivar with medium seed size, and highly resistant to Striga. Before release, UAM14-122-17-7 and UAM14-123-18-3 were tested in multi- environments and on-farm trials in the Guinea savannas of Nigeria from 2018 to 2021 for yield and other agronomic traits. On average, UAM14-122-17-7 recorded a grain yield of 1671 kg ha−1, while UAM14-123-18-3 recorded a grain yield of 1511 kg ha−1, which is higher than the mean of all the local checks (SAMPEA 19, Borno Brown and IT99K-573-1-1), about 80% for UAM14-122-17-7 and 95% for UAM14-123-18-3. UAM14-122-17-7 and UAM14-123-18-3 are medium maturing (80–85 days), with seed sizes ranging from 26 to 28 g/100 and 27–30 g/100, respectively. These two cultivars, therefore, have larger seed sizes with brown seed coat texture compared with the previously released cultivars. Their seed protein content ranged from 22 to 25% above that of the parental cultivars, BOSADP and YAMISRA. The two cultivars showed absolute resistance to Striga gesnerioides race 3 (SG3) prevalent in Nigeria and good adaptation for intercropping with cereals. The two cultivars were approved for release and registered in the Nigeria Variety Catalogue of the Plant Varieties in 2022 based on their superior performance in on-station, field and multi-locational trials and the massive demand for high-yielding Striga-resistant cowpea cultivars with brown seed coat colour and large seed by farmers. The National Variety Release Committee formally released the two cultivars UAM14-122-17-7 and UAM14-123-18-3 in 2022. It gave it the national code name FUAMPEA 3 and FUAMPEA 4, respectively, for cultivation in Nigeria (NCGRB 2023). The availability of these cultivars to farmers would increase cowpea production and productivhity under variable cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most infant deaths are attributed to neonatal sepsis. Reduced morbidity and mortality can be achieved with prompt diagnosis. Due to the disease's rapid course, accurate utilization of disease-specific biomarkers is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment. Aim and objective: This study aimed to find out serum IL33 levels in neonates with sepsis and to investigate its role in the identifying of neonatal sepsis. Methods: Case-control research was performed on 45 cases diagnosed with neonatal sepsis with positive blood cultures and 45 healthy neonates as controls. A peripheral blood sample was taken from the patients and controls then IL33 levels were measured by ELISA. Results: In newborn sepsis individuals, serum IL 33 levels were significantly greater than in healthy controls (203.9-63.1vs.127.4-30.5 ng/ml, respectively: p less than 0.001). Serum IL33 levels were significantly positively correlated with CRP levels in neonatal sepsis patients. IL33 is increased in survivor than in non-survivor cases. Conclusion: Elevated levels of interleukin 33 strongly correlate with neonatal sepsis so it might function as a reliable a diagnostic indicator for neonatal sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the entire world, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered as one of the most prevalent cancers. For earlier identification to enhance the clinical outcomes of HCC patients, more sensitive and specific indicators are required. Aim: To identify HCC, it is necessary to assess the annexin A2 levels in both compensated and decompensated HCV-treated patients. Methods: At the time of diagnosis and before starting treatment, blood specimens from 40 HCC individuals were taken and isolated plasma specimens were maintained at -80 °C until ANXA2 assays. The human ANXA2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent test (ELISA) kit was used to collect blood specimens from forty individuals with CHC but no HCC at the same duration as the blood specimens from HCC patients. Anti-ANXA2 antibodies were utilized as identification antibodies. Results: With a p-value of <0.001, the ANXA2 level sensitivity and specificity test demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the identification of HCC cases in both compensated and decompensate populations. In comparison to the decompensated group, the ANXA2 level's sensitivity in diagnosing HCC patients was 90% in the compensated status. Regarding AFP and ANXA2 levels, there was a statistically significant distinction (p <0.001) between the two study groups, with a greater mean among the HCC group. Conclusion: The combination of annexin A2 and AFP significantly boosts the diagnostic capability of this promising HCC diagnostic marker. Its serum concentration can be used as an effective, noninvasive tumour marker for HCC identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassava productivity is constrained by low soil nitrogen, which is predominant in most cassava-growing regions in the tropics and subtropical agroecology. Improving the low nitrogen tolerance of cassava has become an important breeding objective. The current study aimed to develop cassava varieties with improved nitrogen use efficiency by identifying genomic regions and candidate genes linked to nitrogen use efficiency in cassava. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using the Genome Association and Prediction Integrated Tool (GAPIT). A panel of 265 diverse cassava genotypes was phenotyped for 10 physiological and agronomic traits under optimum and low-nitrogen regimes. Whole-genome genotyping of these cassava cloneswas performed using the Diversity Arrays Technology (DArTseq) sequencing platform. A total of 68,814 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, which were spread across the entire 18 chromosomes of the cassava genome, of which 52 SNPs at various densities were found to be associated with nitrogen use efficiency in cassava and other yield-related traits. The putative genes identified through GWAS, especially those with significant associated SNP markers for NUE and related traits have the potential, if deployed appropriately, to develop cassava varieties with improved nitrogen use efficiency, which would translate to a reduction in the economic and environmental cost of cassava production.