C-reactive protein-based tuberculosis triage testing: a multi-country diagnostic accuracy study.

Rationale: C-reactive protein (CRP)-based tuberculosis (TB) screening is recommended for people with HIV (PWH). However, its performance among people without HIV and in diverse settings is unknown. Objectives: In a multi-country study, we aimed to determine whether CRP meets the minimum accuracy targets (sensitivity ≥90%, specificity ≥70%) for an effective TB triage test. Methods/Measurements: Consecutive outpatient adults with cough ≥2 weeks from five TB endemic countries in Africa and Asia had baseline blood collected for point-of-care CRP testing and HIV and diabetes screening. Sputum samples were collected for Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert) testing and culture. CRP sensitivity and specificity (5 mg/L cut-point) was determined in reference to sputum test results and compared by country, sex, and HIV and diabetes status. Variables affecting CRP performance were identified using a multivariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) regression model. Results: Among 2904 participants, of whom 613 (21%) had microbiologically-confirmed TB, CRP sensitivity was 84% (95% CI: 81-87%) and specificity was 61% (95% CI: 59-63%). CRP accuracy varied geographically, with higher sensitivity in African countries (≥91%) than Asian countries (64-82%). Sensitivity was higher among men than women (87% vs. 79%, difference +8%, 95% CI: 1-15%) and specificity was higher among people without HIV than PWH (64% vs. 45%, difference +19%, 95% CI: 13-25%). ROC regression identified country and measures of TB disease severity as predictors of CRP performance. Conclusions: Overall, CRP did not achieve the minimum accuracy targets and its performance varied by setting and in some sub-groups, likely reflecting population differences in mycobacterial load.

Factors affecting loneliness among left-behind children.

BACKGROUND: In Vietnam, research on the impact of parental migration on left-behind children (LBC) has discussed various dimensions of the subject such as subjective well-being, emotional states, social skills, self-esteem and nutrition of LBC. However, there are still gaps in studies on loneliness among LBC in Vietnam. The study aims to explore the status of loneliness in LBC, including associated protective and risk factors, to make suggestions on preventive measures against LBC's loneliness. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The conveniently selected sample includes 439 LBC in 4 Vietnamese provinces: Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Thai Binh and Nghe An. The mean age is 12.73 (SD = 1.68). Female children account for 47.80%. The Children's Loneliness Scale was employed in the study. RESULTS: The total loneliness score of LBC is 28.62 (SD = 9.40), 95% CI: 27.75-29.48. Perceived social support from friends, caregivers and resilience factors of affect control (RAC), family support (RFS) and help-seeking (RHS) are protective factors for loneliness of LBC, with regression coefficient of -.27, -.18, -.11, -.11 and -.09 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived social support from friends, care-giving attachment and resilience factors of RAC, RFS, and RHS are protective factors for LBC against loneliness. Parents, teachers and guardians are encouraged to have a close connection with LBC, provide adequate care giving; and create a supportive environment for LBC in pursuing healthy peer relationships and train/improve children's skills to strengthen their resilience.

Vietnamese version of the Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS): Translation and validation.

Introduction: In Vietnam, the prevalence of hypertension is increasing rapidly. Patients need to be conscious of the disease for timely prevention and treatment. The Hypertension Knowledge Level Scale (HK-LS) is commonly used to assess knowledge about hypertension. Methods: Data collection was took place in a hospital in Binh Thuan province, Vietnam in February 2020 with a total of 184 paticipants. Translation and adaptation of the HK-LS, validate the questionnaire through in-person interviews with outpatients diagnosed with hypertension. The translation process followed WHO guidelines. The appraisal process evaluates through reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) and validity (meaningful relationship between the response results of the scale and the patient's characteristics). Results: The Vietnamese version of the HK-LS was translated and proven to be reliable (Cronbach's alpha=0.72) and valid (statistically significant difference between age groups (P=0.021) and educational background (P=0.007). Conclusion: The HK-LS was translated from English into Vietnamese; the questions are clear, intelligible, and suitable for surveying patients in Vietnam.

Comparing pregnancy outcomes in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD): a descriptive cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Females diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) face an elevated risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). However, the evidence regarding whether a similar association exists in patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is inconclusive. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review (2006-2019) of pregnancy outcomes among patients with SLE (n = 51) and UCTD (n = 20) within our institution. We examined the occurrence of various APOs, encompassing miscarriage, stillbirth, termination, preterm birth, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, intrauterine growth restriction, abruption placentae, congenital heart block, or other cardiac abnormalities. RESULTS: The mean age at pregnancy was 35 ±â€¯7.0 years for patients with SLE and 35 ±â€¯6.8 years for those with UCTD (p = 0.349). The proportion of Caucasian women was 47% in SLE and 80% in UCTD. Pregnancies in both groups were planned (81% in SLE and 77% in UCTD), and patients presented with inactive disease at conception (96% in SLE and 89% in UCTD). Hydroxychloroquine at conception was utilized by 86% of women with SLE, in contrast to 36% in the UCTD group. Both, SLE and UCTD cohorts exhibited low rates of disease flares during pregnancy and/or puerperium (14% vs. 10%). The incidence of APOs was 15.6% in SLE patients compared to 5% in those with UCTD (Risk difference 19.5%; 95% confidence interval: -3.9 to 43.1; p = 0.4237). CONCLUSION: Our study underscores the importance of strategic pregnancy planning and the maintenance of appropriate treatment throughout pregnancy to ensure optimal disease management and minimize adverse outcomes in both SLE and UCTD pregnancies.

Mucosal prime-boost immunization with live murine pneumonia virus-vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is protective in macaques.

Immunization via the respiratory route is predicted to increase the effectiveness of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Here, we evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of one or two doses of a live-attenuated murine pneumonia virus vector expressing SARS-CoV-2 prefusion-stabilized spike protein (MPV/S-2P), delivered intranasally/intratracheally to male rhesus macaques. A single dose of MPV/S-2P is highly immunogenic, and a second dose increases the magnitude and breadth of the mucosal and systemic anti-S antibody responses and increases levels of dimeric anti-S IgA in the airways. MPV/S-2P also induces S-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in the airways that differentiate into large populations of tissue-resident memory cells within a month after the boost. One dose induces substantial protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge, and two doses of MPV/S-2P are fully protective against SARS-CoV-2 challenge virus replication in the airways. A prime/boost immunization with a mucosally-administered live-attenuated MPV vector could thus be highly effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication.

Stream macroinvertebrate communities in restored and impacted catchments respond differently to climate, land-use, and runoff over a decade.

Identifying which environmental drivers underlie degradation and improvements of ecological communities is a fundamental goal of ecology. Achieving this goal is a challenge due to diverse trends in both environmental conditions and ecological communities across regions, and it is constrained by the lack of long-term parallel monitoring of environmental and community data needed to study causal relationships. Here, we identify key environmental drivers using a high-resolution environmental - ecological dataset, an ensemble of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT+) model, and ecological models to investigate effects of climate, land-use, and runoff on the decadal trend (2012-2021) of stream macroinvertebrate communities in a restored urban catchment and an impacted catchment with mixed land-uses in Germany. The decadal trends showed decreased precipitation, increased temperature, and reduced anthropogenic land-uses, which led to opposing runoff trends - with decreased runoff in the restored catchment and increased runoff in the impacted catchment. The two catchments also varied in decadal trends of taxonomic and trait composition and metrics. The most significant improvements over time were recorded in communities of the restored catchment sites, which have become wastewater free since 2007 to 2009. Within the restored catchment sites, community metric trends were primarily explained by land-use and evaporation trends, while community composition trends were mostly associated with precipitation and runoff trends. Meanwhile, the communities in the impacted catchment did not undergo significant changes between 2012 and 2021, likely influenced by the effects of prolonged droughts following floods after 2018. The results of our study confirm the significance of restoration and land-use management in fostering long-term improvements in stream communities, while climate change remains a prodigious threat. The coupling of long-term biodiversity monitoring with concurrent sampling of relevant environmental drivers is critical for preventative and restorative management in ecology.

Purification and Characterization of a Small Thermostable Protease from Streptomyces sp. CNXK100.

Proteases derived from Streptomyces demonstrate numerous commendable properties, rendering it extensively applicable in biotechnology and various industrial sectors. This study focused on the purification and characterization of the thermostable protease obtained from Streptomyces sp. CNXK100. The purified protease exhibited an estimated molecular weight of 27 kDa, with optimal activity at 75°C and pH 8.0. Notably, the enzyme remained active even without any metal ions and fully active in the presence of Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Cu2+metal ions. The kinetic parameters were determined with a KM value of 3.13 mg/ml and a Vmax value of 3.28 × 106 U/mg. Furthermore, the protease has demonstrated notable stability when subjected to a treatment temperature of up to 65°C for 60 minutes, and across a broad pH range extending from 5.0 to 10.0. This protease also demonstrated resilience against a spectrum of harsh conditions, including exposure to organic solvents, surfactants, bleaching agents, and proteolytic enzymes. Additionally, the enzyme maintained its activity following treatment with commercial detergents, accomplishing complete thrombus lysis at a concentration of 2.50 mg/ml within 4 hours. Remarkably, the protease exhibited stability in terms of activity and protein concentration for 70 days at 4°C. These findings underscore the potential industrial applications of the thermostable protease from Streptomyces sp. CNXK100.

The Hadley circulation in a changing climate.

The Hadley circulation (HC) is a global-scale atmospheric feature with air descending in the subtropics and ascending in the tropics, which plays a fundamental role in Earth's climate because it transports energy polewards and moisture equatorwards. Theoretically, as a consequence of anthropogenic climate change, the HC is expected to expand polewards, while indications on the HC strength are equivocal, as weakening and strengthening are expected in response to different mechanisms. In fact, there is a general agreement among reanalyses and climate simulations that the HC has significantly widened in the last four decades and it will continue widening in the future, but there is no consensus on past and future changes of the HC strength. Substantial uncertainties are produced by the effects of natural variability, structural deficiencies in climate models and reanalyses, and the influence of other forcing factors, such as anthropogenic aerosols, black carbon, and stratospheric and tropospheric ozone. The global HC can be decomposed into three regional HCs, associated with ascending motion above Equatorial Africa, the Maritime Continent, and Equatorial America, which have evolved differently during the last decades. Climate projections suggest a generalized expansion in the Southern Hemisphere, but a complex regional expansion/contraction pattern in the Northern Hemisphere.

Lutetium-177 Labelled Anti-PSMA Monoclonal Antibody (Lu-TLX591) Therapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Treatment Toxicity and Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Whilst prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer globally, effective therapies for patients with advanced disease are lacking. In recent years, interest in using theranostic agents to treat castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and metastatic prostate cancer has emerged. Lu-TLX591 monoclonal antibody is a potential agent of significance; however, to date, reports on its toxicity and efficacy have been limited to small clinical trials in heavily pretreated patients. This retrospective study describes the real-world toxicity and efficacy profile of Lu-TLX591. METHODS: Eighteen patients received Lu-TLX591 at two private oncology centres in Australia. Patients were eligible if they had CRPC or metastatic prostate cancer and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-avid disease confirmed by PSMA-positron emission tomography (PET). Patients received two cycles of Lu-TLX591 monoclonal antibody (177 Lu-DOTA-rosopatamab) each dosed from 1.01-2.85 GBq, 14 days apart. Patient side effects, blood test results and radiology reports were recorded on the patient's electronic medical record (eMR). RESULTS: Prominent side effects included fatigue (55.6%), anorexia (16.7%), nausea (11.1%), and transfusion reactions (11.1%). All-grade haematological toxicities included lymphopenia (61.1%), anaemia (22.2%), leukopenia (27.8%), neutropenia (27.8%), and thrombocytopenia (27.8%). Grade 4 toxicity included lymphopenia (6.7%) and thrombocytopenia (6.7%). Patients' prostate-specific antigen (PSA) responses were as follows; ≥ 30% PSA decline (27.8%), ≥ 50% PSA decline (11.4%) and any PSA decline (38.9%). Follow-up radiology revealed 54.5% stable disease, 45.4% disease progression and 9.1% disease regression. CONCLUSION: Lu-TLX591 was safely administered at acceptable toxicity and its efficacy reflects previous clinical trials. Larger studies are required and are underway (NCT04786847; NCT05146973; NCT04876651) to determine Lu-TLX591 effectiveness amongst different prostate cancer populations and compare its efficacy against peptide-based radiopharmaceutical agents.

Monitoring trends in the absolute lymphocyte count and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with breast cancer receiving eribulin.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are related to the outcomes in patients with breast cancer receiving specific chemotherapies. However, the reports have focussed on the initial blood test and there is a lack of evidence or data to support that dynamic changes of ALC or NLR are associated with the patients' survival outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records from patients with breast cancer treated with eribulin from 2015 to 2019 at our institution. Blood test data were available prior to starting eribulin (baseline), and at 1, 3 and 6 months after initiating eribulin. We classified the patients into ALC and NLR high and low groups using the following cut-offs: 1000/µl for ALC and 3 for NLR. We defined ALC and NLR trends as increasing or decreasing compared with the initial data. We assessed the associations between the ALC and NLR with progression-free survival and overall survival. RESULTS: There were 136 patients with breast cancer treated with eribulin. Of these patients, 60 had complete blood tests and follow-up data. Neither a high ALC nor a low baseline NLR was associated with the survival outcome. One month after initiating eribulin treatment, a high ALC and a low NLR were significantly associated with longer progression-free survival (p = 0.044 for each). Three months after initiating eribulin, a high ALC was significantly associated with better overall survival (p = 0.006). A high NLR at 3 or 6 months after initiating eribulin was associated with worse overall survival (p = 0.017 and p = 0.001, respectively). The ALC and NLR trends across times were not associated with survivals. CONCLUSION: We showed that 1, 3 and 6 months after initiating eribulin, a high ALC and a low NLR may be related to the patients' survival outcomes. The ALC and NLR trends were not associated with survival. Accordingly, we believe patients who maintain a high ALC and a low NLR may have better clinical outcomes after initiating eribulin.

Concurrent Denosumab and Parenteral Iron Therapy Precipitating Severe Hypocalcemia and Hypophosphatemia.

Denosumab-induced hypocalcemia and iron infusion-related hypophosphatemia are both well described. We describe a case of severe hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia following sequential denosumab and parenteral iron administration. This resulted in respiratory failure due to muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmia, requiring noninvasive ventilation and urgent intravenous electrolyte replacement. This case highlights the severe dysregulation in calcium and phosphate homeostasis that can occur with denosumab and iron infusions when administered in quick succession. Given that these drugs are among the most common therapies prescribed across a range of specialties, we hope to alert clinicians to this potential serious drug-drug interaction and suggest strategies for monitoring and management of the electrolyte derangement.

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infectivity by expression of poorly or broadly neutralizing antibodies against Env in virus-producing cells.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) envelope (Env) glycoprotein precursor (gp160) trimerizes, is modified by high-mannose glycans in the endoplasmic reticulum, and is transported via Golgi and non-Golgi secretory pathways to the infected cell surface. In the Golgi, gp160 is partially modified by complex carbohydrates and proteolytically cleaved to produce the mature functional Env trimer, which is preferentially incorporated into virions. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) generally recognize the cleaved Env trimer, whereas poorly neutralizing antibodies (pNAbs) bind the conformationally flexible gp160. We found that expression of bNAbs, pNAbs, or soluble/membrane forms of the receptor, CD4, in cells producing HIV-1 all decreased viral infectivity. Four patterns of co-expressed ligand:Env were observed: (i) ligands (CD4, soluble CD4-Ig, and some pNAbs) that specifically recognize the CD4-bound Env conformation resulted in uncleaved Envs lacking complex glycans that were not incorporated into virions; (ii) other pNAbs produced Envs with some complex carbohydrates and severe defects in cleavage, which were relieved by brefeldin A treatment; (iii) bNAbs that recognize gp160 as well as mature Envs resulted in Envs with some complex carbohydrates and moderate decreases in virion Env cleavage; and (iv) bNAbs that preferentially recognize mature Envs produced cleaved Envs with complex glycans in cells and on virions. The low infectivity observed upon co-expression of pNAbs or CD4 could be explained by disruption of Env trafficking, reducing the level of Env and/or increasing the fraction of uncleaved Env on virions. In addition to bNAb effects on virion Env cleavage, the secreted bNAbs neutralized the co-expressed viruses.IMPORTANCEThe Env trimers on the HIV-1 mediate virus entry into host cells. Env is synthesized in infected cells, modified by complex sugars, and cleaved to form a mature, functional Env, which is incorporated into virus particles. Env elicits antibodies in infected individuals, some of which can neutralize the virus. We found that antibodies co-expressed in the virus-producing cell can disrupt Env transit to the proper compartment for cleavage and sugar modification and, in some cases, block incorporation into viruses. These studies provide insights into the processes by which Env becomes functional in the virus-producing cell and may assist attempts to interfere with these events to inhibit HIV-1 infection.

The impact of cigarette prices on smoking onset and cessation: evidence from Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Vietnam is a country with very high smoking rates among men. According to a Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in 2015, the daily smoking prevalence among Vietnamese men was 39%. METHODS: We used data from the 2010 and 2015 Vietnamese GATSs and cigarette price data from General Statistics Office of Vietnam. Since smoking prevalence is low among women, we only considered men. Using discrete-time hazard models, we estimated the effect of cigarette prices on smoking onset and cessation. Sensitivity analyses are conducted using different model specifications. RESULTS: We find that higher cigarette prices reduce the probability of smoking onset. A 1% increase in the cigarette price reduces the hazard of smoking onset by 1.2% (95% CI -2.12% to -0.28%). This suggests that increases in tobacco taxation, which translate to price increases, can reduce smoking onset. We did not find evidence that cigarette prices impact smoking cessation among men in Vietnam. CONCLUSION: Vietnam should continue to increase excise taxes on tobacco products to reduce smoking onset. Since smokers are resilient to excise tax increases, other tobacco control policies, such as smoke-free areas and tobacco advertisement bans, should be better enforced to encourage people to quit. Other policies not yet implemented, such as plain packaging of tobacco products, may also encourage smokers to quit.

Femora of women with premature ovarian insufficiency exhibit reduced strength and misalignment with the transmitted vertical forces from the upper body.

BACKGROUND: Women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) lack oestrogen, which is a key determinant of bone growth, epiphyseal closure, and bone tissue organisation. Although dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-derived areal bone mineral density (BMD) remains the gold standard for fracture risk evaluation, it does not fully characterise the skeletal abnormalities present in these women. Hence, we aimed to assess hip/femur anatomy, strength, and geometry and femoral alignment using advanced hip analysis (AHA). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, case-control study including 89 women with spontaneous normal karyotype POI (s-POI) or iatrogenic POI (i-POI), aged 20-50 years compared with 89 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched population-based female controls. Hip anatomy, strength, geometrical parameters, and femur alignment were measured using hip DXA images and Lunar AHA software. Femoral orientation angle (FOA) was quantified as the overall orientation of the femur with respect to the axis of the forces transmitted from the upper body. RESULTS: The median age of POI diagnosis was 35 (18-40) years; the mean POI duration at the time of DXA was 2.07 (range 0-13) years, and 84% of POI women received oestrogen therapy. Areal BMD at all sites was significantly lower in the POI group (all P < .05). Indices of compressive and bending strength were lower in women with POI compared with controls, specifically the cross-sectional area (CSA, mm2) and section modulus (SM, mm3) (139.30 ± 29.08 vs 157.29 ± 22.26, P < .001 and 665.21 ± 129.54 vs 575.53 ± 150.88, P < .001, respectively). The FOA was smaller (124.99 ± 3.18) in women with POI as compared with controls (128.04 ± 3.80; P < .001) at baseline and after adjusting for height and femoral neck BMD. CONCLUSION: Alongside lower BMD at multiple sites, the femora of women with POI demonstrate reduced strength and a misalignment with forces transmitted from the upper body. Further research is needed to establish the role of these newly identified features and their role in fracture risk prediction in this population.

Urinary liver-type fatty acid binding protein is a biomarker reflecting renal damage and the ameliorative effect of drugs at an early stage of histone-induced acute kidney injury.

AIM: Circulated histones play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases and severe trauma, and it is one of the potential molecular targets for therapeutics. Recently, we reported that histone is one of the causative agents for urinary L-FABP increase. However, the mechanism is still unclear, especially in severe cases. We further investigated the mechanism of urinary L-FABP increase using a more severe mouse model with histone-induced kidney injury. This study also aims to evaluate the therapeutic responsiveness of urinary L-FABP as a preliminary study. METHODS: Human L-FABP chromosomal transgenic mice were administrated 30 mg/kg histone from a tail vein with a single dose. We also performed a comparative study in LPS administration model. For the evaluation of the therapeutic responsiveness of urinary L-FABP, we used heparin and rolipram. RESULTS: The histological change with cast formation as a characteristic of the models was observed in proximal tubules. Urinary L-FABP levels were significantly elevated and these levels tended to be higher in those with more cast formation. Heparin and rolipram had the ameliorative effect of the cast formation induced by histone and urinary L-FABP levels significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Histone is one of the causative agents for the increase of urinary L-FABP at an early stage of AKI. In addition, it suggested that urinary L-FABP may be useful as a subclinical AKI marker reflecting kidney damage induced by histone. Furthermore, urinary L-FABP reflected the degree of the damage after the administration of therapeutic agents such as heparin and PDE4 inhibitor.

Individual and community experiences of posttraumatic growth after disaster: 10 years after the Australian Black Saturday bushfires.

OBJECTIVE: To understand longer-term posttraumatic growth (PTG) and how this is associated with individual and community bushfire experiences. METHOD: Survey data (n = 391) from the Beyond Bushfires and the 10-year Beyond Bushfires studies were analyzed. Multilevel modeling examined relationships between basic individual demographics, bushfire exposure, and community-level variables at 3-4 years after the fires, and PTG at 10 years using the short form of the PTG Inventory. RESULTS: Ten years after these Australian bushfires, being female, experiencing higher degrees of property loss, and stronger individual sense of community were the factors associated with PTG. Approximately 12% of the variance observed in PTG scores was attributable to differences in PTG across communities. Individuals from medium and high bushfire-affected communities reported significantly higher PTG relative to those in low bushfire-affected communities. While there was evidence of community differences in PTG, and individuals' own sense of community was positively and significantly associated with increased PTG, community-level cohesion scores were not found to be significantly related to PTG (although the trend was in the expected direction). CONCLUSIONS: PTG is evident in longer-term disaster recovery. While PTG appears to vary across communities, the findings suggest that it is an individual's own sense of community (rather than community-level cohesion) that is most closely related to this longer-term growth following a bushfire event. While PTG is currently understood as an outcome of individual-level perceptions, community-level experiences shape the potential for positive transformations to occur after disasters and warrant further investigation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Characterization of Soybean Events with Enhanced Expression of the Microtubule-Associated Protein 65-1 (MAP65-1).

Microtubule-associated protein 65-1 (MAP65-1) protein plays an essential role in plant cellular dynamics through impacting stabilization of the cytoskeleton by serving as a crosslinker of microtubules. The role of MAP65-1 in plants has been associated with phenotypic outcomes in response to various environmental stresses. The Arabidopsis MAP65-1 (AtMAP65-1) is a known virulence target of plant bacterial pathogens and is thus a component of plant immunity. Soybean events were generated that carry transgenic alleles for both AtMAP65-1 and GmMAP65-1, the soybean AtMAP65-1 homolog, under control of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Both AtMAP65-1 and GmMAP65-1 transgenic soybeans are more resistant to challenges by the soybean bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea and the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora sojae, but not the soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines. Soybean plants expressing AtMAP65-1 and GmMAP65-1 also display a tolerance to the herbicide oryzalin, which has a mode of action to destabilize microtubules. In addition, GmMAP65-1-expressing soybean plants show reduced cytosol ion leakage under freezing conditions, hinting that ectopic expression of GmMAP65-1 may enhance cold tolerance in soybean. Taken together, overexpression of AtMAP65-1 and GmMAP65-1 confers tolerance of soybean plants to various biotic and abiotic stresses. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Pulsatile Leucine Administration during Continuous Enteral Feeding Enhances Skeletal Muscle Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Signaling and Protein Synthesis in a Preterm Piglet Model.

BACKGROUND: Continuous feeding does not elicit an optimal anabolic response in skeletal muscle but is required for some preterm infants. We reported previously that intermittent intravenous pulses of leucine (Leu; 800 µmol Leu·kg-1·h-1 every 4 h) to continuously fed pigs born at term promoted mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activation and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to determine the extent to which intravenous Leu pulses activate mTORC1 and enhance protein synthesis in the skeletal muscle of continuously fed pigs born preterm. METHODS: Pigs delivered 10 d preterm was advanced to full oral feeding >4 d and then assigned to 1 of the following 4 treatments for 28 h: 1) ALA (continuous feeding; pulsed with 800 µmol alanine·kg-1·h-1 every 4 h; n = 8); 2) L1× (continuous feeding; pulsed with 800 µmol Leu·kg-1·h-1 every 4 h; n = 7); 3) L2× (continuous feeding; pulsed with 1600 µmol Leu·kg-1·h-1 every 4 h; n = 8); and 4) INT (intermittent feeding every 4 h; supplied with 800 µmol alanine·kg-1 per feeding; n = 7). Muscle protein synthesis rates were determined with L-[2H5-ring]Phenylalanine. The activation of insulin, amino acid, and translation initiation signaling pathways were assessed by Western blot. RESULTS: Peak plasma Leu concentrations were 134% and 420% greater in the L2× compared to the L1× and ALA groups, respectively (P < 0.01). Protein synthesis was greater in the L2× than in the ALA and L1× groups in both the longissimus dorsi and gastrocnemius muscles (P < 0.05) but not different from the INT group (P > 0.10). Amino acid signaling upstream and translation initiation signaling downstream of mTORC1 largely corresponded to the differences in protein synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous Leu pulses potentiate mTORC1 activity and protein synthesis in the skeletal muscles of continuously fed preterm pigs, but the amount required is greater than in pigs born at term.

Constitutive basis of root system architecture: uncovering a promising trait for breeding nutrient- and drought-resilient crops.

Root system architecture (RSA) plays a pivotal role in efficient uptake of essential nutrients, such as phosphorous (P), nitrogen (N), and water. In soils with heterogeneous nutrient distribution, root plasticity can optimize acquisition and plant growth. Here, we present evidence that a constitutive RSA can confer benefits for sorghum grown under both sufficient and limiting growth conditions. Our studies, using P efficient SC103 and inefficient BTx635 sorghum cultivars, identified significant differences in root traits, with SC103 developing a larger root system with more and longer lateral roots, and enhanced shoot biomass, under both nutrient sufficient and deficient conditions. In addition to this constitutive attribute, under P deficiency, both cultivars exhibited an initial increase in lateral root development; however, SC103 still maintained the larger root biomass. Although N deficiency and drought stress inhibited both root and shoot growth, for both sorghum cultivars, SC103 again maintained the better performance. These findings reveal that SC103, a P efficient sorghum cultivar, also exhibited enhanced growth performance under N deficiency and drought. Our results provide evidence that this constitutive nature of RSA can provide an avenue for breeding nutrient- and drought-resilient crops. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-023-00112-w.

Pipette-Free and Fully Integrated Paper Device Employing DNA Extraction, Isothermal Amplification, and Carmoisine-Based Colorimetric Detection for Determining Infectious Pathogens.

A pipette-free and fully integrated device that can be used to accurately recognize the presence of infectious pathogens is an important and useful tool in point-of-care testing, particularly when aiming to decrease the unpredictable threats posed by disease outbreak. In this study, a paper device is developed to integrate the three main processes required for detecting infectious pathogens, including DNA extraction, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and detection. All key reagents, including sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), NaOH, LAMP reagents, and carmoisine, are placed on the paper device. The paper device is operated simply via sliding and folding without using any bulky equipment, and the results can be directly observed by the naked eye. The optimized concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and carmoisine were found to be 0.1%, 0.1 M, and 0.5 mg/mL, respectively. The paper device was used to detect Enterococcus faecium at concentrations as low as 102 CFU/mL within 60 min. Also, E. faecium spiked in milk was successfully detected using the paper device, demonstrating the feasible application in real sample analysis.