Research RSS

Like mammalian nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain receptors (NLRs), bacterial NLR-like proteins mediate antiviral defense. Avs5, a representative of a large family of short bacterial NLR-like proteins, contains an N-terminal SIR2 effector, a central nucleotide-binding domain (NBD), and a C-terminal sensor domain. Whereas canonical inflammasome NLRs use NBD oligomerization to nucleate ef...

Retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that can impair genome integrity, and their insertions and dysregulation have been implicated in various diseases. However, growing evidence suggests that retrotransposons may play important physiological roles. At the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the ViSyToR (Viral Synaptic Transfer of RNA) pathway requires the active retrotransposon...

CONCLUSIONS: Among individuals who were successfully treated, individuals who had a ≥5% increase in BMI during TB treatment had a significantly increased risk of metabolic syndrome and higher HbA1c levels up to 12 months after TB treatment.

Limited access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is a major driver of the opioid overdose crisis. Jails have been slow to implement MOUD treatment, especially agonist medications (methadone, buprenorphine). Massachusetts mandated certain county jails pilot-test delivery of all FDA-approved MOUD treatments, stipulating jails continue MOUD, or initiate it prior to release, and facilitate...

No abstract

CONCLUSIONS: Clinical trial participation remains low, particularly among autologous HSCT recipients, younger adults, and patients with specific diagnoses. Findings highlight the need to broaden trial eligibility, enhance outreach, and ensure equity in trial access to promote generalizable, patient-centered evidence in HSCT.

Start codon selection extensively regulates the cellular proteome and is implicated in cancer and other diseases. The eIF5-mimic proteins (5MPs: 5MP1/BZW2 and 5MP2/BZW2) restrict non-AUG start codon usage and thereby reprogram proteoform expression from mRNAs with alternative start sites, such as the oncogenic c-Myc. Here, using in extracto cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and biochemical assays...

Whipple disease is a rare multisystem infection caused by Tropheryma whipplei that can present with extraintestinal manifestations preceding gastrointestinal symptoms by years. We report an unusually prolonged course in a patient with nearly 2 decades of treatment-refractory seronegative inflammatory polyarthritis who later developed gastrointestinal symptoms. Although initial upper endoscopy with...

CONCLUSION: Fellowship-trained pediatric radiologists had higher specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy than non-pediatric emergency radiologists for MRI diagnosis of suspected pediatric AA, with a small difference in interpretation time (median, 24 seconds). These findings, based on a limited number of readers, suggest differences in subspecialty expertise and aims and support furth...

The experiences of care-partners of people with epilepsy are complex and dynamic throughout the lifespan, yet their wellbeing remains insufficiently recognized within care systems. There is a public health need to examine and address the wellbeing of epilepsy care-partners. Utilizing the National Institute of Health (NIH) Whole Person Health framework, we present a narrative synthesis of often-ove...

Despite the long-held view of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) as a genetically conserved pathogen, many genomic regions remain poorly resolved due to high sequence homology and repetitive content. Using complete genome assemblies generated from long-read sequencing of 151 globally representative clinical isolates, we comprehensively analyzed genome-wide patterns of genetic diversity and evolution...

The nonspecific presentation of leptospirosis and delays in serologic confirmation often make its diagnosis challenging. The presence of comorbidities or potential drug toxicities, which can mimic or obscure clinical findings, further adds to this diagnostic difficulty. Here, we present the case of a 46-year-old male with well-controlled HIV infection on antiretroviral therapy, who presented with ...

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) has heightened interest in imaging biomarkers that may reflect neomembrane activity, predict recurrence, and identify patients most likely to benefit from treatment. Characterization of hematoma internal architecture, referred to as the imaging phenotype, may provide indirect information re...

No abstract

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous pneumorrhachis, defined as the presence of air in the spinal canal without trauma or iatrogenic intervention, is rare in adolescents. The clinical course remains anecdotal, and no standardized management guidelines exist. The authors performed the first systematic review focused on adolescent spontaneous pneumorrhachis and describe an illustrative case.

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) is a powerful approach to image cells, organelles, viruses and molecular assemblies. However, resolving smaller complexes and molecules is challenging and presents a roadblock to the broad application of cryo-ET. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been used to localize otherwise unidentifiable molecules and complexes in tomograms but are typically tethered to the ta...

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in pediatric patients arises from diverse etiologies that vary across age groups. Although it is an uncommon cause of life-threatening hemorrhagic shock, prompt recognition and management are essential. Owing to the infrequency of hemorrhagic shock from GI bleeding in pediatrics, emergency physicians may lack familiarity with its diagnosis and management....

Age-related neurodegenerative diseases and age-related hearing loss are increasing in prevalence globally. Immune cells are novel mediators linking these diseases through shared mechanisms of chronic inflammation and maladaptive repair. In the cochlea, resident macrophages and infiltrating immune cells respond to injury, noise exposure, and aging by adopting activated phenotypes that disrupt synap...

The underlying mechanisms of Moyamoya disease (MMD), a rare, progressive cerebrovascular disorder marked by distal internal carotid artery stenosis or occlusion and the formation of fragile collaterals, remain poorly understood, in part because conventional models fail to capture the genetic, vascular, and neurovascular complexity of human MMD. Driven by recent advances in disease modeling, MMD re...

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight real-world challenges for older adults with AML, including the need for more effective treatments for patients with TP53-mutated AML. AML-directed treatment was associated with longer survival without a decrease in the time spent in hospice care, and the risk of in-hospital mortality remains elevated for this population.

Minimally invasive surgical (MIS) techniques have fundamentally transformed the management of colorectal cancer. Since the early 1990s, the field has rapidly evolved, shifting from initial concerns about oncologic safety to the widespread adoption of both laparoscopic and robotic surgeries. Specifically, laparoscopic approaches to colorectal cancer resection are now widely adopted and supported by...

Background: May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is an uncommon cause of deep vein thrombosis and unilateral lower extremity lymphedema. We present the largest case series to date of 26 MTS patients with lymphedema. We aim to report the pathophysiology of lymphedema in relation to venous dysfunction onset in MTS patients and evaluate the effectiveness of surgical lymphedema treatment. Methods: Retrospective...

CONCLUSIONS: Social risk screening and referral practices vary widely among hospitals caring for children. Standardized policies and support mechanisms may reduce variability and promote equitable social care practices across hospitals.

No abstract

CONCLUSIONS: Smoking behaviors among people living with HIV are shaped by overlapping influences, including societal norms, mental health, HIV-related stigma, and other structural stressors. An understanding of these overlapping factors can inform the development of text-based interventions that offer effective cessation support tailored to this population.

Core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBF-AML) in fit patients is treated with curative-intent induction chemotherapy followed by 3-4 cycles of high-dose cytarabine (HiDAC) consolidation. No standard therapy exists for patients with contraindications to HiDAC consolidation. Oral azacitidine is approved as indefinite maintenance therapy for intermediate/high risk AML but has not been studied ...

No abstract

The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR^(mt)), which promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and proteostasis, is regulated by the transcription factor ATFS-1. In C. elegans, impaired atfs-1 expression perturbs mitochondrial function and slows development. Here, using an RNAi suppressor screen, we find that inhibition of the nuclear hormone receptor NHR-180 increases mitochondrial function and ...

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is associated with progressive loss of lung function and poor prognosis. There remains a need for novel therapies for patients with IPF. Admilparant, an oral lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 antagonist, slowed lung function decline and was well tolerated in a phase 2 trial when administered 60 mg two times per day in patients with IPF over 26 weeks...

AI/ML-based tools for generative and predictive modeling have become important contributors to small molecule drug discovery, enabling virtual compound design and ADME profiling prior to synthesis. Alongside these methods, simpler nonlearned strategies based on direct SMILES manipulation remain useful, particularly for low data targets. Herein is described a method for fragment optimization in whi...