Manno

BACKGROUND AIMS: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in elderly patients within developed countries, affecting more than 190 million worldwide. In AMD, the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell layer progressively degenerates, resulting in subsequent loss of photoreceptors and ultimately vision. There is currently no cure for AMD, but therapeutic strategies targeting the complement system are being developed to slow the progression of the disease...

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are no studies evaluating the feasibility of a prostate biopsy approach in men undergoing a kidney transplant (KT). Owing to this evidence, we planned a retrospective population-based study to evaluate our experience of a transrectal prostate biopsy (TR-PB) approach and studied the impact on the complication rate and outcomes in patients undergoing KT with suspected prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: We collected data from KT patients who underwent PB with a transrectal approach...

Across a range of biological processes, cells undergo coordinated changes in gene expression, resulting in transcriptome dynamics that unfold within a low-dimensional manifold. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) only measures temporal snapshots of gene expression. However, information on the underlying low-dimensional dynamics can be extracted using RNA velocity, which models unspliced and spliced RNA abundances to estimate the rate of change of gene expression. Available RNA velocity algorithms can be fragile and rely on heuristics that lack statistical control...

In this work, we report the discovery and characterization of Garey24, a bacteriophage that forms medium-size plaques with halo rings isolated from a soil sample in Funes, Argentina. Its 41,522 bp circularly permuted genome contains 63 putative protein-coding genes. Based on gene content similarity, Garey24 was assigned to subcluster EA1.

The impact of naturally occurring 3-deoxy-d-manno‑oct-2-ulsonic acid (Kdo) derivatives on endotoxin (ET) quantification was investigated for six ET standards. In our recently published chemical Kdo-DMB-LC ET assay (Bucsella et al., Anal. Methods, 2020, 12,4621) [1], the rare, ET specific sugar acid Kdo is used for ET quantification of S-type ETs. The ET content is calculated based on an external Kdo standard or a representative ET standard. In absence of a specific ET standard, the calculation is based on the reference standard ET (RSE) structure or on a worst-case scenario...

Gram-negative bacteria possess a complex structural cell envelope that constitutes a barrier for antimicrobial peptides that neutralize the microbes by disrupting their cell membranes. Computational and experimental approaches were used to study a model outer membrane interaction with an antimicrobial peptide, melittin. The investigated membrane included di[3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonyl]-lipid A (KLA) in the outer leaflet and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE) in the inner leaflet...

Structural and functional studies of the ATP-binding cassette transporter MsbA have revealed two distinct lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding sites: one located in the central cavity and the other at a membrane-facing, exterior site. Although these binding sites are known to be important for MsbA function, the thermodynamic basis for these specific MsbA-LPS interactions is not well understood. Here, we use native mass spectrometry to determine the thermodynamics of MsbA interacting with the LPS-precursor 3-deoxy-D- manno -oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo)2 -lipid A (KDL)...

In the last years, the field of nanomedicine and drug delivery has grown exponentially, providing new platforms to carry therapeutic agents into the target sites. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are ready-to-use, biocompatible, and non-toxic nanoparticles that are revolutionizing the field of drug delivery. EVs are involved in cell-cell communication and mediate many physiological and pathological processes by transferring their bioactive cargo to target cells. Recently, nanovesicles from plants (PDNVs) are raising the interest of the scientific community due to their high yield and biocompatibility...

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No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Previously developed whole-cell vaccines against Bordetella pertussis , the causative agent of whooping cough, appeared to be too reactogenic due to their endotoxin content. Reduction in endotoxicity can generally be achieved through structural modifications in the lipid A moiety of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). In this study, we found that dephosphorylation of lipid A in B. pertussis through the heterologous production of the phosphatase LpxE from Francisella novicida did, unexpectedly, not affect Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-stimulating activity...

BACKGROUND: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis is a rare disease caused by transthyretin (TTR) gene mutations. The aim of our study was to identify early signs of cardiac involvement in patients with a TTR gene mutation in order to differentiate carriers from patients with neurological or cardiac disease. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out on 31 subjects with the TTR mutation. Patients were divided into three groups: 23% with cardiac amyloidosis and polyneuropathy (group A), 42% with only polyneuropathy (group B) and 35% carriers (group C)...

In this work, we present a metal-free coupling protocol for the regio- and stereoselective C3-thioarylation of 6-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (iminoKdo). The developed procedure enables the coupling of electron-rich, electron-deficient, and hindered arylthiols, providing a series of C3-modified iminoKdo derivatives in moderate to good yields. Elucidation of active species through controlled experimental studies and time-lapse 31P NMR analysis provides insights into the reaction mechanism...

The implementation of FIT programs reduces incidence and mortality from CRC in the screened subjects. The ultimate efficacy for CRC morbidity and mortality prevention in a FIT program depends on the colonoscopy in FIT+ subjects that has the task of detecting and removing these advanced lesions. Recently, there has been growing evidence on factors that influence the quality of colonoscopy specifically withing organized FIT programs, prompting to dedicated interventions in order to maximize the benefit/harm ratio of post-FIT colonoscopy...

For efficient exercise, motor functions, heart rate, oxygen uptake (which are controlled by autonomic nervous system activity), heat acclimation-related functions, such as sweating, and thermoregulation must work properly during exercise. In this research, a noncontact method of measuring capillary contraction and dilation, one of the autonomic nervous system activities, using only a commercial web camera was developed. The absorption rate by haemoglobin in blood differs for each wavelength of light. When the capillaries in the face contract or dilate, the colour component of the light reflected from the face changes...

BACKGROUND: Melbourne, Australia, recorded one of the longest and most stringent pandemic lockdowns in 2020, which was associated with an increase in preterm stillbirths among singleton pregnancies. Twin pregnancies may be particularly susceptible to the impacts of pandemic disruptions to maternity care due to their higher background risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective cohort study of all twin pregnancies birthing in public maternity hospitals in Melbourne...

This narrative review explores two case scenarios related to immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) and the application of predictive monitoring, big data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) in improving treatment outcomes. The first scenario discusses how online service providers accurately understand consumer preferences and needs through the use of AI-powered big data analysis. The author, a clinical nephrologist, contemplates the potential application of similar methodologies, including AI, in his medical practice to better understand and meet patient needs...

The visible light-induced perfluoroalkyl (RF ) radical reactions on peracetylglycals derived from hexoses and pentoses (galactal, glucal, arabinal, and xylal derivatives) were investigated. Various photocatalysts and perfluoroalkyl iodides (RF -I) were employed as sources of RF radicals with LEDs as the irradiation source. Particularly noteworthy was the use of an Iridium photocatalyst, Ir[dF(CF3 )ppy]2 (dtbpy))PF6 , which yielded two distinct product types when applied to glucal. On the one hand, the 2-RF -substituted glucal was formed, a trend observed even when utilizing organic dyes as photocatalysts...

3-Deoxy-ᴅ-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) is an eight-carbon monosaccharide found widely in bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and capsule polysaccharides (CPS). We developed an indirect methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of α-Kdo glycosides with a C3-p-tolylthio-substituted Kdo phosphite donor. The presence of the p-tolylthio group enhanced the reactivity, suppressed the formation of elimination by-products (2,3-enes), and provided complete α-stereocontrol. A variety of Kdo α-glycosides were synthesized by our method in excellent yields (up to 98%)...

Inactivation of enzymes responsible for biosynthesis of the cell wall component of ADP-glycero-manno-heptose causes the development of oxidative stress and sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics of a hydrophobic nature. The metabolic precursor of ADP-heptose is sedoheptulose-7-phosphate (S7P), an intermediate of the non-oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), in which ribose-5-phosphate and NADPH are generated. Inactivation of the first stage of ADP-heptose synthesis ( ΔgmhA ) prevents the outflow of S7P from the PPP, and this mutant is characterized by a reduced biosynthesis of NADPH and of the Glu-Cys-Gly tripeptide, glutathione, molecules known to be involved in the resistance to oxidative stress...