Search Results (1,133)

Background/Objectives: Niemann-Pick disease Type C (NPC) represents an autosomal recessive disorder with an incidence rate of 1 in 100,000 live births that belongs to the lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs). NPC is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of unesterified cholesterol, in addition to being an autosomal recessive inherited pathology, which belongs to LSDs. It occurs in 95% of cases due to mutations in the NPC1 gene, while 5% of cases are due to mutations in the NPC2 gene. In the cerebral cortex (CC), the disease shows lipid inclusions, increased cholesterol and multiple sphingolipids in neuronal membranes, and protein aggregates such as hyperphosphorylated tau, α-Synuclein, TDP-43, and β-amyloid peptide. Mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress are some alterations at the cellular level in NPC. Therefore, the aim of this work was to determine the gene expression profile in the CC of NPC1 mice in order to identify altered molecular pathways that may be related to the pathophysiology of the disease. Methods: In this study, we performed a microarray analysis of a 22,000-gene chip from the cerebral cortex of an NPC mutant mouse compared to a WT mouse. Subsequently, we performed a bioinformatic analysis in which we found groups of dysregulated genes, and their expression was corroborated by qPCR. Finally, we performed Western blotting to determine the expression of proteins probably dysregulated. Results: We found groups of dysregulated genes in the cerebral cortex of the NPC mouse involved in the ubiquitination, fatty acid metabolism, differentiation and development, and underexpression in genes with mitochondrial functions, which could be involved in intrinsic apoptosis reported in NPC, in addition, we found a generalized deregulation in the cortical circadian rhythm pathway, which could be related to the depressive behavior that has even been reported in NPC patients. Conclusions: Recognizing that there are changes in the expression of genes related to ubiquitination, mitochondrial functions, and cortical circadian rhythm in the NPC mutant mouse lays the basis for targeting treatments to new potential therapeutic targets. Full article

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignancy in men. Precise grading is crucial for the effective treatment approaches of PCa. Machine learning (ML) applied to biparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (bpMRI) radiomics holds promise for improving PCa diagnosis and prognosis. This study investigated the efficiency of seven ML models to diagnose the different PCa grades, changing the input variables. Our studied sample comprised 214 men who underwent bpMRI in different imaging centers. Seven ML algorithms were compared using radiomic features extracted from T2-weighted (T2W) and diffusion-weighted (DWI) MRI, with and without the inclusion of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) values. The performance of the models was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The models’ performance was strongly dependent on the input parameters. Radiomic features derived from T2WI and DWI, whether used independently or in combination, demonstrated limited clinical utility, with AUC values ranging from 0.703 to 0.807. However, incorporating the PSA index significantly improved the models’ efficiency, regardless of lesion location or degree of malignancy, resulting in AUC values ranging from 0.784 to 1.00. There is evidence that ML methods, in combination with radiomic analysis, can contribute to solving differential diagnostic problems of prostate cancers. Also, optimization of the analysis method is critical, according to the results of our study. Full article

Inclusive higher education requires educators who are not only willing to teach inclusively but who also have the skills to do so. This preliminary study offers a blueprint on how to examine the effectiveness of a three-day professional development program to strengthen the attitudes, self-efficacy, and inclusive didactics of educators. We propose a quasi-experimental design with pre-, post-, and follow-up measures, to measure the effect of the professional development program at three levels: attitudes (SACIE-R), self-efficacy (TEIP), and inclusive teaching practices (adapted Teaching Practices Questionnaire). The results, although preliminary, show a small but significant decrease in concerns toward inclusive education over time. Self-efficacy, on the other hand, showed a non-significant but consistent increase, especially at follow-up. In terms of teaching practices, significant improvements were observed in the teaching of basic skills, but not in dealing with diversity or differentiating for individual students. These preliminary findings seem to underline that short professional development programs, while contributing to increased confidence and certain didactic skills, are not sufficient to achieve lasting changes in attitudes and inclusive teaching strategies. This suggests that lasting impact likely requires structural follow-up, practical support, and strengthening the inclusive learning climate within higher education institutions. Full article

Background and Objectives: During pandemics, emergency departments face the challenge of managing critically ill patients with limited resources. Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a crucial diagnostic tool in such scenarios. This study aimed to develop a standardized POCUS protocol using expert consensus via a modified Delphi survey to guide physicians in managing these patients more effectively. Materials and Methods: A committee of emergency imaging experts and board-certified emergency physicians identified essential elements of POCUS in the treatment of patients under investigation (PUI) with shock, sepsis, or other life-threatening diseases. A modified Delphi survey was conducted among 39 emergency imaging experts who were members of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine. The survey included three rounds of expert feedback and revisions, leading to the development of a POCUS protocol for critically ill patients during a pandemic. Results: The developed POCUS protocol emphasizes the use of POCUS-echocardiography and POCUS-lung ultrasound for the evaluation of cardiac and respiratory function, respectively. The protocol also provides guidance on when to consider additional tests or imaging based on POCUS findings. The Delphi survey results indicated general consensus on the inclusion of POCUS-echocardiography and POCUS-lung ultrasound within the protocol, although there were some disagreements regarding specific elements. Conclusions: Effective clinical practice aids emergency physicians in determining appropriate POCUS strategies for differential diagnosis between life-threatening diseases. Future studies should investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of the protocol in actual clinical scenarios, including its impact on patient outcomes, resource utilization, and workflow efficiency in emergency departments. Full article

This study examines the factors that influence individuals’ intentions to create socially oriented ventures, emphasizing the joint role of social and technical systems. Grounded in Socio-Technical Systems Theory, the research investigates how perceptions of social legitimacy and technological infrastructure shape social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) and how these effects are conditioned by generational cohort, familiarity and intent to use artificial intelligence (AI), and social proximity to entrepreneurial peers. Based on survey data from 388 respondents in China who expressed interest in both entrepreneurship and social problem-solving, the study applies a conditional process structural equation model to capture the complex interplay between external systems and individual-level readiness. The results show that both social and technical systems significantly and positively influence SEI, particularly among younger generations (Millennials and Generation Z). Furthermore, AI familiarity and social proximity operate as moderated mediators, differentially transmitting and shaping systemic influences on SEI. These findings advance the theoretical understanding of socio-technical determinants of social entrepreneurship and offer practical insights for fostering inclusive, generationally responsive entrepreneurial ecosystems. Full article

The adult rodent hippocampus is capable of maintaining its capacity to generate new neurons in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus (DG). Interestingly, proliferative cells have also been described in the hilus. The involvement of the hilar neurogenesis process in hippocampal physiology is unknown. Thyroid hormones (THs) are necessary for the survival of postmitotic progenitor cells, neuroblasts, and immature granule neurons in the SGZ. In contrast, evidence concerning the role of THs in the hilar neurogenesis process is limited. The present study characterized the mitotic activity, cell survival, and neuronal differentiation of hilar neurogenesis under physiological and hypothyroid conditions and compared them with those of the granular layer (GL) and the SGZ of the DG in adult Wistar rats. We found that, under physiological conditions, the hilus harbors fewer proliferative cells than the neurogenic zone (GL/SGZ) does, with a rate of cell survival of 18.9% and a rate of differentiation into granular neurons of 19%. Interestingly, hypothyroidism provokes decreased cell proliferation and an increased rate of cell survival without affecting neuronal differentiation. These effects induced by hypothyroidism in the hilus were different or inclusive, contrary to those observed in the neurogenic zone. Full article

This study investigates how lighting conditions influence emotional and neural responses in a standardized, simulated museum environment. A multimodal evaluation framework combining subjective and objective measures was used. Thirty-two international students assessed their viewing experiences using 14 semantic differential descriptors, while real-time EEG signals were recorded via the EMOTIV EPOC X device. Spectral energy analyses of the α, β, and θ frequency bands were conducted, and a θα energy ratio combined with γ coefficients was used to model attention and comfort levels. The results indicated that high illuminance (300 lx) and high correlated color temperature (4000 K) significantly enhanced both attention and comfort. Art majors showed higher attention levels than engineering majors during short-term viewing. Among four regression models, the backpropagation (BP) neural network achieved the highest predictive accuracy (R² = 88.65%). These findings provide empirical support for designing culturally inclusive museum lighting and offer neuroscience-informed strategies for promoting the global dissemination of traditional Chinese culture, further supported by retrospective interview insights. Full article

China’s rapid urbanization has given rise to the phenomenon of “urban villages”, which are often regarded as chaotic fringe areas in traditional studies. With the rise of the concept of resilient cities, the value of urban villages as potential carriers of sustainable development has been re-examined. This study adopted research methods such as field investigations, in-depth interviews, and conceptual sampling. By analyzing the interlinked governance relationship between Xiamen City and the urban villages in the Bay Area, aspects such as rural housing improvement, environmental governance, residents’ feedback, geographical pattern, and spatial production were evaluated. A field investigation was conducted in six urban villages within the four bays of Xiamen. A total of 45 people in the urban villages were interviewed, and the spatial status of the urban villages was recorded. This research found that following: (1) Different types of urban villages have formed significantly differentiated role positionings under the framework of regional governance. Residential community types XA and WL provide long-term and stable living spaces for migrant workers in Xiamen; tourism development types DS, HX, BZ, and HT allow the undertaking of short-term stay tourists and provide tourism services. (2) These urban villages achieve the construction of their resilience through resisting risks, absorbing policy resources, catering to the expansion of urban needs, and co-construction in coordination with planning. The multi-cultural inclusiveness of urban villages and their transformation led by cultural shifts have become the driving force for their sustainable development. Through the above mechanisms, urban villages have become the source of resilience and sustainability of healthy cities and provide a model reference for high-density urban construction. Full article

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the colon, triggering persistent inflammation and ulceration, resulting in a severe impact on patients’ quality of life. Currently, the standard diagnostic methods for UC include invasive procedures such as colonoscopy and the use of non-specific inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein, which can be inconvenient or painful and lack specificity. This underscores the need for non-invasive and highly specific biomarkers for UC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, typically 22 nucleotides in length, which are well described as gene expression regulators. Several studies have reported their differential expression in various pathological conditions, including UC. Due to their role in gene regulation and stability in biological fluids, miRNAs present a promising opportunity as biomarkers. This systematic review explores the potential use of miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers to distinguish between active and inactive ulcerative colitis. Following PRISMA guidelines and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven studies, encompassing a total of 514 participants (181 with active UC and 116 with inactive UC), were included. Multiple miRNAs exhibiting differential expression between active and inactive UC were identified. Most notably, miR-21, miR-126, miR-146b-5p, and miR-223 exhibited consistent upregulation in active UC, suggesting their potential as diagnostic biomarkers. Supporting these findings is the fact that these miRNAs are involved in inflammatory pathways, further highlighting their relevance to the pathogenesis of UC. This review emphasizes the need for further validation studies with larger cohorts to confirm the utility of miRNAs as diagnostic tools for UC disease activity differentiation, which could enhance non-invasive disease monitoring and inform therapeutic decision-making. Future research should also evaluate the prognostic potential of these miRNAs for predicting treatment responses and long-term disease outcomes. Full article

Social media platforms facilitate the dissemination of science and access to it. However, gender inequalities in the participation and visibility of communicators persist. This study examined the differences in reach and audience response between YouTube and TikTok from a gender perspective. To do so, the ten most influential science accounts on YouTube and TikTok were selected, with the sample divided equally between men and women, to conduct a comparative study. A total of 4293 videos on TikTok and 4825 on YouTube were analyzed, along with 277,528 comments, considering metrics of views and interaction. The results show that on YouTube, men received more likes and views, while on TikTok, audience response was more balanced. The participation of women on both platforms also had a differential impact, as the number of women engaging with content on YouTube negatively correlated with interaction levels, whereas on TikTok, their impact was slightly positive. In conclusion, TikTok emerges as a more inclusive space for scientific communication, though structural challenges remain on both platforms, encouraging further research into strategies that promote gender equity in online science communication. Full article

Brain organoid technology has seen significant development in recent years. This self-organized, three-dimensional, organ-oriented brain tissue model can recapitulate the process of neurogenesis and consists of diverse cell types and cellular architecture. Transplanting brain organoids in vivo could be a potential tool from bench to clinical research and has been studied for many purposes. To investigate and summarize the methodology, findings, and applications of this novel technique from current evidence, we conducted this systematic review by searching PubMed and the Embase databases for the literature ranging from 2013 to 2024. A total of 480 articles were identified, and 24 of them met the inclusion criteria. The results revealed that brain organoid transplantation had promising graft survival, neural proliferation, differentiation, and maturation, axonal growth, and functional integration into the host neuronal circuit, and has been applied to multiple applications, such as therapeutic usage, cell study platforms, and disease modeling. However, heterogeneity among studies, some significant challenges, and ethical issues remain to be considered. This comprehensive review will provide an update of what is known about this powerful, innovative method and discuss some practical aspects for future research. Full article

This article examines the impact of everyday life infrastructure on well-being through the lens of feminist economics, with a specific focus on gender disparities within the European context. Combining the capability approach (CA) and subjective well-being (SWB) theory, this study introduces a gender-sensitive well-being budget indicator, the Well-being and Infrastructure by Gender Index, or just WIGI, to assess the differential impacts of public expenditures on women and men. Drawing on feminist critiques of infrastructure planning, it highlights how gendered patterns of access and use shape experiences of well-being. The literature review synthesizes recent contributions on well-being measurement, gendered capabilities, and the role of public infrastructure in supporting everyday life. The research utilizes the Benefits of Gender Equality through infrastructure Provision (BGGEIP) survey from the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) from 28 EU member states in 2015 to evaluate the contribution of key public services—such as transport, childcare, and healthcare—to individual capabilities and subjective well-being outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of integrating gender-sensitive methodologies into infrastructure planning and public policy to promote social inclusion and equitable well-being outcomes. This article concludes by advocating for feminist economics-informed policies to enhance the responsiveness of public investments to the lived experiences of women and men across Europe. Full article

Verticillium longisporum, a soil-borne fungus responsible for Verticillium wilt, primarily colonizes members of the Brassicaceae family. Using Arabidopsis thaliana roots as an experimental host, we systematically identify V. longisporum-responsive genes and pathways through comprehensive transcriptomic analysis, alongside screening of potential hub genes and evaluation of infection-associated regulatory mechanisms. The GSE62537 dataset was retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. After performing GEO2R analysis and filtering out low-quality data, 222 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 184 were upregulated. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed on these DEGs. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database. CytoHubba and CytoNCA plugins in Cytoscape v3.10.3 were used to analyze and evaluate this network; six hub genes and four functional gene modules were identified. The GeneMANIA database was used to construct a co-expression network for hub genes. Systematic screening of transcription factors within the 14 DEGs revealed the inclusion of the hub gene NAC042. Integrative bioinformatics analysis centered on NAC042 enabled prediction of a pathogen-responsive regulatory network architecture. We report V. longisporum-responsive components in Arabidopsis, providing insights for disease resistance studies in Brassicaceae crops. Full article

Well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are characterized by hyperexpression on the cell membrane of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs). The demonstration of SSTRs, mainly the subtype 2 (SSTR2), is the prerequisite for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies with radiolabeled somatostatin analogs (SSAs). SSTRs can be routinely demonstrated in vivo by SSA-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (SSA-PET/CT) and in vitro by immunohistochemistry (IHC). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to gather evidence from the available literature on the correlation between the in vivo PET/CT and in vitro IHC SSTR expression in NEN patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Library, selecting studies correlating SSTR expression in NENs via IHC and SSA-PET/CT. Data extraction, quality assessment, and statistical analysis were performed. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria for systematic review (345 patients). Of these, eight studies (299 patients) provided sufficient quantitative data for meta-analysis. The pooled concordance between SSA-PET/CT and IHC was 76% (95% CI: 67.7–84.2), indicating a good correlation between in vivo and in vitro SSTR2 expression. Heterogeneity among studies was moderate (I² = 65%), reflecting different patient cohorts and methodologies regarding both SSA-PET/CT and IHC. No significant publication bias was detected. Our results confirmed good agreement between in vivo tumor uptake with SSA-PET/CT and in vitro SSTR2 expression with IHC, highlighting the potential of using IHC for clinical decision-making in NEN patients when SSA-PET/CT is not available. Full article

Acute neutrophil responses following myocardial infarction (MI) play a central role in remodeling, contributing to both repair and potential maladaptive responses. Although prior studies have investigated circulating immune cell indices at a single time point during hospitalization for MI, limited data exist on acute intra-individual changes in circulating immune profiles during evolving MI. We analyzed clinical measurements, such as the count and proportion of immune cell components in a serial complete blood count, with differential tests conducted for patients hospitalized with ST-elevation MI (STEMI) in various hospitals in the Northwestern Medicine system from 1 January 2002 to 1 August 2024. Patients with STEMI diagnosis, troponin peaks ≥ 5 ng/mL, and cell count and proportion data prior to the troponin peak and within 24 h after the troponin peak were included. Primary analyses investigated the associations between the troponin peak and peri-STEMI changes in immune cell subsets. Multivariable-adjusted Cox models were used to investigate associations between these peri-STEMI immune cell changes and mortality at 1 year and 3 years. Among the 694 STEMI patients meeting the inclusion criteria, a higher troponin peak was associated with a modest peri-MI increase in neutrophil proportion. Higher adjusted peri-STEMI increases in neutrophil count and proportion were strongly associated with mortality at one and three years [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.31 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–1.49) and HR = 1.27 (95% CI 1.14–1.45) per 1000 cells/μL absolute neutrophil increase, respectively]. Individuals with higher STEMI-related neutrophil increases had higher mortality at one year and three years, independent of the extent of troponin elevation. Full article