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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of endogenous non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Alteration in miRNA expression results in changes in the profile of genes involving a range of biological processes, contributing to numerous human disorders. With high stability in human fluids, miRNAs in the circulation are considered as promising biomarkers for diagnosis, as well as prognosis of disease. In addition, the translation of miRNA-based therapy from a research setting to clinical application has huge potential. The aim of the current review is to: (i) discuss how miRNAs traffic intracellularly and extracellularly; (ii) emphasize the role of circulating miRNAs as attractive potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis; (iii) describe how circulating microRNA can be measured, emphasizing technical problems that may influence their relative levels; (iv) highlight some of the circulating miRNA panels available for clinical use; (v) discuss how miRNAs could be utilized as novel therapeutics, and finally (v) update those miRNA-based therapeutics clinical trials that could potentially lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of different human pathologies.

Mammography, or breast X-ray imaging, is the most widely used imaging modality to detect cancer and other breast diseases. Recent studies have shown that deep learning-based computer-assisted detection and diagnosis (CADe/x) tools have been developed to support physicians and improve the accuracy of interpreting mammography. A number of large-scale mammography datasets from different populations with various associated annotations and clinical data have been introduced to study the potential of learning-based methods in the field of breast radiology. With the aim to develop more robust and more interpretable support systems in breast imaging, we introduce VinDr-Mammo, a Vietnamese dataset of digital mammography with breast-level assessment and extensive lesion-level annotations, enhancing the diversity of the publicly available mammography data. The dataset consists of 5,000 mammography exams, each of which has four standard views and is double read with disagreement (if any) being resolved by arbitration. The purpose of this dataset is to assess Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) and breast density at the individual breast level. In addition, the dataset also provides the category, location, and BI-RADS assessment of non-benign findings. We make VinDr-Mammo publicly available as a new imaging resource to promote advances in developing CADe/x tools for mammography interpretation.

Nitrogen-fixing organisms perform dinitrogen reduction to ammonia at an Fe-M (M = Mo, Fe, or V) cofactor (FeMco) of nitrogenase. FeMco displays eight metal centers bridged by sulfides and a carbide having the MFe₇S₈C cluster composition. The role of the carbide ligand, a unique motif in protein active sites, remains poorly understood. Toward addressing how the carbon bridge affects the physical and chemical properties of the cluster, we isolated synthetic models of subsite MFe₃S₃C displaying sulfides and a chelating carbyne ligand. We developed synthetic protocols for structurally related clusters, [Tp*M’Fe₃S₃X]n−, where M’ = Mo or W, the bridging ligand X = CR, N, NR, S, and Tp* = Tris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)-hydroborate, to study the effects of the identity of the heterometal and the bridging X group on structure and electrochemistry. While the nature of M’ results in minor changes, the chelating, μ₃-bridging carbyne has a large impact on reduction potentials, being up to 1 V more reducing compared to nonchelating N and S analogs.

BACKGROUNDMultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but potentially severe illness that follows exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Kawasaki disease (KD) shares several clinical features with MIS-C, which prompted the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a mainstay therapy for KD. Both diseases share a robust activation of the innate immune system, including the IL-1 signaling pathway, and IL-1 blockade has been used for the treatment of both MIS-C and KD. The mechanism of action of IVIG in these 2 diseases and the cellular source of IL-1β have not been defined.METHODSThe effects of IVIG on peripheral blood leukocyte populations from patients with MIS-C and KD were examined using flow cytometry and mass cytometry (CyTOF) and live-cell imaging.RESULTSCirculating neutrophils were highly activated in patients with KD and MIS-C and were a major source of IL-1β. Following IVIG treatment, activated IL-1β+ neutrophils were reduced in the circulation. In vitro, IVIG was a potent activator of neutrophil cell death via PI3K and NADPH oxidase, but independently of caspase activation.CONCLUSIONSActivated neutrophils expressing IL-1β can be targeted by IVIG, supporting its use in both KD and MIS-C to ameliorate inflammation.FUNDINGPatient Centered Outcomes Research Institute; NIH; American Asthma Foundation; American Heart Association; Novo Nordisk Foundation; NIGMS; American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Foundation.

MicroRNAs have been shown to function in cartilage development and homeostasis, as well as in progression of osteoarthritis. The objective of the current study was to identify microRNAs involved in the onset or early progression of osteoarthritis and characterise their function in chondrocytes. MicroRNA expression in mouse knee joints post-DMM surgery was measured over 7 days. Expression of miR-29b-3p was increased at day 1 and regulated in the opposite direction to its potential targets. In a mouse model of cartilage injury and in end-stage human OA cartilage, the miR-29 family was also regulated. SOX9 repressed expression of miR-29a-3p and miR-29b-3p via the 29a/b1 promoter. TGFβ1 decreased expression of miR-29a, b, and c (3p) in primary chondrocytes, whilst IL-1β increased (but LPS decreased) their expression. The miR-29 family negatively regulated Smad, NFκB, and canonical WNT signalling pathways. Expression profiles revealed regulation of new WNT-related genes. Amongst these, FZD3 , FZD5 , DVL3 , FRAT2 , and CK2A2 were validated as direct targets of the miR-29 family. These data identify the miR-29 family as microRNAs acting across development and progression of OA. They are regulated by factors which are important in OA and impact on relevant signalling pathways. Key messages Expression of the miR-29 family is regulated in cartilage during osteoarthritis. SOX9 represses expression of the miR-29 family in chondrocytes. The miR-29 family is regulated by TGF-β1 and IL-1 in chondrocytes. The miR-29 family negatively regulates Smad, NFκB, and canonical Wnt signalling. Several Wnt-related genes are direct targets of the miR-29 family.

Biomass, one of the renewable resources, is expected to play an important role in the world’s energy future. In Asia, rice straw is an abundant agricultural surplus because rice is one of the leading staple food crops in the region. Often, rice straw is burned directly in the field via uncontrolled combustion methods that emit large amounts of short-lived air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and other pollutants. In Vietnam, the energy and environment protection sectors are facing great challenges because of rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. A national strategic choice is to exploit renewable energy, including biomass-derived energy, to achieve energy security and CO 2 emission reduction. This study investigates the potential of rice straw as an energy source for power plants at a local scale in Vietnam using data derived from satellite Sentinel-1 images. The results show that Vietnam can produce 2,565 MW from rice straw, for which 24 out of 63 provinces have a potential capacity higher than 30 MW, and the Kien Giang province has the highest capacity (245 MW). The study also analyses limitations and obstacles overcoming which can promote the biomass energy sector in the country.

The marker-assisted backcrossing (MAB) can help to transfer an interested allele at a target locus from a donor to a recipient line. Gynoecious is a pivotal trait of cucumber since commercial F 1 hybrid seeds produced with gynoecious line as one of the parents are high-yield and affordable. This study aims to transfer the F locus encoded for gynoecious trait to Vietnamese domesticated cucumbers by marker-assisted backcrossing. Two monoecious cucumber lines, A 1 (Ha Giang, Vietnam) A 2 (Yen Bai, Vietnam), and two gynoecious cucumber lines, B 1 (Plantgene, India) and B 2 (Hue, Vietnam) were utilized as the starting materials. BCAT marker (located on the F locus) and 52 SSRs (spread across seven chromosomes and tightly linked with some crucial horticultural traits) were used as the foreground and background markers, respectively. With this, phenotype selection for fruit and leaf sizes was also applied. First, using phenotypic screening and foreground marker, A 1 (Ha Giang, Vietnam) and B 1 (Plantgene, India) were selected as donor and recurrent parents for backcrossing. Then, after two backcrosses followed by two self-pollinations, four gynoecious C cucumber lines were created. These C lines have leaf sizes slightly bigger than the recurrent parent. Importantly, their fruit length is the same or longer than A 1 (Ha Giang, Vietnam). These new gynoecious lines could be used as material lines for producing commercial F 1 hybrid seeds.

Our understanding of the global scale of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains incomplete: Routine surveillance data underestimate infection and cannot infer on population immunity; there is a predominance of asymptomatic infections, and uneven access to diagnostics. We meta-analyzed SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence studies, standardized to those described in the World Health Organization's Unity protocol (WHO Unity) for general population seroepidemiological studies, to estimate the extent of population infection and seropositivity to the virus 2 years into the pandemic. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, searching MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, preprints, and grey literature for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence published between January 1, 2020 and May 20, 2022. The review protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020183634). We included general population cross-sectional and cohort studies meeting an assay quality threshold (90% sensitivity, 97% specificity; exceptions for humanitarian settings). We excluded studies with an unclear or closed population sample frame. Eligible studies-those aligned with the WHO Unity protocol-were extracted and critically appraised in duplicate, with risk of bias evaluated using a modified Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. We meta-analyzed seroprevalence by country and month, pooling to estimate regional and global seroprevalence over time; compared seroprevalence from infection to confirmed cases to estimate underascertainment; meta-analyzed differences in seroprevalence between demographic subgroups such as age and sex; and identified national factors associated with seroprevalence using meta-regression. We identified 513 full texts reporting 965 distinct seroprevalence studies (41% low- and middle-income countries [LMICs]) sampling 5,346,069 participants between January 2020 and April 2022, including 459 low/moderate risk of bias studies with national/subnational scope in further analysis. By September 2021, global SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence from infection or vaccination was 59.2%, 95% CI [56.1% to 62.2%]. Overall seroprevalence rose steeply in 2021 due to infection in some regions (e.g., 26.6% [24.6 to 28.8] to 86.7% [84.6% to 88.5%] in Africa in December 2021) and vaccination and infection in others (e.g., 9.6% [8.3% to 11.0%] in June 2020 to 95.9% [92.6% to 97.8%] in December 2021, in European high-income countries [HICs]). After the emergence of Omicron in March 2022, infection-induced seroprevalence rose to 47.9% [41.0% to 54.9%] in Europe HIC and 33.7% [31.6% to 36.0%] in Americas HIC. In 2021 Quarter Three (July to September), median seroprevalence to cumulative incidence ratios ranged from around 2:1 in the Americas and Europe HICs to over 100:1 in Africa (LMICs). Children 0 to 9 years and adults 60+ were at lower risk of seropositivity than adults 20 to 29 (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). In a multivariable model using prevaccination data, stringent public health and social measures were associated with lower seroprevalence (p = 0.02). The main limitations of our methodology include that some estimates were driven by certain countries or populations being overrepresented. In this study, we observed that global seroprevalence has risen considerably over time and with regional variation; however, over one-third of the global population are seronegative to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our estimates of infections based on seroprevalence far exceed reported Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Quality and standardized seroprevalence studies are essential to inform COVID-19 response, particularly in resource-limited regions.

In 2007 the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the global initiative to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of syphilis (congenital syphilis, or CS). To assess progress towards the goal of <50 CS cases per 100,000 live births, we generated regional and global estimates of maternal and congenital syphilis for 2016 and updated the 2012 estimates. Maternal syphilis estimates were generated using the Spectrum-STI model, fitted to sentinel surveys and routine testing of pregnant women during antenatal care (ANC) and other representative population data. Global and regional estimates of CS used the same approach as previous WHO estimates. The estimated global maternal syphilis prevalence in 2016 was 0.69% (95% confidence interval: 0.57-0.81%) resulting in a global CS rate of 473 (385-561) per 100,000 live births and 661,000 (538,000-784,000) total CS cases, including 355,000 (290,000-419,000) adverse birth outcomes (ABO) and 306,000 (249,000-363,000) non-clinical CS cases (infants without clinical signs born to un-treated mothers). The ABOs included 143,000 early fetal deaths and stillbirths, 61,000 neonatal deaths, 41,000 preterm or low-birth weight births, and 109,000 infants with clinical CS. Of these ABOs- 203,000 (57%) occurred in pregnant women attending ANC but not screened for syphilis; 74,000 (21%) in mothers not enrolled in ANC, 55,000 (16%) in mothers screened but not treated, and 23,000 (6%) in mothers enrolled, screened and treated. The revised 2012 estimates were 0.70% (95% CI: 0.63-0.77%) maternal prevalence, and 748,000 CS cases (539 per 100,000 live births) including 397,000 (361,000-432,000) ABOs. The estimated decrease in CS case rates between 2012 and 2016 reflected increased access to ANC and to syphilis screening and treatment. Congenital syphilis decreased worldwide between 2012 and 2016, although maternal prevalence was stable. Achieving global CS elimination, however, will require improving access to early syphilis screening and treatment in ANC, clinically monitoring all women diagnosed with syphilis and their infants, improving partner management, and reducing syphilis prevalence in the general population by expanding testing, treatment and partner referral beyond ANC.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that regulate gene expression at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational levels. Abnormal expression of lncRNAs has been identified in many human diseases. Future improvements in diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic techniques will be facilitated by a deeper understanding of disease etiology. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of death globally. Cardiac development involves lncRNAs, and their abnormalities are linked to many CVDs. This review examines the relationship and function of lncRNA in a variety of CVDs, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, myocardial hypertrophy, and heart failure. Therein, the potential utilization of lncRNAs in clinical diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications will also be discussed.