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Background/Objectives: To determine the prevalence of amyloidosis through the analysis of synovial tissue and transverse carpal ligament (TCL) in patients undergoing surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), detect predictive factors for the presence of amyloid, and assess cardiac involvement degree. Methods: A prospective study with longitudinal cohort follow-up at a teaching hospital. Patients undergoing CTS surgery from 1 January 2019 to 31 May 2021 were included. Samples from synovial and TCL tissues were examined for amyloid presence. Multivariate analysis was used to detect predictive factors of the presence of amyloid. Patients with amyloid underwent echocardiography, laboratory analyses, and scintigraphy. Results: Two hundred and forty-six patients were included. The prevalence of amyloid was 11.4% in TCL and 12.6% in synovial tissues. Age (p = 0.035; OR 1.123), bilateral CTS symptoms (p = 0.022; OR 3.647), and trigger finger (p < 0.001; OR 3.537) were predictors of the presence of amyloid. Seventeen patients were diagnosed with transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) located in the carpus (no scintigraphic cardiac uptake or grade 0), one with light chain amyloidosis, eight with ATTR with cardiac involvement (grades 2–3), and five with ATTR in the carpus and scintigraphic uptake grade 1 (with normal echocardiogram and blood and urine tests). Conclusions: We detected amyloid in 12.6% of unselected consecutive patients who underwent CTS surgery. Biopsy in patients with CTS for amyloid detection, especially in elderly patients with bilateral symptoms and trigger finger, may be useful for the early diagnosis of amyloidosis, primarily due to transthyretin.

Helicobacter pylori-infected individuals may present low-density infection, undetectable by conventional tests such as histology, rapid urease test, or urea breath test. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) is more sensitive than other polymerase chain reaction methods. We aimed to evaluate the ability of ddPCR to detect H. pylori infection in patients diagnosed as negative by conventional tests. Dyspeptic patients (n = 236) were tested for H. pylori by histology, urea breath test, and rapid urease test. Patients were classified as having 3 positive (n = 25, control group), 2 positive (n = 12), one positive (n = 41), or zero positive (n = 158) diagnostic tests. DNA was extracted from gastric biopsies. Triplicate ddPCR testing for each of the 16S rDNA, ureA, and vacA(s) genes was performed using a QX200 ddPCR system (Bio-Rad). A gene was considered positive when detected by at least 2 of 3 repeated ddPCRs. H. pylori positivity was defined as having 2 or more positive genes. All the biopsies of the control patients were positive for all 3 16S rDNA, ureA, and vacA(s) genes. H. pylori infection was detected in 57 (36%), 22 (54%), and 9 (75%) patients with zero, 1, and 2 positive diagnostic tests, respectively. The density of infection was 5, 121, 599, and 3,133 copies of H. pylori genome equivalents for patients with zero, 1, and 2 of 3 positive test results and for the control group, respectively. ddPCR detected low-density \"occult\" H. pylori infection in a significant proportion (36%) of patients diagnosed as negative by conventional methods. The number of conventional positive tests was related to the density of infection.

The egg parasitoid Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) has been investigated for classical and applied biological control of noctuid pests, especially Spodoptera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) species. Although T. remus was introduced into Brazil over three decades ago for classical biological control of S. frugiperda , this wasp has not been recorded as established in corn or soybean crops. We used an integrative approach to identify T. remus , combining a taxonomic key based on the male genitalia with DNA barcoding, using a cytochrome c oxidase subunit I mitochondrial gene fragment. This is the first report of natural parasitism of T. remus on S. frugiperda and S. cosmioides eggs at two locations in Brazil. We also confirmed that the T. remus lineage in Brazil derives from a strain in Venezuela (originally from Papua New Guinea and introduced into the Americas, Africa, and Asia). The occurrence of T. remus parasitizing S. frugiperda and S. cosmioides eggs in field conditions, not associated with inundative releases, suggests that the species has managed to establish itself in the field in Brazil. This opens possibilities for future biological control programs, since T. remus shows good potential for mass rearing and egg parasitism of important agricultural pests such as Spodoptera species.

Cellular senescence induced by chemotherapy leads to the acquisition of stemness in cancer cells, which results in enhanced tumour-promoting capacity after forced release or spontaneous escape from the senescent cell-cycle arrest. Cancer cells escape senescence Cells can go into senescence under stressed conditions to prevent the spread of potentially cancerous cells. Clemens Schmitt and colleagues show that cellular senescence induced by chemotherapy leads to the acquisition of 'stemness' in cancer cells, which allows them to escape senescence and promote tumour growth. Interestingly, such cells gain elevated tumour-initiating capacity compared with cells that have never undergone senescence. Cellular senescence is a stress-responsive cell-cycle arrest program that terminates the further expansion of (pre-)malignant cells 1 , 2 . Key signalling components of the senescence machinery, such as p16 INK4a , p21 CIP1 and p53, as well as trimethylation of lysine 9 at histone H3 (H3K9me3), also operate as critical regulators of stem-cell functions (which are collectively termed ‘stemness’) 3 . In cancer cells, a gain of stemness may have profound implications for tumour aggressiveness and clinical outcome. Here we investigated whether chemotherapy-induced senescence could change stem-cell-related properties of malignant cells. Gene expression and functional analyses comparing senescent and non-senescent B-cell lymphomas from Eμ- Myc transgenic mice revealed substantial upregulation of an adult tissue stem-cell signature, activated Wnt signalling, and distinct stem-cell markers in senescence. Using genetically switchable models of senescence targeting H3K9me3 or p53 to mimic spontaneous escape from the arrested condition, we found that cells released from senescence re-entered the cell cycle with strongly enhanced and Wnt-dependent clonogenic growth potential compared to virtually identical populations that had been equally exposed to chemotherapy but had never been senescent. In vivo , these previously senescent cells presented with a much higher tumour initiation potential. Notably, the temporary enforcement of senescence in p53-regulatable models of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia was found to reprogram non-stem bulk leukaemia cells into self-renewing, leukaemia-initiating stem cells. Our data, which are further supported by consistent results in human cancer cell lines and primary samples of human haematological malignancies, reveal that senescence-associated stemness is an unexpected, cell-autonomous feature that exerts its detrimental, highly aggressive growth potential upon escape from cell-cycle blockade, and is enriched in relapse tumours. These findings have profound implications for cancer therapy, and provide new mechanistic insights into the plasticity of cancer cells.

Pest attacks, especially by Sphenophorus levis, are a factor affecting sugarcane production. As the pest’s life habits make chemical control difficult, efforts are focused on finding integrated management alternatives. It is therefore essential to study the biology of S. levis, using artificial diets for rearing the insect in the laboratory. Artificial diets are commonly used for rearing pest insects, providing specimens year-round even when they are present only seasonally in the field, as is the case with S. levis. However, there is no diet in the literature that provides viable egg-to-adult development for rearing pests in the laboratory. Recently, studies to optimize diets using software with an interactive approach have shown good results in diet development. This study aimed to develop an artificial diet for S. levis using Design-Expert® software (Version 11) to enable development and viability comparable to insects in the wild. The multivariate approach consisted of initially varying six components of the diet and then varying the three components that most influenced viability and the development rate, providing viabilities of over 60% at the end of the S. levis cycle in both phases of the screening design. However, the physical characteristics of the diet, such as the water content and texture, proved to be preponderant factors for the proper development of the insect and should be considered when using its artificial diet using a suitable container and uncrushed wheat germ.

Limited studies have evaluated the influence of redox-related metals on Alzheimer´s brain. We determined 15 metals in 241 human brain samples obtained from five biobanks. We examined the levels of metals in the frontal cortex (CTX) and the basal ganglia (BG) of Alzheimer´s brains of different stages, ranging from Braak stages I and II to Braak stages V and VI. ICP-MS. Imbalances measured metals in the Alzheimer´s brain metallome of different Braak stages and different regions compared to controls and associations in the other areas were estimated by the Krustall-Wallis Test and Spearman correlations, respectively. The metallomes of brain regions compared to the controls were significantly different for most of the metals in the CTX and BG samples. We observed higher levels of Mn, Cu, Mo, and Se and lower levels of Co in Alzheimer´s CTX compared to the controls and higher levels of V and Cr and lower levels of Co in BG. Different associations were found in the Braak stages compared to the control group in CTX and BG samples. Metals may differ in Braak stages across different human brain regions.

This study investigated the lethal and transgenerational effects of botanical and synthetic insecticides on the egg parasitoid Trichogramma atopovirilia, an important natural enemy of Spodoptera frugiperda in Brazil and beyond. The treatments were assessed for their impact on parasitism, emergence, sex ratio, and flight capacity of adults exposed to contaminated eggs. The botanical insecticide ESAM (ethanolic seed extract of Annona mucosa) significantly reduced the parasitism in the F0 generation by 99.76%, categorizing it as toxic. Anosom® [acetogenins (annonin as a major component)] and Azamax® [limonoids (azadirachtin + 3-tigloilazadirachtol)] also caused substantial reductions (99.13% and 92.36%, respectively) in the parasitism rate. EFAMON (ethanolic leaf extract of Annona montana) reduced the parasitism by 62%, while the synthetic insecticide Premio® (chlorantraniliprole) resulted in a 28.21% reduction. In the F1 generation, emergence rates for EFAMON, Azamax®, and Premio® exceeded 70%, showing no significant differences from the negative control (82%), while Anosom® resulted in a lower emergence rate of 61.39%. No significant effects were observed on sex ratio or parasitism in the F1 and F2 generations. Most adults reached high flight capacity (above 80%). These results indicate that while ESAM was toxic, the other treatments showed no transgenerational effects. Our findings contribute to understanding insecticide selectivity and highlight the importance of such studies for the sustainable management of S. frugiperda within integrated pest management programs.

Vasconcellea pubescens (mountain papaya) is an underutilized Andean fruit with distinctive nutritional and functional properties, yet its rapid softening and short shelf-life result in significant postharvest losses. This review summarizes current knowledge on the physiology of fruit development and ripening, with emphasis on cell wall disassembly, color changes, and ethylene regulation as determinants of postharvest quality. Advances in postharvest management strategies, including temperature control, packaging, and ethylene-modulating treatments (such as 1-MCP), are discussed in the context of preserving fruit firmness, extending shelf life, and reducing food waste. Furthermore, the high content of bioactive compounds—such as papain, phenolics, and flavonoids—underscores the potential of valorizing by-products through sustainable biotechnological applications. Despite recent progress, critical gaps remain in genomic resources, predictive quality monitoring, and large-scale implementation of preservation techniques. Addressing these challenges could enhance the economic and ecological value of V. pubescens, positioning it as both a model species for postharvest research and a promising fruit for reducing food losses in horticultural supply chains.

In this work, the specific features of formation of a composite material consisting of a mixture of low-melting ground glass and waste active sludge, which is used for sewage purification, have been considered. It has been established that, after low-temperature (600-700?C) short-term (30-60 min) treatment, specimens consist of a porous glass shell and a core saturated by carbon form. With change in temperature treatment conditions, the thickness and porosity of the shell and the size of the carbonized core change, leading to different absorption and adsorption properties. Due to the presence of a carbon-containing core, specimens absorb efficiently methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. nema

A recently discovered koinobiont parasitoid species, Aleiodes ceres Shimbori, 2023, proved to be a promising biological control agent for larvae of Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker, 1858), S. eridania (Stoll, 1782), and S. frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797), all well-known pests that cause critical damage to soybean and corn crops. This study investigated the potential of parasitism by A. ceres in these three species, including different instars (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instar) and diets (artificial and natural). Parasitism was highest when it occurs in the second instar for all three host species. The egg-to-pupa period of A. ceres was shorter in the second and third instars in relation to the first instar. Parasitism was substantially enhanced by the use of natural diets (soybean and corn leaves) compared with the artificial diet in all three species of the Spodoptera complex, suggesting a possible allelochemical interaction. Based on the results from the three host species, the potential for control of Spodoptera spp. by A. ceres was evident.