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Failure of embryo implantation is a major limiting factor in early pregnancy and assisted reproduction. Determinants of implantation include the embryo viability, the endometrial receptivity, and embryo-maternal interactions. Multiple molecules are involved in the regulation of implantation, but their specific regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. MicroRNA (miRNA), functioning as the transcriptional regulator of gene expression, has been widely reported to be involved in embryo implantation. Recent studies reveal that miRNAs not only act inside the cells, but also can be released by cells into the extracellular environment through multiple packaging forms, facilitating intercellular communication and providing indicative information associated with physiological and pathological conditions. The discovery of extracellular miRNAs shed new light on implantation studies. MiRNAs provide new mechanisms for embryo-maternal communication. Moreover, they may serve as non-invasive biomarkers for embryo selection and assessment of endometrial receptivity in assisted reproduction, which improves the accuracy of evaluation while reducing the mechanical damage to the tissue. In this review, we discuss the involvement of miRNAs in embryo implantation from several aspects, focusing on the role of extracellular miRNAs and their potential applications in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to promote fertility efficiency.

With the maturation of satellite technology, Hyperspectral Remote Sensing (HRS) platforms have developed from the initial ground-based and airborne platforms into spaceborne platforms, which greatly promotes the civil application of HRS imagery in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and environmental monitoring. China is playing an important role in this evolution, especially in recent years, with the successful launch and operation of a series of civil hyperspectral spacecraft and satellites, including the Shenzhou-3 spacecraft, the Gaofen-5 satellite, the SPARK satellite, the Zhuhai-1 satellite network for environmental and resources monitoring, the FengYun series of satellites for meteorological observation, and the Chang'E series of spacecraft for planetary exploration. The Chinese spaceborne HRS platforms have various new characteristics, such as the wide swath width, high spatial resolution, wide spectral range, hyperspectral satellite networks, and microsatellites. This paper focuses on the recent progress in Chinese spaceborne HRS, from the aspects of the typical satellite systems, the data processing, and the applications. In addition, the future development trends of HRS in China are also discussed and analyzed.

Marine microorganisms are increasingly recognized as primary producers of marine secondary metabolites, drawing growing research interest. Many of these organisms are unculturable, posing challenges for study. Metagenomic techniques enable research on these unculturable microorganisms, identifying various biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) related to marine microbial secondary metabolites, thereby unveiling their secrets. This review comprehensively analyses metagenomic methods used in discovering marine microbial secondary metabolites, highlighting tools commonly employed in BGC identification, and discussing the potential and challenges in this field. It emphasizes the key role of metagenomics in unveiling secondary metabolites, particularly in marine sponges and tunicates. The review also explores current limitations in studying these metabolites through metagenomics, noting how long‐read sequencing technologies and the evolution of computational biology tools offer more possibilities for BGC discovery. Furthermore, the development of synthetic biology allows experimental validation of computationally identified BGCs, showcasing the vast potential of metagenomics in mining marine microbial secondary metabolites. Marine microorganisms are primary producers of secondary metabolites, often originating from unculturable microorganisms, posing significant research challenges. This review explores metagenomic techniques for identifying biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) associated with these metabolites, emphasizing the role of metagenomics in sponges and tunicates. The article also discusses current limitations and the potential of artificial intelligence, long‐read sequencing, and synthetic biology in advancing BGC discovery and the practical application of secondary metabolites.

Despite decades of implementation of maternity healthcare programmes, including a focus on increasing the use of antenatal care (ANC) and concomitant birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR), the uptake of ANC continues to be below expectations in many developing countries. This has attendant implications for maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates. Known barriers to ANC use include cost, distance to health care services and forces of various socio-cultural beliefs and practices. As part of a larger study on BPCR in rural Ghana, this paper reflects on the use of ANC in the study areas from rights-based and maternal engagement theoretical perspectives, with a focus on the barriers to ANC use. Mixed methods approach was adopted to collect data from 8 study communities from individual in-depth interviews with 80 expectant mothers and 13 health care professionals, and 24 focus groups comprising 240 community members. The qualitative data followed a thematic analytical method, while the quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics. The average number of ANC visits were 3.34±1.292, and the majority of expectant mothers (71.3%) enrolled for ANC at the 8th week or later, with the longest delay recorded at the 6th month of gestation. Traditional norms significantly influenced this delay. Likewise, overall use of ANC during pregnancy was shaped by cultural factors related to perceptions of pregnancy, gender-based roles and responsibilities and concerns that ANC would result in an overweighed baby and culturally inappropriate delivery at a health care facility. Greater understanding of the sociocultural barriers to ANC is essential if proposed changes in community-specific health education programs are to facilitate early commencement and increased use of ANC.

Maternal and neonatal morbidities and mortalities have received much attention over the years in sub-Saharan Africa; yet addressing them remains a profound challenge, no more so than in the nation of Ghana. This study focuses on finding explanations to the conditions which lead to maternal and neonatal morbidities and mortalities in rural Ghana, particularly the Upper West Region. Mixed methods approach was adopted to investigate the medical and non-medical causes of maternal and neonatal morbidities and mortalities in two rural districts of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Survey questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were employed to collect data from: a) 80 expectant mothers (who were in their second and third trimesters, excluding those in their ninth month), b) 240 community residents and c) 13 healthcare providers (2 district directors of health services, 8 heads of health facilities and 3 nurses). Morbidity and mortality during pregnancy is attributed to direct causes such urinary tract infection (48%), hypertensive disorders (4%), mental health conditions (7%), nausea (4%) and indirect related sicknesses such as anaemia (11%), malaria, HIV/AIDS, oedema and hepatitis B (26%). Socioeconomic and cultural factors are identified as significant underlying causes of these complications and to morbidity and mortality during labour and the postnatal period. Birth asphyxia and traditional beliefs and practices were major causes of neonatal deaths. These findings provide focused targets and open a window of opportunity for the community-based health services run by Ghana Health Service to intensify health education and promotion programmes directed at reducing risky economic activities and other cultural beliefs and practices affecting maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Objective Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies, with high recurrence rates and poor prognosis. Identifying molecular mechanisms underlying recurrence is critical for improving patient outcomes. This study aimed to develop a recurrence-related gene signature (RRGS) for prognosis and explore the role of Myeloid/Lymphoid or Mixed-Lineage Leukemia; Translocated To 6 (MLLT6), a key gene within the RRGS, in ovarian cancer progression and drug resistance. Methods TCGA and GEO cohorts were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with recurrence. LASSO regression was applied to construct an eight-gene RRGS, which was validated in independent cohorts. Functional assays, including proliferation, migration, invasion, and drug resistance tests, were conducted in OVCAR3, TOV-21G and ES-2 cell lines to evaluate the role of MLLT6. Results The RRGS effectively stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups, with high RRGS scores correlating with poorer overall survival and progression-free survival. Among the RRGS genes, MLLT6 was identified as the most significant prognostic marker. Functional assays showed that MLLT6 knockdown inhibited ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and significantly enhanced Paclitaxel sensitivity by reducing IC50 values. Conclusion The RRGS is a robust prognostic tool for ovarian cancer, and MLLT6 plays a critical role in tumor progression and drug resistance. Targeting MLLT6 may provide a novel therapeutic strategy to overcome Paclitaxel resistance and improve patient outcomes.

The purpose of this work is to present a computer assisted diagnostic tool for radiologists in their diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. A statistical likelihood-ratio procedure from signal detection theory was implemented in the detection of Alzheimer’s disease. The probability density functions of the likelihood ratio were constructed by using medial temporal lobe (MTL) volumes of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and normal controls (NC). The volumes of MTL as well as other anatomical regions of the brains were calculated by the FreeSurfer software using T1 weighted MRI images. The MRI images of AD and NC were downloaded from the database of Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging initiative (ADNI). A separate dataset of minimal interval resonance imaging in Alzheimer’s disease (MIRIAD) was used for diagnostic testing. A sensitivity of 89.1% and specificity of 87.0% were achieved for the MIRIAD dataset which are better than the 85% sensitivity and specificity achieved by the best radiologists without input of other patient information.

Background Despite the many maternal healthcare policy programmes in Ghana such as free the antenatal care (ANC) and the fee-exemption policy under the National Health Insurance Scheme, among others, the country has yet to make substantial improvements in addressing low skilled care utilisation in pregnancy and delivery. From previous studies, maternal mortality has been linked to women’s healthcare decision-making power at the household level in many low and middle-income countries. Thus, a pregnant women’s ability to choose a healthcare provider, act on her preferences, and to be sufficiently financially empowered to take the lead in deciding on reproductive and pregnancy care has significant effects on service utilisation outcomes. Therefore, we explored rural community-level barriers to seeking care related to obstetric complications and delivery from the perspectives of mothers, youth, opinion leaders and healthcare providers in Nadowli-Kaleo and Daffiama-Bussie-Issa districts in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Methods This exploratory qualitative study was based on the narratives of women, health providers and community stakeholders regarding the expectant women’s autonomy to decide and utilise maternal care. To achieve maximal diversity of responses, purposive sampling procedures were followed in selecting 16 health professionals, three traditional birth attendants and 240 community members (opinion leaders, youth and non-pregnant women) who participated in individual depth interviews and focus group discussions. Results Women’s lack of autonomy to seek care without prior permission, perceived quality care of traditional birth attendants, stigmatisation of unplanned pregnancies and cultural beliefs associated with late disclosure of childbirth labour all delayed mothers timely use of skilled care in the study communities. These barriers compounded problems arising from communities that are geographically isolated from hospital care. Conclusions Decisions about seeking maternal care were usually made by the expectant woman’s husband and family without providing adequate support to pregnant women during the latter stages of pregnancy and delivery. We conclude that this is primarily a cultural issue . The study recommends a change in the approach to community-level health education campaigns for maximum impacts through the increased involvement of men and families in health service delivery and utilisation.

Previous studies on hypertensive heart disease (HHD) mainly focused on the alterations of left ventricle (LV), with insufficient comprehensive evaluation of left atria (LA), right atria (RA) and right ventricle (RV). This study assesses atrial and ventricular morphology, function, and mechanics in HHD using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. This study enrolled 64 HHD patients grouped by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): ≤30% ( n  = 23), 30% < LVEF < 50% ( n  = 20), and ≥ 50% ( n  = 21), as well as 21 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. LAEF parameters were calculated from phasic volume measurements. Atrial global longitudinal strain (GLS) parameters were acquired from the GLS-time curve, which includes reservoir function (total strain, εs), conduit function (passive strain, εe), and booster pump function (active strain, εa). Meanwhile, all other parameters were derived from CMR cine images using CVI42 software. In HHD, LA parameters (LAEF total , LAEF passive , LAεS and LAεe) were lower than in controls ( p  < 0.05). Regarding RV alterations, LVEF ≤ 30% and 30% < LVEF < 50% groups had significantly lower RVEF, global circumferential strain (GCS), and global radial strain (GRS) than the LVEF ≥ 50% and control groups ( p  < 0.05). RA morphology and function showed no significant differences ( p  > 0.05). RA total and passive strain were lower in the LVEF ≤ 30% group than in LVEF ≥ 50% and controls ( p  < 0.05). Chamber morphology, function, and mechanics vary across HHD stages. Strain parameters may offer more reliable risk stratification than traditional metrics.