Autar K Mattoo

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Interviews with the first three living recipients of pig kidney transplants revealed that all three experienced a renewed sense of hope compared to their lives on dialysis. Recipients emphasized that trust and clear communication with their medical teams were essential, and they felt psychologically prepared for the possibility that the transplant might fail. These insights can guide the development of decision-support tools and educational materials for future xenotransplant candidates.

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A gene-edited pig kidney was transplanted into a brain-dead human and kept functioning for a planned 61-day study using only standard approved anti-rejection drugs. The kidney maintained stable electrolyte balance and eliminated the need for dialysis, but antibody-mediated rejection emerged on day 33 and was reversed with plasma exchange and complement inhibition. The study shows a minimally modified pig kidney can sustain human-equivalent kidney function and identifies pre-existing immune cells reactive to pig tissue as a key obstacle to long-term success.

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Researchers studied how the human immune system reacts to a pig kidney transplant in a brain-dead human. They found that specific immune cells in the blood increased significantly, leading to rejection of the kidney by day 33 after the transplant. This research is important because it helps identify ways to improve the success of pig organ transplants in humans, potentially addressing the shortage of available human organs for transplantation.

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Tacrolimus has been the backbone drug for preventing organ rejection after transplantation for over 40 years, but its narrow safe dosing range requires constant monitoring. Extended-release formulations have reduced side effects like kidney damage and improved how consistently patients take their medication. The review examines the next wave of very-extended release versions that could further smooth out drug level swings and reduce the number of pills patients need daily.

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Researchers compared the physiology and population biology of the Himalayan snow trout Schizothorax niger living in Dal Lake versus the Jhelum River in Kashmir, finding that fish in the river were larger and had different blood chemistry than those in the lake. Water conditions differed between sites, with the river having higher dissolved oxygen and lower temperature, which correlated with the observed differences in fish size and metabolism. The data provide a baseline for conservation planning specific to each habitat.

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This pilot study tested whether a 14-day course of the hepatitis C drug combination glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, started just before transplant, could safely prevent or clear hepatitis C transmitted from infected donor kidneys. All 20 recipients achieved a sustained virus-free response with no relapses at one year, and 35% never developed detectable virus at all. The results support using a two-week prophylactic course as a safe and effective strategy that expands the pool of usable donor kidneys.

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Transplanting pig organs into humans offers a potential solution to the global shortage of donor organs, but immune rejection remains the central barrier. Advances in gene editing have extended pig organ survival in preclinical primate studies, and recent attempts in human decedents and living patients have revealed both antibody-driven and cell-driven rejection as key challenges. This review synthesizes what is known about the immune mechanisms involved and highlights the genetic and therapeutic strategies being developed to overcome them.

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This study compared the diagnosis given when a patient arrived at an emergency department against the final diagnosis at hospital discharge across nearly 7,000 cases. Diagnoses matched in about 82% of cases, with the most common reason for discrepancy being that doctors relabeled chronic diseases as the discharge diagnosis rather than the acute problem. Mismatches were most common in children under 15 and led to changes in treatment, hospital length of stay, or mortality in about 8% of the mismatched cases.

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Researchers transplanted a pig kidney-thymus combination into a deceased human and tracked the immune response over 61 days. T cells from the recipient infiltrated the organ and specific clones expanded in blood, tissue, and lymph nodes around rejection events. This reveals that T cell-driven rejection of pig organs in humans closely mirrors what happens with human-to-human transplants, informing how future immunosuppression strategies must be designed.

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Plants have an internal 24-hour clock that coordinates growth, flowering, and stress responses with day-night cycles, and natural variation in clock genes helps different crop varieties adapt to different environments. This review examines how the molecular components of the plant circadian clock interact with hormones and growth traits, and how this knowledge could be used to breed crops that perform reliably across a wider range of climates. Gene editing of clock components is highlighted as a promising avenue for developing all-season, stress-resilient crops.

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This prospective study followed 80 cancer patients receiving heart-toxic chemotherapy and measured both the pumping function and filling function of the heart at baseline, three months, and six months. Diastolic (filling) dysfunction appeared earlier and in more patients than systolic (pumping) dysfunction, and the degree of diastolic dysfunction at three months predicted which patients would develop reduced pumping function by six months. Early monitoring of diastolic function could identify patients at risk before more serious heart damage occurs.

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Sleep is severely disrupted in people with multiple sclerosis, and this study used overnight sleep lab recordings from 299 patients to quantify just how different their sleep is from healthy norms. On average, patients slept 86 minutes less per night, took 27 minutes longer to fall asleep, had 10% lower sleep efficiency, and 61% had obstructive sleep apnea. The findings establish a concrete baseline that underscores the need to routinely screen and treat sleep disorders in MS patients.

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This study used nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics to profile the sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and other small molecules in maize grain grown under organic versus conventional farming systems and across multiple years and varieties. Crop variety and growing year had the largest influence on grain composition, while the farming system had a smaller effect. Organic varieties had more citric acid and doubly unsaturated fats but less of the amino acid tyrosine compared to conventional varieties.

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Standard organ matching based on a small set of immune markers misses much of the biological complexity that drives long-term transplant failure. Higher-resolution molecular matching tools that account for specific protein shapes recognized by the immune system predict rejection more accurately than traditional methods. The review outlines where molecular matching is already ready to use in practice — such as for living donors and kidney exchange programs — and what barriers remain for applying it to deceased donor allocation.

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This study identified and characterized 16 gene families involved in nitrogen metabolism across the barley genome, finding they are highly conserved across grasses but show distinct activity levels in different tissues and stress conditions. Genes for nitrate reduction were most active in leaves, while others were highest in developing grain, pointing to tissue-specific roles. The dataset provides a foundation for breeding barley varieties that use nitrogen fertilizer more efficiently.

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This study identified and characterized eight genes encoding copper amine oxidase enzymes in the tomato genome, which help manage nitrogen balance inside the plant. Most of these genes are active primarily in roots, one specifically in fruit, and one in flowers, with the majority suppressed by the stress hormone methyl jasmonate. The gene CuAO5 stands out as a target for crop improvement because it is induced by heat, drought, and low nitrogen simultaneously.

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A 59-year-old man developed a large blood clot in his hip muscle three weeks after recovering from COVID-19, without having taken any blood thinners — only low-dose aspirin. The case highlights that even aspirin alone may contribute to unusual bleeding events in post-COVID patients and that iliopsoas hematoma, though rare, should be considered in patients presenting with unexplained leg weakness after COVID-19 infection. More research is needed to understand how COVID-19 and antiplatelet drugs interact to affect bleeding risk.

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This study tracked 28 plant hormones across the ripening stages of strawberry fruit and found that three — abscisic acid, the ethylene precursor ACC, and the cytokinin iP — increase as the fruit ripens, while most others decline. A previously unknown family of 17 ACC synthase genes was discovered in the octoploid strawberry genome, six of which are specifically turned on during ripening. The results add new detail to how multiple hormones interact to coordinate the ripening of a non-climacteric fruit.

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A new species of fungus was discovered living asymptomatically inside the stems of Ephedra gerardiana plants collected from the Ladakh region of India. DNA sequence analysis and physical characteristics showed it was distinct enough from all known species in its genus Astragalicola to be named a new species, Astragalicola ephedrae. The discovery adds to knowledge of the largely unexplored diversity of plant-associated fungi from high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems.

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Diverticular disease — the development of small pouches in the colon wall — is common in Western countries and increasingly recognized in Asia, where its clinical impact differs. The condition most often presents with abdominal pain or changed bowel habits and is detected more frequently now due to wider use of colonoscopy. Most cases are managed with medication, but severe complications or advanced disease require surgery.

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This study analyzed how COVID-19 affected international trade using monthly data from 28 countries during the first half of 2020, finding that the impact varied widely by industry sector. Sectors where workers could do their jobs remotely contracted less than those requiring physical presence. Participation in global supply chains amplified the damage from shocks hitting trading partners but provided some protection against purely domestic shocks.

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Anthocyanins — the purple and red pigments in fruits and vegetables — have health-protective properties, and this review examines efforts to breed or engineer food crops with higher anthocyanin content. Progress has been made in developing purple potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes using both traditional crossbreeding and genetic engineering involving specific pigment-activating genes. Anthocyanin-enriched crops offer a path toward more nutritious food, particularly in developing regions where diet-related disease is increasing.

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Heavy metal pollution is a worldwide environmental problem, and while its effects on plants and animals are well studied, far less is known about how fungi and water molds (oomycetes) respond to metal contamination. This review synthesizes current evidence showing these pathogens are more metal-tolerant than bacteria, using strategies including binding metals to their cell walls and sequestering them with internal proteins. Understanding these mechanisms matters because heavy metal stress may actually increase pathogen fitness and disease risk in contaminated environments.

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This study compared two types of heart failure medications — the newer combination drug valsartan/sacubitril versus the older enalapril — in 200 Indian patients with acute heart failure over six months. Patients on valsartan/sacubitril had significantly fewer repeat hospitalizations and better improvement in heart pumping function, exercise capacity, and quality of life. The results support using the newer drug class earlier in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

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This randomized controlled trial tested whether clazakizumab, a drug that blocks the inflammatory signal interleukin-6, could help hospitalized COVID-19 patients with dangerous levels of inflammation. Patients receiving the drug had nearly four times better odds of surviving 28 days without a ventilator and were significantly less likely to need ICU admission or mechanical ventilation. Clazakizumab substantially improved survival and clinical outcomes, supporting its use for severe COVID-19 with hyperinflammation.

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MCL-1, a protein best known for protecting cancer cells from death, was found to also regulate DNA repair by forming a complex with two other proteins — MOF and BID — to control a chemical mark on chromosomes that enables accurate DNA repair. When MCL-1 is reduced, DNA repair is less efficient, and cells are more likely to die from replication stress; removing BID alongside MCL-1 restores repair efficiency. The study reveals an unexpected role for this anti-death protein in maintaining genome stability and links the cell death and DNA repair pathways.

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Lignin, the tough structural polymer in plant cell walls, is an abundant renewable material that is currently underutilized — less than 2% is converted into useful products annually. Microorganisms that live inside plants (endophytes) are emerging as promising agents for breaking lignin down into valuable chemicals, offering a greener alternative to energy-intensive chemical methods. This review surveys the current state of endophyte-based lignin degradation and the molecular pathways involved, while comparing biological and thermochemical approaches.

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This study examined how nitric oxide chemistry changes during leaf aging in Arabidopsis, finding that a reactive molecule called peroxynitrite spikes transiently early in the process. Rather than triggering the expected protein modifications at tryptophan sites, the peroxynitrite pulse depleted existing modified proteins, while modifications at tyrosine sites increased and nucleic acid damage accumulated as senescence progressed. The results position peroxynitrite as a regulatory signal during leaf aging that selectively modifies proteins, RNA, and DNA to help coordinate the plant's developmental transition.

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This study identified and characterized all major polyamine metabolism genes in barley on a genome-wide scale, finding 21 genes distributed across all chromosomes with expression patterns that change across developmental stages and stress conditions. The spermidine/spermine synthase gene family showed the strongest response to induced leaf senescence, suggesting polyamines play a central role in how barley manages leaf aging. The dataset provides a genetic roadmap for targeted breeding strategies aimed at improving stress tolerance and extending productive crop lifespan.

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This study used radiation inactivation and density gradient centrifugation to measure the functional size of photosystem II — the plant protein complex that splits water using light — in living plant tissues and isolated samples from multiple species. Photosystem II was found to operate as a monomer under normal conditions in living plants, a smaller unit than observed in isolated preparations, while heat and drought stress shifted it toward a larger dimeric form. The findings clarify how the photosystem's physical structure changes under stress, which is relevant for engineering crops with better stress tolerance.

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Researchers engineered tomato plants to overexpress two genes in the vitamin C (ascorbic acid) biosynthesis pathway and found that activating one of them specifically in fruit tissue produced three times more vitamin C than normal plants without affecting fruit appearance or yield. RNA analysis showed that higher vitamin C levels triggered changes in dozens of other genes, including those for cell wall structure, ethylene production, and sugar and pigment metabolism. The results demonstrate a practical approach for biofortifying tomatoes and reveal broader metabolic effects of elevated vitamin C in ripening fruit.

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This pilot study tested three smartphone- and tablet-based programs to help kidney dialysis patients manage high phosphorus levels, which is a common and dangerous complication. All three apps were generally well received and most patients completed the six-month study, but self-monitoring rates dropped sharply over time regardless of which program patients used. Self-directed digital tools may work as a supplement to standard dietary counseling but are unlikely to replace more hands-on dietitian support.

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This study reports the first series of pancreas transplants using organs from hepatitis C-infected donors given to recipients without hepatitis C, finding that all recipients cleared the virus quickly with antiviral treatment and had excellent organ function. Donors with hepatitis C had much lower organ utilization rates nationally — only 5% of suitable HCV-positive pancreata were transplanted, compared to 37% of HCV-negative ones. The results show that HCV-positive pancreata are safe to use and could significantly expand the donor pool.

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NANOG is a stem cell gene that gets switched back on in cancer cells, and a closely related copy called NANOGP8 is the version primarily active in tumors — but the two are so similar that standard lab tests cannot tell them apart. This study describes a DNA-cutting enzyme assay applied to cell-derived RNA that reliably distinguishes NANOGP8 from NANOG. The method enables researchers to study NANOGP8's specific role in cancer and could support efforts to target it therapeutically.

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Legume crops can fix their own nitrogen from the air through a partnership with soil bacteria called rhizobia, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. This review examines the genetic and environmental factors that determine how efficiently this symbiosis works, highlighting that both the plant's genes and the rhizobial partner's genetics must be matched to local soil microbial communities. Despite the agronomic benefits, improving nitrogen fixation efficiency in legumes has not been a breeding priority and remains an underexploited opportunity.

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This study mapped the complete set of polyamine biosynthesis genes in the aquatic plant duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) and found it uses only one of the two pathways common in land plants — the arginine-based route — with no genes for the ornithine-based pathway. One of the two arginine decarboxylase genes resembles bacterial rather than plant versions, suggesting ancient evolutionary origins. All pathway genes respond to salt, acid, and the stress hormone methyl jasmonate, indicating polyamines are important regulators of stress adaptation in this floating aquatic plant.

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Tomato plants exposed to drought or salt stress show a coordinated increase in polyamines — small protective molecules — for two to three days before levels crash as stress becomes overwhelming. Spermidine in its free and attached forms was most consistently associated with tolerance to both stresses, while different biosynthesis and breakdown genes were specifically activated by drought versus salt. The findings help explain how tomato manages two major agricultural stresses at the molecular level and identify gene targets for improving stress resilience.

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Mycobacterium tuberculosis survives for years inside human immune cells partly through a stress response called the stringent response, which is triggered by nutrient deprivation and coordinated by small signaling molecules called alarmones. The Rel protein controls both the production and breakdown of these alarmones and regulates key processes including DNA replication, drug resistance, and biofilm formation. Blocking Rel or mimicking its alarmone products with synthetic analogs is proposed as a strategy for new tuberculosis drugs.

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This study measured how heat stress and cold stress differently affect polyamine levels and the genes that make and break down these molecules in tomato leaves. Cold stress increased free and bound forms of the protective polyamines putrescine and spermidine, while heat stress decreased them, with distinct sets of biosynthesis and breakdown genes responding to each type of stress. The results indicate that polyamines play a larger protective role in cold acclimation than in heat stress responses in tomato.

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Two small heat shock protein genes in tomato that are normally associated with responding to heat were found to be specifically activated during fruit ripening rather than heat stress. Ethylene, the hormone that drives ripening, actually suppresses both genes, and a key ripening regulator protein also modulates their expression. The finding reveals an unexpected developmental role for heat shock proteins and shows they are under tight hormonal control during the fruit ripening program.

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Three patients on eculizumab or ravulizumab — drugs that block a component of the immune complement system — contracted COVID-19 and all had mild illness. This case series raises the possibility that complement inhibition may blunt the dangerous inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2, consistent with evidence that complement is activated in COVID-19 lung tissue. The observations support further study of complement-blocking drugs as potential treatments for severe COVID-19.

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Tomato plants engineered to accumulate high levels of the polyamines spermidine and spermine in their fruit showed increased activity of a cluster of small RNA molecules that guide ribosomal RNA processing, along with broadly elevated ribosome and protein synthesis genes at the ripe stage. A previously uncharacterized family of these small RNAs was identified and mapped to two chromosomes in the tomato genome. The results show that elevated polyamines in ripening fruit stimulate the cellular machinery for making proteins, potentially affecting fruit metabolism and quality.

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This study identified nine lipoxygenase genes in the aquatic plant greater duckweed and found that the subfamily linked to production of the plant stress hormone jasmonic acid is unusually large compared to land plants, suggesting the hormone is especially important in this aquatic species. Salt stress rapidly activated several of these genes within six hours, and hormone levels changed as the plant culture aged. The findings reveal how a structurally simple floating plant uses a complex gene family to sense and respond to environmental stress.

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Tomato plants engineered to overexpress a yeast gene for making spermidine under a constitutive promoter developed abnormal flowers and failed to set fruit in some lines. The lines without fruit had lower spermidine levels and a lower ratio of spermidine to putrescine in their flowers, along with reduced expression of genes involved in the plant hormone gibberellin. The study establishes that spermidine and the balance among different polyamines are critical for normal flower development and fruit set, acting through gibberellin signaling.