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Open Access

Review

27 June 2025

Fibroblast Migration in Fibrosis

Fibroblast migration is a critical factor in wound healing, but also plays a fundamental role in fibrosis. For a fibroblast to migrate, the cell must be able to assemble factors that help it crawl across the extracellular matrix. Most of this movement is facilitated through the assembly and stability of the cytoskeleton that connects focal adhesion engagement with the extracellular matrix to intracellular stress fibers that wrap around the nucleus. These intracellular stress fibers help to polarize the fibroblast and orient the nucleus in the direction it is traveling. Changes in intracellular signaling for the fibroblast to move are also required, and this is necessitated by downstream signaling mediated by sonic hedgehog, WNT/β-catenin, ROCK/Rho, and PI3K/AKT. These changes regulate the stability of the cytoskeleton and, in addition, increase the expression of genes involved in cell migration. This review assimilates what is known about the function of the cytoskeleton in migration and the role of intracellular signaling pathways in fibrosis.

Open Access

Article

27 June 2025

Non-Invasive Evaluation by the HEMOTAGTM Recording Device to Tailor Treatment of Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure

This study evaluated the clinical utility of the HEMOTAG™ recording device—A non-invasive, wearable system that measures cardiac time intervals (CTIs)—in managing patients with acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF). The prospective, single-center study enrolled 105 patients, including those hospitalized with ADHF and a control group with non-HF-related conditions. Daily measurements of isovolumetric contraction time (IVCT), a key CTI marker, were collected using the HEMOTAG device and compared with NT-proBNP levels obtained on admission and day 3. Among ADHF patients, IVCT decreased in parallel with NT-proBNP levels, indicating volume status improvement with therapy. In contrast, the control group showed no significant change in IVCT or NT-proBNP. An IVCT ≥ 40 ms demonstrated strong sensitivity and specificity to detect ADHF (NT-proBNP ≥ 1800 pg/mL). These findings suggest that IVCT trends measured by HEMOTAG correlate with short-term treatment response in ADHF and could offer a non-invasive method to guide heart failure management. The technology demonstrated feasibility, safety, and clinical relevance, supporting its potential role in future remote management strategies.

Open Access

Review

27 June 2025

Targeting Collagen Secretion as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy to Modulate Fibrosis

Fibrotic diseases are driven by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly collagens, leading to progressive tissue stiffness and organ dysfunction. While many factors contribute to fibrosis—including cytokine signaling, integrin-mediated mechanotransduction, and altered ECM degradation—the synthesis and secretion of collagen remain central bottlenecks. Collagen biosynthesis is a complex process involving extensive post-translational modification and intracellular trafficking. The export of procollagen from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) requires Transport and Golgi Organisation 1 (TANGO1), a transmembrane organizer of ER exit sites that coordinates cargo selection, membrane remodeling, and connectivity between the ER and the ER-Golgi-Intermediate-Comaprtment (ERGIC). By assembling into ring-like structures at ER exit sites, TANGO1 builds a secretory route for bulky cargoes that bypasses conventional vesicle constraints. Loss of TANGO1 disrupts collagen secretion and causes developmental defects across various species. In fibrotic tissues, TANGO1 expression is upregulated, linking secretory machinery to pathological matrix deposition. Recent work has identified specific interfaces within the complex of TANGO1 with its vertebrate paralogue Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma-associated antigen 5 (cTAGE5) as targets for cell-permeant peptide inhibitors. Inhibitors that selectively and specifically block TANGO1 complex formation reduce collagen secretion in fibroblasts and scar formation in vivo, offering a new strategy to modulate fibrotic processes.

Open Access

Article

27 June 2025

Dynamic Oxidation Behavior and Exceptional High-Temperature Resistance of Nano Particle-Strengthened Superalloy (MA 754) under Cyclic Temperature Conditions

The degradation of industrial components due to high-temperature oxidation poses a significant challenge. This study highlights the excellent oxidation resistance of the MA 754 superalloy under cyclic high-temperature conditions at 1100 °C. The weight change during thermal cycles was measured to assess the kinetics of oxidation. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to characterize the oxide scales microstructure, morphology, phases, and composition. The results revealed that the MA 754 superalloy demonstrated excellent resistance to oxidation, with a mean net mass change of 0.032 mg/cm2 over the oxidation time. The oxidation products identified were NiO and NiCr2O4. A small peak suggests the possible formation of Al2O3. The oxide scales morphology changed from pyramidal to granular type during the oxidation test. The oxidation steps of the MA 754 superalloy were determined by comparing the microstructures of the alloy surface next to the oxide layer.

Adv. Mat. Sustain. Manuf.
2025,
2
(2), 10009; 
Open Access

Article

26 June 2025

Analysis of Rainfall Trend in Australia

Australia is renowned for its highly variable rainfall patterns, which make it a continent marked by both droughts and flooding rains. With global warming driving atmospheric warming and altering weather systems, this variability is projected to intensify. Despite this, the specific trends and extent of rainfall changes across the country remain uncertain. Within this context, in this study, the temporal variability of rainfall in Australia was examined at annual, seasonal, and monthly scales using rainfall data spanning 1920 to 2020. Specifically, non-parametric tests were employed to assess the magnitude and significance of rainfall trends across 505 rainfall series within the Australian region. Results showed a widespread increase in rainfall in summer and spring throughout the study area. By contrast, autumn and winter showed a marked decrease in rainfall, with the greatest evidence along the Queensland coast and in southern Western Australia. If these trends are confirmed in the coming years, these deficits could limit water resources, affecting agricultural areas, the conservation of natural areas, and national parks. In addition, these changes in rainfall could increase the risk of droughts and wildfires, which could also have socio-economic impacts.

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