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Neoplasia is one of the main causes of euthanasia in geriatric captive nondomestic felids. However, few studies have examined oral tumors in these animals. We describe here the clinicopathologic features of gingival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 2 lions (Panthera leo) from separate zoologic collections. In both cases, the lions had a history of sialorrhea, bloody oral discharge, and anorexia. Autopsy findings in both lions were similar and were characterized by poorly circumscribed, friable, and bloody gingival masses with grossly apparent invasion of the mandibular bone; a pathologic fracture was observed in 1 case. Histologically, the masses consisted of poorly circumscribed, unencapsulated, densely cellular proliferations of neoplastic epithelial cells arranged in irregular islands, cords, and anastomosing trabeculae with formation of keratin pearls, which, coupled with positive immunohistochemistry for pancytokeratin, were diagnostic for SCC. Although no metastases were found in either animal, both lions were ultimately euthanized because of poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have studied for the first time the concept of n-potent fuzzy groups and n-potent anti-fuzzy groups. Many related properties will be proved such as the intersection of n-potent fuzzy groups, the product of n-potent anti-fuzzy groups, and the factor groups formed by these structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the Galam's majority-rule model in the presence of an independent behavior that can be driven intrinsically or can be mediated by information regarding the collective opinion of the whole population. We first apply the mean-field approach where we obtained an explicit time-dependent solution for the order parameter of the model. We complement our results with Monte Carlo simulations where our findings indicate that independent opinion leads to order–disorder continuous nonequilibrium phase transitions. Finite-size scaling analysis show that the model belongs to the mean-field Ising model universality class. Moreover, results from an approach with the Kramers–Moyal coefficients provide insights about the social volatility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early prediction of onset labour is critical for avoiding the risk of death due to pregnancy delay. Low-income countries often struggle to deliver timely service to pregnant women due to a lack of infrastructure and healthcare facilities, resulting in pregnancy complications and, eventually, death. In this regard, several artificial-intelligence-based methods have been proposed based on the detection of contractions using electrohysterogram (EHG) signals. However, the forecasting of pregnancy contractions based on real-time EHG signals is a challenging task. This study proposes a novel model based on neural basis expansion analysis for interpretable time series (N-BEATS) which predicts labour based on EHG forecasting and contraction classification over a given time horizon. The publicly available TPEHG database of Physiobank was exploited in order to train and test the model, where signals from full-term pregnant women and signals recorded after 26 weeks of gestation were collected. For these signals, the 30 most commonly used classification parameters in the literature were calculated, and principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized to select the 15 most representative parameters (all the domains combined). The results show that neural basis expansion analysis for interpretable time series (N-BEATS) forecasting can forecast EHG signals through training after few iterations. Similarly, the forecasting signal's duration is determined by the length of the recordings. We then deployed XG-Boost, which achieved the classification accuracy of 99 percent, outperforming the state-of-the-art approaches using a number of classification features greater than or equal to 15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As COVID-19-related health indicators improve after restrictive measures were set in place in different parts of the world, governments are expected to guide how to ease interventions while minimizing the risk of resurgent outbreaks. Whereas epidemiologists track the progress of the disease using daily indicators to understand the pandemic better, economic activity indicators are usually available at a lower frequency and with considerable time lags. We propose and implement a timely trade-based regional economic activity indicator (EAI) that uses high-frequency traffic data to monitor daily sectoral economic activity in different sectors for the Brazilian State of São Paulo, a highly impacted region, overcoming the challenge of real-time assessment of the economy amid the COVID-19 outbreak. We then use this novel set of information combined with hospitalization rates to provide a first assessment of the São Paulo Plan, the COVID-19 exit strategy designed to gradually lifting interventions introduced to control the outbreak in the State. Available data show that, in its first 60 days, the phased strategy pursued in São Paulo has been effective in gradually reactivating economic activity while maintaining the adequate responsiveness of the healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outbreak of acute encephalopathy occurred in pregnant ewes and their newborn lambs associated with consumption of Talisia esculenta fruits and bark. Clinical signs in 5 adult pregnant ewes included drooling, bloat, tachypnea, depression, ataxia, body shaking, difficulty in rising, and recumbency. Three neonatal lambs born to some of those ewes had similar clinical signs. No significant gross abnormalities were observed on autopsy. Histologically, neuronal necrosis, axonal and dendritic swelling, and loss of Purkinje neurons were observed in the cerebellum. The observation of similar neurologic clinical signs and lesions in pregnant ewes and their neonatal lambs suggests that the toxic principle of T. esculenta crosses the placenta and reaches the fetus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the potential scenarios from a Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Asymptomatic-Symptomatic-Dead (SIRASD) model. As a novelty, we consider populations that differ in their degree of compliance with social distancing policies following socioeconomic attributes that are observed in emerging and developing countries. Considering epidemiological parameters estimated from data of the propagation of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil — where there is a significant stake of the population making their living in the informal economy and thus prone to not follow self-isolation — we assert that if the confinement measures are lifted too soon, namely as much as one week of consecutive declining numbers of new cases, it is very likely the appearance of a second peak. Our approach should be valid for any country where the number of people involved in the informal economy is a large proportion of the total labor force. In summary, our results point out the crucial relevance of target policies for supporting people in the informal economy to properly comply with preventive measures during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of the tumor suppressor gene Pten in murine prostate recapitulates human carcinogenesis and causes stromal proliferation surrounding murine prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (mPIN), which is reactive to microinvasion. In turn, invasion has been shown to be regulated in part by de novo fatty acid synthesis in prostate cancer. We therefore investigated the effects of genetic ablation of Fasn on invasive potential in prostate‐specific Pten knockout mice. Combined genetic ablation of Fasn and Pten reduced the weight and volume of all the prostate lobes when compared to single knockouts. The stromal reaction to microinvasion and the cell proliferation that typically occurs in Pten knockout were largely abolished by Fasn knockout. To verify that Fasn knockout indeed results in decreased invasive potential, we show that genetic ablation and pharmacologic inhibition of FASN in prostate cancer cells significantly inhibit cellular motility and invasion. Finally, combined loss of PTEN with FASN overexpression was associated with lethality as assessed in 660 prostate cancer patients with 14.2 years of median follow‐up. Taken together, these findings show that de novo lipogenesis contributes to the aggressive phenotype induced by Pten loss in murine prostate and targeting Fasn may reduce the invasive potential of prostate cancer driven by Pten loss. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the phenomenology emerging from a two-species dynamics under the scenario of a quasi-neutral competition within a metapopulation framework. We employ stochastic and deterministic approaches, namely spatially constrained individual-based Monte Carlo simulations and coupled mean-field ODEs. Our results show that the multifold interplay between competition, birth–death dynamics and spatial constraints induces a nonmonotonic relation between the ecological majority–minority switching and the diffusion between patches. This means that diffusion can set off birth–death ratios and enhance the preservation of a species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adequate concentration of zinc in seeds can help in the initial development of plants. ZnO-coating can provide this nutrient to plants from the early stages of growth. However, there is a pressing need for additional studies to enable its safe use. This study aimed to evaluate the elemental distribution over ZnO-treated maize seeds stored for up to 12 months, as well as to map Zn species in the internal seed tissues. Synchrotron radiation micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (SR μ-XRF) and micro-X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (μ-XANES) were used as analytical tools for this purpose. The highest Zn accumulation site in micro-sized ZnO treated maize seeds is the embryo, mainly close to the black layer. The distribution pattern of Zn, S and P does not change in maize seeds treated with ZnO. Zn mass fractions in the embryo, pericarp and endosperm suggest that after 12 months of storage, Zn absorption is observed in ZnO-treated seeds. In the Zn hotspot, this element is in the form of phytate and in more readily bioavailable forms, such as Zn3(PO4)2 and cysteine. These findings can yield valuable insights into the advantages of using advanced microanalytical tools to provide important information regarding potential nutrient bioavailability to those interested in biofortification studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs derived from extracellular vesicles (EV-miRNAs) are circulating miRNAs considered as potential new diagnostic markers for cancer that can be easily detected in liquid biopsies. In this study, we performed RNA sequencing analysis as a screening strategy to identify EV-miRNAs derived from serum of clinically well-annotated breast cancer (BC) patients from the south of Brazil. EVs from three groups of samples (healthy controls (CT), luminal A (LA), and triple-negative (TNBC)) were isolated from serum using a precipitation method and analyzed by RNA-seq (screening phase). Subsequently, four EV-miRNAs (miR-142-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-320a, and miR-4433b-5p) were selected to be quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) in individual samples (test phase). A panel composed of miR-142-5p, miR-320a, and miR-4433b-5p distinguished BC patients from CT with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8387 (93.33% sensitivity, 68.75% specificity). The combination of miR-142-5p and miR-320a distinguished LA patients from CT with an AUC of 0.9410 (100% sensitivity, 93.80% specificity). Interestingly, decreased expression of miR-142-5p and miR-150-5p were significantly associated with more advanced tumor grades (grade III), while the decreased expression of miR-142-5p and miR-320a was associated with a larger tumor size. These results provide insights into the potential application of EVs-miRNAs from serum as novel specific markers for early diagnosis of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidermal growth factor receptor ( I EGFR i ) gene mutations are strong oncogenic drivers in a subset of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Synopsis of therapeutic history and histologic and molecular analysis of the present patient showing tumor evolution toward small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) transformation and accumulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) genetic abnormalities. Because neuroendocrine cancer cells retained I EGFR i -activating mutation, the increase in allelic frequency of I EGFR i del19 could be explained in our patient by the SCLC transformation. 15 Yu HA, Arcila ME, Rekhtman N, et al: Analysis of tumor specimens at the time of acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI therapy in 155 patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancers. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose. Anastomotic leaks (AL) present a significant source of clinical and economic burden on patients undergoing colorectal surgeries. This study was aimed at evaluating the clinical and economic consequences of AL and its risk factors. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2012 and 2013 based on the billing information of 337 patients who underwent low anterior resection (LAR). The outcomes evaluated were the development of AL, use of antibiotics, 30-day readmission and mortality, and total hospital costs, including readmissions and length of stay (LOS). The risk factors for AL, as well as the relationship between AL and clinical outcomes, were analyzed using multivariable Poisson regression. Generalized linear models (GLM) were employed to evaluate the association between AL and continuous outcomes (LOS and costs). Results. AL was detected in 6.8% of the patients. Emergency surgery (aRR 2.56; 95% CI: 1.15–5.71, p=0.021), blood transfusion (aRR 4.44; 95% CI: 1.86–10.64, p=0.001), and cancer diagnosis (aRR 2.51; 95% CI: 1.27–4.98, p=0.008) were found to be independent predictors of AL. Patients with AL showed higher antibiotic usage (aRR 1.69; 95% CI: 1.37–2.09, p<0.001), 30-day readmission (aRR 3.34; 95% CI: 1.53–7.32, p=0.003) and mortality (aRR 13.49; 95% CI: 4.10–44.35, p<0.001), and longer LOS (39.6 days, as opposed to 7.5 days for patients without AL, p<0.001). Total hospital costs amounted to R$210,105 for patients with AL in comparison with R$34,270 for patients without AL (p<0.001). In multivariable GLM, the total hospital costs for AL patients were 4.66 (95% CI: 3.38–6.23, p<0.001) times higher than those for patients without AL. Conclusions. AL leads to worse clinical outcomes and increases hospital costs by 4.66 times. The risk factors for AL were found to be emergency surgery, blood transfusion, and cancer diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early impairments in cerebral glucose metabolism and insulin signaling pathways may participate in the pathogenesis of the sporadic form of Alzheimer’s disease (sAD). Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of low doses of streptozotocin (STZ) are used to mimic sAD and study these alterations in rodents. Streptozotocin causes impairments in insulin signaling and has been reported to trigger several alterations in the brain, such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and dysfunctions in adult neurogenesis, which may be involved in cognitive decline and are features of human AD. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of neuroinflammation on the process of adult neurogenesis and consequent cognitive deficits in the STZ-ICV model of sAD in Wistar rats. Streptozotocin caused an acute and persistent neuroinflammatory response, reflected by reactive microgliosis and astrogliosis in periventricular areas and the dorsal hippocampus, accompanied by a marked reduction of the proliferation of neural stem cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and subventricular zone. Streptozotocin also reduced the survival, differentiation, and maturation of newborn neurons, resulting in impairments in short-term and long-term spatial memory. These results support the hypothesis that neuroinflammation has a detrimental effect on neurogenesis, and both neuroinflammation and impairments in neurogenesis contribute to cognitive deficits in the STZ-ICV model of sAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commensal bacterial orthologs of the human autoantigen Ro60 may trigger cross-reactive T and B cells that initiate and sustain chronic autoimmunity in lupus. Autoimmune initiation by bacterial antigens: Lupus patients react to many self-proteins throughout the course of disease, with some of the earliest autoantibodies targeting the RNA binding protein Ro60. Greiling and colleagues sampled the microbiota of lupus patients and detected commensals with orthologs of human Ro60. These bacterial Ro60 proteins could be recognized by patient sera and stimulated patient T cells. Colonization of germ-free mice also led to human Ro60 reactivity and lupus-like symptoms, strongly indicating that molecular mimicry of the commensal Ro60 could be triggering autoreactivity and driving disease progression. These striking results have implications beyond lupus and could help uncover global mechanisms of autoimmune pathogenesis. The earliest autoantibodies in lupus are directed against the RNA binding autoantigen Ro60, but the triggers against this evolutionarily conserved antigen remain elusive. We identified Ro60 orthologs in a subset of human skin, oral, and gut commensal bacterial species and confirmed the presence of these orthologs in patients with lupus and healthy controls. Thus, we hypothesized that commensal Ro60 orthologs may trigger autoimmunity via cross-reactivity in genetically susceptible individuals. Sera from human anti-Ro60–positive lupus patients immunoprecipitated commensal Ro60 ribonucleoproteins. Human Ro60 autoantigen–specific CD4 memory T cell clones from lupus patients were activated by skin and mucosal Ro60-containing bacteria, supporting T cell cross-reactivity in humans. Further, germ-free mice spontaneously initiated anti-human Ro60 T and B cell responses and developed glomerular immune complex deposits after monocolonization with a Ro60 ortholog–containing gut commensal, linking anti-Ro60 commensal responses in vivo with the production of human Ro60 autoantibodies and signs of autoimmunity. Together, these data support that colonization with autoantigen ortholog-producing commensal species may initiate and sustain chronic autoimmunity in genetically predisposed individuals. The concept of commensal ortholog cross-reactivity may apply more broadly to autoimmune diseases and lead to novel treatment approaches aimed at defined commensal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]