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BACKGROUND Congenital gastrointestinal (GI) malformations are developmental disorders that can result in secondary intestinal failure. Nutrient intakes must be adapted according to the newborn's nutritional requirements based on frequent anthropometric and biochemical assessments. Deficiencies or excess of a macronutrient can hinder the growth of the newborn. MATERIAL AND METHODS To assess the clinical condition of newborns with GI malformations, together with the postoperative nutritional status of newborns who underwent surgery due to congenital GI malformations, we performed a case-control study. The study group comprised newborns with digestive malformations (n=51) and the control group consisted of newborns without digestive pathologies (n=102), matched by sex, gestational age, and weight at admission. RESULTS Bivariate comparisons and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. A P value0.05 was considered to be statistically significant; these were observed in abdominal distension, gastric residue, and vomiting. The duration of hospitalization was shorter in the case group, as on average, they were transferred to the Pediatric Surgery Department on the 6th day, where they further remained admitted to treat the underlying cause. Differences between groups in administration of breast milk versus formula were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS We concluded that the clinical examination had a major role in early detection of digestive malformations and in the effective management of specific necessary nutrition. Proper evaluation of when to start enteral feeding can help post-surgical cases to recover faster, minimizing complications. Further studies are required to assess how financial factors affect implementation of the standardized guidelines of nutrition in children and to find possible solutions to financial constraints.

Research in the field of periodontal disease continues to focus on disease-associated microorganisms, as the microbial plaque and the host immune responses are considered to be important causative factors, that are highly responsible for the progression of this disease. The purpose of this article is to compare the reduction in the number of specific periodontopathogens in two test groups according to different therapeutic approaches in periodontal disease and to show possible differences. This article is based on a prospective clinical study involving eighteen subjects with forty-four average periodontal pockets assigned to study groups treated by two different methods, SRP and SRP followed by a single PDT application. Efficiency in removing specific bacterial species was evaluated by PCR testing, at baseline and immediately after treatment. The hypothesis that using SRP + aPDT results in an increased decontamination potential was confirmed statistically, when all five specific bacterial pathogens were investigated together. When the pathogens were considered separately, two of the five microorganisms tested were significantly lower in the SRP + PDT group (p < 0.00), and important germ counts reductions were also observed for the other three. There is also a statistically significant relation between the pain at 48 h postoperatively and the type of treatment the patients received, as resulted from the Questionnaire Form. Our results demonstrate that aPDT, as an adjunctive treatment to conservative mechanical cleaning of root surfaces at sites affected by periodontitis, represents an effective tool in terms of reducing specific periodontopathogen germs.

The most frequent mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) – FLT3-ITD and NPM1 – are associated with a specific immunophenotype. We evaluated the levels of surface antigens in an uninvestigated AM...

The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the results of tests for SARSCoV-2 performed during 07.04.2020- 20.06.2020 in the Department of the Emergency from Bucharest University Emergency Hospital. We detected 173 men and 133 women that were tested with both RT-PCR and serologic tests. The results were concordant for 287 samples (93,8%) that were collected from subjects for whom the diagnosis of COVID-19 was subsequently confirmed (10) or infirmed (277). We found that the most frequent signs and symptoms of patients with COVID-19 were at the respiratory (e.g. dyspnea), neurological (e.g. vertigo, cephalgia) and gastrointestinal (e.g. abdominal pain, vomiting, high volume of the abdomen) systems. There was no situation with positive RT-PCR and IgG and negative IgM results. In our study the RT-PCR and quick serological tests were concordant in 93,8% of cases. The combination of RT-PCR and serological testing can enhance the accuracy of COVID-19 diagnosis.

We considered several different classes of asymptotically flat, rotating black objects in d=5 Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet (EGB) theory. These are black holes with two equal-magnitude angular momenta, in which case extremal configurations are studied as well. Numerical evidence is also given for the existence of EGB generalizations of the Myers–Perry black holes with a single plane of rotation and of the Emparan–Reall balanced black rings. All solutions approach asymptotically the Minkowski background and present no singularities outside or on the horizon. The numerical results suggest that, for any mass of the solutions and any topology of the horizon, the rotating configurations exist up to a maximal value of the GB coupling constant, while the solutions with a spherical horizon topology still satisfy the Einstein gravity bound on angular momentum.

Oral cancer is currently challenging the healthcare system, with a high incidence among the population and a poor survival rate. One of the main focuses related to this malignancy is the urge to implement a viable approach for improving its early diagnosis. By introducing the use of liquid biopsy and the identification of potential biomarkers, aiming for a noninvasive approach, new advancements offer promising perspectives in the diagnosis of oral cancer. The present review discusses the potential of circulating miRNAs as oral cancer biomarkers identified in body fluids such as serum, plasma, and saliva samples of oral cancer patients. Existing results reveal an important implication of different miRNA expressions involved in the initiation, development, progression, and metastasis rate of oral malignancy. Liquid biomarkers can play a crucial role in the development of the concept of personalized medicine, providing a wide range of clinical applications and future targeted therapies.

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene internal tandem (FLT3-ITD) mutations represent one of the most frequent genetic lesions in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and imparts a negative prognostic. For an optimal patient management, current clinical guidelines recommend the evaluation of the allelic ratio (AR), expressed as the DNA FLT3-ITD/WT mutational burden. We sought to evaluate the differences between the AR and FLT3-ITD/WT mRNA ratio (RR) and their respective impact on the biological characteristics of AML patients. A total of 32 DNA and mRNA samples from AML patients with FLT3-ITD were evaluated. There was a good correlation between the AR and RR (Spearman’s rho= 0.652, P

Maintaining the child's oral cavity in optimal health by preserving the morpho-functional integrity of primary teeth, given the influence they have on the growth and development of the stomatognathic system is the duty and responsibility of the pedodontist. In addition to prevention, increased attention should be granted to the space control in case of early loss of primary teeth in the support area, recommending the use of space maintainers until the eruption of permanent successors, to intercept the appearance of future anomalies.

Dental decay affects 4-86% of preschoolers (temporary dentition), and regarding mixed and permanent dentition, the percentage of affected children is between 27-86%. Caries lesions of the temporary teeth is the main dental problem that the preschooler encounters, a problem that affects to some extent the permanent dentition, with repercussions on the development of the stomatognathic system. The use of silver diamine fluoride (SDF), in dental treatment of Early Chilhood Caries (ECC) has been drawing increasing attention cause to its antimicrobial effect on the species Streptococcus Mutans, Actinomyces Naeslundii and Lactobacillus Acidophilus, which are the pathogens most commonly associated with both the onset and the progression of caries, being usually discovered on the surface and in the depth of the lesion. A case report of a 4 years-old female patient suffering of SECC is presented with the application of SDF and glass-ionomer cement restauration showing advantages as carious lesions arrest, improved esthetic appearance avoiding early teeth loss

Derrick-type virial identities, obtained via dilatation (scaling) arguments, have a variety of applications in field theories. We deconstruct such virial identities in relativistic gravity showing how they can be recast as self-evident integrals of appropriate combinations of the equations of motion. In spherical symmetry, the appropriate combination and gauge choice guarantee the geometric part can be integrated out to yield a master form of the virial identity as a non-trivial energy-momentum balance condition, valid for both asymptotically flat black holes and self-gravitating solitons, for any matter model. Specifying the matter model we recover previous results obtained via the scaling procedure. We then discuss the more general case of stationary, axi-symmetric, asymptotically flat black hole or solitonic solutions in General Relativity, for which a master form for their virial identity is proposed, in a specific gauge but regardless of the matter content. In the flat spacetime limit, the master virial identity for both the spherical and axial cases reduces to a balance condition for the principal pressures, discussed by Deser., Comment: 14 pages

In the presence of certain non-minimal couplings between a scalar field and the Gauss-Bonnet curvature invariant, Kerr black holes can scalarize, as long as they are spinning fast enough. This provides a distinctive violation of the Kerr hypothesis, occurring only for some high spin range. In this paper we assess if strong magnetic fields, that may exist in the vicinity of astrophysical black holes, could facilitate this distinctive effect, by bringing down the spin threshold for scalarization. This inquiry is motivated by the fact that self-gravitating magnetic fields, by themselves, can also promote "spin-induced" scalarization. Nonetheless, we show that in the \textit{vicinity of the horizon} the effect of the magnetic field $B$ on a black hole of mass $M$, up to $BM\lesssim 1$, works \textit{against} spin-induced scalarization, requiring a larger dimensionless spin $j$ from the black hole. A geometric interpretation for this result is suggested, in terms of the effects of rotation $vs.$ magnetic fields on the horizon geometry., Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures

The most frequent mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

We herein present a case involving a 78-year-old patient who had aspirated a laryngotracheal foreign body 3 days prior to hospital admission. The patient had severe congenital intellectual disability; however, no agitation, suffocation, or death occurred despite almost complete laryngeal obstruction. The laryngotracheal foreign body was removed by tracheotomy and suspended microlaryngoscopy.

Gingivitis is a very common oral disease highly prevalent in adults that, if left untreated, can progress to periodontitis. It involves a complex and slow interaction between the host response and the oral microbiome represented by the dental plaque. The inflammation of the gingiva is associated with the activation of pathological angiogenesis and the existence of a high number of newly formed blood vessels quantified as microvessel density (MVD). The present study includes a number of 51 gingival biopsies from patients with different gingival indexes (GI): GI = 0, n = 12; GI = 1, n = 15; GI = 2, n = 16; and GI = 3, n = 8, processed and stained with the routine hematoxylin–eosin method. The inflammatory infiltrate was scored, the blood vessels were detected with anti-CD34 antibody, and MVD was determined. Inflammatory changes were observed in 39 of the 51 cases included in our study. CD34 + vessels with normal morphological appearance were observed in all 12 cases of health gingiva. In cases of inflammatory lesions, the morphology of the blood vessels showed changes with the evolution of gingival lesions. In severe inflammation, a particular aspect was observed in the vessels, such as the presence of the phenomenon of intussusception. MVD increases with the severity of gingival lesions, with the highest density being observed in severe inflammation.

HPV is an important oropharyngeal cancer cause, but it may have a role in other head and neck cancers? HPVpositive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) epithelial-mesenchymal transition role is unclear. We included 38 cases: 20 laryngeal, 3 corresponding lymph nodes; 5 oropharyngeal, 5 hypopharyngeal, 2 rhynopahryngeal, 2 pharyngolaryngeal and 1 naso-sinusal case. Immunoreactivity was positive in nuclear expression cells, accordingly: score 1 (10-30%), 2 (30-50%) and 3 (]50%). HPV18 immunoexpression appeared in 18 cases (47.36%), (11 laryngeal, 4 oropharyngeal, 1 hypopharyngeal, 1 pharyngolaryngeal and 1 naso-sinusal). The score was 1 in larynx well differentiated type. The score was between 1 and 3 in larynx moderately differentiated types, and a significant correlation HPV18/E-cadherin was found (p=0.031). HPV18+/E-cadherin low values were noticed in larynx, oropharynx, pharyngo-larynx and naso-sinusal well and moderately differentiated types. HPV18-/E-cadherin low values were present in larynx, hypo and rhyno-pharynx moderately and poorly differentiated and larynx well differentiated types. Larynx presented HPV18/E-cadherin and moderately differentiated type significant correlation. Rhyno, hypo-pharyngeal and laryngeal presented HPV18�/E-cadherin low values association for moderately, poorly and undifferentiated types. The oropharyngeal location was associated with E-cadherin maximum values, independently of HPV18 status.

Newborns admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) require increased attention regarding neurological assessment and monitoring, due to immaturity or certain conditions that occur during the perinatal and neonatal period. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) following perinatal asphyxia is one of the most studied clinical conditions due to the risk of medium- and long-term neurobehavioral outcome. We studied 43 newborns with HIE, for all 3 degrees of impairment, performed amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) in the first hours of life and collected common laboratory tests, following serum glycemia at admission and creatinine, creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) at admission and in the 3rd day of life. Newborns with mild HIE presented normal aEEG pattern and slightly elevated CK. A total of 80.9% of the newborns with moderate HIE had seizure patterns in aEEG, while among those with severe HIE, 71.4% had seizure patterns in aEEG and 28.5% burst suppression. CK and LDH were mean elevated in those with moderate HIE, and the newborns with severe HIE had also high creatinine values at admission and in the 3rd day of life. Statistically significant differences between the 3 degrees of HIE were noted in terms of creatinine (P=0.009) and CK (P=0.008) at admission and LDH in the 3rd day of life (P=0.036). Hypoglycemia was common in our study group. In conclusion, common blood tests in association with aEEG monitoring and rigorous neurological assessment can predict short-term outcome of HIE and multiorgan dysfunction and can help clinicians predict even long-term outcomes in severe HIE.

Advanced LIGO-Virgo have reported a short gravitational-wave signal (GW190521) interpreted as a quasicircular merger of black holes, one at least populating the pair-instability supernova gap, that formed a remnant black hole of ${M}_{f}\ensuremath{\sim}142\text{ }\text{ }{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ at a luminosity distance of ${d}_{L}\ensuremath{\sim}5.3\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{Gpc}$. With barely visible pre-merger emission, however, GW190521 merits further investigation of the pre-merger dynamics and even of the very nature of the colliding objects. We show that GW190521 is consistent with numerically simulated signals from head-on collisions of two (equal mass and spin) horizonless vector boson stars (aka Proca stars), forming a final black hole with ${M}_{f}=23{1}_{\ensuremath{-}17}^{+13}\text{ }\text{ }{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$, located at a distance of ${d}_{L}=57{1}_{\ensuremath{-}181}^{+348}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{Mpc}$. This provides the first demonstration of close degeneracy between these two theoretical models, for a real gravitational-wave event. The favored mass for the ultralight vector boson constituent of the Proca stars is ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{V}}=8.7{2}_{\ensuremath{-}0.82}^{+0.73}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$. Confirmation of the Proca star interpretation, which we find statistically slightly preferred, would provide the first evidence for a long sought dark matter particle.

It was recently shown that a scalar field suitably coupled to the Gauss-Bonnet invariant $\mathcal{G}$ can undergo a spin-induced linear tachyonic instability near a Kerr black hole. This instability appears only once the dimensionless spin $j$ is sufficiently large, that is, $j \gtrsim 0.5$. A tachyonic instability is the hallmark of spontaneous scalarization. Focusing, for illustrative purposes, on a class of theories that do exhibit this instability, we show that stationary, rotating black hole solutions do indeed have scalar hair once the spin-induced instability threshold is exceeded, while black holes that lie below the threshold are described by the Kerr solution. Our results provide strong support for spin-induced black hole scalarization., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. v2 matches version published in PRL

We present new equilibrium solutions of stationary models of magnetized thick disks (or tori) around Kerr black holes with synchronised scalar hair. The models reported here largely extend our previous results based on constant radial distributions of the specific angular momentum along the equatorial plane. We introduce a new way to prescribe the distribution of the disk's angular momentum based on a combination of two previous proposals and compute the angular momentum distribution outside the equatorial plane by resorting to the construction of von Zeipel cylinders. We find that the effect of the scalar hair on the black hole spacetime can yield significant differences in the disk morphology and properties compared to what is found if the spacetime is purely Kerr. Some of the tori built within the most extreme, background hairy black hole spacetime of our sample exhibit the appearance of two maxima in the gravitational energy density which impacts the radial profile distributions of the disk's thermodynamical quantities. The models reported in this paper can be used as initial data for numerical evolutions with GRMHD codes to study their stability properties. Moreover, they can be employed as illuminating sources to build shadows of Kerr black holes with scalar hair which might help further constrain the no-hair hypothesis as new observational data is collected., Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures

Can a dynamically robust bosonic star (BS) produce an (effective) shadow that mimics that of a black hole (BH)? The BH shadow is linked to the existence of light rings (LRs). For free bosonic fields, yielding mini-BSs, it is known that these stars can become ultra-compact - i.e., possess LRs - but only for perturbatively unstable solutions. We show this remains the case even when different self-interactions are considered. However, an effective shadow can arise in a different way: if BSs reproduce the existence of an innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) for timelike geodesics (located at $r_{\rm ISCO}=6M$ for a Schwarzschild BH of mass M), the accretion flow morphology around BHs is mimicked and an effective shadow arises in an astrophysical environment. Even though spherical BSs may accommodate stable timelike circular orbits all the way down to their centre, we show the angular velocity along such orbits may have a maximum away from the origin, at $R_{\Omega}$; this scale was recently observed to mimic the BH's ISCO in some scenarios of accretion flow. Then: (i) for free scalar fields or with quartic self-interactions, $R_{\Omega}\neq 0$ only for perturbatively unstable BSs; (ii) for higher scalar self-interactions, e.g. axionic, $R_{\Omega}\neq 0$ is possible for perturbatively stable BSs, but no solution with $R_{\Omega}=6M$ was found in the parameter space explored; (iii) but for free vector fields, yielding Proca stars (PSs), perturbatively stable solutions with $R_{\Omega}\neq 0$ exist, and indeed $R_{\Omega}=6M$ for a particular solution. Thus, dynamically robust spherical PSs can mimic the shadow of a (near-)equilibrium Schwarzschild BH with the same M, in an astrophysical environment, despite the absence of a LR, at least under some observation conditions, as we confirm by comparing the lensing of such PSs and Schwarzschild BHs., Comment: Abstract abridged due to arXiv length limit; 22 pages, 9 figures

The Gibbons-Maeda-Garfinkle-Horowitz-Strominger (GMGHS) black hole is an influential solution of the low energy heterotic string theory. As it is well known, it presents a singular extremal limit. We construct a regular extension of the GMGHS extremal black hole in a model with $\mathcal{O}(\alpha')$ corrections in the action, by solving the fully non-linear equations of motion. The de-singularization is supported by the $\mathcal{O}(\alpha')$-terms. The regularised extremal GMGHS BHs are asymptotically flat, possess a regular (non-zero size) horizon of spherical topology, with an $AdS_2\times S^2$ near horizon geometry, and their entropy is proportional to the electric charge. The near horizon solution is obtained analytically and some illustrative bulk solutions are constructed numerically., Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, Journal version

We construct families, and concrete examples, of simple extensions of the Standard Model that can yield ultralight {real or} complex vectors or scalars with potential astrophysical relevance. Specifically, the mass range for these putative fundamental bosons ($\sim 10^{-10}-10^{-20}$ eV) would lead dynamically to both new non-black hole compact objects (bosonic stars) and new non-Kerr black holes, with masses of $\sim M_\odot$ to $\sim 10^{10} M_\odot$, corresponding to the mass range of astrophysical black hole candidates (from stellar mass to supermassive). For each model, we study the properties of the mass spectrum and interactions after spontaneous symmetry breaking, discuss its theoretical viability and caveats, as well as some of its potential and most relevant phenomenological implications {linking them to the} physics of compact objects., Comment: 27 pages, 2 figures

We construct a specific example of a class of traversable wormholes in Einstein-Dirac-Maxwell theory in four spacetime dimensions, without needing any form of exotic matter. Restricting to a model with two massive fermions in a singlet spinor state, we show the existence of spherically symmetric asymptotically flat configurations which are free of singularities, representing localized states. These solutions satisfy a generalized Smarr relation, being connected with the extremal Reissner-Nordstr��m black holes. They also possess a finite mass $M$ and electric charge $Q_e$, with $Q_e/M>1$. An exact wormhole solution with ungauged, massless fermions is also reported., 5 pages, 4 figures, version accepted for publication in PRL

Advanced LIGO-Virgo have reported a short gravitational-wave signal (GW190521) interpreted as a quasicircular merger of black holes, one at least populating the pair-instability supernova gap, that formed a remnant black hole of M_{f}∼142 M_{⊙} at a luminosity distance of d_{L}∼5.3 Gpc. With barely visible pre-merger emission, however, GW190521 merits further investigation of the pre-merger dynamics and even of the very nature of the colliding objects. We show that GW190521 is consistent with numerically simulated signals from head-on collisions of two (equal mass and spin) horizonless vector boson stars (aka Proca stars), forming a final black hole with M_{f}=231_{-17}^{+13} M_{⊙}, located at a distance of d_{L}=571_{-181}^{+348} Mpc. This provides the first demonstration of close degeneracy between these two theoretical models, for a real gravitational-wave event. The favored mass for the ultralight vector boson constituent of the Proca stars is μ_{V}=8.72_{-0.82}^{+0.73}×10^{-13} eV. Confirmation of the Proca star interpretation, which we find statistically slightly preferred, would provide the first evidence for a long sought dark matter particle.

We study the simplest $SO(2)$ gauged $O(5)$ Skyrme model in $4+1$ (flat) dimensions. In the gauge decoupled limit, the model supports topologically stable solitons (Skyrmions) and after gauging, the static energy of the solutions is bounded from below by a ``baryon number.'' The studied model features both Maxwell and Maxwell--Chern-Simons dynamics. The considered configurations are subject to biazimuthal symmetry in the ${\mathbb{R}}^{4}$ subspace resulting in a two dimensional subsystem, as well as subject to an enhanced symmetry relating the two planes in the ${\mathbb{R}}^{4}$ subspace, which results in a one dimensional subsystem. Numerical solutions are constructed in both cases. In the purely magnetic case, fully biazimuthal solutions were given, while electrically charged and spinning solutions were constructed only in the radial (enhanced symmetric) case, both in the presence of a Chern-Simons term, and in its absence. We find that, in contrast with the analogous models in $2+1$ dimensions, the presence of the Chern-Simons term in the model under study here results only in quantitative effects.

Age is the only one non-modifiable risk of cerebral ischemia. Advances in stroke medicine and behavioral adaptation to stroke risk factors and comorbidities was successful in decreasing stroke incidence and increasing the number of stroke survivors in western societies. Comorbidities aggravates the outcome after cerebral ischemia. However, due to the increased in number of elderly, the incidence of stroke has increased again paralleled by an increase in the number of stroke survivors, many with severe disabilities, that has led to an increased economic and social burden in society. Animal models of stroke often ignore age and comorbidities frequently associated with senescence. This might explain why drugs working nicely in animal models fail to show efficacy in stroke survivors. Since stroke afflicts mostly the elderly comorbid patients, it is highly desirable to test the efficacy of stroke therapies in an appropriate animal stroke model. Therefore, in this review, we make parallels between animal models of stroke und clinical data and summarize the impact of ageing and age-related comorbidities on stroke outcome.

We construct spinning black holes (BHs) in shift-symmetric Horndeski theory. This is an Einstein-scalar-Gauss-Bonnet model wherein the (real) scalar field couples linearly to the Gauss-Bonnet curvature squared combination. The BH solutions constructed are stationary, axially symmetric and asymptotically flat. They possess a non-trivial scalar field outside their regular event horizon; thus they have scalar hair. The scalar "charge" is not, however, an independent macroscopic degree of freedom. It is proportional to the Hawking temperature, as in the static limit, wherein the BHs reduce to the spherical solutions found by Sotirou and Zhou. The spinning BHs herein are found by solving non-perturbatively the field equations, numerically. We present an overview of the parameter space of the solutions together with a study of their basic geometric and phenomenological properties. These solutions are compared with the spinning BHs in the Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet model and the Kerr BH of vacuum General Relativity. As for the former, and in contrast with the latter, there is a minimal BH size and small violations of the Kerr bound. Phenomenological differences with respect to either the former or the latter, however, are small for illustrative observables, being of the order of a few percent, at most., Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures

In the simplest scalar-tensor theories, wherein the scalar field is non-minimally coupled to the Ricci scalar, spontaneous scalarization of electrovacuum black holes (BHs) does not occur. This ceases to be true in higher dimensional spacetimes, $d>4$. We consider the scalarization of the higher dimensional Reissner-Nordstr��m BHs in scalar-tensor models and provide results on the zero modes for different $d$, together with an explicit construction of the scalarized BHs in $d=5$, discussing some of their properties. We also observe that a conformal transformation into the Einstein frame maps this model into an Einstein-Maxwel-scalar model, wherein the non-minimal coupling occurs between the scalar field and the Maxwell invariant (rather than the Ricci scalar), thus relating the occurence of scalarization in the two models. Next, we consider the spontaneous scalarization of the Schwarzschild-Tangherlini BH in extended-scalar-tensor-Lovelock gravity in even dimensions. In these models, the scalar field is non-minimally coupled to the $(d/2)^{th}$ Euler density, in $d$ spacetime dimensions. We construct explicitly examples in $d=6,8$, showing the properties of the four dimensional case are qualitatively generic, but with quantitative differences. We compare these higher $d$ scalarized BHs with the hairy BHs in shift-symmetric Horndeski theory, for the same $d$, which we also construct., 15 pages, 4 figures

Proca stars (arXiv:1508.05395) are everywhere regular, asymptotically flat self-gravitating solitons composed of complex, massive vector bosons, forming a macroscopic, star-sized, Bose-Einstein condensate. They have been suggested as a classical, dynamical model of exotic compact objects, black hole mimickers and dark matter candidates. In spherical symmetry, they are qualitatively similar to their scalar cousins, the standard (scalar) boson stars in all respects studied so far. Here we study the tidal deformability and the quadrupolar tidal Love numbers, both electric-type and magnetic-type, of spherically symmetric Proca stars. The equations for the perturbations are derived and the numerical values of the Love numbers for some concrete background solutions are computed. We observe that both Love numbers are qualitatively similar to the ones of the scalar boson stars; in particular, the electric-type (magnetic-type) quadrupolar Love numbers are positive (negative) for Proca stars. Quantitatively, for the same compactness, the electric and magnetic Love numbers in the Proca case are closer (in magnitude) than in the scalar case, with the electric Love numbers having a slightly larger magnitude than the magnetic ones., Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures

We study an Abelian gauged $O(5)$ Skyrme model in $4+1$ dimensions, featuring the $F^4$ Maxwell and the Chern-Simons terms. Our aim is to expose the mechanism, discovered in the analogous Abelian gauged $O(3)$ Skyrme model in $2+1$ dimensions, which leads to the unusual relation of the mass-energy $E$ to the electric charge $Q_e$ and angular momentum $J$, and, to the change in the value of the "baryon number" $q$ due to the influence of the Abelian field on the Skyrmion. Chern-Simons dynamics together with the dynamics of the gauged Skyrme scalar, allows for solutions with varying asymptotic values of the magnetic field, resulting in these unusual properties listed. Numerical work is carried out on an effective one dimensional subsystem resulting from imposition of an enhaced radial symmetry on ${\mathbb R}^4$., Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures

Adult tissue homeostasis and repair relies on prompt and appropriate intervention by tissue-specific adult stem cells (SCs). SCs have the ability to self-renew; upon appropriate stimulation, they proliferate and give rise to specialized cells. An array of environmental signals is important for maintenance of the SC pool and SC survival, behavior, and fate. Within this special microenvironment, commonly known as the stem cell niche (SCN), SC behavior and fate are regulated by soluble molecules and direct molecular contacts via adhesion molecules providing connections to local supporting cells and the extracellular matrix. Besides the extensively discussed array of soluble molecules, the expression of adhesion molecules and molecular contacts is another fundamental mechanism regulating niche occupancy and SC mobilization upon activation. Some adhesion molecules are differentially expressed and have tissue-specific consequences, likely reflecting the structural differences in niche composition and design, especially the presence or absence of a stromal counterpart. However, the distribution and identity of intercellular molecular contacts for adhesion and adhesion-mediated signaling within stromal and non-stromal SCN have not been thoroughly studied. This review highlights common details or significant differences in cell-to-cell contacts within representative stromal and non-stromal niches that could unveil new standpoints for stem cell biology and therapy.

Introduction FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations are found in around 25% of all acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cases and is associated with shorter disease‐free and overall survival. Previous reports have shown that FLT3‐ITD induces a specific phenotype in leukemic blasts, which is characterized by high levels of CD33 and CD123, and that expression of CD33 and CD123 is directly influenced by the DNA FLT3‐ITD/wild‐type FLT3 allelic ratio (AR). Methods A total of 42 FLT3‐ITD and 104 FLT3‐ITD–negative AML patients were analysed. Immunophenotyping data were used to calculate antigen expression levels as the ratio between the geometric mean fluorescence intensities (MFIs) of leukemic blasts and MFIs of negative lymphocyte populations. FLT3‐ITD‐DNA and RNA analysis was performed, under the same conditions, by capillary electrophoresis. Results Compared with the control group, the FLT3‐ITD cohort presented significantly higher CD7, CD33 and CD123 levels. In order to assess the impact of FLT3‐ITD abundance on antigen expression, the patients were grouped for each parameter into two cohorts using the following threshold values: (a) 0.5 for the AR, according to current AML guidelines; (b) 0.7 for the FLT3‐ITD/FLT3‐WT mRNA ratio (RR); and (c) 1.3 for the FLT3‐ITD RR/AR ratio. We found higher values of CD33 for RR/AR ≥1.3, and no other statistical differences between CD7, CD33 and CD123 levels of the other FLT3‐ITD groups. In terms of correlations between MFI values and FLT3‐ITD parameters, we only observed a moderate interdependence between CD33 MFI and the RR/AR ratio, and a weak negative correlation between CD123 MFI and AR. Conclusion FLT3‐ITD mutations induce a specific antigen profile in AML blasts, and our data do not onfirm previous reports of FLT3‐ITD AR influencing both CD33 and CD123 expression.

Dual HIV infections are possible and likely in people who inject drugs (PWID). Thirty-eight newly diagnosed patients, 19 PWID and 19 heterosexually HIV infected were analyzed. V2V3 loop of HIV-1 env gene was sequenced on the NGS platform 454 GSJunior (Roche). HIV-1 dual/multiple infections were identified in five PWID. For three of these patients, the reconstructed variants belonged to pure F1 subtype and CRF14_BG strains according to phylogenetic analysis. New recombinant forms between these parental strains were identified in two PWID samples. NGS data can provide, with the help of phylogenetic analysis, important insights about the intra-host sub-population structure.

We study the shadows of the fully non-linear, asymptotically flat Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet (EdGB) black holes (BHs), for both static and rotating solutions. We find that, in all cases, these shadows are smaller than for comparable Kerr BHs, i.e. with the same total mass and angular momentum under similar observation conditions. In order to compare both cases we provide quantitative shadow parameters, observing in particular that the differences in the shadows mean radii are never larger than the percent level. Therefore, generically, EdGB BHs cannot be excluded by (near future) shadow observations alone. On the theoretical side, we find no clear signature of some exotic features of EdGB BHs on the corresponding shadows, such as the regions of negative (Komar, say) energy density outside the horizon. We speculate that this is due to the fact that the Komar energy interior to the light rings (or more precisely, the surfaces of constant radial coordinate that intersect the light rings in the equatorial plane) is always smaller than the ADM mass, and consequently the corresponding shadows are smaller than those of comparable Kerr BHs. The analysis herein provides a clear example that it is the light ring impact parameter, rather than its "size", that determines a BH shadow., 16 pages, 5 figures, Minor changes, version to published in Phys. Lett. B

Delayed hypersensitivity reactions are inflammatory reactions initiated by mononuclear leukocytes. These reactions are mediated by T cells and monocytes/macrophages rather than by antibodies. We describe a case of 50 years old man with lung type IV hypersensitivity. The case of lung delayed hypersensitivity presented has some particular histopathological and immunohistochemical features. The diagnosis of lung delayed type hypersensitivity requires analysis of correlation between clinic, radiographic, physiologic and pathologic criteria.

Spherical black hole (BH) solutions in Einstein-Maxwell-scalar (EMS) models wherein the scalar field is non-minimally coupled to the Maxwell invariant by some coupling function are discussed. We suggest a classification for these models into two classes, based on the properties of the coupling function, which, in particular, allow, or not, the Reissner-Nordstr\"om (RN) BH solution of electrovacuum to solve a given model. Then, a comparative analysis of two illustrative families of solutions, one belonging to each class is performed: $dilatonic$ versus $scalarised$ BHs. By including magnetic charge, that is considering dyons, we show that scalarised BHs can have a smooth extremal limit, unlike purely electric or magnetic solutions. In particular, we study this extremal limit using the entropy function formalism, which provides insight on why both charges are necessary for extremal solutions to exist., Comment: 28 pages, 6 figures

This study aims to evaluate the oxidative stress changes in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) undergoing non-surgical periodontal therapy alone, compared with non-surgical periodontal therapy with adjunctive systemic antibiotic therapy. Sixteen patients with CP, randomly assigned into two equal groups, were treated either with scaling and root planing (SRP) + Amoxicillin + Metronidazole, each 500 mg, three times daily, for seven days (test group), or with SRP + placebo for seven days (control group). Venous blood and unstimulated saliva samples were collected. Non-surgical periodontal therapy was performed simultaneously with antibiotics administration. Oxidative stress balance was evaluated by measuring derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and the biological antioxidant potential (BAP) in plasma. After the microscopic evaluation of the pathological aspect of the epithelial cells (ECs), their number, viability and the presence of C-reactive protein (CRP) were reevaluated from saliva at seven days, while reduced glutathione (GSH) level, d-ROMs and BAP at three months. Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis rank-tests were used for statistics. At three months, statistical significant reductions of mean periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) gains (both p=0.01) were found in test group. Full-mouth plaque score (FMPS) decreased statistically significant in control group (p=0.02), d-ROMs decreased statistically significant in test group (mean difference 116.24±107.6 U CARR, p=0.01). Mean GSH, BAP level, number of ECs, their viability and CRP were statistically non-significant. In test group patients, oxidative stress status changed from a very high level to a medium one, suggesting that adjunctive use of antibiotics could have contributed to the reduction of reactive oxygen metabolites, along with significant clinical improvements.

We report a case of rare benign tumor of the larynx - amyloidosis of larynx - in a 52-year-old female who presented to the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Timişoara Municipal Hospital, Romania, with dysphonia. The patient's first presentation was in June 2012, with a polypoid formation localized on left vocal cord. The patient underwent a suspended microlaryngoscopy (SM) with tumor removal followed by histopathological examination, which revealed a laryngeal amyloidosis. The tumor recurred in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The patient underwent tracheotomy, followed by SM with endoscopic CO2 laser procedures, in order to remove the tumor and to ensure the airway. The follow-up was for six years. In May 2018, amyloid was located in subglottis, glottis and left false vocal fold. The patient needed five revision surgical procedures. The patient did not developed systemic amyloidosis during the follow-up period.

We consider an augmented Einstein-Maxwell-scalar model including an axionic-type coupling between the scalar and electromagnetic field. We study dyonic black hole solutions in this model. For the canonical axionic coupling emerging from high energy physics, all charged black holes have axion hair. We present their domain of existence and investigate some physical properties. For other axionic-type couplings, two classes of black hole solutions may co-exist in the model: scalar-free Reissner-Nordstr\"om black holes and scalarised black holes. We show that in some region of the parameter space, the scalar-free solutions are unstable. Then, there is non-uniqueness since new scalarised black hole solutions with the same global charges also exist, which are entropically preferred over the scalar-free solutions and, moreover, emerge dynamically from the instability of the former., Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures

All known five dimensional, asymptotically flat, static black rings possess conical singularities. However, there is no fundamental obstruction forbidding the existence of balanced configurations, and we show that the Einstein--Klein-Gordon equations admit (numerical) solutions describing static asymptotically flat black rings, which are regular on and outside the event horizon. The scalar field is 'phantom', which creates the self-repulsion necessary to balance the black rings. Similar solutions are likely to exist in other spacetime dimensions, the basic properties of a line element describing a four dimensional, asymptotically flat black ring geometry being discussed., Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures

We present a comparative study of spherically symmetric, localized, particle-like solutions for spin $s=0,1/2$ and $1$ gravitating fields in a $D$-dimensional, asymptotically flat spacetime. These fields are massive, possessing a harmonic time dependence and no self-interaction. Special attention is paid to the mathematical similarities and physical differences between the bosonic and fermonic cases. We find that the generic pattern of solutions is similar for any value of the spin $s$, depending only on the dimensionality of spacetime, the cases $D=4,5$ being special., Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures

Electro-vacuum black holes are scale-invariant; their energy-momentum tensor is traceless. Quantum corrections of various sorts, however, can often produce a trace anomaly and a breakdown of scale-invariance. The (quantum-corrected) black hole solutions of the corresponding gravitational effective field theory (EFT) have a non-vanishing Ricci scalar. Then, the presence of a scalar field with the standard non-minimal coupling $\xi \phi^2 R$ naturally triggers a spontaneous scalarisation of the corresponding black holes. This scalarisation phenomenon occurs for an (infinite) discrete set of $\xi$. We illustrate the occurrence of this phenomenon for two examples of static, spherically symmetric, asymptotically flat black hole solution of EFTs. In one example the trace anomaly comes from the matter sector -- a novel, closed form, generalisation of the Reissner-Nordstr\"om solution with an $F^4$ correction -- whereas in the other example it comes from the geometry sector -- a noncommutative geometry generalization of the Schwarzschild black hole. For comparison, we also consider the scalarisation of a black hole surrounded by (non-conformally invariant) classical matter (Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton black holes). We find that the scalarised solutions are, generically, entropically favoured., Comment: 27 pages, 11 figures

Hypothetical ultralight bosonic fields will spontaneously form macroscopic bosonic halos around Kerr black holes, via superradiance, transferring part of the mass and angular momentum of the black hole into the halo. Such a process, however, is only efficient if resonant&mdash, when the Compton wavelength of the field approximately matches the gravitational scale of the black hole. For a complex-valued field, the process can form a stationary, bosonic field black hole equilibrium state&mdash, a black hole with synchronised hair. For sufficiently massive black holes, such as the one at the centre of the M87 supergiant elliptic galaxy, the hairy black hole can be robust against its own superradiant instabilities, within a Hubble time. Studying the shadows of such scalar hairy black holes, we constrain the amount of hair which is compatible with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations of the M87 supermassive black hole, assuming the hair is a condensate of ultralight scalar particles of mass &mu, &sim, 10 &minus, 20 eV, as to be dynamically viable. We show the EHT observations set a weak constraint, in the sense that typical hairy black holes that could develop their hair dynamically, are compatible with the observations, when taking into account the EHT error bars and the black hole mass/distance uncertainty.