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T-cell activation is central for the initiation of T cell mediated adaptive immune response and is the result of the close communication between the Antigen Presenting Cell (APC) and the T lymphocyte. Although T-cell activation is currently well understood, and many intracellular pathways are well characterized, nevertheless new players are constantly identified, and this complements the known protein interactome. In this work we aimed to identify new proteins involved in T cell activation. We reviewed and analyzed results of microarray gene expression datasets reported in the public database GEO-NCBI. Using data from GSE136625, GSE50971, GSE13887, GSE11989 and GSE902 we performed different comparisons using R and other bioinformatic tools including GEO2R and we report here upregulated genes that have no previous reports in immune related functions and with potential participation upon T-cell activation. Our results indicate that RND3, SYT10, IgSF6 and PIN1 are potential new T-cell activation molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colloid cellular automata do not imitate the physical structure of colloids but are governed by logical functions derived from them. We analyze the space-time complexity of Boolean circuits derived from the electrical responses of colloids-specifically ZnO (zinc oxide, an inorganic compound also known as calamine or zinc white, which naturally occurs as the mineral zincite), proteinoids (microspheres and crystals of thermal abiotic proteins), and their combinations in response to electrical stimulation. To extract Boolean circuits from colloids, we send all possible configurations of two-, four-, and eight-bit binary strings, encoded as electrical potential values, to the colloids, record their responses, and infer the Boolean functions they implement. We map the discovered functions onto the cell-state transition rules of cellular automata-arrays of binary state machines that update their states synchronously according to the same rule-creating the colloid cellular automata. We then analyze the phenomenology of the space-time configurations of the automata and evaluate their complexity using measures such as compressibility, Shannon entropy, Simpson diversity, and expressivity. A hierarchy of phenomenological and measurable space-time complexity is constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Contrasting morphologies in Disocactus are the result of differential development of the vegetative and floral tissue where intercalary growth is involved, resulting in a complex structure, the floral axis. Species from the Cactaceae bear adaptations related with their growth in environments under hydric stress. These adaptations have translated into the reduction and modification of various structures such as leaves, stems, lateral branches, roots and the structuring of flowers in a so-called flower-shoot. While cacti flowers and fruits have a consistent structure with showy hermaphrodite or unisexual flowers that produce a fruit called cactidium, the developmental dynamics of vegetative and reproductive tissues comprising the reproductive unit have only been inferred through the analysis of pre-anthetic buds. Here we present a comparative analysis of two developmental series covering the early stages of flower formation and organ differentiation in Disocactus speciosus and Disocactus eichlamii, which have contrasting floral morphologies. We observe that within the areole, a shoot apical meristem commences to grow upward, producing lateral leaves with a spiral arrangement, rapidly transitioning to a floral meristem. The floral meristem produces tepal primordia and a staminal ring meristem from which numerous or few stamens develop in a centrifugal manner in D. speciosus and D. eichlamii, respectively. Also, the inferior ovary derives from the floral meristem flattening and an upward growth of the surrounding tissue of the underlying stem, producing the pericarpel. This structure is novel to cacti and lacks a clear anatomical delimitation with the carpel wall. Here, we present a first study that documents the early processes taking place during initial meristem determination related to pericarpel development and early floral organ formation in cacti until the establishment of mature floral organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beyond our Solar System, aurorae have been inferred from radio observations of isolated brown dwarfs1,2. Within our Solar System, giant planets have auroral emission with signatures across the electromagnetic spectrum including infrared emission of H3+ and methane. Isolated brown dwarfs with auroral signatures in the radio have been searched for corresponding infrared features, but only null detections have been reported3. CWISEP J193518.59-154620.3. (W1935 for short) is an isolated brown dwarf with a temperature of approximately 482 K. Here we report James Webb Space Telescope observations of strong methane emission from W1935 at 3.326 μm. Atmospheric modelling leads us to conclude that a temperature inversion of approximately 300 K centred at 1–10 mbar replicates the feature. This represents an atmospheric temperature inversion for a Jupiter-like atmosphere without irradiation from a host star. A plausible explanation for the strong inversion is heating by auroral processes, although other internal and external dynamical processes cannot be ruled out. The best-fitting model rules out the contribution of H3+ emission, which is prominent in Solar System gas giants. However, this is consistent with rapid destruction of H3+ at the higher pressure where the W1935 emission originates4.Methane emission from a very cool brown dwarf, perhaps arising from an aurora, has been detected in James Webb Space Telescope observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) results in part from excess reactive oxygen species and iron-dependent lipid peroxidation (i.e. ferroptosis). The vitamin D precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) may inhibit iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Primary neurons underwent oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) injury and treatment with 7-DHC-elevating medications such as cariprazine (CAR) or vehicle. Postnatal day 9 mice underwent sham surgery or carotid artery ligation and hypoxia and received intraperitoneal CAR. In neurons, CAR administration resulted in significantly increased cell survival compared to vehicle controls, whether administered 48 h prior to or 30 min after OGD, and was associated with increased 7-DHC. In the mouse model, malondialdehyde and infarct area significantly increased after HIBI in the vehicle group, which were attenuated by post-treatment with CAR and were negatively correlated with tissue 7-DHC concentrations. Elevating 7-DHC concentrations with CAR was associated with improved cellular and tissue viability after hypoxic-ischemic injury, suggesting a novel therapeutic avenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of nanostructured edible films is an emerging technology for fruit and vegetables postharvest preservation. These films act as a barrier between the fruit surface and the surrounding environment delaying product ripening; therefore, their characterization is of special interest. In this study, three different nanostructured films based on chitosan nanoparticles, thyme essential oil or propolis-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared. The films were characterized based on their morphology by scanning electron microscopy, crystalline structure by X-ray diffraction, optical properties by ellipsometry, and thermal properties (diffusivity, effusivity, and conductivity) using the photoacoustic technique. Also, wettability, water activity and permeability (water vapor diffusion coefficient) were measured. Aggregates were observed for the propolis-loaded chitosan nanoparticles film by scanning electron microscopy. All three films were semi-crystalline with similar roughness (94.2–95.6%), and thermal parameters values were diffusivity between 1.7 and 2.3 × 10–6 m2/s, effusivity between 82.57 and 86.01 Ws1/2/m2K, and conductivity between 0.11 and 0.12 Wm−1 K−1. The chitosan nanoparticles film was the most hydrophobic (37.55°) with the lowest permeability (0.77 × 10–8 cm2 s−1). Bioactive-chitosan nanostructured edible films are a good alternative as food packaging due to their physicochemical, optical and thermal properties for application as a protective barrier for horticultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of bacterial additives on immune response, intestinal microbiota, and survival of the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei was evaluated. Bacillus licheniformis BCR 4–3 and Vibrio parahaemolyticus IPNGS16 cultures were spray-dried. Inulin, probiotics, and postbiotics of Bacillus (SPB) and postbiotics of Vibrio (PVp) were added to the commercial feed. An experiment with three treatments in triplicate was performed during 19 days. The growth was not affected by the additives but survival of animals was significantly higher as compared to control group. The expression of SOD, crustin, and penaeidin4 in PVp-treated animals was significantly higher compared to the control but lysozyme expression did not change. The phyla, families, and genera that predominated in the white shrimp intestine were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Rhodobacteraceae, Vibrionaceae, Pseudoalteromonadaceae, Vibrio, Ruegeria, and Phaeobacter. The Vibrio genus decreased significantly in SPB and PVp treatments, compared to the control. The control, SPB, and PVp shared 294 OTUs. No changes were observed in the alpha and beta diversity. The metabolic activity of Vibrio and Roseobacter was higher in the control compared to SPB and PVp, whereas for Phaeobacter and Ruegeria, it decreased. Feed additives increase survival and modulated the immune response and gut microbiota of the white shrimp, so they can be used in commercial farms to increase production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Published data on the safety of natural medical cannabis (MC) when used in the real-world clinical practice setting are lacking. This study aimed to describe adverse events (AEs) reported across three years following MC initiation. Methods: The Quebec Cannabis Registry (QCR) was a prospective registry of adults enrolled through participating physicians when they initiated MC between May 2015 and October 2018. Follow-up ended at MC discontinuation, loss to follow-up, three years, or end of data collection (May 2019). Data were collected at baseline and at follow-up visits every three months for the first two years, then once in the third year. Physicians filled adverse event (AE) reports, which were coded using MedDRA® preferred terms (PTs), and descriptive analyses were conducted. Results: A total of 2991 patients were enrolled (mean age 50.9 years, 50.2% females). During follow-up, 108 patients (3.6%) experienced moderate or severe AEs, yielding 111 AE reports (three patients had two reports) and 214 AEs (average 1.9 AEs per report). Mild AEs were recorded as a reason for MC discontinuation for nine patients, but no AE reports were available. The most common PTs for ingested MC (62 reports) were dizziness (12.9%), nausea (11.3%), somnolence (9.7%), and vomiting (8.1%), and for inhaled MC (23 reports), headache (13.0%) was the most common. The most frequent PTs associated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-dominant MC (25 reports) were dizziness and somnolence (12.0% each); for cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant MC (20 reports), vomiting (20.0%) was most common; and dizziness (17.2%), nausea (13.8%), somnolence (10.3%), and headache (8.6%) were the most frequent for balanced MC (58 reports). Conclusion: No new safety concerns were identified relative to the published literature, although notable differences in AE profile between modes of administration and cannabinoid content ratios should be considered by health professionals. Further work identifying and managing risk factors for AEs is warranted to maintain a favorable benefit-risk balance for MC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein was conducted a compelling structural analysis of magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) coated with dodecyl amine (DDA), compared with uncoated magnetite, both previously synthesized by an accelerated one-pot synthesis, starting from a single iron precursor. XRD/TEM results for the obtained nanomaterial Fe3O4@DDA showed the predominance of Fe3+ cations on the most stable atomic plane of magnetite (111). Using Molecular Dynamics calculations, with the observed atomic dispositions as inputs, it was established that NPs' surface and DDA might interact by short-distance coordination, with DDA as a ligand of Fe3+ cations, or by long-distance adsorption via H-bonding. The simulations align with TEM images, revealing an amorphous contour corresponding to the organic coating arranged as a bilayer. The TGA analysis corroborated a dual mass loss profile relating to the DDA bilayer at 116 °C and 350 °C. The Fe3O4@DDA NPs' magnetic properties (saturation magnetization (Ms) and coercivity field (Hc)) were preserved. Fe3O4@DDA exhibited a reduction of 3 emu/g in Ms and an increment of 12 Oe in Hc, compared with Fe3O4 NPs, attributable to the coating inhomogeneity and the consequent anisotropy rise. Fe3O4@DDA triggered concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects on the human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2. At 50 µg/mL after incubation of 48 h, cell viability was 63% < , whereas at 72 h only 30% of cells were viable. At 300 µg/mL, less than 10% of HepG2 cells remained viable after 24 h of incubation. In the case of Fe3O4 NPs assessed in the same cell line, cell viability remained as high as 80% at 300 µg/mL during 72 h of incubation. Trypan blue assay suggests membrane integrity damage as the primary mechanism of HepG2 cell death. Even though the in vitro results herein presented are preliminary, they represent the first report of the cytotoxic effect of magnetite coated with a nitrogenous surfactant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the simple synthesis of a green and novel Palladium based magnetic nanocatalyst with effective catalytic properties and reusability. These heterogeneous catalysts were prepared by the anchoring of Pd(0) on the surface of ZrFe2O4 MNPs coated with a di-substituted adenine (Ade) compound as a green linker. The as-synthesized ZrFe2O4@SiO2@Ade-Pd MNPs were methodically characterized over different physicochemical measures like VSM, EDX, Map, SEM, TEM, ICP, and FT-IR analysis. The catalytic activity of ZrFe2O4@SiO2@Ade-Pd was carefully examined for the room-temperature Carbon–Carbon coupling reaction in acetonitrile as a solvent. It is worth noting that the synthesized solid catalyst can be easily recovered with a bar magnet and reused for five cycles without decrease of catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies involving the use of residual biomass from processes have grown substantially. In this context, the efficiency of the production of second-generation ethanol and carboxymethylcellulose from sugarcane bagasse was evaluated in this work. Therefore, sugarcane bagasse was characterized and submitted to pretreatment with different low-cost ionic liquids [sec-butylammonium acetate (IL1); sec-butylammonium lactate (IL2); imidazolium acetate (IL3), and imidazolium lactate (IL4)]. After verifying the greater efficiency of the treatment performed with IL1, a new treatment was carried out with this ionic liquid. The pretreated material was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis steps, modifying the hydrolysis time and the concentrations of treated sugar cane bagasse (%). The best pretreatment condition (63.8 h, 12.2% of pretreated bagasse, 50 °C, pH 4.8, enzyme concentration of 20 FPU.gram−1 e, 250 rpm) enabled the conversion of pretreated sugarcane bagasse of 54.57 ± 0.28%. The sugarcane bagasse was submitted to the hydrolysis process using this condition, and the hydrolysate was used to the fermentation stage with a yield of 71.77% after 24 h. The residual holocellulose produced after hydrolysis produced a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), making it possible to obtain it with a degree of substitution equal to 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of the research on the Ω (2012) state based on the molecular picture and discuss the consistency of the picture with the Belle experimental results. We study the interaction of the K ¯ Ξ ∗ , η Ω (s-wave) and K ¯ Ξ (d-wave) channels within a coupled channel unitary approach, and obtain the mass and the width of the Ω (2012) state and the decay ratio R Ξ K ¯ Ξ π K ¯ . We also present a mechanism for Ω c → π + Ω (2012) production through an external emission Cabibbo favored weak decay mode, where the Ω (2012) is dynamically generated from the above interaction. We find that the results obtained by the molecular picture are consistent with all Belle experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrated that the combination of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and a hybrid hydrogel based on chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/genipin (CS/PVA/GEN)—with ratios 7:3 (SIPNs1), 5:5 (SIPNs2), and 3:7 (SIPNs3) (w/w)—were useful for obtaining semi-interpenetrated polymeric networks (SIPNs). These SIPNs successfully combined the PDMS's elasticity, the PVA's swelling capability, and the excellent biological response of CS and GEN. Noticing these features are desirable in materials intended for biomedical applications such as wound healing and tissue engineering. Through evaluating the influence of PDMS and CS/PVA/GEN hybrid hydrogel ratios on the physico-chemical, mechanical, and the response of seeded cells, we found contact angles between 55 ∘ and 75 ∘ , while the swelling percentage was enhanced up to three times concerning blank PDMS. Besides, the elastic moduli presented values between 1 and 1.6 MPa. The fibroblasts seeded on the tested semi-interpenetrating polymeric networks were viable, and no cytotoxic effects were found. The cells presented fusiform shapes indicating an excellent attachment to the material's surface. The highest cell densities were found for SIPNs1 and SIPNs2, suggesting that these compositions in a membrane shape could potentially be used in wound healing/dressing or as a scaffold for tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism industry is vulnerable to a range of economic and political factors, which can have both short-term and long-term impacts on tourist arrivals. The study aims to investigate the temporal dynamics of these factors and their impact on tourist arrivals. The method employed is a panel data regression analysis, using data from BRICS economies over a period of 1980–2020. The dependent variable is the number of tourist arrivals, while the independent variables are geopolitical risk, currency fluctuation, and economic policy. Control variables such as GDP, exchange rate, and distance to major tourist destinations are also included. The results show that geopolitical risk and currency fluctuation have a significant negative impact on tourist arrivals, while economic policy has a positive impact. The study also finds that the impact of geopolitical risk is stronger in the short term, while the impact of economic policy is stronger in the long term. Additionally, the study shows that the effects of these factors on tourist arrivals vary across BRICS countries. The policy implications of this study suggest that BRICS economies need to develop proactive economic policies that promote stability and encourage investment in the tourism industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the development and evaluation of an in-class intervention based on persona cards, an accessibility kit created to introduce users with diverse needs to postsecondary students and motivate them to adopt accessibility guidelines. The cards created include 16 profiles of users with visual, hearing, motor, cognitive, and multiple impairments. To assess the effect of the intervention on the students' knowledge about accessibility, five in-class interventions with 134 students were conducted in the USA and in Spain. The intervention aimed at encouraging the discussion about how future designers can make interactive solutions more accessible for users with diverse needs. To assess the acceptability of the intervention materials among instructors, an online survey was utilized, and 30 respondents rated the usefulness, impact, ease of use, and their willingness to adopt the cards. They also provided suggestions to facilitate adoption. The statistical analysis of the results using Mann–Whitney tests indicates that the usage of personas during the intervention had a positive effect, improving the students' understanding about accessibility. Instructors who responded to the survey considered the persona cards to be easy to use, diverse, and useful. The intervention increased the students' interest and motivation to apply accessibility principles in their work practices and employ universal design in their lives. Also, instructors reported a positive acceptance regarding the adoption of the cards in their technology-related courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress has been linked to the onset and progression of different neoplasia. Antioxidants might help prevent it by modulating biochemical processes involved in cell proliferation. Here, the aim was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic effect of Haloferax mediterranei bacterioruberin-rich carotenoid extracts (BRCE) (0–100 µg/ml) in six BC cell lines, representative of the intrinsic phenotypes and a healthy mammary epithelium cell line. Cell index values were obtained using xCELLigence RTCA System. Furthermore, cell diameter, viability, and concentration were measured at 12 h, 24 h, and 30 h. We found that BC cells were selectively affected by BRCE (SI > 1, p < 0.005). After 30 h, the population of BC cells exposed to 100 µg/ml was 11.7–64.6% of the control (p = 0.0001–0.0009). Triple-negative cells were significantly affected [MDA-MB-231 (IC50 51.8 µg/ml, p < 0.0001) and MDA-MB-468 (IC50 63.9 µg/ml, p < 0.0001)]. Cell size was also reduced after 30 h treatment in 3.8 (± 0.1) µm and 3.3 (± 0.02) µm for SK-BR-3 (p < 0.0001) and MDA-MB-468 (p < 0.0001), respectively. In conclusion, Hfx. mediterranei BRCE exerts a cytotoxic effect on BC cell lines representative of all studied intrinsic subtypes. Furthermore, results obtained for MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 are very promising, considering the aggressive behaviour of the triple-negative BC subtype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high percentage of the population suffers from multiple food allergies justifying the importance of reliable diagnostic methods. Single-analyte solutions based on the determination of specific immunoglobulins E (sIgE) are safe and fast but are generally time-consuming and expensive. Thus sustainable microanalytical methods that provide multianalyte profiling information are highly demanded. This work presents the in vitro biosensing of specific IgE levels based on a reversed-phase allergen array. The approach consists of optical biosensing supported by direct multiplex immunoassays and on-disc technology. It identifies 12 sIgE associated with food allergies in a single analysis with a low serum sample volume (25 µL). After processing captured images, specific signals for each target biomarker correlate to their concentration. The assay analytically performs well with 0.3 IU/mL and 0.41 IU/mL as the detection and quantification limits in serum, respectively. This novel method achieves excellent clinical specificity (100%) and high sensitivity (91.1%), considering the diagnosis obtained by clinical history and ImmunoCAP analysis. The results demonstrate that microanalytical systems based on allergen arrays can potentially diagnose multiple food allergies and are easily implemented in primary care laboratory settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of strawberry by-products (pulp and achene) and thermosonication offers a nectar with a potential contribution of health and safety benefits. Strawberry nectar with 0, 10 and 20% of strawberry by-products (SB) was subjected to thermosonication (24 kHz) at 70 and 80% for 8 min at 50 °C. Total soluble solids, pH, polyphenol oxidase (PO) and pectin methylesterase (PME) activities, total soluble phenols (TSP), ascorbic acid (AA), anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity (AOX) were evaluated. Microbiological reduction and inactivation of Escherichia coli was also determined. A limited activity was observed in PO and PME related to the SB percentage added. TSP, AA, anthocyanins, and AOX were increased due to the different percentages of SB added to the nectar. A reduction of aerobic mesophiles (1.28 Log CFU/mL), molds and yeast counts (1.23 Log CFU/mL) were achieved by thermosonication. E. coli inactivation was approximately 1 log CFU/mL in 20% SB nectar at 80% amplitude, 8 min at 50 °C, but increased during storage at 6 °C (0.915–5.86 Log CFU/mL). Thermosonication showed the possibility of employing strawberry by-products in nectars, improving the use of agro-industrial residues by non-thermal technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to explore the importance of the tourism business model with the emergence of the blockchain platform in China. The study focused on the importance of the tourism business model of china, studied the need to improve the tourism business infrastructure, and traced the value of the blockchain system in the tourism industry of china. For this, the researchers used a semi-structured interview approach to conduct a qualitative research design. About nine Chinese tourism and travel industry experts were interwar after initial screening using purposive sampling techniques. The respondents' responses were analyzed by applying a thematic analysis approach, and by this, the researchers extracted the main themes on study topicality to fill the gap in the literature. The study's novelty is in its topicality and context, for which it also provides viable, practical directions for stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to disruptions of healthcare delivery and may thus have impacted patterns of prescription opioid use, including risk factors for long-term use. Objective: We aimed to describe changes in patterns of prescription opioid use due to the COVID-19 pandemic in community-dwelling adults without a cancer diagnosis. Methods: Using administrative claims data of the province of Quebec, Canada, a random sample of adults (aged ≥18 years) was selected. These were members of the public drug plan without a cancer diagnosis who initiated a prescription opioid in the outpatient setting between 1 January, 2018 and 28 December, 2020. We assessed the daily dose of initial prescription opioids, the number of days' supply of initial dispensing, and the total duration of opioid use over the first 6 months following initiation. We applied interrupted autoregressive integrated moving average models to examine weekly patterns of prescription opioids before and during the pandemic (starting at the lockdown). Our models included a step intervention function (immediate change) and a ramp intervention function (slope change). Results: There were 112,650 and 34,261 patients who initiated opioid therapy, respectively, in the 115-week pre-pandemic period and in the 41-week pandemic period. At the start of the lockdown, there was a significant immediate decrease in opioid treatment initiation (−326; 95% confidence interval [CI] −419 to −234) and initial daily dose (−1.7 morphine milligram equivalents; 95% CI −2.7 to −0.7). Conversely, there was a significant immediate increase in the number of days' supply of initial dispensing (1.4 days; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.8) and the total duration of opioid use over 6 months (5.7 days; 95% CI 4.6 to 6.8). All these weekly measures returned to values close to those of the pre-pandemic period 10 weeks after the start of lockdown. Conclusions: Our findings showed that the COVID-19 lockdown had an impact on initial number of days' supply, which is a risk factor for long-term use and ultimately opioid-related harm. However, over time, prescription practices and use reverted to those observed in the pre-pandemic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Oct3/4 a transcription factor is involved in maintaining the characteristics of cancer stem cells. Oct3/4 can be expressed differentially with respect to the progression of cervical cancer (CC). In addition, Oct3/4 can give rise to three isoforms by alternative splicing of the mRNA Oct3/4A, Oct3/4B and Oct3/4B1. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mRNA expression from Oct3/4A, Oct3/4B and Oct3/4B1 in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), CC samples, and measure the effect of the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein on the mRNA expression from Oct3/4 isoforms in the C-33A cell line. Methods: The expression levels of Oct3/4A, Oct3/4B and Oct3/4B1 mRNA were analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in patients with LSILs, HSILs and CC. Additionally, C-33A cells that expressed the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein were established to evaluate the effect of E7 on the expression of Oct3/4 mRNA isoforms. Results: Oct3/4A (p = 0.02), Oct3/4B (p = 0. 001) and Oct3/4B1 (p < 0. 0001) expression is significantly higher in patients with LSIL, HSIL and CC than in woman with non-IL. In the C-33A cell line, the expression of Oct3/4A mRNA in the presence of the E7 oncoprotein increased compared to that in nontransfected C-33A cells. Conclusion: Oct3/4B and Oct3/4B1 mRNA were expressed at similar levels among the different groups. These data indicate that only the mRNA of Oct3/4A is upregulated by the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work explores the design and application of argumentative-driven assessments (ADA) within the context of challenge-based learning as a mechanism of feedback and evaluation of knowledge and competencies. It discusses a combined model that integrates the essential elements of challenge-based learning with the Toulmin argumentative structure. This work attends the need for a step-by-step guide and overall recommendations for the ADA design (including an evaluation rubric) that includes a mid-term ADA in the Mechanical Vibrations challenge based on the proposed guidelines. The ADA's implementation showed that the students developed competencies related to critical thinking, problem-solving, engineering design, and data analysis. The students proposed different solutions to the open-engineering problem while backing each assumption with relevant information and calculation. ADA offers the students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to predict and discuss different scenarios in the challenge. The ADA-challenge design and implementation's results suggest that contextual argumentation with immersion is essential to promote a sense of purpose in the students. ADAs are essential tools that facilitate identifying and evaluating the development levels of various competencies while providing a forum for students to discuss, express, and apply acquired knowledge. ADAs can also improve the students' learning experience by providing continuous feedback in the context of conceptual and structural scaffolding. The ultimate goal is to give the students the relevant feedback that correctly identifies their achievements and monitors their progress and opportunity areas in their learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetal or neonatal androgen exposure has a programming effect on ovarian function inducing a polycystic ovarian syndrome-like condition. Its effects on uterine structure and function are poorly studied. The aim of this work was to characterize the temporal course of changes in the rat uterine structure induced by neonatal exposure to aromatizable or not aromatizable androgens. Rats were daily treated with testosterone, dihydrotestosterone or vehicle during follicle assembly period (postnatal days 1 to 5). Uterine histoarchitecture, hormonal milieu, endometrial stromal collagen and capillary density were analyzed at prepubertal, pubertal and adult ages. Our data shows that neonatal androgen exposure induces early and long-lasting deleterious effects on uterine development, including altered adenogenesis and superficial epithelial alterations and suggest a role for altered serum estradiol levels in the maintenance and worsening of the situation. Our results suggest that alterations of the neonatal androgenic environment on the uterus could be responsible for alterations in the processes of implantation and maintenance of the embryo in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alterations of serine/threonine phosphorylation of the cardiac proteome are a hallmark of heart failure. However, the contribution of tyrosine phosphorylation (pTyr) to the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy remains unclear. We use global mapping to discover and quantify site-specific pTyr in two cardiac hypertrophic mouse models, i.e., cardiac overexpression of ErbB2 (TgErbB2) and α myosin heavy chain R403Q (R403Q-αMyHC Tg), compared to control hearts. From this, there are significant phosphoproteomic alterations in TgErbB2 mice in right ventricular cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) pathways. On the other hand, R403Q-αMyHC Tg mice indicated that the EGFR1 pathway is central for cardiac hypertrophy, along with angiopoietin, ErbB, growth hormone, and chemokine signaling pathways activation. Surprisingly, most myofilament proteins have downregulation of pTyr rather than upregulation. Kinase-substrate enrichment analysis (KSEA) shows a marked downregulation of MAPK pathway activity downstream of k-Ras in TgErbB2 mice and activation of EGFR, focal adhesion, PDGFR, and actin cytoskeleton pathways. In vivo ErbB2 inhibition by AG-825 decreases cardiomyocyte disarray. Serine/threonine and tyrosine phosphoproteome confirm the above-described pathways and the effectiveness of AG-825 Treatment. Thus, altered pTyr may play a regulatory role in cardiac hypertrophic models. Quantitative global phosphotyrosine proteomics of two mouse models of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy reveals that tyrosine kinase inhibitors may be a future therapeutic approach for treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosamine transferase 3 (ppGalNAc-T3) is an enzyme involved in the initiation of O-GalNAc glycan biosynthesis. Acting as a writer of frequent post-translational modification (PTM) on human proteins, ppGalNAc-T3 has key functions in the homeostasis of human cells and tissues. We review the relevant roles of this molecule in the biosynthesis of O-GalNAc glycans, as well as in biological functions related to human physiological and pathological conditions. With main emphasis in ppGalNAc-T3, we draw attention to the different ways involved in the modulation of ppGalNAc-Ts enzymatic activity. In addition, we take notice on recent reports of ppGalNAc-T3 having different subcellular localizations, highlight critical intrinsic and extrinsic functions in cellular physiology that are exerted by ppGalNAc-T3-synthesized PTMs, and provide an update on several human pathologies associated with dysfunctional ppGalNAc-T3. Finally, we propose biotechnological tools as new therapeutic options for the treatment of pathologies related to altered ppGalNAc-T3. Key messages: ppGalNAc-T3 is a key enzyme in the human O-GalNAc glycans biosynthesis. enzyme activity is regulated by PTMs, lectin domain and protein–protein interactions. ppGalNAc-T3 is located in human Golgi apparatus and cell nucleus. ppGalNAc-T3 has a central role in cell physiology as well as in several pathologies. Biotechnological tools for pathological management are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The RNA genome of SARS-CoV-2 contains a 5′ cap that facilitates the translation of viral proteins, protection from exonucleases and evasion of the host immune response1–4. How this cap is made in SARS-CoV-2 is not completely understood. Here we reconstitute the N7- and 2′-O-methylated SARS-CoV-2 RNA cap (7MeGpppA2′-O-Me) using virally encoded non-structural proteins (nsps). We show that the kinase-like nidovirus RdRp-associated nucleotidyltransferase (NiRAN) domain5 of nsp12 transfers the RNA to the amino terminus of nsp9, forming a covalent RNA–protein intermediate (a process termed RNAylation). Subsequently, the NiRAN domain transfers the RNA to GDP, forming the core cap structure GpppA-RNA. The nsp146 and nsp167 methyltransferases then add methyl groups to form functional cap structures. Structural analyses of the replication–transcription complex bound to nsp9 identified key interactions that mediate the capping reaction. Furthermore, we demonstrate in a reverse genetics system8 that the N terminus of nsp9 and the kinase-like active-site residues in the NiRAN domain are required for successful SARS-CoV-2 replication. Collectively, our results reveal an unconventional mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 caps its RNA genome, thus exposing a new target in the development of antivirals to treat COVID-19.Reconstitution of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA 5′ cap reveals the unconventional mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 caps its RNA genome, providing a new target in the development of antiviral agents to treat COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary irritants, such as cigarette smoke (CS) and sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), are associated to pulmonary diseases in cleaning workers. We examined whether their association affects lung mechanics and inflammation in Wistar rats. Exposure to these irritants alone induced alterations in the lung mechanics, inflammation, and remodeling. The CS increased airway cell infiltration, acid mucus production, MMP-12 expression, and alveolar enlargement. NaClO increased the number of eosinophils and macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, with cells expressing IL-13, MMP-12, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and iNOS in addition to increased IL-1β and TNF-α levels. Co-exposure to both irritants increased epithelial and smooth muscle cell area, acid mucus production, and IL-13 expression in the airways, while it reduced the lung inflammation. In conclusion, the co-exposure of CS with NaClO reduced the pulmonary inflammation, but increased the acidity of mucus, which may protect lungs from more injury. A cross-resistance in people exposed to multiple lung irritants should also be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical research is progressing to clarify the full spectrum of sub-acute and long-term effects of the post-COVID-19 syndrome. However, most manuscripts published to date only analyze the effects of post-COVID-19 in patients discharged from hospital, which may induce significant bias. Here, we propose a pioneering study to analyze the single and multiple associations between post-COVID-19 characteristics with up to 6-months of follow-up in hospitalized and non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The cohort study was conducted from May to October 2020 at the University Hospital Virgen de la Nieves, the leading hospital assigned for patients with COVID-19 in Granada, Spain. A total of 372 and 217 patients—with 217 and 207 included in the first and second follow-up visits—were referred 2 and 6 months after diagnosing COVID-19, respectively. We find out that post-COVID-19 clinical and mental health impairment symptoms are correlated with patient gender. Logistic adjustments showed strong statistically robust single and multiple associations of demographic, clinical, mental health, X-ray, laboratory indices, and pulmonary function variables. The functional lung tests are good predictors of chest CT imaging abnormalities in elderly patients. Bilateral lung involvement, subpleural reticulum, ground-glass opacity, peripheral lung lesions, and bronchiectasis were the most common findings of the high-resolution computed tomography images. Non-hospitalized patients suffer more severe thromboembolic events and fatigue than those hospitalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic plastics generate major problems in landfills after their consumption for occupying high volumes and difficult the decomposition of other organic materials. In addition, they are also responsible for impacts on the marine ecosystem. Because of this, the need for cleaner products and process is increasing. Among a variety of existing bioplastics, those derived from cleaner fermentation processes such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and polylactic acid (PLA) are promising sustainable alternatives to replace synthetic plastic. This narrative review provides an overview of the real potential of PHA and PLA for cleaner production. For that purpose, the discussion considers an extensive literature that points out the environmental benefits about bioplastics and also the factors that limit their real sustainability. Through an analysis of future perspectives, a general contribution was offered by means of recommendations for a cleaner production of these bioplastics with the aim of promoting sustainable development. This set of factors can overcome the existing limitations, benefiting the environment, consumers and the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the vehicle routing and driver scheduling problem of finding a low cost route and stoppage schedule for long-haul point-to-point full-load trips with intermediate stops due to refueling needs and driver hours-of-service regulatory restrictions. This is an important problem for long-haul truck drivers because in practice regulatory driving limits often do not coincide with availability of stoppage alternatives for quick rest, for meal, for overnight, or for weekly downtime required stops. The paper presents a methodology and algorithm to pick routes that optimize stoppages within the HOS constraints, an important factor of both highway safety and driver productivity. A solution for this variant of the vehicle routing and truck driver scheduling problem (VRTDS-HOS) that is fast enough to potentially be used in real time is proposed by modeling possible stoppage configurations as nodes in an iteratively built multi-dimensional state-space graph and by using heuristics to decrease processing time when searching for the lowest-cost path in that graph. Individual nodes in the graph are characterized by spatial, temporal, and stoppage attributes, and are expanded sequentially to search for low-cost paths between the origin and the destination. Within this multi-dimensional state-space graph, the paper proposes two heuristics applied to a shortest-path algorithmic solution based on the A ∗ algorithm to increase processing speed enough to potentially permit real-time usage. An illustrative application to Brazilian regulations is provided. Results were successful and are reported together with sensitivity analyses comparing alternative routes and different heuristics processing speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent pericarditis affects 15–30% of patients after acute pericarditis. A large number of the patients with recurrent pericarditis can become corticosteroid dependent, leading to disease chronicity and drug dependence, with additional morbidity from long-term steroid use. Recent randomized trials indicate the efficacy of the interleukin-1 inhibitors anakinra and rilonacept in recurrent pericarditis, including colchicine-resistant and corticosteroid-dependent cases. In particular, rilonacept was assessed in the RHAPSODY clinical trial and found to be a potential treatment option that would decrease recurrent episodes, enabling patients to be weaned off steroids. Additionally, new data indicate that rilonacept should be considered as an option for patients with recurrent pericarditis, as add-on therapy to colchicine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in place of steroids. We review the current management options for recurrent pericarditis as well as rilonacept as a prospective new addition to our armamentarium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic experiments analyzing human papillomaviruses (HPVs) require a carefully selected list of sequences as a reference database to map millions of reads. The available sources, such as the Papillomavirus Episteme (PaVE), are organized based on variations in the L1 gene rather than the whole HPV sequence. Moreover, the PaVE process uses complex multiple sequence alignments containing hundreds or thousands of sequences. These issues complicate the generation of a reference database for genomics, leading to the generation of per-analysis-defined databases. Here, we propose a de novo strategy considering all HPV sequences reported in the NCBI database to define a subset of highly representative HPV sequences. The strategy is based on oligonucleotide frequency profiling of the whole sequence followed by hierarchical clustering. Using data from HPV capture experiments, we demonstrate that this strategy selects suitable sequences as a reference database to map most mappable reads unambiguously. We provide some recommendations to improve HPV mapping. The generated.fasta files can be accessed at https://github.com/vtrevino/HPV-Ref-Genomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are different types of automotive safety systems focused on crash events. These types could be classified as pre-collision, during-collision, and post-collision systems. Pre-collision systems involve, among others: ABS brake systems, stability control systems. During-collision systems: Airbag systems, seat belt tensioner systems. Its function prevents an impact or minimizes physical occupants' harm, respectively. The post-collision systems target is focusing on decreasing the period of time between a crash event and assistance's arrival in order to provide timely assistance. However, while pre-collision systems and during-collision systems are currently in use, post-collision systems have not been thoroughly researched and provide a wide opportunity for the R&D area. In this sense, this paper describes a proposal about how a post-collision system should work and how it could be tested. This paper will firstly show the post-collision control system's FR and NFR and secondly the requirements' verification applying a verification language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain mechanisms of sexual attraction toward reproductive partners develop from a systematic interrelationship between biology (nature) and learning (nurture). However, the causes of attraction toward non-reproductive partners are poorly understood. Here, we explored the role of Pavlovian learning under dopaminergic agonism on the development of sexual preference and brain activation for young male rats. During conditioning, adult sexually naïve males received either Saline (Saline-Paired) or the D2-receptor agonist quinpirole (QNP-Paired) and cohabited in contingency, or out of contingency (QNP-Unpaired) during 24 h with an almond-scented prepubertal juvenile male (PD25). Conditioning occurred every 4 days for three trials. Social and sexual responses were assessed four days after the last conditioning trial in a drug-free test, and males chose freely between a scented young male (PD37) and a novel receptive female. Four days later, males were exposed to the conditioned odor only and brain Fos-IR and serum testosterone were analyzed. Saline-Paired and QNP-Unpaired males displayed more non-contact erections (NCEs) and genital investigations for females, whereas QNP-Paired males expressed more NCEs and genital investigations for young males. In the QNP-Paired group, exposure to the young male-paired odor evoked more Fos-IR in limbic, hypothalamic and cortical areas, but no differences in serum testosterone were observed. Cohabitation with juvenile males during enhanced D2 agonism results in atypical appetitive sexual responses and a higher pattern of brain response for the young male-paired odor, with no changes in serum testosterone. We discuss the potential implications for the development of pedophilic disorder and perhaps other paraphilias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell spreading and phagocytosis are notably regulated by small GTPases and GAP proteins. TBC1D10C is a dual inhibitory protein with GAP activity. In immune cells, TBC1D10C is one of the elements regulating lymphocyte activation. However, its specific role in macrophages remains unknown. Here, we show that TBC1D10C engages in functions dependent on the cytoskeleton and plasma membrane reorganization. Using ex vivo and in vitro assays, we found that elimination and overexpression of TBC1D10C modified the cytoskeletal architecture of macrophages by decreasing and increasing the spreading ability of these cells, respectively. In addition, TBC1D10C overexpression contributed to higher phagocytic activity against Burkholderia cenocepacia and to increased cell membrane tension. Furthermore, by performing in vitro and in silico analyses, we identified 27 TBC1D10C-interacting proteins, some of which were functionally classified as protein complexes involved in cytoskeletal dynamics. Interestingly, we identified one unreported TBC1D10C-intrinsically disordered region (IDR) with biological potential at the cytoskeleton level. Our results demonstrate that TBC1D10C shapes macrophage activity by inducing reorganization of the cytoskeleton-plasma membrane in cell spreading and phagocytosis. We anticipate our results will be the basis for further studies focused on TBC1D10C. For example, the specific molecular mechanism in Burkholderia cenocepacia phagocytosis and functional analysis of TBC1D10C-IDR are needed to further understand its role in health and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Androgens are relevant in order to achieve a normal growth and maturation of the follicle and oocyte, since both excess and absence of androgens may affect the correct ovarian function. The current study analyzes the impact of neonatal androgenization in the first ovulation and oocyte maturation in response to exogenous gonadotrophin stimulation. Neonatal rats were daily treated with testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, or vehicle during follicle assembly period (days 1 to 5). At juvenile period, rats were stimulated sequentially with PMSG and hCG. Ovulation, ovarian histology, hormonal milieu, morphological characteristics of meiotic spindle, and in vitro fertilization rate in oocytes were analyzed. Our data shows that oocytes from androgenized rats displayed a major proportion of aberrant spindles and altered meiotic advance that control animals. These alterations were accompanied with an increase in both fertilization rate and aberrant embryos after 48 h of culture. Our findings showed a direct impact of neonatal androgens on oocyte development; their effects may be recognized at adulthood, supporting the idea of a programming effect exerted by neonatal androgens. These results could be relevant to explain the low fertility rate seen in polycystic ovary syndrome patients after in vitro fertilization procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a retraction note from the journal Scientific Reports regarding an article titled "Synthesis and characterization of ZrFe2O4@SiO2@Ade-Pd as a novel, recyclable, green, and versatile catalyst for Buchwald-Hartwig and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions." The article has been retracted due to concerns about the FTIR data in Figure 1 and XRD spectrum in Figure 2. The editors requested raw data from the authors, but they did not respond, and the published author correction did not address the concerns satisfactorily. Geovanny Genaro Reivan Ortiz agrees with the retraction, but the remaining authors did not respond to correspondence from the publisher. [Extracted from the article]

An accurate genetic diagnostic is key for adequate patient management and the suitability of healthcare systems. The scientific challenge lies in developing methods to discriminate those patients with certain genetic variations present in tumor cells at low concentrations. We report a method called enhanced asymmetric blocked qPCR (EAB-qPCR) that promotes the blocker annealing against the primer-template hybrid controlling thermal cycling and reaction conditions with nonmodified oligonucleotides. Real-time fluorescent amplification curves of wild-type alleles were delayed by about eight cycles for EAB-qPCR, compared to conventional blocked qPCR approaches. This method reduced the amplification of native DNA variants (blocking percentage 99.7%) and enabled the effective enrichment of low-level DNA mutations. Excellent performance was estimated for the detection of mutated alleles in sensitivity (up to 0.5% mutant/total DNA) and reproducibility terms, with a relative standard deviation below 2.8%. The method was successfully applied to the mutational analysis of metastatic colorectal carcinoma from biopsied tissues. The determined single-nucleotide mutations in the KRAS oncogene (codon 12–13) totally agreed with those obtained from next-generation sequencing. EAB-qPCR is an accurate cheap method and can be easily incorporated into daily routine to detect mutant alleles. Hence, these features are especially interesting to facilitate the diagnosis and prognosis of several clinical diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of a 2-year-long imagery analysis about microcephaly in Latin America from the perspective of caregivers. The content analysis included 500 images associated with the hashtag microcefalia posted on Instagram in 2017 and 2018. Microcephaly affected more than 4,000 babies in Latin America in a few years, and the quick outbreak of the epidemic made Instagram an accessible tool for caregivers to express their thoughts, feelings, raise funds and awareness, exchange information about the condition, and find peer support. Most publications are managed by the mother of female patients seeking to celebrate milestones, exchange information, and find social support. The comprehensive analysis of the contents posted elicits the caregivers' perspectives about microcephaly besides also clarifying how Instagram empowers them to raise awareness and communicate about the condition. Instagram demonstrated to be a low-cost support tool for caregivers. Also, it allows healthcare practitioners to disseminate medical information through online campaigns. By allowing users to share their individual perspectives and experiences through pictures, images, and videos, Instagram has become popular for users promptly seeking for information and social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabidiol (CBD), a phytocannabinoid compound, presents antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects in the type-1 diabetes mellitus(DM1) animal model. Although the underlying mechanism remains unknown, the type-1A serotonin receptor (5-HT1A) and cannabinoids type-1 (CB1) and type-2 (CB2) receptors seem to play a central role in mediating the beneficial effects on emotional responses. We aimed to study the involvement of these receptors on an antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of CBD and on some parameters of the diabetic condition itself. After 2 weeks of the DM1 induction in male Wistar rats by streptozotocin (60 mg/kg; i.p.), animals were treated continuously for 2-weeks with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), CB1 antagonist AM251 (1 mg/kg i.p.) or CB2 antagonist AM630 (1 mg/kg i.p.) before the injection of CBD (30 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle (VEH, i.p.) and then, they were submitted to the elevated plus-maze and forced swimming tests. Our findings show the continuous treatment with CBD improved all parameters evaluated in these diabetic animals. The previous treatment with the antagonists − 5-HT1A, CB1, or CB2 - blocked the CBD-induced antidepressant-like effect whereas only the blockade of 5-HT1A or CB1 receptors was able to inhibit the CBD-induced anxiolytic-like effect. Regarding glycemic control, only the blockade of CB2 was able to inhibit the beneficial effect of CBD in reducing the glycemia of diabetic animals. These findings indicated a therapeutic potential for CBD in the treatment of depression/anxiety associated with diabetes pointing out a complex intrinsic mechanism in which 5-HT1A, CB1, and/or CB2 receptors are differently recruited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a model to study the D 0 → K - π + η weak decay, starting with the color favored external emission and Cabibbo favored mode at the quark level. A less favored internal emission decay mode is also studied as a source of small corrections. Some pairs of quarks are allowed to hadronize producing two pseudoscalar mesons, which posteriorly are allowed to interact to finally provide the K - π + η state. The chiral unitary approach is used to take into account the final state interaction of pairs of mesons, which has as a consequence the production of the κ ( K 0 ∗ (700) ) and the a 0 (980) resonances, well visible in the invariant mass distributions. We also introduce the K ¯ ∗ 0 η production in a phenomenological way and show that the s-wave pseudoscalar interaction together with this vector excitation mode are sufficient to provide a fair reproduction of the experimental data. The model provides the relative weight of the a 0 (980) to the κ excitation, and their strength is clearly visible in the low energy part of the K π spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Altough disease-modifying factors such as malnutrition and diet have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), little is known about the effects of pharmacological therapies on the nutritional status of AD patients. Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status, prealbumin, and albumin serum levels and several anthropometric measurements in patients with probable moderate-stage AD, with and without rivastigmine drug treatment. Study design: A cross-sectional study. Setting and participants: 34 patients were included, 17 with rivastigmine treatment and 17 without pharmacological treatment, over 60 years of both sexes. Measurements: The nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Albumin and prealbumin (transthyretin) levels and anthropometric evaluation were assessed using standard methods. Results: A polarity of malnutrition was detected in the untreated group. According to the MNA survey, the risk of malnutrition is higher without rivastigmine treatment (p = 0.0001). There are a less loss of appetite, less psychological stress, greater mobility and independence in those patients receiving rivastigmine (p = 0.003, 0.008, 0.016 and 0.018, respectively). The body mass index does not show a statistical difference, however, categorizing it for older adults, this index was improved in those receiving rivastigmine (p = 0.016). The serum levels of albumin and prealbumin showed no significant statistical difference between the groups. Conclusions: Rivastigmine treatment shows a protective effect on malnutrition in patients with moderate-stage AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main discussion above of the novel pathogenic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has focused substantially on the immediate risks and impact on the respiratory system; however, the effects induced to the central nervous system are currently unknown. Some authors have suggested that SARS-CoV-2 infection can dramatically affect brain function and exacerbate neurodegenerative diseases in patients, but the mechanisms have not been entirely described. In this review, we gather information from past and actual studies on coronaviruses that informed neurological dysfunction and brain damage. Then, we analyzed and described the possible mechanisms causative of brain injury after SARS-CoV-2 infection. We proposed that potential routes of SARS-CoV-2 neuro-invasion are determinant factors in the process. We considered that the hematogenous route of infection can directly affect the brain microvascular endothelium cells that integrate the blood-brain barrier and be fundamental in initiation of brain damage. Additionally, activation of the inflammatory response against the infection represents a critical step on injury induction of the brain tissue. Consequently, the virus' ability to infect brain cells and induce the inflammatory response can promote or increase the risk to acquire central nervous system diseases. Here, we contribute to the understanding of the neurological conditions found in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and its association with the blood-brain barrier integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoprophylactic alternatives are needed to fight against acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). This study addressed the effects of different routes of Bacillus administration (via diet or culture water) on growth performance, survival, and immune parameters of Litopenaeus vannamei challenged with Vibrio parahaemolyticus-AHPND. Bacillus mixture and Bacillus licheniformis BCR 4-3 were added to feed (1 × 106 CFU g−1) or rearing water (1 × 106, 2 × 106, 3 × 106 CFU L−1). Animals were challenged with a determined median lethal V. parahaemolyticus concentration. Survival, growth performance, and immune response were determined. The results showed that B. licheniformis BCR 4-3 (3 × 106 CFU L−1) administration via culture water significantly (P < 0.05) increased survival (53.4%) in shrimp challenged with V. parahaemolyticus; growth performance was also significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to the control group. Moreover, the relative expression of innate immune-related genes, such as lysozyme, penaeidin4, crustin, and superoxide dismutase, significantly (P < 0.05) upregulated in shrimp fed B. licheniformis BCR4-3 compared with the control group. In conclusion, the administration of probiotic B. licheniformis BCR4-3 in feed and culture water increased resistance in L. vannamei against V. parahaemolyticus-AHPND and was found associated with an upregulation of key antimicrobial innate immune-related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]