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With the rapid development and popularization of additive manufacturing, different technologies, including, but not limited to, extrusion-, droplet-, and vat-photopolymerization-based fabrication techniques, have emerged that have allowed tremendous progress in three-dimensional (3D) printing in the past decades. Bioprinting, typically using living cells and/or biomaterials conformed by different printing modalities, has produced functional tissues. As a subclass of vat-photopolymerization bioprinting, digital light processing (DLP) uses digitally controlled photomasks to selectively solidify liquid photocurable bioinks to construct complex physical objects in a layer-by-layer manner. DLP bioprinting presents unique advantages, including short printing times, relatively low manufacturing costs, and decently high resolutions, allowing users to achieve significant progress in the bioprinting of tissue-like complex structures. Nevertheless, the need to accommodate different materials while bioprinting and improve the printing performance has driven the rapid progress in DLP bioprinters, which requires multiple pieces of knowledge ranging from optics, electronics, software, and materials beyond the biological aspects. This raises the need for a comprehensive review to recapitulate the most important considerations in the design and assembly of DLP bioprinters. This review begins with analyzing unique considerations and specific examples in the hardware, including the resin vat, optical system, and electronics. In the software, the workflow is analyzed, including the parameters to be considered for the control of the bioprinter and the voxelizing/slicing algorithm. In addition, we briefly discuss the material requirements for DLP bioprinting. Then, we provide a section with best practices and maintenance of a do-it-yourself DLP bioprinter. Finally, we highlight the future outlooks of the DLP technology and their critical role in directing the future of bioprinting. The state-of-the-art progress in DLP bioprinter in this review will provide a set of knowledge for innovative DLP bioprinter designs., Competing Interests: YSZ consulted for Allevi by 3D systems, and sits on the scientific advisory board and holds options of Xellar, neither of which, however, participated in or bias the work. The interests are managed by the Brigham and Women's Hospital. The other authors declare no COI., (© 2024 Author(s).)

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of long-term liquid dairy manure (LDM) application on the activity and structure of soil bacterial and archaea communities in two cropping seasons over 1 year of a no-till crop rotation system. The experiment was run in a sandy clay loam texture Oxisol, in Brazil, including LDM doses of 60, 120, and 180 m 3  ha -1  year -1 , installed in 2005. Soil sampling was conducted during spring 2018 and autumn 2019 at 0-10-cm depth. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, microbial respiration and quotient were performed. Over the 14-year period, LDM application increased soil microbial community activity. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed dominance by Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria phyla (67% in spring and 70% in autumn). Genera Pirulla and Nitrososphaera showed enrichment at LDM doses of 120 and 180 m 3  ha -1  year -1 doses, respectively. During spring, following black oat cropping, shifts in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Verrucomicrobia, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria, and AD3 phyla were observed due to LDM application, correlating with soil chemical indicators such as pH, K, Ca, Mn, and Zn. Our findings indicate that plant development strongly influences microbial community composition, potentially outweighing the impact of LDM. Our findings indicate that the application of liquid dairy manure alters the soil bacterial activity and community; however, this effect depends on the developing plant., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The species Bathysa gymnocarpa K.Schum is a tree belonging to the Rubiaceae family, endemic in Brazil. So far, there are reports neither of phytochemical work nor of biological evaluation of it. The analysis by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to a Diode Array Detector and a tandem Mass Spectrometer with an Electrospray Ionization source (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS) of its crude extract allowed to characterize in a complex mixture, without isolation, fourteen compounds, being two as cinnamic acid derivatives, and the others as mono-, di- and triglycosilated derivatives of the flavonols quercetin and kaempferol. These compounds are reported for the first time in Bathysa spp.

Chagas disease is a Neglected Tropical Disease with limited and ineffective therapy. In a search for new anti-trypanosomal compounds, we investigated the potential of the metabolites from the bacteria living in the corals and sediments of the southeastern Brazilian coast. Three corals, Tubastraea coccinea, Mussismilia hispida , Madracis decactis , and sediments yielded 11 bacterial strains that were fully identified by MALDI-ToF/MS or gene sequencing, resulting in six genera- Vibrio , Shewanella , Mesoflavibacter , Halomonas , Bacillus, and Alteromonas. To conduct this study, EtOAc extracts were prepared and tested against Trypanosoma cruzi. The crude extracts showed IC 50 values ranging from 15 to 51 μg/mL against the trypomastigotes. The bacterium Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens was selected for fractionation, resulting in an active fraction (FII) with IC 50 values of 17.7 μg/mL and 23.8 μg/mL against the trypomastigotes and amastigotes, respectively, with neither mammalian cytotoxicity nor hemolytic activity. Using an NMR and ESI-HRMS analysis, the FII revealed the presence of unsaturated iso-type fatty acids. Its lethal action was investigated, leading to a protein spectral profile of the parasite altered after treatment. The FII also induced a rapid permeabilization of the plasma membrane of the parasite, leading to cell death. These findings demonstrate that these unsaturated iso-type fatty acids are possible new hits against T. cruzi.

Background: Less than 40% of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) have a pathogenic/likely pathogenic genetic variant identified. TBX20 has been linked to congenital heart defects; although an association with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) and DCM has been proposed, it is still considered a gene with limited evidence for these phenotypes. This study sought to investigate the association between the TBX20 truncating variant ( TBX20tv ) and DCM/LVNC., Methods: TBX20 was sequenced by next-generation sequencing in 7463 unrelated probands with a diagnosis of DCM or LVNC, 22 773 probands of an internal comparison group (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, channelopathies, or aortic diseases), and 124 098 external controls (individuals from the gnomAD database). Enrichment of TBX20tv in DCM/LVNC was calculated, cosegregation was determined in selected families, and clinical characteristics and outcomes were analyzed in carriers., Results: TBX20tv was enriched in DCM/LVNC (24/7463; 0.32%) compared with internal (1/22 773; 0.004%) and external comparison groups (4/124 098; 0.003%), with odds ratios of 73.23 (95% CI, 9.90-541.45; P <0.0001) and 99.76 (95% CI, 34.60-287.62; P <0.0001), respectively. TBX20tv was cosegregated with DCM/LVNC phenotype in 21 families for a combined logarythm of the odds score of 4.53 (strong linkage). Among 57 individuals with TBX20tv (49.1% men; mean age, 35.9±20.8 years), 41 (71.9%) exhibited DCM/LVNC, of whom 14 (34.1%) had also congenital heart defects. After a median follow-up of 6.9 (95% CI, 25-75:3.6-14.5) years, 9.7% of patients with DCM/LVNC had end-stage heart failure events and 4.8% experienced malignant ventricular arrhythmias., Conclusions: TBX20tv is associated with DCM/LVNC; congenital heart defect is also present in around one-third of cases. TBX20tv -associated DCM/LVNC is characterized by a nonaggressive phenotype, with a low incidence of major cardiovascular events. TBX20 should be considered a definitive gene for DCM and LVNC and routinely included in genetic testing panels for these phenotypes., Competing Interests: Disclosures Drs Amor-Salamanca, de la Higuera Romero, Cárdenas-Reyes, García-Hernández, Valverde-Gómez, Gómez-Díaz, and Ochoa are employees of Health in Code SL. The other authors report no conflicts.

The aim of this study was to describe epidemiological characteristics and perform SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in the southeastern region of São Paulo State. During the first months of 2022, we compared weekly SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence considering age, Ct value, and variants' lineages. An increase in the number of SARS-CoV-2-positive cases until the fourth epidemiological week of 2022 was observed. From the fourth epidemiological week onwards, the number of tests for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis began to decrease, but the number of positive samples for SARS-CoV-2 remained high, reaching its most expressive level with a rate of 60% of infected individual cases. In this period, we observed a progressive increase in SARS-CoV-2 infection within the 0-10 age group throughout the epidemiological weeks, from 2.8% in the first epidemiological week to 9.2% in the eighth epidemiological week of 2022. We further observed significantly higher Ct values within younger patient samples compared to other older age groups. According to lineage assignment, SARS-CoV-2 (BA.1) was the most prevalent (74.5%) in the younger group, followed by BA.1.1 (23%), BA.2 (1.7%), and Delta (1%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that BA.2 sequences clustered together, indicating sustained transmission of this Omicron VOC sub-lineage by that time. Our results suggest the initial dissemination steps of the Omicron's sub-linage BA.2 into the younger group, due to specific genomic features of the detected sequences. These data provide interesting results related to the spread, emergence, and evolution of the Omicron variant in the southeast Brazilian population.

Liza María González-HernándezPatients with breast cancer undergoing conservative surgery require management with radiotherapy to decrease the risk of recurrence. Moreover, the use of tumor bed boost in high-risk patients has shown an absolute reduction in the 10-year local recurrence risk from 23.9 to 13.5%. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the overall survival of a group of patients undergoing conservative surgery with a boost through interstitial brachytherapy at a cancer center in Medellin, Colombia. A retrospective cohort study was performed, and records from 2014 to 2020 of patients with in situ or infiltrating breast cancer treated with a boost through interstitial brachytherapy were included. Univariate analysis was conducted to characterize the study population; median survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Moreover, associations concerning survival were calculated with each of the factors independently. A total of 186 patients were included. Their overall survival was 93.5%, with a median survival of 79 months. The presence of negative hormone receptors, having two or more irradiated fields and having a locally advanced stage were factors associated independently with higher mortality. The overall survival of patients with in situ or infiltrating breast cancer was favorable and correlated with studies regarding intervention with a boost through interstitial brachytherapy and the factors associated with higher mortality, such as having a locally advanced stage., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None declared., (MedIntel Services Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).)

Introduction: The potential benefit of systemic therapy in patients with T1a HER2+ cancers is not well understood, and no consensus guidelines exist. We sought to investigate practice patterns of chemotherapy use in this population., Methods: From the National Cancer Database (2013-2018), we identified female patients with HER2+ cancers staged as cT1aN0 or pT1aN0 and stratified by receipt of chemotherapy. Using univariate and multivariable analyses we assessed the clinicopathologic features associated with the receipt of chemotherapy. We also compared rates of overall survival (OS)., Results: Of 5176 women with cT1aN0 HER2+ cancers, 88 (2%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Younger age and hormone-receptor (HR) negative tumors were factors independently associated with receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (all P < .001). Of 11,688 women with pT1aN0 HER2+ cancers, 5,588 (48%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. Rates of use increased over the analysis period from 39% in 2013 to 53% in 2018 (P < .001). Factors independently associated with receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy included younger age, having a poorly differentiated tumor, exhibiting lymphovascular invasion, undergoing adjuvant radiation (all P < .001). There were no differences in OS when comparing those who did and did not receive chemotherapy in either group., Conclusions: The use of chemotherapy in patients with HER2+ T1a cancers is increasing over time and is, as expected, more common among patients with unfavorable clinicopathologic features. Since no prognostic algorithm currently exists, more prospective data is needed to understand which of these patients may derive benefit from systemic therapy and which may safely avoid the morbidity of chemotherapy., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) enterococci and other Gram-positive bacteria represents a severe problem due to the lack of effective therapeutic alternatives. Natural products have long been an important source of new antibacterial scaffolds and can play a key role in the current antibiotic crisis. Enterococci are predominantly non-pathogenic gastrointestinal commensal bacteria, but among them, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium represent the species that account for most clinically relevant infections. The emergence of MDR enterococci has reduced the available antibiotic treatment options and highlights the need to develop new antimicrobial compounds. In the search for new hit compounds against MDR Enterococcus spp., natural-derived compounds represent inspiring scaffolds for drug design studies. In this work, the antimicrobial activity of a fully synthetic chalcone derivative (r4MB) was determined on a clinical panel of 34 MDR Gram-positive bacteria, mostly constituted by E. faecalis and E. faecium, along with Staphylococcus spp., amongst others. Compound r4MB showed activity against 100% of the tested strains, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the range of 5-20 μM. The lethal action of the compound was evaluated using different fluorescent-based assays. The compound showed a time-dependent permeabilisation of the membrane of a vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis, detected by the fluorescent probe SYTOX Green, and digital fluorescent microscopy corroborated the spectrofluorimetric analysis within 6 min of incubation. Flow cytometry analysis of the membrane electric potential demonstrated a significant depolarization, confirming the target of the compound towards the bacterial membrane. No cytotoxic haemolysis was observed with mammalian erythrocytes, and a 99% cytotoxic concentration of 118 μM on NCTC cells demonstrated a promising antimicrobial selectivity. In silico studies using SwissADME and ADMETLabs servers suggest that compound r4MB displayed adequate ADME properties, with no alerts for pan-assay interference compounds (PAINS). Future hit-to-lead optimization of this chalcone derivative can contribute to developing a more potent derivative against infections caused by MDR enterococci., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi , affects seven million people worldwide and lacks effective treatments. Using bioactivity-guided fractionation, NMR, and electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-HRMS) spectral analysis, the indole alkaloid 6-bromo-2'-de- N -methylaplysinopsin ( BMA ) was isolated and chemically characterized from the marine coral Tubastraea tagusensis . BMA was tested against trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of T. cruzi , resulting in IC 50 values of 62 and 5.7 μM, respectively, with no mammalian cytotoxicity. The mechanism of action studies showed that BMA induced no alterations in the plasma membrane permeability but caused depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, reducing ATP levels. Intracellular calcium levels were also reduced after the treatment, which was associated with pH alteration of acidocalcisomes. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF)/MS analysis, alterations of mass spectral signals were observed after treatment with BMA , suggesting a different mechanism from benznidazole. In silico pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) parameters suggested a drug-likeness property, supporting the promising usefulness of this compound as a new hit for optimizations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the current status of non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors amongst adolescents in Bangladesh. We also critically reviewed the existing policy responses to NCD risk among adolescents in Bangladesh., Methods: This study used a mixed method approach. To quantify the NCD risk burden, we used data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey conducted in Bangladesh. To understand policy response, we reviewed NCD-related policy documents introduced by the Government of Bangladesh between 1971 and 2018 using the WHO recommended NCD Action Plan 2013-2020as study framework. Information from the policy documents was extracted using a matrix, mapping each document against the six objectives of the WHO 2013-2020 Action Plan., Results: Almost all adolescents in Bangladesh had at least one NCD risk factor, and there was a high prevalence of concurrent multiple NCD risk factors; 14% had one NCD risk factor while 22% had two, 29% had three, 34% had four or more NCD risk factors. Out of 38 policy documents, eight (21.1%) were related to research and/or surveys, eight (21.1%) were on established policies, and eleven (29%) were on legislation acts. Three policy documents (7.9%) were related to NCD guidelines and eight (21.1%) were strategic planning which were introduced by the government and non-government agencies/institutes in Bangladesh., Conclusions: The findings emphasize the needs for strengthening NCD risk factors surveillance and introducing appropriate intervention strategies targeted to adolescents. Despite the Government of Bangladesh introducing several NCD-related policies and programs, the government also needs more focus on clear planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation approaches to preventing NCD risk factors among the adolescents in Bangladesh., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The tropical peatlands of southern Brazil are essential for the maintenance of the Atlantic Rain Forest, one of the 25 hotspots of biodiversity in the world. Although diazotrophic micro-organisms are essential for the maintenance of this nitrogen limited ecosystem, so far studies have focused only on micro-organisms involved in the carbon cycle. In this work, peat samples were collected from three tropical peatland regions during dry and rainy seasons and their chemical and microbial characteristics were evaluated. Our results showed that the structure of the diazotrophic communities in the Brazilian tropical peatlands differs in the evaluated seasons. The abundance of the genus Bradyrhizobium showed to be affected by rainfall and peat pH. Despite the shifts of the nitrogen-fixing population in the tropical peatland caused by seasonality it showed to be constantly dominated by α-Proteobacteria followed by Cyanobacteria. In addition, more than 50% of nifH gene sequences have not been classified, indicating the necessity for more studies in tropical peatland, since the reduction of N supply in the peatlands stimulates the recalcitrant organic matter decomposition performed by peatland micro-organisms, influencing the C stock., (© 2021 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

The database here contains experimental data relevant to an original maximum power point tracking controller for an experimental direct-drive full-variable-speed full-rated converter Type IV Wind Energy Conversion System in standalone operation. The main goal is to maximize power extraction by controlling the duty cycle of a multilevel boost converter, which is responsible for adjusting the angular speed of a permanent magnet synchronous generator coupled to a three-phase induction motor that emulates the wind turbine. Two data acquisition cards with the appropriate signal conditioners were used to obtain measurements of the generator angular speed, output current, and output voltage at the terminals of the multilevel converter. In addition, data related to power coefficient, tip speed ratio, duty cycle, and output power are also included. Two PCs in a Linux real-time platform were used for the emulation, control, and data collection processes. On the other hand, Matlab was used to analyze the data to evaluate the controller's performance to maximize wind power extraction. The database is freely accessible at http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/363d24mcb6.2. This dataset [1] represents a resource for wind power specialists who develop algorithms for wind energy optimization., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships which have, or could be perceived to have, influenced the work reported in this article., (© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Liver disease is frequently asymptomatic, challenging early identification in the primary care setting. The fibrosis 4 (FIB4) index is a liver fibrosis biomarker that is a potential alternative to liver biopsy for diagnosing and managing liver disease. This study aimed to calculate the FIB4 index for screening individuals at high risk of liver disease at the community level. This was a retrospective real-world study analyzing blood and serum test results from a central laboratory. The primary outcome was the number of individuals within each risk category for hepatic fibrosis: high risk (FIB4 ≥ 3.25) and low risk (FIB4 < 1.3). The analysis included samples from 31,753 patients, of which 18,102 were aged 40 to 75 years. In these patients, the FIB4 index had been explicitly requested in 1852 (10.2%) cases and estimated ad hoc in the rest. Of the 263 (1.5%) cases with FIB4 ≥ 3.25, the FIB4 index was requested in 46 (17.5%), and 52 (19.8%) showed evidence of liver fibrosis in their medical records, while the rest did not report any data regarding liver fibrosis. FIB4 is a simple score that can play a role as a "red flag" for early identification of patients at high risk of advanced liver fibrosis and their referral to specialized care.

Staphylococcus aureus is the one of the most successful modern pathogens. The same bacterium that lives as a skin and mucosal commensal can be transmitted in health-care and community-settings and causes severe infections. Thus, there is a great challenge for a discovery of novel anti-Staphylococcus aureus compounds, which should act against resistant strains. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of 17 chalcones, substituted by amino group on ring A, which were evaluated against methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus MRSA planktonic cells. The antibacterial potency was improved by substituents on ring B, which were designed according to Topliss' manual method. 4-bromo-3'-aminochalcone (5f) was the most active, demonstrating minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 1.9 μg mL -1 and 7.8 µg mL -1 against MSSA and MRSA, respectively. The association of 5f with vancomycin demonstrated synergistic effect against MSSA and MRSA, with Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI) values of 0.4 and 0.3, respectively. Subinhibitory concentration of 5f inhibited the MSSA and MRSA adhesion to human keratinocytes. Chalcone 5f was able to reduce MSSA and MRSA biofilm formation, as well as acts on preformed biofilm in concentration-dependent mode. Scanning electron microscopy analyses confirmed severe perturbations caused by 5f on MSSA and MRSA biofilm architecture. The acute toxicity assay, using Galleria mellonella larvae, indicated a low toxic effect of 5f after 72 h, displaying lethality of 20% and 30% at 7.8 μg mL -1 and 78.0 μg mL -1 , respectively. In addition, the antibacterial activity spectrum of 5f indicated action against planktonic cells of Enterococcus faecalis (MIC = 7.8 μg mL -1 ), Acinetobacter baumannii (MIC = 15.6 μg mL -1 ) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MIC = 5.7 μg mL -1 ). Altogether, these results open new avenues for 5f as an anti-Staphylococcus aureus agent, with potential applications as antibacterial drug, adjunct of antibiotics and medical devices coating., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Metagenome amplicon DNA sequencing and traditional cell culture techniques are helping to uncover the diversity and the biotechnological potential of prokaryotes in different habitats around the world. It has also had a profound impact on microbial taxonomy in the last decades. Here we used metagenome 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing to reveal the microbiome composition of different layers of an anthropogenic soil collected at a shell mound Sambaqui archeological site. The Samabaqui soil microbiome is mainly composed by phyla Acidobacteria, Rokubacteria, Proteobacteria and Thaumarchaeota. Using culture-dependent analysis we obtained few Streptomyces isolates from the Sambaqui soil. One of the isolates, named Streptomyces sp. S3, was able to grow in minimal medium containing recalcitrant polysaccharides including chitin, xylan, carboxymethylcellulose or microcrystalline cellulose as sole carbon sources. The activities of enzymes degrading these compounds were confirmed in cell free supernatants. The genome sequence revealed not only an arsenal of genes related to polysaccharides degradation but also biosynthetic gene clusters which may be involved in the production of biotechnologically interesting secondary metabolites., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: Idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis (IRAP) describes frequent episodes of pancreatitis without an etiology found using current testing. We compared the natural history of IRAP with recurrent acute pancreatitis with genetic mutations., Methods: Retrospective cohort of patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis (≥2 episodes) and negative conventional testing. All patients had ≥1 episode after cholecystectomy and completed genetic testing. Primary outcomes were chronic pancreatitis incidence, pancreatic cancer, and mortality. Secondary outcomes included opioid and ERCP utilization., Results: 128 patients met criteria for presumed IRAP. 35 patients met criteria for true IRAP. 12 patients had recurrent acute pancreatitis with gene mutations. Chronic pancreatitis developed in 27 (77.1%) IRAP patients over a median of 6 years. Chronic pancreatitis incidence was similar in IRAP and CFTR mutation carriers; but developed later in SPINK1 carriers. No patients developed pancreatic cancer or died from pancreatic-related causes. Patients were frequently treated with oral opioids and ERCP, without significant differences within or between groups., Conclusion: IRAP and pancreatitis in mutation carriers is associated with chronic pancreatitis. Important differences in natural history were observed, but no association was found with cancer or pancreas-related mortality. Efforts to understand the genetic contributions to IRAP, minimize opioids and unnecessary ERCPs are encouraged., (Copyright © 2021 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CH) is a severe disorder characterised by the appearance of severe hypoglycaemia. Pathogenic mutations in the ABCC8 and KCNJ11 genes are the most frequent cause, although its appearance also been associated to mutations in other genes (GCK, GLUD1, HADH, HNF1A, HNF4A, SLC16A1, UCP2, HK1), and with different syndromes., Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of patients diagnosed with CH in this unit during the last 18 years (2001-2018). Genetic analysis included screening for 11 genes in genomic DNA from peripheral blood (ABCC8, GCK, GLUD1, HADH, HNF1A, HNF4A, INSR, KCNJ11, SLC16A1, UCP2, and SLC25A15)., Objective: To carry out a clinical and genetic characterisation of the diagnosed cases of CH in Gran Canaria., Results: There have been 10 cases of persistent HC since 2001. Seven of them had mutations in the ABCC8 gene, one in the HNF4α gene, and in two patients, no pathogenic mutations were found in the analysed genes. Four patients presented with previously undescribed mutations. Pancreatectomy was performed in two of the cases. The minimum insulin value detected in hypoglycaemia was 6.81 µIU/mL. The incidence of persistent CH for Gran Canaria and Lanzarote is 1/15,614., Conclusions: Four patients had previously undescribed mutations. The most frequently affected gene was ABCC8. Pancreatectomy was required in 20% of the patients. An insulin value of ≥6.81 µIU/mL was observed in all patients at the time of diagnosis. The incidence of CH in Gran Canaria is high., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Española de Pediatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is frequently performed in the prone or supine position. We compared the technical success and other outcomes between these positions., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative database. Demographics, procedure and fluoroscopy time, visualization of main structures, and technical success rates were compared between the supine and prone positions. Univariate and multivariate regressions were performed to adjust for age, sex, ethnicity and clinical setting., Results: A total of 21,090 patients who underwent ERCP were included, of whom 1769 (8.4%) were supine and 19,321 (91.6%) were prone. The common bile duct (CBD) was visualized and cannulated in 89.1% of supine vs. 91.4% of prone positions (P=0.017), while the ampulla was visualized in 97.1% of supine vs. 97.7% of prone (P=0.414). The ERCP was incomplete in 10% of supine vs. 5% of prone cases (P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, supine position required shorter procedure times than prone (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98-0.98; P<0.001). The supine position also yielded lower odds of CBD visualization and cannulation (aOR 0.63, 95%CI 0.44-0.91; P=0.011) and higher odds of an incomplete examination (aOR 1.84, 95%CI 1.46-2.30; P<0.001) vs. prone., Conclusions: The supine position leads to shorter procedures but is more likely to result in poorer visualization and cannulation of the CBD and an incomplete examination. This may reflect the technical difficulty of performing ERCP in the supine position for the endoscopist. Our study supports recommendations for an individualized ERCP approach., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: None, (Copyright: © Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology.)

The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest tropical forest, and this biome may be a significant contributor to primary biological aerosol (PBA) emissions on a global scale. These aerosols also play a pivotal role in modulating ecosystem dynamics, dispersing biological material over geographic barriers and influencing climate through radiation absorption, light scattering, or acting as cloud condensation nuclei. Despite their importance, there are limited studies investigating the effect of environmental variables on the bioaerosol composition in the Amazon rainforest. Here we present a 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing approach to investigate the bacterial microbiome in aerosols of the Amazon rainforest during distinct seasons and at different heights above the ground. Our data revealed that seasonal changes in temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation are the primary drivers of compositional changes in the Amazon rainforest aerosol microbiome. Interestingly, no significant differences were observed in the bacterial community composition of aerosols collected at ground and canopy levels. The core airborne bacterial families present in Amazon aerosol were Enterobacteriaceae, Beijerinckiaceae, Polyangiaceae, Bacillaceae and Ktedonobacteraceae. By correlating the bacterial taxa identified in the aerosol with literature data, we speculate that the phyllosphere may be one possible source of airborne bacteria in the Amazon rainforest. Results of this study indicate that the aerosol microbiota of the Amazon Rainforest are fairly diverse and principally impacted by seasonal changes in temperature and humidity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Maximum power point tracking in wind turbines is a topic that has attracted many researchers' interest; however, the studies presented are usually carried out only at the simulation level, so they lack a verification in the system through real measurements. On the other hand, the system's modeling is usually quite complex, making it challenging to meet the control objectives. There are unified models in which the system is treated in a generalized way according to various research purposes. This work presents a methodology that simplifies the unified system through a series of dynamic tests that applied to obtained a simplified model much easier to handle without sacrificing the system's dynamic richness. • An alternative approach for a unified wind energy conversion system is established by employing physical dynamic tests applied to the wind set . • A maximum power point tracking is verified by real-time measurements managed by an open-source platform. • Methodology related to electronic instrumentation and programming is described so the tests can be reproduced without much difficulty., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aeromonas are bacteria broadly spread in the environment, particularly in aquatic habitats and can induce human infections. Several virulence factors have been described associated with bacterial pathogenicity, such as the Type VI Secretion System (T6SS). This system translocates effector proteins into target cells through a bacteriophage-like contractile structure encoded by tss genes. Here, a total of 446 Aeromonas genome sequences were screened for T6SS and the proteins subjected to in silico analysis. The T6SS-encoding locus was detected in 243 genomes and its genes are encoded in a cluster containing 13 core and 5 accessory genes, in highly conserved synteny. The amino acid residues identity of T6SS proteins ranges from 78 to 98.8%. In most strains, a pair of tssD and tssI is located upstream the cluster (tssD-2, tssI-2) and another pair was detected distant from the cluster (tssD-1, tssI-1). Significant variability was seen in TssI (VgrG) C-terminal region, which was sorted in four groups based on its sequence length and protein domains. TssI containing ADP-ribosyltransferase domain are associated exclusively with TssI-1, while genes coding proteins carrying DUF4123 (a conserved domain of unknown function) were observed downstream tssI-1 or tssI-2 and escort of possible effector proteins. Genes coding proteins containing DUF1910 and DUF1911 domains were located only downstream tssI-2 and might represent a pair of toxin/immunity proteins. Nearly all strains display downstream tssI-3, that codes for a lysozyme family domain protein. These data reveal that Aeromonas T6SS cluster synteny is conserved and the low identity observed for some genes might be due to species heterogeneity or its niche/functionality.

Among other attributes, the Betaproteobacterial genus Azoarcus has biotechnological importance for plant growth-promotion and remediation of petroleum waste-polluted water and soils. It comprises at least two phylogenetically distinct groups. The "plant-associated" group includes strains that are isolated from the rhizosphere or root interior of the C4 plant Kallar Grass, but also strains from soil and/or water; all are considered to be obligate aerobes and all are diazotrophic. The other group (now partly incorporated into the new genus Aromatoleum ) comprises a diverse range of species and strains that live in water or soil that is contaminated with petroleum and/or aromatic compounds; all are facultative or obligate anaerobes. Some are diazotrophs. A comparative genome analysis of 32 genomes from 30 Azoarcus-Aromatoleum strains was performed in order to delineate generic boundaries more precisely than the single gene, 16S rRNA, that has been commonly used in bacterial taxonomy. The origin of diazotrophy in Azoarcus-Aromatoleum was also investigated by comparing full-length sequences of nif genes, and by physiological measurements of nitrogenase activity using the acetylene reduction assay. Based on average nucleotide identity (ANI) and whole genome analyses, three major groups could be discerned: (i) Azoarcus comprising Az. communis , Az. indigens and Az. olearius , and two unnamed species complexes, (ii) Aromatoleum Group 1 comprising Ar. anaerobium , Ar. aromaticum , Ar. bremense , and Ar. buckelii , and (iii) Aromatoleum Group 2 comprising Ar. diolicum , Ar. evansii , Ar. petrolei , Ar. toluclasticum , Ar. tolulyticum , Ar. toluolicum, and Ar. toluvorans . Single strain lineages such as Azoarcus sp. KH32C, Az. pumilus, and Az. taiwanensis were also revealed. Full length sequences of nif -cluster genes revealed two groups of diazotrophs in Azoarcus-Aromatoleum with nif being derived from Dechloromonas in Azoarcus sensu stricto (and two Thauera strains) and from Azospira in Aromatoleum Group 2. Diazotrophy was confirmed in several strains, and for the first time in Az. communis LMG5514, Azoarcus sp. TTM-91 and Ar. toluolicum T T . In terms of ecology, with the exception of a few plant-associated strains in Azoarcus (s.s.), across the group, most strains/species are found in soil and water (often contaminated with petroleum or related aromatic compounds), sewage sludge, and seawater. The possession of nar , nap , nir , nor, and nos genes by most Azoarcus-Aromatoleum strains suggests that they have the potential to derive energy through anaerobic nitrate respiration, so this ability cannot be usefully used as a phenotypic marker to distinguish genera. However, the possession of bzd genes indicating the ability to degrade benzoate anaerobically plus the type of diazotrophy (aerobic vs. anaerobic) could, after confirmation of their functionality, be considered as distinguishing phenotypes in any new generic delineations. The taxonomy of the Azoarcus-Aromatoleum group should be revisited; retaining the generic name Azoarcus for its entirety, or creating additional genera are both possible outcomes.

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous infection caused by fungi from the genus Sporothrix . It is transmitted by inoculation of infective particles found in plant-contaminated material or diseased animals, characterizing the classic sapronotic and emerging zoonotic transmission, respectively. Since 1998, southeastern Brazil has experienced a zoonotic sporotrichosis epidemic caused by S. brasiliensis , centred in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Our observation of feline sporotrichosis cases in Brasília (Midwestern Brazil), around 900 km away from Rio de Janeiro, led us to question whether the epidemic caused by S. brasiliensis has spread from the epicentre in Rio de Janeiro, emerged independently in the two locations, or if the disease has been present and unrecognized in Midwestern Brazil. A retrospective analysis of 91 human and 4 animal cases from Brasília, ranging from 1993 to 2018, suggests the occurrence of both sapronotic and zoonotic transmission. Molecular typing of the calmodulin locus identified S. schenckii as the agent in two animals and all seven human patients from which we were able to recover clinical isolates. In two other animals, the disease was caused by S. brasiliensis . Whole-genome sequence typing of seven Sporothrix spp. strains from Brasília and Rio de Janeiro suggests that S. brasiliensis isolates from Brasília are genetically distinct from those obtained at the epicentre of the outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, both in phylogenomic and population genomic analyses. The two S. brasiliensis populations seem to have separated between 2.2 and 3.1 million years ago, indicating independent outbreaks or that the zoonotic S. brasiliensis outbreak might have started earlier and be more widespread in South America than previously recognized.

Anaerobic digestion can produce biogas as an eco-friendly energy source, driven by a microbial community-dependent process and, as such, suffer influences from many biotic and abiotic factors. Understanding the players and how they interact, the mechanisms involved, what the factors are, and how they influence the biogas process and production is an important way to better control it and make it more efficient. Metagenomic approach is a powerful tool to assess microbial diversity and further, allow correlating changes in microbial communities with multiple factors in virtually all environments. In the present study, we used metagenomic approach to assess microbial community structure changes in two biodigesters, differing in their biogas production capacity, architecture, and feed. A total of 1,440,096 reads of the 16S rRNA gene V4 region were obtained and analyzed. The main bacterial phyla were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in both biodigesters, but the biodiversity was greater in the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor fed with bovine manure than in the Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) fed with swine manure, which also correlated with an increase in biogas or methane production. Microbial community structure associated with biodigesters changed seasonally and depended on animal growth stage. Random forest algorithm analysis revealed key microbial taxa for each biodigester. Candidatus Cloacomonas, Methanospirillum, and Methanosphaera were the marker taxa for UASB and the archaea groups Methanobrevibacter and Candidatus Methanoplasma were the marker taxa for CSTR. A high abundance of Candidatus Methanoplasma and Marinimicrobia SAR406 clade suggested lower increments in methane production. Network analysis pointed to negative and positive associations and specific key groups, essential in maintaining the anaerobic digestion (AD) process, as being uncultured Parcubacteria bacteria, Candidatus Cloacomonas, and Candidatus Methanoplasma groups, whose functions in AD require investigation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Use of the Oncotype DX recurrence score (RS) has been widely adopted in women with early-stage hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER-) breast cancer (BC). Validation studies on the use of RS in male BC (MBC) are lacking., Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the utilization of RS and association with chemotherapy recommendations in early-stage MBC compared with female BC (FBC)., Methods: Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), a retrospective review was performed for patients with T1/T2, node-negative, HR+/HER2- BC between 2010 and 2014. Patients were stratified by demographics, tumor characteristics, RS, and chemotherapy use comparing MBC with FBC over the allotted time period., Results: A total of 358,497 patients-3068 (0.8%) males and 355,429 (99.1%) females-met the inclusion criteria. A smaller proportion of MBC patients received RS testing compared with FBC patients (32% vs. 35%, p < 0.001). Male patients who had RS were younger, had T2 tumors, lymphovascular invasion, and private insurance. The distribution of RS was similar in both groups. Only 4% of MBC patients with low RS received adjuvant chemotherapy, compared with 4.9% of FBC patients. Overall chemotherapy rates were similar in MBC and FBC patients., Conclusions: Our results showed that RS has not been completely embraced in the management of MBC, although when performed in MBC, chemotherapy recommendations vary based on RS. Whether the use of RS affects the clinical outcomes of MBC is unknown. A prospective registry would help clarify and evaluate the impact of RS on clinical outcomes in MBC.

Recent data in humans indicate that immunosuppression is correlated with shifts in the intestinal microbiota. However, the relationship between immunosuppression and intestinal microbiota has not been studied in chickens. Thus, we investigated the correlations between immune cells and intestinal microbiota by massive parallel sequencing of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene in chickens immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide. The results showed correlations between peripheral immune cells and intestinal microbiota. Surprisingly, an increase in the abundance of intestinal Lactobacillus in the immunosuppressed chickens was observed. These birds also had low intestinal IgA antibody levels among other alterations in the microbiota. These shifts indicate a role of the immunity system in controlling the microbiota of birds. IMPORTANCE Poultry production is a very intensive industry. Due to the substantial number of animals being raised by any one producer, even small variations in productivity lead to important economical outcomes. The intestinal microbiota of birds is under intense scrutiny by the immune system. Therefore, it is a factor that can influence the states of health and disease of the host. The body of knowledge on the interactions between these systems is gradually bringing practical guidance for poultry production., (Copyright © 2020 Mesa et al.)

Recent studies highlight the abundance of commensal co agulase- n egative s taphylococci (CoNS) on healthy skin. Evidence suggests that CoNS actively shape the skin immunological and microbial milieu to resist colonization or infection by opportunistic pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in a variety of mechanisms collectively termed colonization resistance. One potential colonization resistance mechanism is the application of quorum sensing, also called the a ccessory g ene r egulator ( agr ) system, which is ubiquitous among staphylococci. Common and rare CoNS make autoinducing peptides (AIPs) that function as MRSA agr inhibitors, protecting the host from invasive infection. In a screen of CoNS spent media, we found that Staphylococcus simulans , a rare human skin colonizer and frequent livestock colonizer, released potent inhibitors of all classes of MRSA agr signaling. We identified three S. simulans agr classes and have shown intraspecies cross talk between noncognate S. simulans agr types for the first time. The S. simulans AIP-I structure was confirmed, and the novel AIP-II and AIP-III structures were solved via mass spectrometry. Synthetic S. simulans AIPs inhibited MRSA agr signaling with nanomolar potency. S. simulans in competition with MRSA reduced dermonecrotic and epicutaneous skin injury in murine models. The addition of synthetic AIP-I also effectively reduced MRSA dermonecrosis and epicutaneous skin injury in murine models. These results demonstrate potent anti-MRSA quorum sensing inhibition by a rare human skin commensal and suggest that cross talk between CoNS and MRSA may be important in maintaining healthy skin homeostasis and preventing MRSA skin damage during colonization or acute infection., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Microbiology.)

Cancer treatment often lacks individual dose adaptation, contributing to insufficient efficacy and severe side effects. Thus, personalized approaches are highly desired. Although various analytical techniques are established to determine drug levels in preclinical models, they are limited in the automated real-time acquisition of pharmacokinetic profiles. Therefore, an online UHPLC-MS/MS system for quantitation of drug concentrations within 3D tumor oral mucosa models was generated. The integration of sampling ports into the 3D tumor models and their culture inside the autosampler allowed for real-time pharmacokinetic profiling without additional sample preparation. Docetaxel quantitation was validated according to EMA guidelines. The tumor models recapitulated the morphology of head-and-neck cancer and the dose-dependent tumor reduction following docetaxel treatment. The administration of four different docetaxel concentrations resulted in comparable courses of concentration versus time curves for 96 h. In conclusion, this proof-of-concept study demonstrated the feasibility of real-time monitoring of drug levels in 3D tumor models without any sample preparation. The inclusion of patient-derived tumor cells into our models may further optimize the pharmacotherapy of cancer patients by efficiently delivering personalized data of the target tissue.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have challenged the need for routine radiation therapy (RT) in women ≥ age 70 with favorable early stage breast cancer (BC) due to modest improvement in local control and no survival benefit. We studied practice patterns in RT among elderly women in the United States. We analyzed data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) of women ≥age 70 diagnosed with T1 or T2 and N0 invasive BC treated with breast conservation surgery (BCS) between 2004 and 2014. Patients were divided into four groups: (1) no RT, (2) partial breast irradiation (PBI); (3) hypofractionation (HF); and (4) conventional whole breast RT (CWBI). Univariable and multivariable analyses (MVA) were performed to compare characteristics among the four RT groups. A subgroup analysis of women with favorable disease (T1N0 ER + HER2-) was also performed with similar statistical comparisons. Of the 66,126 meeting eligibility, 9,570 (14.5%) had PBI, 16,340 (24.7%) had HF, and 40,117 (60.7%) had CWBI. Only 99 patients (0.15%) had RT omitted. Omission of RT increased marginally from 0.04% in 2004 to 0.24% in 2014. MVA identified older age (OR 1.18, CI 1.08-1.28), more comorbidities (Charlson-Deyo Score of 1) (OR 3.36, CI 1.29-8.72), and no hormone therapy (OR 22.07, CI 5.79-84.07) as more likely to have RT omitted. The use of HF increased from 3.9% to 47.0%, P < .001 with a concomitant decrease in CWBI from 88% to 41%, P < .001. MVA identified older age, treatment location, and omission of chemotherapy as associated with HF. No significant differences from the larger cohort were found among the T1N0 subgroup analysis. Despite RCT evidence, omission of RT was rare in the United States, suggesting that more effective outreach methods to disseminate clinical guideline information may be needed., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Introduction: Background: the prevalence of overweight and obesity showed and increasing trend over the past few years. The burden of this epidemic represents a public health issue worldwide. Spain, and especially the Canary Islands, are not exempt. Pregnancy is a situation of weight gain, and the amount of such increase during gestation can affect the health status of both the mother and her baby. Thus, an optimal dietary style becomes of importance. Aim: given the benefits of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on various health outcomes, we aimed to study the adherence to this dietary pattern in a sample of Canarian pregnant women, and to investigate its association with their newborn's weight. Methods: adherence to MD as well as clinical history and anthropometrics were assessed in a sample of pregnant women followed at a Canarian hospital. Similarly, their newborn characteristics were studied. Results: our findings showed an overall low adherence to MD, with no association between this trend and birthweight. Conclusions: in conclusion, specific tools should be tailored to the target population to assess adherence to MD, and further efforts should be made to promote a healthy eating pattern and lifestyle among the pregnant population.

Background: Male breast cancer (MBC) management is extrapolated from female BC. Mastectomy remains the most frequently used surgical procedure for male breast cancer (MBC). We performed a literature review to assess the use of breast-conservation (BCS) in MBC as well as outcomes following BCS., Methods: A systematic literature was performed, and articles screened to identify studies that measured overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), or local recurrence (LR) in patients undergoing BCS. Weighted averages based on study size were performed for LR, DFS, and 5-year OS., Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria with male breast surgery cases, and 859 (14.7%) underwent BCS. The mean follow-up time was 53 months, and mean age was 62.6 years, with stage II as the most common presentation. Two studies reported that 50-71.4% of patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy, and four studies reported axillary lymph node dissection in 14.3-100%. Five studies reported on adjuvant radiation therapy in 12.0-100% of total patients undergoing BCS. Four studies reported use of hormonal therapy in 73.8-100% of patients. Four studies reported use of chemotherapy in 25-66.7% of patients. Seven studies reported LR among 116 patients, with a weighted average of 9.9%. Three studies reported on DFS in 14 patients, with a weighted average 85.6%. Two studies report OS in 143 patients with a weighted average of 84.4%., Conclusions: Breast conservation may be considered a safe alternative in the surgical treatment of MBC. Future research should focus on better standardization of local therapy for MBC and improved reporting of outcomes.

Biological aerosols (bioaerosol) are atmospheric particles that act as a dispersion unit of living organisms across the globe thereby affecting the biogeographic distribution of organisms. Despite their importance, there is virtually no knowledge about bioaerosols emitted by pristine forests. Here we provide the very first survey of the prokaryotic community of a bioaerosol collected inside pristine Amazon forest at 2 m above ground. Total atmospheric particles were collected at the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory, subjected to metagenomic DNA extraction and the prokaryotic diversity was determined by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. A total of 271,577 reads of 250 bp of the 16S rRNA gene amplicon were obtained. Only 27% of the reads could be classified using the 16S SILVA database. Most belonged to Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes which is in good agreement with other bioaerosol studies. Further inspection of the reads using Blast searches and the 18S SILVA database revealed that most of the dataset was composed of Fungi sequences. The identified microbes suggest that the atmosphere may act as an important gateway to interchange bacteria between plants, soil and water ecosystems., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Uncertainty regarding chemotherapy benefit among breast cancer patients with intermediate Oncotype Dx ® recurrence scores (RS; 11-25) led to the TAILORx study. We evaluated chemotherapy use in patients with intermediate RS to determine practice change potential based on the TAILORx results., Methods: National Cancer Data Base patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, N0 breast cancer were identified and were divided into three groups: Group A, ≤ 50 years of age (RS 11-15); Group B, ≤ 50 years of age (RS 16-25); and Group C, > 50 years of age (RS 11-25). Demographic and clinical factors were compared using Chi square tests and Poisson regression models to determine predictors of chemotherapy receipt., Results: Overall, 37,087 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 6.3% in Group A and 11.7% in Group C having received chemotherapy that may have been avoided based on TAILORx. The majority of Group B (64.7%) did not receive chemotherapy, whereas TAILORx showed potential benefit from treatment. Chemotherapy use decreased over time for all intermediate RS patients. T2 tumors, high grade, and treatment before 2012 increased the likelihood of chemotherapy receipt among both groups. Younger patients with the lower intermediate RS (Group A) were more likely to receive chemotherapy if they had treatment at community or comprehensive centers, whereas moderate grade was also a significant factor to receive chemotherapy in Group B. Significant factors in older patients (Group C) were Black race, estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-negative, and moderate/high grade., Conclusions: The most potential impact of TAILORx findings on practice change is for patients ≤ 50 years of age with RS of 16-25 who did not receive chemotherapy but may benefit. These findings may serve as a baseline for future analysis of practice patterns related to TAILORx.

Background: Herbaspirillum seropedicae is an environmental β-proteobacterium that is capable of promoting the growth of economically relevant plants through biological nitrogen fixation and phytohormone production. However, strains of H. seropedicae have been isolated from immunocompromised patients and associated with human infections and deaths. In this work, we sequenced the genomes of two clinical strains of H. seropedicae, AU14040 and AU13965, and compared them with the genomes of strains described as having an environmental origin., Results: Both genomes were closed, indicating a single circular chromosome; however, strain AU13965 also carried a plasmid of 42,977 bp, the first described in the genus Herbaspirillum. Genome comparison revealed that the clinical strains lost the gene sets related to biological nitrogen fixation (nif) and the type 3 secretion system (T3SS), which has been described to be essential for interactions with plants. Comparison of the pan-genomes of clinical and environmental strains revealed different sets of accessorial genes. However, antimicrobial resistance genes were found in the same proportion in all analyzed genomes. The clinical strains also acquired new genes and genomic islands that may be related to host interactions. Among the acquired islands was a cluster of genes related to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. Although highly conserved in environmental strains, the LPS biosynthesis genes in the two clinical strains presented unique and non-orthologous genes within the genus Herbaspirillum. Furthermore, the AU14040 strain cluster contained the neuABC genes, which are responsible for sialic acid (Neu5Ac) biosynthesis, indicating that this bacterium could add it to its lipopolysaccharide. The Neu5Ac-linked LPS could increase the bacterial resilience in the host aiding in the evasion of the immune system., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the lifestyle transition from environment to opportunist led to the loss and acquisition of specific genes allowing adaptations to colonize and survive in new hosts. It is possible that these substitutions may be the starting point for interactions with new hosts.

Burkholderia contaminans LTEB11 is a Gram-negative betaproteobacterium isolated as a contaminant of a culture in mineral medium supplemented with vegetable oil. Here, we report the genome sequence of B. contaminans LTEB11, identifying and analyzing the genes involved in its lipolytic machinery and in the production of other biotechnological products.

We report the complete genome sequence of Bacillus sp. strain ABP14 isolated from lignocellulosic compost and selected by its ability in hydrolyzing carboxymethyl cellulose. This strain does not produce a Cry-like protein but showed an insecticidal activity against larvae of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera). Genome-based taxonomic analysis revealed that the ABP14 chromosome is genetically close to Bacillus thuringiensis serovar finitimus YBT020. ABP14 also carries one plasmid which showed no similarity with those from YBT020. Genome analysis of ABP14 identified unique genes related to cell surface structures, cell wall, metabolic competence, and virulence factors that may contribute for its survival and environmental adaptation, as well as its entomopathogenic activity., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.)

The structures of two azide containing imidazole derivatives are reported. Allylic azides are fairly reactive making them attractive starting compounds to convert into amides. The first, C 8 H 12 N 6 O 2 S, contains one azide group with an N α -N β distance of 1.229 (2) Å and an N β -N γ distance of 1.128 (2) Å. The second, C 8 H 11 N 9 O 2 S, contains two azide groups with an average N α -N β distance of 1.249 (2) Å and an average N β -N γ distance of 1.132 (2) Å. Each compound contains a bulky protecting group (di-methyl-amino-sulfon-yl) which can be easily removed under mildly acidic conditions.