Further studies are required to investigate the role of both direct contact with turtles as well as indirect contact through cross-contamination in the transmission of turtles-associated Salmonella to humans.Glioma is characterized by a high heterogeneity in the brain tumor. Abundant tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) exist as neoplastic tissues, implicating tumor plasticity and thus leading to therapeutic challenges. Vascular adhesion protein (VAP-1) potentially serves as a mediator for TAM immunity in tumor milieu. We previously demonstrated that VAP-1 could contribute to tumor malignancy, but its characteristics in TAM immunity of glioma progression are still unclear. This study explored the association of VAP-1 expression with TAM distribution as well as the resulting clinical significance and prognostic value in human gliomas. An in-depth analysis of AOC3 (VAP-1) gene expression was performed using 695 glioma samples derived from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA)-lower grade glioma and glioblastoma (GBMLGG) cohort. Bioinformatic analysis confirmed that VAP-1 expression is associated with poor prognosis of glioma patients (p = 0.0283). VAP-1 and TAM biomarkers (CD68, iNOS, and CD163) were evaluated by immunohisd with poor prognosis. These results implied VAP-1 abundance is closely linked to alternative M2 activation during glioma progression. From the aforementioned data, a reasonable inference is that VAP-1 combined with targeting M2 immunity might be an effective therapeutic target for human gliomas.Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are hallmarks of heart failure (HF). Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like organic compound widely expressed in humans as ubiquinol (reduced form) and ubiquinone (oxidized form). CoQ10 plays a key role in electron transport in oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria. CoQ10 acts as a potent antioxidant, membrane stabilizer and cofactor in the production of adenosine triphosphate by oxidative phosphorylation, inhibiting the oxidation of proteins and DNA. Patients with HF showed CoQ10 deficiency; therefore, a number of clinical trials investigating the effects of CoQ10 supplementation in HF have been conducted. CoQ10 supplementation may confer potential prognostic advantages in HF patients with no adverse hemodynamic profile or safety issues. The latest evidence on the clinical effects of CoQ10 supplementation in HF was reviewed.Cerrado biome represents an area with great biodiversity. Some of its plants have significant ethnopharmacological uses, with specific purposes. Croton urucurana Baill., for instance, was previously acknowledged for its anti-hemorrhagic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, healing, and potentially antifungal and entomopathogenic actions. Nevertheless, the compounds supporting these empirical applications are still unknown. Accordingly, this work was designed to achieve a complete characterization of the phenolic profile of different botanical tissues obtained from C. urucurana, and also to verify how different operational conditions (different drying temperatures and extraction conditions) affect that profile. All samples were further characterized by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn, and results were compared by advanced chemometric tools. In general, the drying temperatures that maximize the extraction yield of specific individual phenolic compounds were established. Likewise, it was possible to verify that samples extracted with the hydroethanolic solution allowed higher phenolic yields, either in individual compounds (except (epi)catechin-di-O-gallate) or total phenolics. The identification of the best operational conditions and phenolic profiles associated with each C. urucurana botanical part contributes to enabling their use in food or pharmaceutical-related applications.The contribution of all key healthcare professionals is vital to promote an efficient adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting system. In this context, nurses are important as they are in a better position to observe a patient’s response regarding the drug therapy and to report an ADR. The aim of the study was to explore the perspectives of nurses about ADR reporting system in Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 21 nurses were interviewed. The thematic content analysis of the qualitative interviews yielded six major themes and eight subthemes. Major themes included (1) Knowledge about the concept of the medication safety & the ADR; (2) Knowledge regarding pharmacovigilance activities; (3) Willingness to report; (4) Practices related to the ADR reporting; (5) Barriers to the ADR reporting; (6) Facilitators to the ADR reporting. The majority of the nurses were aware of medicine safety and ADRs, but in many cases, they were unable to report these ADRs. The study pointed out considerable concerns regarding the knowledge and practices of nurses about pharmacovigilance activities in their workplace, mainly due to increased workload, due to the absence of a reporting system and legal liability. The main challenges turned out to be the lack of knowledge and training, as well as the implementation of guidelines. Based on the findings, it is suggested that outcome of this study can serve as a guide to design policies that support ADR reporting by nurses in Pakistan.Weight gain is a common phenomenon among college students, especially those in their first year of university. Transitioning from high school to the college environment might increase perceived stress levels, thus affecting dietary behaviors and metabolism to promote overweight and obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical activities and dietary behaviors of college students in the context of their perceived stress levels. In addition, the demographic characteristics of the students were compared to ascertain their impact on dietary behaviors. Self-reported questionnaires were distributed to college students on campus in Korea. Perceived stress was measured by the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the scores for which were evaluated by independent t-tests to compare the dietary behaviors of the high- and low-perceived stress groups. Exploratory factor analysis was performed and Cronbach’s alphas were computed to assess the validity and internal consistency of the PSS-10 measurement items. Differences in the physical activities and dietary behaviors of the college students based on demographics such as sex, academic year, and residence type were found. Several dietary behaviors were significantly different between students with low and high perceived stress levels. Students with high perceived stress levels exhibited increased unhealthy dietary behaviors such as ready-prepared meal consumption (p less then 0.001). These results suggest that stress management should be offered to college students. In addition, programs should be provided to help first-year students adjust to the college environment in order to promote healthy dietary behaviors.Risk stratification and accurate patient prognosis are pending issues in the management of patients with kidney disease. The furosemide stress test (FST) has been proposed as a low-cost, fast, safe, and easy-to-perform test to assess tubular integrity, especially when compared to novel plasma and urinary biomarkers. However, the findings regarding its clinical use published so far provide insufficient evidence to recommend the generalized application of the test in daily clinical routine. Dosage, timing, and clinical outcomes of the FST proposed thus far have been significantly different, which further accentuates the need for standardization in the application of the test in order to facilitate the comparison of results between series. This review will summarize published research regarding the usefulness of the FST in different settings, providing the reader some insights about the possible implications of FST in clinical decision-making in patients with kidney disease and the challenges that research will have to address in the near future before widely applying the FST.The previous study suggested that the sulfated polysaccharides from Hizikia fusiforme (HFPS) possess strong antioxidant activity. The purpose of this study is to isolate fucoidan from HFPS and to investigate its antioxidant activity. A fucoidan (HFPS-F4) with a molecular weight of 102.67 kDa was isolated from HFPS. HFPS-F4 contains 99.01% of fucoidan (71.79 ± 0.56% of carbohydrate and 27.22 ± 0.05% of sulfate content). The fucoidan increased the viability of H2O2-treated Vero cells by 5.41, 11.17, and 16.32% at the concentration of 12.5, 25, and 50 μg/mL, respectively. Further results demonstrated that this effect act diminishing apoptosis by scavenging intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) via increasing the expression of the endogenous antioxidant enzymes, which was induced by elevating total nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) levels. In addition, the in vivo test results displayed that the pretreatment of fucoidan improved the survival rates and decreased heart-beating rate, ROS, cell death, and lipid peroxidation in H2O2-stimulated zebrafish. Taken together, these results demonstrated that fucoidan isolated from HFPS has strong in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities and it could be utilized in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical industries.An increased adipocyte size relative to the size of fat depots, also denoted hypertrophic adipose morphology, is a strong risk factor for the future development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The regulation of adipose morphology is poorly understood. We set out to identify genetic loci associated with adipose morphology and functionally evaluate candidate genes for impact on adipocyte development. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in the unique GENetics of Adipocyte Lipolysis (GENiAL) cohort comprising 948 participants who have undergone abdominal subcutaneous adipose biopsy with a determination of average adipose volume and morphology. The GWAS identified 31 genetic loci displaying suggestive association with adipose morphology. Functional evaluation of candidate genes by small interfering RNAs (siRNA)-mediated knockdown in adipose-derived precursor cells identified six genes controlling adipocyte renewal and differentiation, and thus of potential importance for adipose hypertrophy. In conclusion, genetic and functional studies implicate a regulatory role for ATL2, ARHGEF10, CYP1B1, TMEM200A, C17orf51, and L3MBTL3 in adipose morphology by their impact on adipogenesis.This paper examines the determinants and policy implications of active and healthy ageing in Sub-Saharan Africa, taking the case of Bamenda, in Cameroon. Specifically, the study sought to identify and explore the determinants of active and healthy ageing using a mixed-methods approach involving qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Focus group discussions were conducted complemented by a survey (random and snowball sampling) using a structured questionnaire. Narratives and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data generated from the focus group discussion and Tobit regression was employed to analyze the multiple determinants of active ageing by dimensions and on a global scale in Cameroon. Results identified three key dimensions of active and healthy ageing employment/livelihood options (EL), community support and health (CH) and housing and living in Bamenda (HL). The regression results reveal gender bias in active ageing, a non-effect of education and health on active ageing, and a positive effect of income on active and healthy ageing. This study contributes, among others, to the competence-environmental press theory on active ageing with regards to unbundling context specific determinants of active and healthy ageing. It equally derives policy considerations with regards to gender mainstreaming and the identification of age friendly income earning options to enhance the active and healthy ageing process.The study was designed to evaluate the effects of a liquid-type scanning-aid material on the accuracy and time efficiency of intraoral digital impressions compared to those of two different types of powder scanning-aid material and the powder-free scanning method. Three reference models (inlay, onlay, and bridge) were fabricated by a 3D printer and scanned with a model scanner to make the reference datasets. Four experimental groups (application of ScanCure, VITA, IP, and no treatment) were established, and the scans were acquired (each n = 5) using the Trios 3® (3 Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark). All scan data were digitally superimposed with the reference data (trueness, n = 5), and group comparisons were performed for each group (precision, n = 10). Time efficiency was evaluated by comparing the working times for scanning the models. The liquid-type ScanCure group showed fewer errors than the IP and VITA groups in all three reference models. Particularly, in the inlay model, the ScanCure group showed high accuracy compared to the powder-type groups (IP and VITA) with statistical significance (p less then 0.001). The working time of the no-treatment group was longer than that of the agent groups in all reference models (p less then 0.001). Notably, in the bridge model, the working time of the ScanCure group was shorter than that of the IP and VITA groups. Unlike other spray-type scanning-aid materials, this liquid-type material has the advantage of being thinly and uniformly applied to the object surface at the time of use. These findings suggest that the liquid-type scanning-aid material would be more accurate in achieving shape reproducibility using an intraoral scanner than the other two spray-type groups.Rheological properties of cementitious suspensions are affected not only by their mixture composition but also by process-related factors such as shear history. To enable a model-based description, investigations were carried out on the effect of shear history (shear rate variation over time) on the cement paste agglomeration state. Therefore, a Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM) system and a wide gap rheometer were coupled to study the relation between shear history and in-situ chord length distribution simultaneously, indicating particle agglomeration. Hence, the effect of average shear rates (resulting from the applied shear profile), as well as shear rate distribution within the gap (local shear rates) on the particle agglomeration state have been investigated. The rheological properties of cement paste were evaluated with the Reiner-Riwlin approach. Furthermore, the agglomeration state of the particles was compared for different average shear rates and local shear rates at various positions of the FBRM probe. The results show that the median chord length increases in all positions when the average shear rate is decreased, indicating increasing particle agglomeration. Moreover, due to variable local shear rates at different FBRM probe positions, different agglomeration states are observed, resulting from two factors, shear rate dependent particle agglomeration and shear-induced particle migration.Triple negative breast cancer is a collection of heterogeneous breast cancers that are immunohistochemically negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and ErbB2 (due to deletion or lack of amplification). No dominant proliferative driver has been identified for this type of cancer, and effective targeted therapy is lacking. In this study, we hypothesized that triple negative breast cancer cells are multi-driver cancer cells, and evaluated a biphasic mathematical model for identifying potent and synergistic drug combinations for multi-driver cancer cells. The responses of two triple negative breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468, to a panel of targeted therapy drugs were determined over a broad range of concentrations. The analyses of the drug responses by the biphasic mathematical model revealed that both cell lines were indeed dependent on multiple drivers, and inhibitors of individual drivers caused a biphasic response a target-specific partial inhibition at low nM concentrations, and an off-target toxicity at μM concentrations. We further demonstrated that combinations of drugs, targeting each driver, cause potent, synergistic, and cell-specific cell killing. Immunoblotting analysis of the effects of the individual drugs and drug combinations on the signaling pathways supports the above conclusion. These results support a multi-driver proliferation hypothesis for these triple negative breast cancer cells, and demonstrate the applicability of the biphasic mathematical model for identifying effective and synergistic targeted drug combinations for triple negative breast cancer cells.PURPOSE Evasion of the immune system by cancer cells allows for the progression of tumors. Antitumor immunotherapy has shown remarkable effects in a diverse range of cancers. The aim of this study was to determine the clinicopathological significance of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively studied 97 patients with UCB. We performed an immunohistochemical study to measure the expression levels of HER2, IDO, and PD-L1 in UCB tissue from these 97 patients. RESULTS In all 97 cases, the PD-L1 expression of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (ICs) was significantly correlated with higher pathologic tumor stage (pT). In pT2-pT4 cases (n = 69), higher levels of HER2 and IDO expression in invasive tumor cells (TCs) were associated with shorter periods of disease-free survival (DFS). CONCLUSION These results imply that the expression of PD-L1 in ICs of the UCB microenvironment is associated with cancer invasion and the expression of HER2 or IDO in the invasive cancer cell and suggestive of the potential for cancer recurrence. We suggest that the expression levels of IDO, HER2, and PD-L1 could be useful as targets in the development of combined cancer immunotherapeutic strategies.Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritus and cutaneous dry skin. Here, we investigated whether topical application of NI-01 composed of six herbal medicines has a therapeutic effect on AD in vivo. Twelve marker compounds of NI-01 were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector for quality control. To induce AD, house dust mite extract was applied to the shaved dorsal skin and ear surfaces of NC/Nga mice twice a week for 6 weeks. NI-01 (1, 2, or 4 mg/mouse) was applied daily to the site for experiment periods. The coefficient of determination of each compound showed good linearity (≥ 0.9999). The recovery rate of the 12 marker components was 96.77%-105.17%; intra and interday precision and repeatability were ≤ 1.40%. Topical application of NI-01 reduced house dust mite induced AD symptoms. The increased expressions of interleukin-4 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 caused by house dust mites were markedly suppressed in NI-01-treated mice. Corticosterone levels significantly decreased, whereas serotonin levels increased with NI-01 application. These results suggest that NI-01 alleviates AD symptoms by inhibiting infiltration of inflammatory cells, thereby decreasing AD-related stress. NI-01 could be beneficial for the treatment of AD-like skin diseases.This paper proposes a novel analogue front end (AFE) that has three features voltage-dependent input impedance, bandpass amplification, and stray capacitance reduction. With a view to applying the AFE to capacitive biopotential measurements (CBMs), the three features were investigated separately in a schematic and mathematical manner. Capacitive electrocardiogram (cECG) or capacitive electromyogram (cEMG) measurements using the AFE were performed in low-humidity conditions (below 35% relative humidity) for a total of seven human subjects. Performance evaluation of the AFE revealed the following (1) the proposed AFE in cECG measurement with 1.70-mm thick clothing reduced the baseline recovery time and root mean square voltage of respiratory interference in subjects with healthy-weight body mass index (BMI), and increased R-wave amplitude for overweight-BMI subjects; and (2) the proposed AFE in cEMG measurement of biceps brachii muscle yielded stable electromyographic waveforms without the marked DC component for all subjects and a significant (p less then 0.01) increase in the signal-to-noise ratio. These results indicate that the proposed AFE can provide a feasible balance between sensitivity and stability in CBMs, and it could be a versatile replacement for the conventional voltage follower used in CBMs.Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a central component of focal adhesions that regulate cancer cell proliferation and migration. Here, we studied the effects of FAK inhibition in glioblastoma (GBM), a fast growing brain tumor that has a poor prognosis. Treating GBM cells with the FAK inhibitor PF-573228 induced a proliferative arrest and increased cell size. PF-573228 also reduced the growth of GBM neurospheres. These effects were associated with increased p27/CDKN1B levels and β-galactosidase activity, compatible with acquisition of senescence. Interestingly, FAK inhibition repressed the expression of the autophagy cargo receptor p62/SQSTM-1. Moreover, depleting p62 in GBM cells also induced a senescent-like phenotype through transcriptional upregulation of p27. Our results indicate that FAK inhibition arrests GBM cell proliferation, resulting in cell senescence, and pinpoint p62 as being key to this process. These findings highlight the possible therapeutic value of targeting FAK in GBM.III-V nanowires grown by the vapor-liquid-solid method often show self-regulated oscillations of group V concentration in a catalyst droplet over the monolayer growth cycle. We investigate theoretically how this effect influences the electron-to-hole ratio in Si-doped GaAs nanowires. Several factors influencing the As depletion in the vapor-liquid-solid nanowire growth are considered, including the time-scale separation between the steps of island growth and refill, the „stopping effect” at very low As concentrations, and the maximum As concentration at nucleation and desorption. It is shown that the As depletion effect is stronger for slower nanowire elongation rates and faster for island growth relative to refill. Larger concentration oscillations suppress the electron-to-hole ratio and substantially enhance the tendency for the p-type Si doping of GaAs nanowires, which is a typical picture in molecular beam epitaxy. The oscillations become weaker and may finally disappear in vapor deposition techniques such as hydride vapor phase epitaxy, where the n-type Si doping of GaAs nanowires is more easily achievable.Urinary tract infections in the elderly are common. Treatment with nitrofurantoin in men may not be sufficient if concomitant tissue involvement is present, resulting in treatment failure. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of nitrofurantoin failure in the elderly, and to assess the effect of gender and age. A retrospective observational study was conducted using a Dutch general practice medical record database of 21,789 men and 26,622 women aged 65 years or older in 2015. First, nitrofurantoin prescriptions in 2015 were analyzed. Nitrofurantoin failure (subsequent prescription of antibiotic within 30 days) for men, women, and different age categories were compared. The effect of age and gender was assessed using multivariate logistic regression. A total of 3537 patients had a first nitrofurantoin prescription in 2015; 506 men and 3031 women. Overall, 584 patients (17%) experienced nitrofurantoin failure; 135 (27%) men and 449 (15%) women. Male gender (odds ratio (OR) = 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.68-2.61) and age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03) was associated with higher treatment failure. Our findings indicate that in a substantial number of elderly men, nitrofurantoin might not be the appropriate treatment. Nitrofurantoin, as a first choice in elderly men with urinary tract infections, should be reconsidered.A growing, global conversation, regarding realities and challenges that parents experience today is ever-present. To understand recent parent’s attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions regarding infant feeding, we sought to systematically identify and synthesize original qualitative research findings. Following the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) framework, electronic databases were searched with a priori terms applied to title/abstract fields and limited to studies published in English from 2015 to 2019, inclusive. Study quality assessment was conducted using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist, and thematic analyses performed. Of 73 studies meeting inclusion criteria, four major themes emerged. (1) Breastfeeding is best for an infant; (2) Distinct attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of mothers that breastfeed, and those that could not or chose not to breastfeed, are evident; (3) Infant feeding behaviors are influenced by the socio-cultural environment of the family, and (4) Parent’s expectations of education and support addressing personal infant feeding choices from health care providers are not always met. This systematic review, guided by constructs within behavioral models and theories, provides updated findings to help inform the development of nutrition education curricula and public policy programs. Results can be applied within scale-up nutrition and behavioral education interventions that support parents during infant feeding.In this study, a novel multifunctional nanoplatform based on core-shell nanoparticles of spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) capped with low and high molecular weight (200 and 700 kDa) hyaluronic acid (HA), was assembled via a green, one-pot redox synthesis method at room temperature. A multitechnique characterization approach by UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy pointed to the effective 'surface decoration’ of the gold nanoparticles by HA, resulting in different grafting densities of the biopolymer chains at the surface of the metal nanoparticle, which in turn affected the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles. Specifically, the spectral features of the gold plasmonic peak (and the related calculated optical size), the hydrodynamic diameter and the nanoparticle stability were found to depend on the molecular weight of the HA. The CD44-targeting capability of HA-functionalized gold nanoparticles was tested in terms of antibacterial activity and cytotoxiciA-capped AuNP in the cancer cells that express CD44 receptors and the different perturbation effects related to molecular weight of HA wrapping the metallic core of the plasmonic nanoparticles on cellular organelles and membrane mobility.The role of chemical modification of pristine linen fiber (LF) on its physicochemical and adsorption properties is reported in this contribution. The surface and textural properties of the pristine LF and its peroxyacetic acid- (PAF) and chlorite-treated (CF) fiber forms were characterized by several complementary methods spectroscopy (SEM, TEM, FT-IR, and XPS), thermal analysis (DSC and TGA), gas/water adsorption isotherms, and zeta potential (ξ). The results obtained reveal that the surface charge and textural properties (surface area and pore structure) of the LF material was modified upon chemical treatment, as indicated by changes in the biomass composition, morphology, ξ-values, and water/dye uptake properties of the fiber samples. Particularly, the pristine LF sample displays preferential removal efficiency (ER) of methylene blue (MB) dye with ER ~3-fold greater (ER~62%) as compared to the modified materials (CF or PAF; ER~21%), due to the role of surface charge of pectins and lignins present in pristi unique adsorption properties observed for pristine LF and its modified forms (CF and PAF). This study addresses knowledge gaps in the field by contributing insight on the relationship between structure and adsorption properties of such LF biomass in its pristine and chemically modified forms.In recent years, a rising number of incidents between Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and planes have been reported at airports and airfields. A design scheme for an airport obstacle-free zone monitoring UAV system based on computer vision is proposed. The system integrates the functions of identification, tracking, and expelling and is mainly used for low-cost control of balloon airborne objects and small aircrafts. First, a quadcopter dynamic model and 2-Degrees of Freedom (2-DOF) Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) model are analyzed, and an attitude back-stepping controller based on disturbance compensation is designed. Second, a low and slow small-target self-identification and tracking technology is constructed against a complex environment. Based on the You Only Look Once (YOLO) and Kernel Correlation Filter (KCF) algorithms, an autonomous target recognition and high-speed tracking plan with great robustness and high reliability is designed. Third, a PTZ controller and automatic aiming strategy based on Anti-Windup Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) algorithm is designed, and a simplified, automatic-aiming expelling device, the environmentally friendly gel ball blaster, which features high speed and high accuracy, is built. The feasibility and stability of the project can be verified through prototype experiments.Despite its significant overexpression in several malignant neoplasms, the expression of RPS27 in the central nervous system (CNS) is widely unknown. We identified the cell types expressing RPS27 in the CNS under normal and disease conditions. We acquired specimens of healthy brain (NB), adult pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) World Health Organization (WHO) grade I, anaplastic PA WHO grade III, gliomas WHO grade II/III with or without isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation, and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). RPS27 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and double-fluorescence staining and its mRNA expression quantified by RT-PCR. Patients’ clinical and tumor characteristics were collected retrospectively. RPS27 protein was specifically expressed in tumor cells and neurons, but not in healthy astrocytes. In tumor tissue, most macrophages were positive, while this was rarely the case in inflamed tissue. Compared to NB, RPS27 mRNA was in mean 6.2- and 8.8-fold enhanced in gliomas WHO grade II/III with (p less then 0.01) and without IDH mutation (p = 0.01), respectively. GBM displayed a 4.6-fold increased mean expression (p = 0.02). Although RPS27 expression levels did not affect the patients’ survival, their association with tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages provides a rationale for a future investigation of a potential function during gliomagenesis and tumor immune response.Bacterial wilt disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating plant disease that inflicts heavy losses to the large number of economic host plants it infects. The potential of dried powder of the Conyza canadensis to control bacterial wilt (BW) of tomato was explored in vitro and in planta. Three application times (16 days before transplanting (DBT), 8 DBT and 0 DBT), three plastic-mulch durations (10 days plastic mulching (DPM), 5DPM and 0DPM) and four doses viz. 0 g, 8 g, 16 g and 24 g of the plant powder were evaluated. SEM analysis was also conducted to observe the change in bacterial cell morphology. Ethanol extract of dried C. canadensis in different concentrations inhibited the in vitro growth of R. solanacearum by as much as 98% of that produced by ampicillin. As evident from the scanning electron micrograph, the highest concentration produced severe morphologic changes, such as rupture of the bacterial cell walls and cell contents leaked out. Results from application time and dose experimeeased solar heat) of the dried powder which produced more amounts of volatile and non-volatile bactericidal compounds. Our results clearly suggest that the use of 24 g kg-1 dried plant powder of C. canadensis plastic-mulched for two weeks could be used as a reliable component of the integrated disease management program against BW.BACKGROUND Endometriosis is a widespread multifactorial disease in which environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors contribute to the phenotype. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes implicated in pivotal molecular mechanisms have been investigated as susceptible risk factors in distinct populations. Among these, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) represents a good candidate due to its role in the immune/inflammatory response and endometriosis pathogenesis. METHODS The TRL4 gene T399I SNP (C/T transition, rs4986791) was investigated in 236 Italian endometriosis patients and 150 controls by using the PCR-RFLP method. One-tailed Fisher’s exact test was used to compare differences between categorical variables. T399I genotype distribution was evaluated for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both groups using the Chi-squared test for given probabilities. RESULTS Fisher’s exact test comparing C and T allele frequencies showed a difference in the frequency of T alleles between patients and controls (OR = 1.96, 95% confidence interval 0.91-4.23; p-value = 0.0552). Genotype frequencies did not show any significant difference between patients and controls. The homozygous TT genotype was observed in 2% of endometriosis women and not in controls. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that the TLR4 rs4986791 T variant may be considered a genetic risk factor for endometriosis in Italian women. More extensive studies in other populations are needed to confirm this result.MicroRNAs (miRNAs, or miRs) are single-strand short non-coding RNAs with a pivotal role in the regulation of physiological- or disease-associated cellular processes. They bind to target miRs modulating gene expression at post-transcriptional levels. Here, we present an overview of miRs deregulation in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM), and discuss the potential use of miRs/nanocarriers association in clinic. Since miRs can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, strategies based on their inhibition and/or replacement represent the new opportunities in cancer therapy. The miRs delivery systems include liposomes, polymers, and exosomes that increase their physical stability and prevent nuclease degradation. Phase I/II clinical trials support the importance of miRs as an innovative therapeutic approach in nanomedicine to prevent cancer progression and drug resistance. Results in clinical practice are promising.In this study, we introduce a biological method for the production of ternary Quantum Dots (QDs) complex nanostructures with tunable optical and structural properties that utilizes post-synthesis modifications through cation exchange. This versatile in-situ cation exchange method being reported for the first time shows great potential for extending the scope of microbial synthesis. By using this bacterial-based method, we easily synthesize and purify CdS, CdSAg, and Ag2S nanocrystals of a size below 15 nm and with variable morphologies that exhibit fluorescence emissions covering a broad spectral range (from 400 to 800 nm). Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) results indicate the partial replacement of Cd2+ by Ag+ when AgNO3 concentration is increased. This replacement produces CdSAg ternary QDs hetero-structures with high stability, fluorescence in the NIR-I (700 – 800 nm), and 36.13% quantum yield. Furthermore, this reaction can be extended for the production of soluble Ag2S nanoparticles (NPs) withocysteine and CdCl2 in a reaction that depends on S2- generation mediated by cysteine desulfhydrase enzymes and uses cellular biomolecules to stabilize the nanoparticle. Using this extracellular approach, water-soluble fluorescent CdS, CdSAg, and Ag2S Quantum Dots with a tunable emission ranging from 400 to 800 nm were generated. This is the first study reporting the use of microorganisms to produce tunable ternary QDs and the first time that a cation exchange process mediated by cells is described. Obtained results validate the use of biological synthesis to produce NPs with new characteristics and opens a completely new research field related to the use of microorganisms to synthesize complex NPs that are difficult to obtain with regular chemical methods.Transdiagnostic causal variables have been identified that have allowed understanding the origin and maintenance of psychopathologies in parsimonious explanatory models of antisocial disorders. However, it is necessary to systematize the information published in the last decade. The aim of the study was to identify through a systematic review, the structural, emotional and cognitive transdiagnostic variables in antisocial disorders of adolescence and youth. Recommendations for systematic reviews and meta-extraction and analysis of information according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), the Cochrane Collaboration and Campbell were followed. We found 19 articles from 110 reviewed documents. The results indicated that at a structural level there is a general psychopathological factor (psychopathy or externalizing), non-emotional callousness and impulsivity from behavioral inhibition and activation systems, and negative affect traits as base structures. In the emotional level, the study found a risk component from emotional dysregulation and experiential avoidance. In the cognitive level, a key role of anger-rumination and violent ideation as explanatory variables of antisocial disorders. We concluded that the interaction of these identified variables makes it possible to generate an evidence-based transdiagnostic model.Concern about finding new antibiotics against drug-resistant pathogens is increasing every year. Antarctic bacteria have been proposed as an unexplored source of bioactive metabolites; however, most biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) producing secondary metabolites remain silent under common culture conditions. Our work aimed to characterize elicitation conditions for the production of antibacterial secondary metabolites from 34 Antarctic bacterial strains based on MS/MS metabolomics and genome mining approaches. Bacterial strains were cultivated under different nutrient and elicitation conditions, including the addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and coculture. Metabolomes were obtained by HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and analyzed through molecular networking. Antibacterial activity was determined, and seven strains were selected for genome sequencing and analysis. Biosynthesis pathways were activated by all the elicitation treatments, which varies among strains and dependents of culture media. Increased antibacterial activity was observed for a few strains and addition of LPS was related with inhibition of Gram-negative pathogens. Antibiotic BGCs were found for all selected strains and the expressions of putative actinomycin, carotenoids, and bacillibactin were characterized by comparison of genomic and metabolomic data. This work established the use of promising new elicitors for bioprospection of Antarctic bacteria and highlights the importance of new „-omics” comparative approaches for drug discovery.Characterizing child immunological responses to enteric infections with antibody detection in serum can be challenging in resource-constrained field settings, because sample collection requires trained individuals and its invasive procedure may lead to low response rates, especially among children. Saliva may present a promising non-invasive alternative. The objectives of this research were to compare salivary antibody levels in children to enteric infections and biomarkers of environmental enteric dysfunction (EED). We collected saliva samples from children aged one to six years enrolled in a sanitation trial in Maputo, Mozambique, and characterized salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentrations with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We used multilevel linear models to analyze cross-sectional associations between salivary SIgA and the number of concurrent enteric pathogen infections, as well as EED biomarkers in matched stool samples. Median salivary SIgA concentrations in this study population were 54 μg/mL (inter-quartile range (IQR) 34, 85 μg/mL), and SIgA levels were similar between children of different ages. SIgA was lower in children experiencing a higher number of concurrent infections -0.04 log μg/mL (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.08 to -0.005 log μg/mL), but was not associated with any of the included EED biomarkers. Contrary to evidence from high-income countries that suggests salivary SIgA increases rapidly with age in young children, the high prevalence of enteric infections may have led to a suppression of immunological development in this study sample and could in part explain the similar SIgA levels between children of different ages.Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are several-fold higher in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) than in the general population. Hyperhomocysteinemia has undoubtedly a central role in such a prominent cardiovascular burden. The levels of homocysteine are regulated by methyl donors (folate, methionine, choline, betaine), and cofactors (vitamin B6, vitamin B12,). Uremia-induced hyperhomocysteinemia has as its main targets DNA methyltransferases, and this leads to an altered epigenetic control of genes regulated through methylation. In renal patients, the epigenetic landscape is strictly correlated with the uremic phenotype and dependent on dietary intake of micronutrients, inflammation, gut microbiome, inflammatory status, oxidative stress, and lifestyle habits. All these factors are key contributors in methylome maintenance and in the modulation of gene transcription through DNA hypo- or hypermethylation in CKD. This is an overview of the epigenetic changes related to DNA methylation in patients with advanced CKD and ESRD. We explored the currently available data on the molecular dysregulations resulting from altered gene expression in uremia. Special attention was paid to the efficacy of B-vitamins supplementation and dietary intake of methyl donors on homocysteine lowering and cardiovascular protection.The constant evolution in mobile communications networks have led operators to seek new techniques to optimize their mobile networks with the objective of satisfying the expectations of the users. In this way, traditional optimization techniques based on improving radio indicators, have given way to new techniques based on improving the quality of experience (QoE) perceived by users. This paper is focused on analyzing the impact of the adjustment of radio link control (RLC) layer configuration parameters on the QoE perceived by the users of two different types of services. Firstly, an evaluation of the QoE experienced by the user of a real-time video streaming service with respect to the transmission buffer size of the RLC layer in unacknowledged mode (UM) has been carried out. Secondly, the QoE perceived by the user of a file transfer service in relation to the variation of the configuration parameters of the RLC layer in acknowledged mode (AM) has been evaluated. The study, which has been carried out in a simulated cellular environment, has been performed for different system bandwidth values, thus proving the relationship between the QoE perceived by the users, the optimal RLC configuration parameters values and the available bandwidth.Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), due to their intrinsic resistance to various commonly used antibiotics and their malleable genome, make the treatment of infections caused by these bacteria less effective. The aims of this work were to characterize isolates of Enterococcus spp. that originated from processed meat, through phenotypic and genotypic techniques, as well as to detect putative antibiotic resistance biomarkers. The 19 VRE identified had high resistance to teicoplanin (89%), tetracycline (94%), and erythromycin (84%) and a low resistance to kanamycin (11%), gentamicin (11%), and streptomycin (5%). Based on a Next-Generation Sequencing NGS technique, most isolates were vanA-positive. The most prevalent resistance genes detected were erm(B) and aac(6′)-Ii, conferring resistance to the classes of macrolides and aminoglycosides, respectively. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) analysis detected an exclusive peak of the Enterococcus genus at m/z (mass-to-charge-ratio) 4428 ± 3, and a peak at m/z 6048 ± 1 allowed us to distinguish Enterococcus faecium from the other species. Several statistically significant protein masses associated with resistance were detected, such as peaks at m/z 6358.27 and m/z 13237.3 in ciprofloxacin resistance isolates. These results reinforce the relevance of the combined and complementary NGS and MALDI-TOF MS techniques for bacterial characterization.A new tetradentate mixed aza-thioether macrocyclic ligand 2,6-dithia[7](2,9)-1,10-phenanthrolinophane ([13]ane(phenN2)S2) was successfully synthesized. Reacting metal precursors [Fe(CH3CN)2(OTf)2], Ni(ClO4)2·6H2O, and Cu(ClO4)2·6H2O with one equivalent of [13]ane(phenN2)S2 afforded [Fe([13]ane(phenN2)S2)(OTf)2] (1), [Ni([13]ane(phenN2)S2)](ClO4)2 (2(ClO4)2), and [Cu([13]ane(phenN2)S2)(OH2)](ClO4)2 (3(ClO4)2), respectively. The structures of [13]ane(phenN2)S2 and all of its metal complexes were investigated by X-ray crystallography. The [13]ane(phenN2)S2 was found to behave as a tetradentate ligand via its donor atoms N and S.The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between sleep quality and duration, and periodontal disease among a group of young Japanese university students. First-year students (n = 1934) at Okayama University who voluntarily underwent oral health examinations were included in the analysis. Sleep quality and duration were assessed by the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Dentists examined Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), probing pocket depth (PPD), and percentage of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP). Periodontal disease was defined as presence of PPD ≥ 4 mm and BOP ≥ 30%. Overall, 283 (14.6%) students had periodontal disease. Poor sleep quality was observed among 372 (19.2%) students. Mean (± standard deviation) sleep duration was 7.1 ± 1.1 (hours/night). In the logistic regression analysis, periodontal disease was significantly associated with OHI-S (odds ratio [OR] 2.30, 95% confident interval [CI] 1.83-2.90; p less then 0.001), but not sleep quality (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.79-1.53; p = 0.577) or sleep duration (OR 0.98, CI 0.87-1.10; p = 0.717). In conclusion, sleep quality and duration were not associated with periodontal disease among this group of young Japanese university students.On account of their overexpression in a wide range of human malignancies, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are among the most validated cancer targets, and their inhibition has been featured as a valuable strategy for anticancer drug discovery. In this study, a hybrid pharmacophore approach was adopted to develop two series of oxindole-indole conjugates (6a-i and 9a-f) and carbocycle-indole conjugates (11a,b) as efficient antitumor agents with potential inhibitory action toward CDK4. All oxindole-indole conjugates, except 6i, 9b, and 9c efficiently affected the growth of the human breast cancer MCF-7 (IC50 0.39 ± 0.05-21.40 ± 1.58 μM) and/or MDA-MB-231 (IC50 1.03 ± 0.04-22.54 ± 1.67 μM) cell lines, whereas bioisosteric replacement of the oxindole nucleus with indane or tetralin rings (compounds 11a,b) diminished the anti-proliferative activity. In addition, hybrids 6e and 6f displayed effective cell cycle disturbance and proapoptotic capabilities in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the efficient anti-proliferative agents towards MCF-7 and/or MDA-MB-231 cell lines (6a-h, 9a, and 9e) were investigated for their potential inhibitory action toward CDK4. Hybrids 6a and 6e displayed good CDK4 inhibitory activity with IC50s equal 1.82 and 1.26 µM, respectively. The molecular docking study revealed that oxindole moiety is implicated in two H-bonding interactions via both (NH) and (C=O) groups with the key amino acids Glu94 and Val96, respectively, whereas the indole framework is stably accommodated in a hydrophobic sub-pocket establishing hydrophobic interactions with the amino acid residues of Ile12, Val20, and Gln98 lining this sub-pocket. Collectively, these results highlighted hybrids 6a and 6e as good leads for further optimization as promising antitumor drugs toward breast malignancy and CDK inhibitors.Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) exhibit great potential for therapy management in oncology. We aimed to establish a multimodal liquid biopsy strategy that is usable with minimized blood volume to deconvolute the genomic complexity of metastatic breast cancer. CTCs were isolated from 10ml blood of 18 hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer patients. cfDNA was isolated from plasma generated after CTC depletion and targeted sequencing analyses were conducted. PIK3CA and ESR1 variants were less common in CTC gDNA, while ERBB2 variants were only detected in CTC gDNA. A total of 62% of all cfDNA variants were recovered in the matched CTC gDNA, while 72% of all variants were unique in either cfDNA (14 variants) or CTC gDNA (104 variants). The percentage of patients with no detectable cfDNA variants or CTC gDNA variants was 17%/11%, but a combined analysis identified variants in 94% of all patients. In univariate and multivariate regression models, ESR1 variants in cfDNA and CTC gDNA correlated significantly with survival. We suggest a coordinated analysis of both fractions in order to provide a comprehensive genomic footprint that may contribute to identifying the most suitable therapy for each individual.Immune responses triggered by implant abutment surfaces contributed by surface-adsorbed proteins are critical in clinical implant integration. How material surface-adsorbed proteins relate to host immune responses remain unclear. This study aimed to profile and address the immunological roles of surface-adsorbed salivary proteins on conventional implant abutment materials. Standardized polished bocks (5 × 5 × 1 mm3) were prepared from titanium and feldspathic ceramic. Salivary acquired pellicle formed in vitro was examined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and gene ontology (GO) analysis to identify and characterize the adsorbed proteins. Out of 759 proteins identified from pooled saliva samples, 396 were found to be attached to the two materials tested-369 on titanium and 298 on ceramic, with 281 common to both. GO annotation of immune processes was undertaken to form a protein-protein interaction network, and 14 hub proteins (≥6 interaction partners) (coding genes B2M, C3, CLU, DEFA1, HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, LTF, PIGR, PSMA2, RAC1, RAP1A, S100A8, S100A9, and SLP1) were identified as the key proteins connecting multiple (6-9) immune processes.