Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biodegradation of endosulfan isomers in broth culture and soil microcosm by Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from soil

Bacterial isolates from endosulfan-contaminated soil were grown in minimal medium and screened for endosulfan degradation. The isolate which used endosulfan and showed maximum growth was selected for detailed study. Maximum degradation in shake flask culture by Pseudomonas fluorescens was 92.80% of α and 79.35% of β endosulfan isomers in 15 days at 20 mg/L concentration, followed by 50 and 100 mg/L, while the corresponding values in static condition were 69.15 and 51.39%, respectively. Endosulfan concentration degradation declined significantly at 50 and 100 mg/L. Concomitant to degradation, release of chloride ion exhibited positive relation, while pH decreased from 7.0 to 4.53 in agitating and 7.0–5.18 in static condition. The soil microcosm study revealed maximum endosulfan degradation in sterilized soil amended with P. fluorescens. Endosulfan diol and endosulfan ether were among the products of endosulfan metabolism in broth culture, but only endosulfan ether was detected in the soil microcosm. Endosulfan sulphate, a persistent and toxic metabolite of endosulfan, was not detected in either case. The study showed that P. fluorescens could be used effectively for bioremediation of the pesticide contaminated sites.
Targeting HGF/c-MET Axis in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC/PC)) has been an aggressive disease that is associated with early metastases. It is characterized by dense and collagenous desmoplasia/stroma, predominantly produced by pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). PSCs interact with cancer cells as well as other stromal cells, facilitating disease progression. A candidate growth factor pathway that may mediate this interaction is the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET pathway. HGF is produced by PSCs and its receptor c-MET is expressed on pancreatic cancer cells and endothelial cells. The current review discusses the role of the MET/HGF axis in tumour progression and dissemination of pancreatic cancer. Therapeutic approaches that were developed targeting either the ligand (HGF) or the receptor (c-MET) have not been shown to translate well into clinical settings. We discuss a two-pronged approach of targeting both the components of this pathway to interrupt the stromal–tumour interactions, which may represent a potential therapeutic strategy to improve outcomes in PC.
Clinical effects of administering leukemia-specific donor T cells to patients with AML/MDS post-allogeneic transplant.

Relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HCT) is the leading cause of death in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Infusions of unselected donor lymphocytes (DLIs) are used to enhance the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect, as treatment for relapsed disease. However, as the infused lymphocytes are not selected for leukemia-specificity, the GVL effect is often accompanied by life-threatening graft-versus-host disease(GVHD) due to the concurrent transfer of allo-reactive lymphocytes. Thus, to minimize GVHD and maximize GVL we selectively activated and expanded stem-cell donor-derived T cells that were reactive to multiple antigens expressed by AML/MDS cells (PRAME, WT1, Survivin, NY-ESO-1). Products were successfully generated from 29 HCT donors, and they demonstrated multi-leukemia antigen specificity (mLSTs). In contrast to DLIs, mLSTs selectively recognized and killed leukemia-antigen-pulsed cells with no activity against recipient-derived normal cells in vitro. We have now administered escalating doses of these mLSTs (0.5-10x107 cells/m2) to 25 trial enrollees with AML/MDS after HCT, 17 of whom were at high risk for relapse and 8 of whom had relapsed disease. Infusions were well tolerated with no grade >2 acute or extensive chronic GVHD up to a dose of 10x107 cells/m2. We observed anti-leukemia effects in vivo that translated into not yet reached median LFS and OS at 1.9 years of follow-up among survivors, evidence of sustained immune pressure and objective responses in the active disease cohort (1 CR and 1 PR). In conclusion, mLSTs are safe and promising for the prevention or treatment of AML/MDS following HCT.
Proteomics of exhaled breath condensate in lung cancer and controls using data-independent acquisition (DIA): a pilot study

Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide has a poor prognosis. To develop a non-invasive method for early lung cancer detection, exhaled breath condensate (EBC) was explored in this study. EBC samples were collected from lung cancer patients (n = 10) and healthy controls (n = 10), and a proteomic study was performed to identify potential biomarkers. Data-dependent acquisition was used to build the spectral library, and a data-independent acquisition (DIA) approach was applied for quantification of EBC proteomics. A total of 1151 proteins were identified, and several proteins were significantly upregulated in the lung cancer group compared to the control group. The Gene Ontology analysis revealed that most of the proteins were located within several organelles in the cells and were involved in binding and catalytic activity, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia Genes and Genomes results revealed that the proteins were mainly related to organismal systems and human disease. And S100A11, ANXA1, ENO1, and FABP5 might play a vital role in the EBC proteome. In summary, we demonstrated that the DIA-based quantification method was efficient in performing proteomic analysis in individual EBC samples, and some of the proteins might be novel biomarkers for lung cancer.
From effectors to effectomes: Are functional studies of individual effectors enough to decipher plant pathogen infectious strategies?

A pathogen’s effectome (sometimes also referred to as effectorome) is the repertoire of all its effector proteins (Fig 1A). To date, most effector proteins are studied individually, omitting the broader context in which they function as the effectome. Size and composition of effectomes vary greatly between pathogens, including at the intraspecific level, ranging from as little as 4 in Erwinia amylovora to hundreds of effector proteins per isolate in some fungi, nematodes, and oomycetes (Fig 2A) [5–14]. These differences influence pathogen’s virulence, lifestyle, and host range [15–17]. Known effector functions are the result of a combination of experimental approaches, often low throughput and based on in vitro or heterologous systems (Figs 1B, 2C and 2D) [18–21]. Some effectome-scale screens have been conducted, but these are still a compilation of individual effectors studies and thus present the same limitations as smaller-scale studies [22–28].
A Machine Learning Model Utilizing a Novel SNP Shows Enhanced Prediction of Coronary Artery Disease Severity

Background: Machine learning (ML) has emerged as a powerful approach for predicting outcomes based on patterns and inferences. Improving prediction of severe coronary artery disease (CAD) has the potential for personalizing prevention and treatment strategies and for identifying individuals that may benefit from cardiac catheterization. We developed a novel ML approach combining traditional cardiac risk factors (CRF) with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in a gene associated with human CAD (ID3 rs11574) to enhance prediction of CAD severity; Methods: ML models incorporating CRF along with ID3 genotype at rs11574 were evaluated. The most predictive model, a deep neural network, was used to classify patients into high (>32) and low level (≤32) Gensini severity score. This model was trained on 325 and validated on 82 patients. Prediction performance of the model was summarized by a confusion matrix and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC-AUC); and Results: Our neural network predicted severity score with 81% and 87% accuracy for the low and the high groups respectively with an ROC-AUC of 0.84 for 82 patients in the test group. The addition of ID3 rs11574 to CRF significantly enhanced prediction accuracy from 65% to 81% in the low group, and 72% to 84% in the high group. Age, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and systolic blood pressure were the top 3 contributors in predicting severity score; Conclusions: Our neural network including ID3 rs11574 improved prediction of CAD severity over use of Framingham score, which may potentially be helpful for clinical decision making in patients at increased risk of complications from coronary angiography.
Northern Guinea Savanna Edaphic Properties and Nutrients Combination Impact on Maize Mycorrhizal Colonization and Biomass Yield

The variability in soil properties informs the need for verification of their potential suitability for continuous cropping. A maize variety (Oba super 1) was evaluated for biomass yield and root colonization by Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi (AMF) in a screen house at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from six farmers’ fields within Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria and seven nutrients formulation were applied to each sample. The replicated experiment was laid out in a split plot design with soil in the main plot. There was significance (P ≤ 0.05) among the soil samples from six farmer’s field and the seven nutrient combinations. Soil and nutrient combination differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) for shoot biomass yield and AMF colonization. Soil from field 5 with loam textural characteristic gave the significantly (P ≤ 0.05) highest shoot (20.17 g/plant) and root (5.26 g/plant) biomasses but the same had the lowest significant (P ≤ 0.05) AMF colonization of 39.86%. Stability variance identified in soils from fields 1 (loam), 2 (loam), 3 (loam) and 5 (loam) to be more stable in the support for shoot biomass and AMF colonization. Porosity and un-enhancement of the soils favored AMF root colonization while amendment of the soil with nutrient improved the biomass yield of maize. Inherent physical properties of the soil are primary determinants of its variability in response to alien factors.
The disease burden of multimorbidity and its interaction with educational level

Introduction Policies to adequately respond to the rise in multimorbidity have top-priority. To understand the actual burden of multimorbidity, this study aimed to: 1) estimate the trend in prevalence of multimorbidity in the Netherlands, 2) study the association between multimorbidity and physical and mental health outcomes and healthcare cost, and 3) investigate how the association between multimorbidity and health outcomes interacts with socio-economic status (SES). Methods Prevalence estimates were obtained from a nationally representative pharmacy database over 2007–2016. Impact on costs was estimated in a fixed effect regression model on claims data over 2009–2015. Data on physical and mental health and SES were obtained from the National Health Survey in 2017, in which the Katz-10 was used to measure limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and the Mental Health Inventory (MHI) to measure mental health. SES was approximated by the level of education. Generalized linear models (2-part models for ADL) were used to analyze the health data. In all models an indicator variable for the presence or absence of multimorbidity was included or a categorical variable for the number of chronic conditions. Interactions terms of multimorbidity and educational level were added into the previously mentioned models. Results Over the past ten years, there was an increase of 1.6%-point in the percentage of people with multimorbidity. The percentage of people with three or more conditions increased with +2.1%-point. People with multimorbidity had considerably worse physical and mental health outcomes than people without multimorbidity. For the ADL, the impact of multimorbidity was three times greater in the lowest educational level than in the highest educational level. For the MHI, the impact of multimorbidity was two times greater in the lowest than in the highest educational level. Each additional chronic condition was associated with a greater worsening in health outcomes. Similarly, for costs, where there was no evidence of a diminishing impact of additional conditions either. In patients with multimorbidity total healthcare costs were on average €874 higher than in patients with a single morbidity. Conclusion The impact of multimorbidity on health and costs seems to be greater in the sicker and lower educated population.
Early pregnancy weight gain and fat accrual predict pregnancy outcome in growing adolescent sheep.

The competition for nutrients when pregnancy coincides with continuing growth in biologically-immature adolescent girls increases their risk of preterm delivery and low birthweight, and is partly replicated in the overnourished adolescent sheep paradigm. Although overfeeding to promote rapid maternal growth robustly leads to a reduction in average birthweight relative to slow-growing control-fed adolescents of equivalent age, the extent of prenatal compromise is variable. This retrospective analysis of a large cohort of identically managed pregnancies determined whether maternal anthropometry predicts the severity of fetal growth-restriction (FGR) in growing adolescents. Singleton pregnancies were established by embryo transfer in adolescents subsequently control-fed (n=96) or overnourished. The latter pregnancies were classified as nonFGR (n=116) or FGR (n=96) if lamb birthweight was above or below the optimally-fed control mean minus 2SD. A similar approach categorised placental growth-restriction (PlGR) and preterm delivery. Gestation length, placental mass and lamb birthweight were FGR 〈 nonFGR 〈 control (post hoc P<0.01). Relative to the nonFGR group, overnourished dams with FGR were marginally leaner and lighter at conception (P=0.023,P=0.014), and had greater gestational weight gain (GWG) during the first-third of pregnancy (P<0.001). GWG during this early period was also higher in PlGR compared with nonPlGR, and in very preterm versus term deliveries (P<0.01). Likewise maternal leptin concentrations (fat accrual biomarker) were FGR 〉nonFGR by day 60, and changes in leptin throughout pregnancy predicted attenuated fetal cotyledon mass and birthweight (P=0.01 to <0.001). The anthropometric antecedents of FGR in still-growing adolescent sheep originate in early pregnancy coincident with early placental development.
Comparable Vδ2 Cell Functional Characteristics in Virally Suppressed People Living with HIV and Uninfected Individuals

Crosstalk between innate and adaptive pathways is a critical component to developing an effective, lasting immune response. Among natural effector cells, innate-like γδ T cells promote immunity by facilitating communication between the two compartments and exerting cytotoxic effector functions. Dysregulation of γδ T cell populations is a byproduct of primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This is most pronounced in the depletion and loss of function within cells expressing a Vγ9Vδ2 TCR (Vδ2 cells). Whether or not prolonged viral suppression mediated by antiretroviral therapy (ART) can reverse these effects has yet to be determined. In this study, we present evidence of similar Vδ2 cell functional responses within a cohort of people living with HIV (PLWH) that has been stably suppressed for >1 year and uninfected donors. Through the use of aminobisphosphonate drugs, we were able to generate a comprehensive comparison between ex vivo and expanded Vδ2 cells within each group. Both groups had largely similar compositions of memory and effector phenotypes, post-expansion TCR repertoire diversity, and cytotoxic capabilities. Our findings support the notion that ART promotes the recovery of Vδ2 polyfunctionality and provides insight for strategies aiming to reconstitute the full immune response after infection with HIV.
Association between forearm cortical bone properties and handgrip strength in women with distal radius fractures: A cross-sectional study

Objectives Mechanical and biochemical bone properties are influenced by muscles. However, the muscle-bone interaction has not been fully elucidated regarding the upper extremities. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the mechanical muscle-bone interaction at the forearm by evaluating the relationship between the properties of three-dimensional (3D) forearm cortical bone models derived from conventional computed tomography (CT) images and handgrip strength (HGS). Methods A total of 108 women (mean age, 75.2 ± 9.4 years; range, 62–101 years) with a distal radius fracture who took conventional CT scans for the assessment of the fracture were included in this study. Distal radius 3D models were reconstructed and the average cortical bone density (Cd) and thickness (Ct) of the region of interest (ROI), which might be affected by the forearm flexor muscles, were calculated using a 3D modeling software. Clinical parameters including HGS, lumbar and hip bone mineral densities (BMDs), and other demographic factors were also obtained. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to identify relevant factors associated with HGS. Results HGS was found to be independently associated with height and Cd, but no significant difference was found between HGS and Ct, age, weight, as well as lumber and hip BMDs. Conclusions Cortical bone density might be associated with HGS, which is generated by the forearm flexor muscles. Hence, the mechanical muscle-bone interaction in the upper extremities could be supported by the present study.
Changes in systolic blood pressure in dogs with pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism during the first year of trilostane treatment.

BACKGROUND Systemic hypertension (SH) is common in dogs and humans with hypercortisolism and can persist after treatment. OBJECTIVES To evaluate changes in prevalence of SH and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) during the first year of trilostane treatment, its relationship with disease control and selected laboratory variables, and their response to antihypertensive treatment. ANIMALS Fifty-one dogs with PDH treated with trilostane Q12h. METHODS Prospective case series study. Dogs were evaluated at diagnosis (T0) and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months (T12). Dogs were classified as nonhypertensive (SBP < 160 mm Hg) or hypertensive (SBP≥160 mm Hg) and subclassified according to target organ damage (TOD) risk. Hypertensive dogs were treated with benazepril and, if control of SH was not achieved, amlodipine was added. RESULTS Prevalence of SH decreased from T0 (36/51) to T12 (17/37; P = .01). Changes in SBP during the study were influenced by the risk of TOD at T0. In severely hypertensive (SBP ≥ 180 mm Hg) dogs, the decrease in SBP was more pronounced whereas in normotensive (SBP < 140 mm Hg) dogs SBP increased slightly (P = .00). Blood pressure was not associated with disease control. Antihypertensive treatment was needed in 31/51 dogs, and in 13/31 dogs additional SH control with amlodipine was required. One third of nonhypertensive dogs at T0 required treatment with benazepril because SH developed during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE In dogs with PDH, SBP should be measured at every visit, regardless of disease control or SBP at diagnosis. More than 1 drug may be necessary to manage SH in affected dogs.
The wound healing action of a cream latex formulation of Jatropha gaumeri Greenm. in a pre-clinical model

Background and Aim: Jatropha gaumeri Greenm. is commonly used to treat mouth blisters and skin rashes, its latex has analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity on buccal ulcer. This study aimed to demonstrate the wound healing activity of a cream formulation of Jatropha gaumeri Greenm. latex in a murine model, provide a histological assessment of its scarring effects, and identify the family of phytochemicals involved in these effects. Materials and Methods: Latex was obtained from the cut stalk leaves and young stems of J. gaumeri and stored in sterile tubes with protection from light. Chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions of the latex were obtained. Fifty male Balb/c mice aged 10-12 weeks were divided into10 groups of five mice: Group 1 corresponded to healthy mice with wounds; Group 2 corresponded to mice with wounds and treated with A-Derma®; and from Group 3 to group 10 corresponded to mice treated with a different latex fraction. A circular skin wound of about 1 cm was made on the paravertebral region of each mouse under anesthetized and aseptic conditions. The wounds were topically treated every 24 h with the respective extracts for 22 days, after which skin tissue specimens were obtained and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson’s trichrome. The efficiency of healing was measured by quantifying the tensile strength of the scars. The phytochemicals in the latex were elucidated using thin chromatography. Results: The aqueous latex fraction produced the best wound healing activity and was superior to the positive control. Reepithelialization at the histological level resulted in tissue that resembled healthy skin in terms of the appearance of collagen, the regeneration of hair follicles, and cellularity of the dermis, which showed organized epithelialization. A wound healing efficacy of 97% was observed, and it seems that alkaloids were the phytochemicals mostly likely responsible for these effects. Conclusion: J. gaumeri latex exhibited wound healing activity, possibly mediated by phytochemicals such as alkaloids in the aqueous fraction.
A novel approach for obtaining 12-lead electrocardiograms in horses.

BACKGROUND In equine medicine, 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) rarely are used, which may in part be a result of shortcomings in the existing guidelines for obtaining 12-lead ECGs in horses. The guidelines recommend placing the limb leads on the extremities, which is inappropriate because the ventricular mean electrical axis is then perpendicular to the limb leads, leading to large variations in ECG configuration even among healthy horses. From an electrophysiological point of view, the leads instead should be parallel to the electrical axis to minimize variability. OBJECTIVE Develop an improved method for obtaining 12-lead ECGs in horses based on electrophysiology and cardiac electrical vectors relevant to horses. ANIMALS Thirty-five healthy Standardbred horses. METHODS Two ECGs obtained at rest; 1 ECG with the electrodes placed according to the method developed in the present study, the Copenhagen method, and 1 ECG following existing guidelines. RESULTS In the Copenhagen method, we repositioned the limb electrodes to the thorax to better capture the electrical activity of the heart. Variation in the mean electrical axis decreased dramatically with the Copenhagen method (SD decreased from 24.6° to 1.6°, P < .001). Consequently, this new method provided stable ECGs with repeatable configurations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE With this novel method, the ECG is recorded with respect to the electric axis to fully realize the potential of 12-lead ECG in horses. The Copenhagen method delivered more consistent and reliable ECG recordings compared to existing guidelines. The Copenhagen method potentially allows for expanded use of 12-lead ECGs in equine medicine.