Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Boosting innate immunity: Asaia bacteria expressing a protein from Wolbachia determine macrophage activation and killing of Leishmania

Leishmaniases are severe vector-borne diseases affecting humans and animals, caused by Leishmania protozoans. Immune polarization plays a major role in determining the outcome of Leishmania infections: hosts displaying M1-polarized macrophages are protected, while those biased on the M2 side acquire a chronic infection, that could develop into an overt and potentially deadly disease. The identification of the factors involved in M1 polarization is essential for the design of therapeutic and prophylactic interventions, including vaccines. Infection by the filarial nematode Dirofilaria immitis could be one of the factors that interfere with leishmaniasis in dogs. Indeed, filarial nematodes induce a partial skew of the immune response towards M1, likely caused by their bacterial endosymbionts, Wolbachia. Here we have examined the potential of AsaiaWSP, a bacterium engineered for the expression of the Wolbachia surface protein (WSP), as an inductor of M1 macrophage activation and Leishmania killing. Macrophages stimulated with AsaiaWSP displayed a strong leishmanicidal activity, comparable to that determined by the choice-drug amphotericin B. Additionally, AsaiaWSP determined the expression of markers of classical macrophage activation, including M1 cytokines, ROS and NO, and an increase in phagocytosis activity. Asaia not expressing WSP also induced macrophage activation, although at a lower extent compared to AsaiaWSP. In summary, our study, while providing a strong evidence for the immune-stimulating properties of Wolbachia, highlights the translational potential of AsaiaWSP in the areas of the immune-prophylaxis and therapy of leishmaniases, as well as of other diseases that could be subverted by M1 macrophage activation.
Aboveground and belowground biomass and carbon pools in highland temperate forest landscape in Central Mexico

Summary Temperate forests play a significant role in the global carbon cycle. However, deforestation, land use changes and differences in successional and species composition cause a spatial heterogeneity in the potential carbon storage in the landscape. The aims of this study were (1) to quantify aboveground and belowground biomass and respective carbon storage and (2) to project the future carbon storage in temperate forests landscape in Cofre de Perote, Veracruz, Mexico. Aboveground and belowground biomass was estimated in seven forests with different species composition and conservation status and management, in three grasslands and in two shrublands at a range of altitudes. Total biomass in forests ranged from 91.07 to 383.78 Mg ha 21 , in grassland from 9.83 to 24.93 Mg ha− 1 and in successional (shrublands) from 6.33 to 7.69 Mg ha− 1 . This suggests that deforestation and changes of land use could reduce aboveground biomass by 90 per cent. Mature forests had the largest aboveground and belowground biomass and the lowest density (number of trees per hectare) but a lower potential for accumulation of C in the future; in contrast, young forests and reforested areas had higher growth and carbon storage potential. Our results suggest that avoiding deforestation and improving forest management could play a major role in global climate change mitigation.
MicroRNA-199b Downregulation Confers Resistance to 5-Fluorouracil Treatment and Predicts Poor Outcome and Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients

Neoadjuvant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemoradiotherapy followed by mesorectal excision is the current standard treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and the lack of complete response represents a major problem that compromises long-term patient survival. However, there is a lack of robust established markers predictive of response to this preoperative treatment available in the clinical routine. The tumor suppressor microRNA (miR)-199b directly targets the PP2A inhibitor SET, which has been involved in 5-FU resistance, and its downregulation has been found to correlate with poor outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer. Here, we studied the functional effects of miR-199b on 5-FU sensitivity after its ectopic modulation, and its expression was quantified by real-time-PCR in a cohort of 110 LARC patients to evaluate its potential clinical significance. Interestingly, our findings demonstrate that miR-199b enhances the sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to 5-FU in a SET-dependent manner, and that both miR-199b overexpression and SET inhibition are able to overcome resistance to this drug using an acquired 5-FU-resistant model. MiR-199b was found downregulated in 26.4% of cases and was associated with positive lymph node levels after chemoradiotherapy (CRT, p = 0.007) and high pathological stage (p = 0.029). Moreover, miR-199b downregulation determined shorter overall (p = 0.003) and event-free survival (p = 0.005), and was an independent predictor of poor response to preoperative CRT (p = 0.004). In conclusion, our findings highlight the clinical impact of miR-199b downregulation predicting poor outcome and pathological response in LARC, and suggest the miR-199b/SET signaling axis as a novel molecular target to prevent the development of resistance to 5-FU treatment.
Germinación de semillas y clave para la identificación de plántulas de seis especies arbóreas nativas de humedales del sureste de México

Especies arboreas de humedales son de importancia economica y para fines de restauracion. Nosotros describimos el proceso de germinacion y morfologia de plantulas de seis especies arboreas nativas tipicas del sureste de Mexico: Annona glabra, Ceiba pentandra, Pachira aquatica, Haematoxylum campechianum, Coccoloba barbadensis y Crataeva tapia. Un total de 300 semillas por especie fueron sembradas en una mezcla de arena, cascarilla de cacao y tierra negra (1: 1: 1), y mantenidas en invernadero a 30% de sombra artificial, de febrero a noviembre de 2007. Se realizo la caracterizacion morfologica, y elaboro una clave de plantulas con base en: 1) tipo de germinacion 2) eje de la plantula y 3) elementos foliares. P. aquatica presenta germinacion criptocotilar hipogea, las otras tienen germinacion fanerocotilar epigea. Las tasas de germinacion fueron altas ( > 86%), a excepcion de C. barbadensis (69%).
Trends of tuberculosis case detection, mortality and co-infection with HIV in Ghana: A retrospective cohort study

Background In an era of renewed commitment to accelerate the declines in Tuberculosis (TB) incidence and mortality, there is the need for National Tuberculosis Programmes (NTPs) to monitor trends in key indicators across a geographical location and to provide reliable data for direct measurement of TB incidence and mortality. In this context, we explored the trends of TB case detection, mortality and HIV co-infection, and examined the predictors of TB deaths in Ten districts of the Volta region of Ghana. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all TB cases registered from 2013 to 2017 in 10 districts of the Volta Region of Ghana. Case detection rate (CDR) was computed as the ratio of the number of new and relapse TB case notified to NTP to the number of estimated incident TB cases in a given year. Case fatality rates were estimated using data from 2012–2016 cohort of TB patients. Simple and multiple logistic regression were used to identify predictors of TB deaths with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals estimated. Results Overall, there were 3,735 new and relapse TB patients who commenced anti-TB treatment during the period, representing the case detection rate of 40.1% with district variations. The CDR remained stable during the 5 years. Of the total cases, HIV status was documented for 3,144 (84.2%), among whom, 712 (22.6%) were HIV positive. The TB/HIV co-infection was more prevalent among children under 15 years of age (30.1%), males (30.6%), treatment after lost to follow-up patients (33.3%), and smear-negative pulmonary TB patients (29.1%). The prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection did not significantly change over the years. The overall case fatality rate was 13% (n = 486), with considerable variation among HIV-positives and HIV-negative TB patients (21.8% and 11% respectively) (p<0.001) and among districts. TB/HIV co-infection, sputum smear-negative pulmonary TB and district of anti-TB treatment predicted TB mortality. Conclusion TB case detection rate was low and remained stable during the study period, whereas co-infection with HIV and mortality rates were quite high, indicating the need for feasible strategies such as active case finding to improve case detection, and improved case management to reduce mortality.
Growth, dry matter accumulation and shoot yield of Celosia argentea as affected by poultry manure and urea application.

Tel. :+2348035531840 Study was conducted to evaluate the growth, dry matter accumulation and shoot yield of Celosia argentea in response to different fertilizer rates at Teaching and Research Farm, Osun State University, Ejigbo Campus, Osun State, Nigeria. Seven treatments tested were: control (NO), 3 poultry manure rates (2t/ha, 4t/ha and 6t/ha) and 3 urea rates (90, 120 and 140kgN/ha). The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, nodes and branches as well as dry matter yield were assessed. Application of the poultry manure produced taller plants, more profuse leaves and branches and higher shoot dry matter yield compared to either the inorganic N source (Urea) or the control treatment. Among the poultry manure rate, 6t/ha produces significant higher shoot yield of celosia at harvest (2.8g) which was not significantly different from (2.7g) produced by the application of 140kgN/ha urea. It could be concluded that application of 140kgN/ha Urea or 6t/ha compost is sufficient for optimum performance of celosia in the similar agro-ecological zone
Ivacaftor Reverses Airway Mucus Abnormalities in a Rat Model Harboring a Humanized G551D-CFTR.

RATIONALE Animal models have been highly informative for understanding characteristics, onset, and progression of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. In particular, the CFTR-/- rat has revealed insights into the airway mucus defect characteristic of CF, but does not replicate a human-relevant CFTR variant. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that a rat expressing a humanized version of CFTR, harboring the ivacaftor-sensitive variant G551D, could be used to test the impact of CFTR modulators on pathophysiologic development and correction. METHODS In this study, we describe a humanized-CFTR rat expressing the G551D variant, obtained by zinc finger nuclease editing of a human cDNA super-exon, spanning exon 2-27, with a 5' insertion site into the rat gene just beyond intron 1. This targeted insertion takes advantage of the endogenous rat promoter, resulting in appropriate expression compared to wild-type. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The bioelectric phenotype of the epithelia recapitulates the expected absence of CFTR activity, which was restored with ivacaftor. Large airway defects, including depleted airway surface liquid and periciliary layers, delayed mucus transport rates, and increased mucus viscosity were normalized following administration of ivacaftor. CONCLUSIONS This model is useful to understand mechanisms of disease and the extent of pathology reversal with CFTR modulators.
SOIL MICROBIAL RESPONSES TO HERBIVORY IN AN ARCTIC TUNDRA HEATH AT TWO LEVELS OF NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY

We tested the hypothesis that herbivory accelerates nutrient cycling through nutrient-rich soils and decelerates nutrient cycling through nutrient-poor soils in a well-drained arctic tundra heath by measuring effects of herbivory on soil and plant properties in control areas and areas treated with NPK fertilizer. The impact of herbivores was studied with two types of exclosures, one excluding reindeer and the other excluding both rodents and reindeer. We predicted that herbivores would enhance soil microbial processes in the fertilized areas, but retard them in the unfertilized ones. Microbial respiration and microbial C were significantly lower in grazed areas than in herbivore exclosures in both unfertilized and fertilized treatments, indicating that herbivores limit the C available for the soil microbes. Microbial N was significantly increased in the exclosures in the fertilized treatment, but there were no effects in the unfertilized one. This reflects both an increase in resources by fertilization and the effect of herbivores on microbial N acquisition: there was surplus N in the fertilized areas to be immobilized by microbial biomass only when access by herbivores was prevented. Thus, mammalian grazers affect the resource coupling between the plant and microbial trophic levels. Fertilization did not affect the soil inorganic, organic, or microbial N contents, or litter decomposition rates, but it significantly increased soil and microbial P. Microbial C was significantly decreased by fertilization, contradicting some earlier fertilization studies in the arctic. One reason for deceleration of soil nutrient cycling in our study area may be that herbivory by both reindeer and rodents occurs mainly outside the growing season; hence, mammalian waste products do not contribute to soil nutrient availability at the times of highest nutrient demands by plants. In addition, grazing during reindeer migrations is likely to cause net resource output from the system.
Family Planning in Liver Transplant: Patient and Provider Knowledge and Practices

Fertility is often impaired in adolescents and women with cirrhosis, but it is rapidly restored after liver transplantation (LT). Early and unplanned pregnancies confer increased risks to maternal, fetal, and graft health, underscoring the need for reproductive counseling. However, data on reproductive practices or counseling in the LT setting are limited. An anonymous online Qualtrics (Provo, UT) survey was sent to transplant patients and providers to gauge knowledge and practices surrounding contraception and pregnancy. Eligible participants included transplant patients aged 14‐45 years and their transplant providers. Patient response was 50.0% (74/148), 14 of whom were pre‐LT patients and 60 of whom were post‐LT patients. Counseling occurred in 37% of patients prior to transplant and 82% after transplant. Most patients (86%) considered family planning a high priority in their transplant care. Contraception‐ and pregnancy‐specific counseling was provided by LT providers in 60% and 44% of patients, respectively. The most desired mode of counseling by patients was in‐person discussion with an LT provider (89%). Despite most post‐LT patients receiving counseling, only 41% used contraception during the first year after LT, of whom 32% relied on high failure methods. Of the 31/43 (72.1%) provider responses, 96% voiced interest in additional reproductive education. Most providers (90%) correctly advised that patients delay pregnancy during the first year after LT, although misconceptions about safety of estrogen and intrauterine devices were selected by 53% and 42%, respectively. Some favored resources by providers were educational pamphlets in clinic (88%) and automated note templates to prompt family planning inquiry (72%). Transplant patients and providers have key deficiencies in their knowledge of contraception and corresponding practices. Most post‐LT patients receive counseling, yet contraception practices are inadequate for preventing unplanned pregnancy. Discussion with transplant providers was the most favored counseling modality by patients, underscoring our critical role in optimizing post‐LT reproductive care.
A Randomized Trial of Deep Brain Stimulation to the Subcallosal Cingulate and Nucleus Accumbens in Patients with Treatment-Refractory, Chronic, and Severe Anorexia Nervosa: Initial Results at 6 Months of Follow Up

Background: The main objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with severe anorexia nervosa (AN). Methods: Eight participants received active DBS to the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) or nucleus accumbens (NAcc) depending on comorbidities (affective or anxiety disorders, respectively) and type of AN. The primary outcome measure was body mass index (BMI). Results: Overall, we found no significant difference (p = 0.84) between mean preoperative and postoperative (month 6) BMI. A BMI reference value (BMI-RV) was calculated. In patients that received preoperative inpatient care to raise the BMI, the BMI-RV was defined as the mean BMI value in the 12 months prior to surgery. In patients that did not require inpatient care, the BMI-RV was defined as the mean BMI in the 3-month period before surgery. This value was compared to the postoperative BMI (month 6), revealing a significant increase (p = 0.02). After 6 months of DBS, five participants showed an increase of ≥10% in the BMI-RV. Quality of life was improved (p = 0.03). Three cases presented cutaneous complications. Conclusion: DBS may be effective for some patients with severe AN. Cutaneous complications were observed. Longer term data are needed.
Factors of importance for return to work, experienced by patients with chronic pain that have completed a multimodal rehabilitation program – a focus group study

Abstract Background and purpose To reduce the individual, societal, and economic burden of the high sick leave rates due to chronic pain, it is essential to find effective strategies for increasing return to work (RTW). Although multimodal rehabilitation programs (MMRPs) may have positive effects on RTW, the results are inconsistent. This study explores the factors that contribute to decreasing sick leave and increasing RTW in patients with chronic pain who completed a MMRP. Method Four focus groups and three individual interviews were conducted. In total, 18 patients were interviewed. All patients had chronic pain and had completed a MMRP. They were either employed or unemployed, either working to some degree or fully on sick leave. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results Three main categories were identified: Knowledge and understanding–prerequisites for tailored solutions; Individual adaptations–necessary but difficult to implement; and Stakeholder collaboration–needs improvement. Conclusion The participants described a variety of facilitating and limiting factors that created complex prerequisites for RTW. This finding makes it clear that these patients need tailored interventions and strong collaboration among all stakeholders throughout the rehabilitation process. Tailored interventions and collaborations could improve the effectiveness of MMRPs. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Patients with chronic pain need tailored solutions and adaptations based on their individual needs in the RTW rehabilitation process. To return to work, patients with chronic pain needs support to strengthen their selfconfidence and to be prepared with knowledge and strategies about their abilities and their rights and obligations in relation to the labour market. A well-designed and communicated RTW rehabilitation plan supports the patient in the RTW rehabilitation process. To improve the possibility for employees and employers to create a sustainable work situation, stakeholder reconciliation meetings should be held routinely over time to strengthen the transfer of knowledge and collaboration.
Rare Bilateral Neck Lumps: Extraparotid Warthin’s Tumors

A 74-year-old female patient was seen at our department for a 3-month history of slowly progressive, painless, and bilateral neck swellings. Her relevant medical history was unremarkable, while her sociogram included a 55-pack-year history of smoking. Clinical examination revealed solid and well-defined neck masses located in the upper thirds of the neck bilaterally, measuring 10 and 25 mm on the right and left side, respectively. Apart from the size, both masses were similar in clinical appearance, nontender, mobile, and with intact overlying skin. Mirror laryngoscopy revealed chronic edematous laryngitis with preserved mobility of the vocal folds, while the rest of the clinical examination was unremarkable. A neck ultrasound demonstrated 2 oval, nonhomogenous, hypoechoic level 2A lymph nodes located on both sides of the neck, with diffusely enhanced vascularization and without visible hilums. Based on the clinical and ultrasonographic findings and the patient’s smoking history, a panendoscopy with the left-sided neck mass excisional biopsy was performed (Figure 1A and B). No endoscopic evidence of suspicious mucosal changes in the upper aerodigestive tract was noted and the histopathologic examination demonstrated the features of Warthin’s tumor. The immediate postoperative period was uneventful, and based on the benign characteristics of the excised lesion, we adopted the watchful waiting strategy for the contralateral neck mass. However, 3 months after the surgery, the patient came to our department with sudden and progressive enlargement of the right-sided neck mass noted on the initial examination. Based on the patient’s history, the presumptive diagnosis of another extraparotid Warthin’s tumor was made, and excisional biopsy in general anesthesia eventually confirmed the diagnosis (Figures 1C and D and 2). The patient is currently under regular checkups by the attending surgeon and has no recurrence over the 6-month follow-up.
A multi-task pipeline with specialized streams for classification and segmentation of infection manifestations in COVID-19 scans

We are concerned with the challenge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) detection in chest X-ray and Computed Tomography (CT) scans, and the classification and segmentation of related infection manifestations. Even though it is arguably not an established diagnostic tool, using machine learning-based analysis of COVID-19 medical scans has shown the potential to provide a preliminary digital second opinion. This can help in managing the current pandemic, and thus has been attracting significant research attention. In this research, we propose a multi-task pipeline that takes advantage of the growing advances in deep neural network models. In the first stage, we fine-tuned an Inception-v3 deep model for COVID-19 recognition using multi-modal learning, i.e., using X-ray and CT scans. In addition to outperforming other deep models on the same task in the recent literature, with an attained accuracy of 99.4%, we also present comparative analysis for multi-modal learning against learning from X-ray scans alone. The second and the third stages of the proposed pipeline complement one another in dealing with different types of infection manifestations. The former features a convolutional neural network architecture for recognizing three types of manifestations, while the latter transfers learning from another knowledge domain, namely, pulmonary nodule segmentation in CT scans, to produce binary masks for segmenting the regions corresponding to these manifestations. Our proposed pipeline also features specialized streams in which multiple deep models are trained separately to segment specific types of infection manifestations, and we show the significant impact that this framework has on various performance metrics. We evaluate the proposed models on widely adopted datasets, and we demonstrate an increase of approximately 4% and 7% for dice coefficient and mean intersection-over-union (mIoU), respectively, while achieving 60% reduction in computational time, compared to the recent literature.