Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Telomere dynamics from hatching to sexual maturity and maternal effects in the ‘multivariate egg’

ABSTRACT Avian eggs contain a large number of molecules deposited by the mother that provide the embryo with energy but also potentially influence its development via the effects of maternally derived hormones and antibodies: the avian egg is thus ‘multivariate’. Multivariate effects on offspring phenotype were evaluated in a study on captive zebra finches, by simultaneously manipulating maternally derived antibodies (MAb) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment of mothers and injection of testosterone into the egg yolk. LPS treatment had a positive effect on body mass growth at 30 days after hatching and immune response at sexual maturity, while egg testosterone treatment positively influenced immune response at fledging and courtship behaviour in sexually mature male offspring. Maternal effects are known to modulate offspring telomere length (TL). However, the multivariate effects of egg-derived maternal components on offspring telomere dynamics from hatching to sexual maturity are undefined. Here, we tested: (1) the effects of LPS and testosterone treatments on TL from hatching to sexual maturity (day 82); (2) how LPS treatment modulated TL over reproduction in adult females; and (3) the relationship between maternal and offspring TL. We predicted that TL would be shorter in LPS fledglings (as a cost of faster growth) and that TL would be longer in sexually mature adults after yolk testosterone treatment (as a proxy of individual quality). In adult females, there was an overall negative relationship between laying and rearing investments and TL, this relationship was weaker in LPS-treated females. In chicks, there was an overall negative effect of LPS treatment on TL measured at fledging and sexual maturity (day 25–82). In addition, at fledging, there was a Sex×LPS×Testosterone interaction, suggesting the existence of antagonistic effects of our treatments. Our data partially support the hypothesis that telomeres are proxies of individual quality and that individual differences in TL are established very early in life. Highlighted Article: Antagonistic effects of maternal antibodies and egg testosterone modulate offspring telomere length over growth in zebra finch fledglings.
In vitro propagation of Rosa ‘Konstancin’ (R. rugosa × R. beggeriana), a plant with high nutritional and pro-health value

Abstract The aim of the study was to develop an efficient micropropagation system for Rosa ‘Konstancin’, an interspecific hybrid between R. rugosa and R. beggeriana, whose fruits have high pro-health value. Shoot cultures were initiated from shoot buds collected in May and August from 15-year-old field-grown Rosa ‘Konstancin’ shrubs. The effect and interaction of different concentrations of phytohormones, sucrose and iron sources on in vitro initiation, multiplication and rooting of shoots were studied. The time of collecting explants from donor plants significantly affected the initiation of shoot culture of Rosa ‘Konstancin’. Considerably higher frequency of bud break (100%) was obtained in explants isolated in August as compared to those collected at the end of May (30%). All buds developed into single shoots after 2-4 weeks of growing on the basal Murashige and Skoog medium containing 2.2 µM BAP, 0.3 µM GA3 and 88 mM of sucrose. The highest multiplication rate (4.8 shoots/explant) in a 5-week period was obtained on MS medium containing 50% of nitrogen salts, 3.1 µM BAP, 0.9 µM GA3 and 58 mM sucrose. High rooting frequency (100%) and quality of rooted plantlets was obtained on a medium containing 0.5 µM IBA, 138 µM Fe-EDDHA and 88 mM sucrose. Fe-EDDHA had a beneficial effect on the growth and photosynthetic activity of Rosa ‘Konstancin’ plantlets, which were successfully acclimatized ex vitro, with a more than 90% survival rate.
Variability Within Optic Nerve Optical Coherence Tomography Measurements Distinguishes Papilledema From Pseudopapilledema

Background: To report a linear risk score obtained using clock-hour optical coherence tomography (OCT) data from papilledema and pseudopapilledema nerves that differentiates between the 2 diagnoses with high sensitivity and specificity. Methods: Patients presenting to a single neuro-ophthalmologist with papilledema or pseudopapilledema were included for a retrospective review. The absolute consecutive difference in OCT retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness between adjacent clock hours and the mean magnitude of thickness for clock hours 1–12 were compared between the 2 groups using mixed-effect models adjusting for age and clock hour with a random intercept for subjects and eyes (nested within subject). The area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating characteristics curve and a separate calibration curve was used to evaluate potential clinical usage. Results: Forty-four eyes with papilledema and 72 eyes with pseudopapilledema, 36 of whom had optic nerve drusen met criteria. The papilledema group had a higher mean RNFL thickness (papilledema = 163 ± 68 µm, pseudopapilledema = 82 ± 22 µm, P < 0.001). The papilledema groups also had more variability between consecutive clock hours (papilledema = 57 ± 20 µm, pseudopapilledema = 26 ± 11 µm, P < 0.001). A linear combination of each patient's averaged values separated the 2 groups with an AUC of 98.4% (95% CI 95.5%–100%) with an optimized sensitivity of 88.9% and specificity of 95.5% as well as good calibration (mean absolute error = 0.015). Conclusions: Patients with papilledema have higher intrinsic variability and magnitude within their OCT, and this finding reliably distinguishes them from those with pseudopapilledema.
Do anti‐IL‐6R blockers have a beneficial effect in the treatment of antibody‐mediated rejection resistant to standard therapy after kidney transplantation?

Antibody‐mediated rejection (AMR) that resists to standard of care (SOC) therapy remains a major challenge after kidney transplantation and leads to graft failure in a majority of cases. The use of anti‐IL6 receptor antibodies was suggested to treat chronic antibody‐mediated rejection (cAMR) after failure of classical treatments. We treated nine patients with AMR resistant to apheresis, rituximab, and intravenous immunoglobulins, with a monthly infusion of tocilizumab and compared them with a historical cohort of 37 patients with similar clinical, immunological, and histological characteristics. The 1‐year graft survival and the decline in renal function did not differ between patients who received tocilizumab and those who did not. Histological follow‐up showed that despite a decrease in inflammation and tubulitis scores after tocilizumab, the course of antibody‐mediated lesions and chronic glomerulopathy were similar in both groups. In our study, the addition of monthly infusions of tocilizumab did not alter the course of AMR that resist to SOC therapy. Large randomized studies are urgently needed to assess the effect of tocilizumab in this context.
Rapid Determination of Total Tryptophan in Yoghurt by Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection

Tryptophan (TRP) is an essential amino acid which cannot be synthesized by humans and animals, but has to be supplied by exogenous sources, notably through the diet. The bulk of dietary TRP flows into the synthesis of body’s proteins, but the TRP metabolism also involves several biochemical reactions (i.e., serotonin and kynurenine pathways). Defects in the TRP transport mechanism or catabolism are related to a large number of clinical abnormalities. Therefore, dietary TRP intake is necessary not only for the body’s growth but also for most of the body’s metabolic functions. Among protein-based foods, milk proteins provide a relatively high amount of TRP. In this paper, a rapid chromatographic method for TRP determination in yoghurt, by ultra high performance liquid chromatography on a reversed-phase column with fluorescence detection (280 nm Ex; 360 nm Em), is provided. A linear gradient elution of acetonitrile in water allowed TRP analysis in 8.0 min. The limit of detection and limit of quantification of the method were 0.011 ng/µL and 0.029 ng/µL, respectively, using 5-methyl-l-tryptophan as the internal standard. The analytical method was successfully applied to commercial yoghurts from different animal species, and the TRP values ranged between 35.19 and 121.97 mg/100 g (goat and cow Greek type yoghurt, respectively).
Carpal tunnel syndrome in acromegaly: a nationwide study.

OBJECTIVE Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is common in patients with acromegaly, with a reported prevalence of 19-64%. We studied CTS in a large national cohort of patients with acromegaly and the temporal relationship between the two diagnoses. DESIGN Retrospective, nationwide, cohort study including patients diagnosed with acromegaly in Sweden, 2005-2017, identified in the Swedish Healthcare Registries. METHODS CTS (diagnosis and surgery in specialised healthcare) was analysed from 8.5 years before the diagnosis of acromegaly until death or end of the study. Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for CTS with the Swedish population as reference. RESULTS The analysis included 556 patients with acromegaly (50% women) diagnosed at mean (SD) age 50.1 (15.0) years. During the study period, 48 patients were diagnosed with CTS and 41 patients underwent at least one CTS surgery. Among the latter group, 35 (85%) were operated for CTS before the acromegaly diagnosis; mean interval (range) 2.2 (0.3-8.5) years and the SIR for having CTS surgery before the diagnosis of acromegaly was 6.6 (4.8-8.9). Women with acromegaly had a higher risk for CTS than men (hazard ratio 2.5, 95% CI 1.3-4.7). CONCLUSIONS Patients with acromegaly had a 6-fold higher incidence for CTS surgery before the diagnosis of acromegaly compared with the general population. The majority of patients with both diagnoses were diagnosed with CTS prior to acromegaly. Increased awareness of signs of acromegaly in patients with CTS might help to shorten the diagnostic delay in acromegaly, especially in women.
Perioperative and anesthesia-related cardiac arrest and mortality rates in Brazil: A systematic review and proportion meta-analysis

Introduction Studies have shown that both perioperative and anesthesia-related cardiac arrest (CA) and mortality rates are much higher in developing countries than in developed countries. This review aimed to compare the rates of perioperative and anesthesia-related CA and mortality during 2 time periods in Brazil. Methods A systematic review with meta-analysis of full-text Brazilian observational studies was conducted by searching the Medline, EMBASE, LILACS and SciELO databases up to January 29, 2020. The primary outcomes were perioperative CA and mortality rates and the secondary outcomes included anesthesia-related CA and mortality events rates up to 48 postoperative hours. Results Eleven studies including 719,273 anesthetic procedures, 962 perioperative CAs, 134 anesthesia-related CAs, 1,239 perioperative deaths and 29 anesthesia-related deaths were included. The event rates were evaluated in 2 time periods: pre-1990 and 1990–2020. Perioperative CA rates (per 10,000 anesthetics) decreased from 39.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 34.60–45.50) before 1990 to 17.61 (95% CI: 9.21–28.68) in 1990–2020 (P < 0.0001), while the perioperative mortality rate did not alter (from 19.25 [95% CI: 15.64–23.24] pre-1990 to 25.40 [95% CI: 13.01–41.86] in 1990–2020; P = 0.1984). Simultaneously, the anesthesia-related CA rate decreased from 14.39 (95% CI: 11.29–17.86) to 3.90 (95% CI: 2.93–5.01; P < 0.0001), while there was no significant difference in the anesthesia-related mortality rate (from 1.75 [95% CI: 0.76–3.11] to 0.67 [95% CI: 0.09–1.66; P = 0.5404). Conclusions This review demonstrates an important reduction in the perioperative CA rate over time in Brazil, with a large and consistent decrease in the anesthesia-related CA rate; however, there were no significant differences in perioperative and anesthesia-related mortality rates between the assessed time periods.
Polysaccharide Extracted from Bletilla striata Promotes Proliferation and Migration of Human Tenocytes

Tendon healing after injury is relatively slow, mainly because of the weak activity and metabolic properties of tendon cells (tenocytes). Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) has been reported to enhance cell proliferation. Here, we aimed to increase tendon cell proliferation by BSP treatment. We isolated tenocytes from the flexor tendon of human origin. Moreover, we improved the process of extracting BSP. When human tenocytes (HTs) were treated with 100 μg/mL BSP, the MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were activated, thereby enhancing the proliferation ability of tenocytes. BSP treatment also increased the migration of HTs and their ability to secrete the extracellular matrix (Col-I and Col-III). In conclusion, BSP was successfully extracted from a natural Chinese herbal extract and was shown to enhance tenocytes proliferation, migration and collagen release ability. This study is the first to demonstrate improved healing of tendons using BSP.
Circular RNA hsa_circ_0007364 increases cervical cancer progression through activating methionine adenosyltransferase II alpha (MAT2A) expression by restraining microRNA-101-5p

ABSTRACT Emerging evidence suggested that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical roles in cervical cancer (CC) progression. However, the roles and molecular mechanisms of hsa_circ_0007364 in the tumorigenesis of CC remain unclear. In the present study, we used bioinformatics analysis and a series of experimental analysis to characterize a novel circRNA, hsa_circ_0007364 was up-regulated and associated with advanced clinical features in CC patients. Hsa_circ_0007364 inhibition notably suppressed the proliferation and invasion abilities of CC cells in vitro and reduced tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, hsa_circ_0007364 was uncovered to sponge miR-101-5p. Additionally, methionine adenosyltransferase II alpha (MAT2A) was verified as a target gene of miR-101-5p, and its downregulation reversed the inhibitory effects of hsa_circ_0007364 knockdown on CC progression. Therefore, we suggested that hsa_circ_0007364 might serve as an oncogenic circRNA in CC progression by regulating the miR-101-5p/MAT2A axis, which provides a potential therapeutic target to the treatment. Research highlights hsa_circ_0007364 was upregulated in CC hsa_circ_0007364 promoted CC cell progression hsa_circ_0007364/miR-101-5p/MAT2A axis in CC Graphical abstract
Antifungal Activity of Bioactive Metabolites Produced by Trichoderma asperellum and Trichoderma atroviride in Liquid Medium

Trichoderma spp. are known as biocontrol agents of fungal plant pathogens and have been recognized as a potential source of bioactive metabolites. The production of antimicrobial substances from strains T. atroviride (TS) and T. asperellum (IMI 393899) was investigated. The bioactivity of 10- and 30-day culture filtrate extracted with ethyl acetate was assessed against a set of pathogenic fungi and oomycetes. The 30-day extracts of both strains had significant cytotoxic effects against the tested pathogens, with values of minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) ranging between 0.19 and 6.25 mg/mL. Dual culture assay (direct contact and nondirect contact) and the percentage inhibition of radial growth (PIRG) was calculated. The highest PIRG values were 76% and 81% (direct contact) with IMI 393899 and TS, respectively. Nondirect contact does not show inhibition on any of pathogens tested, indicating that the inhibition is not due to the secretion of volatile substances. Culture filtrates were analyzed by GC-MS and HPLC-Q-TOF-MS for the identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nonvolatile organic compounds (nVOCs), respectively. Seven classes of VOCs and 12 molecules of nVOCs were identified. These results indicate that these strains of Trichoderma had antimicrobial activities and they are potential natural sources of compounds with biological activity.
RSS-Based Localization and Mobility Evaluation Using a Single NB-IoT Cell†

Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) have the ability to localize a mobile transmitter using signals of opportunity, as a low power and low cost alternative to satellite-based solutions. In this paper, we evaluate the accuracy of three localization approaches based on the Received Signal Strength (RSS). More specifically, the performance of a proximity, range-based and optimized fingerprint-based algorithm is evaluated in a large-scale urban environment using a public Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network. The results show a mean location estimation error of 340, 320 and 204 m, respectively. During the measurement campaign, we discovered a mobility issue in NB-IoT. In contrast to other LPWAN and cellular technologies which use multiple gateways or cells to locate a device, only a single cell antenna can be used for RSS-based localization in NB-IoT. Therefore, we address this limitation in the current NB-IoT hardware and software by studying the mobility of the cellular-based 3GPP standard in a localization context. Experimental results show that the lack of handover support leads to increased cell reselection time and poor cell sector reliability, which in turn results in reduced localization performance.
Inter‐spike mitochondrial Ca2+ release enhances high frequency synaptic transmission

Presynaptic mitochondria not only absorb but also release Ca2+ during high frequency stimulation (HFS) when presynaptic [Ca2+] is kept low (<500 nm) by high cytosolic Ca2+ buffer or strong plasma membrane calcium clearance mechanisms under physiological external [Ca2+]. Mitochondrial Ca2+ release (MCR) does not alter the global presynaptic Ca2+ transients. MCR during HFS enhances short‐term facilitation and steady state excitatory postsynaptic currents by increasing vesicular release probability. The intra‐train MCR may provide residual calcium at interspike intervals, and thus support high frequency neurotransmission at central glutamatergic synapses.
Factors Associated with In-Hospital Mortality in Acute Care Hospital Settings: A Prospective Observational Study

Background: In-hospital mortality is a key indicator of the quality of care. Studies so far have demonstrated the influence of patient and hospital-related factors on in-hospital mortality. Currently, new variables, such as nursing workload or the level of dependency, are being incorporated. We aimed to identify which individual, clinical and hospital characteristics are related to hospital mortality. Methods: A multicentre prospective observational study design was used. Sampling was conducted between February 2015 and October 2017. Patients over 16 years, admitted to medical or surgical units at 11 public hospitals in Andalusia (Spain), with a foreseeable stay of at least 48 h were included. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to analyse the data. Results: The sample consisted of 3821 assessments conducted in 1004 patients. The mean profile was that of a male (52%), mean age of 64.5 years old, admitted to a medical unit (56.5%), with an informal caregiver (60%). In-hospital mortality was 4%. The INICIARE (Inventario del Nivel de Cuidados Mediante Indicadores de Clasificación de Resultados de Enfermería) scale yielded an adjusted odds ratio [AOR] of 0.987 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97–0.99) and the nurse staffing level (NSL) yielded an AOR of 1.197 (95% CI: 1.02–1.4). Conclusion: Nursing care dependency measured by INICIARE and nurse staffing level was associated with in-hospital mortality.
Comparative Genomics of Pathogenic Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis Strains from Chile Reveals Potential Virulence Features for Tomato Plants

The genus Clavibacter has been associated largely with plant diseases. The aims of this study were to characterize the genomes and the virulence factors of Chilean C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains VL527, MSF322 and OP3, and to define their phylogenomic positions within the species, Clavibacter michiganensis. VL527 and MSF322 genomes possess 3,396,632 and 3,399,199 bp, respectively, with a pCM2-like plasmid in strain VL527, with pCM1- and pCM2-like plasmids in strain MSF322. OP3 genome is composed of a chromosome and three plasmids (including pCM1- and pCM2-like plasmids) of 3,466,104 bp. Genomic analyses confirmed the phylogenetic relationships of the Chilean strains among C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis and showed their low genomic diversity. Different virulence levels in tomato plants were observable. Phylogenetic analyses of the virulence factors revealed that the pelA1 gene (chp/tomA region)—that grouped Chilean strains in three distinct clusters—and proteases and hydrolases encoding genes, exclusive for each of the Chilean strains, may be involved in these observed virulence levels. Based on genomic similarity (ANIm) analyses, a proposal to combine and reclassify C. michiganensis subsp. phaseoli and subsp. chilensis at the species level, as C. phaseoli sp. nov., as well as to reclassify C. michiganensis subsp. californiensis as the species C. californiensis sp. nov. may be justified.
Smoking and Smoking Cessation in the Risk for Fetal Growth Restriction and Low Birth Weight and Additive Effect of Maternal Obesity

Many studies have shown that neonates of smoking mothers have a lower birth weight, but several issues remain poorly studied, e.g., the effects of giving up smoking or the combined effects of smoking and maternal obesity. Therefore, we evaluated a prospective cohort of 912 mothers in a single pregnancy, recruited in Poland, in 2015−2016. In the cohort, we recorded 72 (7.9%) newborns with birth weight <10th percentile, 21 (2.3%) fetal growth restriction (FGR) cases, and 60 (6.6%) low birth weight (LBW, <2500 g) newborns. In the cohort, 168 (18.4%) women smoked before pregnancy; the mean number of cigarettes/day was 10.8 (1–30), and the mean number of years of cigarette smoking was 8.5 (1–25). Among smokers, 57 (6.3%) women smoked in the first trimester. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of newborn outcomes (with 95% confidence intervals, CI) was calculated in multi-dimensional logistic regressions. Compared to participants who had never smoked, smoking before pregnancy was associated with a higher odds ratio of birth weight <10th percentile (AOR = 1.93, CI: 1.08–3.44, p = 0.027), but the result for LBW (AOR = 2.76, CI: 1.05–7.26, p = 0.039) and FGR (AOR = 1.13, CI: 0.38–3.36, p = 0.822) had the wider confidence interval or was insignificant. Effects of smoking cessation before pregnancy were statistically insignificant for the studied outcomes. Smoking in the first trimester was associated with a higher risk of birth weight <10th percentile (AOR = 4.68, CI: 2.28–9.62, p < 0.001), LBW (AOR = 6.42, CI: 1.84–22.36, p = 0.004), and FGR (AOR = 3.60, CI: 0.96–13.49, p = 0.057). Smoking cessation in the second/third trimester was associated with a higher odds ratio of birth weight <10th percentile (AOR = 4.54, CI: 1.58–13.02, p = 0.005), FGR (AOR = 3.36, CI: 0.6–18.74, p = 0.167), and LBW (AOR = 2.14, CI: 0.62–7.36), p = 0.229), to a similar degree to smoking in the first trimester. The odds ratios were higher in the subgroup of pre-pregnancy body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 for the risk of birth weight <10th percentile (AOR = 6.39, CI: 2.01–20.34, p = 0.002) and FGR (AOR = 6.25, CI: 0.86–45.59, p = 0.071). The length of cigarette smoking time was also the risk factor for studied outcomes. Conclusions: Smoking in the first trimester increased the studied risks, and the coexistence of excessive maternal weight increased the effects. Smoking cessation during the second/third trimester did not have a protective effect.