Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adjunctive Approaches to Aphasia Rehabilitation: A Review on Efficacy and Safety

Aphasia is one of the most socially disabling post-stroke deficits. Although traditional therapies have been shown to induce adequate clinical improvement, aphasic symptoms often persist. Therefore, unconventional rehabilitation techniques which act as a substitute or as an adjunct to traditional approaches are urgently needed. The present review provides an overview of the efficacy and safety of the principal approaches which have been proposed over the last twenty years. First, we examined the effectiveness of the pharmacological approach, principally used as an adjunct to language therapy, reporting the mechanism of action of each single drug for the recovery of aphasia. Results are conflicting but promising. Secondly, we discussed the application of Virtual Reality (VR) which has been proven to be useful since it potentiates the ecological validity of the language therapy by using virtual contexts which simulate real-life everyday contexts. Finally, we focused on the use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), both discussing its applications at the cortical level and highlighting a new perspective, which considers the possibility to extend the use of tDCS over the motor regions. Although the review reveals an extraordinary variability among the different studies, substantial agreement has been reached on some general principles, such as the necessity to consider tDCS only as an adjunct to traditional language therapy.
Orbital Bone Fractures in a Central London Trauma Center: A Retrospective Study of 582 Patients

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the injury patterns and etiology of orbital bone fractures treated at a busy level one trauma center. Between 2015 and 2019, patients with orbital bone fractures from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Royal London Hospital, were evaluated in a retrospective analysis. A pro-forma was used to collect data from electronic patient records. Parameters included age, gender, maxillofacial fracture, mechanism of injury, and length of hospital admission. Of 582 patients, 82% (n = 476) were male and 18% (n = 106) were female, with those in the age group 20 to 29 years most affected (36%; n = 212). The most common etiology was interpersonal violence (55%; n = 320), followed by falls (20%; n = 118) and road traffic accidents (12%, n = 68). The most common isolated orbital bone fracture site was the orbital floor (40%; n = 234). Of the impure orbital fractures, the zygoma was the most commonly involved structure adjacent to the orbit (19%, n = 110). In our department, the authors see high numbers of complex orbital bone requiring surgical treatment. Interpersonal violence is a significant cause of orbital bone fractures with young males most affected. This study provides an insight into the current trends in etiology, demographics, and clinical findings of orbital fractures that will help guide prevention and treatment strategies.
Application of Deep Eutectic Solvents for the Extraction of Carnosic Acid and Carnosol from Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) with Response Surface Methodology Optimization

Salvia officinalis L. is a good source of antioxidant compounds such as phenolic diterpenes carnosic acid and carnosol. From 17 deep eutectic solvents (DESs) used, choline chloride: lactic acid (1:2 molar ratio) was found to be the most suitable for the extraction of targeted compounds. The influence of H2O content, extraction time, and temperature (for stirring and heating and for ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)), H2O content, extraction time, and vibration speed for mechanochemical extraction on the content of targeted compounds were investigated. Carnosic acid content obtained by the extraction assisted by stirring and heating was from 2.55 ± 0.04 to 14.43 ± 0.28 µg mg−1, for UAE it was from 1.62 ± 0.29 to 14.00 ± 0.02 µg mg−1, and for mechanochemical extraction the yield was from 1.80 ± 0.02 to 8.26 ± 0.45 µg mg−1. Determined carnosol content was in the range 0.81 ± 0.01 to 4.83 ± 0.09 µg mg−1 for the extraction with stirring and for UAE it was from 0.56 ± 0.02 to 4.18 ± 0.05 µg mg−1, and for mechanochemical extraction the yield was from 0.57 ± 0.11 to 2.01 ± 0.16 µg mg−1. Optimal extraction conditions determined by response surface methodology (RSM) were in accordance with experimentally demonstrated values. In comparison with previously published or own results using conventional solvents or supercritical CO2, used DES provided more efficient extraction of both targeted compounds.
Health-Related Quality of Life and Treatment Satisfaction in Parents and Children with Type 1 Diabetes Using Closed-Loop Control.

INTRODUCTION Hybrid closed-loop systems increase time-in-range and reduce glycemic variability. Person-reported outcomes (PROs) are essential to assess the utility of new devices and their impact on quality of life. This manuscript focuses on the PROs for pediatric participants (ages 6-13 yrs) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their parents during a trial using the Tandem Control-IQ system, which was shown to increase time-in-range and improve other glycemic metrics. METHODS One-hundred-one children 6 to 13 years old with T1D were randomly assigned to closed-loop control (CLC) or sensor augmented pump (SAP) in a 16-week randomized clinical trial with extension to 28 weeks during which the SAP group crossed over to CLC. Health-related quality of life and treatment satisfaction measures were obtained from children and their parents at baseline, 16 weeks, and 28 weeks. RESULTS Neither the children in the CLC group nor their parents had statistically significant changes in PRO outcomes compared with the SAP group at the end of the 16-week RCT and the 28-week extension. Parents in the CLC group reported non-significant improvements in some PRO scores when compared with the SAP group at 16 weeks, which were sustained at 28 weeks. Sleep scores for parents improved from "poor sleep quality" to "adequate sleep quality" between baseline and 16 weeks, however, the change in scores was not statistically different between groups. CONCLUSIONS Children with T1D who used the Control-IQ system did not experience increased burden compared with those using SAP based on person-reported outcomes from the children and their parents.
Phytophospholipid Complex of Caffeic Acid: Development, In vitro Characterization, and In Vivo Investigation of Antihyperlipidemic and Hepatoprotective Action in Rats

Caffeic acid (CA), a hydroxycinnamic acid possessing a variety of pharmacological activities, has caused a growing interest for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and associated conditions. This work endeavored to develop a novel formulation of CA-Phospholipon® 90H complex (CA-PC) using a solvent evaporation method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), and powder X-ray powder diffraction (PXRD) was carried to confirm the formation of CA-PC. The CA-PC was functionally evaluated in terms of solubility, in vitro and ex vivo drug release, and in vivo bioavailability and efficacy studies. SEM, DSC, FTIR, and XRD studies indicated the physical interaction of CA with Phospholipon® 90H to form a complex. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies described particle size of 168 ± 3.9 nm with a monodisperse distribution (PDI 0.17) and a negative zeta-potential of − 16.6 ± 2.1 mV. The phospholipid complex significantly improved (4.2-fold) the solubility of CA. In vitro and ex vivo dissolution studies of the formulated CA-PC revealed a significantly higher release compared with the pure CA. The pharmacokinetic study of CA-PC in rats demonstrated a significant increase (4.79-fold) in oral bioavailability when compared with pure CA as well. Additionally, a significant improvement in serum lipid profile, serum liver biomarker enzyme levels and, restoration of hepatic tissue architecture to normal, in high-fat diet (HFD) induced hyperlipidemic model was obtained upon CA-PC administration when compared with pure CA. These findings indicated that CA-PC would serve as an effective and promising formulation for CA delivery with improved antihyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective activity. Graphical abstract
α‐tACS over the somatosensory cortex enhances tactile spatial discrimination in healthy subjects with low alpha activity

Spontaneous oscillations in the somatosensory cortex, especially of the alpha (8 − 14 Hz) and gamma (60 − 80 Hz) frequencies, affect tactile perception; moreover, these oscillations can be selectively modulated by frequency‐matched transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on the basis of ongoing oscillatory brain activity. To examine whether tACS can actually improve tactile perception via alpha and gamma modulation, we measured the effects of 10‐Hz and 70‐Hz tACS (α‐ and γ‐tACS) on the left somatosensory cortex on right‐finger tactile spatial orientation discrimination, and the associations between performance changes and individual alpha and gamma activities.
Dietary accumulation of C12‐ and C16‐chlorinated alkanes by juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Dietary exposures using juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were conducted with four {sup 14}C-polychlorinated alkanes in order to measure bioaccumulation parameters, metabolism, and tissue distributions. These chlorinated alkanes are found in industrial chlorinated paraffin (CP) products, although their method of synthesis is different than that of CPs. Trout were exposed for 40 d to nominal concentrations of 20 and 200 ng/g of each chlorinated alkane, as well as to 2,000 ng/g for C{sub 16}H{sub 21}Cl{sub 13}, followed by an elimination period of up to 173 d. Whole-body half-lives in the rainbow trout ranged from 37 {+-} 2 d for C{sub 16}H{sub 31}Cl{sub 3} to 87 {+-} 11 d for C{sub 12}H{sub 16}Cl{sub 10}, and assimilation efficiencies of C{sub 16}H{sub 21}Cl{sub 13} to 2.15 for C{sub 12}H{sub 16}Cl{sub 10}. Accumulation of C{sub 16}H{sub 21}Cl{sub 13} may be sterically hindered due to its large molecular size. Lower chlorinated alkanes, e.g., C{sub 16}H{sub 31}Cl{sub 3}, had shorter half-lives than highly chlorinated alkanes, probably due to increased metabolism. High-performance liquid chromatography {sup 14}C analysis of fish tissue extracts revealed that the chlorinated alkane mixtures were selectively biotransformed with certain unknown components persisting in tissues. Lower chlorinated alkanes had greater proportions of polar {sup 14}C,more » which implies greater metabolism of these compounds. Highly chlorinated, short-carbon-chain (C{sub 10-13}) alkanes and lower chlorinated, medium-carbon-chain (C{sub 14-18}) alkanes appear to have the greatest potential for biomagnification among CP components. No reduced growth rates or hepatic monooxygenase enzyme induction were seen in any of the chlorinated alkane exposures when compared with controls. « less
Co-Infection with Anaplasma Species and Novel Genetic Variants Detected in Cattle and Goats in the Republic of Korea

Anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease with multiple reservoirs, has been evolving in its pathogenesis, increasing domestic ruminants susceptibility to simultaneous infections with multiple pathogens. However, there is limited information regarding anaplasmosis in domestic ruminants in the Republic of Korea (ROK). We aimed to evaluate the role of Korean cattle and goats in Anaplasma infection maintenance. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of Anaplasma spp. from 686 whole blood samples collected from different ROK provinces. Anaplasma infection was mostly caused by A. phagocytophilum (21.1%) in cattle, and A. bovis (7.3%) in goats. Co-infection cases were found in cattle: A. bovis and A. phagocytophilum (16.7%), and in goats: A. bovis and A. capra (1.0%). Notably, a triple co-infection with A. bovis, A. phagocytophilum, and A. capra was found in one cow. Phylogenetic analysis revealed novel variants of the A. phagocytophilum 16S rRNA and A. capra gltA genes. This research contributes to the ratification of cattle as a potential reservoir of A. capra and demonstrates Anaplasma co-infection types in Korean domestic ruminants. As anaplasmosis is a zoonotic disease, our study could be crucial in making important decisions for public health.
Acute Brucellosis with a Guillain-Barre Syndrome-Like Presentation: A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that can affect the central and peripheral nervous system and it has variable neurological manifestation. However, brucellosis infection that presents with acute peripheral neuropathy mimicking Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is rarely reported in the literature. Objective and method: We report a 56-year-old man who was initially diagnosed with GBS, and then he was confirmed to have acute Brucella infection. We also did a systematic literature review to study the natural history and management of previously reported cases of brucellosis that presented with manifestations consistent with GBS. Results: We found 19 (including our patient) cases of brucellosis that presented with GBS-like manifestations. The age range was 9–62 years. Eight (42.1%) patients had a history of fever. Seven (36.8%) patients had no constitutional symptoms. Five (26.3%) patients had splenomegaly. Brucella serological tests were positive in all patients, while blood Brucella culture was positive in three (37.5%) out of eight patients. Albuminocytological dissociation was present in nine (64.3%) out of 14 patients. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography were consistent with demyelination polyneuropathy in eight (42.1%) patients, with axonal polyneuropathy in six (31.6) patients, and with mixed axonal and demyelinating polyneuropathy in one (5.3%) patient. Spine MRI showed root enhancement in three (42.9%) patients. Conclusion: In regions endemic with brucellosis, acute peripheral neuropathy presentation may warrant investigations for Brucella infection.
Sclerostin Antibody Administration Increases the Numbers of Sox9creER+ Skeletal Precursors and Their Progeny

Blocking the Wnt inhibitor, sclerostin, increases the rate of bone formation in rodents and in humans. On a cellular level, the antibody against sclerostin acts by increasing osteoblast numbers partly by activating the quiescent bone‐lining cells in vivo. No evidence currently exists, to determine whether blocking sclerostin affects early cells of the osteoblast lineage. Here we use a lineage‐tracing strategy that uses a tamoxifen‐dependent cre recombinase, driven by the Sox9 promoter to mark early cells of the osteoblast lineage. We show that, when adult mice are treated with the rat‐13C7, an antibody that blocks sclerostin action in rodents, it increases the numbers of osteoblast precursors and their differentiation into mature osteoblasts in vivo. We also show that rat‐13C7 administration suppresses adipogenesis by suppressing the differentiation of Sox9creER+ skeletal precursors into bone marrow adipocytes in vivo. Using floxed alleles of the CTNNB1 gene encoding β‐catenin, we show that these precursor cells express the canonical Wnt signaling mediator, β‐catenin, and that the actions of the rat‐13C7 antibody to increase the number of early precursors is dependent on direct stimulation of Wnt signaling. The increase in osteoblast precursors and their progeny after the administration of the antibody leads to a robust suppression of apoptosis without affecting the rate of their proliferation. Thus, neutralizing the Wnt‐inhibitor sclerostin increases the numbers of early cells of the osteoblast lineage osteoblasts and suppresses their differentiation into adipocytes in vivo. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Hyperlipidemia Impairs Osseointegration via the ROS/Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

The influence of hyperlipidemia on titanium implant osseointegration and the underlying mechanisms is not well understood. This study investigates the changes in osseointegration and explores the potential mechanisms in hyperlipidemia conditions. In vivo, specialized titanium implants were implanted in the femurs of diet-induced or genetic hyperlipidemia mice. In vitro, primary murine osteoblasts were cultured on the titanium surface in high-fat medium. Results showed that hyperlipidemia led to poor osseointegration in both types of mice in vivo, and high-fat medium impaired the osteogenic differentiation of primary osteoblasts on the titanium surface in vitro. In addition, high-fat medium caused significant overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in osteoblasts. Both N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC, an ROS antagonist) and Wnt3a (an activator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway) attenuated the poor osteogenic ability of osteoblasts. In addition, NAC reactivated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in osteoblasts under high-fat stimulation. These results demonstrate that hyperlipidemia impairs osseointegration via the ROS/Wnt/β-catenin pathway and provide support for the ROS or Wnt/β-catenin pathway as a promising therapeutic target for the development of novel drugs or implant materials to improve the osseointegration of implants in hyperlipidemic patients.
Graphite-Epoxy Platforms for Electrochemical Genosensing

Abstract The development of new transducing materials for DNA analysis, whose preparation is simple and suitable for mass fabrication, with a higher sensitivity and lower detection limits is a key issue in the research of electrochemical genosensing. In this context, the rigid carbon–polymer platforms reported here can meet these demands. Various approaches for electrochemical DNA determination are presented, in which the common element is the use of graphite-epoxy composite (GEC) as transducer. The first approach relies on label-free electrochemical genosensing. In this case, an inosine-substituted probe is adsorbed onto GEC by simple wet-adsorption. The detection of target DNA is achieved using its intrinsic guanine oxidation peak by DPV (differential pulse voltammetry). Other approaches are based in labeling procedures that use enzyme conjugates as markers: (i) GEC electrodes with changeable Nylon membranes (Nylon/GEC transducer), modified with DNA immobilized by physical adsorption; (ii) DNA directly adsorbed onto GEC using dry-adsorption, and (iii) electrochemical platform based on streptavidin–graphite–epoxy biocomposite (GEB), whereon biotinylated capture probe is immobilized by means of streptavidin–biotin reaction. The main advantages and problems associated with these GEC platforms and the strategies for electrochemical genosensing are discussed. Parameters such as ease of preparation, robustness, sensitivity, surface regeneration, costs, and transfer to mass production of these different DNA detection methodologies are also considered. †Dedicat a l'amic Pierre Coulet amb motiu de la seva jubilació acadèmica.
Pretreatment with Human Lactoferrin Had a Positive Effect on the Dynamics of Mouse Nigrostriatal System Recovery after Acute MPTP Exposure

Simple Summary Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra and depletion of dopamine in the striatum. Many efforts are now focused on the search for agents that can weaken PD progression, prevent further neurodegeneration, and restore the degenerated dopaminergic neurons. The present study explores the effects of lactoferrin (a multifunctional protein from the transferrin family) in the MPTP-treated mice as the model of dopaminergic neuron loss. MPTP is a neurotoxin that upon systemic administration selectively destroys dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal system inducing number of the symptoms observed in idiopathic PD. Our data suggest that pretreatment with human lactoferrin significantly alleviated MPTP toxicity. This was manifested in improved motor functions and exploratory behavior, partial recovery of the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells in the substantia nigra, and TH-positive fibers in the striatum. The results of this work elucidate the role of lactoferrin in protective and compensatory mechanisms and provide the basis for potential use of this protein in the treatment of human neurodegenerative diseases. Abstract We studied the effect of human lactoferrin (hLf) on degenerative changes in the nigrostriatal system and associated behavioral deficits in the animal model of Parkinson disease. Nigrostriatal dopaminergic injury was induced by single administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP; 40 mg/kg) to five-month-old C57Bl/6 mice. Behavioral disturbances were assessed in the open field and rotarod tests and by the stride length analysis. Structural deficits were assessed by the counts of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive neurons in the substantia nigra and optical density (OD) of TH-immunolabeled fibers in the striatum. Acute MPTP treatment induced long-term behavioral deficit and degenerative changes in the nigrostriatal system. Pretreatment with hLf prevented body weight loss and promoted recovery of motor functions and exploratory behavior. Importantly, OD of TH-positive fibers in the striatum of mice treated with hLf almost returned to normal, and the number of TH-positive cells in the substantia nigra significantly increased on day 28. These results indicate that hLf produces a neuroprotective effect and probably stimulates neuroregeneration under conditions of MPTP toxicity in our model. A relationship between behavioral deficits and nigrostriatal system disturbances at delayed terms after MPTP administration was found.
Sustainable Alfalfa Production on Coastal Plain Soils of the United States

Abstract Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is rarely grown on the Coastal Plain of southern United States. Production problems include infertile acid soils, inadequate pest control, and high humidity with frequent rainfall events that preclude adequate alfalfa hay drying conditions in spring. Research to overcome soil fertility problems included evaluation of nitrogen (N) rates over alfalfa row spacings and limestone and boron rates in split plot studies; phosphorus (P) rates using a randomized complete block design on eight soil series; and potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) rates and zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and molybdenum (Mo) rates in central composite, rotatable design studies. Field‐scale demonstrations were conducted to verify data from small plot research. Results indicate little need for N fertilization of alfalfa on Coastal Plain soils except possibly under cool or dry surface soil conditions. Increasing the between‐row planting distance from 23 to 69 cm lowered alfalfa dry matter yield by 2.1 Mg ha−1 the seedling year. Alfalfa yielded 11 Mg ha−1 at all row spacings in the drought‐affected third year. Dry matter yield was maximized at 49–73 kg applied P ha−1 on soils testing below 19 mg P kg−1 by the NH4OAc‐EDTA extraction method. The alfalfa stand was lost after one season on plots not fertilized with K. Applied Mg, S, Zn, Mo, and Cu had no significant effect on alfalfa yield. Dry matter increased >5 Mg ha−1 as pH was increased from 6.0 to 7.5. Boron applied at 3.4 kg ha−1 increased alfalfa yields 3.9 Mg ha−1. With improved methods for site selection and adequate fertility, sustainable economic production of alfalfa is possible with rain‐fed conditions on selected, limed Coastal Plain soils.