Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feline Leishmaniosis in Northwestern Italy: Current Status and Zoonotic Implications

Leishmaniasis remains one of the major neglected tropical diseases. The epidemiological profile of the disease comprises a wide range of hosts, including dogs and cats. Despite several studies about feline Leishmaniosis, the role of cats in disease epidemiology and its clinical impact is still debated. The present study raises awareness about the impact of leishmaniasis in cats from an endemic region in of Northwestern Italy (Liguria). A total number of 250 serum and 282 blood samples were collected from cats, then assessed for Leishmania infantum (L. infantum) serologically using western blot (WB) and molecularly using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We also tested the association of Leishmania infection with some infectious agents like haemotropic Mycoplasma, Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) together with the hematobiochemical status of the examined animals. Interestingly, all tested animals were asymptomatic and out of 250 examined serum samples, 33 (13.20%) samples (confidence interval (CI) 95% 9.56–17.96%) were positive at WB for L. infantum, whereas of the 282 blood samples, 80 (28.36%) returned a positive PCR (CI 95% 23.43–33.89%). Furthermore, there was a statistical association between PCR positivity for L. infantum and some hematological parameters besides FIV infection as well as a direct significant correlation between Mycoplasma infection and WB positivity. Taken together, the present findings report high prevalence of L. infantum among cats, which reinforces the significance of such positive asymptomatic animals and confirms the very low humoral response in this species. In addition, the laboratory values provide evidence that infection by the parasite is linked to alteration of some hematological parameters and is correlated to some infectious agents. These data are of interest and suggest future research for accurate diagnosis of such zoonosis.
How Do the Habitual Sleep Patterns of Elite Female Basketball and Soccer Athletes Compare With the General Population?

PURPOSE To compare the habitual sleep of female basketball and soccer athletes to age- and sex-matched controls and to characterize the sleep of basketball and soccer athletes at different competition locations and on the days surrounding competition. METHODS Using an observational case-control design, 41 female participants were recruited to participate, consisting of 11 basketball athletes (mean [SD]: age = 24.1 [4.9] y), 10 soccer athletes (24.8 [6.4] y), and 20 nonathletic controls (24.2 [2.8] y). Sleep was monitored using actigraphy for four 7-day periods throughout the preseason and subsequent competition season. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the effect of group and competition situation (eg, Home or Away) on sleep. RESULTS During habitual conditions, basketball athletes had longer sleep durations (7.4 [1.5] h) than soccer athletes (7.0 [1.2] h, P < .001) and controls (7.3 [1.2] h, P = .002). During competition, basketball and soccer athletes had longer sleep durations following home (7.7 [1.7] and 7.2 ± 1.3 h) compared with away games (6.8 [1.8] and 7.0 [1.3] h). In addition, basketballers went to bed earlier (23:49 [01:25]) and woke earlier (07:22 [01:59]) following away games compared with soccer athletes (00:10 [01:45] and 08:13 [01:45]). CONCLUSIONS Basketballers had longer habitual sleep durations compared with soccer athletes and nonathletic controls. During competition, basketballers had earlier bed and wake times compared with soccer athletes following away games, highlighting the need for individualized sleep strategies.
Patient Satisfaction and Hospital Quality of Care Evaluation in Malaysia Using SERVQUAL and Facebook

Social media sites, dubbed patient online reviews (POR), have been proposed as new methods for assessing patient satisfaction and monitoring quality of care. However, the unstructured nature of POR data derived from social media creates a number of challenges. The objectives of this research were to identify service quality (SERVQUAL) dimensions automatically from hospital Facebook reviews using a machine learning classifier, and to examine their associations with patient dissatisfaction. From January 2017 to December 2019, empirical research was conducted in which POR were gathered from the official Facebook page of Malaysian public hospitals. To find SERVQUAL dimensions in POR, a machine learning topic classification utilising supervised learning was developed, and this study’s objective was established using logistic regression analysis. It was discovered that 73.5% of patients were satisfied with the public hospital service, whereas 26.5% were dissatisfied. SERVQUAL dimensions identified were 13.2% reviews of tangible, 68.9% of reliability, 6.8% of responsiveness, 19.5% of assurance, and 64.3% of empathy. After controlling for hospital variables, all SERVQUAL dimensions except tangible and assurance were shown to be significantly related with patient dissatisfaction (reliability, p < 0.001; responsiveness, p = 0.016; and empathy, p < 0.001). Rural hospitals had a higher probability of patient dissatisfaction (p < 0.001). Therefore, POR, assisted by machine learning technologies, provided a pragmatic and feasible way for capturing patient perceptions of care quality and supplementing conventional patient satisfaction surveys. The findings offer critical information that will assist healthcare authorities in capitalising on POR by monitoring and evaluating the quality of services in real time.
Tumor-Targeted ZW800-1 Analog for Enhanced Tumor Imaging and Photothermal Therapy

ZW800-1, a representative zwitterionic near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore, can minimize background tissue uptake owing to its balanced surface charges, and therefore, is widely used for improved NIR fluorescence imaging. As ZW800-1 has no tumor targetability, tumor imaging is highly dependent on the ability of the molecules conjugated to the ZW800-1. To enable tumor targeting using ZW800-1 without additional conjugation, we developed a tumor-targetable and renal-clearable ZW800-1 analog (ZW800-AM) based on the structural modification of ZW800-1. Specifically, an amine group on the center linker of the ZW800-1 indocyanine backbone was modified by replacing phenoxypropionic acid with tyramine linkage on the meso-chlorine atom. This modification improved the tumor targeting ability, which is known as the structure-inherent targeting strategy. More importantly, ZW800-AM not only showed sufficient tumor accumulation without nonspecific uptake but also produced a photothermal effect, killing tumor cells under 808 nm NIR laser irradiation. In addition, ZW800-AM exhibited rapid renal elimination from the body within 4 h of injection, similar to ZW800-1. Overall, the discovery of ZW800-AM as a bifunctional phototherapeutic agent may provide an ideal alternative for tumor-targeted imaging and phototherapy.
A Neoglycoprotein-Immobilized Fluorescent Magnetic Bead Suspension Multiplex Array for Galectin-Binding Studies

Carbohydrate-protein conjugates have diverse applications. They have been used clinically as vaccines against bacterial infection and have been developed for high-throughput assays to elucidate the ligand specificities of glycan-binding proteins (GBPs) and antibodies. Here, we report an effective process that combines highly efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates, production of carbohydrate-bovine serum albumin (glycan-BSA) conjugates using a squarate linker, and convenient immobilization of the resulting neoglycoproteins on carboxylate-coated fluorescent magnetic beads for the development of a suspension multiplex array platform. A glycan-BSA-bead array containing BSA and 50 glycan-BSA conjugates with tuned glycan valency was generated. The binding profiles of six plant lectins with binding preference towards Gal and/or GalNAc, as well as human galectin-3 and galectin-8, were readily obtained. Our results provide useful information to understand the multivalent glycan-binding properties of human galectins. The neoglycoprotein-immobilized fluorescent magnetic bead suspension multiplex array is a robust and flexible platform for rapid analysis of glycan and GBP interactions and will find broad applications.
Effects of Deoxynivalenol and Fumonisins Fed in Combination to Beef Cattle: Immunotoxicity and Gene Expression

We evaluated the effects of a treatment diet contaminated with 1.7 mg deoxynivalenol and 3.5 mg fumonisins (B1, B2 and B3) per kg ration on immune status and peripheral blood gene expression profiles in finishing-stage Angus steers. The mycotoxin treatment diet was fed for a period of 21 days followed by a two-week washout period during which time all animals consumed the control diet. Whole-blood leukocyte differentials were performed weekly throughout the experimental and washout period. Comparative profiles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, along with bactericidal capacity of circulating neutrophils and monocytes were evaluated at 0, 7, 14, 21 and 35 days. Peripheral blood gene expression was measured at 0, 7, 21 and 35 days via RNA sequencing. Significant increases in the percentage of CD4−CD8+ T cells were observed in treatment-fed steers after two weeks of treatment and were associated with decreased CD4:CD8 T-cell ratios at this same timepoint (p ≤ 0.10). No significant differences were observed as an effect of treatment in terms of bactericidal capacity at any timepoint. Dietary treatments induced major changes in transcripts associated with endocrine, metabolic and infectious diseases; protein digestion and absorption; and environmental information processing (inhibition of signaling and processing), as evaluated by dynamic impact analysis. DAVID analysis also suggested treatment effects on oxygen transport, extra-cellular signaling, cell membrane structure and immune system function. These results indicate that finishing-stage beef cattle are susceptible to the immunotoxic and transcript-inhibitory effects of deoxynivalenol and fumonisins at levels which may be realistically encountered in feedlot situations.
Smartphone Addiction and Depression among Low-Income Boys since COVID-19: The Moderating Effect of Being an Only Child

Even though boys’ depression has become important, and their smartphone use has increased since COVID-19, little is known about low-income middle and high school boys’ depression in the context of whether they have siblings. Thus, this study investigates the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression as well as the moderating effect of being an only child on the relationship. Participants were limited to middle and high school students whose families were regarded as having a low-income. A total of 129 low-income boys were selected for the final sample. The PROCESS macro 3.4 for Statistical Product and Service Solutions was used to identify the moderating effect. Smartphone addiction was positively related to depression among low-income male students. Being an only child significantly moderated the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression. This study contributes to understanding the importance of examining mental health problems among middle school boys since COVID-19, particularly among low-income boys. It is necessary to provide tailored mental health services for middle school boys in low-income families. Alternative activities and social programs should be provided for adolescent boys who are only children to safely socialize with friends and peers without a smartphone.
The Expression and Localisation of G-Protein-Coupled Inwardly Rectifying Potassium (GIRK) Channels Is Differentially Altered in the Hippocampus of Two Mouse Models of Alzheimer’s Disease

G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels are the main targets controlling excitability and synaptic plasticity on hippocampal neurons. Consequently, dysfunction of GIRK-mediated signalling has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer´s disease (AD). Here, we provide a quantitative description on the expression and localisation patterns of GIRK2 in two transgenic mice models of AD (P301S and APP/PS1 mice), combining histoblots and immunoelectron microscopic approaches. The histoblot technique revealed differences in the expression of GIRK2 in the two transgenic mice models. The expression of GIRK2 was significantly reduced in the hippocampus of P301S mice in a laminar-specific manner at 10 months of age but was unaltered in APP/PS1 mice at 12 months compared to age-matched wild type mice. Ultrastructural approaches using the pre-embedding immunogold technique, demonstrated that the subcellular localisation of GIRK2 was significantly reduced along the neuronal surface of CA1 pyramidal cells, but increased in its frequency at cytoplasmic sites, in both P301S and APP/PS1 mice. We also found a decrease in plasma membrane GIRK2 channels in axon terminals contacting dendritic spines of CA1 pyramidal cells in P301S and APP/PS1 mice. These data demonstrate for the first time a redistribution of GIRK channels from the plasma membrane to intracellular sites in different compartments of CA1 pyramidal cells. Altogether, the pre- and post-synaptic reduction of GIRK2 channels suggest that GIRK-mediated alteration of the excitability in pyramidal cells could contribute to the cognitive dysfunctions as described in the two AD animal models.
The Abscopal Effect: A Review of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Advances

Radiotherapy has been used for more than a hundred years to cure or locally control tumors. Regression of tumors outside of the irradiated field was occasionally observed and is known as the abscopal effect. However, the occurrence of systemic anti-tumor effects was deemed too rare and unpredictable to be a therapeutic goal. Recent studies suggest that immunotherapy and radiation in combination may enhance the abscopal response. Increasing numbers of cases are being reported since the routine implementation of immune checkpoint inhibitors, showing that combined radiotherapy with immunotherapy has a synergistic effect on both local and distant (i.e., unirradiated) tumors. In this review, we summarize pre-clinical and clinical reports, with a specific focus on the mechanisms behind the immunostimulatory effects of radiation and how this is enhanced by immunotherapy.
Comparison of Preoperative Cone-Beam Computed Tomography and 3D-Double Echo Steady-State MRI in Third Molar Surgery

We investigated the reliability of assessing a positional relationship between the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and mandibular third molar (MTM) based on CBCT, 3D-DESS MRI, and CBCT/MRI image fusion. Furthermore, we evaluated qualitative parameters such as inflammatory processes and imaging fusion patterns. Therefore, two raters prospectively assessed in 19 patients with high-risk MTM surgery cases several parameters for technical image quality and diagnostic ability using modified Likert rating scales. Inter- and intra-reader agreement was evaluated by performing weighted kappa analysis. The inter- and intra-reader agreement for the positional relationship was moderate (κ = 0.566, κ = 0.577). Regarding the detectability of inflammatory processes, the agreement was substantial (κ = 0.66, κ = 0.668), with MRI providing a superior diagnostic benefit regarding early inflammation detection. Independent of the readers’ experience, the agreement of judgment in 3D-DESS MRI was adequate. Black bone MRI sequences such as 3D-DESS MRI providing highly confidential preoperative assessment in MTM surgery have no significant limitations in diagnostic information. With improved cost and time efficiency, dental MRI has the potential to establish itself as a valid alternative in high-risk cases compared to CBCT in future clinical routine.
Genetics and Cognitive Vulnerability to Sleep Deprivation in Healthy Subjects: Interaction of ADORA2A, TNF-α and COMT Polymorphisms

Several genetic polymorphisms differentiate between healthy individuals who are more cognitively vulnerable or resistant during total sleep deprivation (TSD). Common metrics of cognitive functioning for classifying vulnerable and resilient individuals include the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), Go/noGo executive inhibition task, and subjective daytime sleepiness. We evaluated the influence of 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on cognitive responses during total sleep deprivation (continuous wakefulness for 38 h) in 47 healthy subjects (age 37.0 ± 1.1 years). SNPs selected after a literature review included SNPs of the adenosine-A2A receptor gene (including the most studied rs5751876), pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL1-β, IL-6), catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT), and PER3. Subjects performed a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) and a Go/noGo-inhibition task, and completed the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) every 6 h during TSD. For PVT lapses (reaction time >500 ms), an interaction between SNP and SDT (p < 0.05) was observed for ADORA2A (rs5751862 and rs2236624) and TNF-α (rs1800629). During TSD, carriers of the A allele for ADORA2A (rs5751862) and TNF-α were significantly more impaired for cognitive responses than their respective ancestral G/G genotypes. Carriers of the ancestral G/G genotype of ADORA2A rs5751862 were found to be very similar to the most resilient subjects for PVT lapses and Go/noGo commission errors. Carriers of the ancestral G/G genotype of COMT were close to the most vulnerable subjects. ADORA2A (rs5751862) was significantly associated with COMT (rs4680) (p = 0.001). In conclusion, we show that genetic polymorphisms in ADORA2A (rs5751862), TNF-α (rs1800629), and COMT (rs4680) are involved in creating profiles of high vulnerability or high resilience to sleep deprivation. (NCT03859882).
Identification of Potential Citrate Metabolism Pathways in Carnobacterium maltaromaticum

In the present study, we describe the identification of potential citrate metabolism pathways for the lactic acid bacterium (LAB) Carnobacterium maltaromaticum. A phenotypic assay indicated that four of six C. maltaromaticum strains showed weak (Cm 6-1 and ATCC 35586) or even delayed (Cm 3-1 and Cm 5-1) citrate utilization activity. The remaining two strains, Cm 4-1 and Cm 1-2 gave negative results. Additional analysis showed no or very limited utilization of citrate in media containing 1% glucose and 22 or 30 mM citrate and inoculated with Cm 6-1 or ATCC 35586. Two potential pathways of citrate metabolism were identified by bioinformatics analyses in C. maltaromaticum including either oxaloacetate (pathway 1) or tricarboxylic compounds such as isocitrate and α-ketoglutarate (pathway 2) as intermediates. Genes encoding pathway 1 were present in two out of six strains while pathway 2 included genes present in all six strains. The two potential citrate metabolism pathways in C. maltaromaticum may potentially affect the sensory profiles of milk and soft cheeses subjected to growth with this species.
Comparative Analysis of Eight Mitogenomes of Bark Beetles and Their Phylogenetic Implications

Simple Summary Many bark beetles are destructive pests in coniferous forests and cause extensive ecological and economic losses worldwide. Comparative studies of the structural characteristics of mitogenomes and phylogenetic relationships of bark beetles can improve our understanding of mitogenome evolution. In this study, we sequenced eight mitogenomes of bark beetles. Our results show that the use of start and stop codons, the abundance of amino acids, and the relative frequency of codon use are conserved among the eight bark beetles. Different regions of tRNA exhibit different degrees of conservatism. Together with the analysis of evolutionary rates and genetic distance among bark beetle species, our results reveal phylogenetic relationships among bark beetles of the subfamily Scolytinae. Abstract Many bark beetles of the subfamily Scolytinae are the most economically important insect pests of coniferous forests worldwide. In this study, we sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of eight bark beetle species, including Dendroctonus micans, Orthotomicus erosus, Polygraphus poligraphus, Dryocoetes hectographus, Ips nitidus, Ips typographus, Ips subelongatus, and Ips hauseri, to examine their structural characteristics and determine their phylogenetic relationships. We also used previously published mitochondrial genome sequence data from other Scolytinae species to identify and localize the eight species studied within the bark beetle phylogeny. Their gene arrangement matched the presumed ancestral pattern of these bark beetles. Start and stop codon usage, amino acid abundance, and the relative codon usage frequencies were conserved among bark beetles. Genetic distances between species ranged from 0.037 to 0.418, and evolutionary rates of protein-coding genes ranged from 0.07 for COI to 0.69 for ND2. Our results shed light on the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic status of several bark beetles in the subfamily Scolytinae and highlight the need for further sequencing analyses and taxonomic revisions in additional bark beetle species.
Transcriptome changes in maternal peripheral blood during term parturition mimic perturbations preceding spontaneous preterm birth

Abstract The complex physiologic process of parturition includes the onset of labor, which requires the orchestrated stimulation of a common pathway involving uterine contractility, cervical ripening, and chorioamniotic membrane activation. However, the labor-specific processes taking place in these tissues have limited use as predictive biomarkers unless they can be probed in non-invasive samples, such as the peripheral blood. Herein, we utilized a transcriptomic dataset to assess labor-specific changes in the peripheral blood of women who delivered at term. We identified a set of genes that were differentially expressed with labor and enriched for immunological processes, and these gene expression changes were strongly correlated with results from prior studies, providing in silico validation of our findings. We then identified significant correlations between labor-specific transcriptomic changes in the maternal circulation and those detected in the chorioamniotic membranes, myometrium, and cervix of women at term, demonstrating that tissue-specific labor signatures are partly mirrored in the peripheral blood. Finally, we demonstrated a significant overlap between the peripheral blood transcriptomic changes in term parturition and those observed in asymptomatic women, prior to the diagnosis of preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes, who ultimately delivered preterm. Collectively, we provide evidence that the normal process of labor at term is characterized by a unique immunological expression signature, which may serve as a useful tool for assessing labor status and for potentially identifying women at risk for preterm birth. Summary sentence: The maternal peripheral blood transcriptome undergoes labor-specific changes that correlate with those in the chorioamniotic membranes, myometrium, and cervix and partially overlap with those observed in asymptomatic women prior to preterm birth.