Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
VASCULAR RISK FACTORS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS IN THE PATIENTS WITH CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE.

OBJECTIVE The aim: To assess the severity of cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) depending on the number of vascular risk factors (VRF). PATIENTS AND METHODS Materials and methods: The study consisted of five hundred and eighty patients with CVD (247 females and 333 males) aged from 45 to 89 years (mean age: 64,1±8,9 years). The patients were divided into 6 groups (I, II, III, IV, V, VI) depending on the number of VRF. The examination consisted of a standard clinical evaluation, neurological examination, the application of neuropsychological tests (the MMSE; the PALT/The Paired Associates Learning Test; clock drawing test), laboratory tests, MRI of brain. RESULTS Results: According to ANOVA, the greater the number of VRF the patients had, the lower was their total MMSE score corresponding to more pronounced cognitive decline (F=2,97, p=0,012). A significant negative correlation between patients' age and their MMSE score was detected regardless of their VRF count. The patients of the V and VI groups had substantially lower parameters of immediate, delayed memory and clock drawing test score comparing to the patients of the I group. CONCLUSION Conclusions: The presence of 4 and more VRF was related to more pronounced CI in the patients with CVD. Decline of different aspects of memory, attention, spatial orientation, abstract thinking, planning, concentration, executive and visuospatial skills in groups of patients with 4,5 and 6 vascular risk factors was established. Age was substantially associated with cognitive decline in all the group of patients.
Collybistin SH3‐protein isoforms are expressed in the rat brain promoting gephyrin and GABA‐A receptor clustering at GABAergic synapses

Collybistin (CB) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) selectively localized at GABAergic and glycinergic postsynapses. Analysis of mRNA shows that several isoforms of collybistin are expressed in the brain. Some of the isoforms have a SH3 domain (CBSH3+) and some have no SH3 domain (CBSH3−). The CBSH3+ mRNAs are predominantly expressed over CBSH3−. However, in an immunoblot study of mouse brain homogenates, only CBSH3+ protein isoforms were detected, proposing that CBSH3− protein might not be expressed in the brain. The expression or lack of expression of CBSH3− protein is an important issue because CBSH3− has a strong effect in promoting the postsynaptic clustering of gephyrin and GABA‐A receptors (GABAARs). Moreover CBSH3− is constitutively active; therefore lower expression of CBSH3− protein might play a relatively stronger functional role than the more abundant but self‐inhibited CBSH3+ isoforms, which need to be activated. We are now showing that: (a) CBSH3− protein is expressed in the brain; (b) parvalbumin positive (PV+) interneurons show higher expression of CBSH3− protein than other neurons; (c) CBSH3− is associated with GABAergic synapses in various regions of the brain and (d) knocking down CBSH3− in hippocampal neurons decreases the synaptic clustering of gephyrin and GABAARs. The results show that CBSH3− protein is expressed in the brain and that it plays a significant role in the size regulation of the GABAergic postsynapse.
Prognostic impact of perirenal fat stranding on oncologic outcomes in ureteral urothelial carcinoma

Purpose Perirenal fat stranding (PRFS) is defined as linear areas of soft-tissue attenuation in the perirenal space that can result from ureteral obstruction. We analyzed the prognostic impact of PRFS on outcomes in patients with ureteral urothelial carcinoma (UC). Materials and Methods Overall, 126 patients evaluated preoperatively by computerized tomography (CT) scan and diagnosed with ureteral UC following nephroureterectomy between January 2001 and May 2018 were included. We analyzed associations between oncologic outcomes and secondary signs such as hydronephrosis and PRFS. Results Overall, 68 patients (54.0%) showed PRFS on preoperative CT scans. The patients' mean age was 66.33±9.49 years. A high pT stage (≥T3) was seen in 47 patients (37.3%) and high-grade tumors were seen in 90 patients (71.4%). Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) was seen in 15 patients (11.9%), and 5 (4.0%) were at the pN1 stage. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that cT stage≥3, PRFS, pT stage≥3, tumor grade, LVI, and pN1 stage were independent prognostic factors of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) (all p<0.05). Conclusions PRFS was found to be an independent prognostic factor for RFS and CSS. PRFS is easily detectable in preoperative CT imaging and may be useful for improving the prediction of oncologic outcomes of ureteral UC. Therefore, PRFS along with other important preoperative CT findings can help urologists give preoperative advice to patients with ureteral UC before surgical management.
Combined effects of water stress and salinity on growth, physiological and biochemical traits in two walnut genotypes.

Due to its great economic value, walnut (Juglans regia L.) has received increasing attention during recent years. However, water stress and salinity limit walnut growth, production and quality. We employed two walnut genotypes, precocious walnut and late-bearing walnut, to investigate their growth, photosynthetic capacity, non-structural carbohydrate contents, Cl- allocation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and osmotic regulation under water stress, salinity and their combination. We found that late-bearing walnut showed higher total biomass and net photosynthetic rate, higher activities of antioxidant enzymes, higher osmoregulation and lower ROS accumulation than precocious walnut under stressful conditions. In addition, late-bearing walnut restricted salt transport and allocated more Cl- into roots, whereas precocious walnut allocated more Cl- into leaves when exposed to salinity stress. These data collectively demonstrated that late-bearing walnut possesses better stress tolerance under water stress, salinity and especially under their combination. Such knowledge of genotype-specific responses and tolerances to water stress and salinity is important for walnut plantation management under increasing drought and aggravated soil salinization occurring with climate change. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Options and results in managing suction loss during small-incision lenticule extraction

Suction loss, although uncommon, can occur during any stage in SMILE. Successful management depends on understanding the available retreatment options and laser parameters adjustment across the different stages of photodisruption. Suction loss is an intraoperative complication in small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) that presents a management challenge for the refractive surgeon. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the visual, refractive, and wavefront outcomes after suction loss across the different stages of SMILE with various respective surgical treatments. Surgical management options include immediate re-SMILE by redocking or delayed re-SMILE, with or without adjustment of the laser parameters, conversion to femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis, transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy, refractive lenticule extraction, or pseudo-SMILE. The restart treatment module on VisuMax provides appropriate retreatment recommendation. Most retreatment options for suction loss, immediate or delayed, resulted in effective, safe, and predictable outcomes, and patients were satisfied with their outcomes. Based on available level II evidence, immediate re-SMILE with or without adjustment to the laser settings achieve favorable visual and refractive outcomes in handling this intraoperative complication across all stages of SMILE.
Seasonal variations in the morphology of the seminal vesicles of the African straw‐coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum)

The study investigated seasonal changes in the morphology of the seminal vesicles of Eidolon helvum in a typical African tropical environment. Seminal vesicles of forty‐eight bats were examined during the early rainy, late rainy and peak dry seasons, using gross anatomical, histological and ultrastructural techniques. The interlobular connective tissue septa from the external capsule demarcated the glandular parenchyma into numerous lobules of tubulo‐alveolar glands. A simple cuboidal epithelium of mono‐ or bi‐nucleated cuboidal cells lined the glandular mucosa during the rainy season. This was replaced by a bistratified cuboidal epithelium, whose upper layer of cells showed evidence of degeneration, during the dry season. The PAS‐positive secretory products appeared to be numerous during the rainy season, but few and clumped together during the dry season. The mean gross weight, interlobular septal thickness, acini diameter and epithelial height of the glands varied significantly with season. Ultrastructural features of the secretory cells during the rainy season showed well‐developed cytoplasmic organelles, numerous electron lucid secretory vesicles and electron‐dense granules. Secretory epithelial cells of the seminal vesicles are very active during the rainy season, while regeneration of degenerated epithelium in preparation for the next reproductive cycle occurs during the dry season.
BCG Provides Short-Term Protection from Experimental Cerebral Malaria in Mice

Clinical and experimental evidence suggests that the tuberculosis vaccine BCG offers protection against unrelated pathogens including the malaria parasite. Cerebral malaria (CM) is the most severe complication associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection in humans and is responsible for most of the fatalities attributed to malaria. We investigated whether BCG protected C57BL/6 mice from P. berghei ANKA (PbA)-induced experimental CM (ECM). The majority of PbA-infected mice that were immunized with BCG showed prolonged survival without developing clinical symptoms of ECM. However, this protective effect waned over time and was associated with the recovery of viable BCG from liver and spleen. Intriguingly, BCG-mediated protection from ECM was not associated with a reduction in parasite burden, indicating that BCG immunization did not improve anti-parasite effector mechanisms. Instead, we found a significant reduction in pro-inflammatory mediators and CD8+ T cells in brains of BCG-vaccinated mice. Together these data suggest that brain recruitment of immune cells involved in the pathogenesis of ECM decreased after BCG vaccination. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of BCG on PbA-induced ECM can provide a rationale for developing effective adjunctive therapies to reduce the risk of death and brain damage in CM.
The coronavirus pandemic: a pitfall or a fast-track for validating cell therapy products?

The global COVID-19 pandemic has prompted urgent need for potential therapies for severe respiratory consequences resulting from coronavirus infection. New therapeutic agents that will attenuate ongoing inflammation and, at the same time, promote regeneration of injured lung epithelial cells are urgently needed. Cell-based therapies, primarily involving mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and their derivatives are currently being investigated worldwide for SARS-CoV-2-induced lung diseases. A significant number of academic centers and companies globally have already initiated such trials. At a time of unprecedented need, it is it is also foreseen that distressed families, and caregivers to seek all available options including access to cell-based and other investigational products, even prior to its regulatory approval. This should not be an excuse for opportunists to sell or advertise unproven therapies of any kind. "Compassionate use" should be conducted in the context of a clinical investigation framed by strict ethical and regulatory permissions, with the goal of obtaining mechanistic information wherever possible.
Asymbiotic germination and morphological studies of seeds of Atlantic Rainforest micro-orchids (Pleurothallidinae)

The morphological and morphometric characters of seeds belonging to 11 species of the subtribe Pleurothallidinae using light and scanning electron microscopy were studied to understand the in vitro germination process. Qualitative data (color, shape, ornamentation) and quantitative ones were also evaluated in seeds and embryos (length, width, volume and air space percentage between the integument and the embryo). The viability of the seeds was evaluated by in vitro germination in woody plant medium (WPM), and by analysis of the developmental stages of protocorms until seedling formation (two to 24 weeks). Morphometric data showed variations within the genus Acianthera and between species of different genera. The best germination and protocorm formation responses occurred with Acianthera prolifera (92%) and Acianthera ochreata (86%), with the formation of seedlings after 12 and 16 weeks of sowing, respectively. The seeds and embryos of A. prolifera and A. ochreata were larger (length, width, and volume) with a structural polarity that may have facilitated their germination comparing to others studied species. Other characteristics of A. prolifera seeds that may have contributed to these results include the presence of a thin testa without ornamentation and a suspensor. The protocorms of Anathalis obovata, Dryadella liliputiana, and Octomeria gracillis developed slowly in the WPM, not reaching the seedling stage in 24 weeks of cultivation. This morphological and morphometric study contributes to the understanding of asymbiotic germination of some micro-orchid species.
The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Role of Leptin and Its Receptor ObR in Glioblastoma Multiforme

Simple Summary Despite recent advances in molecular brain tumor therapies, glioblastoma multiforme remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge with, in most cases, unfavorable outcome. Leptin and related mediators of immune-metabolic traffic have attracted increased recognition in the past decade in brain tumor biology, in particular potential implications in the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent and newly diagnosed high and low grade gliomas. Randomized controlled trails are on the way to elaborate the role of leptin and its receptor ObR by targeting and using antidiabetic drugs known to interact with distinct pathways associated with leptin signaling. To date, most of the findings in clinical studies remain preliminary and of heterogenous character, although experimental studies have underpinned the relevance of leptin and ObR in the pathophysiology of brain tumors in general. Abstract Leptin has been recognized as a potential tumor growth promoter in various cancers including cranial tumor pathologies such as pituitary adenomas, meningiomas and gliomas. Despite recent advances in adjunctive therapy and the established surgical resection, chemo- and radiotherapy regimen, glioblastoma multiforme remains a particular diagnostic and therapeutic challenge among the intracranial tumor pathologies, with a poor long-term prognosis. Systemic inflammation and immune-metabolic signaling through diverse pathways are thought to impact the genesis and recurrence of brain tumors, and glioblastoma multiforme in particular. Among the various circulating mediators, leptin has gained especial diagnostic and therapeutic interest, although the precise relationship between leptin and glioblastoma biology remains largely unknown. In this narrative review (MEDLINE/OVID, SCOPUS, PubMed and manual searches of the bibliographies of known primary and review articles), we discuss the current literature using the following search terms: leptin, glioblastoma multiforme, carcinogenesis, immunometabolism, biomarkers, metformin, antidiabetic medication and metabolic disorders. An increasing body of experimental evidence implicates a relationship between the development and maintenance of gliomas (and brain tumors in general) with a dysregulated central and peripheral immune-metabolic network mediated by circulating adipokines, chemokines and cellular components, and in particular the leptin adipokine. In this review, we summarize the current evidence of the role of leptin in glioblastoma pathophysiology. In addition, we describe the status of alternative diagnostic tools and adjunctive therapeutics targeting leptin, leptin-receptors, antidiabetic drugs and associated pathways. Further experimental and clinical trials are needed to elucidate the mechanism of action and the value of immune-metabolism molecular phenotyping (central and peripheral) in order to develop novel adjunctive diagnostics and therapeutics for newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma patients.
The Effects of Soil Depth on the Structure of Microbial Communities in Agricultural Soils in Iowa (United States)

Determining how microbial properties change across different soils and within the soil depth profile will be potentially beneficial to understanding the long-term processes that are involved in the health of agricultural ecosystems. Most literature on soil microbes has been restricted to the easily accessible surface soils. ABSTRACT This study investigated the differences in microbial community abundance, composition, and diversity throughout the depth profiles in soils collected from corn and soybean fields in Iowa (United States) using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The results revealed decreased richness and diversity in microbial communities at increasing soil depth. Soil microbial community composition differed due to crop type only in the top 60 cm and due to location only in the top 90 cm. While the relative abundance of most phyla decreased in deep soils, the relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria increased and dominated agricultural soils below the depth of 90 cm. Although soil depth was the most important factor shaping microbial communities, edaphic factors, including soil organic matter, soil bulk density, and the length of time that deep soils were saturated with water, were all significant factors explaining the variation in soil microbial community composition. Soil organic matter showed the highest correlation with the exponential decrease in bacterial abundance with depth. A greater understanding of how soil depth influences the diversity and composition of soil microbial communities is vital for guiding sampling approaches in agricultural soils where plant roots extend beyond the upper soil profile. In the long term, a greater knowledge of the influence of depth on microbial communities should contribute to new strategies that enhance the sustainability of soil, which is a precious resource for food security. IMPORTANCE Determining how microbial properties change across different soils and within the soil depth profile will be potentially beneficial to understanding the long-term processes that are involved in the health of agricultural ecosystems. Most literature on soil microbes has been restricted to the easily accessible surface soils. However, deep soils are important in soil formation, carbon sequestration, and providing nutrients and water for plants. In the most productive agricultural systems in the United States where soybean and corn are grown, crop plant roots extend into the deeper regions of soils (>100 cm), but little is known about the taxonomic diversity or the factors that shape deep-soil microbial communities. The findings reported here highlight the importance of soil depth in shaping microbial communities, provide new information about edaphic factors that influence the deep-soil communities, and reveal more detailed information on taxa that exist in deep agricultural soils.
Understanding the Molecular Drivers of Disease Heterogeneity in Crohn’s Disease Using Multi-omic Data Integration and Network Analysis

Abstract Crohn’s disease (CD), a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is characterized by heterogeneity along multiple clinical axes, which in turn impacts disease progression and treatment modalities. Using advanced data integration approaches and systems biology tools, we studied the contribution of CD susceptibility variants and gene expression in distinct peripheral immune cell subsets (CD14+ monocytes and CD4+ T cells) to relevant clinical traits. Our analyses revealed that most clinical traits capturing CD heterogeneity could be associated with CD14+ and CD4+ gene expression rather than disease susceptibility variants. By disentangling the sources of variation, we identified molecular features that could potentially be driving the heterogeneity of various clinical traits of CD patients. Further downstream analyses identified contextual hub proteins such as genes encoding barrier functions, antimicrobial peptides, chemokines, and their receptors, which are either targeted by drugs used in CD or other inflammatory diseases or are relevant to the biological functions implicated in disease pathology. These hubs could be used as cell type–specific targets to treat specific subtypes of CD patients in a more individualized approach based on the underlying biology driving their disease subtypes. Our study highlights the importance of data integration and systems approaches to investigate complex and heterogeneous diseases such as IBD.
Brassica juncea L. (Mustard) Extract Silver NanoParticles and Knocking off Oxidative Stress, ProInflammatory Cytokine and Reverse DNA Genotoxicity

Detoxification is one of the main vital tasks performed by the liver. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether mustard in its normal or nanoparticles could confer a protective/therapeutic effect against TAA-induced acute liver failure in experimental animal models. Mustard ethanolic extract was analyzed by HPLC/MS. To induce liver failure, male rats were injected with 350 mg/kg bw TAA IP, then treated orally with a dose of 100 mg/kg for 15 d of mustard extract and its nanoform before and following induction. The levels of serum liver functions, total cholesterol (TCHo), total glyceride (TG), total bilirubin (TBIL), hepatic malonaldhyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO),glutathione (GSH), sodium oxide dismutase (SOD), as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α,) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), were estimated. DNA genotoxicity and hepatic pathology, and immunohistologic (IHC) changes were assayed. The antioxidant content of Phenolic acids, flavonoids in mustard ethanolic extract substantially decreased the levels of ALT, AST, ALP and rehabilitated the histopathological alterations. In addition, nanoforms of mustard ethanol extract have notably increased the levels of GSH, SOD and significantly reduced the levels of MDA. The expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum and tissue were markedly downregulated. DNA genotoxicity was significantly reversed. Mustard introduced a protective and medicinal effect against TAA in both its forms.