Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Value of Cortisol Index of Endobiogeny in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients

Background and Objectives: Serum cortisol has been extensively studied for its role during acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Reports have been inconsistent, with high and low serum cortisol associated with various clinical outcomes. Several publications claim to have developed methods to evaluate cortisol activity by using elements of complete blood count with its differential. This study aims to compare the prognostic value of the cortisol index of Endobiogeny with serum cortisol in AMI patients, and to identify if the risk of mortality in AMI patients can be more precisely assessed by using both troponin I and cortisol index than troponin I alone. Materials and methods: This prospective study included 123 consecutive patients diagnosed with AMI. Diagnostic coronary angiography and revascularization was performed for all patients. Cortisol index was measured on admission, on discharge, and after 6 months. Two year follow-up for all patients was obtained. Results: Our study shows cortisol index peaks at 7–12 h after the onset of AMI, while serum cortisol peaked within 3 h from the onset of AMI. The cortisol index is elevated at admission, then significantly decreases at discharge; furthermore, the decline to its bottom most at 6 months is observed with mean values being constantly elevated. The cortisol index on admission correlated with 24-month mortality. We established combined cut-off values of cortisol index on admission > 100 and troponin I > 1.56 μg/las a prognosticator of poor outcomes for the 24-month period. Conclusions: The cortisol index derived from the global living systems theory of Endobiogeny is more predictive of mortality than serum cortisol. Moreover, a combined assessment of cortisol index and Troponin I during AMI offers more accurate risk stratification of mortality risk than troponin alone.
NADPH Oxidases (NOX): An Overview from Discovery, Molecular Mechanisms to Physiology and Pathology

The reactive oxygen species (ROS)-producing enzyme NADPH oxidase (NOX) was first identified in the membrane of phagocytic cells. For many years, its only known role was in immune defense, where its ROS production leads to the destruction of pathogens by the immune cells. NOX from phagocytes catalyzes, via one-electron trans-membrane transfer to molecular oxygen, the production of the superoxide anion. Over the years, six human homologs of the catalytic subunit of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase were found: NOX1, NOX3, NOX4, NOX5, DUOX1, and DUOX2. Together with the NOX2/gp91phox component present in the phagocyte NADPH oxidase assembly itself, the homologs are now referred to as the NOX family of NADPH oxidases. NOX are complex multidomain proteins with varying requirements for assembly with combinations of other proteins for activity. The recent structural insights acquired on both prokaryotic and eukaryotic NOX open new perspectives for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms inherent to NOX regulation and ROS production (superoxide or hydrogen peroxide). This new structural information will certainly inform new investigations of human disease. As specialized ROS producers, NOX enzymes participate in numerous crucial physiological processes, including host defense, the post-translational processing of proteins, cellular signaling, regulation of gene expression, and cell differentiation. These diversities of physiological context will be discussed in this review. We also discuss NOX misregulation, which can contribute to a wide range of severe pathologies, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, lung fibrosis, cancer, or neurodegenerative diseases, giving this family of membrane proteins a strong therapeutic interest.
Carbon Storage Distribution Characteristics of Vineyard Ecosystems in Hongsibu, Ningxia

Given that the global winegrape planting area is 7.2 × 106 hm2, the potential for winegrape crop-mediated carbon capture and storage as an approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions warranted further research. Herein, we employed an allometric model of various winegrape organs to assess biomass distributions, and we evaluated the carbon storage distribution characteristics associated with vineyard ecosystems in the Hongsibu District of Ningxia. We found that the total carbon storage of the Vitis vinifera ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ vineyard ecosystem was 55.35 t·hm−2, of which 43.12 t·hm−2 came from the soil, while the remaining 12.23 t·hm−2 was attributable to various vine components including leaves (1.85 t·hm−2), fruit (2.16 t·hm−2), canes (1.83 t·hm−2), perennial branches (2.62 t·hm−2), and roots (3.78 t·hm−2). Together, these results suggested that vineyards can serve as an effective carbon sink, with the majority of carbon being sequestered at the soil surface. Within the grapevines themselves, most carbon was stored in perennial organs including perennial branches and roots. Allometric equations based on simple and practical biomass and biometric measurements offer a means whereby grape-growers and government entities responsible for ecological management can better understand carbon distribution patterns associated with vineyards.
Inflammation and the Association of Vitamin D and Depressive Symptomatology

Depression and vitamin D deficiency are major public health problems. The existing literature indicates the complex relationship between depression and vitamin D. The purpose of this study was to examine whether this relationship is moderated or mediated by inflammation. A community sample (n = 7162) from the LIFE-Adult-Study was investigated, for whom depressive symptoms were assessed via the German version of CES-D scale and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and inflammatory markers (IL-6 and CRP levels, WBC count) were quantified. Mediation analyses were performed using Hayes’ PROCESS macro and regression analyses were conducted to test moderation effects. There was a significant negative correlation between CES-D and 25(OH)D, and positive associations between inflammatory markers and CES-D scores. Only WBC partially mediated the association between 25(OH)D levels and depressive symptoms both in a simple mediation model (ab: −0.0042) and a model including covariates (ab: −0.0011). None of the inflammatory markers showed a moderation effect on the association between 25(OH)D levels and depressive symptoms. This present work highlighted the complex relationship between vitamin D, depressive symptoms and inflammation. Future studies are needed to examine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on inflammation and depressive symptomatology for causality assessment.
Survival Bias and Crosstalk between Chronological and Behavioral Age: Age- and Genotype-Sensitivity Tests Define Behavioral Signatures in Middle-Aged, Old, and Long-Lived Mice with Normal and AD-Associated Aging

New evidence refers to a high degree of heterogeneity in normal but also Alzheimer’s disease (AD) clinical and temporal patterns, increased mortality, and the need to find specific end-of-life prognosticators. This heterogeneity is scarcely explored in very old male AD mice models due to their reduced survival. In the present work, using 915 (432 APP23 and 483 C57BL/6 littermates) mice, we confirmed the better survival curves in male than female APP23 mice and respective wildtypes, providing the chance to characterize behavioral signatures in middle-aged, old, and long-lived male animals. The sensitivity of a battery of seven paradigms for comprehensive screening of motor (activity and gait analysis), neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms was analyzed using a cohort of 56 animals, composed of 12-, 18- and 24-month-old male APP23 mice and wildtype littermates. Most variables analyzed detected age-related differences. However, variables related to coping with stress, thigmotaxis, frailty, gait, and poor cognition better discriminated the behavioral phenotype of male APP23 mice through the three old ages compared with controls. Most importantly, non-linear age- and genotype-dependent behavioral signatures were found in long-lived animals, suggesting crosstalk between chronological and biological/behavioral ages useful to study underlying mechanisms and distinct compensations through physiological and AD-associated aging.
Human Microcephaly Protein RTTN Is Required for Proper Mitotic Progression and Correct Spindle Position

Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a small brain size with mild to moderate intellectual disability. We previously demonstrated that human microcephaly RTTN played an important role in regulating centriole duplication during interphase, but the role of RTTN in mitosis is not fully understood. Here, we show that RTTN is required for normal mitotic progression and correct spindle position. The depletion of RTTN induces the dispersion of the pericentriolar protein γ-tubulin and multiple mitotic abnormalities, including monopolar, abnormal bipolar, and multipolar spindles. Importantly, the loss of RTTN altered NuMA/p150Glued congression to the spindle poles, perturbed NuMA cortical localization, and reduced the number and the length of astral microtubules. Together, our results provide a new insight into how RTTN functions in mitosis.
Low Hemoglobin-to-Red Cell Distribution Width Ratio Is Associated with Disease Progression and Poor Prognosis in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

The importance of blood cell markers in patients with malignant tumors has been studied, but there are few studies on the prognostic value of hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio (HRR) in cancer. This is the first study to investigate the effect of preoperative HRR on patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Our retrospective cohort study included 730 UTUC patients who underwent nephroureterectomy from 2000 to 2019. Clinicopathological parameters were compared according to HRR levels, and the relationship between blood cell markers (HRR, white blood cell [WBC] count, platelet count) and prognosis was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression model. We found that patients with HRR ≤ 1.05 tended to have worse renal function, higher pathological stages, and more high-grade tumors. In univariate analysis, HRR ≤ 1.05, WBC > 8.65 × 103 cells/μL and platelets >309 × 103 cells/μL were associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that HRR ≤ 1.05 and WBC > 8.65 × 103 cells/μL were independent prognostic factors for predicting deterioration of PFS, CSS, and OS. In conclusion, HRR and WBC are easy to obtain in clinical practice and are useful indicators to provide prognostic information before surgery for UTUC.
Impact of Hypoxia on Relative Biological Effectiveness and Oxygen Enhancement Ratio for a 62-MeV Therapeutic Proton Beam

Simple Summary This study presents an algorithm to estimate the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for cell survival under hypoxic conditions using the repair-misrepair-fixation model. The study finds that the RBE values are in the range of 1.0–3.0 for the linear energy transfer equal to 1.1 to 22.6 keV/μm under aerobic condition (21% O2) and further increase to the range of 1.1–4.4 under severe hypoxia (0.1% O2). Abstract This study uses the yields of double-strand breaks (DSBs) to determine the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of proton beams, using cell survival as a biological endpoint. DSB induction is determined when cells locate at different depths (6 positions) along the track of 62 MeV proton beams. The DNA damage yields are estimated using Monte Carlo Damage Simulation (MCDS) software. The repair outcomes are estimated using Monte Carlo excision repair (MCER) simulations. The RBE for cell survival at different oxygen concentrations is calculated using the repair-misrepair-fixation (RMF) model. Using 60Co γ-rays (linear energy transfer (LET) = 2.4 keV/μm) as the reference radiation, the RBE for DSB induction and enzymatic DSB under aerobic condition (21% O2) are in the range 1.0–1.5 and 1.0–1.6 along the track depth, respectively. In accord with RBE obtained from experimental data, RMF model-derived RBE values for cell survival are in the range of 1.0–3.0. The oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) for cell survival (10%) decreases from 3.0 to 2.5 as LET increases from 1.1 to 22.6 keV/μm. The RBE values for severe hypoxia (0.1% O2) are in the range of 1.1–4.4 as LET increases, indicating greater contributions of direct effects for protons. Compared with photon therapy, the overall effect of 62 MeV proton beams results in greater cell death and is further intensified under hypoxic conditions.
Maxillary Sinus Augmentation Using Ceramic Alloplastic Granules or Paste: An Experimental Study in Rabbits

Background: Due to the lack of data comparing the biological behavior of two formulations, granules and paste, of alloplastic graft from microtomographic and histomorphometric points of view, the aim of the present experiment was to compare the histomorphometric and microtomographic healing of two formulations, i.e., granules (MR sites) or paste (MR-inject sites) of an alloplastic graft composed of a combination of beta-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite used for maxillary sinus lifting. Methods: A sinus lifting procedure was carried out bilaterally in 20 rabbits, and the elevated space was filled with either paste or granules of an alloplastic material. A collagen membrane was placed on the antrostomy and the animals were euthanized after 2 or 10 weeks, 10 animals each group. Microtomographic and histological analyses were performed. Results: Higher proportions of new bone formation were found at the MR, compared to the MR-inject sites both after 2 weeks (2.65 ± 2.89% vs. 0.08 ± 0.12%; p < 0.01) and 10 weeks of healing (34.20 ± 13.86 vs. 23.28 ± 10.35%; p = 0.022). Conclusions: It was concluded that new bone formation was faster in the MR sites, compared to the MR-inject. However, a longer time of healing should be allowed to make final conclusions about the efficiency in bone formation of the paste formulation of the biomaterial used in the present study.
Anti-Interleukin-17 Therapy of Severe Psoriatic Patients Results in an Improvement of Serum Lipid and Inflammatory Parameters’ Levels, but Has No Effect on Body Composition Parameters

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is frequently accompanied by metabolic syndrome. Effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies on increases in body weight is well-known. Data on the effects of interleukin-17 inhibitors are limited. Authors determined the effect of anti-interleukin-17 therapies on the body composition and serum lipid and inflammatory parameters among severe psoriatic patients. METHODS: Thirty-five severe psoriatic patients were enrolled. Twenty-two received secukinumab and 13 received ixekizumab as their 2nd-or 3rd-line biological treatment. Before treatment initiation and 6 months later, laboratory examinations measuring metabolic and inflammatory panels and body composition analyses were performed. RESULTS: After 6 months, a significant reduction was observed in psoriasis area severity index (p < 0.001) from 18 to 0, in c-reactive protein (p < 0.001) from 6.6 to 4.00 mg/L, in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p = 0.004) from 3.69 to 3.19 mmol/L, and an improvement in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p = 0.022) from 1.31 to 1.40 mmol/L. Median baseline body mass index was 32.80 kg/m2. The body composition parameters did not show any significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-interleukin-17 therapy of severe psoriatic patients does not cause significant changes in body composition parameters. Improvements in the lipid and inflammatory parameters might have a beneficial effect on patients’ cardiometabolic status. This effect might be detectable in high-risk obese psoriatic patients.
Perennial Rye: Genetics of Perenniality and Limited Fertility

Perenniality, the ability of plants to regrow after seed set, could be introgressed into cultivated rye by crossing with the wild relative and perennial Secale strictum. However, studies in the past showed that Secale cereale × Secale strictum-derived cultivars were also characterized by reduced fertility what was related to so called chromosomal multivalents, bulks of chromosomes that paired together in metaphase I of pollen mother cells instead of only two chromosomes (bivalents). Those multivalents could be caused by ancient translocations that occurred between both species. Genetic studies on perennial rye are quite old and especially the advent of molecular markers and genome sequencing paved the way for new insights and more comprehensive studies. After a brief review of the past research, we used a basic QTL mapping approach to analyze the genetic status of perennial rye. We could show that for the trait perennation 0.74 of the genetic variance in our population was explained by additively inherited QTLs on chromosome 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R and 7R. Fertility on the other hand was with 0.64 of explained genetic variance mainly attributed to a locus on chromosome 5R, what was most probably the self-incompatibility locus S5. Additionally, we could trace the Z locus on chromosome 2R by high segregation distortion of markers. Indications for chromosomal co-segregation, like multivalents, could not be found. This study opens new possibilities to use perennial rye as genetic resource and for alternative breeding methods, as well as a valuable resource for comparative studies of perennation across different species.
Evaluation of a Product Derived from Porcine Plasma Protein and a Yeast Product with Similar Biological Activity in Diets of Growing Broilers

Simple Summary A 42-day feeding trial was carried out in a commercial research institution to determine the efficacy of two bioactive protein products, betaGRO® (BG) and celluTEIN® (CT). The birds were grown under two different environments. One was a low stress environment using clean wood shavings, while the other was a high stress environment where used wood shavings were obtained from a commercial farm that had suffered high mortality to simulate a commercial environment. Growing birds in the high stress environment had a negative impact upon overall bird performance; however, the addition of either BG or CT successfully mitigated these detriments. Improvements in 42-day body weight and feed conversion were observed in chicks grown in both environments in response to the addition of either BG or CT. Birds fed BG and CT were more uniform than birds grown on control diets. Mortality of birds in the high stress environment was significantly reduced by the addition of BG or CT. Addition of BG and CT resulted in improvements in total carcass yield and breast meat yield. This was observed under both environmental conditions, and in a similar magnitude for both products. Abstract The post-hatch period of a broiler is an integral point in their development and for the programming of musculoskeletal and immune cells. Therefore, the efficacy of two bioactive protein products, betaGRO® (BG) and celluTEIN® (CT) to impact post-hatch and lifelong development was evaluated. Birds were grown under a low stress environment using clean wood shavings litter and a high stress environment with used litter from a commercial farm that had suffered high mortality. Each additive was fed at 300 g/ton from day 1–14 and 50 g/ton from day 15–42. Growing birds in the high stress environment had a negative impact on performance (p < 0.05); however, addition of either BG or CT successfully mitigated the detriments of the high stress environment (p < 0.05), and in many cases, the performance was equal to or better than the performance of birds on the control diet in the low stress environment. Birds fed BG and CT experienced improvements in 42-day feed conversion, and were more uniform than birds grown consuming the control diet (p < 0.05). Mortality of birds in the high stress environment was reduced by addition of BG or CT (p < 0.05). Addition of BG and CT resulted in improvements in carcass and breast meat yield (p < 0.05). Together, these data suggest that BG and CT can be used interchangeably to improve broiler health and performance.
The Beta-Lactam Resistome Expressed by Aerobic and Anaerobic Bacteria Isolated from Human Feces of Healthy Donors

Antibiotic resistance is a major health problem worldwide, causing more deaths than diabetes and cancer. The dissemination of vertical and horizontal antibiotic resistance genes has been conducted for a selection of pan-resistant bacteria. Here, we test if the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria from human feces samples in health conditions are carriers of beta-lactamases genes. The samples were cultured in a brain–heart infusion medium and subcultured in blood agar in aerobic and anaerobic conditions for 24 h at 37 °C. The grown colonies were identified by their biochemical profiles. The DNA was extracted and purified by bacterial lysis using thermal shock and were used in the endpoint PCR and next generation sequencing to identify beta-lactamase genes expression (OXA, VIM, SHV, TEM, IMP, ROB, KPC, CMY, DHA, P, CFX, LAP, and BIL). The aerobic bacterias Aeromonas hydrophila, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, Providencia rettgeri, Serratia fonticola, Serratia liquefaciens, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pantoea agglomerans, Enterococcus faecalis, and Enterobacter cloacae, the anaerobic bacteria: Capnocytophaga species, Bacteroides distasonis, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides fragilis, Eubacterium species, Eubacterium aerofaciens, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Fusobacterium species, Bacteroides species, and Bacteroides vulgatus were isolated and identified. The results showed 49 strains resistant to beta-lactam with the expression of blaSHV (10.2%), blaTEM (100%), blaKPC (10.2%), blaCYM (14.3%), blaP (2%), blaCFX (8.2%), and blaBIL (6.1%). These data support the idea that the human enteric microbiota constitutes an important reservoir of genes for resistance to beta-lactamases and that such genes could be transferred to pathogenic bacteria.
Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Periodontitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of In Vivo Human Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) efficacy in periodontitis. The review protocol was conducted in accordance with PRISMA statements, Cochrane Collaboration recommendations and is registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42020161516). Electronic and hand search strategies were undertaken to gather data on in vivo human RCTs followed by qualitative analysis. Differences in probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals and pooled in random effects model at three and six months. Heterogeneity was analyzed, using Q and I2 tests. Publication bias was assessed by visual examination of the funnel plot symmetry. Sixty percent of 31 eligible studies showed a high risk of bias. Meta-analysis on 18 studies showed no additional benefit in split mouth studies in terms of PPD reduction (SMD 0.166; 95% CI −0.278 to 0.611; P = 0.463) and CAL gain (SMD 0.092; 95% CI −0.013 to 0.198; P = 0.088). Similar findings noted for parallel group studies; PPD reduction (SMD 0.076; 95% CI −0.420 to 0.573; P = 0.763) and CAL gain (SMD 0.056; 95% CI −0.408 to 0.552; P = 0.745). Sensitivity analysis minimized heterogeneity for both outcome variables; however, intergroup differences were not statistically significant. Future research should aim for well-designed RCTs in order to determine the effectiveness of aPDT.
Performance of a rotating biological contactor under varying wastewater flow

Trata de establecer las normas de diseno del contactador rotativo biologico, derivadas de los analisis teorico y experimental, bajo flujos variables de aguas residuales. Se baso en los resultados obtenidos en estudios de la planta piloto de tratamiento de aguas residuales en Pullman, Washington, Estados Unidos