Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chloroplast-Expressed Glutamine Synthetase in Glycine and Related Leguminosae: Phylogeny, Gene Duplication, and Ancient Polyploidy

Abstract The nuclear gene encoding the chloroplast-expressed isozyme of glutamine synthetase (ncpGS) is single copy in diploid angiosperms but is duplicated in species of Glycine, a paleopolyploid genus. The two Glycine paralogues are sister to one another in phylogenetic analyses, a pattern that suggests that this ncpGS duplication occurred subsequent to the divergence of Glycine from extant Glycininae. This pattern does not support an allopolyploid hypothesis in which genomes from close relatives of extant genera combined to form the polyploid, 2n = 40 genome of Glycine, nor with an ancient gene duplication shared with other Glycininae. Rather, it is consistent with autopolyploidy or with a simple gene duplication. Teramnus ncpGS was the closest relative of the two Glycine paralogues, supporting a sister-group relationship between these two genera. In contrast, ncpGS results suggested that Sinodolichos, a genus that has been suggested as a possible congener of Glycine, is more closely related to Pseueminia and Pseudovigna. Both paralogues of ncpGS identify known genome groups among species of Glycine subg. Glycine, but neither strongly resolves relationships among these groups. Incongruence between the two paralogues in the placement of G. falcata mirrors incongruence between the chloroplast genome and other nuclear genes for this species.
Clinical effect of Changweishu on gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with sepsis

Objective To investigate Changweishu’s clinical effect on gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with sepsis. Methods Fifty patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction and sepsis were randomly divided into treatment and control groups. The control group patients received routine Western medicine treatments (meropenem, noradrenaline, glutamine glue, Bifidobacterium lactis triple-strain tablet), and the treatment group patients received routine Western medicine treatment combined with Changweishu. Treatments in both groups lasted 7 days. Changes in APACHE II score, gastrointestinal dysfunction score, serum levels of diamine oxidase (DAO), D-lactic acid, inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1)), and the incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and mortality were observed. Results After treatment, APACHE II score, gastrointestinal dysfunction score, and DAO, D-lactic acid, TNF-α, IL-6, and HMGB-1 levels decreased significantly in both groups, but the decrease was more significant in the treatment group than in the control group. The incidence of MODS and mortality were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group. Conclusion The addition of Changweishu to routine Western treatments can improve gastrointestinal function in patients with sepsis and gastrointestinal dysfunction, as well as decreasing the incidence of MODS and mortality and improving patient prognosis.
Sinapic Acid Esters: Octinoxate Substitutes Combining Suitable UV Protection and Antioxidant Activity

In 2021, Hawaii will permanently ban the use and sale of octinoxate-based sunscreens as studies have shown serious impacts of such UV filters on the coral reef. This ban, which could be generalized to other countries, highlights the extreme need to offer alternative UV filters that are not only effective in terms of sun protection, but also healthy with regards to human health and the environment. In this context, a wide library of p-hydroxycinnamic esters deriving from naturally occurring sinapic acid has been synthesized using a Knoevenagel–Doebner condensation. The UV filtering activities as well as the antioxidant properties of these sinapic acid esters were then investigated. The results showed promising UVB protection and antioxidant efficacy. A Structure–Activity Relationship (SAR) study on the sinapic acid esters highlighted the need of a free phenol to, as expected, observe antioxidant activity, but also to obtain a higher intensity of protection. Moreover, the nature of the ester moiety also proved to be a key structural feature for the UV absorbance, as higher steric hindrance on the ester moiety leads to more active compounds. The judicious structural design of sinapic esters thus provides promising compounds combining UV protection and antioxidant activity.
Farnesoid X Receptor Activation Stimulates Organic Cations Transport in Human Renal Proximal Tubular Cells

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor highly expressed in the liver and kidneys. Activation of FXR decreases organic cation transporter (OCT) 1-mediated clearance of organic cation compounds in hepatocytes. The present study investigated FXR regulation of renal clearance of organic cations by OCT2 modulation and multidrug and toxin extrusion proteins (MATEs). The role of FXR in OCT2 and MATEs functions was investigated by monitoring the flux of 3H–MPP+, a substrate of OCT2 and MATEs. FXR agonists chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and GW4064 stimulated OCT2-mediated 3H–MPP+ uptake in human renal proximal tubular cells (RPTEC/TERT1 cells) and OCT2-CHO-K1 cells. The stimulatory effect of CDCA (20 µM) was abolished by an FXR antagonist, Z-guggulsterone, indicating an FXR-dependent mechanism. CDCA increased OCT2 transport activity via an increased maximal transport rate of MPP+. Additionally, 24 h CDCA treatment increased MATEs-mediated 3H-MPP+ uptake. Moreover, CDCA treatment increased the expression of OCT2, MATE1, and MATE2-K mRNA compared with that of the control. OCT2 protein expression was also increased following CDCA treatment. FXR activation stimulates renal OCT2- and MATE1/2-K-mediated cation transports in proximal tubules, demonstrating that FXR plays a role in the regulation of OCT2 and MATEs in renal proximal tubular cells.
Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China

The emergence and spread of cryptococcosis caused by the Cryptococcus gattii species complex has become a major public concern worldwide. C. deuterogattii (VGIIa) outbreaks in the Pacific Northwest region demonstrate the expansion of this fungal infection to temperate climate regions. However, infections due to the C. gattii species complex in China have rarely been reported. In this study, we studied eleven clinical strains of the C. gattii species complex isolated from Guangxi, southern China. The genetic identity and variability of these isolates were analyzed via multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and the phylogenetic relationships among these isolates and global isolates were evaluated. The mating type, physiological features and antifungal susceptibilities of these isolates were also characterized. Among the eleven isolates, six belonged to C. deuterogattii, while five belonged to C. gattii sensu stricto. The C. deuterogattii strains from Guangxi, southern China were genetically variable and clustered with different clinical isolates from Brazil. All strains were MATα, and three C. deuterogattii isolates (GX0104, GX0105 and GX0147) were able to undergo sexual reproduction. Moreover, most strains had capsule and were capable of melanin production when compared to the outbreak strain from Canada. Most isolates were susceptible to antifungal drugs; yet one of eleven immunocompetent patients died of cryptococcal meningitis caused by C. deuterogattii (GX0147). Our study indicated that the highly pathogenic C. deuterogattii may be emerging in southern China, and effective nationwide surveillance of C. gattii species complex infection is necessary.
Volatile Organic Compounds, Oxidative and Sensory Patterns of Vacuum Aged Foal Meat

Simple Summary Aging is the way that leads the transformation of muscle in meat, usually improving sensorial and textural properties. Aging in horse meat was recently investigated, although it needs to be deepened for a better application of this kind of technique. Vacuum aging is a spread aging technique, mainly because it represents a cheaper method, as it does not need aging rooms, presents less weight loss than dry aging, and it is safer because primal cuts are protected by air contaminations. The present paper characterizes volatile compounds, oxidative status, and the sensory profile of foal meat during vacuum aging for 14 days. Vacuum aging seems to delay lipid oxidation, reducing oxidative products and volatile compound production derived from lipid oxidation. Abstract The study aimed to evaluate the effect of 14-day vacuum aging on the volatile compounds (VOC) profile, oxidative profile, antioxidant enzymes activity, and sensory evaluation in the Longissimusthoracis muscle of foal meat under vacuum aging. Longissimusthoracis (LT) was sampled in 20 mm thick slices, vacuum packed, and stored at 4 °C. Samples were randomly assigned to different aging times (1, 6, 9, 14 days after slaughtering). VOCs, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), hydroperoxides, carbonyl proteins, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were analyzed, and a sensory test was performed. A nested one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for aging time as an independent variable. Significance was set at p < 0.05. The main VOCs originating from cooked steaks were aldehydes, (from 47.18% to 58.81% of the total volatile compounds), followed by hydrocarbons (from 9.32% and 31.99%). TBARs and hydroperoxides did not show variations due to aging (p > 0.05), instead, protein carbonyls showed higher values at the 14th day (p < 0.01). Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase showed increasing values during aging time (p < 0.01). Vacuum aging slowed down lipid oxidation, and protein oxidation was shown to be present. However, the best vacuum aging duration is in the range of 6–9 days from slaughtering, with an improvement of sensory evaluation.
Reduced vitamin K status as a potentially modifiable risk factor of severe COVID-19

Abstract Background Respiratory failure and thromboembolism are frequent in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Vitamin K activates both hepatic coagulation factors and extrahepatic endothelial anticoagulant protein S, required for thrombosis prevention. In times of vitamin K insufficiency, hepatic procoagulant factors are preferentially activated over extrahepatic proteins. Vitamin K also activates matrix Gla protein (MGP), which protects against pulmonary and vascular elastic fiber damage. We hypothesized that vitamin K may be implicated in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), linking pulmonary and thromboembolic disease Methods 135 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were compared with 184 historical controls. Poor outcome was defined as invasive ventilation and/or death. Inactive vitamin K-dependent MGP (dp-ucMGP) and prothrombin (PIVKA-II) were measured, inversely related to extrahepatic and hepatic vitamin K status, respectively. Desmosine was measured to quantify the rate of elastic fiber degradation. Arterial calcification severity was assessed by computed tomography Results Dp-ucMGP was elevated in COVID-19 patients compared to controls (p<0.001), with even higher dp-ucMGP in patients with poor outcomes (p<0.001). PIVKA-II was normal in 82.1% of patients. Dp-ucMGP was correlated with desmosine (p<0.001), and coronary artery (p=0.002) and thoracic aortic (p<0.001) calcification scores Conclusions Dp-ucMGP was severely increased in COVID-19 patients, indicating extrahepatic vitamin K insufficiency, which was related to poor outcome while hepatic procoagulant factor II remained unaffected. These data suggest a mechanism of pneumonia-induced extrahepatic vitamin K depletion leading to accelerated elastic fiber damage and thrombosis in severe COVID-19 due to impaired activation of MGP and endothelial protein S, respectively. A clinical trial could assess whether vitamin K administration improves COVID-19 outcomes
Prescribed Walking for Glycemic Control and Symptom Management in Patients Without Diabetes Undergoing Chemotherapy

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Background Hyperglycemia may potentiate symptom experiences. Exercise is a nonpharmacological intervention that can potentially improve glycemic control and mitigate symptom experiences in patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Objectives The primary objective was to assess the feasibility of patients engaging in a walking exercise study for 6 months. We also evaluated the effects of a prescribed walking program on glycemic control and for changes over time in the severity of pain, fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbance in patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast, lung, gynecologic, or gastrointestinal cancer. Methods A randomized pilot intervention study was conducted to evaluate differences within and between a prescribed walking program intervention group and a control group. All patients were followed for 6 months, had glycosylated hemoglobin A1c measured at enrollment and 6 months, and completed symptom questionnaires at enrollment, 3 months, and 6 months. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance. Results Most of the patients who enrolled completed the 6-month study. The few who withdrew expressed feeling overwhelmed. The sample was predominately non-Hispanic White female patients with breast cancer with a normal-to-slightly-overweight body mass index. The intervention group had a slight decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin A1c at 6 months. In addition, at 6 months, compared to the control group, the intervention group had significantly less sleep disturbance and depression. No other within- or between-group differences were found. Discussion It is feasible for patients undergoing chemotherapy to participate in a prescribed walking program. Exercise, such as walking, may decrease hyperglycemia and symptom severity. Additional research with larger samples is warranted.
Contiguous Quaternary Carbons: A Selection of Total Syntheses

Contiguous quaternary carbons in terpene natural products remain a major challenge in total synthesis. Synthetic strategies to overcome this challenge will be a pivotal prerequisite to the medicinal application of natural products and their analogs or derivatives. In this review, we cover syntheses of natural products that exhibit a dense assembly of quaternary carbons and whose syntheses were uncompleted until recently. While discussing their syntheses, we not only cover the most recent total syntheses but also provide an update on the status quo of modern syntheses of complex natural products. Herein, we review (±)-canataxpropellane, (+)-waihoensene, (–)-illisimonin A and (±)-11-O-debenzoyltashironin as prominent examples of natural products bearing contiguous quaternary carbons.
Statistical methodology for the evaluation of leukocyte data in wild reptile populations: A case study with the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)

The leukocyte profile has the potential to be a reliable method to measure health conditions and stress in wild animals, but limitations occur because current knowledge on reference intervals is largely incomplete, especially because data come from studies on captive animals involving few individuals from single populations. Here we propose a general framework for achieving reliable leukocyte reference intervals, encompassing a set of internal and external factors, potentially affecting the leukogram. To do so, we present a systematic survey of the hematology of the common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis, involving 794 lizards from 54 populations over the whole geographic range of the species in Italy. Reference intervals for white blood cell (WBC) and leukocyte differential count were obtained by using linear mixed models in a Bayesian framework. The application of the procedure clearly showed that both internal (sex and size) and external (latitude and season) factors are a source of variation of leukocyte profile. Furthermore, the leukogram of common wall lizard has a strong variability among populations, which accounts for more than 50% of the whole variation. Consequently, some common assumptions used in studies on captive individuals are no longer supported in wild populations, namely, i) any group of individuals is a representative sample, ii) any population is representative of all others, iii) geographic clines do not occur over the species range, and iv) seasonal variation has limited effects. We encourage researchers aimed at the definition of leukocyte reference intervals for wild populations of reptiles to involve a large number of populations over a wide geographic range in ad hoc statistical models to disentangle local and geographic effects on leukocyte profile variation.
Tumors of the labial mucosa: a retrospective study of 1045 biopsies

Background To investigate the relative frequency of localized mucosal swellings of the upper and lower labial mucosa, the clinical-pathological diagnosis agreement and whether patient’s age and gender and tumor’s site and size may raise the suspicion of neoplasm. Material and Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on upper or lower labial mucosal tumors, histopathologically diagnosed between 2009-2018. The diagnostic categories developmental/reactive tumors, benign and malignant neoplasms were associated with patient’s age and gender and tumor’s site and size; clinical-pathological diagnosis agreement was, also, evaluated. Results Overall, 1000 (95.7%) developmental/reactive tumors, 35 (3.3%) benign and 10 (1%) malignant neoplasms were found. Upper/lower lip tumor ratio was 0.14:1. The diagnostic category was significantly associated with age (p<0.0001), site (p<0.0001) and diameter (p<0.0001). Age ≥60 years, tumor’s location on the upper lip and diameter >1cm were independent predictors for neoplasms. Patients presenting 2 or 3 of these variables were 20.2 times (p < 0.0001) or 33.6 times (p <0.0001), respectively, more likely to have a neoplasm. Complete/partial agreement between clinical and pathological diagnosis was seen in 96.3% of the cases. Conclusions Most lip tumors involve the lower lip and are reactive, but upper lip tumors measuring >1cm in patients≥60 years have significantly higher probability to be neoplasms. Key words:Lip, tumor, neoplasm, carcinoma, cyst.
The preparation of chitosan membrane improved with nanoparticles based on unsaturated fatty acid for using in cancer-related infections

This study includes the design of a chitosan membrane decorated with unsaturated fatty acid–based carrier system for cancer treatment and antibacterial application. For this, polystyrene-graft-polyoleic acid-graft-polyethylene glycol was prepared by free radical polymerization and characterized. Nanoparticles and caffeic acid–loaded nanoparticles were prepared by solvent evaporation technique and optimized. The short-term stability of nanoparticles was investigated at 4°C. Drug encapsulation and loading efficiency were evaluated. The chitosan membrane and caffeic acid–loaded nanoparticles embedded into chitosan membrane were fabricated. The caffeic acid loaded nanoparticles embedded into chitosan membrane showed controlled release. The mechanical properties of all samples were investigated. The caffeic acid–loaded nanoparticles embedded into chitosan membranes indicated excellent antibacterial properties against the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The anticancer activity of all the samples was evaluated against SaOS-2 human primary osteogenic sarcoma and MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cell lines by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, the flow cytometry and double staining methods. As a result, the designed carrier system showed great potential to cancer-associated infections treatment in bone cancer cases.
A New Species of Buergeria From the Southern Ryukyus and Northwestern Taiwan (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae)

Abstract: Buergeria japonica, long thought to be a single species widely occurring on the Ryukyu Archipelago and Taiwan, proved to include three genetically differentiated clades, (1) the Northern and Central Ryukyu, (2) the Southern Ryukyu and Northern Taiwan, and (3) the Southern Taiwan clades. The Southern Taiwan clade has already been split from the others as a distinct species. A distinct heterospecific relationship of the Southern Ryukyu and Northern Taiwan clade from the Northern and Central Ryukyu clade was also clear from genetic evidence. Morphological comparison between specimens from the Yaeyama (the Southern Ryukyu and Northern Taiwan clade) and Amamioshima, the type locality of B. japonica (the Northern and Central Ryukyu clade), confirmed genetic differences and corroborate their independent species status. Thus, we describe the Northern Taiwan and Southern Ryukyu clade as B. choui sp. nov.
Pathogenic Fungi in Ferns and Angiosperms: A Comparative Study

Abstract. This study used existing databases to test the hypothesis that fern species harbor fewer pathogen species than angiosperm species. Analysis was limited to fungal pathogens because of their visibility and to herbaceous perennial dicots (forbs) because they have a similar growth form to ferns. From complete listings in the United States Department of Agriculture plant-fungal database, the number of pathogen species recorded on 200 randomly chosen ferns and herbaceous perennial dicot species were assessed. To control for differences in study effort, the number of citations to these species in the Web of Science was determined. The results showed that the major predictor of the number of fungal pathogen species known to occur on a plant species was study effort, but after controlling for this, the likelihood of a fern species being recorded as having a fungal pathogen species was much less than that for a forb. When pathogens were present, there were approximately 50% fewer pathogen species recorded on fern species than on forb species. This pattern is present even though fern species were cited on average more often than forb species, and it is consistent with impressions in the literature from studies in other parts of the world. Testable hypotheses to explain this difference are evaluated in the context of evolutionary processes leading to variation for pathogen incidence in different phylogenetic lineages, but the physiological or molecular processes that determine the higher resistance of ferns to fungal pathogens remain unknown.