Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reading changes in children and adolescents with dyslexia after transcranial direct current stimulation

Noninvasive brain stimulation offers the possibility to induce changes in cortical excitability and it is an interesting option as a remediation tool for the treatment of developmental disorders. This study aimed to investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on reading and reading-related skills of children and adolescents with dyslexia. Nineteen children and adolescents with dyslexia performed different reading and reading-related tasks (word, nonword, and text reading; lexical decision; phonemic blending; verbal working memory; rapid automatized naming) in a baseline condition without tDCS and after 20 min of exposure to three different tDCS conditions: left anodal/right cathodal tDCS to enhance left lateralization of the parietotemporal region, right anodal/left cathodal tDCS to enhance right lateralization of the parietotemporal region, and sham tDCS. In text reading, results showed a significant reduction in errors after left anodal/right cathodal tDCS and an increase in errors after left cathodal/right anodal tDCS. No effect was found in the other reading and reading-related tasks. Our findings indicate for the first time that one session of tDCS modulates some aspects of reading performance of children and adolescents with dyslexia and that the effect is polarity dependent. These single-session results support a potential role of tDCS for developing treatment protocols and suggest possible parameters for tDCS treatment customization in children and adolescents with dyslexia.
Longitudinal Study of Mothers’ Sleep-Wake Behaviors and Circadian Time Patterns from Late Pregnancy to Postpartum – Monitoring of Wrist Actigraphy and Sleep Logs

This longitudinal study investigated sleep-wake behavior patterns during and after pregnancy, using an actimeter worn on the non-dominant wrist and a sleep log. Records were obtained from ten mothers, from the 34th week of gestation until the 15th week postpartum. Ten non-pregnant women were used as a control group, data being collected from them for 2 weeks. The sleep-wake behavior after delivery, obtained from wrist actigraphy, was greater in the postpartum period. Total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and circadian amplitude decreased in the weeks immediately following parturition, but wake after sleep onset increased. Subsequently, all the sleep and circadian variables improved slightly, but they had not returned to the levels of the non-pregnant control group even by the 15th postpartum week. The length of daytime naps increased, in order to make up for nocturnal sleep deprivation when the number of awakenings during nighttime had increased. There were significant positive correlations between total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and the length of daytime naps, but the numbers of awakenings at night and daytime naps did not show this correlation. The total sleep time indicated by sleep logs tended to be greater than that indicated by actigraphy, but wake after sleep onset tended to be underestimated by the sleep logs. The implications of these results are discussed.
Bacterial diversity and real‐time PCR based assessment of linA and linB gene distribution at hexachlorocyclohexane contaminated sites

The disposal of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) muck has created large number of HCH dumpsites all over the world from where the harmful HCH isomers are leaking into the environment. Bacteria have evolved at such contaminated sites that have the ability to degrade HCH. Degradation of various HCH isomers in bacterial strains is mediated primarily by two genes: linA and linB which encode dehydrochlorinase and haloalkane dehalogenase respectively. In this study we explored one such highly contaminated HCH dumpsite located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. To assess the biostimulation potential of the contaminated site, microbial diversity study and real‐time PCR based quantification of lin genes was carried out. The soil samples from dumpsite and surrounding areas were found to be highly contaminated with HCH residue levels as high as 1.8 × 105 mg kg−1. The residues were detected in areas upto 13 km from the dumpsite. Sphingomonads, Chromohalobacter, and Marinobacter were the dominant genera present at the dump‐site. Role of Sphingomonads in HCH degradation has been well documented. The highest copy numbers of linA and linB genes as determined using real‐time PCR were 6.2 × 104 and 5.3 × 105, respectively, were found in sample from the dump site. The presence of Sphingomonads, linA, and linB genes from HCH contaminated soil indicates the presence of indigenous bacterial communities capable of HCH degradation.
Interaction of silver nanoparticles with Escherichia coli and their cell envelope biomolecules

The antibacterial effect of AgNPs was investigated by determining MIC/MBC and growth kinetics assay. The lowest MIC/MBC was found to be in the range of 11.25–22.5 µg ml−1. The growth kinetics curve shows that 25 µg ml−1 AgNPs strongly inhibits the bacterial growth. Confocal laser scanning electron microscopy (CLSM) shows that as the concentration of NPs increases, reduction in the number of cells was observed and at 50 µg ml−1 of NPs, 100% death was noticed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows cells were severely damaged with pits, multiple depressions, and indentation on cell surface and original rod shape has swollen into bigger size. High resolution‐transmission electron microscopic (HR‐TEM) micrograph shows that cells were severely ruptured. The damaged cells showed either localized or complete separation of the cell membrane. The NPs that anchor onto cell surface and penetrating the cells may cause membrane damage, which could result in cell lysis. The interaction of AgNPs to membrane biomolecules; lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and L‐α‐phosphatidyl‐ethanolamine (PE) were investigated by attenuated total reflectance–fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR) spectroscopy. LPS and PE showed IR spectral changes after AgNPs exposure. The O‐antigen part of LPS was responsible for interaction of NPs through hydrogen bonding. The phosphodiester bond of PE was broken by AgNPs, forming phosphate monoesters and resulting in the highly disordered alkyl chain. The AgNPs‐induced structural changes in phospholipid may lead to the loss of amphiphilic properties, destruction of the membrane and cell leaking. The biomolecular changes in bacterial cell envelope revealed by ATR–FTIR provide a deeper understanding of cytotoxicity of AgNPs.
Genetic differentiation of Trifolium repens microsymbionts deriving from Zn–Pb waste‐heap and control area in Poland

The aim of this work was to determine the genetic structure of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii population isolated from root nodules of Trifolium repens growing in heavy metal contaminated Bolesław waste‐heap area and compare it with that of an unpolluted control Bolestraszyce population. The 684‐bp long dinitrogenase reductase (nifH) gene fragments were amplified in a PCR reaction and then sequenced. An analysis of nifH gene amplicons of 21 rhizobial strains from each of the studied populations revealed substantially reduced genotype (h) and nucleotide (π) diversities in the metallicolous Bolesław population in comparison to the non‐metallicolous Bolestraszyce one, and showed a significant genetic differentiation between these populations (FST = 0.159, p = 0.018). Among the strains under investigation, six genotypes (A–F) with 95–99% nifH gene sequence identities were distinguished. Studied T. repens nodule isolates indicated the highest nifH gene sequence similarities (95–100%) with R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii reference strains and on nifH phylogram all these strains formed monophyletic, highly supported clade (100%). The decreased genotype and nucleotide diversities of the waste‐heap R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii population, compared to that from the control area and substantial genetic differentiation between populations of nifH gene, is arguably the consequence of the random genetic drift (Tajima's D = 2.042, p = 0.99).
Heme Oxygenase-1/Carbon Monoxide System and Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation and Maturation into Cardiomyocytes.

AIMS The differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells into energetically efficient cardiomyocytes contributes to functional cardiac repair and is envisioned to ameliorate progressive degenerative cardiac diseases. Advanced cell maturation strategies are therefore needed to create abundant mature cardiomyocytes. In this study, we tested whether the redox-sensitive heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide (HO-1/CO) system, operating through mitochondrial biogenesis, acts as a mechanism for ES cell differentiation and cardiomyocyte maturation. RESULTS Manipulation of HO-1/CO to enhance mitochondrial biogenesis demonstrates a direct pathway to ES cell differentiation and maturation into beating cardiomyocytes that express adult structural markers. Targeted HO-1/CO interventions up- and downregulate specific cardiogenic transcription factors, transcription factor Gata4, homeobox protein Nkx-2.5, heart- and neural crest derivatives-expressed protein 1, and MEF2C. HO-1/CO overexpression increases cardiac gene expression for myosin regulatory light chain 2, atrial isoform, MLC2v, ANP, MHC-β, and sarcomere α-actinin and the major mitochondrial fusion regulators, mitofusin 2 and MICOS complex subunit Mic60. This promotes structural mitochondrial network expansion and maturation, thereby supporting energy provision for beating embryoid bodies. These effects are prevented by silencing HO-1 and by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species scavenging, while disruption of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial DNA depletion by loss of mitochondrial transcription factor A compromise infrastructure. This leads to failure of cardiomyocyte differentiation and maturation and contractile dysfunction. INNOVATION The capacity to augment cardiomyogenesis via a defined mitochondrial pathway has unique therapeutic potential for targeting ES cell maturation in cardiac disease. CONCLUSION Our findings establish the HO-1/CO system and redox regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis as essential factors in ES cell differentiation as well as in the subsequent maturation of these cells into functional cardiac cells.
Decreased Gluconeogenesis in the Absence of Cystathionine Gamma-Lyase and the Underlying Mechanisms.

AIMS To investigate the regulation of hepatic glucose production by cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE)-generated hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in hepatic glucose production under physiological conditions. RESULTS We found that CSE knockout (KO) mice had a reduced rate of gluconeogenesis, which was reversed by administration of NaHS (an H2S donor) (i.p.). Interestingly, isolated CSE KO hepatocytes exhibited a reduced glycemic response to chemical-induced activation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) and glucocorticoid pathways compared with wild-type (WT) hepatocytes. Treatment with the inhibitors for PKA (KT5720) or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) (RU-486) significantly reduced H2S-stimulated glucose production from both WT and CSE KO mouse hepatocytes. NaHS treatment upregulated the protein levels of key gluconeogenic transcription factors, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein-β (C/EBP-β). Moreover, exogenous H2S augmented the S-sulfhydration of the rate-limiting gluconeogenic enzymes and PGC-1α and increased their activities, which were lower in untreated CSE KO hepatocytes. Finally, knockdown of PGC-1α, but not C/EBP-β, significantly decreased NaHS-induced glucose production from the primary hepatocytes. INNOVATION This study demonstrates the stimulatory effect of endogenous H2S on liver glucose production and reveals three underlying mechanisms; that is, H2S upregulates the expression levels of PGC-1α and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase via the GR pathway; H2S upregulates the expression level of PGC-1α through the activation of the cAMP/PKA pathway as well as PGC-1α activity via S-sulfhydration; and H2S upregulates the expression and the activities (by S-sulfhydration) of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. CONCLUSION This study may offer clues for the homeostatic regulation of glucose metabolism under physiological conditions and its dysregulation in metabolic syndrome.
Results from a Mammography Audit and Patient Attitudes Study at the Princess Margaret Hospital

This paper reports the results from (1) a mammography audit from the Princess Margaret Hospital and 2) patient attitudes towards mammographs in the context of national risks of breast cancer. The audit allows for the quality of mammographic diagnoses to be assessed. Information on patient attitudes and follow-up to mammograms is required so that health care providers can better interact and educate patients. Between 2000 and 2002 about two percent of 4,322 patients were diagnosed with breast cancer. A family history, previous mastectomy, or a patient having a complaint was found to elevate the risk of breast cancer. In the telephone study, the cancer detection rate was 18.8 per 1000. The positive predictive value of mammogram reports was 15.4%; the recall rate was 12.2%. The biopsy yield was 32.1%. The sensitivity and specificity of mammograms in 2001 were 100% and 89.5% respectively. The telephone study of 1,092 previous patients found that doctors were a major influence in getting patients to have a mammogram. Many women were ignorant about essential aspects of mammography and this probably resulted in many of them not returning for subsequent mammograms. Patients who should have had follow-up appeared not to have followed the doctor's recommendation. National data on breast cancer indicated that women in New Providence have a higher risk of breast cancer compared to women in other Bahamian islands.
Thiol-Based Redox Modulation of Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase, the Nitric Oxide Receptor.

SIGNIFICANCE Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), which produces the second messenger cyclic guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cGMP), is at the crossroads of nitric oxide (NO) signaling: sGC catalytic activity is both stimulated by NO binding to the heme and inhibited by NO modification of its cysteine (Cys) thiols (S-nitrosation). Modulation of sGC activity by thiol oxidation makes sGC a therapeutic target for pathologies originating from oxidative or nitrosative stress. sGC has an unusually high percentage of Cys for a cytosolic protein, the majority solvent exposed and therefore accessible modulatory targets for biological and pathophysiological signaling. Recent Advances: Thiol oxidation of sGC contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases by decreasing NO-dependent cGMP production and thereby vascular reactivity. This thiol-based resistance to NO (e.g., increase in peripheral resistance) is observed in hypertension and hyperaldosteronism. CRITICAL ISSUES Some roles of specific Cys thiols have been identified in vitro. So far, it has not been possible to pinpoint the roles of specific Cys of sGC in vivo and to investigate the molecular mechanisms in an animal model. FUTURE DIRECTIONS The role of Cys as redox sensors, intermediates of activation, and mediators of change in sGC conformation, activity, and dimerization remains largely unexplored. To understand modulation of sGC activity, it is critical to investigate the roles of specific oxidative thiol modifications that are formed during these processes. Where the redox state of sGC thiols contribute to pathologies (vascular resistance and sGC desensitization by NO donors), it becomes crucial to design therapeutic strategies to restore sGC to its normal, physiological thiol redox state. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 26, 137-149.
Isolation and characterization of mimosine, 3, 4 DHP and 2, 3 DHP degrading bacteria from a commercial rumen inoculum

The presence of the toxic amino acid mimosine in Leucaena leucocephala restricts its use as a protein source for ruminants. Rumen bacteria degrade mimosine to 3,4‐ and 2,3‐dihydroxypyridine (DHP), which remain toxic. Synergistes jonesii is believed to be the main bacterium responsible for degradation of these toxic compounds but other bacteria may also be involved. In this study, a commercial inoculum provided by the Queensland's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry was screened for isolation and characterization of mimosine, 3,4‐ and 2,3‐DHP degrading bacterial strains. A new medium for screening of 2,3‐DHP degrading bacteria was developed. Molecular and biochemical approaches used in this study revealed four bacterial isolates – Streptococcus lutetiensis, Clostridium butyricum, Lactobacillus vitulinus, and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens – to be able to completely degrade mimosine within 7 days of incubation. It was also observed that C. butyricum and L. vitulinus were able to partially degrade 2,3‐DHP within 12 days of incubation, while S. lutetiensis, was able to fully degrade both 3,4 and 2,3 DHP. Collectively, we concluded that S. jonesii is not the sole bacterium responsible for detoxification of Leucaena. Comprehensive screening of rumen fluid of cattle grazing on Leucaena pastures is needed to identify additional mimosine‐detoxifying bacteria and contribute to development of more effective inoculums to be used by farmers against Leucaena toxicity.
Molecular phylogeny of heterotrophic nitrifiers and aerobic denitrifiers and their potential role in ammonium removal

To investigate the physiology and taxonomic composition of the key players of nitrification and denitrification processes in paddy fields, culture dependent and independent studies have been carried out. A total of 28 bacterial strains have been screened in which six were capable of reducing nitrate and nitrite as well as having significant ammonium removal potential. 16S rRNA‐PCR‐DGGE‐based molecular typing of enriched batch culture was done with time duration to explore and identify dominant and stable soil denitrifiers. Notably, three isolates namely PDN3, PDN19, PDN14 were found to be efficiently involved in the removal of 70.32, 71.46, and 81.50% of NH4+ and showed closest similarity (>98%) with Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, respectively. The bacterial strain PDN14 showed maximum growth with highest ammonium removal rate (2.78 gN/(m3·h) has also been characterized based on nosZ gene which showed similarity to uncultured γ‐ Proteobacteria, P. aeruginosa sp. B3. Median joining (MJ) network and rRNA secondary structure have been analyzed for their detailed taxonomic diversity and derived haplotype‐based co‐occurrence. Results demonstrated that such strains can serve as good candidate for in situ nitrogen transformation in paddy soils and improvingly characterized by physiological and detailed phylogenetic approaches.
Hochdruckflüssigkeitschromatographische Analyse der glykosylierten Hämoglobine

Die von Trivelli et al. (1) vorgestellte chromatographische Methode ist zu zeitaufwendig für die klinische Routine. Der von Javid etal. (2) beschriebene Radioimmunoassay hat bedingt durch mögliche Kreuzreaktionen, für die schnelle Verlaufskontrolle keine Bedeutung. Auch die von verschiedenen Gruppen vorgeschlagene Bestimmung der Hämoglobin-Fraktionen mittels isoelektrischer Focussiörung (3-7) ist für den Routinebetrieb zu zeitaufwendig.
Expression of α‐glucosidase during morphological differentiation in the basidiomycetous fungus Pholiota microspora

The α‐glucosidase gene from Pholiota microspora, designated PnGcs, was amplified and characterized. The open reading frame region of PnGcs, from ATG to the stop codon, is 2937 bp and encodes a protein of 979 amino acids with a signal peptide of 20 amino acids at the N‐terminus. The predicted amino acid sequence of PnGcs indicated that it is a glycoside hydrolase family 31 protein. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was used to investigate PnGcs expression in mycelia cultured in minimal medium containing various carbon sources, as well as in tissue during different stages of development of fruiting bodies. When P. microspora was grown in minimal medium supplemented with different carbon sources, PnGcs expression was highest when induced by maltose. During cultivation on sawdust medium, PnGcs expression increased dramatically at the fruiting body formation stage compared with the mycelial growth stage, which implied that PnGcs is closely associated with fruiting body development.
A 52-Year-Old Man With Anorexia and Numerous Thoracic and Abdominal Lesions 20 Years After a Renal Transplant

CASE REPORT A 52-year-old male renal transplant recipient was admitted to a hospital in Dayton, Ohio, for evaluation of multiple lesions in his lungs, liver, and kidneys. His symptoms included anorexia, fatigue, and weight loss but no fevers or chills. Upon admission, he underwent transbronchial and left kidney biopsies, whose specimens demonstrated chronic inflammatory changes but were otherwise inconclusive for malignancy or infection. Medical history was significant for the following: renal transplant 20 years before admission, skin cancer, herpes esophagitis 2 months prior, gout, Alport syndrome, and chronic renal allograft dysfunction. He had lived in Texas and Arizona more than 10 years before moving to Southwest Ohio. There was no recent travel outside Ohio, and he was not aware of any occupational or social exposures or ill contacts. He denied a history of tobacco or alcohol consumption. Medications included cyclosporine at 100 mg twice a day, azathioprine at 25 mg daily, prednisone at 10 mg daily, simvastatin, furosemide, allopurinol, esomeprazole, aspirin, acyclovir, and zolpidem. Physical examination revealed multiple actinic keratoses but was otherwise unrevealing and specifically negative for palpable lymphadenopathy. His workup that included blood cultures, urine cultures, and blastomycosis and coccidiodes antibodies was negative for infectious etiologies. In addition, it was also negative for serum cryptococcal, serum aspergillus, and histoplasma urinary antigens. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was detected by polymerase chain reaction at 1110 copies per milliliter. A positron emission tomographic (PET) scan (Fig. 1) that was done before a second biopsy of his lesions is shown. What is your diagnosis?
Silver nanoparticles: Antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, and synergism with N‐acetyl cysteine

The fast progression of nanotechnology has led to novel therapeutic interventions. Antimicrobial activities of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were tested against standard ATCC strains of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 9144), Escherichia coli (O157:H7), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Candida albicans (ATCC 90028) in addition to 60 clinical isolates collected from cancer patients. Antimicrobial activity was tested by disk diffusion method and MIC values for Ag NPs alone and in combination with N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) against tested pathogens were determined by broth microdilution method. Ag NPs showed a robust antimicrobial activity against all tested pathogens and NAC substantially enhanced the antimicrobial activity of Ag NPs against all tested pathogens. Synergism between Ag NPs and NAC has been confirmed by checkerboard assay. The effect of Ag NPs on tested pathogens was further scrutinized by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) which showed disruption of cell wall in both bacteria and fungi. Ag NPs abrogated the activity of respiratory chain dehydrogenase of all tested pathogens and released muramic acid content from S. aureus in culture. The cytotoxic effect of Ag NPs alone and in combination with NAC was examined using human HepG2 cells and this revealed no cytotoxicity at MIC values of Ag NPs and interestingly, NAC reduced the cytotoxic effect of Ag NPs at concentrations higher than their MIC values. Taken together, Ag NPs have robust antimicrobial activity and NAC substantially enhances their antimicrobial activities against MDR pathogens which would provide a novel safe, effective, and inexpensive therapeutic approach to control the prevalence of MDR pathogens.