Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Depression among women of reproductive age in rural Bangladesh is linked to food security, diets and nutrition

Abstract Objective: To quantify the relationship between screening positive for depression and several indicators of the food and nutrition environment in Bangladesh. Design: We used cross-sectional data from the Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) trial in Bangladesh to examine the association of depression in non-peripartum (NPW) and peripartum women (PW) with food and nutrition security using multivariable logistic regression and dominance analysis. Setting: Rural north-eastern Bangladesh. Participants: Women of reproductive age. Results: Of 2599 women, 40 % were pregnant or up to 1 year postpartum, while 60 % were not peripartum. Overall, 20 % of women screened positive for major depression. In the dominance analysis, indicators of food and nutrition security were among the strongest explanatory factors of depression. Food insecurity (HFIAS) and poor household food consumption (FCS) were associated with more than double the odds of depression (HFIAS: NPW OR = 2·74 and PW OR = 3·22; FCS: NPW OR = 2·38 and PW OR = 2·44). Low dietary diversity (<5 food groups) was associated with approximately double the odds of depression in NPW (OR = 1·80) and PW (OR = 1·99). Consumption of dairy, eggs, fish, vitamin A-rich and vitamin C-rich foods was associated with reduced odds of depression. Anaemia was not associated with depression. Low BMI (<18·5 kg/m2) was also associated with depression (NPW: OR = 1·40). Conclusions: Depression among women in Bangladesh was associated with many aspects of food and nutrition security, also after controlling for socio-economic factors. Further investigation into the direction of causality and interventions to improve diets and reduce depression among women in low- and middle-income countries are urgently needed.
Exercise twice‐a‐day potentiates markers of mitochondrial biogenesis in men

Endurance exercise begun with reduced muscle glycogen stores seems to potentiate skeletal muscle protein abundance and gene expression. However, it is unknown whether this greater signaling responses is due to performing two exercise sessions in close proximity—as a first exercise session is necessary to reduce the muscle glycogen stores. In the present study, we manipulated the recovery duration between a first muscle glycogen‐depleting exercise and a second exercise session, such that the second exercise session started with reduced muscle glycogen in both approaches but was performed either 2 or 15 hours after the first exercise session (so‐called “twice‐a‐day” and “once‐daily” approaches, respectively). We found that exercise twice‐a‐day increased the nuclear abundance of transcription factor EB (TFEB) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and potentiated the transcription of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐ɣ coactivator 1‐alpha (PGC‐1α), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐alpha (PPARα), and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor beta/delta (PPARβ/δ) genes, in comparison with the once‐daily exercise. These results suggest that part of the elevated molecular signaling reported with previous “train‐low” approaches might be attributed to performing two exercise sessions in close proximity. The twice‐a‐day approach might be an effective strategy to induce adaptations related to mitochondrial biogenesis and fat oxidation.
Partial Characterization of Two Cathepsin D Family Aspartic Peptidases of Clonorchis sinensis

Cathepsin D (CatD, EC 3.4.23.5) is a member belonging to the subfamily of aspartic endopeptidases, which are classified into the MEROPS clan AA, family A1. Helminth parasites express a large set of different peptidases that play pivotal roles in parasite biology and pathophysiology. However, CatD is less well known than the other classes of peptidases in terms of biochemical properties and biological functions. In this study, we identified 2 novel CatDs (CsCatD1 and CsCatD2) of Clonorchis sinensis and partially characterized their properties. Both CsCatDs represent typical enzymes sharing amino acid residues and motifs that are tightly conserved in the CatD superfamily of proteins. Both CsCatDs showed similar patterns of expression in different developmental stages of C. sinensis, but CsCatD2 was also expressed in metacercariae. CsCatD2 was mainly expressed in the intestines and eggs of C. sinensis. Sera obtained from rats experimentally infected with C. sinensis reacted with recombinant CsCatD2 beginning 2 weeks after infection and the antibody titers were gradually increased by maturation of the parasite. Structural analysis of CsCatD2 revealed a bilobed enzyme structure consisting of 2 antiparallel β-sheet domains packed against each other forming a homodimeric structure. These results suggested a plausible biological role of CsCatD2 in the nutrition and reproduction of parasite and its potential utility as a serodiagnostic antigen in clonorchiasis.
Insecticides and ovarian functions

Insecticides, a heterogeneous group of chemicals, are widely used in agriculture and household practices to avoid insect‐inflicted damage. Extensive use of insecticides has contributed substantially to agricultural production and the prevention of deadly diseases by destroying their vectors. On the contrary, many of the insecticides are associated with several adverse health effects like neurological and psychological diseases, metabolic disorders, hormonal imbalance, and even cancer in non‐target species, including humans. Reproduction, a very selective process that ensures the continuity of species, is affected to a greater extent by the rampant use of insecticides. In females, exposure to insecticides leads to reproductive incapacitation primarily through disturbances in ovarian physiology. Disturbed ovarian activities encompass the alterations in hormone synthesis, follicular maturation, ovulation process, and ovarian cycle, which eventually lead to decline in fertility, prolonged time‐to‐conceive, spontaneous abortion, stillbirths, and developmental defects. Insecticide‐induced ovarian toxicity is effectuated by endocrine disruption and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, which occurs due to suppression of antioxidant defense system, and upsurge of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, potentiates DNA damage and expression of apoptotic and inflammatory markers. Insecticide exposure, in part, is responsible for ovarian malfunctioning through disruption of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. The current article is focused on the adverse effects of insecticides on ovarian functioning, and consequently, on the reproductive efficacy of females. The possible strategies to combat insecticide‐induced toxicity are also discussed in the latter part of this review. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:369–392, 2020. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
miR156a‐targeted SBP‐Box transcription factor SlSPL13 regulates inflorescence morphogenesis by directly activating SFT in tomato

Abstract The inflorescences and lateral branches of higher plants are generated by lateral meristems. The structure of the inflorescence has a direct effect on fruit yield in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). We previously demonstrated that miR156a plays important roles in determining the structures of the inflorescences and lateral branches in tomato by suppressing the expression of the SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE (SPL) transcription factor gene family. However, information on regulatory pathways associated with inflorescence morphogenesis is still lacking. In this study, we demonstrate that SPL13 is the major SPL involved in miR156a‐regulated tomato inflorescence structure determination and lateral branch production. Suppressing the expression of SPL13 in tomato increases the number of inflorescences on vegetative branches and lateral branches, decreases the number of flowers and fruit, and reduces fruit size and yield. Genetic and biochemical evidence indicate that SPL13 controls inflorescence development by positively regulating the expression of the tomato inflorescence‐associated gene SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS (SFT) by directly binding to its promoter region. Thus, our findings provide a major advance to our understanding of the miR156a‐SlSPL‐based mechanism that regulates plant architecture and yield in tomato.
Improving natural product research translation: From source to clinical trial

While great interest in health effects of natural product (NP) including dietary supplements and foods persists, promising preclinical NP research is not consistently translating into actionable clinical trial (CT) outcomes. Generally considered the gold standard for assessing safety and efficacy, CTs, especially phase III CTs, are costly and require rigorous planning to optimize the value of the information obtained. More effective bridging from NP research to CT was the goal of a September, 2018 transdisciplinary workshop. Participants emphasized that replicability and likelihood of successful translation depend on rigor in experimental design, interpretation, and reporting across the continuum of NP research. Discussions spanned good practices for NP characterization and quality control; use and interpretation of models (computational through in vivo) with strong clinical predictive validity; controls for experimental artefacts, especially for in vitro interrogation of bioactivity and mechanisms of action; rigorous assessment and interpretation of prior research; transparency in all reporting; and prioritization of research questions. Natural product clinical trials prioritized based on rigorous, convergent supporting data and current public health needs are most likely to be informative and ultimately affect public health. Thoughtful, coordinated implementation of these practices should enhance the knowledge gained from future NP research.
Characterizing viral load burden among HIV-infected women around the time of delivery: Findings from four tertiary obstetric units in Gauteng, South Africa.

BACKGROUND Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (eMTCT) requires sustained viral load suppression (VLS) during pregnancy and breast-feeding among women living with HIV (WLHIV). Antenatal antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage is reported at >95% in South Africa, but VLS rates are unknown. We describe maternal VL burden around time of delivery at four tertiary obstetric units (TOUs) in Gauteng Province. METHODS Between June 2018-March 2019, routine point-of-care (PoC) maternal HIV VL and early infant diagnosis (EID) testing was implemented at three TOUs in Johannesburg and one in Tshwane district. WLHIV and HIV-exposed neonates were eligible for HIV VL (Xpert® HIV-1 VL) and EID (Xpert® HIV-1 EID or m-PIMA™ HIV1/2 detection) testing around time of delivery, respectively. Proportions of viraemic women and intrauterine (IU)-infected neonates were calculated among valid PoC results. RESULTS Among 8147 live-births to WLHIV, 2769 (34·0%) women and 4333 (53·2%) neonates had valid PoC results. Median VL at delivery was <40 copies/mL (interquartile range: 0-398). The proportion of women with a VL<50, 50-<1000 and ≥1000 copies/mL was 63·6%, 13·9% and 22·4%, respectively. There were 65/4333 (1·5%) IU-infected neonates. Among 1449 mother-neonate pairs with both VL and EID results, IU transmission by VL threshold was 3/946 (0·3%), 6/187 (3·2%) and 25/316 (7·9%) for VL<50, 50-<1000 and ≥1000 copies/mL, respectively (p<0·001). CONCLUSION Despite high ART coverage, >1/3 of WLHIV had a VL≥50 copies/mL at delivery. Among mother-neonate pairs, maternal VL≥50 copies/mL accounted for 31/34 (91%) IU-infections. Improvement in the quality of HIV care among WLHIV is essential if South Africa is to achieve eMTCT.
Effectiveness and Safety of Vonoprazan versus Proton Pump Inhibitors for Second-Line Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: A novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, vonoprazan (VPZ), improves first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication success. The aim of this systematic review is to clarify the effectiveness and safety of second-line H. pylori eradication therapy comparing VPZ and proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based regimens. Methods: Medline (PubMed), EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and the Japan Medical Abstract Society Database were searched. Results: We selected 16 studies for quantitative review. Forest plot analysis showed significant superiority of VPZ over PPI-based regimens in overall second-line H. pylori eradication success (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.27–1.81, p < 0.001). Forest plots from 2 studies with propensity score matched analysis showed significant superiority of VPZ over PPI-based regimens (OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.71–5.58, p < 0.001). The remaining 14 studies with per-protocol analysis and the full analysis set also showed significant superiority (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.16–1.69, p < 0.001). Regarding adverse events, Forest plot analysis did not show a significant difference between the 2 regimens (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.58–1.32, p = 0.53). Conclusions: A VPZ-based regimen has significant superiority over a PPI-based regimen for second-line H. pylori eradication therapy. A VPZ-based second-line H. pylori eradication regimen can be the first choice.
What makes bacterial pathogens so sticky?

Pathogenic bacteria use a variety of cell surface adhesins to promote binding to host tissues and protein‐coated biomaterials, as well as cell–cell aggregation. These cellular interactions represent the first essential step that leads to host colonization and infection. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has greatly contributed to increase our understanding of the specific interactions at play during microbial adhesion, down to the single‐molecule level. A key asset of AFM is that adhesive interactions are studied under mechanical force, which is highly relevant as surface‐attached pathogens are often exposed to physical stresses in the human body. These studies have identified sophisticated binding mechanisms in adhesins, which represent promising new targets for antiadhesion therapy.
Aberrant cervical innate immunity predicts onset of dysbiosis and sexually transmitted infections in women of reproductive age

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and vaginal dysbiosis (disturbed resident microbiota presenting with abnormal Nugent score or candidiasis) have been associated with mucosal inflammation and risk of HIV-1 infection, cancer and poor reproductive outcomes. To date, the temporal relationships between aberrant cervical innate immunity and the clinical onset of microbial disturbance have not been studied in a large population of reproductive age women. We examined data from a longitudinal cohort of 934 Ugandan and Zimbabwean women contributing 3,274 HIV-negative visits who had complete laboratory, clinical and demographic data. Among those, 207 women later acquired HIV, and 584 women were intermittently diagnosed with C. trachomatis (CT), N. gonorrhoeae (NG), genital herpes (HSV-2), T. vaginalis (TV), candidiasis, and abnormal intermediate (4–6) or high (7–10) Nugent score, i.e. bacterial vaginosis (BV). Immune biomarker concentrations in cervical swabs were analyzed by generalized linear and mixed effect models adjusting for site, age, hormonal contraceptive use (HC), pregnancy, breastfeeding, genital practices, unprotected sex and overlapping infections. High likelihood ratios (1.5–4.9) denoted the values of cervical immune biomarkers to predict onset of abnormal Nugent score and candidiasis at the next visits. When controlling for covariates, higher levels of β-defensin-2 were antecedent to BV, CT and HSV-2, lower anti-inflammatory ratio IL-1RA:IL-1β–to intermediate Nugent scores and candida, lower levels of the serine protease inhibitor SLPI–to candida, lower levels of the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 –to TV, and lower levels of the oxidative stress mitigator and endothelial activation marker VEGF–to NG. Changes in innate immunity following onset of dysbiosis and infections were dependent on HC use when controlling for all other covariates. In conclusion, imminent female genital tract dysbiosis or infection can be predicted by distinct patterns of innate immunity. Future research should characterize biotic and abiotic determinants of this pre-existing innate immunity state.
Development and Binocular Matching of Orientation Selectivity in Visual Cortex: A Computational Model

In mouse visual cortex, right after eye-opening binocular cells have different orientation preferences for input from the two eyes. With normal visual experience during a critical period, these orientation preferences shift and eventually become well matched. To gain insight into the matching process, we developed a computational model of a cortical cell receiving - via plastic synapses - orientation selective inputs that are individually monocular. The model captures the experimentally observed matching of the orientation preferences, the dependence of matching on ocular dominance of the cell, and the relationship between the degree of matching and the resulting monocular orientation selectivity. Moreover, our model puts forward testable predictions: i) the matching speed increases with initial ocular dominance and decreases with initial orientation selectivity; ii) matching proceeds faster than the sharpening of the orientation selectivity, suggesting that orientation selectivity is not a driving force for the matching process; iii) there are two main routes to matching: the preferred orientations either drift towards each other or one of the orientations switches suddenly. The latter occurs for cells with large initial mismatch and can render the cell monocular. We expect that these results provide insight more generally into the development of neuronal systems that integrate inputs from multiple sources, including different sensory modalities. New & Noteworthy Animals gather information through multiple modalities (vision, audition, touch, etc). These information streams have to be merged coherently to provide a meaningful representation of the world. Thus, for neurons in visual cortex V1 the orientation selectivities for inputs from the two eyes have to match to enable binocular vision. We analyze the postnatal process underlying this matching using computational modeling. It captures recent experimental results and reveals interdependence between matching, ocular dominance, and orientation selectivity.
Trehalose-based Polyethers for Cryopreservation and 3D Cell Scaffolds.

The ability to slow ice growth and recrystallization is compulsory in the cryopreservation of cells and tissues to avoid injuries associated with the physical and chemical responses of freezing and thawing. Cryoprotective agents (CPAs) have been added to the cell suspension to mitigate cryoinjury and increase cell survival but some of these compounds pose greater risks for the clinical application of cryopreserved cells due to their inherent toxicity. Trehalose is known for its unique physicochemical properties and its interaction with the phospholipids of the plasma membrane, can reduce cell osmotic stress and stabilized the cryopreserved cells. Nonetheless, there has been a shortage of relevant studies on the synthesis of trehalose-based CPAs. We here report and describe the synthesis and evaluation of a trehalose-based polymer and hydrogel and its use as a cryoprotectant and 3D cell scaffold for cell encapsulation and organoid production. In vitro cytotoxicity studies with the trehalose-based polymers (poly(Tre-ECH)) demonstrated biocompatibility up to 100 mg/mL. High post-thaw cell membrane integrity and post-thaw cell plating efficiencies were achieved after 24 h of incubation with skin fibroblast, HeLa (cervical) and PC3 (prostate) cancer cell lines under both ultra-rapid and controlled-rate freezing protocols. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and a splat cooling assay for the determination of ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity corroborated the unique properties of these trehalose-based polyethers as cryoprotectants. Furthermore, the ability to form hydrogels as 3D cell scaffolds encourages the use of these novel polymers in the development of cell organoids and cryopreservation platforms.
Competition for limited neural resources in older adults leads to greater asymmetry of bilateral movements than in young adults.

We previously demonstrated that lateralization in the neural control of predictive and impedance mechanisms is reflected by interlimb differences in control of bilateral tasks. Aging has been shown to reduce lateralization during unilateral performance, presumably due to greater recruitment of the ipsilateral hemisphere. We now hypothesize that aging-related reduction in neural resources should produce greater behavioral asymmetry during bilateral actions that require hemispheric specialization for each arm. This is because simultaneous control of dominant and non-dominant arm function should induce competition for hemisphere-specific resources. To test this hypothesis, we now examine the effect of aging (young, N=20; old, N=20) on performance of a mechanically coupled task, in which one arm reaches toward targets while the other arm stabilizes against a spring that connects the two arms. Results indicate better dominant arm reaching performance and better non-dominant arm stabilizing performance for both groups. Most notably, limb and joint compliance was lower in the dominant arm, leading to dominant arm deficits in stabilizing performance. Group analysis indicated that older adults showed substantially greater asymmetry in stabilizing against the spring load than did the younger adults. We propose that competition for limited neural resources in older adults is associated with reduced contributions of right hemisphere mechanisms to right-dominant arm stabilizing performance, and thus to greater asymmetry of performance.