Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rehabilitation of speech disorders following glossectomy, based on ultrasound visual illustration and feedback

ABSTRACT Intraoral surgery for tongue cancer usually induces speech disorders that have a negative impact on communication and quality of life. Studies have documented the benefit of tongue ultrasound imaging as a visual articulatory feedback for speech rehabilitation. This study aims to assess specifically the complementary contribution of visual feedback to visual illustration (i.e. the display of ultrasound video of target language movements) for the speech rehabilitation of glossectomised patients. Two therapy conditions were used alternately for ten glossectomised French patients randomly divided into two cohorts. The IF cohort benefitted from 10 sessions using illustration alone (IL condition) followed by 10 sessions using illustration supplemented by visual feedback (IL+F condition). The FI cohort followed the opposite protocol, i.e. the first 10 sessions with the IL+F condition, followed by 10 sessions with the IL condition. Phonetic accuracy (Percent Consonants Correct) was monitored at baseline (T0, before the first series) and after each series (T1 and T2) using clinical speech-language assessments. None of the contrasts computed between the two conditions, using logistic regression with random effects models, were found to be statistically significant for the group analysis of assessment scores. Results were significant for a few individuals, with balanced advantages in both conditions. In conclusion, the use of articulatory visual feedback does not seem to bring a decisive advantage over the use of visual illustration, though speech therapists and patients reported that ultrasound feedback was useful at the beginning. This result should be confirmed by similar studies involving other types of speech disorders.
Identification of functional domains of the minor fimbrial antigen involved in the interaction of Porphyromonas gingivalis with oral streptococci

Abstract Porphyromonas gingivalis is associated with chronic periodontitis and may initially colonize the oral cavity by adhering to streptococci. Adhesion to streptococci is driven by interaction of the minor fimbrial antigen (Mfa1) with streptococcal antigen I/II. We identified the region of antigen I/II required for this interaction and developed small molecule mimetics that inhibited P. gingivalis adherence. However, the functional motifs of Mfa1 involved in the interaction with antigen I/II remain uncharacterized. A series of N‐ and C‐terminal peptide fragments of Mfa1 were expressed and tested for inhibition of P. gingivalis adherence to S. gordonii. This approach identified residues 225–400 of Mfa1 as essential for P. gingivalis adherence. Using the three‐dimensional structure of Mfa1, a putative binding cleft was identified using SiteMap and five small molecule mimetics could dock in this site. Site‐specific mutation of residues in the predicted cleft, including R240A, W275A, D321A and A357P inhibited the interaction of Mfa1 with streptococci, whereas mutation of residues not in the predicted cleft (V238A, I252F and ΔK253) had no effect. Complementation of an Mfa1‐deficient P. gingivalis strain with wild‐type mfa1 restored adherence to streptococci, whereas complementation with full‐length mfa1 containing the R240A or A357P mutations did not restore adherence. The mutations did not affect polymerization of Mfa1, suggesting that the complemented strains produced intact minor fimbriae. These results identified specific residues and structural motifs required for the Mfa1‐antigen I/II interaction and will facilitate the design of small molecule therapeutics to prevent P. gingivalis colonization of the oral cavity.
Usefulness of aqueous and vitreous humor analysis in infectious uveitis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of intraocular fluid analysis as a diagnostic aid for uveitis. METHODS: Twenty-eight samples (27 patients including 3 HIV-infected patients) with active (n=24) or non-active (n=4) uveitis were submitted to aqueous (AH; n=12) or vitreous humor (VH) analysis (n=16). All samples were analyzed by quantitative PCR for herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Toxoplasma gondii. RESULTS: The positivity of the PCR in AH was 41.7% (5/12), with 50% (2/4) in immunocompetent and 67% (2/3) in HIV+ patients. The positivity of the PCR in VH was 31.2% (5/16), with 13% (1/8) in immunocompetent and 50% (4/8) in immunosuppressed HIV negative patients. The analysis was a determinant in the diagnostic definition in 58% of HA and 50% of VH. CONCLUSION: Even in posterior uveitis, initial AH analysis may be helpful. A careful formulation of possible clinical diagnosis seems to increase the chance of intraocular sample analysis being meaningful.
Structural Diversity of Sense and Antisense RNA Hexanucleotide Repeats Associated with ALS and FTLD

The hexanucleotide expansion GGGGCC located in C9orf72 gene represents the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD). Since the discovery one of the non-exclusive mechanisms of expanded hexanucleotide G4C2 repeats involved in ALS and FTLD is RNA toxicity, which involves accumulation of pathological sense and antisense RNA transcripts. Formed RNA foci sequester RNA-binding proteins, causing their mislocalization and, thus, diminishing their biological function. Therefore, structures adopted by pathological RNA transcripts could have a key role in pathogenesis of ALS and FTLD. Utilizing NMR spectroscopy and complementary methods, we examined structures adopted by both guanine-rich sense and cytosine-rich antisense RNA oligonucleotides with four hexanucleotide repeats. While both oligonucleotides tend to form dimers and hairpins, the equilibrium of these structures differs with antisense oligonucleotide being more sensitive to changes in pH and sense oligonucleotide to temperature. In the presence of K+ ions, guanine-rich sense RNA oligonucleotide also adopts secondary structures called G-quadruplexes. Here, we also observed, for the first time, that antisense RNA oligonucleotide forms i-motifs under specific conditions. Moreover, simultaneous presence of sense and antisense RNA oligonucleotides promotes formation of heterodimer. Studied structural diversity of sense and antisense RNA transcripts not only further depicts the complex nature of neurodegenerative diseases but also reveals potential targets for drug design in treatment of ALS and FTLD.
Food Combinations in Relation to the Quality of Overall Diet and Individual Meals in Japanese Adults: A Nationwide Study

We examined food combinations in relation to the quality of the overall diet and individual meals using a newly developed food combination questionnaire (FCQ) in a nationwide sample of Japanese adults aged 19–80 years (n = 2233). The quality of the overall diet and of each meal was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) and Nutrient-Rich Food Index 9.3 (NRF9.3). For all main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), the most commonly consumed food combinations consisted of ‘rice, total vegetables, and tea and coffee’. Consistently positive associations between these food combinations and diet quality were found for breakfast (Spearman r: ≥0.46). Positive rather weak associations between these food combinations and diet quality were also observed for lunch (Spearman r: ≤0.48). Conversely, the associations were inconsistent for dinner: inverse associations with HEI-2015 (Spearman r: ≤−0.35) and generally weak positive associations with NRF9.3 (Spearman r: ≥0.09). For snacks, the most commonly consumed food combinations consisted of ‘confectioneries and tea and coffee’, but these showed rather weak associations with diet quality. Similar results were obtained when associations with the quality of overall diet were investigated. The FCQ may be useful in capturing the complex nature of food combinations in Japanese adults.
Formulation and preclinical studies with a trivalent rotavirus P2-VP8 subunit vaccine

ABSTRACT More effective rotavirus vaccines are essential for preventing extensive diarrheal morbidity and mortality in children under five years of age in low-resource regions. Nonreplicating rotavirus vaccines (NRRV) administered parenterally provide an alternate vaccination method to the current licensed oral vaccine. Live attenuated vaccines and may generate increased efficacy in low-resource settings because the parenteral administration route bypasses some of the challenges associated with oral administration, including differences in intestinal environments. Work described here supports development of a trivalent NRRV vaccine for parenteral administration to avoid complications of the gastrointestinal route. Recombinant VP8* subunit proteins representing some of the most prevalent strains of rotavirus infecting humans – DS-1 (P[4]), 1076 (P[6]), and Wa (P[8]) – were combined with an aluminum adjuvant and the P2 epitope of tetanus toxoid to enhance the immune response to this NRRV antigen. Vaccine formulation development included selection of aluminum hydroxide (Alhydrogel®) as an appropriate adjuvant as well as an optimal buffer to maintain antigen stability and optimize antigen binding to the adjuvant. Characterization assays were used to select the lead vaccine formulation and monitor formulation stability. The NRRV liquid formulation was stable for one year at 2°C to 8°C and four weeks at 37°C. Immunogenicity of the NRRV formulation was evaluated using a guinea pig model, where we demonstrated that the adjuvant provided a 20-fold increase in neutralization titer against a homologous antigen and that the P2-fusion also enhanced the serum neutralizing antibody responses. This vaccine candidate is currently being evaluated in human clinical trials.
Dihydrotestosterone potentiates insulin to up‐regulate prokineticin‐1 in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells

Prokineticin 1 (PROK1) is a key regulator of embryo implantation and placentation, and its dysregulation is associated with pregnancy complications, such as pre‐eclampsia and foetal growth restriction. We have previously shown that insulin strongly enhances the expression of PROK1 in human decidualizing stromal cells. Here, we demonstrate that dihydrotestosterone (DHT), but not testosterone, potentiates insulin to up‐regulate PROK1 in these cells. However, the androgens alone do not influence the expression of PROK1. Our findings suggest that insulin and androgens both are involved in the regulation of PROK1 that could have implications for normal and pathological pregnancies.
A Tunable Triple-Band Near-Infrared Metamaterial Absorber Based on Au Nano-Cuboids Array

In this article, we present a design for a triple-band tunable metamaterial absorber with an Au nano-cuboids array, and undertake numerical research about its optical properties and local electromagnetic field enhancement. The proposed structure is investigated by the finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method, and we find that it has triple-band tunable perfect absorption peaks in the near infrared band (1000–2500 nm). We investigate some of structure parameters that influence the fields of surface plasmons (SP) resonances of the nano array structure. By adjusting the relevant structural parameters, we can accomplish the regulation of the surface plasmons resonance (SPR) peaks. In addition, the triple-band resonant wavelength of the absorber has good operational angle-polarization-tolerance. We believe that the excellent properties of our designed absorber have promising applications in plasma-enhanced photovoltaic, optical absorption switching and infrared modulator optical communication.
p130Cas induces bone invasion by oral squamous cell carcinoma by regulating tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cell proliferation.

Bone invasion is a critical factor in determining the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is abundantly expressed in the bone matrix and is involved in the acquisition of aggressiveness by tumors. TGF-β) is also important to cytoskeletal changes during tumor progression. In this study, we examined the relationship between TGF-β signaling and cytoskeletal changes during bone invasion by OSCC. Immunohistochemical staining of OSCC samples from 5 patients showed the expression of p130Cas (Crk-associated substrate) in the cytoplasm and phosphorylated Smad3 expression in the nucleus in OSCC cells. TGF-β1 induced the phosphorylation of Smad3 and p130Cas as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) accompanied by the downregulation of the expression of E-cadherin, a marker of epithelial cells, and the upregulation of the expression of N-cadherin, or Snail, a marker of mesenchymal cells, in human HSC-2 cells and mouse SCCVII cells. SB431542, a specific inhibitor of Smad2/3 signaling, abrogated the TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of p130Cas and morphological changes. Silencing p130Cas using an shRNA or siRNA in SCCVII cells suppressed TGF-β1-induced cell migration, invasion, EMT, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) production. Compared with control SCCVII cells, SCCVII cells with silenced p130Cas strongly suppressed zygomatic and mandibular destruction in vivo by reducing the number of osteoclasts, cell proliferation and MMP-9 production. Taken together, these results showed the expression of TGF-β/p130Cas might be a new target for the treatment of OSCC bone invasion (233 words).
A Fermented Milk Product with B. lactis CNCM I-2494 and Lactic Acid Bacteria Improves Gastrointestinal Comfort in Response to a Challenge Diet Rich in Fermentable Residues in Healthy Subjects

Background: Healthy plant-based diets rich in fermentable residues may induce gas-related symptoms. Our aim was to determine the potential of a fermented milk product with probiotics in improving digestive comfort with such diets. Methods: In an open design, a 3-day high-residue diet was administered to healthy subjects (n = 74 included, n = 63 completed) before and following 28 days consumption of a fermented milk product (FMP) containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 and lactic acid bacteria. Main outcomes: digestive sensations, number of daytime anal gas evacuations, and gas volume evacuated during 4 h after a probe meal. Results: As compared to the habitual diet, the high-residue diet induced gas-related symptoms (flatulence score 4.9 vs. 1.2; p ≤ 0.0001), increased the daily number of anal gas evacuations (20.7 vs. 8.7; p < 0.0001), and impaired digestive well-being (1.0 vs. 3.4; p < 0.05). FMP consumption reduced flatulence sensation (by −1.7 [−1.9; −1.6]; p < 0.0001), reduced the number of daily evacuations (by −5.8 [−6.5; −5.1]; p < 0.0001), and improved digestive well-being (by +0.6 [+0.4; +0.7]; p < 0.05). FMP consumption did not affect the gas volume evacuated after a probe meal. Conclusion: In healthy subjects, consumption of a FMP containing B. lactis CNCM I-2494 and lactic acid bacteria improves the tolerance of a flatulogenic diet by subjective and objective criteria (sensations and number of anal gas evacuations, respectively).
Chemokines and their Receptors: Multifaceted Roles in Cancer Progression and Potential Value as Cancer Prognostic Markers

Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that mediate immune cell chemotaxis and lymphoid tissue development. Recent advances have indicated that chemokines and their cognate receptors play critical roles in cancer-related inflammation and cancer progression. On the basis of these findings, the chemokine system has become a new potential drug target for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the essential roles of the complex network of chemokines and their receptors in cancer progression. Furthermore, we discuss the potential value of the chemokine system as a cancer prognostic marker. The chemokine system regulates the infiltration of immune cells into the tumor microenvironment, which induces both pro- and anti-immunity and promotes or suppresses tumor growth and proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Increasing evidence indicates the promising prognostic value of the chemokine system in cancer patients. While CCL2, CXCL10, and CX3CL1/CX3CR1 can serve as favorable or unfavorable prognostic factors depending on the cancer types, CCL14 and XCL1 possess good prognostic value. Other chemokines such as CXCL1, CXCL8, and CXCL12 are poor prognostic markers. Despite vast advances in our understanding of the complex nature of the chemokine system in tumor biology, knowledge about the multifaceted roles of the chemokine system in different types of cancers is still limited. Further studies are necessary to decipher distinct roles within the chemokine system in terms of cancer progression and to validate their potential value in cancer prognosis.
Exploring the Ambiguous Status of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci in the Biosafety of Fermented Meats: The Case of Antibacterial Activity Versus Biogenic Amine Formation

A total of 332 staphylococcal strains, mainly isolated from meat, were screened for antibacterial activity. Eighteen strains exhibited antibacterial activity towards species within the same genus. These antibacterial strains were further screened against Clostridium botulinum, to assess their potential as anticlostridial starter cultures for the development of fermented meat products without added nitrate or nitrite. Only Staphylococcus sciuri IMDO-S72 had the ability to inhibit all clostridial strains tested, whilst displaying additional activity against Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Apart from their potential as bioprotective cultures, the staphylococcal collection was also screened for biogenic amine production, as these compounds may compromise food quality. To this end, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was applied. A low incidence of biogenic amine production was found, with tyramine and β-phenylethylamine being the most prevalent ones. Concentrations remained relatively low (< 52 mg/L) after a prolonged incubation period, posing no or little threat towards food safety. Taken together, S. sciuri IMDO-S72 could serve as an interesting candidate for the bioprotection of fermented meats as it showed promising antibacterial activity as well as absence of biogenic amine production.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection: why does disease severity vary among individuals?

ABSTRACT Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in infancy. While many infants are infected with RSV, the nature and severity of the disease vary among individuals. RSV causes bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and asthma exacerbation. However, most children infected with RSV have only mild upper airways disease and may be asymptomatic. Areas covered: Despite efforts to elucidate mechanisms for the various clinical responses to RSV infection, they remain largely unknown, suggesting that susceptibility and disease are influenced by multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors. This article reviews the available literature on the field of RSV disease severity and discusses important factors associated to susceptibility and different disease outcome. Expert opinion: The severity of RSV-induced illness is a phenomenon that depends on a variety of graded mechanisms of interaction between the host, virus, and environment. This may lead to differences in the intensity of immune response in the lung and different courses of the disease. By characterizing, classifying, and grading the affecting factors in high-risk patients versus those who do not fall ill by RSV, we may find therapies or point to disease-limiting medications.
Healthcare professionals’ knowledge on cardiopulmonary resuscitation correlated with return of spontaneous circulation rates after in-hospital cardiac arrests: A multicentric study between university hospitals in 12 European countries

Background: In-hospital cardiac arrest is a major cause of death in European countries, and survival of patients remains low ranging from 20% to 25%. Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess healthcare professionals’ knowledge on cardiopulmonary resuscitation among university hospitals in 12 European countries and correlate it with the return of spontaneous circulation rates of their patients after in-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods and results: A total of 570 healthcare professionals from cardiology, anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine departments of European university hospitals in Italy, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, Spain, Slovakia, Germany, Finland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Greece completed a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 12 questions based on epidemiology data and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and 26 multiple choice questions on cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge. Hospitals in Switzerland scored highest on basic life support (P=0.005) while Belgium hospitals scored highest on advanced life support (P<0.001) and total score in cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge (P=0.01). The Swiss hospitals scored highest in cardiopulmonary resuscitation training (P<0.001). Correlation between cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge and return of spontaneous circulation rates of patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest demonstrated that each additional correct answer on the advanced life support score results in a further increase in return of spontaneous circulation rates (odds ratio 3.94; 95% confidence interval 2.78 to 5.57; P<0.001). Conclusion: Differences in knowledge about resuscitation and course attendance were found between university hospitals in 12 European countries. Education in cardiopulmonary resuscitation is considered to be vital for patients’ return of spontaneous circulation rates after in-hospital cardiac arrest. A higher level of knowledge in advanced life support results in higher return of spontaneous circulation rates.