Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulatory Role of Orexin in the Antistress Effect of “Press Tack Needle” Acupuncture Treatment

The aim of this research was to investigate the antistress effect of press tack needle (PTN) acupuncture treatment using rats with social isolation stress (SIS). Rats were divided into non-stress group (Grouped+sham), stress group (SIS+sham), and PTN-treated SIS group (SIS+PTN). Rats in the SIS+PTN and SIS+sham groups were housed alone for eight days. For the SIS+PTN group, a PTN (length, 0.3 or 1.2 mm) was fixed on the GV20 acupoint on day 7. We measured stress behavior based on the time the rats showed aggressive behavior and the levels of plasma corticosterone and orexin A on day 8. In addition, the orexin-1 receptor or orexin-2 receptor antagonist was administered to rats that were exposed to SIS. The duration of aggressive behavior was significantly prolonged in the SIS+sham group, and the prolonged duration was inhibited in the SIS+PTN (1.2 mm) group. The levels of plasma corticosterone and orexin A were significantly increased in the SIS+sham group; however, these increases were inhibited in the SIS+PTN group. The aggressive behavior was significantly reduced after the orexin-2 receptor antagonist was administered. These findings suggest that PTN treatment at GV20 may have an antistress effect, and the control of orexin is a mechanism underlying this phenomenon.
Surgical Technique: Lower Trapezius Transfer in Paediatric Paralytic Shoulder

The therapeutic management of the paralytic shoulder after an obstetric brachial plexus injury is complex. When nerve repair or neurotization fail, or if the biological times for nerve reconstruction is over, tendon transfer to restore active external rotation of the shoulder becomes the main surgical alternative. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the surgical technique of the lower trapezius muscle transfer to the infraspinatus muscle, to restore active shoulder external rotation in the child with paralytic shoulder, step by step with details and pearls.
Reflections on Cerebellar Neuropathology in Classical Scrapie

In this review, the most important neuropathological changes found in the cerebella of sheep affected by classical natural scrapie are discussed. This disease is the oldest known of a group of unconventional “infections” caused by toxic prions of different origins. Scrapie is currently considered a “transmissible spongiform encephalopathy” (due to its neuropathological characteristics and its transmission), which is the paradigm of prion pathologies as well as many encephalopathies (prion-like) that present aberrant deposits of insoluble protein with neurotoxic effects due to errors in their catabolization (“misfolding protein diseases”). The study of this disease is, therefore, of great relevance. Our work data from the authors’ previous publications as well as other research in the field. The four most important types of neuropathological changes are neuron abnormalities and loss, neurogliosis, tissue vacuolization (spongiosis) and pathological or abnormal prion protein (PrP) deposits/deposition. These findings were analyzed and compared to other neuropathologies. Various aspects related to the presentation and progression of the disease, the involution of different neuronal types, the neuroglial responses and the appearance of abnormal PrP deposits are discussed. The most important points of controversy in scrapie neuropathology are presented.
Orchestration of plant development and defense by indirect crosstalk of SA and BR signaling through a transcription factor GhTINY2.

Salicylic acid (SA) and brassinosteroids (BRs) are well known to regulate diverse processes of plant development and stress responses, but the mechanisms by which these phytohormones mediate the growth-defense trade-off is largely unclear. In addition, little is known about the roles of DEHYDRATION RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING (DREB) transcription factors, especially in biotic stress and plant growth. Here, we identified a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) gene GhTINY2 which is strongly induced by Verticillium dahliae. Overexpression of GhTINY2 in cotton and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) enhanced tolerance to V. dahliae, while knockdown of GhTINY2 expression increased cotton susceptibility to the pathogen. By directly activating WRKY51 expression, GhTINY2 promoted SA accumulation and SA signaling transduction. Moreover, GhTINY2-overexpressing cotton and Arabidopsis showed growth retardation, increased sensitivity to inhibitors of BR biosynthesis and downregulation of several BR-induced genes and upregulation of BR-repressed genes, while GhTINY2-RNAi cotton showed the opposite results. We further demonstrate that GhTINY2 negatively regulates BR signaling by interacting with BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (BZR1) and restraining its transcriptional activation of the expression of INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID INDUCIBLE 19 (IAA19). These findings indicate that GhTINY2 fine-tunes the immunity-growth trade-off via an indirect crosstalk between WRKY51-mediated SA biosynthesis and BZR1-IAA19-regulated BR signaling.
Morbid Obesity and Thyroid Cancer Rate. A Review of Literature

In the past three decades, several recent studies have analyzed the alarming increase of obesity worldwide, and it has been well established that the risk of many types of malignancies is increased in obese individuals; in the same period, thyroid cancer has become the fastest growing cancer of all malignancies. We investigated the current literature to underline the presence of a connection between excess body weight or Body Mass Index (BMI) and risk of thyroid cancer. Previous studies stated that the contraposition between adipocytes and adipose-resident immune cells enhances immune cell production of multiple pro-inflammatory factors with subsequent induction of hyperlipidemia and vascular injury; these factors are all associated with oxidative stress and cancer development and/or progression. Moreover, recent studies made clear the mitogenic and tumorigenic action of insulin, carried out through the stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide-3 kinase/AKT (PI3K/AKT) pathways, which is correlated to the hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia found in obese population. Our findings suggest that obesity and excess body weight are related to an increased risk of thyroid cancer and that the mechanisms that combine overweight with this cancer should be searched for in the adipokine pathways and chronic inflammation onset.
Asthma and pregnancy in the 2020 decade: still a matter of concern

Abstract Asthma is a fairly common health problem for pregnant women and a potentially serious medical condition that may complicate pregnancy. Most complications are related to lack of disease control, which can adversely affect both maternal quality of life and perinatal outcomes. In this article, we review recent literature concerning asthma in pregnancy, describing the course of the disease and associated complications. Furthermore, we review and discuss asthma monitoring and management during pregnancy, labor and post-partum. The course of asthma symptoms during pregnancy is unpredictable but exacerbations are more common during the second trimester. The causes are multifactorial and asthma phenotype may have a role. It has been proposed that combined use of CARAT (Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test) and lung function tests can be used to monitor and adjust therapy during pregnancy in patients with asthma. As a complement, an approach that considers airway inflammation assessment using fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a noninvasive marker of inflammation, may improve asthma control during pregnancy. It is important to consider a few but relevant differences in asthma management and treatment regarding pregnancy and the peri-partum period to safely achieve optimal management of asthma during all these phases for both mother and offsprings.
Synthesis of Bis-Terpyridine-Based Metallopolymers and the Thermoelectric Properties of Their Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites

Although the organic and the conventional inorganic thermoelectric (TE) materials have been extensively developed in recent years, the number of cases involving conducting metallopolymers is still quite limited. In view of the versatile coordination capability of the terpyridine fraction and the electron-rich nature of the 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene moiety, a bis-terpyridine-featured ligand was designed, and a series of metallopolymers were then synthesized. Upon the addition of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), the TE properties of the resulting metallopolymer-SWCNT composite films were investigated. It was found that metal centres played an important role in affecting the morphology of the thin films, which was a key factor that determined the TE performances of the composites. Additionally, the energy levels of the metallopolymers were feasibly tuned by selecting different metal centres. With the combined effects of a uniform and condensed surface and an optimized band structure, the highest power factor was achieved by the Cu(II)-containing metallopolymer-SWCNT composite at the doping ratio of 75%, which reached 38.3 μW·m−1·K−2.
Shiga Toxin-Associated Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: Specificities of Adult Patients and Implications for Critical Care Management

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) is a form of thrombotic microangiopathy secondary to an infection by an enterohemorrhagic E. coli. Historically considered a pediatric disease, its presentation has been described as typical, with bloody diarrhea at the forefront. However, in adults, the clinical presentation is more diverse and makes the early diagnosis hazardous. In this review, we review the epidemiology, most important outbreaks, physiopathology, clinical presentation and prognosis of STEC-HUS, focusing on the differential features between pediatric and adult disease. We show that the clinical presentation of STEC-HUS in adults is far from typical and marked by the prevalence of neurological symptoms and a poorer prognosis. Of note, we highlight knowledge gaps and the need for studies dedicated to adult patients. The differences between pediatric and adult patients have implications for the treatment of this disease, which remains a public health threat and lack a specific treatment.
Conduction in nanocomposites: hopping on a fractal

We discuss the mechanism of hopping conduction in nanocomposites and similar materials where the size of hopping sites is large compared to edge-to-edge separations between the sites. In this case the dominant mechanism involving transitions via virtual intermediate localized states is characterized by the increase in tunneling probabilities between distant sites; moreover the coherent tunneling path via virtual intermediate states is restricted to the fractal incipient percolation cluster. The application of percolation arguments to the calculation of the system conductivity is based on the concept of the generalized chemical distance. The resulting d.c. conductivity temperature dependence is of the form lnσ approximately -(To/T)x, where the exponent x is expressed in terms of the critical exponent for the chemical distance (or superlocalization exponent) and fractal dimensionality of the backbone cluster.
Caffeine Consumption Habits of New Zealand Tertiary Students

Adverse effects associated with excessive caffeine consumption combined with increasing numbers and availability of caffeine-containing products are causes for concern. Tertiary students may be at increased risk of consuming excessive amounts of caffeine due to seeking caffeinated products with well-known wakefulness effects and cognitive benefits. This study explored caffeine consumption habits of New Zealand tertiary students (317; ≥16-years) using a previously validated caffeine consumption habits (CaffCo) questionnaire. Most (99.1%) regularly consumed caffeinated products, especially chocolate, coffee and tea, with coffee, tea and energy drinks contributing most to total caffeine intake. Median estimated caffeine intake was 146.73 mg·day−1, or 2.25 mg·kgbw−1·day−1. Maximum and minimum intakes were 1988.14 mg·day−1 (23.51 mg·kgbw−1·day−1) and 0.07 mg·day−1 (0.02 mg·kgbw−1·day−1), respectively. One-third (34.4%) of caffeine consumers ingested caffeine above the adverse effect level (3 mg·kgbw−1·day−1) and 14.3% above the safe limit (400 mg·day−1). Most caffeine consumers (84.7%), reported experiencing at least one ‘adverse symptom’ post-caffeine consumption, of which 25.7% reported effects leading to distress or negatively impacting their life. Experiencing ‘adverse symptoms’ did not, however, curtail consumption in the majority of symptomatic participants (~77%). Public health initiatives directed at tertiary students may be important to reduce potential caffeine-related harm.
Further Characterization of Glycoform-Selective Prions of Variably Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy

Prion is an infectious protein (PrPSc) that is derived from a cellular glycoprotein (PrPC) through a conformational transition and associated with a group of prion diseases in animals and humans. Characterization of proteinase K (PK)-resistant PrPSc by western blotting has been critical to diagnosis and understanding of prion diseases including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS) disease in humans. However, formation as well as biochemical and biological properties of the glycoform-selective PrPSc in variably protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr) remain poorly understood. Here we reveal that formation of the ladder-like PrPSc in VPSPr is a PK-dependent two-step process, which is enhanced by basic pH. Two sets of PrPSc fragments can be identified with antibodies directed against an intermediate or a C-terminal domain of the protein. Moreover, antibodies directed against specific PrP glycoforms reveal faster electrophoretic migrations of PrP fragments mono-glycosylated at residue 181 and 197 in VPSPr than those in sporadic CJD (sCJD). Finally, RT-QuIC assay indicates that PrPSc-seeding activity is lower and its lag time is longer in VPSPr than in sCJD. Our results suggest that the glycoform-selective PrPSc in VPSPr is associated with altered glycosylation, resulting in different PK-truncation and aggregation seeding activity compared to PrPSc in sCJD.
Stochastic Gene Expression Revisited

We investigate the model of gene expression in the form of Iterated Function System (IFS), where the probability of choice of any iterated map depends on the state of the phase space. Random jump times of the process mark activation periods of the gene when pre-mRNA molecules are produced before mRNA and protein processing phases occur. The main idea is inspired by the continuous-time piecewise deterministic Markov process describing stochastic gene expression. We show that for our system there exists a unique invariant limit measure. We provide full probabilistic description of the process with a comparison of our results to those obtained for the model with continuous time.
Ultrasonic Guided-Waves Sensors and Integrated Structural Health Monitoring Systems for Impact Detection and Localization: A Review

This review article is focused on the analysis of the state of the art of sensors for guided ultrasonic waves for the detection and localization of impacts for structural health monitoring (SHM). The recent developments in sensor technologies are then reported and discussed through the many references in recent scientific literature. The physical phenomena that are related to impact event and the related main physical quantities are then introduced to discuss their importance in the development of the hardware and software components for SHM systems. An important aspect of the article is the description of the different ultrasonic sensor technologies that are currently present in the literature and what advantages and disadvantages they could bring in relation to the various phenomena investigated. In this context, the analysis of the front-end electronics is deepened, the type of data transmission both in terms of wired and wireless technology and of online and offline signal processing. The integration aspects of sensors for the creation of networks with autonomous nodes with the possibility of powering through energy harvesting devices and the embedded processing capacity is also studied. Finally, the emerging sector of processing techniques using deep learning and artificial intelligence concludes the review by indicating the potential for the detection and autonomous characterization of the impacts.
Drift of the Subgingival Periodontal Microbiome during Chronic Periodontitis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Since periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus are complex diseases, a thorough understanding of their pathogenesis requires knowing the relationship of these pathologies with other disorders and environmental factors. In this study, the representability of the subgingival periodontal microbiome of 46 subjects was studied by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun sequencing of pooled samples. We examined 15 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP), 15 patients with chronic periodontitis associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (CPT2DM), and 16 healthy subjects (Control). The severity of generalized chronic periodontitis in both periodontitis groups of patients (CP and CPT2DM) was moderate (stage II). The male to female ratios were approximately equal in each group (22 males and 24 females); the average age of the subjects was 53.9 ± 7.3 and 54.3 ± 7.2 years, respectively. The presence of overweight patients (Body Mass Index (BMI) 30–34.9 kg/m2) and patients with class 1–2 obesity (BMI 35–45.9 kg/m2) was significantly higher in the CPT2DM group than in patients having only chronic periodontitis or in the Control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in all clinical indices between the CP and CPT2DM groups. An analysis of the metagenomic data revealed that the alpha diversity in the CPT2DM group was increased compared to that in the CP and Control groups. The microbiome biomarkers associated with experimental groups were evaluated. In both groups of patients with periodontitis, the relative abundance of Porphyromonadaceae was increased compared to that in the Control group. The CPT2DM group was characterized by a lower relative abundance of Streptococcaceae/Pasteurellaceae and a higher abundance of Leptotrichiaceae compared to those in the CP and Control groups. Furthermore, the CP and CPT2DM groups differed in terms of the relative abundance of Veillonellaceae (which was decreased in the CPT2DM group compared to CP) and Neisseriaceae (which was increased in the CPT2DM group compared to CP). In addition, differences in bacterial content were identified by a combination of shotgun sequencing of pooled samples and genome-resolved metagenomics. The results indicate that there are subgingival microbiome-specific features in patients with chronic periodontitis associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Sevoflurane Exerts Protective Effects in Murine Peritonitis-induced Sepsis via Hypoxia-inducible Factor 1α/Adenosine A2B Receptor Signaling

Background: Sepsis is one of the leading causes of mortality in intensive care units, and sedation in the intensive care unit during sepsis is usually performed intravenously. The inhalative anesthetic sevoflurane has been shown to elicit protective effects in various inflammatory studies, but its role in peritonitis-induced sepsis remains elusive. The hypothesis was that sevoflurane controls the neutrophil infiltration by stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and elevated adenosine A2B receptor expression. Methods: In mouse models of zymosan- and fecal-induced peritonitis, male mice were anesthetized with sevoflurane (2 volume percent, 30 min) after the onset of inflammation. Control animals received the solvent saline. The neutrophil counts and adhesion molecules on neutrophils in the peritoneal lavage of wild-type, adenosine A2B receptor −/−, and chimeric animals were determined by flow cytometry 4 h after stimulation. Cytokines and protein release were determined in the lavage. Further, the adenosine A2B receptor and its transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1α were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis 4 h after stimulation. Results: Sevoflurane reduced the neutrophil counts in the peritoneal lavage (mean ± SD, 25 ± 17 × 105 vs. 12 ± 7 × 105 neutrophils; P = 0.004; n = 19/17) by lower expression of various adhesion molecules on neutrophils of wild-type animals but not of adenosine A2B receptor −/− animals. The cytokines concentration (means ± SD, tumor necrosis factor α [pg/ml], 523 ± 227 vs. 281 ± 101; P = 0.002; n = 9/9) and protein extravasation (mean ± SD [mg/ml], 1.4 ± 0.3 vs. 0.8 ± 0.4; P = 0.002; n = 12/11) were also lower after sevoflurane only in the wild-type mice. Chimeric mice showed the required expression of the adenosine A2B receptor on the hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic compartments for the protective effects of the anesthetic. Sevoflurane induced the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and adenosine A2B receptor in the intestine, liver, and lung. Conclusions: Sevoflurane exerts various protective effects in two murine peritonitis-induced sepsis models. These protective effects were linked with a functional adenosine A2B receptor. In two murine peritonitis-induced sepsis models, sevoflurane reduced peritoneal lavage neutrophil counts by lower adhesion molecule expression, reduced cytokines, and protein extravasation. The mechanism of these reported protective effects was due to the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and adenosine A2B receptor in the intestine, liver, and lung. Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.
Synthesis and Characterization Superabsorbent Polymers Made of Starch, Acrylic Acid, Acrylamide, Poly(Vinyl Alcohol), 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate, 2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropane Sulfonic Acid

Three polymers with excellent absorption properties were synthesized by graft polymerization: soluble starch-g-poly(acrylic acid-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl alcohol)/potato starch-g-poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide), poly(vinyl alcohol)/potato starch-g-poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide-co-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid). Ammonium persulfate and potassium persulfate were used as initiators, while N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide was used as the crosslinking agent. The molecular structure of potato and soluble starch grafted by synthetic polymers was characterized by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphology of the resulting materials was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Thermal stability was tested by thermogravimetric measurements. The absorption properties of the obtained biopolymers were tested in deionized water, sodium chroma solutions of various concentrations and in buffer solutions of various pH.