Biomedicine

Background: Necrotizing Hepatopancreatitis (NHP) is a bacterial disease caused by Gram-negative bacteria (Hepatobacter penaei). This rickettsia affects shrimp farmed in several countries around the world. To prevent the outbreak of this disease, shrimp farms establish sampling programs to review, from a health point of view, the cultured organisms, carrying out specific analyses with the support of quality control or pathology laboratories.

Objectives: The objective of this research is to correlate molecular analysis (PCR by isothermal isolation) and fresh analysis to detect the bacteria H. penaei (NHP) in two shrimp farms in the state of Falcón, Venezuela.

Methods: These shrimp farms (categorized as F1 and F2) are located on the western coast of Falcón state (Gulf of Venezuela) where an NHP outbreak occurred. Samples were taken from all ponds (from both farms), capturing the animals with a two-meter cast net, and immediately taking them to the laboratory to perform fresh analysis and molecular analysis.

Results: In F1 a Relative Frequency (RF) for NHP of 0.02 was obtained and a RF: 0.05 (in F2) with fresh analysis. In the case of the molecular analysis, an RF: 0.06 for NHP was obtained in F1, and an RF: 0.25 for NHP for F2. When calculating the correlation, an R: 0.5654 was obtained in F1, showing a medium relationship, and an R2: 0.3197, relating both analysis techniques by 31.97%. In F2, R: 0.3973 and R2: 0.1578 were obtained, determining little relationship between both analyses for this shrimp farm.

Conclusion: the results of the relative frequency (RF) and correlation (R and R2) between molecular and fresh analysis techniques in shrimp farms show a moderate relationship in the first farm (F1) and a weak relationship in the second farm (F2).

mujeres han ido perdiendo paulatinamente el poder sobre sus propios cuerpos, viendo cómo se patologiza y medicaliza todo lo que en ellos sucede: el embarazo y el parto se hallan totalmente en manos de la biomedicina, sujetos a unos protocolos médicos destinados a la comodidad de los profesionales y que tratan en demasiadas ocasiones a las mujeres como a niñas incapaces de decidir por sí mismas, lo que constituye un caldo de cultivo idóneo para la violencia obstétrica. Pero en los últimos tiempos están surgiendo diversas formas de activismo que cada vez toman más fuerza, con el objetivo de informar, formar y presionar a nivel social para que las mujeres vuelvan a ser las protagonistas de sus propios partos. Porque el derecho a decidir es un derecho sexual, y por ello, los partos empoderados resultan una reivindicación profundamente feminista.

The excavation in 2007 of a cemetery of the Hellenistic times (from the end of the 4th century BC) in the wider region
of Piraeus (the biggest harbor of Greece), brought to light 93 graves and 88 skeletons the remains of which were macroscopically
studied from the anthropological point of view. The study demonstrated - among other pathological findings - a high rate of porotic
hyperostosis and cribra orbitalia (47,8%), both these lesions being possibly connected (besides other factors), with the infectious
disease of malaria. This fact (viewed within an ecological frame) motivated the theoretical approach of the particular characteristics
of the environment of Piraeus, that may have been determining factors for malaria in antiquity; apart from the existence of a vast
marshy area in ancient Piraeus (Alipedon), there also were other equally aggravating natural factors for the dispersal of the disease:
the lack of running water or the repeatedly overflowing Kifissos river along with the transformation of the coastline, to mention but
a few. Among the anthropogenic factors associated with the occurrence of the disease, are included the Long Walls - that major defensive
work stretching between Athens and Piraeus -, the methods of cultivation in that time, as well as the role of the Harbor itself.

Background and Objective: In radiotherapy, measurement of the output factor in the air is one of the input parameters for Implementation of treatment planning systems and beam modeling. The aim of this study is to design a mini-phantom and select the appropriate detector for measuring the output factor. Subjects and Methods: In-air output factor was measured for Siemens linear accelerator 6 MV energy and field sizes of 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 2 cm irradiated by 200MU. Measurements were performed using a Gafchromic film EBT2 and 0.6 cc Farmer ion chamber and then the results were compared with Report of AAPM Therapy Physics Committee Task Group 74. For lateral electron equilibrium and electron contamination removal, two top of the water and Cerrobend were designed for film dosimetry and plexiglass buildup cap for Farmer chamber was applied. Results: The output factor increases with field size, and this increase in Cerrobend top is less than water top and Farmer dosimeter. In comparison betw...

This article introduces a novel interpretation of time and life processes based on the TQC_NMSI framework (Twin Quantum Computing -New Subquantum Informational Mechanics). The classical conception of time as a linear, unidirectional quantity is replaced by a model in which time emerges from coupled oscillatory cycles embedded in subquantum information fields. This allows biological and non-biological systems to be described in terms of internal logic clocks operating at various frequencies. The paper outlines how self-coherent oscillatory loops can encode continuity, identity, and adaptability, leading to the emergence of life and consciousness. Temporal perception is shown to be a derivative property of the resonance between internal and external infobitic clocks. Through analytical examples and derived relations, the study offers a scientific basis for the relativity of time as a computational emergent phenomenon, rather than a fixed background parameter. The implications for biology, artificial intelligence, and system evolution are also briefly discussed.

The overall objective of cell transplantation is to repopulate postinfarction scar with contractile cells, thus improving systolic function, and to prevent or to regress the remodeling process. Direct implantation of isolated myoblasts, cardiomyocytes, and bone-marrow-derived cells has shown prospect for improved cardiac performance in several animal models and patients suffering from heart failure. However, direct implantation of cultured cells can lead to major cell loss by leakage and cell death, inappropriate integration and proliferation, and cardiac arrhythmia. To resolve these problems an approach using 3-dimensional tissue-engineered cell constructs has been investigated. Cell engineering technology has enabled scaffold-free sheet development including generation of communication between cell graft and host tissue, creation of organized microvascular network, and relatively long-term survival afterin vivotransplantation.

The article discusses the morphological changes in the mucous membrane of the stomach, duodenum, small intestine and large intestine after gastrostomy performed by the proposed original method of using an implant, in comparison with the classical Witzel gastrostomy and Depage-Janeway gastrostomy using the GIA stapler in laboratory animals (rabbits). Morphological changes were studied on Days 10 and 20 after surgery. It has been shown that gastrostomy causes adaptive-compensatory changes of a various nature, developing along the conveyor principle (along the passage of the food bolus), the morphological picture of which is represented by lymphohistiocytic infiltration and hemocirculatory disorders of a congested origin. The study revealed that the proposed original method of gastrostomy is characterized by a minimal damaging effect on the lower gastrointestinal tract, in comparison with the studied analogues. (

Performing video endoscopic operations on patients with emergency surgical pathology in order to increase the efficiency and reduce the duration of surgical intervention, as well as to prevent postoperative complications, stimulates the continuous development and implementation of new minimally invasive technologies in emergency surgery. The aim of the study was to develop a new method for laparoscopic suturing of a perforated gastric ulcer (PGU) with the formation of a "covered perforation." The proposed method uses a fold-duplicator from the anterior wall of the stomach to close the perforation of the stomach wall, thus expanding the possibilities of using minimally invasive technologies for PGU.(

Performing video endoscopic operations on patients with emergency surgical pathology in order to increase the efficiency and reduce the duration of surgical intervention, as well as to prevent postoperative complications, stimulates the continuous development and implementation of new minimally invasive technologies in emergency surgery. The aim of the study was to develop a new method for laparoscopic suturing of a perforated gastric ulcer (PGU) with the formation of a “covered perforation.” The proposed method uses a fold-duplicator from the anterior wall of the stomach to close the perforation of the stomach wall, thus expanding the possibilities of using minimally invasive technologies for PGU.

Improvement of existing methods and development of new techniques for performing videoendoscopic operations in emergency surgical pathology allows increasing the efficiency and safety of surgical interventions, which is especially important in emergency surgery. The aim of the study was to experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of the laparoscopic method of suturing a perforated ulcer of the anterior wall of the body of the stomach by forming a “covered perforation” with a fold-duplicator. The article presents the results of a comparative study of the course of recovery in laboratory animals after suturing a perforated ulcer of the anterior wall of the stomach by the traditional method of applying a double-row, interrupted suture and a new method based on forming a covered perforation by creating a fold-duplicator.

The article discusses the morphological changes in the mucous membrane of the stomach, duodenum, small intestine and large intestine after gastrostomy performed by the proposed original method of using an implant, in comparison with the classical Witzel gastrostomy and Depage-Janeway gastrostomy using the GIA stapler in laboratory animals (rabbits). Morphological changes were studied on Days 10 and 20 after surgery. It has been shown that gastrostomy causes adaptive-compensatory changes of a various nature, developing along the conveyor principle (along the passage of the food bolus), the morphological picture of which is represented by lymphohistiocytic infiltration and hemocirculatory disorders of a congested origin. The study revealed that the proposed original method of gastrostomy is characterized by a minimal damaging effect on the lower gastrointestinal tract, in comparison with the studied analogues. (

The article discusses the morphological changes in the area of gastrostomy performed by the proposed original method of gastrostomy using an implant in laboratory animals (rabbits). Morphological changes in the tissues at gastrostomy sites were studied on Days 10 and 20 after the proposed method of gastrostomy, in comparison with the classical Witzel gastrostomy and Depage-Janeway gastrostomy using the GIA stapler. Negative morphological changes in the tissues around gastrostomy sites were revealed in the form of necrosis of the microenvironment and disturbance in microcirculation according to the stagnant type, caused by the damaging effect of the surgical suture material at the microscopic level, the least pronounced when using a polypropylene implant. (

Gastrostomy is one of the main palliative surgical methods for restoring enteral nutrition. The aim of the study was to develop a new method of gastrostomy that reduces the frequency of complications. The prototype for the described method is Depage-Janeway gastrostomy with use of the GIA stapler. The proposed method is characterized by the use of polypropylene mesh. This provides a tight attachment of the wall of the stomach to the anterior abdominal wall, which reduces the risk of complications. (

Advancements in the collection of omics data have led to the generation of large datasets of human omics data for health research, resulting in the emergence of various data sharing platforms to enable researchers to access broader collections of data. However, there currently is a lack of a suitable platform in Germany. To address this, the German Human Genome-Phenome Archive (GHGA) project aims to contribute to research possibilities by developing an archive for human omics data using FAIR principles as part of the Federated European Genome-Phenome Archive (FEGA). The GHGA project intends to facilitate data sharing across international borders while strictly protecting individuals' sensitive data and privacy. In this paper, we describe the GHGA Metadata Catalog, previously launched as GHGAs first milestone, serving as a discovery platform for human omics data. While not directly providing data yet, it does heighten data visibility and connects Researchers with Data Providers.

Introduction and Aim: Thyroid disorder, the most abundant endocrine disorder in the globe ranks second after diabetes mellitus. Because of immune resistance to thyroid gland, it leads to the development of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) - a critical enzyme in the thyroid hormone biogenesis is responsible for thyroid autoimmunity and is increasingly found among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). So, the present study was designed to assess the serum anti-TPO antibodies among type 2 diabetes mellitus in hospital setting.   Materials and Methods: 100 clinically diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus was included with 50 age and sex matched apparently healthy controls in the age range 35-70 years. Mean age (in Years) of male and female T2DM cases had 57.40±5.93 and 55.96±7.39 respectively. Also, the male and female controls had mean age as 56.24±8.74 and 54.20±8.90 respectively.   Results: The mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) value among T2...

Giant progress of nanoscience in the last decade has prompted the development of new nanosystems as well as new technologies for their preparation. Polymer nanofibers prepared by the electrospinning method are just one of such examples. These are solid fibers with diameters from a few tens up to 1000 nm (Fig. ) and theoretically unlimited length having a huge surface area per unit mass and small pore size. All these parameters strongly depend on the preparation process and hence can vary significantly. Pore size for example is the crucial parameter when using nanofibers as tissue scaffolds or wound dressings. Namely, when pores are smaller than the cell size, the cells are cap-295

The N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A) modifications in both viral and host cell RNAs play an important role in HIV-1 virus genome transcription and virus replication. We demonstrate here that activators of the METTL3/METTL14/WTAP RNA methyltransferase complex enhance the production of virus particles in cells harboring HIV-1 provirus. In parallel, the amount of m 6 A residues in the host cell mRNA was increased in the presence of these activator compounds. Importantly, the m 6 A methylation of the HIV-1 RNA was also enhanced significantly (about 18%). The increase of virus replication by the smallmolecule activators of the METTL3/METTL14/WTAP complex excludes them as potential anti-HIV-1 drug candidates. However, the compounds may be of large interest as activators for the latent HIV-1 provirus copies deposited in host cells' genome and the subsequent virus eradication by an antiviral compound.

The revolutionary technology for genome editing known as the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has sparked advancements in biological and biomedical research. The scientific breakthrough of the development of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has allowed us to recapitulate human diseases by generating animal models of interest ranging from zebrafish to non-human primates. The CRISPR-Cas9 system can also be used to delineate the mechanisms underlying the development of human disorders and to precisely correct disease-causing mutations. Repurposing this technology enables wider applications in transcriptome and epigenome manipulation and holds promise to reach the clinic. In this review, we highlight the latest advances of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in different platforms and discuss the hurdles and challenges this technology is facing. J. Cell. Biochem. 9999: 1-11, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Breast cancer is one of the major surgical problems encountered in Libya. Lactic acidosis is a universal complication in breast cancer patients and can be considered a possible prognostic marker. Therefore, it will be beneficial to correctly understand and review the biochemistry underlying lactic acidosis and its possible significance as a prognostic marker in critical care patients, including breast cancer.

The New Infobitic Subquantum Mechanics (NMSI) proposes a theoretical framework in which **information** constitutes the ultimate foundation of quantum reality. At the core of NMSI lies the hypothesis of a **subquantum substrate**-a profound medium of the **physical vacuum**-populated by elementary units of information called *infobits*. This infobitic subquantum medium behaves as a **coherent field** with collective properties, which determine observable phenomena at the quantum level. In other words, quantum states and elementary particles are not fundamentally autonomous objects but *emergent* properties of an ordered subquantum informational structure.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with amyloid-beta (Ab) plaque formation and oxidative stress in the brain. Ghrelin has been proven to exert antioxidant activity and neuroprotection in different neurological diseases. This study is going on to examine the effect of ghrelin on antioxidant status in the rat's model of AD induced by Ab. Cognitive impairment was induced by intra-hippocampal administration of Ab (10 mg) in Wistar rats and ghrelin (80 mg/kg) was administrated intraperitoneal for ten consecutive days. Behavior was assessed with Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level as a marker of lipid peroxidation was assessed using the thiobarbituric acid. Catalase activity was assayed by the decomposition of H 2 O 2 . Antioxidant capacity was determined using the FRAP method. Treatment with ghrelin decreased the hippocampus and serum MDA levels in wild-type rodents and prevented an increase in hippocampal and serum MDA levels in animals receiving Ab. There was no significant change in the serum catalase activity between the studied groups. Hippocampus catalase activity was reduced in the Ab group and treatment with ghrelin increased it. The antioxidant capacity of the hippocampus and serum increased in the ghrelin-receiving control group. The hippocampus antioxidant capacity level decreased in the Ab group, and treatment with ghrelin increased it, but there were no significant changes in the serum antioxidant capacity of animals receiving Ab. These results provide evidence that the administration of ghrelin has antioxidant properties and protects against hippocampal lipid peroxidation in a rat model of AD.

Background: Drug discovery is the process through which potential new medicines are identified. High-throughput screening and computer-aided drug discovery/design are the two main drug discovery methods for now, which have successfully discovered a series of drugs. However, development of new drugs is still an extremely time-consuming and expensive process. Biomedical literature contains important clues for the identification of potential treatments. It could support experts in biomedicine on their way towards new discoveries. Methods: Here, we propose a biomedical knowledge graph-based drug discovery method called SemaTyP, which discovers candidate drugs for diseases by mining published biomedical literature. We first construct a biomedical knowledge graph with the relations extracted from biomedical abstracts, then a logistic regression model is trained by learning the semantic types of paths of known drug therapies' existing in the biomedical knowledge graph, finally the learned model is used to discover drug therapies for new diseases. Results: The experimental results show that our method could not only effectively discover new drug therapies for new diseases, but also could provide the potential mechanism of action of the candidate drugs. Conclusions: In this paper we propose a novel knowledge graph based literature mining method for drug discovery. It could be a supplementary method for current drug discovery methods.

Drug discovery is the process through which potential new medicines are identified. High-throughput screening and computer-aided drug discovery/design are the two main drug discovery methods for now, which have successfully discovered a series of drugs. However, development of new drugs is still an extremely time-consuming and expensive process. Biomedical literature contains important clues for the identification of potential treatments. It could support experts in biomedicine on their way towards new discoveries. Here, we propose a biomedical knowledge graph-based drug discovery method called SemaTyP, which discovers candidate drugs for diseases by mining published biomedical literature. We first construct a biomedical knowledge graph with the relations extracted from biomedical abstracts, then a logistic regression model is trained by learning the semantic types of paths of known drug therapies' existing in the biomedical knowledge graph, finally the learned model is used to ...

Critical scholarship has long pointed to the problematic ways in which mainstream International Relations (IR) takes Westphalian state politics to be universally applicable, yet existing analyses fall short of providing an alternative grounding for IR. Departing from the close relationship between medicine and politics, this article advances two arguments. First, Westphalian IR is based on a particular Western conception of biomedicine. Second, biomedicine is treated as the hallmark of modern science, which exacerbates the discipline’s gatekeeping against ‘alternative’ scholarship that does not look like this particular description of science. By mobilising the notion of ‘cosmology’, we suggest that East Asian medicine (EAM), informed by Daoist yin-yang dialectics, can help to rethink the alleged universality of IR’s biomedical metatheoretical foundations. Specifically, we illustrate how the Westphalian state body and its territorial politics are made possible by biomedical knowledge, and how EAM’s relational cosmology and method of employing creative images helps to conceive shared communal bodies and re-evaluate territorial conflicts. Ultimately, this article argues for the necessity of a plurality of cosmological viewpoints in IR to overcome exclusionary oppositions in both the practice and study of global politics.

Depression, which is a risk factor for cardiac morbidity and mortality, is not an unusual occurrence among individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD), but evidence concerning its role in the pathogenesis of this condition is less clear. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has become an important tool in the diagnosis and management of hypertension. Several previous studies have indicated that various kinds of target organ damage and cardiovascular morbidity are more strongly associated with a diagnosis by ABPM than through spot-checks in a clinical setting. This study investigated whether depressive mood was associated with changes in the about-weekly (circaseptan) and half-weekly (circasemiseptan) variations in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR), including a BP surge on Mondays, in community-dwelling subjects monitored chronomically for the time structure (chronome) of their BP and HR variabilities. From April 2001 to April 2003, 217 subjects (85 men and 132 women; mean age: 56.8+11.3 yr) from U town, Hokkaido (latitude: 43.45°N, longitude: 141.85°E), self-monitored their BP and HR for 7 days starting around 11 a.m. on Thursday, and took readings at 30minute intervals between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., then at 60-minute intervals between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The data were retrieved and analyzed on a PC with appropriate commercial software (TM-2430-15; A&D Co., Japan). Subjects were asked about 15 items on a depression rating scale through a self-administered questionnaire. When the score amounted to 5 or higher, subjects were considered to be depressive. Student's t-test, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and cosinor methods with parametric tests were also used. A p-value below 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance (below 0.10: borderline statistical significance). Depression rating scales were obtained for 192 out of the 217 subjects enrolled in this study. Depression scores were (>) 5 in 72 subjects. The average values of systolic (S) and diastolic (D) BP were statistically significantly higher in depressed subjects (SBP: 129.2 vs 124.5 mmHg; p=0.034; DBP: 79.0 vs 76.5 mmHg; p=0.041). The 7-day average for HR did not differ between subjects with depression scores of < 5 or > 5. DBP dipping was less in the depressed subjects (16.30 vs 18.22%; p=0.048). The dipping ratios of SBP and HR showed no statistically significant difference. In the group with depression scores of <5, HR variability (estimated by the SD of HR and HR dip) was higher during vacations and lower on Mondays. The 24-h BP measures showed a novelty effect and a surge on Mondays. In the depressed group, a prominent circaseptan rhythm appeared to replace the novelty effect, vacation dip, and Monday surge. The results of this investigation indicate the clinical importance of the monitoring of depressed subjects. Fewer than 7 days of monitoring means a greater risk of false diagnosis, and thus a therapeutic decision including potentially unnecessary or inappropriate long-term treatment. Records shorter than 7 days would not have detected circaseptan BP dysrhythmia associated with a depressive state. Prominent circaseptans can provide new indications on the mechanisms underlying the strong relation between depression and adverse cardiac events. Future studies should aim at determining whether the treatment of depression, especially from the standpoint of a chronodiagnosis and chronotherapy, can reduce the incidence of adverse cardiac events, and whether this depends upon restoring normal BP and HR variability, i.e. anormal BP and HR chronome.

Lead is one of the most serious environmental threats to human health especially in developing countries. It damages multiple body systems including the reproductive system. Ginger&#39;s antioxidant and androgenic activity is reported in multiple animal studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effect of Zingiber officinale (ginger) on lead induced derangement in plasma testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels of male rats. Sixty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study in four groups. Group A served as normal control, Group B received 0.3% lead acetate in drinking water, Group C and group D received supplementary 0.5 and 1 gm/Kg bodyweight of ginger respectively along with lead acetate in drinking water. Five rats from each group were sacrificed at the end of 2nd, 4th and 6th weeks. Serum testosterone and LH levels were analysed using ELISA technique. After co administration with different doses of ginger, serum testosterone level whic...

Background Living things come in all shapes and sizes, from bacteria, plants, and animals to humans. Knowledge about the genetic mechanisms for biological shape has far-reaching implications for a range spectrum of scientific disciplines including anthropology, agriculture, developmental biology, evolution and biomedicine. Results We derived a statistical model for mapping specific genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control morphological shape. The model was formulated within the mixture framework, in which different types of shape are thought to result from genotypic discrepancies at a QTL. The EM algorithm was implemented to estimate QTL genotype-specific shapes based on a shape correspondence analysis. Computer simulation was used to investigate the statistical property of the model. Conclusion By identifying specific QTLs for morphological shape, the model developed will help to ask, disseminate and address many major integrative biological and genetic questions and ch...

Knowledge about biological shape has important implications in biology and biomedicine, but the underlying genetic mechanisms for shape variation have not been well studied. Statistical models play a pivotal role in mapping specific quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that contribute to biological shape and its developmental trajectories. We describe and assess a statistical framework for shape gene identification that incorporates shape and image analysis into a mixture-model framework for QTL mapping. Statistical parameters that define genotype-specific differences in biological shape are estimated by implementing statistical and computational algorithms. A state-of-the-art procedure is described to examine the control patterns of specific QTLs on the origin, properties and functions of biological shape. The statistical framework described will help to address many integrative biological and genetic questions and challenges in shape variation faced by the life sciences community.

Hematopoietic stem cells recipients remain susceptible to opportunistic viral infections including herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1). The purpose of this investigation was to analyze susceptibility of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to HSV-1 infection and identify the major entry receptor. Productive virus infection in hMSCs was confirmed by replication and plaque formation assays using a syncytial HSV-1 KOS (804) virus. To examine the significance of entry receptors, RT-PCR and antibody-blocking assays were performed. RT-PCR data showed the expression of gD receptors: nectin-1, 3-Osulfotransferase-3 (3-OST-3), and HVEM. Antibody-blocking assay together with heparinase treatment suggested an important role for HS and 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate (3-OS HS), but not nectin-1 or HVEM, in mediating HSV-1 entry and spread in hMSCs. Taken together, our results provide strong evidence demonstrating that HSV-1 is capable of infecting hMSCs and HS and 3-OS HS serve as its entry recept...

The biosynthesis, structural diversity, and functionality of collagens of sponge origin are still paradigms and causes of scientific controversy. This review has the ambitious goal of providing thorough and comprehensive coverage of poriferan collagens as a multifaceted topic with intriguing hypotheses and numerous challenging open questions. The structural diversity, chemistry, and biochemistry of collagens in sponges are analyzed and discussed here. Special attention is paid to spongins, collagen IV-related proteins, fibrillar collagens from demosponges, and collagens from glass sponge skeletal structures. The review also focuses on prospects and trends in applications of sponge collagens for technology, materials science and biomedicine.

The nonselective opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone is now used for the treatment of alcoholism, yet naltrexone's central mechanism of action remains poorly understood. One line of evidence suggests that opioid antagonists regulate alcohol drinking through interaction with the mesolimbic dopamine system. Hence, our goal here was to examine the role of the nucleus accumbens connectivity in alcohol reinforcement and naltrexone's actions using manganeseenhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI). Following long-term free-choice drinking of alcohol and water, AA (Alko Alcohol) rats received injections of MnCl 2 into the nucleus accumbens for activity-dependent tracing of accumbal connections. Immediately after the accumbal injections, rats were imaged using MEMRI, and then allowed to drink either alcohol or water for the next 24 h. Naltrexone was administered prior to the active dark period, and the second MEMRI was performed 24 h after the first scan. Comparison of signal intensity at 1 and 24 h after accumbal MnCl 2 injections revealed an ipsilateral continuum through the ventral pallidum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, globus pallidus, and lateral hypothalamus to the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. Activation was also seen in the rostral part of the insular cortex and regions of the prefrontal cortex. Alcohol drinking resulted in enhanced activation of these connections, whereas naltrexone suppressed alcohol-induced activity. These

Background Cell-in-cell structures (caused by cell cannibalistic activity) have been related to prognosis of many cancers. This is the first multi-institutional study to assess the prognostic impact of cell-in-cell structures in a large cohort of early oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (OTSCC). Methods A total of 308 cases from five Finnish University Hospitals and from the A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil, were included in this study. Cell-in-cell structures were evaluated on surgical postoperative sections that stained with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results We found that cell-in-cell structures associated with cancer-related mortality in univariable analysis with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.99 (95%CI 1.52–5.88; P = 0.001). This association was confirmed in multivariable analysis (HR 2.22, 95%CI 1.12–4.44; P = 0.024). In addition, statistically significant associations were observed between the cell-in-cell structures and other adverse histopathologic characteris...

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have shown a promising prognostic value in many epithelial cancers. We sought to assess the prognostic value of TILs in a multicenter cohort of early oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). The percentage of TILs was assessed on the surgical resection slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The assessment of TILs was performed in the stromal compartment and in the intraepithelial compartment (at the invasive front and at the center of the tumor). We followed the method that was described recently by the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group for the assessment of TILs. A total of 308 cases from the 5 Finnish university hospitals and from A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil, were included. We found a promising prognostic value for stromal TILs at the invasive front in the multivariable analysis with a hazard ratio of 2.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.77-3.83; P&lt;0.001) for overall survival, 1.99 (95% CI, 1.0...

Background: Women's fertility intentions, their desired number of children and desired inter-pregnancy interval (IPI) are related to micro (personal) and macro (socio-cultural) level factors. We investigated factors that contribute to changes in women's fertility intentions in Israel, a developed country with high birth rates. Methods: Pregnant women (N = 1163), recruited from prenatal clinics and hospitals in two major metropolitan areas, completed self-report questionnaires prenatally (≥24 weeks gestation) and postpartum (2 months after childbirth). Women reported their socio-demographic background and obstetric history prenatally, their desired number of children and IPI at both time-points, and their objective and subjective birth experiences postpartum. Results: The findings indicated that background characteristics were related to prenatal fertility intentions. The strongest contributor to prenatal fertility intentions was women's degree of religiosity-the more religious they were, the more children they desired and the shorter their intended IPI. Women's postpartum fertility intentions were mostly consistent with their prenatal reports. In regression models, women who were very-religious, more educated and had previously given birth were less likely to report a lower number of desired of children at postpartum, compared to their prenatal report. Women who reported greater birth satisfaction and gave birth for the first time were less likely to change desired IPI. Conclusion: Having a negative birth experience could adversely affect women's fertility intentions. Yet, in a pronatalist and medicalized birth culture, social pressures may decrease the effects of birth experiences on fertility intentions.

Esta tesis trata sobre el análisis y diseño de robots biomédicos y su aplicación a la medicina traslacional. Se define un robot biomédico como el conjunto de técnicas provenientes de la matemática aplicada, estadística y ciencias de la computación capaces de analizar datos biomédicos de alta dimensionalidad, aprender dinámicamente de dichos datos, extraer nuevo conocimiento e hipótesis de trabajo, y finalmente realizar predicciones con su incertidumbre asociada, cara a la toma de decisiones biomédicas. Se diseñan y analizan diferentes algoritmos de aprendizaje, de reducción de la dimensión y selección de atributos, así como técnicas de optimización global, técnicas de agrupamiento no supervisado, clasificación y análisis de incertidumbre. Dichas metodologías se aplican a datos a pie de hospital y de expresión génica en predicción de fenotipos para optimización del diagnóstico, pronóstico, tratamiento y análisis de toxicidades. In this PhD we present the analysis and design of "Biomedical Robots" and its application to translational medicine. A Biomedical Robot is defined as the ensemble of methodologies and bioinformatic algorithms, coming from applied mathematics, statistical methods and computer science, able to treat different types of very high dimensional data (biomedical big data), to learn dynamically, discover new knowledge and working hypothesis, and make predictions with their corresponding uncertainty to improve biomedical decision making processes. Different learning algorithms, dimension reduction and feature selection techniques were studied and analyzed, as well as global optimization, clustering, classification and uncertainty assessment algorithms. Those methodologies were applied to clinical data gathered in hospitals and genetic expression data to phenotype prediction in order to optimize diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and toxicity analysis. We demonstrated that is possible to establish the discriminatory power of prognostic variables in a simply way, and the corresponding classification problems approximate a linear separable behavior when the dimension is reduced to the principal variables that define the alphabet of the biomedical problem, and therefore are related to its genesis. We also analyzed the robustness of the methodology with respect to two main sources of noise (noise in the data and in the class assignment), as well as the modeling errors since the perfect classifier, if there exists, is a priori unknown. Moreover, we demonstrated the impact in the identification of high predictive genes and, consequently their associated pathways, of the main microarrays preprocessing techniques in phenotype prediction. Finally, we showed that the methodology that is based on consensus prediction techniques that explores the uncertainty space of the associated prediction problems, is the right way of addressing these types of problems and, therefore, discovering knowledge and improving medical decision-making. to my beloved family. . . I hereby declare that except where specific reference is made to the work of others, the contents of this dissertation are original and have not been submitted in whole or in part for consideration for any other degree or qualification in this, or any other university. This dissertation is my own work and contains nothing which is the outcome of work done in collaboration with others, except as specified in the text and Acknowledgements. This dissertation contains fewer than 90,000 words including appendices, bibliography, footnotes, tables and equations and has fewer than 40 figures. General Setup This thesis is included in the PhD Programme in Mathematics and Statistics (RD 99/2011) of the University of Zaragoza, the University of La Laguna, the University of Oviedo, the University of the Basque Country and the Public University of Navarra. In the elaboration of the manuscript of this PhD thesis we followed the requirements fixed by Article 26 of the Regulations of PhD Studies, agreement of June 17 of 2013 (BOPA 146 / 25-VI-2013) about the nature of the PhD thesis, that literally states: "1. La tesis doctoral consistirá en un trabajo original de investigación elaborado por el doctorando en cualquier campo del conocimiento. La tesis debe capacitar al estudiante de doctorado para el trabajo autónomo en el ámbito de la I+D+i. 2. En su elaboración, habrán de ser tenidas en cuenta las siguientes normas mínimas: a) La memoria que recoge la labor realizada en la tesis doctoral se redactará en español. No obstante, la Comisión de Doctorado podrá autorizar su redacción en otro idioma oficial de la Unión Europea, previo informe de la Comisión Académica del Programa de Doctorado, y siempre que se garantice que los miembros del Tribunal están en condiciones de juzgarla. En este caso, la memoria deberá contener el resumen y las conclusiones en español. En las mismas condiciones, y de acuerdo con el artículo 6.

Self-organisation is the spontaneous emergence of spatio-temporal structures and patterns from the interaction of smaller individual units. Examples are found across many scales in very different systems and scientific disciplines, from physics, materials science and robotics to biology, geophysics and astronomy. Recent research has highlighted how self-organisation can be both mediated and controlled by confinement. Confinement occurs through interactions with boundaries, and can function as either a catalyst or inhibitor of self-organisation. It can then become a means to actively steer the emergence or suppression of collective phenomena in space and time. Here, to provide a common framework for future research, we examine the role of confinement in self-organisation and identify overarching scientific challenges across disciplines that need to be addressed to harness its full scientific and technological potential. This framework will not only accelerate the generation of a common deeper understanding of selforganisation but also trigger the development of innovative strategies to steer it through confinement, with impact, e.g., on the design of smarter materials, tissue engineering for biomedicine and crowd management.

Many kinds of body/mind practices are capable of producing remarkable behaviors and altered body states. A typology of such behaviors and states, defined as observable and intentional "extreme" alterations to the body, is presented. Epistemological and methodological issues are discussed: limitations of observational data, and role of meaning, intentionality, and consciousness. Rapprochement between Western medicine and Indo-Tibetan medicine requires rethinking biomedicine's radical grounding in physicality and reliance on "evidence-based 2 medicine," and guarding against an ethnocentric western intellectual hegemony motivating medical science and clinical practice to colonize and subvert non-western traditions like Indo-Tibetan Buddhist medicine.

Reserpine can cause hypokinesia due to depletion of monoamine stores in the central nervous system. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate in the effects of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice (AMFJ) on reserpine-induced hypokinesia and oxidative stress in male Wistar rats. Material and methods: Reserpine was applied as a single intraperitoneal dose of 6 mg/kg (as a solution in 5% DMSO, 2 ml/kg) and comparisons were made with the control group injected intraperitoneally with 5% DMSO (2 ml/kg). AMFJ was applied at doses of 2.5 ml/kg, 5 ml/kg and 10 ml/kg three times (on the 0, 19th and 23rd hour) after reserpine administration while the control group received distilled water (10 ml/kg) at the same time points. The open field test (OFT) was used for investigation of locomotor activity. Oxidative stress was evaluated by the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) in rat brain. Results: Reserpine induced a significant reduction (p<0.001) in both horizontal and vertical locomotor activity of rats. Brain TBARS in reserpine-treated animals were significantly higher (p<0.05) in comparison with those of the control rats which confirms that animals treated with reserpine were exposed to oxidative stress. AMFJ caused a tendency to increase locomotor activity of reserpine-treated rats. The concentration of TBARS in the brains of rats treated with AMFJ before reserpine did not differ significantly from the control level. Conclusion: AMFJ prevented reserpine-induced oxidative stress and partly antagonized the effect of reserpine on locomotor activity of rats.

Earlier studies have shown considerable intersubject synchronization of brain activity when subjects watch the same movie or listen to the same story. Here we investigated the across-subjects similarity of brain responses to speech and non-speech sounds in a continuous audio drama designed for blind people. Thirteen healthy adults listened for ,19 min to the audio drama while their brain activity was measured with 3 T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). An intersubjectcorrelation (ISC) map, computed across the whole experiment to assess the stimulus-driven extrinsic brain network, indicated statistically significant ISC in temporal, frontal and parietal cortices, cingulate cortex, and amygdala. Group-level independent component (IC) analysis was used to parcel out the brain signals into functionally coupled networks, and the dependence of the ICs on external stimuli was tested by comparing them with the ISC map. This procedure revealed four extrinsic ICs of which two-covering non-overlapping areas of the auditory cortex-were modulated by both speech and nonspeech sounds. The two other extrinsic ICs, one left-hemisphere-lateralized and the other right-hemisphere-lateralized, were speech-related and comprised the superior and middle temporal gyri, temporal poles, and the left angular and inferior orbital gyri. In areas of low ISC four ICs that were defined intrinsic fluctuated similarly as the time-courses of either the speech-sound-related or all-sounds-related extrinsic ICs. These ICs included the superior temporal gyrus, the anterior insula, and the frontal, parietal and midline occipital cortices. Taken together, substantial intersubject synchronization of cortical activity was observed in subjects listening to an audio drama, with results suggesting that speech is processed in two separate networks, one dedicated to the processing of speech sounds and the other to both speech and non-speech sounds.

Helicobacter pyloriinfection is the major cause of gastroduodenal pathologies, but only a minority of infected patients develop gastric B-cell lymphoma, gastric autoimmunity, or other life threatening diseases, as gastric cancer or peptic ulcer. The type of host immune response againstH. pylori, particularly the cytolytic effector functions of T cells, is crucial for the outcome of the infection. T cells are potentially able to kill a target via different mechanisms, such as perforins or Fas-Fas ligand interaction. InH. pylori-infected patients with gastric autoimmunity cytolytic T cells, that cross-recognize different epitopes ofH. pyloriproteins and -ATPase autoantigen, infiltrate the gastric mucosa and lead to gastric atrophy via long-lasting activation of Fas ligand-mediated appotosis and perforin-induced cytotoxicity. On the other hand, gastric T cells from MALT lymphoma exhibit defective perforin- and Fas-Fas ligand-mediated killing of B cells, with consequent abnormal help fo...

The knee joint is a key structure of the human locomotor system. Any lesion or pathology compromising its mobility and stability alters its function. As direct measurements of the contribution of each anatomical structure to the joint function are not viable, modelling techniques must be applied. The present study is aimed at evaluating the importance of anatomical twist in the determination of mechanical stabilising action of the cruciate ligaments during the execution of a daily living activity. For this purpose accurate parameters from nuclear magnetic resonance and 3D-fluoroscopy of a single selected subject during chair risingsitting motor task were used. The modelling of the twist of fibres was fundamental in the determination of the specific behaviour of the posterior cruciate ligament in particular.

Ciprofloxacin, a widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic, has been associated with testicular toxicity, characterized by oxidative stress and hormonal imbalances that impact male reproductive health. Curcumin, a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, has shown potential in mitigating these effects. This study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of curcumin on ciprofloxacininduced testicular toxicity in adult male mice, focusing on reproductive hormones, oxidative stress, and histological changes. Thirty mice were divided into six groups, receiving varying doses of ciprofloxacin and curcumin over 30 days. Hormonal assays for testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were performed, alongside assessments of oxidative stress markers like malondialdehyde (MDA) and histopathological analyses of testicular tissue. Results showed a significant reduction in FSH and testosterone levels in ciprofloxacin-treated mice, with curcumin ameliorating these effects in co-treatment groups. MDA levels, an indicator of oxidative stress, were elevated in ciprofloxacin-only groups but significantly reduced in curcumin-treated groups. Histological examination revealed that curcumin protected against ciprofloxacin-induced testicular damage. In conclusion, curcumin demonstrated significant protective effects against ciprofloxacininduced testicular toxicity by normalizing reproductive hormone levels, reducing oxidative stress, and preserving testicular architecture. These findings suggest curcumin as a potential therapeutic agent for preventing fluoroquinolone-related reproductive toxicity.

The human beings have evolved together with microbes and are continuously exposed to diverse microbiota. A healthy gut flora promotes health and affords robust immune system, which is often advertised by probiotic supplements. These probiotics promises to build and restore gut flora health. Researches elucidate that gut bacteria are indispensable for our digestive system, and directly influence our moods, our weight, and our perception of the world. We discuss how urbanization possibly disturbs the symbiosis between microbiota and the human beings which leads to a negative impact on health. This review article summarized the previously reported studies and examines the role of microbiota in moods and well-being of urban population, specifically to anxiety and depression. Further, we identify the lacunae in the present research and advise the possible research methods to pursue for further understanding of the role microbiota population has on well-being.

One of the most abundant components in human milk is formed by oligosaccharides, which are poorly digested by the infant. The oligosaccharide composition of breast milk varies between mothers, and is dependent on maternal secretor (FUT2) genotype. Secretor mothers produce milk containing α1-2 fucosylated human milk oligosaccharides, which are absent in the milk of non-secretor mothers. Several strains of bacteria in the infant gut have the capacity to utilise human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Here we investigate the differences in infant gut microbiota composition between secretor (N = 76) and non-secretor (N = 15) mothers, taking into account birth mode. In the vaginally born infants, maternal secretor status was not associated with microbiota composition. In the caesarean-born, however, many of the caesarean-associated microbiota patterns were more pronounced among the infants of non-secretor mothers compared to those of secretor mothers. Particularly bifidobacteria were strongl...