The modification of gene expression profile, a first step in adaptation to exercise, leads to changes in the level of molecules associated with skeletal muscle activity and energy metabolism—such as ...myokines—as well as those involved in their transcriptional regulation, like microRNA. This study aimed to investigate the influence of strenuous exercise on circulating microRNAs and their possible association with myokine response. Pre-competition and post-competition plasma samples were collected from 14 male athletes participating in a vertical run (+1,000 m gain, 3,600 m length). Circulating total (t-miRNA) and extracellular vesicle-associated (EV-miRNA) miRNAs were extracted from the pooled plasma. Nanoparticle tracking analysis was performed to investigate pre- and post-competition EV concentration and size distribution. A panel of 179 miRNAs was assayed by qPCR and analyzed by Exiqon GenEx v6 normalized on the global mean. t-miRNA and EV-miRNAs whose level was ≥5-fold up- or down-regulated were validated for each single subject. Target prediction on MirWalk v3.0, Gene-Ontology, and pathway enrichment analysis on Panther v17.0 were performed to define the potential biological role of the identified miRNAs. A panel of 14 myokines was assayed in each sample by a multiplex immunoassay. In whole plasma, five miRNAs were upregulated and two were downregulated; in the EV fraction, five miRNAs were upregulated and three were downregulated. Nanoparticle tracking analysis revealed a similar EV size distribution in pre- and post-competition samples and a decreased concentration in post-competition samples related to pre-competition samples. Gene-Ontology and pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the identified t-miRNAs and EV-miRNAs were potentially involved in metabolism regulation in response to exercise. Correlation between fold-change of the post-competition relative to pre-competition plasma level of both t-miRNAs and EV-miRNAs and myokines further confirmed these results. This study provides an example of a systemic response to acute endurance exercise, in which circulating miRNAs play a pivotal role.
Sanitary sewage composed of 6.2 ± 3.2 mgLAS L−1, low diversity of organic acids (21.4 ± 18.9 and 2.1 ± 3.9 mg L−1, for acetic and propionic, respectively), metals (Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cu) and ...xenobiotic compounds (limonene, terpinene, phenol, indolizine) were used in the pilot-scale EGSB reactor feed (69 L). For influent load of 1.4 ± 0.7 mgLAS gVS−1d−1 and 50 ± 15 mgCOD gVS−1 d−1, removal efficiencies were 60 ± 30% and 77 ± 28% for LAS and COD, respectively. According to the alpha diversity indices (Shannon, Chao-1and Simpson), the sanitary sewage composition did not negatively affect the microbial richness throughout the 314 days of EGSB reactor operation. Bacteria related to LAS degradation such as Synergistes, Syntrophus, Clostridium and Geobacter were identified. For the Archaea Domain, Methanosaeta was the dominant genus. Therefore, in the present study the application of a pilot-scale EGSB reactor was considered viable for the LAS bioremediation in sanitary sewage.
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•Pilot scale EGSB (69L) was applied to LAS removal from sanitary sewage during 314 days.•Analytical characterization of sanitary sewage and massive sequencing were employed.•The LAS concentration in sanitary sewage varied from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.•The LAS removal on a pilot scale was similar to that obtained on bench scale.•There was no variation in the α-diversity values for Bacteria and Archaea Domains.
To evaluate in a double-masked comparative, prospective, randomized multicenter trial the efficacy of lomefloxacin 0.3% eye drops twice daily and of tobramycin eye drops 4 times daily in patients ...with acute bacterial conjunctivitis.
Ninety-nine subjects were enrolled: 50 were treated with lomefloxacin 0.3% eye drops twice daily and 49 with tobramycin 0.3% eye drops 4 times daily. In all patients, conjunctival swabbing and assessment of objective signs and of subjective symptoms were performed.
There was no statistical difference for any individual sign or symptom or for the sum score of either key or other signs and symptoms at any of the examination days. The sum score of both key and other signs and symptoms decreased in both groups at day 3-4 as compared to baseline values (p < 0.0001). The decrease in both these scores continued significantly from day 3-4 to day 7-8 (p < 0.05) and was similar in the two treatment groups (p > 0.4). The lowest resistance rate was seen in lomefloxacin (3.5%) and in neomycin (7.0%), while tobramycin showed resistance in 10 out of 88 resistance strains (11.4%).
Both lomefloxacin 0.3% twice daily and tobramycin 0.3% administered 4 times daily were well tolerated and showed a high degree of clinical and microbiological efficacy in the treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis. Lomefloxacin caused less resistance than other antibiotics evaluated.
This paper describes an audio-based video surveillance system which automatically detects anomalous audio events in a public square, such as screams or gunshots, and localizes the position of the ...acoustic source, in such a way that a video-camera is steered consequently. The system employs two parallel GMM classifiers for discriminating screams from noise and gunshots from noise, respectively. Each classifier is trained using different features, chosen from a set of both conventional and innovative audio features. The location of the acoustic source which has produced the sound event is estimated by computing the time difference of arrivals of the signal at a microphone array and using linear-correction least square localization algorithm. Experimental results show that our system can detect events with a precision of 93% at a false rejection rate of 5% when the SNR is 10dB, while the source direction can be estimated with a precision of one degree. A real-time implementation of the system is going to be installed in a public square of Milan.
The relationship between carotid intima–media thickness (IMT) and the subject's parents’ longevity has been investigated. The association between parents’ age at death and IMT was estimated in 593 ...consecutive patients attending a Lipid Clinic by survival-analysis methods. Average maximum IMT (Avg-IMT), maximum IMT (Max-IMT), clinical and laboratory variables and parental age at death, were assessed. Kaplan–Meier analyses showed significant differences in survival curves, low IMTs being associated with long-lived parents (
p
=
0.0003 and 0.001 by log-rank test for fathers and mothers, respectively). A Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that higher carotid IMT values were associated with father's and mother's deaths at an early age, even after adjusting for conventional cardiovascular risk factors. These data were confirmed after the stratification of patients into younger (<65
y) and older (≥65
y) or into subjects with and without a family history of dyslipidemia or vascular diseases. In addition, by stratifying subjects into those with no, one or two long-lived parents, we observed a significant trend for the combination of father's and mother's longevity on their offspring's IMTs (
p
<
0.01 and 0.05 for Avg-IMT and Max-IMT, respectively). These data highlight a significant relationship between carotid artery IMT and a familial predisposition to be long-lived that is independent of the individual's vascular risk profile.
Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are computer algorithms inspired by the highly interactive processing of the human brain. When exposed to complex data sets, ANNs can learn the mechanisms that ...correlate different variables and perform complex classification tasks.
A database, of 949 patients and 54 variables, was analysed to evaluate the capacity of ANNs to recognise patients with (VE+, n = 196) or without (VE-, n = 753) a history of vascular events on the basis of vascular risk factors (VRFs), carotid ultrasound variables (UVs) or both.
The performance of ANN was assessed by calculating the percentage of correct identifications of VE+ and VE- patients (sensitivity and specificity, respectively) and the prediction accuracy (weighted mean between sensitivity and specificity).
The results showed that ANNs can be trained to identify VE+ and VE- subjects more accurately than discriminant analyses. When VRFs and UVs were used as input variables, the prediction accuracies of the ANN providing the best results were 80.8% and 79.2%, respectively. The addition of gender, age, weight, height and body mass index to UVs increased accuracy of prediction to 83.0%. When the ANNs were allowed to choose the relevant input data automatically (I.S. system-Semeion), 37 variables were selected among 54, five of which were UVs. Using this set of variables as input data, the performance of the ANNs in the classification task reached a prediction accuracy of 85.0%. with the 92.0% correct classification of VE+ patients.
Artificial neural network technology is highly promising in the development of accurate diagnostic tools designed to recognize patients at high risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Research on Neurofibromatosis (NF) has been directed at understanding what determines disease quiescence, exacerbation, and the possible malignant evolution. Studies on NF have examined the role of ...genetic oncosuppression in the evolution of the defence against the non-self. Paraffin fixed specimens of benign and malignant neoplasia, occurring in patients with NF1 and NF2, were tested for the presence of p53: a reliable marker of genetic oncosupression. The wild type variant of p53 is expressed in malignant neoplasia, and is usually not expressed in benign tumors. Contrariwise, an immune reaction it is seen in benign tumors and is practically absent in malignant tumors. Evidence of protein p53 in the various malignant neoplasias studied by our group seems to reflect the up-regulation on the oncosuppresive genetic potential that occurs while there is a lack of immunological defence. In the presence of an immunological defence, the expression p53 is normally not seen e.g. plexiform neurofibromas. The evolution of the various neoplastic types here reported was the same as that reported by current clinical and experimental models: the cell's defective genes are no longer suppressed and after activation the genes undergo initiation, promotion, and the cell sustains inflammatory-immune reactions that lead to fibrosis; what follows is a variable period of apparent quiescence. Severe pathogenic stimuli may act on predisposed cells and deteriorate pre-existing genetic damage, casting the cell into a phase of dysplastic or neoplastic proliferation that overcomes the body's defences. Hope for future therapy lies in the development of drugs that can either mimic the immune system or the proteins encoded by the oncosuppressor genes.
We report a case of a young woman who, as a result of local anesthesia by mandibular nerve block, suffered sudden, permanent loss of ipsilateral vision with subsequent atrophy of the optic nerve. ...Possible causes of this rare complication are discussed.
Neurofibromatosis evolution is described in relation to the factors that may favour its expansion and immune modifications. NF1 monitorization should employ periodic clinical and immune surveillance. ...Such an approach would allow the application of immunomodulating treatment (e.g. adapted therapy) only when indicated, thereby reducing its duration and potentiating its efficacy.
